Thank you so much for all of the reviews. They made me so happy and your support really took the stress off, so thank you very, very much. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story so far, I only hope the chapters and plotline continue to impress.

I hope this chapter says thank you to all the reviewers from the last chapter.

This is dedicated to Lecia for being an awesome friend. So thanks hun, love ya!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

Chapter 10: Today and Tomorrow

Only ten minutes had passed since I'd first passed the threshold into Bella Swan's heated home… and for ten minutes I had been twitching uncomfortably at the far edge of the couch, staring brazenly at the goddess before me.

Didn't she realize that the clothes wrapped provocatively around her body were soaked to the bone? Could she not see how awkwardly I sat, watching, listening, hanging on her every word- praying that she'd leave, whilst simultaneously hoping that she never would?

…I was in love

…or at the very least, severely infatuated with Isabella Swan.

She finished with the sandwich she'd been eating, pushing the crusts aimlessly around the plate and shuddering violently each time the storm hit viciously outside, trying to continue telling me about her mother and the previous life she'd led in Phoenix. When she'd finished speaking I came to only one conclusion about her; She was utterly magnificent.

She cared more about her mother's happiness than she did for her own welfare. The rain, the gloom, the town that she detested so, was a place that she elected to move just so that she might give her mother a chance for true happiness.

She was selfless, righteous, kind, caring… And I wanted to be with her for all eternity.

The monster within cheered in delight, pleased with our apparent mergence of goals. I visibly shook in disgust and began to reposition my posture on the coach, attempting to hide my arousal.

"…And so here I am," She finished up, glancing briefly to meet my gold eyes with her brown ones. There was a timid innocence that lay beneath those deep orbs, the kind of virtue and integrity that was so difficult to find in modern generations. But far beyond that, there was a hidden strength and power. A force that pulled me into her like nothing I had ever experienced before.

"But what about you," She continued slowly, casually flicking a piece of wet her across her shoulder. "I've only heard snippets of gossip about your family, but I'd be interested in the truth. You were adopted, right?"

I nodded once, reluctantly tearing my eyes from the water droplets cascading across her chest and leaving faint water marks in the denim of her jeans.

"Carlisle and Esme have been my parents for a long time now. Just as Edward, Rose, Emmett and Ally have been my siblings."

She kept quiet, willing me to continue. A part of me knew that I shouldn't be talking about this, but that same part of me couldn't stop. She was like a magnet, drawing out all my secrets and past experiences. But more than that, she made me want to share these things with her… because talking about them, talking with her, made me feel human.

"I honestly don't remember much of my biological family, it was a different time, a completely different life. But I can't bring myself to regret that, either. Carlisle and Esme have been everything that I could ever hope for in parents, so I don't think I'd want to know a life without them, a life without that love."

She smiled wistfully at me, propping her head up with her hands and staring me fully in the face.

"Too corny?" I asked cautiously, suddenly feeling like a school boy being laughed at by his crush.

"No, not at all, quite the opposite.."

"Meaning?"

She smiled once more, stepping from her position in the arm chair and moving to sit beside me on the couch.

"Meaning that I'm beginning to think you are one-of-a-kind."

She cocked her head to the side as if to appraise my features, leaving me smiling like a dope and suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

"I'm just trying to figure out what you are," She said slowly, squinting her eyes slightly and leaning in as if to inspect my pores.

I didn't like the implication of 'what.' It implied that she already knew, knew that I was something other than human. But wasn't that what I truly wanted- The truth? To have her know what I was, what I am, so that I could be with her in the way I truly wanted to be?

"They don't make guys like you anymore…"

She said the words so softly that I was unsure if she meant for me to hear them... But I did. And they sent a surge of bliss straight to my cold, still heart.

The heavy mass of rain pelted over the roof, keeping a steady thrum and beat that made the silence somewhat unbearable. I could handle the lack of conversation, but it was my own urges that kept me stiff and silent in fear that I might jump her. I needed to touch her, to hold her in my arms. When she was speaking I could concentrate on the words, concentrate on the things she spoke of, but now…

A large bolt of lightening must have struck a tree outside, for a deafening crack bellowed through the house, followed by a sudden tremble that shook through the very foundations of the Swan residence.

Bella's reflex occurred not a second later, with her heart beat jumping through the roof and her body itself, jumping towards the opposite end of the couch.

Despite what I knew I should have done, I laughed heartedly and threw a hand across her back, pulling her closer to me so that she was sitting across my lap… or more correctly, so that she was straddling my lap.

When I twisted her to face me, I realized -with some pleasure- that she had been closer than I had anticipated and her nose now skimmed my own, her lips mere inches from mine.

"S--Sorry," She breathed slowly, stunning me with the floral scent of her breath. "I should have… I mean, I'll move--"

Her eyes probed deep into my own, looking for the answer to an unasked question. In that moment I forgot everything that I was aiming to suppress. Forgot the monster, the goals, the vampires, the humans …and just thought of her.

"Jasper?"

I moved so cautiously then that I was sure she would shuffle away, telling me that I was some sort of pervert trying to take advantage of her in her own home…

…But she didn't.

She molded her chest against my own and when I lightly touched my lips against hers, she clenched her legs tighter against me. This was heaven. This was better than blood, better than sex and better than anything I had ever experienced in my hundred-and-fifty plus years. I swam in our combined arousal and felt my still heart flutter at the tinge of love that floated in the air.

Her soft, plump lips moved lightly against my own, sweeping as if she knew that there were boundaries, knew that this life or death. My hands moved across her thighs, up her hips and along her back, pressing her torso firmer against my own. I could feel her nipples straining against the fabric of our shirts and I fought back the urge to toss her onto her back right then and there. Slowly the kiss grew more heated, burning a lustful flame through our melded bodies. She wound her fingers into my hair, clutching me closer to her as my hands pushed her hips into my own, showing her, letting her feel exactly how much she aroused me.

You could do it now, My thoughts reminded me, playing on what I desired most. All it would take was one tiny bite to make her yours… To make her ours…

I wouldn't, I knew that- But even as I was rejecting it, the other half of my mind was planning it, showing me a lustful life with my vampire bride… With my vampire Bella.

I did want it, more than anything. And as the woman I loved kissed me feverishly, it was all that I could think of, all that haunted my mind.

A high pitched ring reverberated through the otherwise silent house, tearing Bella from my embrace and throwing the both of us back into reality. She jumped quickly from my lap, running towards the phone like a child caught stealing candy and held the receiver to her face, panting from a combination of fright and lust.

"Hello?"

"Bella?"

I recognized the voice on the other end as Charlie and propped myself upright on the couch, fearful that he could have somehow seen our position not moments ago.

"I tried calling earlier but I think the lines were down. Listen, Bells, this storm is going to be a bad one--"

"I know dad," She interjected quickly, sensing -as I did- the hysteria in his tone. "We got sent home early because of it."

"Good, I don't want you outside in this Bella, you'll be killed. But that's not why I called.."

The receiver was silent for a moment, only the faint hum of interference was evident buzzing through.

"Dad? You still there?"

"Sorry Bells, I'm here. Anyway, I rang to tell you that I probably won't be able to make it home tonight. I'm really sorry, but there's a lot of things going on down here and I'm going to be needed all night. Besides, if this is as bad as it is supposed to be, I probably shouldn't be on the road."

"That bad?" She asked faintly, twisting the phone cord in her fingers and chewing on her bottom lip.

"Yeah, 'fraid so, storms seem to bring out all the freaks."

She snorted softly at Charlie's odd sense of humor and turned away from me, facing into the kitchen.

"Will you be okay, dad?"

"I'll be fine, I'm with plenty of people-- You on the other hand."

"I'm fine dad, really. I got a lift home with a friend--"

"What's wrong with your car?" He asked quickly, the note of hysteria creeping back into his voice.

"Oh right, sorry, I forgot to tell you- It broke down. But that's not the point. All I'm saying is I'm home with a friend now, and if this storm is as bad as you say it's going to be, I will certainly not be sending them home anytime soon."

She spun slowly to face me and I winked at her, earning myself the most delicious blush in return. I almost laughed at her use of non-gender specific words. She was clearly trying not to lie to Charlie, but at the same time, she did not want to tell him the truth.

"Oh.. Well good. Maybe they can stay the night. There's some spare linen in the closet if you wanted to make her up a bed."

I both felt and saw the guilt cross her features then, her mind obviously contemplating whether or not to correct him.

"Okay dad, I'll make them up a bed now… Just be safe okay?"

"Sure thing, Bells, you too. I'll speak to you later."

The dial tone rang out then, followed by a whispered goodbye into the silence.

Bella placed the receiver back into the phone hook and turned back towards my position on the lounge. A touch of embarrassment colored her features and in the most human manner of comfort that I could think of in that moment, I opened my arms to her.

A bright smile sprawled across her face and she sauntered towards me, landing with a small thump on my lap.

I felt so very human, so very foreign to this whole new life with her. I was like a virgin again- Albeit, a highly experienced virgin, but a virgin nonetheless.

"The storm's going to get worse," She whispered, laying her head against my chest. "Charlie suggested you stay here.."

"So I heard," I replied chuckling, wrapping my arms around her frail body and stroking her hair. "I suppose it would be wise, you know, especially with the motorbike and all."

She lifted her head from my chest and stared me in the eyes.

"So you wouldn't mind? The couch isn't always the most comfortable thing to sleep on and it can get really cold, not to mention--"

I silenced her by pushing my lips lightly against her's once more, brushing the soft skin with tenderness and sighing contently as I laid my forehead against her own.

"No, I don't mind."

She smiled a goofy, teenage smile and I couldn't help but smile with her- her happiness was so infectious.

"Just so that we're clear," she said softly, avoiding my eye contact and staring at her lap. "You don't have some equally gorgeous girlfriend that will hurt me if she ever finds out about this?"

This was wrong…

"No, I've never really met anyone like you Bella."

So wrong…

Her eyes met mine in that minute of silence, a feeling passed through us was like nothing I had ever felt in all my empathic years. I needed her. Not just for lust, or blood or any basic animalistic desire. I needed her because now she held a part of me. A part that I had never given to anyone; Now, she held my heart. It was foolish, idiotic and completely irrational that I should give it to her, but that was love, wasn't it? And I would take her's while she offered it… Before this ended. Before she found out what I was and ran screaming from my presence.

"What about you?" I asked quickly, dismissing the thoughts that haunted me the most. "Any crazy ex boyfriend who will kill me if I come near you?"

She laughed brightly and I couldn't help but smile at the melodious sound. "No, not me. You?"

"A few," I replied softly, causing her to catch her breath. "But all my ex-boyfriends are quite friendly most of the time."

She laughed again, this time brushing a hand casually across dampened chest. "I meant girlfriends."

"I know," I said slowly, savoring the sensation of her heated flesh on mine. "They're okay too."

She pushed her arms around my neck and held my own gaze to hers.

"I feel like I've known you a very long time, Jasper."

"I know, me too."

"Years, possibly decades," She said slowly, gauging my reaction. "I know that sounds like some idiotic, teenage love crap… But it's true."

"Nothing you say sounds like crap," I reminded her, pushing her hair back from her neck. "But this 'thing' we have now… It won't be easy."

She stared at me for a long moment then, as if contemplating whether or not to rebut. Eventually, however, she must have sensed the sincerity behind my words, for she nodded curtly, never shifting her gaze from mine.

"Why is that I believe you when you say that? That I believe that there is something not right here?"

"Because you're a smart girl, Bella… and you know danger when it stares you in the face."

"So now you're dangerous?" She asked disbelievingly, clearly not impressed with my choice of words. "I don't care, Jasper, I don't."

I stared at her for a long moment, letting her sentence hang loosely in the air.

"You will."

She sighed exasperatedly and held my face in her two small hands.

"Okay then, how about we just make an agreement that until you figure out what it is you really want, I don't have to know. I can be me and you can be you and we'll just go from there?"

"You make it sound so simple," I replied quietly, forcing the monster's delight from my mind.

"It is."

"It's not."

"Okay," She sighed, moving from my lap to sit beside me. "I believe we've reached what is most commonly know as a 'dead-end.'"

I laughed lightly, despite the serious tone I was aiming to keep up.

"How about we just live for now and then we'll deal with your issues in the morning?"

"So stubborn.." I reminisced quietly, putting my hand into hers.

"You're right, you can be stubborn, but I'm willing to overlook it."

I laughed loudly, then, and scooped her back into my arms. There was something about her warmth, the soft glow of heat that emanated from her body, that begged my hands to touch her.

"Okay then," I said reluctantly, stroking my thumb across her face. "We have today to just be… But tomorrow…"

"Yeah, yeah," She said dismissively, taking my hands in her's.

"…We'll deal with tomorrow when tomorrow arrives."

No, they are not going to have sex. What are you crazy? Hahaha, I warned you in my profile what I was like! However, once they get there... that's a whole other story ;)

I honestly never expected them to get this far in chapter ten, I was planning on Jasper still procrastinating the hell out of everything. But these characters have a mind of their own and when they want to kiss, they get to kiss.

Again, thank you for all your support!

X o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o X