I glared. "That's not what I meant. I already know how strong you are. You didn't have to break the furniture."

Emmett and Alice snorted at that.

"What did you mean then?" he asked in a dark voice, tossing the handful of iron sand to the corner of the room; it hit the wall with a sound like rain.

His eyes were intent on my face as I struggled to explain.

"Obviously not that you aren't physically able hurt me, if you wanted to…More that, you don't want to hurt me…so much so that I don't think that you ever could."

"She has complete faith in you," Esme was unable to stop herself from saying.

He started shaking his head before I was done.

"It might not work like that, Bella."

"Might," I scoffed. "You have no more idea what you're talking about than I do."

"Exactly. Do you imagine I would ever take that kind of risk with you?"

"Where's your sense of adventure, Eddy?" Emmett smirked.

I stared into his eyes for a long minute. There was no sign of compromise, no hint of indecision in them.

"Please," I finally whispered, hopeless. "It's all I want. Please." I closed my eyes in defeat, waiting for the quick and final no.

But he didn't answer immediately. I hesitated in disbelief, stunned to hear that his breathing was uneven again.

"Ah... she got to you," Emmett said, smiling madly.

"I can't stand it when she's pleading," Edward groaned.

I opened my eyes, and his face was torn.

"Please?" I whispered again, my heartbeat picking up speed. My words tumbled out as I rushed to take advantage of the sudden uncertainty in his eyes. "You don't have to make me any guarantees. If it doesn't work out right, well, then that's that. Just let us try…only try. And I'll give you what you want," I promised rashly. "I'll marry you.

"No," Emmett said, suddenly thrown.

"It looks like you can't win both the bets, Em," Alice gloated.

Emmett started to pout at that.

I'll let you pay for Dartmouth, and I won't complain about the bribe to get me in. You can even buy me a fast car if that makes you happy! Just…please. "

"Wow, she really wants you," Rosalie said.

"She did say that she didn't want anything more," Jasper said. "Not physically, at least."

His icy arms tightened around me, and his lips were at my ear; his cool breath made me shiver. "This is unbearable. So many things I've wanted to give you – and this is what you decide to demand. Do you have any idea how painful it is, trying to refuse you when you plead with me this way?"

"It might not be a good idea to tell her that... she'll just use it more often," Emmett warned.

"Then don't refuse," I suggested breathlessly.

He didn't respond.

"Please," I tried again.

"Bella…" He shook his head slowly, but it didn't feel like a denial as his face, his lips, moved back and forth across my throat. It felt more like surrender. My heart, racing already, spluttered frantically.

Again, I took what advantage I could. When his face turned toward mine with the slow movement of his indecision, I twisted quickly in his arms till my lips reached his. His hands seized my face, and I thought he was going to push me away again.