Chapter 10 – Rough Rider

Bella entered the sun-lit dining room and stopped short.

Well, this is a harsh reality.

She'd walked into the small, private dining room to find Carlisle, just as she'd expected. She wanted to tell him about the power she'd felt yesterday with all of those men focused solely on her. How much she'd liked knowing they were all aroused by her, that all shared satisfaction with her – she was starting to like the sense of power her sexuality provided her. But she couldn't.

Carlisle was at their usual table, and the table next to him was also full.

Four women sat, quietly sipping coffee.

What the HELL does he think I'm going to be doing today?

Carlisle looked up then and saw her.

"Bella! You're here…good. Now we can get started."

"Just what the hell do you have on the agenda for today, Professor?" she challenged, ready to object to his plans for the day.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Carlisle smiled pleasantly. "You're spending your last full day here having a spa day."

Bella stared at him. "Is that code or something?"

"No, Bella, it means you're having a spa day." He picked up the note card sitting next to him, and Bella recognized her own handwriting. "When I asked you what you wanted out of your time here, Bella, you said you wanted to 'turn heads,' be 'alluring,' be a 'vixen'; these women are here to help you do that. Think of it as scrubbing away the old, shy, weak, less confident Bella, the one who waits around for things and wonders why they don't come to her."

Bella thought on what he said then eyed the women suspiciously as they chatted quietly over coffee. "I suppose they'll do," she huffed.

He chuckled lightly. "I'm sorry you're displeased. These women take care of Alice when she stays here. They're the best."

Bella sighed deeply. "So that's how this ends? Four women and a spa day?"

I'd rather have four men and a hot tub. Are the guys from yesterday available?

Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "That's the last of your planned interactions, yes. You don't leave until tomorrow morning. After the women are done, your time is your own. I'm at your disposal to arrange any sort of encounter you'd like or to arrange an evening with any of the men you'd like. Simply ask, and it's yours."

Bella's eyebrows shot up. "Anything?"

Carlisle nodded.

Bella sat back. "Well, let's get this spa day started, then."

Seven hours. The four women had plucked, prodded, buffed, polished, massaged, and tortured her for seven hours. She couldn't believe that women voluntarily paid good money to have this happen to them on a regular basis. She barely put up with the waxing appointment Alice always dragged her along to, much less seven HOURS of this…enforced beautification.

But looking in the mirror back in her room, she did have to admit she looked good. They'd cut her hair into long layers and piled it on top of her head. They'd made her eyes look even bigger than they already were. They painted her finger and toenails a fire engine red. And her skin seemed to glow from within.

But it was what was in her eyes that really stunned Bella. She remembered phrases from her first card, the one Carlisle had shown her at breakfast, thinking of the words she'd written nearly a week ago.

…I want to know what turns me on...

…I want to know what turns men on…

…I want to be less nervous and find the confident woman inside of me…

…I want men to see me. I want to turn heads, be a tease…

…I want to be alluring. I want to be a vixen…

They'd fixed the outside of her – she did look alluring, like a vixen. But it was the confidence in her eyes that stunned her. She knew enough now – about her own likes, her own desires, and she was convinced that she could please a man. The power that knowledge gave her coursed through her.

Taking off the robe she'd been shoved into while the women worked on her, Bella stood in her plain white panties and flipped through her laundered clothes until she came upon her white lace eyelet sundress. It screamed innocence. Before, it just made her look young. Now, it would make a nice contrast to the mature look she was sporting. After she put on her flats, she laughed at the picture she made – sophisticated hair and makeup, little girl clothes.

I'm gonna blow someone's stack in this outfit, for sure.

Strolling from her room, she headed to the dining room, eagerly looking for Carlisle to show him her new, improved look. When she didn't find him there, she sauntered down the hall to his office.

Knocking on the open door, she peeked inside. While it looked as if he'd had been there recently, he wasn't there now. Her eyes flashed over to the chair Carlisle sat in during Jane's demonstration, and his red leather desk chair brought a flush to her cheeks.

Running a hand along the top edge of his antique desk as she circled it, she smiled at the emptiness of it. There was evidence that he was using his credenza as his desktop for the time being.

How much did you enjoy my challenge, Carlisle? What do you feel when you look at this desk now?

Too hyped up to wait for him to return, Bella checked the few other rooms available to her. Nothing. Frustrated, she decided to head back to her room and see if she could reach him by phone. Her decision made, she turned and headed for her room, only to stop after a few strides.

The car. Surely it was still outside? She walked briskly for the entry door and saw the car parked under the carport, just as it had been left the night before when Paul had driven her back from her very strenuous…hike. After finding the keys in the center console, she adjusted the seat and the mirrors and drove away from the ranch as quickly as the car would go.

She was halfway to nowhere when she realized she didn't know the way off the property, much less where to go after she found her way to the main road. Foiled, she took in her surroundings. Seeing a corral with horses off in the distance to her left, she made a quick decision and wrenched the car in that direction.

As she got closer, she noticed the barn off to one side, men and cars and horses moving about it in a knowledgeable dance. She pulled the car up to the least-busy side of the barn and took in all of the men moving past her windshield.

Fuckin' hell, it's like a movie of maleness.

She noticed strong shoulders, long legs, powerful thighs, flat stomachs, muscled arms…she'd never seen men quite this way, as individual pieces and parts to be admired. Was it wrong to objectify the men walking by her? Was this how she'd see men from now on, as components that fired her libido? She wasn't sure she liked that.

She needed to stop ogling the men walking by and get out of the car. After extricating herself from the little car without too much difficulty, she headed for the large open doors in the middle.

A man leaving the barn was headed away from her but turned her way the second he caught her out of the corner of his eye. He looked like he belonged there: dark hat, worn jeans, dusty t-shirt, even dustier boots. Bella didn't like the cool, appraising look he gave her, his dark eyes running hotly from her head to her toes, stopping to take in the way her dress exposed the tops of her breasts.

"Now, how can I help you, honey?" he offered.

"Can you tell me where Jasper is?" Bella asked.

"I don't know that I know him, sugar. Surely I could help you? Maybe give you a…personal tour of the barn?"

You know, I don't like your tone, asshole. Maybe I should send you Jane's way…bet she could beat it out of you…

"Is there another horse ranch on the property?" she asked as sweetly as she could manage.

"No, honey, this is the Big H Ranch. Only horse ranch around for miles and miles."

Bella's irritation got the best of her. "Well, then, why don't you take me to the boss? You know, the guy named Jasper?"

An older man walking by her and into the barn stopped and turned her way. "I'm heading that way; I'll be happy to take you to him."

"Thanks," Bella replied. Staring daggers at the first man, Bella followed the second into the barn.

"Don't mind James, ma'am. He never has known how to talk to a pretty lady. Had a stick up his as- …back ever since I met him." The man took off his hat and ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked grey hair. Pointing to an open door, he offered, "Boss should be in through here."

Bella turned to face the older man and smiled. "Thanks."

Dropping his eyes to the floor, he replied, "It's nothing, ma'am. Have a good day, now."

Bella walked into what looked to be a very large storage room. Lining the walls that she could see were photos of men standing next to horses, little bits of metal and strips of leather, shelves holding blankets, and what looked to be oddly-shaped triangular sawhorses that held saddles. Men that were walking in and out of the room, either taking or replacing items on the walls and shelves, all seemed to slow down and stop what they were doing as they noticed her.

Don't get a lot of womenfolk around the horse barn, I'm guessing.

Bent over analyzing one of the saddles on the wall opposite her, a tall man captured her attention. She took in his red plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, jeans, cowboy boots and dark cowboy hat with gusto. It took her a few seconds to realize it was Jasper.

Damn. I'd forgotten just how sexy that man is. How did I do that?

His hands pulled at the leather, lifting and turning it to examine something. When he was finished, he picked up a clipboard and wrote down his results. Dropping the clipboard afterward, she could see his back tense and pull through his thin shirt as he lifted the saddle and returned it to the empty slot along the wall.

Damn, look at those shoulders. Wonder what they'd look like as he flexed himself into…

"Why the hell is everyone just standing around?" Jasper asked suddenly. "Get back to work!" Then he turned around and saw her. "Bella?" he called. "Well, aren't you all fancied up?" Walking over to her, his eyes flashed in appreciation. "Oh, wow, it must have been spa day, huh?"

"Do I look that overdone?" Bella teased.

Jasper laughed. "Hardly, beautiful." Taking one of the curls artfully framing her face between his fingers, he continued, "You look like innocence and experience combined." Jasper tucked the curl behind her ear, leaning in to growl, "Fancy makeup with the cute little sundress…you're like a walking contradiction. Makes a man want to know which one is true."

"I'm not even sure I know which one is true," she countered, hooking her fingers in the belt loops of his jeans.

"Don't you?" he snorted. "I do."

Well, don't keep it a secret, cowboy; tell me, for God's sake…

Realizing she wasn't going to answer, he stated, "It's all true." Reaching out to wrap a hand around her hip, he pulled her closer to him. "You're a bit innocent, a bit eager, and your eyes say you know a hell of a lot more than that dress says you know." Licking his lips, he continued, "It's very…enticing."

Bella felt her body swaying toward him, full of desire. "Have you missed working for Carlisle yet?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Wish I'd delayed taking the job for a week. But how was I to know you'd show up?"

Bella dropped her head but kept her eyes on him. "Have you thought about bringing a woman out here to the barn?"

Swallowing loudly, Jasper shifted his hips a bit. "It's crossed my mind. But there are other people around, men working with the horses."

Seize the moment, Swan! Show him what you've learned this week!

Moving one hand to his neck, she pulled his head down to hers and purred, "I guess I'd better be nice and loud, then, so they can know what a stud you are, huh?"

Jasper groaned and then bit out, "Why are you here, Bella?"

Because I want you to fuck me, cowboy.

"I would think that's obvious. I want to fuck you."

His head reared up at the unexpected answer. Glancing around to be sure they weren't being overheard, he continued, "Why me? There are lots of men back at the house."

Head held high even through her blush, she said, "I think I like it rough, and I want you to help me find out."

Eyebrows lowered, he asked, "Again, why me?"

Leaning in to whisper in his ear, her voice laced with desire, she said, "I trust you to do it because I know you can be gentle. You left me without getting off, so you have some control. You're the only cock I didn't get this whole week. What reason would work best for you?"

Jasper cleared his throat. "One of those reasons is fine. Rough, huh?"

Making eye contact, she nodded. "Rough. Raw. Primal. Can you do that for me?"

Taking a deep breath, he responded, "I think I can handle that." Glancing to the door, he instructed, "Follow me," his work-roughened hand grabbing her wrist and stalking to a side room she hadn't noticed before. Bella barely processed him giving directions to some men as he scrounged around in a beat-up old desk.

She fidgeted and wondered if she'd made the right decision in coming here. It was what she wanted, she assured herself, and Jasper would make the experience good for her. She steeled her nerves and waited.

With a shout of satisfaction, he lifted a shiny silver rectangle from the drawer, slammed it closed, and pulled her to the back of the room, down a darkened hallway, and into another part of the barn. Finally letting go of her wrist, he stood on a bale of hay, flipped open the rectangle, and placed it up in a high corner of the room.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked.

"All sexual interactions at the ranch are filmed, Bella – it's a rule. Surely you knew about it?"

"Well, I heard Aro and Carlisle talking about…wait, all interactions?"

"It was on the release forms you signed when they took your blood work. Didn't you see it?"

Oh, back when I thought this was REALLY a spa? "Must have missed that. But I haven't seen cameras before…?"

He hopped down, landing right in front of her. "In the house, they're all hidden. Every room. Lots of angles."

Bella gasped in surprise. "What about outside?"

"You mean at the flat rock? Yeah, lots of cameras trained on that rock." Jasper moved her to a small space surrounded on three sides by horizontal slats across from the corner where he set up the camera. "Stand right here while I check it, okay?" he commanded and then hurried back up on the hay bale to check that she was in frame.

Well, I guess this is where the magic is going to be happening…

In her moment of inattentiveness, Jasper had reappeared by her side. He turned her to face him and pushed her back against the wood rails, stepping back to take her in. Licking his lips, he took a deep breath. Bella felt the heat of lust radiating off of him.

"Say again for the camera what you want, Bella."

Gulping, she replied, "I want you to fuck me."

"How?" he encouraged.

Eyes locked to his, she said, "I told you I wanted it rough…raw…primal."

"I want something in return," he advised.

This is taking for-fucking-ever. I'm moving things along.

"Oh, really?" Raising her eyebrows, she moved her hands to the back of her sundress, unzipping it as he continued.

"I want you to use those amazing red nails to scratch the hell out of my back. I want to feel the marks for days. Deal?" he growled.

Eyes wide at the request, Bella replied, "Deal," as she dropped her dress to the floor. "Get undressed, Jasper. This all works better if you're naked."

He toed off his boots as he raised his arms to the back of his collar and roughly pulled his shirt from his body. His socks soon followed the boots, and then he unbuckled his belt.

Bella stood in her white panties, aching for him to continue. When he paused, she egged him on by saying, "C'mon, Jasper, let me see your cock. I didn't get to last time, and I've been thinking about it all week…"

Jasper slowly unhooked the five buttons holding his jeans together, and then folded the sides down, pulling them slowly off his body. Bella was pleased to see he wore nothing underneath them, allowing his cock to bounce free as soon as his pants cleared his hips.

What the hell is it with the men around here not wearing underwear?

Bella moaned in pleasure at the sight before her, and then lifted her eyes to his. "So good, Jasper."

"Get up on the slats, Bella," he rasped.

She looked at him in confusion. He stalked over to her, his cock bouncing. He turned her around to look at the wooden fencing behind her and instructed, "Put those cute little shoes of yours on the lowest slat."

She took in the five horizontal slats running the length of the stall. Turning back around, she bit her lip and asked coyly, "Do you want me to face you or the wall?"

Threading his fingers into the base of her hair, he growled, "How the hell are you going to scratch up my back if you're facing the wall, woman?"

Nodding her agreement, she backed up to the wall. Lifting her feet high enough to catch on the first slat, she hooked the very small heel over the wood. Her position threw her completely off balance. Her breathing accelerated as she realized that any movement would leave her falling face-first onto the floor. "I'm gonna fall…"

"I won't let you fall, sweet thing. Put your arms up around this rail," he instructed, moving her hands to the slat now situated at her shoulder level. Her breath caught as his heat bled into her and his cock left a wet trail across her stomach, right above where her panties sat on her hips.

Stepping back after she'd gripped the slats, he analyzed the situation. "Perfect," he muttered.

"You want to know if you like it rough, Bella? Let's find out." Grabbing her breasts, he squeezed them forcefully, flicking his thumbs over her nipples. "Do you like that?"

Shifting her hips, Bella drew in a sharp breath. As Jasper's nails scraped at her breasts, he insisted on an answer. "Do…you…like…it?"

"Yessss…" she hissed. "Oh, God, y…"

Before she'd finished her answer, Jasper's mouth landed on hers forcefully, his tongue pushing into her mouth and his body pressing her into the wood behind her. He bent his knees, dragging his body down the front of hers, and she could feel his cock as it slipped between her legs. Then she felt his hands grip the rail behind her hips, and he leaned his torso back slightly as he pressed upward, causing his cock to strain against her panties.

"Fuck, Bella, can you feel how good that's going to be?" he moaned raggedly. He dipped his mouth down to caress hers then moved his hands to her hips as he stepped away. "Stay right there, sweet thing." His hands fumbled for his pants, which had fallen halfway down his thighs. Pulling them back up so that he could reach the pockets, he extracted a small object that Bella didn't recognize until the blade clicked open.

Whimpering, Bella stared at the knife. Her breath heaved as he moved closer.

Wait a minute, just what the hell are you going to do with a KNIFE? Wait wait wait stop stop stop… what the hell was the safe word again? Why isn't my mouth working?

"Don't move," Jasper commanded. He threaded a finger through the legholes of her panties, pulled them away from her body, and slipped the knife between the panties and her skin. With a quick jerk, he made them a useless piece of material, left dangling from her waist.

Okay, that was a LOT hotter than I thought it was going to be…

Jasper replaced the knife in his pocket and pushed his pants down his legs again. Pressing his hard body to hers, he demanded, "How rough, Bella?" One hand reached between her legs, testing her readiness for him.

No questions there, cowboy, I'm all KINDS of ready for you.

He pushed his fingers into her. She couldn't clear her head enough to formulate an answer.

His hot breath teased her forehead as his hand moved and shifted against her, fingers coaxing more wetness from her. "How...rough…Bella?"

"Fuck me, oh God, just fuck me, Jasper!"

Fingers quickly moved out of her, and she moaned as they were swiftly replaced with the tip of his cock. "Last chance to back out, Bella," he warned. "After this, I'm gonna fuck you until you can't walk straight."

Promises, promises. Bella giggled as her mind travelled back to their first encounter. "Giddyup, cowboy!"

Her giggle turned into a high-pitched squeak as he impaled her on his cock. She loosened her grip on the upper rail so that she could lower herself, spreading her legs farther out and letting him deeper into her body. His thrusts started off punishing, and by using the wood behind her as leverage, they quickly rose to brutal. He kept his torso angled away from her, so that his eyes could stay glued to her breasts.

Hell, they're bouncing so hard they might just leave my body entirely. Boobs fucked right off.

"So…fuckin'…perfect," Jasper bit out between heavy breaths. "Knew…you…would be."

Bella unwound one arm from the slats and wrapped her hand around Jasper's neck. "Can't…reach…" she got out.

Getting her message, he pressed his chest tightly against hers and moved his arms under her knees, latching his hands to the top of the rail behind her hips and pulling her feet right off the one she'd been standing on. Afraid of falling, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her hands clinging onto his shoulders and holding him tightly to her. Pressed all the way into her, he rotated his hips, causing them both to groan in response. Bella lightly ran her nails down his back as she reveled in the warmth of his skin pressed to hers.

"Harder," he asked, leaving his chest pressed to hers, but pulling his hips back. "This hard," he commanded, slamming them flush with hers in demonstration.

She curled her fingers and ran them down his back again.

"Better!" he encouraged. "Again!"

She brought her hands back up to his shoulders and waited for his next plunge. She worked deep scratches into his sweaty back while yelling his name in pleasure at each new thrust from his body. Soon after she started, she felt herself becoming unhinged, and the scratches went from coordinated to frantic, reaching and scraping randomly as she neared orgasm.

"Fuck…fuck…Jas…per…"

"So…good…come…on…" he implored. "Come…come…come…"

Bella threw her head back, slamming it into the wood behind her as her body tensed. Her orgasm arched her back, throwing her chest out as her nails marked Jasper's back, sides, and ass. He roared in pleasure, slamming his entire body into hers several more times until his release hit, flooding her with his warmth. He collapsed against her, body shaking and lungs gasping for air.

Bella struggled for her own air as she took inventory of her body. Jasper's body was keeping her upright; his arms under her knees, his chest pressed to hers, his cock in her pussy. She hummed, running her fingernails lightly across the heat coming from his back.

Holy shit, his back is on fire! What the hell did I do to it?

"Too…much?" she asked quietly, indicating her meaning with light scratches.

"Fuck…no," he replied. "Too…much…for…you?" he asked, lightly flexing his hips.

The harsh gasp of pleasure gave away her answer before she shook her head. She protested with a groan as he removed himself from her body and then lowered her legs, rubbing her hips with his large warm hands to help get the circulation going again. "Hurt?" he wondered, trying to look in her eyes.

"No," she shook her head again. Lifting her eyes to his, she said, "Feel fine."

He pressed his mouth to her temple, her cheek, under her jaw, and finally to her mouth, his tongue reacquainting itself with hers. His hands stroked her body, helping to dry the sweat accumulated on her skin. After a few minutes of rest, he pulled away from her and moved her out of the stall to a small storage box just outside the gate.

"Sit down," he directed.

As she sat, he pushed her shoulders back so that her back rested against the wall behind her. Using her knees to pull her forward, he knelt in front of her.

"Wait, what…," she protested, "I got…"

"Shhhh," he chided. "I'm not letting you leave her with just one orgasm, Bella." He smiled up at her, lifting a leg over his shoulder. "Since I'm sure some of the gossips on my crew are listening in instead of doing their work, I have a reputation to make."

Bella chuckled. "And you want me to help you make it, huh?"

Eyes twinkling, he replied, "All you have to do is yell my name a few more times. I'll make it worth your while…"

Heat zinged along her body, and she replied, "Well, since you put it that way…"

An hour later, Jasper escorted Bella out of the back room, through his office and to the large barn doors leading outside, her dress back in place, hair finger-combed into as much order as she could manage, with a mysterious smile on her face and her head held high. Several men watched, eyebrows raised, as she sauntered happily toward the main door.

As she reached the glorified golf cart, Jasper pressed Bella against the side of the car and whispered, "I'm so glad you came to see me before you left, Bella," before leaning down to give her a steamy kiss. She had enough presence of mind to realize that men all around them were stopped in their tracks, staring at the two of them.

You wanna see what a little hellcat your boss just handled? Let me show you!

Bella fisted the back of his shirt in her hands and lifted it up to the middle of his back, letting anyone watching see the deep red marks she'd left on him.

Jasper moved to her ear and teased, "Showing off your handiwork?"

"You wanted respect, didn't you? I left some major marks on your back. Might as well show them off for you."

"Thank you for that, Bella. I'm so glad I get to feel you for days after you go."

She grinned. "Me, too."

Pulling away from her, he sighed. "Be well, Bella, and only accept five stars, okay?"

She nodded. "After being with you, how could I accept anything less?"