AUTHOR'S NOTE AND DISCLAIMER:
Stephenie Meyer is the author of Twilight. She owns the characters, and the Twilight Series. I'm just offering an alternate possibility.
I am eternally grateful to Jmeyer for acting as my beta.
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Bella's POV-
The storm had only gotten stronger by the next morning; every time I expected it to have finally tired, it roared back to life even angrier than before. The thunder crashed, each roll continuing for several minutes, and the rain poured. In the eerie quiet of morning I felt the first twinge of worry- so much rain couldn't be good, but I simply hadn't worried about it, because I'd been too distracted by James.
"What's wrong?" James mumbled against my throat and my quickening pulse; he had taken to spending most of our time together with his face buried against my throat, just breathing, smelling. I suppose it should have bothered me, but it didn't.
"Um, nothing?" I could hardly think when his lips were moving on my skin. My eyebrows drew together, and I frowned. Wait, I had been worried about something. "The rain. I mean, the storm. Is it ever going to stop?"
His quiet laughing shook the cot. I imagine three days didn't seem like anything to him; he was a vampire, after all, and even older than Edward. "Why, are you in a hurry for me to spend my days out of here again?" he teased, never moving from my neck. I rolled my eyes, and this time it was my turn to laugh.
"That's not what I'm worried about. You can just get up and leave, but I love people out there, and if there's like a freak flood or something, I can drown. The storm has been awful, and it just won't quit," I explained, glancing over his shoulder out the window. I could barely see five feet into the rain pouring down outside the little porch.
"You hang out with vampires, and a storm scares you?" James asked, his tone blatantly amused.
"Well, duh. Vampires I can woo," I purred, rubbing my body against James's, not stopping until I felt him harden against my thigh. Then I shifted away, ignoring his protesting groan. "But storms? They just resist my best attempts at charming."
We both laughed, and I couldn't help but marvel again at how easy things between the two of us felt sometimes. He wasn't so tortured, and he let himself just enjoy our time together.
"You certainly do seem to have a way with vampires. But you're really polarizing. The Cullens are all like adoring pups trailing after you, except for maybe the pretty blonde, and I'm awfully fond of you, but Victoria hated you instantly."
I bristled at the mention of Victoria. His lips brushed against my skin again, and when he began speaking, I could feel his smile as well as hear it in his voice. "I wonder why that is? Do you make them jealous, Isabella?"
I tensed in his arms, frowning entirely now. "Well, Victoria would have a reason to be jealous, now wouldn't she?" I snapped, not even regretting the acid in my voice. "After all, you're in my bed now, aren't you?" I reached my hand down to my thigh, and then wrapped my hand around him.
No, I wasn't interested in doing anything. I was tired, and sore, but I wanted to remind him that I was the one making him feel like that. Me. The human.
I trailed my foot along his calf, and my voice was low when I continued speaking. "After all, I'm the one you just can't get enough of, right?" He groaned against my throat, and I thought I felt him grow even harder in my hand.
"In fact, I don't see Victoria anywhere near here. I just see you and me, naked, much like we've spent the majority of the past two days. Because we've had more sex in this past week than some people have in an entire lifetime. Because you don't ever stop wanting me. Because it's me, not Victoria, that really does it for you. So who could blame her for being jealous?"
The dark emotion overcoming me was new; I wasn't used to this need to claim, to remind him that he was mine, the urge to completely wipe Victoria from his thoughts. I had experienced some jealousy with Edward- when he told me of Tanya, when Jessica ogled him, when any girl looked at him too appreciatively. But I had understood; who wouldn't be awestruck by him? I had felt honored that he'd chosen me.
There was no positive side to this emotion filling me now. I did not feel any benevolence toward this woman who knew James long before I had. It was strange, this new jealousy. This greed, as far as James went. But so long as he knew he was mine, that was all that mattered.
"I hope you plan on doing something about the little problem you've created." James mumbled, his voice sounding strained.
I realized then that every muscle in his body was tense, and he was hardly breathing, just a shaky inward drag followed by an equally shaky hiss. My little tirade had turned him on. I giggled at the thought, the dark feeling leaving my body. Then I slipped from his arms; I'd hardly gotten to standing when his hand closed around my wrist, holding me so I couldn't walk away.
"Bella, I'm serious. Please." His voice was low, his eyes dark and tumultuous as he looked up at me from beneath shockingly long eyelashes. I almost gave in to the sound of his low, rough voice asking please.
"I'm sore. Your sex drive is kind of out of control, James." I knew that wasn't true. He just had the sex drive and physical stamina of a vampire, and I obviously did not.
"You little tease," he joked, grinning widely. His hand tugged lightly at my wrist, intending to send me tumbling onto the cot with him, but I resisted. His eyes hardened as he looked at me, and I couldn't help but move my attention to his free hand as it slid down his own body, eventually curving around his length. My lips parted in shock as I looked back up to him. He dropped my wrist and waved me away.
"Okay. I'll take care of it myself. I've done it before. Here, even." I looked confused at that, and James just laughed before continuing. "Go on, Bell. I'll be fine."
He might be fine, but I wasn't sure I was going to be. I felt like the temperature in the room had skyrocketed, and I couldn't move my eyes from his hand. One hand pushed shakily through my tousled hair, and then I wrapped my arms around myself to keep from reaching out to touch him. It was so tempting... but watching him was something new.
"You did this here?" I asked, surprised by how hoarse my voice sounded.
I saw his lips twitch in a smile, and then he nodded jerkily, never ceasing the rhythm of his hand. I thought I saw him inhale deeply, and the blush spread furiously across my cheeks and chest when I came to the realization that he was smelling me. That it was helping him get off.
"When?" I prompted, biting the corner of my lips. I was in shock that he had begun to touch himself in front of me and even more shocked that I couldn't look away. I couldn't leave. I just stood next to the bed and gawked, my eyes devouring his body.
"Christ, I don't know, Bella. One night you were talking in your sleep, mumbling things about me. I could smell your arousal. I couldn't help it. I'm not going to apologize." His voice was still tight, and he sounded distracted when he spoke to me, like he wasn't really focused on me. Which made sense, considering he wasn't. He had an entirely different focus for the moment.
"How d-" I began, but James's voice cut me off.
"Bell, baby, I love you, but you need to either shut up, get out, or fucking help me." My mouth clamped shut, but I couldn't leave. I wanted to see him do this for himself, although that I wanted to embarrassed me.
For a few moments, I just stood and watched him. Twice I reached out to touch him before pulling my hand back to myself.
"What do you think about?" I whispered before I could stop myself.
James looked at me, his hand slowing. "Um. Different things. It used to be different women, different positions. Lately it's been just you," he admitted, before turning his attention back to his task.
If asked, I would swear I didn't mean to ask another question. "What am I doing?"
He groaned in frustration, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes again. "You've heard the saying curiosity killed the cat, haven't you Bella?"
"I'm sorry..." I went to walk away, the blush burning my face yet again, but his hand shot out to stop me.
"No. Stay. I'll tell you. Just bear with me. This is kind of a personal thing, y'know?" It sounded like every word took more effort than the last.
I glanced to his hand, saw that he'd begun increasing his pace. He laced the fingers of his other hand with mine, squeezing lightly.
"I was just remembering our first time. Against the wall. I couldn't get enough of you. I still can't. Fuck, Bella." I saw him falling apart, unraveling at the edges, the release building up. "I've never been with a human before. You're so hot. It makes me feel like I'm burning alive but in the best way. And so tight, too. And soft." He groaned now, his thumb rubbing my hand lightly. "You're softer than anything else on the planet."
His grasp on my hand tightened, and I could feel the bones beginning to grind together, but the pain was minimal, so I didn't say anything. I was too distracted anyways, because his pace just kept increasing, and then he came, moaning my name even though I hadn't touched him.
His face was beautiful when he let go like that. I didn't have anything to compare it to, I'd never even seen Edward in such an expression, but I imagined that it was even better than how Edward would look because James's beauty wasn't painful to me. There were definitely times where I looked at Edward and his beauty, and the contrast between us physically hurt me. The sight of him coming like I'd seen James do so many times might just kill me.
Well, if I ever got the chance to see that.
I walked to the bathroom, my mind focused only on taking care of James. When I returned moments later with a towel so he could clean up after himself, he laughed.
"God, Bella. I love you." He relaxed on the little cot, shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath. His eyes flashed open, concern in his eyes. "Baby, do you need..." He voice trailed off but his fingers danced across the outside of my thighs, making his meaning clear.
"Oh! No, no, I'll be fine."
James frowned, making it clear that he didn't like my answer. I leaned over, pressing my lips to his, letting him kiss me, letting him brand me as his, pulling away when the temptation to crawl back onto the cot with him began to cloud my mind.
"C'mon, it wouldn't be very fair of me to refuse to help you out then make you get me off," I teased, grinning when he nodded in agreement.
"Y'know, I didn't know you had it in you. That jealousy... green flatters you, Bella." Amusement glittered in his eyes as he looked up at me. Then his face became more serious, his voice strong as he reassured me. "But Bella, don't worry about Victoria. You're the only one I want. I'm yours."
The smirk that curved my lips was entirely unintentional, but James didn't seem to mind. I nodded swiftly, happy with his reassurance.
"Okay, well, now that that's cleared up, I need to shower. I'll be out in a little bit."
I went over to the bags of clothes and began picking through them for an outfit, as was my routine. Routine... I frowned, reflecting on the word. Had I really gotten so used to existing here that I had a routine? The thought both troubled and comforted me. Shrugging it off, I gathered the clothes and walked into the bathroom.
Whatever it was, I was happy.
***********
Walking out of the bathroom, I was greeted with the smell of cooking. I almost groaned out loud. Edward had tried to cook for me once and failed miserably. It all tasted like dirt to him, he said, so he had no way of telling if it was worse than usual. I had smiled and eaten it good-naturedly in an attempt to sooth his fears. But really, it had been awful. I didn't know if I could do it again.
When I rounded the corner into the little kitchen, I was shocked to see the little table covered with a cloth, a complete place setting near my chair, with a cup in the center of the table holding a handful of flowers in water. The omelet on my plate actually looked edible, as did the toast next to it.
James turned around as I walked into the room, scowling at the grin and wonder on my face. "It's just breakfast. It kept me busy while you were showering. I hate being bored."
His hair was wet, and I realized he'd gone outside to get the flowers, although his outfit was entirely dry.
I couldn't help myself any more; I launched myself across the room and into his arms, feathering kisses across his face. "Thank you. It's very sweet."
He rolled his eyes at me as he placed me in my chair, standing next to me with his hands on his hips, the expression on his face stern. "Eat. Now."
"Yes sir!" I shot back, stifling my laughter against my hand. It was pointless though, because when I noticed his muffled laughter, my own broke free. Regardless, I turned my attention to the breakfast and began eating. "You know, you can sit down. I promise not to run off in the middle of breakfast."
"Oh, I know. I like the view."
I looked down, blushing at the low cut shirt I wore, and then pushing at James. "Go on, sit down. Stop ogling me and let me eat, huh?"
James was still chuckling when he sat down across from me, sinking low in his chair and stretching his legs out, arms crossed across his chest as he watched me. His legs reached between my feet and beneath my chair because the table was so small. I caught the hem of his jeans, nudging it upward with my bare foot so I could touch his skin.
"Stop touching me and eat, huh?" James countered, his tone lilting.
A wide grin curved his mouth, mischief evident in his eyes. I just shook my head at him and laughed, then began to eat my breakfast.
"You know, I could get used to this," I joked once I'd finished, waving my hand over the table.
Edward and Charlie were both disastrous in the kitchen. I was always cooking, it seemed.
When James answered me, his voice seemed oddly serious.
"I could too." His eyes were intent on my face, and the strangest emotion was storming through them. I met his gaze squarely, head tilted slightly, confused by the sudden turn in the feeling of the room.
Suddenly, I didn't feel like we were talking about breakfast anymore.
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