Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer and I do not own Twilight, etc.
We last left off with Bella venting to Jasper. While they are alone in the house. Edward is in Paris, planning with Alice for the wedding.
AAAAAAAND GO!

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"Well, Jasper, I think I'm gonna go try to sleep again. I haven't been sleeping so well lately," Bella said, rising from the couch to go to her/Edward's room.

"Well, why not, Bella? Is there something you forgot to tell me? I'm all ears." I wanted her to be as comfortable around me as I was around her. And I didn't want to use my gift to attain that. I wanted her to be legitimately friendly. Using my control would be cheating.

"It's nothing, really. I've just gotten so used to being with Edward at night, especially here lately. We've spent every night together for almost two years now and it's tough to sleep without him now. It's not a huge deal, like I said." She was looking at her feet as she told me this. It was as if she was ashamed of her desperation for a companion. Without thinking about what I was doing I blurted, "Bella, I'm just as cold as Edward. You could crash with me tonight, if you'd like. I mean, if it would help you sleep. We don't want Edward to come back thinking I've kept you up all of the time he was gone." I regretted it immediately. If what I thought about falling for her was actual, I was about to potentially put myself in a very dangerous situation.

I felt her mood lighten immediately. She was going to accept, "Jasper, you would let me to that?"

"Of course." Knee-jerk reaction. "We can even sleep in your bed, if you'd like. It'll be like Edward never left." She bounced excitedly over to me, stumbling for a moment before I caught her. She hugged me. She was so warm. It was nice to feel that. I finally understood Edward's appeal. Not to say I shared it, but I understood. Then again, not to say I didn't share it.

You see, when you hold someone at night, someone the same, cold temperature that you are and you don't come in close contact with many humans, you can be easily surprised at the sudden reminder of how warm a living being is. And it is a pleasant shock.

If Edward had been there, he would have ripped my head off. He would know that I was thinking how lucky I would be to get to be him for one night, to get to hold Bella for one beautiful night while he was away. I would just have to make sure not to think about it around him. That was going to be tough. Vampires just don't' forget very easily. And once we have something, we tend to fixate on it. Especially me. I was raised by a Texan man. He taught me that if I wanted something, I had to go after it.

I began to realize what I was thinking. I had to stop myself. I. Could. Not. Love. Bella. I could not let that happen no matter what it came down to. And I wouldn't. But it was tempting. What if she felt the same way and she, like myself, just didn't know it yet or maybe she wasn't sure? Surely it was possible. Would she have accepted my offer so quickly otherwise? Her acceptance was as quick as the offer itself, thoughtless, natural, instinctual.

Maybe I should be pursuing her. But only when Edward isn't around. She did complain about him. And I could be better for her than him. I wouldn't suffocate her the way he does. I wouldn't force things on her she didn't want. Like the new Audi her bought her. It was ridiculous. She asked him not to do and he did it anyway. I wouldn't do that to her. So, if she will have me, let her.

Looks like we will see who the better dead man is soon enough. I have two weeks to win her over.