Please be aware that this chapter is not considered safe for work (NSFW.) Thanks for sticking with me!
Chapter Seven
"How could you know that?" I asked as I stood frozen in place.
Helena stared fixedly at me for a moment, before sliding her eyes closed. She frowned slightly, moving her head from side to side, as if she were trying to hear something.
Without opening her eyes, she darted her hand out and grabbed my wrist, pressing her fingers over the scar on my hand again. Her frown deepened and she opened her eyes. "I should know a lot more, but I don't. It's like…like there's a wall between us."
My shoulders relaxed slightly, but my expression remained unreadable.
"Do you have any other scars?" she asked, pushing up my sleeves to examine my arms without waiting for an answer.
"Yeah, this one's from—"
"Hush!" she said furiously, shaking her head as she squeezed my arm tightly and stared intently down where Jasper had bitten me on a rooftop in Texas.
I sighed and waited until she let go of me.
She gave me a slightly accusing look. "You're gifted."
"So are you," I said a little indignantly.
She snorted, no longer looking at me.
I gazed steadily at her before shrugging and giving a relenting sigh. "I have a very private mind, or so I've been told."
"You've met others who can know the mind?" she asked, her interest piqued.
"Yes, but you seem to be a little more successful than they were." It was my turn to stare expectantly as I waited for an explanation.
"That's because memories don't just live in the mind, they aren't just made up of signals and connections in your brain. The memories live in our very skin. What we feel, smell, hear, taste—they're all a part of our memories," she said matter-of-factly. "But I wasn't exactly successful," she said, frowning.
"So you can read—" I began.
"I can see the memories when a person is reminded of them, whether it's through them thinking of it or if it's brought on by the senses being stimulated."
"When you touched my scar, you saw…" I trailed off. I wasn't making a lot full sentences at the moment.
"I couldn't see anything, but I could tell this came from teeth—" She caught my, 'Well obviously' look. "Not just by looking at them. Although if I were to just go with what I see, it'd be easy to tell that it was a vampire who bit you. Otherwise it would have disappeared when you came over. But I could feel it, whoever it was, biting you. I could feel the pain, the fear, and the fire, but that's it. And this one," she said, pointing to my arm and giving it a nasty look, as if it had done her some great wrong, "This one I can't get anything from." She let go of my arm and we continued to walk. We were nearly back to the ladder that led to the house.
I snorted and pulled my sleeve down.
"It's not funny—I'm not used to being blocked. It throws me out of step."
"You telepaths don't do well with not getting your way," I said dryly. "On behalf of my apparently stubborn mind, I do apologize profusely."
"God damn shields," she pouted.
I stopped walking. "What?" I asked, my voice going up an octave.
"It's what you all do: make my life a little more difficult than it needs to be."
"Yeah, but—but you called me a, I mean, you—" I stammered.
"A shield, at least I'm assuming. There are only a few other gifts that can block me, but the others are pretty uncommon," she said with a shrug.
"Oh," I said, feeling a little surprised, even a little giddy.
After all these years, I finally had a name to give to my mind that had left Edward and Aro so intrigued, so aggravated, and completely in the dark.
My thoughts drifted to the circular chambers of the Volturi.
"Edward, Bella, you've returned to us!" Aro crooned, rising from his throne-like chair and coming down to the last step of the dais so that he still looked down on us.
"As we promised," Edward said stiffly, his grip growing increasingly tighter over my hand.
"Bella, you are indeed radiant," Aro said, clapping his hands together. "Oh! Won't you please turn, so we all might get a better look at you?"
I forced a smile and let go of Edward's hand, stepping forward and turning slowly on the spot.
"Beautiful, beautiful—vampirism suits you, my dear! And you've worn the necklace we sent to you," he said, giving a charming smile.
"Thank you for the gift," I said, raising a hand and pressing the large diamond pendant to my throat, my other hand reaching back and meeting Edward's waiting grasp.
He glanced back up and met my eyes for a moment, before turning and beginning to make short, deliberate strides back and forth. "We were so pleased to receive your wedding invitation, but of course we were not able to make the trip. We deeply regretted missing the occasion. Weddings are always lovely, but I expect yours was exceptionally so."
"It was everything we could have wanted," Edward said in a guarded, even voice.
"I am sure," Aro said, coming to a halt, his gaze falling to Edward's left hand.
The hand I held twitched as Edward obeyed the silent command, extending his free hand and placing it in Aro's open, waiting palm.
Aro bent his head forward, his hand clasping my husband's in a silent, communing of the minds.
"Yes, yes, it was perfect. So much love, everyone there to share with you and Bella." Aro's eyes darted back and forth under his lids. He turned his head slightly. "Bella made for an exquisite bride," he called over his shoulder.
Caius looked affronted that Aro would bother to convey such useless information. Marcus appeared to be in much the same state of mind as he did on the last occasion we met: Bored, wishing to be anywhere else besides the Volturi's chambers.
Aro's head shook back and forth slightly as though he were scrolling down a piece of paper that contained Edward's thoughts and recollections. It was a few minutes before he released Edward's hand.
"The Change was most challenging—but it was ingenious to employ one the humans' narcotics." He opened his eyes and gazed at me. "How did it affect you?"
I squirmed internally, but kept my face smooth. I would have to repeat the lie I had been telling everyone since I woke up. "I fell asleep a human and awoke a vampire," I said, attempting to avoid lying outright.
"And you experienced no pain, no fire?" he pressed, fascinated.
Even Caius had sat up a little in his seat and was regarding me with interest.
"A little, but no worse than I'd felt before," I lied, giving my best shy, coquette-ish smile.
In truth, the pain had been unimaginable, but the morphine had left me paralyzed, relieving me only of the sole outlet I had at my disposal to exert the pain—thrashing about and screaming. Instead, I suffered in stillness and silence. It had been nearly unbearable, and when I came to the fork in my mind where I could either let go and give over to the bliss of complete insanity, or stay the course and find my way back to the world of lucidity, it had only been the knowledge that Edward waited for me that kept me going.
Aro laughed at this; it was a cold, high pitched cackle. "Alec, even you have not been able to do that! Perhaps humans have rendered your gift obsolete!"
Everyone, including Alec, joined Aro in laughing, though for Alec, it was only a half-hearted laugh.
"Well Bella, to be sure, you are exceptional, but…" he stared down at Edward. "But still you can read nothing," Aro said quietly to him. "Your gift is indeed useless against the one whom you'd most like to use it on, isn't it Edward?"
Edward ducked his head once in acknowledgement.
Aro stared intently for a moment before his expression changed to one of amusement—an expression that did not reach his eyes, which were hungry. "Tell me of the thoughts of someone in this room," Aro said in a hushed voice, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Edward looked over Aro's shoulder at Marcus and back at Aro.
Aro nodded with a smirk and held out his hand again, Edward taking it obediently. Aro erupted into laughter. "Oh Marcus, you always think things are a waste of time!" he said, giving me a roll of the eyes as if to say, 'That old fuddy-duddy!' "Caius, you just wait," he added in a darker voice.
"I don't particularly care to," Caius replied irritably.
Edward shifted uneasily and Aro released his hand with a small nod of thanks. "Oh Edward, think of the possibilities!" he said imploringly.
"You know how I feel," Edward replied, casting his eyes down.
"Yes, Alice feels the same as well. It is a pity and a mutual loss," he said wistfully.
Aro turned to me now. "Now my dear, if you would be so kind as to indulge an old man," he asked sweetly, as if he was anything like a kindly septuagenarian.
"Of course Aro," I said with forced agreeableness, extending my hand and allowing him to take it into both of his.
He took in a deep breath in expectation, then, as his smile faded slightly, he sighed. "You continue to confound us all, my sweet Bella."
"All?" I asked out of turn, confused.
"Jane's been trying to put you through her worst since you came through the door," Edward said in an icy tone.
My eyes met Jane's furious gaze. Her brow was furrowed as she exerted her best efforts. I raised a single eyebrow in response and watched as a fresh wave of rage broke over her.
I wasn't afraid of her though. I was no longer a fragile human. I would have welcomed a chance repay her for what she did to Edward the last time we were in Volterra.
"I can certainly turn my attention to you, Edward. I believe you're familiar with the sensation?" she said in a venomous voice, snapping her head in Edward's direction, her pigtails swinging lightly.
"No!" I shouted, and without thinking, attempting to remove my hand from Aro's grip.
He held fast to me, and without looking at her, he called warningly, "Jane."
"Yes, Master," she conceded in an injured voice.
He chuckled and shook his head with a look that clearly read, 'Those kids!' "There is no need to be alarmed, sweet Bella," he murmured, stroking my hand in an attempt to soothe me. He let out a slow breath and stared intently into my eyes. "Indeed, you are as I said you would be—an intriguing vampire."
"Thank you," I said, my insides still quaking from the brief confrontation. I wanted this interview to be over.
"How do you feel? How do the habits of the Cullens suit you?" he asked without taking his eyes off of me.
"Very well," I said, unable to look away.
"And you don't thirst for the real blood, the blood of humans?"
"No. As a newly born vampire I faced challenges, but I have become stronger," I said, entranced.
"Clearly; to have made the trip as one so young…" He trailed off, his eyes searching my face again. "It is remarkable."
"We're all impressed with her progress," Edward said, stepping closer to me and placing a hand on my lower back.
Aro's fingers ran across the stones of my engagement ring and came to rest on the top of my hand. "Well I certainly hope this won't be the last trip you make to come see us. We are all very interested to see how you develop." He lifted my hand to his lips and brushed a kiss against my knuckles. "And as always, we are interested in seeing how the rest of your family is doing," he said, releasing my hand and gazing at Edward. "Do tell your coven they were missed on this visit, especially dear Alice."
"I will pass along your regards, sir," Edward said courteously.
"Farewell for now, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. Perhaps we shall each other sooner than one would expect," Aro called, turning and ascending up the stairs of the dais.
Edward and I bowed, turned, and left the room.
Once we were outside on the streets of Volterra, we finally felt safe enough to speak. The sun had set and the streetlights were beginning to pop on, one by one.
"That took a lot longer than I thought it would," I said nervously, as we walked quickly through the piazza.
"That's because he is fascinated by you," he said angrily with a shake of his head.
"And by you," I said pointedly.
"He is; and by Alice as well," he said in a troubled voice.
"Why not Jasper?" I asked, thinking of my gifted brother-in-law.
"Because Aro sees no value in influencing emotions; he already has others with similar, and by his stock, superior talents."
I considered this for a moment as we reached an empty, narrow alley. We would be running from here to where we had parked on the outskirts of the village. I paused and looked over my shoulder cautiously. "Didn't like that goodbye very much."
Edward sighed and pulled me closer. "Me either," he admitted.
We took a deep breath, and with our backs to the Volturi's palace, we were racing down the cobbled lane.
"…And it's not all the memories in someone's head, just the strongest memory someone is recalling and projecting at the moment…sort of," Helena said in her rapid speech, looking over her shoulder, her smile faltering. "Did I lose you, Bella?"
"No," I said, shaking my head and rearranging my face into an expression of interest. "So you don't see everything?"
"No, a lot of things have to be right. It's like tuning into a radio station—the signal has to be there, it has to be strong enough, and I have to be, well, on; my mind has to be open to receiving it." she said awkwardly. She glanced over at me. "You have no idea how hard this was to explain before there were radios."
"I'm sure," I said with my best attempt at a sympathetic smile. "How long did it take you to learn how to control it?"
"A while," she admitted. "For a long time I saw everyone's memories. I couldn't walk down the street without being bombarded with them. It was damn near crippling, though it did make hunting an exercise of vigilantism," she said, smiling menacingly to herself.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Well when you know someone's remembering the time they beat their child into a bloody pulp, robbed an old lady, stole the company's payroll for hookers, raped a girl, murdered their husband, or poisoned the neighbor's livestock, it makes you feel pretty self-righteous when you suck the life from them."
"There's street justice," I said, laughing darkly. It was a familiar story. Resisting the urge to disappear into another memory, I recalled a conversation I'd had with Edward, in which he too told me of his best attempts at being The Good Guy. My hand slid up to my chest and pressed against the ring that hung around my neck, under my shirt.
"When I wasn't wreaking carnage on the scum of society, I was putting my skills to use." She wagged her head, "I became a street artist," she explained. "That was actually how Adrien found me. It changed everything."
"And you fell in love with him," I prompted, nudging her.
"I did," she said, brushing her cheek embarrassedly. "It was the last thing I expected to happen, but then again these things always are," she chuckled. "It was in the spring," she said, her eyes drifting off to the walls of the tunnel, as though she could see through them. "I was in Nice, spending my evenings making money off the wealthy tourists who came down on holiday by doing the most miraculous drawings for them." Her eyes darted over to me and she grinned. "The humans were in awe of my uncanny ability to so accurately interpret memories they described. Most humans are easily read, so it was easy to produce their sweetest recollections on a piece of paper," she said quickly. "It was just after sunset and I had the usual crowd around me, each begging to be next. I was putting the finishing touches on a lady's memory of her mother in her Sunday dress when I felt him. I felt Adrien long before I saw him. A moment later he leaned next to my ear and murmured, 'I'm next.' When I looked up, I saw him grinning at me, and I was gone, completely swept off my feet." She looked over at me, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled softly. "The day he found me was the day this existence made sense. My world changed infinitely for the better. No more lack of purpose, wandering aimlessly, without love or contentment. He completed me." She sighed and cast her eyes downward.
I chuckled once as I stared at my feet as we walked.
We rounded the corner and the ladder came in sight.
"Was it like that for you, everything falling into place?" she asked kindly.
I closed my eyes briefly and felt my insides go a little colder. There was that internal pull, the pull of a memory of golden eyes, bronze hair, and a crooked smile, but with a deep breath I met Helena's gaze and nodded. "Yes, it was."
Maybe she'd seen something in my face, or maybe that moment on the stairs when we first arrived could finally be explained, but there was a look—perhaps pity?—in her eyes that showed she knew I wasn't talking about Jasper.
She nodded, acknowledging this silent exchange. "Jasper is a wonderful man. Have you been together long?" she asked, changing her tone entirely to one of nonchalance.
"He's great. We haven't been together for very long at all. But he saves me," I said, smiling wryly, "Every day." I placed my foot on the bottom rung and began to climb. "He's my best friend and one of the most decent men I've ever known. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. I don't know what I'd do without him."
The thought of Jasper immediately warmed away the icy chill that had clamped over my chest.
As if I had called him, the trap door overhead opened, and a familiar face appeared, grinning down at me.
"Should my ears be burning? Because they feel like they're burning," Jasper said, offering me a hand as I climbed up the ladder and into the kitchen.
"Probably," I chuckled. I stood back and waited for Helena.
She took his hand gratefully and smiled. "Definitely," she added.
"Did you ladies have fun in the sewer?" he asked, glancing down the opened trap door before letting it clang shut.
"Yep, just a barrel of laughs," I said raising an eyebrow at Helena.
"Oh, she's just had a lot to take in," Helena said, rolling her eyes, but giving the quickest nervous smile. "You know Jasper, I think what Bella really needs is a night out," she offered pointedly.
"You know Helena, I was just thinking that!" he said in mock astonishment.
I gave him a suspicious look.
"Well fancy that!" she said, raising her eyebrows in shock. "Your dress is upstairs," Helena prompted without looking in my direction as she crossed through the kitchen.
I snorted and rolled my eyes before obediently trooping out of the kitchen and up to the bedroom Jasper and I shared.
A short, silver dress was hanging on the wardrobe door.
I tugged off my clothes and slid on the dress. I noticed the shoes, navy blue heels, next to the bed and put those on as well. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the tall mirror across the room and hurriedly combed through my hair with my fingers before standing back and taking it all in. The dress was silver, falling just to my knees, the hem sparkling with silver sequins.
Admittedly, I didn't look bad.
As I walked down the steps, Jasper came into view and I pulled up short. He was in a navy blue suit with a sky blue tie. His hair was brushed out of his face and he was giving me a smoldering look. He looked great. I stared down at him from a few steps up, unable to take my eyes off of him. "Wow. Wow, he looks…he looks great—really great," I thought. My thoughts were suddenly stutter-y and difficult to form.
Jasper was gentleman enough not to say anything, though I knew, damn him, he could sense what I was feeling. He merely offered me his hand, which I accepted, as I descended the remaining steps.
"You look beautiful," Helena said from the corner.
My eyes snapped up to where she stood. I hadn't even noticed her. I didn't disguise this very well either because she grinned at me with a knowing look.
"Thank you for the dress Helena," I said, trying to shake away the fog that had settled over my brain. "And for the shoes as well!" I added.
"Oh, I didn't have anything to do with those," she said smugly, walking out of the room with a bit of a swagger. "Have a fun time you two," she called over her shoulder.
I looked quizzically at Jasper, who lifted my hand and brushed my knuckles with his lips.
"Alice wasn't the only one in the family who knew how to put an outfit together," he said against my hand before kissing it again.
"You?" I said in a soft voice.
"Me," he replied. His eyes traveled down my body and back up to my face. "You look pretty good," he teased.
"All thanks to you," I said, nudging him with my shoulder.
"Not even close," he said, rolling his eyes.
My cheeks ached in the absence of blushing as I was led out into the dawning evening.
I didn't bother asking where we were going, instead allowing Jasper take the lead as we sped down the streets of Paris.
"Did I ever tell you I wanted to be a magician when I was a kid?" he asked as we weaved through a crowded thoroughfare.
"A what?" I asked in surprise, looking away from the ornate tops of the buildings we were passing.
"A magician," he repeated, grinning.
"Really?" I asked, still trying to figure out if there was a punch line I was missing.
"Yep. When Maury the Magnificent rolled through the next town over, my parents, aunt, and uncle packed up all the kids and took us to see him perform. It was money they didn't need to spend, but they did—they did things like that for us every now and then. I remember when Maury came out and he made fire appear and change colors with a wave of his cane. He made watches vanish, only to be found in the pocket of an audience member. He did card tricks, repaired people and things he cut in half, even some "mind reading,"" he said, using his fingers to form air quotes around "mind reading."
"Ooooh," I giggled and rolled my eyes.
"I was 9. I knew magic couldn't be real, but my little sisters and cousins thought Maury was the genuine article." His eyes drifted off for a moment, and I could see the smallest look of sadness creep into his eyes. He met my gaze again. "They thought Maury was the neatest man. He made them believe in magic, and that made them so happy. I wanted to do the same thing. So I spent a year trying to mimic what I had seen. I wasn't very good," he admitted, grimacing. "I never did master making things broken in half, whole again. And the one time I tried to cut Marty in half, Aunt Meredith caught me just as I was coming at him with a saw, and wow, she tanned my backside such a shade of red."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"I did get pretty good at card tricks and making scarves appear and disappear. Oh, and this," he said, easing me to a stop and reaching up to my ear, withdrawing something sparkly from it.
"How did you—" I started.
"Magic," he said with a smirk. With a quick motion, he clicked a bracelet around my wrist.
I held it up and examined the silver charm bracelet that now hung from my wrist. There were two charms dangling from it: A star and a miniature Eiffel Tower.
Jasper scuffed the ground with his boot and looked away. I could feel the waves of nervousness coming off of him. "I know you already had the one Jacob and Edward—" he broke off and frowned. "I just thought—I mean if you don't want—"
In one fluid movement I grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket, pulling his face to mine, and pressed my lips to his.
Relaxing instantly into me, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me deeply. I could feel the contentment between us, even as I pulled away. "I love it," I said, looking down at my wrist. I met his eyes, which creased as he gave me a pleased smile. "Thank you," I murmured.
"The Eiffel Tower is for uh, well, this," he said, gesturing around us. "And the star is for Texas. I figured you needed something other than a scar to show for the start of this adventure," he said, his hand drifting up my forearm and caressing the spot where he'd bitten me on that rooftop so far away.
Scars. My eyes drifted away from his gaze at that word.
He caught it and squinted at me. "What?" he asked, bringing his hand down, as though he'd done something wrong.
"No, it's not you. It's something that happened today. It's nothing really. Well, no, it's something, but it's nothing related, and definitely not something that needs to be discussed right now," I rambled. "Can I tell you later?" I asked.
Things were so nice without complicating it with talk of empowered vampires.
"Sure," he said, reading the plea.
"I really do like my bracelet," I said, squeezing his hand and bringing him back to this evening. "And the dress too," I added.
"I wanted to treat you to a special evening. I've been wanting to, actually, but I didn't quite have a handle on what we could do until I got some guidance from Helena."
"That's why she was so smug," I said, nodding.
"She was a big help," he said grinning. "Any way, I thought we could fill up your bracelet with charms from wherever this road takes us," he said, beginning to lead me down the sidewalk again, although slower this time.
I smiled up at him as he guided me around a corner.
Bright lights dazzled my eyes—red, gold, and purple lights flashed above us on the marquee of a theater just ahead.
"So I was talking about magic," he continued, now digging through his jacket pockets and producing a pair of tickets. "How about a magic show?" he suggested, giving me a lopsided smile.
I laughed. "Sounds perfect!"
His smile grew bigger as we headed into the theater.
Two hours later we emerged from the magic show, the crowd abuzz, happily murmuring to one another, I'm guessing, about the show.
"I really need to learn French," I thought to myself.
Jasper looked around, a small frown playing across his forehead. "I really need to learn French," he said, shaking his head.
I laughed hard and grinned. "I was just thinking that."
He laughed too and smirked as he stared down into my eyes.
"So when's the part you try to cut me in half?" I teased, breaking out of hold he had put me under again.
He grinned. "Oh that's the finale! I figured first I'd start by making doves fly out of that woman's handbag," he said, pointing at a large lady with an enormous purse. "Then I'll make that car disappear," he said, pointing to a cab standing at the curb. "Then I'd get around to dividing you in two with a big sheet of metal," he said, turning back to me.
The cab acquired passengers and pulled away from the curb.
Jasper threw his hands into the air. "Magic!" he shouted dramatically, making those around us jump.
"No doves," I said, pretending to be nonplussed.
"They were magic doves—magically invisible!" he said, raising his voice again.
"Oh-ho," I said doubtfully.
"Listen Cullen, I can still divide you in two," he said menacingly.
"Well you'll have to catch me first!" I taunted, wrenching my hand from his and dashing away.
I laid on the speed, tearing down streets and alleys, crossing bridges in three or four strides, dodging buses and cars, even scaling the fence of a church.
I knew Jasper wasn't too far behind me. We were pretty evenly matched at this point for speed, but the advantage was entirely mine with that head start.
I closed my eyes for a moment; I could sense him close by; feel his pull; feel the waves of a hunter tracking his prey. I broke through a small cluster of trees, into the wide lawn of a park. A thick line of hedges lay on the left; uphill were groves of small, flowering bushes. I dropped a stride, letting myself slow ever so slightly, but it was enough.
There was a rushing behind me, and I was lifted off my feet, my arms pinned to my sides.
I squealed as Jasper turned me around in his arms, his eyes wild and yearning.
"Why did you let me catch you?" he asked hoarsely.
"Because I wanted to be caught," I purred with unexpected intensity.
He grinned wickedly and crashed his lips against mine.
My fingers raked through his hair as I allowed him to deepen the kiss. His arms were around my lower back, cupping my bottom as he hoisted me higher onto his waist. He began carrying me toward the minor seclusion the hedges offered.
I pulled away and let my lips rove up to his ear and down his neck, trailing my tongue down his throat.
He moaned, tremors going through his body. "You…you really shouldn't do that unless you want to—"
"Oh, I want to," I growled against his jaw and tightening my legs around him.
"Wait!" he said, sounding suddenly more clear, "Wait, ar-are you saying you want to—"
I cut him off as bit his neck firmly—not enough to cause pain, but enough to elicit a hiss and a loud groan.
I brought my mouth back up to his as we continued to let our hands search urgently across each other's bodies.
I felt him reach down and fumble around his own waist. A moment later I felt his hands move up my dress.
I lifted up slightly and loosened the hold my legs had around him as I tried to help.
The seconds ticked by as he struggled, until he sighed and looked at me slightly exasperated. He held my gaze intensely for a moment. "Fuck it," he grunted, and ripped the delicate fabric that had been my panties.
I growled and felt his hands encircle my waist again and guide me down.
The inevitable millisecond of hesitation lasted only just that before our lips met again.
It was not possible, in this moment, to kiss Jasper enough, to feel Jasper enough.
As he eased me down onto him we both moaned into each other's mouths. I leaned back and let him support my weight, my hips meeting his with an unquenchable need. I needed him more than I needed anything else in this world at this moment.
And he knew it.
He held me tight to him and moved me up and down, faster and faster.
My fingers knotted in the hair at the nape of his neck and I pressed my forehead against his, our breathing coming out as deep, guttural gasps. I kept covering his face in kisses, murmuring pleas to him that even I couldn't completely understand.
His brow was creased with concentration, a hint of a grimace playing in his eyes.
I have no idea how long we carried on like that, for all I know it could have been minutes or it could have been hours, but I had become lost in the movement and the moment. I had completely given over to the sensation of our bodies clapping together.
He slowed and slipped a hand between us, his fingers sliding over the most sensitive spot on my body.
The movements of his fingers were so quick I was soon arching my back against his other arm that still supported me. Within minutes I was gasping for air I didn't need—and yet I did. My heart was going to explode-I was going to explode if I didn't get air! Just as my body seemed to be on the point of destruction, there was a weight lifted off of my body, and I had all the air I needed; I was flying.
Jasper groaned loudly as I nearly went limp in his arms. He resumed the motion of his hips, this time all the more urgently. His eyes rolled back as I, with my last ounce of strength, squeezed around him over and over. Minutes later there was a moan and a shudder, and Jasper was flying too.
I wasn't prepared for the waves of his pleasure that crashed over me. With each breath I took, another tremor passed over me. Each time I managed to regain eye contact with him, Jasper's eyes would roll back in the feedback that was his completion, as projected through me.
It lessened gradually, and soon we were holding each other, my legs still entwined around him. We were both taking in slow, steady breaths.
My eyes were shut as I tried to recover my ability to think straight. I felt him kiss my jaw just below my ear. It was like a good morning kiss after many hours of sleep; slowly the world came back into focus, and I was aware we were, well, Jasper was, standing in a park in Paris. I leaned back and stared into his face.
He was regarding me with a careful look as well, the ferocity of the moment having waned away and replaced with calm. He was waiting.
I chuckled and gave him a shy smile.
A grin bloomed across his face as he pulled me to him and kissed me.
