A/N: Sorry for the delay, and thank you for your patience, but here it is! You know, betas have lives too, so don't be too harsh.

Lemon-alert!

Chapter 7 - You're stuck with me

She used her own phone to call Carlisle in the morning. After briefly explaining what had happened, he asked if she could come to the guest quarters. Jasper escorted her there before he had to go to yet another meeting. Almost there, he could feel that she was a bit embarrassed, and he had to ask.

"Bella? Why are you feeling that way?"

"Everyone must have heard me last night, with all the super-hearing going on here."

He smiled at her and tilted her chin up so he could look at her.

"Every bedroom here is soundproof, Bella, including mi … ours. As long as the door's closed, no one can hear a thing. It's the only way to have something even resembling privacy here."

She looked surprised. "Really? Oh, that's a relief."

He chuckled and then knocked on the door in front of them. Esme opened.

"Major, Bella, welcome." She smiled and gestured for them to come in, but Jasper shook his head.

"I have to go, Mrs. Cullen. I would very much appreciate it if you could make sure that Bella isn't left alone afterward, unless she's in our quarters?"

Esme looked a little wondering but just nodded. "Of course, Major. And you can call me Esme, please." She smiled warmly at him.

Jasper smiled back and then took Bella in his arms. "Take care, love. I'll be back in the afternoon, I hope. Unless Peter managed to make a complete mess of everything yesterday."

Bella giggled but kissed him back eagerly when he leaned down to say good-bye. Then he left, and Esme gently led her into the flat. To Bella's surprise the rest of the family were there as well—Rosalie and Emmett sat on the couch, and Alice was perched on the armrest of an armchair. They were all smiling at her, and she returned it. She had missed them.

Carlisle came out from another room with his bag, and he also smiled warmly at her.

"Bella, it's good to see you again. Here, come and have a seat." He led her to the dining table where they both sat down.

"Tell me what happened," Carlisle said and started to gently feel over the cast with his fingers.

Bella sighed. "I was turning over in bed and hit … something hard. It hurt really bad, like the stab of a knife. It doesn't hurt now, though."

Carlisle frowned and continued his examination.

Emmett laughed on the couch. "Something hard, was it? Please, tell us, what part of his body was that?"

Bella blushed but looked up at the sound of one vampire hitting another. Emmett was rubbing the back of his head and Rosalie glared at him.

"Let her be, Emmett."

Emmett didn't quite stop chuckling, but he looked a little sorry.

Bella sighed and rolled her eyes. "It was his shoulder, okay? Nothing more exiting." She saw how Emmett opened his mouth again, but she only heard the sharp slap. Rosalie didn't seem to have moved.

"Leave the poor girl alone, or it will be with nails next time."

Emmett shrugged but smiled apologetically at Bella. "Sorry, Bells."

She couldn't help but giggle at his antics—she had missed her big bear of a brother.

Carlisle sat up straighter after examining the cast. "Well, I can find one very small dent, but nothing more. It looks as if you had a maximum of bad luck and hit exactly over the break. Can you still move your fingers?"

Bella wiggled her fingers and showed that she could still grip things.

"Good. I don't think there's any damage. There is no strange swelling, you still have full mobility of your fingers, and the pain is gone. I'd say that you're good to go, Bella. But be a little bit more careful, perhaps." Carlisle's eyes were warm and caring, and Bella smiled.

"I will. It's just so inconvenient, you know. It's heavy and in the way."

Carlisle frowned. "I know. But you have to wear it for at least another two weeks. It was a very clean break—and only to one of the bones—but if it doesn't heal properly, you can lose some mobility."

She nodded and pulled down the sleeve of her cardigan. "I know. I'm just whining a little."

Carlisle rose and patted her on the head in a very fatherly gesture. "I'll see what I can do, Bella. I have to go now. Edward and Liberty are waiting for me." He flitted over to Esme and kissed her on the cheek and then disappeared out the door.

Esme led Bella over to the couches and sat her down.

"He's going to see Edward?" Bella wondered.

Esme smiled and answered. "Yes. They have a woman here, Liberty. She has a very subtle gift. She can at once see what it is that causes any emotional or psychological problems in someone. From what I understand, she is actually a trained therapist, and she tends to all of the vampires living here."

Bella's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, Jasper spoke about her the other day. Can she help Edward?"

"Seems like it," Alice chimed in. "She's talking with both Edward and Carlisle now. Apparently Carlisle can help since he's Edward's sire."

Bella looked at Alice. She seemed so much more relaxed now than she had ever been in Bella's presence. Her eyes were steady, her face was calm, and she looked happy. She wasn't fidgeting, and she was dressed more casual than Bella had ever seen her—a soft skirt and a long sleeved top. Albeit both of them probably were of a designer brand, but still.

"You seem to be doing well, Alice," Bella stated and smiled at her. She had always liked Alice, but the other girl had never dared to really approach her or be alone with her.

"I am. It wasn't until Edward was taken away that I realized how much he has been messing with my brain and my gift. I'm sad to say it, but he made me doubt myself so badly. He dazzled me all the time to get me to show him things or to rethink what I had seen."

Bella was surprised, and she saw how Esme averted her face and looked down on her hands.

Alice also looked at Esme, and she looked concerned. "Mom? You know it wasn't your fault."

"Esme," Rosalie added, "we have talked about this. None of us saw what was happening. He had us all confused. Even Carlisle."

Esme sighed heavily. "I know. But I still feel guilty."

Bella moved closer to Esme, and she took one of her cold hands into her own. "No one is to blame here except Edward himself. He's getting help."

Esme looked up at her and smiled. "Well, at least some good came out of all of this. You seem very happy, Bella."

Bella giggled. "I am. I have never felt this … complete before."

All of them, even Emmett, smiled at her.

"You have no idea how good it is to hear that," Rosalie said. "Now, are you up for a game of monopoly?" Bella nodded. It had been a long time since she had spent time with her family—at least it felt like that to her.

One week passed, with Jasper being away from Bella a lot and at odd times, but she knew that he made serious efforts to be with her as much as he could. He had told her that it was the preparations for the upcoming mission that took most of his time, and the rest he had to split between his usual duties and her. She didn't complain, but instead tried to cherish the moments they had. When he was not with her, she spent quite a lot of time with the Cullens.

This particular afternoon Bella was excited. She sat in Esme and Carlisle's flat, and after this evening—he had promised he would join her at bedtime—she would have an uninterrupted twenty-four hours of Jasper-time. At least that was the plan. He had promised to take her out of the castle on a small excursion, and she was looking forward to it. Trying to pass the time, Alice, Esme and Bella were looking through some fashion magazines. Bella wasn't that into it, but Esme reminded her that it was important that she dressed well on some occasions, so she listened to the advice Alice and Esme gave her. Some were actually quite useful and something she could apply to more than "special occasion" clothing.

The door opened, and Carlisle came in. Esme rose and greeted him happily.

"Carlisle, I didn't expect you here for another hour or two."

He embraced her and kissed her. "I know, but I have some good news for Bella, I think, so I was excused."

Bella sat up straight and looked at Carlisle with eyebrows raised in question.

He turned toward her and smiled. "We came to talk about Edward's, um, attack on you today, Bella. He's very remorseful about that, by the way. While we talked about that, I came to mention that you really don't like that cast. That's when Liberty suggested something we ought to try. There is a man here named Kembe. He has a quite special gift: he can exude venom through the palms of his hands. The Volturi uses this in fights, of course, because it hurts other vampires. But it can also be used to heal humans. Without turning them."

Bella's eyes widened. "Are you sure? That sounds really weird."

Carlisle chuckled. "Yes, I know. His venom must be different from other's. Maybe there is something in the chemical bonding …" Carlisle looked thoughtful. Bella recognized that look and gave him an indulgent smile.

He smiled apologetically and continued. "I just talked to him. Apparently he can exude venom in such small doses and over enough of an area that it doesn't affect the human cells that way. He's willing to give it a try, if you are. However, he was quite clear with the fact that he will probably not be able to heal the break completely, but it should be enough for you to get into a soft cast instead. One that you can remove if you need to."

Bella smiled happily. "That would be awesome. Can he do it now?"

Carlisle nodded, but then Bella suddenly felt hesitant.

"I think I'd better ask Jasper first, though. I hope you're not offended, Carlisle, but there is a lot going on inside these walls that you have no idea about." She saw how Rosalie and Emmett raised their eyebrows, but Esme nodded at her, as did Carlisle.

Alice closed her eyes. "I can only see it going well," she said after a short while and opened her eyes again. She was smiling brilliantly.

Bella couldn't help but return it, but she still needed to make sure this Kembe was okay. "It's not that I don't trust you. I just want to be sure." Bella took out her phone and dialed Jasper's number. He answered immediately.

"Bella?"

"Hey, I have a question. Do you know a man named Kembe?"

"Sure, why?"

Bella hesitated a little. "It seems he can heal humans, and Carlisle want him to try on my arm."

"Oh, of course! Why didn't I think of that … Yes, it should be quite alright. He's a good man, Bella. You can trust him."

"Great! I just wanted to check. You know, so he wasn't with any of … you know, them."

Jasper chuckled on the other end. "Good thinking. But yes, he's okay. Can you give the phone to Carlisle for just a sec?"

"Sure. Love you."

"Love you too, sweet girl."

She handed the phone to Carlisle, who looked a little surprised but took it and listened.

"Yes, of course."

Bella couldn't hear what Jasper said, but the others in the room could, and they looked a little concerned.

"No, I promise." Pause. "Yes, Major, I understand." Pause. "Yes, thank you, good bye." Carlisle hung up and handed the phone back to Bella. She hadn't missed the eyes that the others gave one another.

"It seems that your Major is quite protective of you, my dear. I guess you can't tell us who they are?" Carlisle's face was questioning, but Bella knew he would never press her into admitting anything.

She frowned. "They are enemies of Jasper's. I really don't want to name names. They haven't done anything, as far as I know."

"Yet," Emmett said and scoffed. "Well, if anyone tries anything, you just holler, Bells, and I'll come running. No one's hurting my little sis, that's for sure."

Bella smiled widely at her big brother. "I don't think you have to worry, Em. As Carlisle says, I have a very protective mate. But thanks."

"Well then," Carlisle said, "I'll go and fetch Kembe."

Kembe was a huge, bald, black man, who looked to have been in his thirties when he was changed. He had a golden ring in each ear, and he was of course beautiful. He was not as wide as Emmett, but just as tall, and he wore a dark gray cloak. He had a very nice smile and a laugh that made you want to join in. He stretched out his hand to Bella, and she shook it.

"Miss Swan, I'm Kembe. Carlisle here tells me that you want to see if I can make that arm of yours any better." His voice was deep but friendly, and his eyes were warm and dark red.

Bella smiled back at him. "Yes please, that would be very kind of you. And call me Bella, please."

Kembe laughed. "Oh, the Captain wouldn't like that, Miss."

Bella frowned. She didn't know of Jasper's reasons for this, but she was going to ask him. It was getting embarrassing.

Carlisle gestured to the dining table. "Come sit over here, Bella, so we can remove the cast and take a look. Rose, will you fetch the brace and the rest of the plaster? Just in case we need it again."

Bella sat down by the dining table where Esme had placed a large towel. Carlisle sat down in front of her like last time and carefully started to open the cast. It was easy work for him, the plaster yielding like soft paper in his hands. It was a huge relief for Bella when she could finally scratch an itch she had been having for days.

It was easy to see exactly where the break had occurred—the area was still bruised yellow and green even though it was pale by now. There were other bruises around it as well, bruises that matched Edward's fingers perfectly. Carlisle examined her arm carefully and washed off any residue from the plaster and cotton.

"It has healed very well so far," he noted. "Don't move your arm now, though. Hold it still. Kembe?" The large man came up to the table and took Carlisle's place.

Carlisle pointed at Bella's arm. "Here, you can see the breaking point. It's a very clean break, and it has been set perfectly."

Kembe nodded and then looked at Bella. "This might sting a little, Miss. I will put my hand over this spot, and then it will take a few minutes. You must hold very still."

Bella nodded and watched as he placed his big hand on her forearm. Kembe closed his eyes, and soon she felt a slight sting, as if she had burnt herself on a nettle. The sensation eased, though, and morphed into the feeling of a soft prickling inside her arm. It felt weird, but she held still.

Five minutes later Kembe opened his eyes again and smiled.

"That's what I can do. You have to judge how well it has healed, Carlisle." When he removed his hand, Bella could only stare. The bruises were all gone.

She looked up at him. "Amazing. Why don't you do this full time?"

Kembe smiled at her as he rose from the chair. "The other humans who live here don't get hurt very often. I'm usually only needed for holding other vampires still. But I'm glad I could help, little Miss. Just remember, I can't heal a full break, not completely."

Carlisle took Kembe's place and carefully examined her arm. He made her wiggle her fingers, bend her wrist and elbow, and grip a pen. He was very pleased.

"This looks and feels very good. I'm going to put you in this brace, Bella. It gives you much more freedom of movement with your hand, and it's much lighter. You still need to keep it on night and day for at least another week. We don't want that break to reopen." Bella nodded as Carlisle gently strapped the brace around her arm. There were four steel rods encased in it to keep the arm straight and protected, but she could bend her wrist now.

"Thank you, Kembe," she said, looking up at the huge man.

He smiled a shining white smile and donned his cloak again. "Anytime, Miss. I'm happy to help. I'll take my leave." He made a small bow and disappeared out the door.

"And thank you, Carlisle." She smiled at him and he mussed her hair a little.

"Now, don't go and re-break it, Bella."

Bella was already in bed when Jasper came back to their quarters. He smiled at her as she sat in the bed, reading. She was, as usual, gorgeous in her simple tank top and braid. She returned his smile and held up her new brace for him to see.

"Look, it's so much lighter and better."

He sat down on the bed beside her and took a closer look. The brace was black and closed with Velcro. As he examined it, he also took in her scent. To his relief it hadn't changed at all.

"Sure seems like it. I'm sorry I didn't think of Kembe. I have never actually seen him heal anyone, only fight."

"No worries, Jasper. What did you say to Carlisle, by the way? On the phone? The others seemed a little … anxious."

Jasper chuckled and kissed her now free hand. "I just told him that if anything went wrong, I would have his head."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Jasper, you can't go around and say things like that to people."

He grinned back at her. "Of course I can. At least until you're changed and can convince me not to."

"And what's with the 'miss' thing? I prefer if people call me Bella."

Jasper sighed a little. "I know, love. It's just that while you're still human people here don't respect you. By forcing people to call you 'Miss Swan,' they have to think twice about who they're talking about and to. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about that."

Bella shrugged. "I really don't think it's necessary."

He smiled. "Okay then. I'll let it go."

With those words he pressed a kiss on her cheek and rose. He walked into his closet and emerged just a few seconds later dressed in his usual pajama pants and T-shirt. She put her book on the nightstand and felt his arms snake around her. She turned so she faced him and let both her hands roam down his chest.

"Why do you wear the shirt, Jasper?" She could feel how he instantly froze, but only for a second. Then he took a deep breath. He sat up in the bed and slowly pulled the T-shirt over his head. She had to gasp when she saw his naked chest. He was, of course, gorgeous to look at. He was lithe and well muscled, but what really drew her eyes were the scars. She knew she wasn't able to see them as clear as a vampire could, but she could still see enough of the faint patterns to know that he had a lot of them. It didn't make her want him any less, though, rather the opposite. To her, it showed how strong and formidable he was. She sat up beside him and gently traced some of the scars, from his neck and down. She realized that his eyes were worried and anxiously looked at her.

She let her eyes roam over his chest. "You are so beautiful," she whispered. She looked up at him again and saw wonder in his eyes. She reached up and kissed an especially prominent crescent at his neck, and she could feel him shiver under her touch.

In the blink of an eye she was on her back in the bed, with Jasper hovering over her. He kissed her very gently, asking for permission, and she let him in. After a little while he started to place a row of kisses down her neck, and she tilted her head to the side to give him better access. He growled softly when she did and nipped at her skin. She giggled as it tickled. Then he kissed her at a certain spot on her neck, and she shivered in delight. It was if his kiss went straight down in her body, and heat started to pool in the pit of her stomach. One of his hands had been wandering up and down her side, but now it cupped her breast, and his thumb flicked over her nipple. He raised his head and looked at her as she gasped at the touch. Even though he touched her through the fabric of her tank top, it went straight down to her belly and she moaned. She met his eyes. They were very dark and seemed to be smoldering.

"Is this okay?" he asked in a whisper.

"Hell yes," she moaned in response and he chuckled softly. He bent his head down and kissed her and then traced a line with his tongue down her neck and to the hollow at the base of her throat.

"You taste so good," he whispered, his cool breath making her shiver. His hand still cupped her breast, and she wanted ...

"Jasper, please, I need more," she breathed out.

He raised his head again to look at her. "I was thinking that now that 'plaster-gate' is gone, we might do 'more.' Glad we're in agreement." With that he lowered his head and placed kisses along the neckline of her top. His hand squeezed at her breast, and she groaned. This was beyond nice!

He moved his head further down and kissed her other breast through the fabric, gently catching her nipple between his lips and pulling. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she let out a surprised little cry and he smiled. His hands moved to her waist and in under the top. Her skin was so warm and soft and he wanted to taste all of her, but he knew he had to be patient and let her lead. Her emotions swirled around him and didn't make it easier, though. Her lust and arousal were combined with her love for him, and it was a heady mixture that was hard to resist. He continued to kiss her neckline and caress her skin just below her breasts, when she let go of his hair, wriggled a little, and then the top was gone. He looked up at her, her eyes were hooded and her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip. He smiled at her and took a moment to admire her. She was absolute perfection.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered before he leaned down and kissed her breast. Her hands came down hard on his shoulders and she moaned again. He let his tongue dart out and lick at her nipple, and he could feel how she clamped her thighs together. He smiled to himself as the scent of her arousal reached his nostrils. Her lust peaked as he continued to lick and kiss her nipple and his hand played with her other breast. He wondered how far he should take her, how far she wanted to go.

He looked up at her. Her eyes were closed with a slight frown on her brow, her lips slightly apart and she was breathing rapidly. She was so beautiful. He continued to lavish kisses on her breast, while one hand gently travelled down her side and over her hip. He stopped there to gauge her reaction. Her emotions told him that she liked it. He let his hand continue down over her pajama pants, down her thigh, and then, very lightly, back up on the inside of it. She gasped again, but he never touched her center, wanting her to take that step herself.

"Please," she groaned. "Jasper, please …"

He smiled against her skin and placed his thigh between her legs. She immediately flexed up into him, probably not entirely aware that she was doing it. Her hands tried to pull him even closer to her, and he placed his hand under her thigh and hooked her leg up and around his own. She pressed on him hard, to get even closer, and he had to take a moment to calm down.

His own arousal was very evident, and he had to move a little to ease the pressure she was causing. As he stopped and leaned his forehead on her chest, he could feel need flow through her and a little confusion.

"Jasper? Is everything okay?"

As he looked up at her, he met her eyes. They were wide and shiny.

He smiled. "Oh yes, love, very okay. I just needed to make sure I was still in control here."

"I have never … This is amazing. Is it always like this?"

He chuckled. "It's usually even better. Do you want me to take you there?" He could feel a slight twinge of nervousness from her and immediately realized that she would interpret that as if he was going to go all the way.

"No, love, not that far, not until you want to. But I can make it really good for you."

She blushed and then nodded.

He smiled at her. "Close your eyes, love, and just feel. You are safe with me."

She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. He could feel her anticipation but also that she was still a little nervous. He wasn't surprised. He kissed her on her sweet lips and asked permission to enter her mouth. She opened to him without hesitation. Then he kissed her down on her chest, and lavished some more love on her breasts. He removed his leg from between hers, and gently placed his hand over her mound, on top of the fabric, and pressed down. She cried out and gripped tightly in his hair. He lifted his head and looked at her as he moved his hand in a small circle and she cried out again. Carefully—wanting to keep in contact with her the whole time so she knew where he was—he moved his hand up to the waistband and then under it. He caressed her skin, moved lower, and found lace. He slipped his fingers under that as well, and he could hear her pant faster. Very gently he moved his cool fingers through the soft hairs and then touched her even softer lips. She widened her thighs to give him better access, and he slid one finger between her folds and moved it slowly up and down. Her emotions swirled even faster and her lust and arousal grew to even higher levels. He could feel some of it on his hand. He couldn't resist, but removed his hand from her heat and licked his fingers. She tasted amazing, pure nectar to him.

She stilled somewhat and panted, loosening the grip on his hair. He took advantage of the moment and started to ease her pants and panties down her smooth legs. As he placed himself between her thighs he met her now open eyes, as she stared at him.

"Just relax, love," he whispered, and her head fell back. Gently he licked her and was rewarded with a shudder and a loud moan. Her hands found his hair again and her hips started to move. He gently held her down as his tongue continued to explore. She tasted amazing and she was so responsive. When he let his tongue flick over her clit for the first time she cried out and her back arched. After just a short while he could feel that she was soon going to climax, so he eased a finger into her carefully, anxious for her to like it. She cried out again.

"Oh, Jasper! Oh, my god!" He smiled to himself and started to move. Yes, she definitely liked that. A few seconds later her walls started to clamp down on him and he continued to lick until she cried out in pleasure and shook under his ministrations. Then he moved up the bed so he could hold her in his arms as she came down, slowly stroking her back. It had taken him all of his self-control not to claim her, or to come himself, but it had been worth it. Her sated feelings were full of love and amazement and filled his mind.

After a little while she looked up at him.

"Was that … Is that how … Wow." She was a little incoherent and he smiled at her.

"Yes, that was an orgasm. I'm glad you liked it." He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she giggled a little as she leaned her forehead at his chest.

"Wow. Thank you." Then she yawned. "Oh, sorry. I'm just a little … spent."

He laughed a soft laugh. "Good, job well done. Go to sleep, Bella."

She didn't protest but snuggled up against him and let his purr lull her to sleep.

In the shower the next morning she realized she was a little sore. Not uncomfortable, but there were obviously muscles that weren't used to the exercise. She was very happy, though. She was starting to understand what the fuss was all about. And she was so glad that she had a mate who obviously knew what he was doing. While she washed her hair, she recalled the other girls at school talking about making out with boys. Some had done even more than that, but none of them had described it quite like this. Jasper had been so gentle and taken such good care of her. To be honest with herself, she was quite expectant of what the coming evening might hold for her. She made an extra effort to make sure that she was shaved properly under her arms and down her legs, and it was so much easier now that she could use two hands. In her mind she sent a silent "thank you" to both Carlisle and Kembe.

When she had dried her hair and had put on underwear, she realized she had no idea of where Jasper was taking her today. She stood in her closet dressed only in a light-blue bra and matching boy-shorts looking at all her clothes.

"Jasper?" she called out, knowing that he would have no problem hearing her, because the door to the bedroom was open. "Where are we going today?"

She didn't hear any answer, and as she turned her head to ask again, she startled. He stood in the doorway, leaning at the frame, with a very pleased grin on his face. His eyes were roaming up and down her body and she blushed. She saw that he was wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and boots.

"That color looks really good on you, Bella."

She averted her eyes and fidgeted a little as the blush slowly crept up her cheeks. He had seen her in the nude last night, but it still felt strange for her to be this bare.

"To answer your question, we are going to take a drive in the country side and bring lunch for you. It will be pretty warm, at least 30 degrees in the shade, so wear something light."

Bella looked a little confused and Jasper realized why.

"30 degrees Celsius. We're in Europe, remember? That would be in the high 80's for you."

"Oh, nice. I like it warm, I used to live in Phoenix." She smiled at him and turned back to her clothes as he disappeared back into the living room.

She picked a blue sleeveless blouse and a wide white skirt that ended just above her knees. She decided on a pair of white ballerina flats to go with it. She looked at herself in the full height mirror, deciding to keep her hair down but to bring a hair tie or two. When she had unpacked all of her stuff, she realized that Charlotte really had gotten her everything, and she dug out a pair of sunglasses she had never thought she would use. She also decided to bring a really thin, light-blue silk wrap—not to warm her but to protect her skin from the sun. She hesitated in front of the sets of bijouterie that Charlotte also had provided, but decided that if this wasn't a date then nothing was, so she put on a pair of small pearl earrings. The necklace with the ring already hung under her blouse.

Jasper's eyes widened when she came up to the dining table to eat her breakfast. He had been reading on a tablet, but he looked up as soon as her sweet scent hit his nostrils. She looked like a vision; her pale skin taking on the color of cream against her blue blouse and her hair getting an even warmer tint. His eyes missed nothing, and he noted the small earrings. It was the first time he had seen her wear any kind of jewelry except for her watch or the ring he had given her. He could see the chain of that necklace around her neck, but as usual she kept the ring under her blouse. He rose and pulled her into his arms and kissed her before he nuzzled her neck and inhaled her scent.

"You are as beautiful as a day, love." He breathed at her neck, and she giggled. He straightened up and smiled at her. "Your breakfast awaits, ma'am."

"Why thank you, good sir," she answered and curtsied. He laughed at her antics and sat down beside her. She dug in, and as usual he had a very hard time to move his eyes from her. He did have a question for her, though.

"So, did you like last night?"

She blushed deep red and looked down at her plate.

"I thought that was obvious," she answered with a low voice, and he could feel how his question both made her feel embarrassed and a bit wanting. He liked that a lot.

"I just wanted to make sure. Then maybe we can go for 'more' tonight as well?" He smiled as he saw her blush even redder, and her emotions told him that she would like that very much. She turned toward him and took his face between her hands.

"Please," she breathed and then kissed him. It was a heated kiss, and just as he wondered if maybe they should cancel their day out, she broke it and leaned her forehead against his while she panted. Then she looked him in the eyes again and smiled.

"But that's for tonight. I've been cooped up in this castle for too long. I need a change of scenery."

"Eat up then, sweet girl, and we'll get out of here."

They walked down to the posh lobby where they took an elevator down to the garage. A tall vampire in a black suit stood up from behind a desk when they entered the hallway.

"Captain, your car is ready for you." He handed over a car key, a basket, and a folded blanket to Jasper.

"Thanks, Dan."

The man made a small bow. "Have a nice day, sir, madam."

Jasper took her hand and led her over to a low, sleek, and completely black car. The windows were deeply tinted and even the rims were black. It looked fast, and she could make out the word "Porsche" on the small shield at the front as he guided her around the car and opened the passenger door for her. She sat down in the very comfortable bucket seat and looked around. Behind the front seats was a very cramped backseat. She doubted anyone could actually fit their legs in there. The interior was all in black leather with some white accents, and it smelled of leather and Jasper. It was a nice mix. He climbed in to the driver's seat and put the basket and the blanket in the back.

"So, you like it?" he asked, gesturing at the interior, and smiled at her.

She smiled back and put her seat belt on. "It looks amazing. It's a Porsche?"

He nodded. "911 Turbo. I've had some work done on it, though." He turned the key, and the engine roared to life. He guided the car to the exit, the garage door rolled up, and then they were out in the bright sunlight.

As they slowly cruised through Volterra, Jasper pointed out streets and buildings to her. He promised to take her out on an evening stroll some night so she could see the city properly. There were quite a lot of people moving around in the streets, and many of them looked after the car. Some even took pictures of it with their phones.

Jasper grumbled when he saw that. "As if they haven't seen nice cars before. Italy is full of them."

"Do you all have nice, private cars like this?" Bella asked, distracting him from the curious humans.

"Not everyone, but some of us do. Demetri drives a very nice Ferrari. That's a car to take a picture of. But I like something a little bit sturdier—that's not only built for speed, but that takes curves and can handle a bit of a rough road. This one's got a proper four-wheel drive."

"And Peter and Charlotte?"

Jasper's laugh startled her. "Well, Peter doesn't drive a car any longer. He has crashed far too many. He loves to drive and to push his vehicles to the limit. Unfortunately, his vehicles haven't quite met his expectations. Char has forbidden him to drive any more. She's terrified that he'll crash and that the car will catch fire and kill him. Char has a jeep. She loves to drive off-road."

As Bella pondered this—and watched Jasper honk at people that wouldn't move—they exited the city through a deep and high stone gate.

Finally getting outside the city, Jasper accelerated down the winding and narrow road. Bella couldn't help but gasp from time to time. It was an exhilarating feeling to look out her window and see nothing but sky as the mountainside dropped into a gorge at the edge of the road. Jasper seemed to be in full control, though, and after a little while Bella relaxed. Jasper began to point out landmarks, villages, and some vineyards. There were also some ruins which dated back to the Roman era that were clearly visible from the road.

"So, where are you taking me?" she asked after a while.

"There is a national park not far from here with a castle ruin. It's a real forest. I thought it would make a nice break from all the stone." He smiled at her and then turned his eyes back to the road. Bella returned his smile and continued to look out over the passing landscape. Around Volterra there had been some greenery, but that had soon given way for a dryer landscape. The mountains were the same color as the stone in Volterra—a dry beige that shifted to almost yellow. The dirt in the many fields was light brown, interspersed with green plantations. The sun was battering down white-hot from a cloudless sky, and Bella had to turn on the A/C. It was getting a bit warm inside the black car.

They went up slopes and down into valleys and through small, sleepy villages, but the road was pretty desolate. The view was sometimes amazing, and Bella regretted that she hadn't brought a camera. She could see birds of prey circling high above from time to time. Other than that the landscape was empty and sizzling hot. After about an hour on the road, Bella could see what looked like a shadow creeping up a mountain straight ahead of them, but still quite far away. As they got closer she could tell that the shadows were actually trees, a whole forest of dark-green canopies.

"Is that where we're going?" she asked.

"It is indeed. Riserva Naturali di Berignone—still green thanks to several springs on the mountain and a different kind of soil than the land around it."

She giggled. "Vampire memory?"

"Yeah," he said and looked almost embarrassed. "But it's also these kind of things that can be important to survival. For us it's vital to know where we can find shade."

"Oh, of course. Didn't think about that."

He looked at her and smiled then reached across with his hand and stroked her cheek with the backside of his fingers.

The road was winding uphill among the trees, and their green shade was welcome. Bella didn't feel overly warm inside the car—thanks to the A/C—but she had a feeling she would get warm very quickly outside. They drove into what looked like a clearing but was actually a graveled parking lot. There were no other cars parked, though. Jasper parked under the shade of a huge cedar tree.

"The rest of the way is on foot, but if you get too tired or too warm, I'll carry you," he said and smiled. Bella rolled her eyes at him but didn't argue. It had been a while since she had lived in the desert after all. They exited the car with the basket and blanket, and Jasper locked it. The sunlight was quite bright, so she put on her sunglasses. It was easy to see where the path began; there was a sign stating "Castello dei Vescovi" shaped as an arrow pointing to a graveled pathway. Jasper carried their things in one hand and took Bella's hand in the other.

The path was well kept, but in some places rather steep. It wound its way toward the top of the mountain, and several times they crossed small streams. Fortunately, the trees were tall enough to keep the path almost completely shaded, and there was a slight breeze whispering through the greenery. The forest was quiet except from the low buzz of an insect or two. Bella and Jasper talked in low voices—it felt as if they were intruders into this quiet land of greenery. Finally, they reached the top. They exited the shade and walked into a meadow. The old ruin was right in front of them, overlooking the landscape below. It must have been a mighty castle once, but now most of the remaining walls were barely above the yellow grass and shrubbery, and it was overgrown with thorny vines. There was one tall tower still standing, and there was a walkway built of planks leading up and around it. Jasper led Bella to a large oak and spread the blanket in the shade under it. The breeze had picked up a little but it was nice. Bella gratefully sank down on the blanket and pushed her sunglasses up in her hair. Jasper unpacked the basket and handed her a bottle of cool water.

"You need to drink, love. I know what heat does to humans."

"Thanks." She opened the bottle and took a few mouthfuls. It tasted really good and was just what she needed. Then she looked at what Antonio had packed for her. There were some sandwiches—of course made on freshly baked bread and with crisp salad—a small slice of Antonio's wonderful mushroom and feta-cheese pie, bite-sized pieces of melon and a large bowl of strawberries.

"Oh my," Bella said, eyeing all the food. "I don't know if I can eat all this. But it looks delicious."

Jasper wrinkled his nose slightly. "It's your food. You eat what you want." She laughed at him but dug into a sandwich. The trek up here had made her hungry.

They sat quiet while she ate, listening to the odd cicada playing its music in the golden grass. Bella enjoyed the silence and tranquility. It was different from the castle, and the air smelled so nice and clean. She looked out over the meadow and beyond the ruin. The horizon was hazy, and she let her mind wander as she started on the slice of pie. Jasper lay on his side, propped up on one elbow, so he could look at her. She was always beautiful, but when she had that look on her face that told him that she was lost in thoughts, she was even more so. He could spend his whole day and night just looking at her—her almost translucent pale skin, her straight, thin nose, her cheekbones, and her soft, full lips. He didn't know what he had done to deserve a mate like this, but he was grateful to whomever had deemed it right.

She became aware of his stare and turned to face him.

"Seeing anything new?"

He laughed, and she loved the sound of it. It was dark and deep, but resonated like finely tuned church bells. She looked at him closer. They were in the shade, but his skin glimmered softly in the light. He was even more beautiful than usual.

"I will never grow tired of watching you, sweet girl." Then his eyes wandered down to her neck and the chain that hung there. "Have you tried it on?" he asked, and she looked a little confused.

"The ring," he clarified.

She looked down and fished it out from under her blouse. "No, I never … You said it wasn't like that." She looked at him and saw his eyes grow tender.

"No, it isn't like that. But still, if it ever did come to that, wouldn't you want to know if it fit or not?"

She eyed him closely. "Jasper, is this some kind of hidden proposal?"

He looked so casual where he lay, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes. "Only if you want it to be," he answered, and she took a deep breath. His eyes were honest and asking, but she didn't know what to answer and started to chew on her bottom lip. He seemed to sense her worry—of course he sensed it—and she berated herself for that.

He reached over to her and caressed her cheek. "It's not that important, Bella. You wont get rid of me anyway."

She looked down at the ring in her hands. It was still as pretty as she remembered. "It's not that, Jasper. My mother, Renée, she really wasn't that into marriage when I grew up. After she and Charlie divorced, she did her best not to make the same mistake again. She didn't want me to repeat it either. Marrying so young, I mean."

Silence fell between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. She had to think this through a little, and she knew Jasper could feel her do it. Finally, she looked up again and met his tender eyes. She loved those eyes, she loved this man, and he was right. He would never leave her.

"This is different, though," she continued. "There won't really be anyone else for either of us. Ever."

He nodded slowly. "No, there won't. For good or bad, for better or for worse, you're stuck with me." He gave a crooked smile, and she moved over to him. He sat up and pulled her onto his lap. She hugged him close and felt his strong arms encircle her. She reached up and kissed him.

"I'm so glad for that," she whispered. "I couldn't imagine anyone else making me this happy. Or making me feel this loved."

He cupped her cheek with one hand. "Do you know how that makes me feel, what you just said?"

She shook her head, but a sweet smile was on her lips.

"You make my soul soar and my dead heart warm. I don't know what I have done to deserve you, but I will not lose you." He leaned down and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, she sighed happily and then loosened her arms from around his neck.

"Let's see how it fits then," she said in a low voice. She pulled the chain over her head and opened it, loosening the ring from it. Then she held the ring up—the small blue stone glittered slightly despite the shade—and carefully slid it in place on her left ring-finger. It fit perfectly. She could hear Jasper swallow hard behind her, and she glanced up at him. His face was quite emotional.

"You are a hopeless romantic," she said softly and smiled. "But I must admit, it looks really good." She held out her hand so that they both could look at it properly. His large, cool hand came up, and he entwined his fingers with hers.

"You know I have to go away in a week or so. It would make me very happy if you would wear this then, as it is supposed to be worn." His voice was low and a little strained, and she looked at him again. His face was back to normal, but his eyes were suspiciously bright and shining.

"Then I will. I'm yours, Jasper. And you are mine."

Thank you for reading.