As　we　headed　due　east　into　the　open　ocean；　I　reviewed　basic　geography　in　my　head。　As　far　as　I　could
  remember；　there　wasn't　much　east　of　Brazil。。。　until　you　got　to　Africa。
  But　Edward　sped　forward　while　the　lights　of　Rio　faded　and　ultimately　disappeared　behind　us。　On　his
  face　was　a　familiar　exhilarated　smile；　the　one　produced　by　any　form　of　speed。　The　boat　plunged　through
  the　waves　and　I　was　showered　with　sea　spray。
  Finally　the　curiosity　I'd　suppressed　so　long　got　the　best　of　me。
  〃Are　we　going　much　farther？〃　I　asked。
  It　wasn't　like　him　to　forget　that　I　was　human；　but　I　wondered　if　he　planned　for　us　to　live　on　this　small
  craft　for　any　length　of　time。
  〃About　another　half　hour。〃　His　eyes　took　in　my　hands；　clenched　on　the　seat；　and　he　grinned。
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  Oh　well；　I　thought　to　myself。　He　was　a　vampire；　after　all。　Maybe　we　were　going　to　Atlantis。
  Twenty　minutes　later；　he　called　my　name　over　the　roar　of　the　engine。
  〃Bella；　look　there。〃　He　pointed　straight　ahead。
  I　saw　only　blackness　at　first；　and　the　moon's　white　trail　across　the　water。　But　I　searched　the　space
  where　he　pointed　until　I　found　a　low　black　shape　breaking　into　the　sheen　of　moonlight　on　the　waves。　As　I
  squinted　into　the　darkness；　the　silhouette　became　more　detailed。　The　shape　grew　into　a　squat；　irregular
  triangle；　with　one　side　trailing　longer　than　the　other　before　sinking　into　the　waves。　We　drew　closer；　and　I
  could　see　the　outline　was　feathery；　swaying　to　the　light　breeze。
  And　then　my　eyes　refocused　and　the　pieces　all　made　sense：　a　small　island　rose　out　of　the　water　ahead　of
  us；　waving　with　palm　fronds；　a　beach　glowing　pale　in　the　light　of　the　moon。
  〃Where　are　we？〃　I　murmured　in　wonder　while　he　shifted　course；　heading　around　to　the　north　end　of　the
  island。
  He　heard　me；　despite　the　noise　of　the　engine；　and　smiled　a　wide　smile　that　gleamed　in　the　moonlight。
  〃This　is　Isle　Esme。〃
  The　boat　slowed　dramatically；　drawing　with　precision　into　position　against　a　short　dock　constructed　of
  wooden　planks；　bleached　into　whiteness　by　the　moon。　The　engine　cut　off；　and　the　silence　that　followed
  was　profound。　There　was　nothing　but　the　waves；　slapping　lightly　against　the　boat；　and　the　rustle　of　the
  breeze　in　the　palms。　The　air　was　warm；　moist；　and　fragrant—like　the　steam　left　behind　after　a　hot
  shower。
  〃Isle　Esme？〃　My　voice　was　low；　but　it　still　sounded　too　loud　as　it　broke　into　the　quiet　night。
  〃A　gift　from　Carlisle—Esme　offered　to　let　us　borrow　it。〃
  A　gift。　Who　gives　an　island　as　a　gift？　I　frowned。　I　hadn't　realized　that　Edward's　extreme　generosity　was　a
  learned　behavior。
  He　placed　the　suitcases　on　the　dock　and　then　turned　back；　smiling　his　perfect　smile　as　he　reached　for
  me。
  Instead　of　taking　my　hand；　he　pulled　me　right　up　into　his　arms。
  〃Aren't　you　supposed　to　wait　for　the　threshold？'71　asked；　breathless；　as　he　sprung　lightly　out　of　the
  boat。
  He　grinned。　〃I'm　nothing　if　not　thorough。〃
  Gripping　the　handles　of　both　huge　steamer　trunks　in　one　hand　and　cradling　me　in　the　other　arm；　he
  carried　me　up　the　dock　and　onto　a　pale　sand　pathway　through　the　dark　vegetation。
  For　a　short　while　it　was　pitch　black　in　the　jungle…like　growth；　and　then　I　could　see　a　warm　light　ahead。　It
  was　about　at　the　point　when　I　realized　the　light　was　a　house—the　two　bright；　perfect　squares　were　wide
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  windows　framing　a　front　door—that　the　stage　fright　attacked　again；　more　forcefully　than　before；　worse
  than　when　I'd　thought　we　were　headed　for　a　hotel。
  My　heart　thudded　audibly　against　my　ribs；　and　my　breath　seemed　to　get　stuck　in　my　throat。　I　felt
  Edward's　eyes　on　my　face；　but　I　refused　to　meet　his　gaze。　I　stared　straight　ahead；　seeing　nothing。
  He　didn't　ask　what　I　was　thinking；　which　was　out　of　character　for　him。　I　guessed　that　meant　that　he　was
  just　as　nervous　as　I　suddenly　was。
  He　set　the　suitcases　on　the　deep　porch　to　open　the　doors—they　were　unlocked。
  Edward　looked　down　at　me；　waiting　until　I　met　his　gaze　before　he　stepped　through　the　threshold。
  He　carried　me　through　the　house；　both　of　us　very　quiet；　flipping　on　lights　as　he　went。　My　vague
  impression　of　the　house　was　that　it　was　quite　large　for　a　tiny　island；　and　oddly　familiar。　I'd　gotten　used　to
  the　pale…on…pale　color　scheme　preferred　by　the　Cullens；　it　felt　like　home。　I　couldn't　focus　on　any
  specifics；　though。　The　violent　pulse　beating　behind　my　ears　made　everything　a　little　blurry。
  Then　Edward　stopped　and　turned　on　the　last　light。
  The　room　was　big　and　white；　and　the　far　wall　was　mostly　glass—standard　decor　for　my　vampires。
  Outside；　the　moon　was　bright　on　white　sand　and；　just　a　few　yards　away　from　the　house；　glistening　waves。
  But　I　barely　noted　that　part。　I　was　more　focused　on　the　absolutely　huge　white　bed　in　the　center　of　the
  room；　hung　with　billowy　clouds　of　mosquito　netting。
  Edward　set　me　on　my　feet。
  〃I'll。。。　go　get　the　luggage。〃
  The　room　was　too　warm；　stuffier　than　the　tropical　night　outside。　A　bead　of　sweat　dewed　up　on　the　nape
  of　my　neck。　I　walked　slowly　forward　until　I　could　reach　out　and　touch　the　foamy　netting。　For　some
  reason　I　felt　the　need　to　make　sure　everything　was　real。
  I　didn't　hear　Edward　return。　Suddenly；　his　wintry　finger　caressed　the　back　of　my　neck；　wiping　away　the
  drop　of　perspiration。
  〃It's　a　little　hot　here；〃　he　said　apologetically。　〃I　thought。。。　that　would　be　best。〃
  〃Thorough；〃　I　murmured　under　my　breath；　and　he　chuckled。　It　was　a　nervous　sound；　rare　for　Edward。
  〃I　tried　to　think　of　everything　that　would　make　this。。。　easier；〃　he　admitted。
  I　swallowed　loudly；　still　facing　away　from　him。　Had　there　ever　been　a　honeymoon　like　this　before？
  I　knew　the　answer　to　that。　No。　There　had　not。
  〃I　was　wondering；'7Edward　said　slowly；　〃if。。。　first。。。　maybe　you'd　like　to　take　a　midnight　swim　with　me？〃
  He　took　a　deep　breath；　and　his　voice　was　more　at　ease　when　he　spoke　again。　〃The　water　will　be　very
  warm。　This　is　the　kind　of　beach　you　approve　of。〃
  〃Sounds　nice。〃　My　voice　broke。
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  〃I'm　sure　you'd　like　a　human　minute　or　two。。。。　It　was　a　long　journey。〃
  I　nodded　woodenly。　I　felt　barely　human；　maybe　a　few　minutes　alone　would　help。
  His　lips　brushed　against　my　throat；　just　below　my　ear。　He　chuckled　once　and　his　cool　breath　tickled　my
  overheated　skin。　〃Don't　take　too　long；　Mrs。　Cullen。〃
  I　jumped　a　little　at　the　sound　of　my　new　name。
  His　lips　brushed　down　my　neck　to　the　tip　of　my　shoulder。　〃I'll　wait　for　you　in　the　water。〃
  He　walked　past　me　to　the　French　door　that　opened　right　onto　the　beach　sand。　On　the　way；　he　shrugged
  out　of　his　shirt；　dropping　it　on　the　floor；　and　then　slipped　through　the　door　into　the　moonlit　night。　The
  sultry；　salty　air　swirled　into　the　room　behind　him。
  Did　my　skin　burst　into　flames？　I　had　to　look　down　to　check。　Nope；　nothing　was　burning。　At　least；　not
  visibly。
  I　reminded　myself　to　breathe；　and　then　I　stumbled　toward　the　giant　suitcase　that　Edward　had　opened　on
  top　of　a　low　white　dresser。　It　must　be　mine；　because　my　familiar　bag　of　toiletries　was　right　on　top；　and
  there　was　a　lot　of　pink　in　there；　but　I　didn't　recognize　even　one　article　of　clothing。　As　I　pawed　through　the
  neatly　folded　piles—looking　for　something　familiar　and　comfortable；　a　pair　of　old　sweats　maybe—it　came
  to　my　attention　that　there　was　an　awful　lot　of　sheer　lace　and　skimpy　satin　in　my　hands。　Lingerie。　Very
  lingerie…ish　lingerie；　with　French　tags。
  I　didn't　know　how　or　when；　but　someday；　Alice　was　going　to　pay　for　this。
  Giving　up；　I　went　to　the　bathroom　and　peeked　out　through　the　long　windows　that　opened　to　the　same
  beach　as　the　French　doors。　I　couldn't　see　him；　I　guessed　he　was　there　in　the　water；　not　bothering　to
  come　up　for　air。　In　the　sky　above；　the　moon　was　lopsided；　almost　full；　and　the　sand　was　bright　white
  under　its　shine。　A　small　movement　caught　my　eye—draped　over　a　bend　in　one　of　the　palm　trees　that
  fringed　the　beach；　the　rest　of　his　clothes　were　swaying　in　the　light　breeze。
  A　rush　of　heat　flashed　across　my　skin　again。
  I　took　a　couple　of　deep　breaths　and　then　went　to　the　mirrors　above　the　long　stretch　of　counters。　I
  looked　exactly　like　I'd　been　sleeping　on　a　plane　all　day。　I　found　my　brush　and　yanked　it　harshly　through
  the　snarls　on　the　back　of　my　neck　until　they　were　smoothed　out　and　the　bristles　were　full　of　hair。　I
  brushed　my　teeth　meticulously；　twice。　Then　I　washed　my　face　and　splashed　water　on　the　back　of　my
  neck；　which　was　feeling　feverish。　That　felt　so　good　that　I　washed　my　arms　as　well；　and　finally　I　decided
  to　just　give　up　and　take　the　shower。　I　knew