A/N Hey hey. Things are getting hectic, hope you like. SM owns all original characters

Ch 10

BPOV

I need a fucking vacation from my life. Humiliated at a gala, assaulted in my office, and having Jasper assigned as my personal body guard was too much for 24 hours. This was one of those times I wished I was capable of meditation but I never could. Seems my brain doesn't know how to switch off even to give me a few minutes peace.

The car ride to my house with Jasper was strained. He looked liked he wanted to say something every couple of moments, but would instead snap his jaw and look back through the windshield. I on the other hand was trying desperately to keep my mouth shut and not admit how much better I felt having him with me.

We pulled up to my humble dilapidated house and I felt a wave of embarrassment. This man lived in an impressive opulent home while I had chipped paint and mismatched pillow cases. Come to think of it I'm pretty sure there are still some dirty dishes in the sink.

I gave myself a mental kick in the rear. I didn't invite him. This was his idea, so he could either slum it or go home. I liked the thought of him here, of us alone, just not with him as my babysitter. This wasn't a date so my messy household didn't matter, at least that's what I was trying to convince myself.

I cleared my throat which was still a little scratchy. "Make yourself comfortable Major."

He huffed out a breath and only then did I realise how closely he stood to me. "Are we back to that Bella?"

I scrunched my face in confusion. Oh. Oh."Sorry. Make yourself at home Jasper."

Seeing his answering grin I may as well have been watching a sunrise for the first time. He didn't smile often but when he did it was breathtaking. His amber eyes lit up and melted like pools of caramel and his full lips stayed delicious looking even stretched in a smile. Oh God he can feel me!

"Um, yeah, so I don't have cable but there's plenty of movies. If you're into reading I have a pretty large selection. There's even some true crime stuff in there."

Damn him, I was trying to avoid his gaze, but kept being drawn back like a magnet. He was looking at me so tenderly it made my heart hurt. I didn't want his pity. It was one of the few things of his I didn't want yet it was all I could get.

"I'm sure I'll be fine Bella. There is plenty to keep me amused." His eyes sparkled with an untold joke and I wanted to slap him. Then kiss him better. I've officially become an idiot over this gorgeous and infuriating man and I needed to distance myself. Remain professional.

"If not you can always go home." I groaned, feeling horrible for being the one to make his face fall. "Sorry that sounded bitchier then I intended. I do appreciate what you're doing Jasper."

He shook his head sending his honeyed waves shaking a bit. "No. You don't."

I huffed in annoyance. "I do, I just think it's unnecessary."

"You couldn't be more wrong Bella. It's not only necessary, it's imperative to my sanity to keep you safe, and to see that you are with my own eyes."

As an honest woman I have to say that he was making it very difficult to keep my distance. Or keep my heart from beating out of my chest and right into his long fingered hands. "He put his wretched smell on me, surely he knows that he would have been identified. He did it so somebody would be pissed. I'm guessing he thinks I'm Edward's latest fling."

There it was again, me playing mongoose to his cobra like stare. "But you're not. You didn't go to Edward, you came to me."

I swallowed thickly, trying to ignore how much that motion hurt my throat. "Y-yes."

"Hmm. Why is that Bella? Why did you come to me seeing as how you think my help is unnecessary?" His voice was low, commanding an answer that I wasn't comfortable giving.

"Because you, well I mean it's just that, you're the Major. You could get the information to the authorities the fastest."

A playful smirk lifted his lip. "Come on darling, you know very well that Carlisle is good friends with Aro. Tell the truth, please. I'm begging you baby."

And by the end he was. I saw the fever in his eyes, the desperate plea on his lips. I don't know when but he had moved closer, so close that I could feel his body next to mine. It wasn't close enough yet it was too much. With my heart racing and my breath shallow I took the cowards way out.

"I need to get some sleep. Stay or go, it's up to you. Good night Jasper."

With more effort than should be required I turned from him to go into my room, but I heard him quietly say, "You and I both know I ain't going nowhere darling."

JPOV

Bella was sleeping though not peacefully. From my perch on her couch I could hear her tossing and turning, her curvy body rustling around in the sheets. Even my gift wasn't able to keep all of her subconscious at bay tonight but it had been a tough one on her and her sleeping at all gave me some peace of mind.

I had thought earlier that I would take a middle road with her, not coming out and confessing my never ending devotion to her, but not acting like I was here only as a professional protector. What a colossal fuck up that was.

She was feeling the pull, there was no mistaking that with my ability, but she was fighting it and hard. The gentleman in me told me to take my time, spend time with her, get to know her and show myself to her at the same time. Earn her trust. However the vampire in me, that primitive beast, told me that she belonged to me as I did to her and there was no reason to wait.

"Jasper..."

I heard Bella say my name sweetly and tried to block out all other noise. Her emotions were all over the place. Longing and lust swirled with frustration and anger. It was intoxicating and just when I thought I had drunk my fill she spoke again.

"Why do you keep doing this to me?"

My heart sank as I heard the first sob bubble from her chest. Fuck! This isn't what I had wanted, I didn't want to confuse her. My patience ran its course hearing her heart breaking and I stood and walked into her bedroom.

Her scent was so concentrated in here but it didn't inspire bloodlust. Instead my very being recognised it as home and love. Peace and passion and comfort all rolled into one woman. More confidently then I felt I strode over to her bed and sat beside her.

"Sshh darling, everything is ok. I'm so sorry sweetheart."

She stilled on the bed and even in slumber she turned towards me and my voice. If only her conscious mind would allow her to do the same.

"Jasper...so sorry...really..."

"What on earth do you have to be sorry for?"

"Everything."

I gave a short laugh because really that didn't answer a thing. More questions were lining up on my tongue when I felt my phone vibrate. I kissed Bella lightly on her forehead as I had wanted to do so many times before leaving the heavenly bubble of her bedroom.

"Peter."

"Major I have some information on our number one most wanted man on the 'fuckheads who need to die slow painful deaths' list."

I couldn't spare the second to laugh, not with James out there. "Give it to me."

"I hope you don't mind but Charlotte informed the Cullens of what's going on. We thought it would be best to leave Carlisle to report to the Volturi."

"That's not exactly information about James Captain."

"Hold your horses. There's a vampire name of Laurent, spent some time travelling with James before we became public knowledge. Says he's been trying to pull this make his own race crap for decades but it wasn't plausible. The mama's always died before the babies were ready and these hybrids apparently can starve to death, unlike us."

I couldn't believe my fucking cursed ears. "So you're telling me that the work Bella and Carlisle are doing is what actually makes this sick plan a possibility?"

"Makes it a sight more likely when you put it down to brass tacks Major." He said it slowly, carefully, probably not sure if I would be angry at him for blaming Bella's work or what. But I wasn't concentrating on that right now because there was another much more important issue.

"He knew who Bella was at the gala."

"Yes Major."

"There's more to why he approached her isn't there?"

"Yes sir and I'll tell ya, just try to remember that shooting the messenger is generally considered bad manners."

I growled.

"Laurent seems to think that if he could have, James would have taken her. Made her care for a woman or two till he saw how to get at least the babies safely delivered and then who knows."

"Quit editing. I need to know everything." I gritted out through clenched teeth.

Peter let out a heavy breath. "He likes to play games Major. Catch and release. Torture, humiliation, all of it. Laurent told me he himself killed the women as soon as he could because it was the merciful thing to do after James got to them. Edward messed up his game stepping in on him at the gala, but him licking her face? It was a taunt."

He was going to suffer for centuries, writhe in agony, and sell his soul to every deity that has ever existed by the time I'm done with him.

"He thinks Cullen is Bella's mate."

"Can't say that, don't think it matters. Edward is Carlisle's son though, so by attacking Bella he's tightening the rope around the entire program, scaring folks and having a ball doing it."

"You know what's bothering me about this information don't you Captain?" The words came out strangled both by anger and the terror of losing Bella to this monster. He quietly answered.

"If it's a taunt, he's not done with Bella. He only let her live as part of the game."

There it was, my deepest fear laid out in a few words. Instead of fighting with her about security this evening she could be dead or worse. Peter speaking again brought me from my sickening thoughts.

"It ain't gonna happen Major. We won't let it."

"No we won't. One of us will always be with her, always. I don't care if it's your turn and she makes you see the fucking ballet, no exceptions."

I heard the grin on his face when he responded. "If I let anything happen to your little filly Major I'd never forgive myself and neither would Charlotte. If I have to wear the tutu and tights myself I will, just don't take any pictures. Internet keeps that shit public forever."

We talked strategy for a few more minutes. Until we knew his whereabouts the best we could do was keep an iron cage around Bella. She wasn't gonna like it but that's tough titties. He wasn't going to stay hidden forever, his actions were too overt to stay in the shadows.

After I hung up with Peter I walked back into Bella's bedroom to see her pulling an adorable pout in her sleep as if she already knew what was going on. If only all she was gonna do was pout when I tell her the news in the morning. Let's just say I'm glad I'm virtually indestructible. I better say this now when she won't yell at me.

"I'm sorry darling but only because I know you'll be angry. I'll never apologise for protecting you like the treasure that you are. Can't be sorry for what's in my nature to do."

Even in her sleep I swear she rolled her eyes at me but then scooched closer and cradled her face around my hand. I smiled and let her warmth filter through me.