CHAPTER XVI ―

THE CLEARING!

"𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒," he told her as they walked a trail out in the woods, helping her gently over a fallen log. It had taken her a full day to digest what Edward had told her before she called and asked if they could talk again. "Jasper can manipulate emotions, Alice can see the future, and I can read minds. Jackson can manipulate water, Emmett is incredibly strong, Rosalie has inhuman beauty that can attract humans and vampires." 

Nora almost slipped on a muddy spot, but Edward caught her effortlessly as he lifted her over it as he spoke, "Carlisle has extreme control around humans and Esme doesn't have any powers, but I like to think her ability to love all of us unconditionally is her power."

"So we know you can't hear all of my thoughts all the time, but why do I feel this way around you?" Nora asked as they stopped in a clearing, standing towards the shadows of the trees, but the sun shone beautifully in the grassland, flowers sprouting in different spots. "How do I come into play?"

"I didn't want this initially," Edward admitted and Nora was lying if she said those words didn't hurt her just a little, but when she looked back at Edward, he was already staring at her in a way she couldn't explain. "It's too dangerous for us to get involved in anyway. I tried to make myself hate you, but I knew after I met you and got to know you little by little... I couldn't do that to myself. I have to be in your life, even if its just there to protect you."

Nora couldn't explain how she was feeling.

"How did you know I was coming?"

"Alice saw it," he admitted to her, but he was sure she already knew that. "She's seen it for awhile, but I ignored it thinking it would change it's course. Humans do that a lot, change their directions. I didn't think it would matter."

"So what now? I know all this and we just move on in opposite directions? Even after yesterday?" Nora turned herself fully to him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and hurt.

"The more I get to know you, the more I yearn to be by you, Nora... it's hard to explain, but it's like the moment I'm not next to you, I worry for your safety and I wonder if you're going to be okay. It physically hurts me to be away from you."

The two stared at each other before Edward grabbed her hand with his cold one, and began to lead her to the center of the clearing, "I want to show you something." As the sun began to hit their skin, Nora felt the warmth and when she looked up at Edward as he lead her towards the center, she saw that his skin began to glimmer and sparkle in the sunlight and she had to withhold her gasp at the sight of him.

By the time they reached the center, the sun was directly on them and Nora was staring with bewilderment and curiosity in her eyes as he pulled off his hoodie, showing her how every inch of his skin gleamed and sparkled in the light, save for his pants and everything staying on.

"This is why we can't be in the light, humans would know we are different. That's why theres some days we skip, mainly when it's sunny and nice."

Nora stepped closer to him, her hands slowly coming up to touch his porcelain, glittering skin, amazed. "How is this possible?"

Edward had to admit her warmth felt amazing to him, the ability to show himself rawly to her and feel nothing but acceptance. "I guess it's just gods design."

Nora let out a breathy laugh as her hands explored his cold skin, "It's so different." As her hands reached further upwards, faintly running across his chest as she reached towards his face, bringing his attention to her own face. God, she was beautiful, he thought. More breathtaking then anyone he'd ever met in his lifetime...

"So, are you going to kiss me or what?" Nora whispered as she watched Edward's every movement, the anticipation killing both of them. He could hear her heart beating faster, not in fear... but in excitement.

There wasn't any hesitation as he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to Nora's, their lips moving in sync as she brought her hand behind his neck and pulled him closer to her. They felt as one as Edward's hands found her waist, his grip tightening enough to push them to deepen their kiss. She felt as if they were the only ones existing in this world, feeling whole, happy, excited...

Edward gently pulled away when he knew Nora needed to breathe, their foreheads pressed against each other as he even took an unnecessary breath inwards, staring into her brown eyes with his golden ones as he whispered, "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't."

...