Prologue

I opened my eyes.

I could barely make out the shape of his body as he moved slowly toward me in the dark.

"Bella," he breathed, leaning into my body as his arms circled around me. He tentatively moved his arm down so that his hand was perched on my hip, as if he was afraid of breaking me.

I was trying very hard to hold very, very still; I didn't want him to know how I was feeling just then. His other arm started to move toward my back, pulling me closer. He slowly leaned forward, his lips trembling as they brushed up against my slightly opened mouth. I was having trouble breathing.

His breath was coming out in slow gasps now; he traced his mouth along my jaw line, stopping right before my ear. He pressed his lips at that spot just below my ear lobe; I let out a sigh.

It wasn't the same.

He read the sigh as permission; he slowly started caressing my neck with his lips, pressing his mouth into my warm skin.

I was still breathing with my mouth open, and my throat turned dry as I felt a constricting tightness slowly start to choke me. Damn. I thought I could make it through this without crying.

He slowly traveled from my neck across my cheek, and then he paused. My eyes were accustomed to the dark at this point; I could see the moon in his eyes from the window behind me. The deep pools reflected all that he was feeling for me. I could feel the tears start to form in the corners of my eyes. I tried to turn my head, but he wouldn't let me look away. Almost reverentially, he held my face with the tips of his fingers, barely brushing along my cheekbones.

Oh, no. He's going to…

"Bella," he breathed, the pitch of his voice getting husky with emotion, "I love you."

He then placed a gentle kiss on my lips, and I let the tears fall. Better to let him think those tears are because of my love, too.

I could never tell him the truth.