Chapter 10
Reaching the smaller and secluded dance floor Jasper whirled her around. Her legs wobbled beneath her at the sudden movement and she found herself holding onto Jasper just a little too tightly.
"Sorry"
She said hoping she hadn't landed on his foot by accident. What was she thinking wearing high heels? Jasper's arms tightened around her. He had one arm firmly wrapped around her waist and she could feel his breath on her forehead. His arms were heaven to her. All ice cold too. She frowned realizing that all the hands she had shaken already were also cold.
"No rush"
They swayed to the music slowly and for the first time all day Bella let down her guard. She felt calm and felt her eyes close. Three songs passed as they swayed lightly.
And that was when Jasper tightened his hold and she jumped up. He was glaring across the dance floor at a taller guy. He was bigger with a dirty looking blonde ponytail.
"Friend of yours?"
She asked lightly. She didn't know why but the guy gave her the creeps and unconsciously pressed herself closer to Jasper's unyielding body.
"Not even close. Just someone I used to know"
His voice was rough and low. Without saying another word he lifted her off the ground with one arm and walked away to one of the booths in the elevated area of the VIP lounge.
By the time he stopped, they were far enough from the main area that the sounds of people and the music had almost faded away.
"Better now"
He breathed out, relaxing.
"Mind letting me back on the ground?"
She laughed. Not letting her down, he turned and looked into her eyes.
"I don't think so"
His expression was dead serious, Bella found herself laughing.
"Hey, I don't care how strong you're mister. I'm not exactly tiny. Put me down"
Jasper pulled her into him even more and leaned his face close to hers.
"I don't wanna. All I've been able to focus on today is you and now I have you. Mine."
Bella breathed in his scent, unable to mask the raw need his words aroused.
"And here I thought I belong to myself."
She chose humor to dispel the fog-like wave of emotions around them. What was with this guy that made her act and feel this way? Jasper laughed and let her slide down to the floor.
"You and I really need to talk, don't we?"
- - - Blood & Chocolate - - -
Unable to look away from her big brown eyes Jasper let his breath out. She was right. They really did need to talk but... How? He had already told her the big secret and she'd laughed it off! She didn't react that way when Eddie boy told her.
"Jasper? Earth to Jasper?"
He shook his head and focused back on her
"You're right darlin'. We do need to talk"
He agreed.
"But not now. Let's just dance and have fun tonight and tomorrow we'll sit down you and I and we'll put everything out in the open."
Dark brows furrowed but she nodded. Relieved Jasper sat down and pulled her with him. He rolled them over slightly, so that he was cradling her in his arms, and she sat right next to him, almost on his lap. The truth hit him like a bolt of lightning.
He was in love with her. Or lust. Or something.
He had truly believed to have been in love with Alice, and they had been fairly compatible, sexually. But they weren't mates, no matter what Alice said. Carlisle and Esme were mates. Rosalie and Emmett were mates. Peter and Charlotte were mates. He and Alice weren't. Neither were Bella and Edward. Those two were simply in love. To different degrees. Were he and Bella mates?
He had no idea. He had an inkling but he didn't know. Peter was no help! He had only told him to "follow his instincts" and had gotten on with his honeymoon!
Bella was funny and bright and just seeing her smile made him want to do or say something to make her smile again. That had always been this way. He frowned remembering back to Phoenix in the past that wasn't. Alice had left them alone and Bella was freaking out. He had calmed her down and made small talk. She had made him relax and laugh, forgetting she's a tasty human and he a vampire whose primary source of sustenance were humans.
Like now.
Bella's breathing began to slow down as her head fell on his shoulder and he rubbed her back, savoring the feeling of having found her again. He hadn't even realized he was looking for her. He felt a wave of panic and looked up to see Angela look around for them. Oh yeah, this wasn't a date. It was a business excursion.
He knew they needed to get back to it, but he didn't want to move too fast, to fall back into real life. He slowly tapped her chin. Bella sighed and blinked.
"Time to get back to the real world?"
She asked. He took her face in his hands and kissed her, long and slow and sweet with all of those feelings he spent all this time sorting.
"This isn't a one-night stand."
He said, his voice firm and tender all at the same time. Bella smiled back at him and covered his hands with her own.
"Good. Otherwise my daddy has a gun and friends who are convinced they are descendants of wolves."