Honeybee

Chapter Five~Deadly Beauty

Chapter Five
Deadly Beauty
Elizabeth Cullen
Rochester, New York. April 1933

"Happy anniversary." Carlisle smiled widely at me as I entered the living room. "Surprised?"

"Very." I laughed, taking in the many candles and soft music filling the room. "How did you manage all of this?"

"I enlisted Edwards' help." He grinned, taking my hand in his and beginning to lead me in a simple swaying dance. "He's been keeping you distracted all day for me while I planned tonight."

"Well, it's a beautiful sentiment." I smiled happily up at him before tucking my head under his chin. "Thank you."

"Thirteen years." Carlisle sighed happily, nuzzling his face into my hair.

"Sounds unlucky." I teased him. "Yet, they've been some of the greatest thirteen years of my life." I giggled.

"They've definitely been the best of mine." He laughed in turn. "I'm so proud of you Elizabeth, and of Edward, thank you for giving me a family and a home."

"Thank you for the same." I smiled against his chest. "What are you wearing such a nice suit for? When you know I'm so bad about tearing clothing?" I whispered in his ear seductively, my hands trailing down his sides.

"I have tickets to tonight's charity ball from the hospital. The director told me I should show off my gorgeous wife more often and I agreed with him." He explained, catching my hands before I could slip too far down his body. "I thought you might like to get dressed up and spend the night dancing."

"Teasing handsome men is one of my favorite pastimes." I giggled, nipping at his ear just to drive him wild. "Sounds fun, but I don't have anything to wear."

"Luckily for me, your favorite dress shop keeps your measurements on file." He purred. "Stop that." He shook his head to get me off of his neck, a playfulness in his eyes as we pulled apart. "Go get dressed, please, I really want to show you off tonight." He smiled proudly at me.

"Fine." I pouted. "But you owe me a fantastic day in bed after." I smiled slyly.

"Deal." He winked at me, and I raced upstairs to our bedroom.

The dress was gorgeous. Black satin and lace in a distinctly french fashion, the tag said Chanel, and I smiled as I slipped it over my head. It fit perfectly, of course, as my measurements never change, and I excitedly put on my best diamonds, perfume, and black heels before meeting Carlisle downstairs.

"What a vision." He shook his head in disbelief, his eyes darkening in the dim light of the foyer. "I'm going to have a hard time keeping my thoughts to myself tonight."

"Well, it's a good thing you don't have to worry about that." I laughed delightfully as he spun me in a circle to praise every angle. "All these years of meditation has really done wonders for allowing me to shut off my gift."

"I'm so glad you've gotten some reprieve, both yourself and Edward, as I know you've both struggled with being overwhelmed at times." He nodded.

"Voices, both physical and mental, do cause a lot of noise. Especially in large crowds." I agreed. "But the idea of a light switch turning my gift on and off in my mind is very helpful. It's nice to feel like I'm finally giving you, and others, privacy."

"It is nice to not be embarrassed by Edward overhearing my amorous thoughts about you anymore." He laughed.

"Well, we still have our slip-ups." I laughed. "We got caught last week in the kitchen."

"How was I suppose to know he'd come in the room? It's the kitchen! We don't even have a need for a kitchen!" Carlisle chuckled in frustration.

"Oh, it's fine." I hushed him. "Let's get going. I'm excited to get some good dancing in." I smiled widely as we joined arms and left the house to head out to the car.