08 ── the unspoken connection

»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── EIGHT ──how badly i wanted to hold you ─⋅☾

Unaware of the plan that had been orchestrated, Eve had arrived for work earlier than usual. Eleanor had offered to have her car serviced, and so dropped her off, planning to pick her up after the day's work.

The plan was straightforward: ensure Eve arrived for work early, render her car unavailable, and provide Carlisle with an opportunity to take her home. Meanwhile, Carlisle, although wary, acknowledged on how Eleanor skillfully exploited the situation by utilizing her mom's overdue car servicing, capitalizing on the opportunity, as her actions were based on genuine care.

Though Carlisle had reservations about the carefully planned scenario, he saw how Eleanor meticulously orchestrated events to suit her needs.

Hr swiftly discovered that Eleanor wasn't merely skilled in manipulating circumstances for personal gain; it was her deep devotion to Eve that drove her actions.

Despite Carlisle's intentions to prevent the circumstance from unfolding, he was outnumbered by Eleanor, Alice, Edward, and surprisingly even Rosalie. Although Rosalie initially wanted to diminish the possibility of Eleanor's proximity, Edward knew it was a smokescreen; he had heard her true thoughts about Eleanor. Rosalie's attitude had transformed into begrudging acceptance and mild tolerance.

...


In his office, Carlisle perked up, attuned to the sound of Eve's footsteps as she entered her own office. Her sweet scent, accompanied by an unwavering compulsion to see her, had intensified Carlisle's emotions, especially considering the significant effort he was exerting to maintain control.

Caught in the rhythm of her heartbeat, Carlisle unconsciously tapped his feet to match the tempo, attempting to utilize this connection as a soothing mechanism. Though being without a heartbeat himself, using this method enabled him to feel a deeper in-tune with Eve's presence.

Carlisle's eyes closed, and he found solace in the sound of Eve's heart, which kept rhythmically beating as she departed from her office. Despite the slower pace of the day, it took time before he needed to step out of his office.

When his pager chimed, he couldn't help but smile, realizing how significantly he had grown attached to Eve's presence. However, when he discovered that she was engaged in surgery and was confined to the operating room, he had no choice but to exercise patience, waiting for her to finish.

And Later, when Eve had finally finished her surgery, she found Carlisle already waiting for her outside the operating room. As she stepped out, he couldn't help but observe how tired she looked, but to his relief, she didn't look too distressed.

"How are you feeling?" he couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with concern as he approached her.

Eve's response was a simple, "Tired, but the surgery was successful," and Carlisle couldn't help but notice their shared silence.

Carlisle understood her physical exhaustion and the ache she felt, but a smile escaped her lips, which made him feel guilt. Despite the shared moment of silence, Carlisle's thoughts were heavy with the weight of his guilt and the need to explain his actions.

"Dr. Eve," he said, his voice filled with a mix of determination and hesitation, "There's something I need to tell you. And I was hoping I could have some of your time after our shift?"

Eve's smile wavered slightly, recognizing a mixture of confidence and determination in Carlisle's expression. With a nod of agreement, Eve understood Carlisle's request to speak with her privately after their shift. Her smile wavered slightly as she noticed the mix of of emotions that radiated from him.

"Sure," she responded, her voice carrying a touch of curiosity.

Carlisle's mind felt a wave of relief as Eve agreed to meet him after their shift. He could sense her curiosity in her voice, and he appreciated her willingness to listen.

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with gratitude. "I'll find you at the end of our shift."

As the time ticked by, Carlisle's mind was consumed by thoughts of the impending conversation with Eve. His centuries of existence had accustomed him to patience, but the anticipation of this particular moment felt excruciatingly long.

The hours ticked by with almost no patients, and Carlisle found himself using the unexpected lull to pass the time by doing as he pleased. His heightened hearing attuned to everything around him, especially the sounds of Eve: the rhythm of her heartbeat, the sound of her footsteps as she moved throughout the hospital, and her voice when she conversed with others. These auditory cues served as a soothing balm to his anxious thoughts.

Then when Carlisle was clocking out, Eve was also preparing to leave. A few minutes later, after she had finished her tasks, she spotted Carlisle waiting for her outside the hospital's front entrance.

Feeling her heart beat faster due to uncertainty about the conversation he wanted to have, she adjusted her jacket over her scrubs. Carlisle turned to her as she emerged from the hospital, and he smiled.

"I'd like to take you somewhere," he said softly. She nodded, and Carlisle waited patiently as she pulled out her phone to inform Eleanor that she wouldn't need a ride.

After wrapping up the conversation with Eleanor, Eve got into the car with Carlisle. There was a pause as she took a moment to gather her thoughts, feeling butterflies in her stomach.

"Are you alright?" Carlisle asked gently, sensing her nerves.

"Not at all," Eve confessed, her voice trembling with nervousness. "My heart feels like it's beating out of my chest."

Carlisle couldn't help but smile, amused by her confession, knowing full well he could hear it. He suppressed the urge to comment on it, preferring to let her have this moment for now.

The silence in the car initially made Eve somewhat nervous, but as he continued driving, she found it surprisingly comfortable. Carlisle's presence had a soothing effect on her, and she was certain she would be a nervous wreck if he decided to speak at that particular moment.

Carlisle was well aware that Eve tended to initiate conversations when there was stillness, and he had observed this behaviour over time. It was one of the small nuances he had picked up about her. He also noted that her heart rate had slowed, indicating that she found the silence comfortable.

Eve took in the sights of the town through the car's window, her gaze resting on the myriad of lights from the shops as they passed. The soft glow added a layer of tranquillity to the peaceful silence between her and Carlisle.

As they rounded a final bend and the road ascended higher, Eve's intrigue grew. Instead of asking where they were headed, she remained silent, observing the evolving scenery.

Soon, a small parking lot emerged into view, and Eve noticed a single bench positioned in front of a protective railing that offered a panoramic view.

As the car came to a halt, Carlisle finally cut the engine. He paused for a moment before turning to look at Eve, "I believe this is a suitable location for a conversation."

With Eve's silent agreement, they stepped out of the car and made their way towards the bench. She took her seat first, patting the wooden seat in the invitation for him to sit next so He sat down beside her.

The air was crisp and clear around them, with the stars twinkling in the night sky. The sounds of the town faded into the background as they sat on the bench, the only sound being their steady breaths.

Carlisle fidgeted with his hands for a moment, feeling uncharacteristically anxious. He looked at Eve, taking in her profile in the soft moonlight that illuminated her features.

Eve waited patiently as Carlisle gathered his thoughts. He finally spoke, his voice filled with a hint of hesitation as he started, "I didn't want to turn you down for dinner. I never wanted to. It's just..."

He paused briefly before turning to look at the view in front of them, his gaze reflecting the myriad of emotions swirling within him. "I want everything to be genuine," he continued, his voice tinged with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I don't want to do anything that's driven by hidden motives."

"Would there be hidden motives just by having dinner?" Eve asked softly, her voice filled with curiosity.

Carlisle's expression pained as he forced a smile, responding, "Yes," he admitted. "Because... I wouldn't even be able to genuinely enjoy the meal with you."

"What do you mean?" She inquired carefully, gradually turning to face him.

Carlisle hesitated for a moment before shifting on the bench and turning to face her. At their newfound position facing each other, he paused again before delicately reaching for her hand.

"You've noticed it, haven't you?" he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "My cold touch."

She glanced down, her fingers gently caressing the back of his hand. "Yes," she nodded thoughtfully.

Carlisle struggled to find his words, his confidence failing him at the moment. It was as if there was a frog in the back of his throat, blocking the words from leaving his mouth. He took a deep breath, his sanity racing.

He met her gaze, his expression reflecting the turmoil within him. "That's because..." he trailed off, the weight of his confession heavy on his shoulders.

Eve blurted out, "You're not human," her words catching Carlisle off guard. His eyes widened with surprise, but instead of seeing fear or negativity, he witnessed a smile on her face.

She continued, "I can't explain it," she confessed, her cheeks growing warm as she tried to articulate her instincts. "But I just knew. Even without feeling your cold touch, I could sense within myself that something wasn't human about you. You were... beautiful, majestically beautiful."

She chuckled softly, continuing to hold his hand while her fingers made gentle circles on the back of it. "So, I was right?" she queried, her gaze focused on him.

Carlisle nodded, his expression solemn, "Yes," he acknowledged. "Once human, yes, although no longer."

His gaze locked with hers, and he could see the determination in her eyes. "What are you?" she asked cautiously.

With a sense of finality, Carlisle revealed, "I am a vampire."

He then added, "But there's something I want to confirm." He paused briefly before continuing, "I have never fed on a human before, not even once in my entire life as a vampire."

Eve raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "Really? Then, what do you rely on?"

Carlisle looked at her and replied, "Animals blood," he stated simply. "Our kind can survive on either, but my family and I only feed on animals."

"So... have you ever wanted to feed on me?" Carlisle's eyes widened as Eve asked the question.

He quickly shook his head, his expression resolute. "No, absolutely not," he reiterated. "The thought of feeding on you has never crossed my mind, even once."

Eve smiled gently, her hand moving to touch his cheek. "It's nice to hear that," she said, her tone filled with relief. "Sorry, I was just curious."

Carlisle savoured the sensation of her warm touch as he closed his eyes, her hands gently caressing his cheeks. He felt a strange comfort wash over him as she continued.

"It's a nice feeling," she mused softly. "The cold touch, it's strange," she admitted, her voice filled with a mixture of intrigue and intrigue. As he opened his eyes, he couldn't help but wonder, "It actually calms me," she added.

Carlisle let out a soft chuckle, his hands moving to take hold of her warm ones. As he spoke, he reassured, "You can ask me anything, Eve. I'll tell you whatever you want."

Eve nodded, curiosity in her eyes, and promptly inquired, "Well, for starters, how old are you?"

Carlisle thought for a moment before his answer came, "I can't give a definite age, since I honestly forgot when my exact birthday was, but I was born around the 1640's."

Eve's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

She shook her head in disbelief, staring at him in shock. "Wow. I was not expecting it to be that long ago," she admitted, her voice filled with a mix of awe and fascination.

The realization lingered for a moment before curiosity got the better of her. She shifted closer and asked, "So, are vampires frozen at the age they are turned?" Carlisle nodded affirmatively, and she continued, her interest piqued, "So what age are you frozen in?"

"Twenty-three," he confirmed, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Eve playfully pointed out, "Oh so, technically, I'm older than you in human years." A chuckle escaped Carlisle's lips, and she jokingly reprimanded him. "Don't laugh," she retorted.

He leaned into her touch, his voice filled with affection as he reassured her, "You're only three years older, it's really not that much."

She broke the comfortable silence between them, her hand moving to rest on his neck.

Eve began, "I have more questions, but I'll save them for later." She paused, her intense gaze meeting his, and added, "I just wanted you to know, Carlisle, that I like you... a lot. In fact, I can't seem to stop thinking about you."

Carlisle's mind raced as he heard Eve's words. The sincerity in her voice and the intensity in her gaze sent shivers down his spine.

He held her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of joy and something that almost resembled adoration. He reached out, gently taking her hand that rested on his neck, and brought it to his lips.

With a tender touch, he pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "I like you too," he confessed, his voice soft but firm. "And I find myself thinking about you constantly."

Eve's smile widened, and she couldn't help but lean her head against his forehead. Her fingers trailed gently over his neck, creating soothing circles.

As she exhaled in contentment, Carlisle instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.

Carlisle held her close, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist. With her head resting against his forehead, he tightened his embrace, savouring the softness of her touch.

"You have no idea how badly I wanted to hold you like this," he murmured, his voice filled with a tenderness that surprised even himself.

A lighthearted smile tugged at the corners of his lips as she playfully replied, "Well, get used to it." Her voice was filled with a playful tease, "Because you have no idea how much I want this to happen."

Carlisle tightened his embrace even further, pulling her firmly against his chest. "Believe me," he whispered, "I am more than happy to get used to it."

The two shared a soft laugh, holding onto each other for a few minutes longer before turning their attention to the breathtaking view.

It seemed neither needed to label their relationship; the unspoken connection and agreement between them was evident in their embrace. The words were redundant; they had already confessed, and they understood that they were together.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top