Esme's Isle: Pt 5

“There’s a house here?” I asked as we watched the moon rise into the sky.

“Um-hum,” Carlisle murmured, playing with my hair. “I had a professional designer furnish it--I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t want you to be worrying about a home to take care of when there are other things to think of.”

I laughed breathlessly as his lips caressed down my neck. “Very subtle, Carlisle.”

But his lips did not continue down my body as I expected--they came back up, kissing mine before leaving my skin entirely. Carlisle sat up, staring at me intently with those compassionate golden eyes I’d grown to love so much.  I sat up, too, and he took my hands in a gentle hold.

“Happy 30th anniversary, Esme,” he whispered, and I gasped.

“Has it been so long already?” I asked, my voice almost sad. His features tightened as he heard my distress; I laughed lightly in an effort to make him relax. “I would be 56 this year,” I sighed.

Carlisle smiled. “I’d be 288.” We both laughed softly.

“I’m sorry I forgot,” I said, embarrassed. The days had gone by so inconsequently--I had hardly taken notice of their passing. I frowned. “I didn’t get you anything.”

“You are gift enough, my darling,” he whispered, cupping my jaw.

“But you got me an island!” I laughed.

He shrugged, ignoring me. “Esme, the greatest thing to me is your happiness--your every smile is present enough from me. I bought you this island for you so you could be happy--I bought it as a haven for you, a private island for you and only you. We don’t have enough privacy in our own home as it is.”

I was touched by his speech, but I felt the need to correct him. “Carlisle, my island isn’t my haven if you’re not here,” I murmured softly, and he kissed me in the soft light of the moon and stars.