Remember Me (A Twilight fan fiction)

7. Old-Fashioned

Chapter 7- Old- Fashioned

Edward's gaze fell to the sleeping figure in the bed. As she slept, she was so sweet and impossibly enticing to him. Bella had no idea, even now – she never had - how much he desired her...her, her mind, her body, her soul. Her blood had long since lost its previously insane appeal. It still called to him like the most tempting of siren songs, but now, as his happiness seemed to dwell within the life of this human, Edward could see past the allure.

He did not know how he had kept himself away from her for so long. Every night, he had purposely stayed away from her window's reach, but tonight was different. After the closeness they had shared earlier that afternoon during Biology class, he could barely tear himself away from the temptation of her nearness.

Edward was thankful that he had arrived there when he had. Although Alice's vision had been vague, he did not like the possible result of that Native American boy and Bella spending so much time together. Before this night, the relationship between the two had never gotten physical, and to see Jacob through the window tickling Bella was more than Edward could bear. The chief had arrived shortly after, and to Edward's delight, had given Jacob a ride back to the reservation.

Now, Bella lay there mumbling as she slept, her utterances practically undecipherable. Edward shut his eyes, resisting the urge to close the gap between their two bodies. It would only take a fraction of a second, and he could be at her side. His fingers longed to feel the silk of her hair. His body ached to be near hers. His lips yearned to meet the delicious warmth of her lips, her cheeks, her forehead. As miserable as these past weeks had been for Bella, they had been unbearable for Edward.

And now, without a clue as to her feelings toward him, and even worse, her feelings toward Jacob, Edward's heart felt like a delicate piece of glass. His every thought, every feeling was on edge as he considered a future without her.

It seemed impossible now.

In a thought's time, his feet carried him to Bella's bedside, and he held out his hand to touch her. She was like a goddess in the moonlight, and the glow bathed her features like a glorious forbidden angel. Without making actual contact, his fingers remained just millimeters above her head, tracing her forehead, her brows, her lips. She stirred then, and Edward stiffened, ready to disappear. He stayed as still as a statue, lingering over her when she let out a sigh, and her breathing returned to normal. His fingers resumed their journey, tracing without touching, a fraction of an inch above and along her cheekbones to the curve of her jaw line.

This was torture, he thought, resisting the urge to lay his body beside hers.

And just then she spoke, clear as day, her voice filling the room. "Edward."

His heart swelled, and the sound of his name on her lips sent a shot of desire coursing through his veins. He had to leave...now...before he did something he might regret.

"Goodbye, Bella," he whispered. "I love you." More than you'll ever know. At a reluctant human speed, his feet stepped away from her and moved toward the open window.

"Edward," she said again, but nothing more, and Edward had to use all of his restraint to leave her that night.

"What am I going to do? How can I make Bella remember me?" Edward asked Carlisle in a low voice. Carlisle was seated at his glossy mahogany desk poring over his latest medical journal.

Edward was grateful that he was able to find his adoptive father alone. This was not a conversation he would have liked to share with the rest of the family.

Carlisle's gaze turned to meet Edward's, and then he sat back in his huge leather office chair, heaving a long sigh. "Son, I'm afraid there's no surefire way you can do that."