〃I know what I am。〃 I sighed。 But his mercurial mood shifted on me。 He pursed his lips； and his eyes were probing。 He examined my face for a long moment。 〃You"re ready now； then？〃 he asked。 〃Um。〃 I gulped。 〃Yes？〃 He smiled； and inclined his head slowly until his cold lips brushed against the skin just under the corner of my jaw。 〃Right now？〃 he whispered； his breath blowing cool on my neck。 I shivered involuntarily。 〃Yes；〃 I whispered； so my voice wouldn"t have a chance to break。 If he thought I was bluffing； he was going to be disappointed。 I"d already made this decision； and I was sure。 It didn"t matter that my body was rigid as a plank； my hands balled into fists； my breathing erratic… He chuckled darkly； and leaned away。 His face did look disappointed。 〃You can"t really believe that I would give in so easily；〃 he said with a sour edge to his mocking tone。 〃A girl can dream。〃 His eyebrows rose。 〃Is that what you dream about？ Being a monster？〃 〃Not exactly；〃 I said； frowning at his word choice。 Monster； indeed。 〃Mostly I dream about being with you forever。〃 His expression changed； softened and saddened by the subtle ache in my voice。 〃Bella。〃 His fingers lightly traced the shape of my lips。 〃I will stay with you — isn"t that enough？〃 I smiled under his fingertips。 〃Enough for now。〃 He frowned at my tenacity。 No one was going to surrender tonight。 He exhaled； and the sound was practically a growl。 I touched his face。 〃Look；〃 I said。 〃I love you more than everything else in the world bined。 Isn"t that enough？〃 〃Yes； it is enough；〃 he answered； smiling。 〃Enough for forever。〃 And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat。 =========================================================================== Acknowledgments A huge thank you to： my parents； Steve and Candy； for a lifetime of love and support；S for reading great books to me when I was young； and for still holding my hand through the things that make me nervous； my husband； Pancho； and my sons； Gabe； Seth； and Eli； for sharing me so often with my imaginary friends； my friends at Writers House； Genevieve GagneHawes； for giving me that first chance； and my agent Jodi Reamer； for turning the most unlikely dreams into realities； my editor Megan Tingley； for all her help in making Twilight better than it started out； my brothers； Paul and Jacob； for their expert advice on all my automotive questions； and my online family； the talented staff and writers at fansofrealitytv。； particularly Kimberly 〃Shazzer；〃 and Collin 〃Mantenna〃 for the encouragement； advice； and inspiration。