I patted the blanket beside me. “Sit back down, you crazy man. I’m fine. Better than fine, even.” He sat beside me still looking irritated. “I think you’re a big part of that,” I confessed quietly, my face flushing deeply.

For a long moment he didn’t respond, then he touched my chin forcing me to meet those amazing green eyes. “I want to be there for you, Bella, god knows I do, but I’m afraid I’m gonna let you down the way dickhead did.” His scowl deepened like he was fighting some inner battle. “You’re so easy to be with. I find myself thinking about you all the time.” His eyes fell to my lips and I held my breath while he debated kissing me. Would I let him? I didn’t know. On one hand, why not? But on the other, I wasn’t sure if I let him and he eventually hurt me the way Edward had, I’d ever recover from it.

“Never forget, Bella, that I was sent here to befriend you and to acquire certain information-”

“Information that you’ve kept to yourself.”

I felt him tense at my response, and for a brief second I wondered if he’d reported everything to his master, after all.

He ignored my interruption and continued, “…that I have orders to honor. I just never counted on feeling…the way I feel about you,” he said softly, still fixated on my lips.

He leaned in so slowly giving me all the time in the world to back away, but I was frozen in place like a statue.

 His lips were so hot and soft against mine, nothing like kissing Edward. I remained motionless at first, so accustomed to kissing Edward that I forgot I didn’t have to hold back, that I could get as carried away as I wanted and not be risking my life. Dylan wasn’t fighting the all consuming need to kill me, wasn’t tempted by my scent, the sound of my pounding heart.

I tangled my hands into his hair and returned his kiss with the same fervor, his tongue licking across my lips begging for more and mine parted without me thinking about it, I was simply feeling.