How Could it Not Have Been?
A/N: Temptation comes in many forms. Carlisle's thoughts to his newborn mind-reader. Vampires. Carlisle/Edward slash. Canon. Rated R.
This bit of flash fiction was originally written for the Twilight No Stress Love Fest. Thanks so much to those who ran it! And thanks to my beta, TwilightMundi, and pre-readers Missyfits and ArcadianMaggie, for their assistance.
Disclaimer: All Twilight characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, Little, Brown, et. al. No profit was made and no copyright infringement is intended.
February 1919
I...I'm sorry, Edward. I should have better prepared you. Indeed, how could you have known?
And yet, how could it not have been so?
What choice had the young woman in the presence of one such as you?
Edward, I was foolish not to have cautioned you to the reaction the woman—any woman, and truly, any honest man—would have in light of your new-found grace and eternal beauty. Such physical glory is bestowed upon any pressed into the ranks of immortal death, but yours...Well, it transcends any I have yet encountered. How could she not have reacted as such?
Did you not also notice her widened pupils? The slight catch in her breath as she first caught the pallor of your flesh, the breadth of your shoulders? Her cheeks staining crimson as she observed the red of your lips, the exceeding strength of your jaw, the narrowness of your waist?
Certainly, it was to be expected, the way her heart would sputter then race in your presence, the organ announcing itself, unaware that drawing the attention of one so new to this life was a foolhardy aim indeed.