There mysterious girl

Chapter 13

Aro was thankfully gone when she exited the bathroom. Not that she wasn't looking forward to seeing him or their upcoming day together, but she hadn't thought to bring clothes into the bathroom with her. She tightened the towel around her body and slipped into the closet.

She found jeans, recalling which drawer they were in from the day before, and selected a pair with a dark wash. The casual clothing must be an offering from Heidi. Alice would sooner die than wear something so plebian as the jeans and tank top Bella slid into. She shrugged into a light sweater with an open knit and wide neckline that artfully exposed one shoulder.

Bella was brushing out her long hair, contemplating what to do with it, when Aro appeared. He had changed as well. His signature suit was replaced with dark slacks and a white button-down shirt, but the sleeves had been rolled up to his elbows. Bella felt a warm rush of arousal at the sight of him and quickly looked away.

"You are a vision, carina," he said, eyeing her with masculine approval. "I find myself forced to admit that these trousers young women wear today have their benefits."

He was, undoubtedly, talking about the way her jeans hugged her rear. They were, like many things in her wardrobe, she would come to learn, more form fitting than she was used to. That wasn't to say they didn't fit, or flatter her, they did both.

She fought back the blush and murmured a quiet "thank you," to which Aro chuckled darkly.

Bella tore her eyes off of him and continued fiddling with her hair in the mirror, thinking of piling it on top of her head, when Aro's hands caught her own.

"Leave it down, carina," he whispered. "It is beautiful."

"Okay," she heard herself say, helpless to deny him.

She released her tresses, letting her hair spill down her back and over her shoulders like dark silk. They made eye contact in the reflection of the mirror, and Bella felt dizzy from the intensity of his gaze. They were a hairsbreadth apart. If she moved back even a fraction of an inch, his chest would collide with her body.

"I want to take you into town and show you Volterra properly, but the sun is out today," he hummed, not taking his eyes off hers. "But perhaps we can save that for a later date, yes?"

"Sure," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "The library is fine."

"And the garden," he reminded her, smiling indulgently now. "And I have surprise for you."

Bella didn't like surprises. They usually came in the form of her mother spending the rent money on ice skates or salsa lessons. More recently, it was Alice's botched surprise birthday party, which had ended disastrously. This must have shown on her face for Aro sighed.

"You will be hard to spoil, carina," he playfully chided her. "And my brother's and I do so look forward to providing you with the life you deserve."

"I just don't like surprises," she mumbled. "They're usually unpleasant."

"They can be, amore mio," he said, "but I think you will like this one. Would it make you feel better to know that what I had in mind is not a grand gesture, but a part of the castle you have not yet seen?"

Yes, actually. Edward had always tried buying her in the past, which she found repulsive. If whatever Aro had in mind wasn't a gross show of wealth, she would be heartily thankful. Bella nodded eagerly, relieved.

"Wonderful," he beamed. "We will work on your aversion to gifts some other time."

We'll see about that, she thought sourly, letting him pull her from the room.