Author's note: Heads up, Seth's going to go through a few changes...he may become a bit darker than his normally light, care free ways. What can I say? It's a phase …

Disclaimer: Twilight doesn't belong to me

Chapter 21

Jane

I lost track of time as I sat there unmoving, staring unblinkingly out at the deep forest. I studiously kept my mind blank. Devoid of thoughts of him, of my fellow Volturi, of the meddlesome Cullens and most of all thoughts about my situation.

I was mostly successful. But images of him kept intruding on my induced solitude. So much had happened in so little time.

Eventually I stood up in one fluid movement, wandering aimlessly about the bedroom absently thinking how quaint the furnishings were. I wandered into the adjoining bath. It was a pale pink and cream tiled room with a cream bathtub in the centre and a well stocked vanity basin replete with an oval mirror. Sitting at the edge of the tub I turned on the faucet first feeling the cold water then turning on the heat. It felt pleasant running through my fingers and reminded me of his warmth.

I could almost smell his compelling scent as the heated water continued to trickle between my fingers.

Instinctively I knew he was close by. Knowing that, I spontaneously chose to have a bath now, imagining that he could witness every move I made. Smiling deviously, I stood up then bent over the tub, switching the faucet to full the sunken area with the warm water.

Slowly I slipped the thin straps off my shoulders then grasping the dress I slid it off my body allowing the cloth to slowly drag against my skin. I stepped out of the puddle of material and hooked my fingers inside the top edges of my panties where it lay against my hips and taking my time, I glided the bit of cotton material down my legs, inch by inch.

I was certain he was somewhere nearby, just outside. If I listened carefully enough I could detect low growls emanating from him where ever he stood. He was in his wolf form then. That fact both titillated and disappointed me. I wanted the man not the wolf.

But that didn't deter me. I sank slowly into the filled tub almost gasping at the sensation of the hot water against my skin. I always bathed with cold water never really having the need to be warm so that this was yet another new sensation I could add to the growing list of unfamiliar experiences courtesy Seth.

Loudly I splashed the water on my body fully aware he could hear if he was listening. I could purr with contentment but I wanted this to be between him and me, didn't want anyone else to be aware of our silent interaction. Taking up the loofah, I rubbed it against my breasts, my taut stomach, my slippery legs trying to envision how his hands would feel on me like this. I cupped my breasts observing how they stiffened into rigid peaks and paid particular attention to the hot water pooling against my nether regions. I bit my lip so hard that if I were human, it would have bled furiously.

Abruptly I stood up sloshing water over the edges of the tub. I couldn't do this without some form of vocal outlet and there was simply no privacy for that, not with everyone's vampiric hearing. I frowned in frustration stepping out of the tub and hastily grabbing a towel, moving it against my skin to dab off the excess water.

From beyond the direction of my window, I heard the thump of his huge wolfen paws as he moved. Was he coming? Leaving?

I whispered not sure if he could hear me.

"Seth, don't go."

Two seconds hadn't barely passed before I was fully dressed in my preferred dark shirt and denim. Flinging my hair impatiently over my shoulders, I rushed out into the bedroom going to the window and seeking him out in the dark woods. I couldn't see him from this angle.

Slumping my shoulders in disappointment, I sighed, about to go take up my regular seating station at the foot of the bed when I heard a series of deep growls and snarls.

The sound chilled me as almost nothing ever could.

I had heard Seth make sounds in his wolf form before but the noises he made now were totally foreign to the benign grumbles and growls he customarily emitted. What could have elicited such a reaction from him? He was always calm and relaxed.

I didn't think about what I was doing, I just began moving, out the door, past the empty foyer and outside where the Cullens had already gathered, their eyes fixated on him where he stood at the edge of the trees.

No one tried to stop me as I brushed past them. My feet hardly touched the steps as I moved to stand just outside the house. His huge back was turned to me as he faced another huge wolf aggressively.

Suddenly he turned to me. The expression of his wolf face sent a pang of apprehension right through me. I almost turned and fled when he marched resolutely towards me but I determinedly held my ground, squaring my shoulders and facing him.

He stopped just in front of me, so close that I felt his full prickly fur brushing against me. I gulped a little, briefly closing my eyes then looking up at him as he gazed down at me. The look in his large golden eyes made me shudder briefly. Stark possession glinted back at me from the depths of his wolfen eyes.

He began to lower his huge head toward me and I stopped breathing altogether, wondering what on earth he was going to do to me.

I was completely startled when he nuzzled me. The gentleness with which he did this did not abate my apprehension whatsoever.

He continued to rub his face all over me, his fur sliding against my chest, my abdomen, even my legs. I unconsciously began pleading with him, fear almost causing my words to sound somewhat distorted.

"Seth please don't. Don't!"

In a flash that was almost too fast even for my vampiric eyes to follow, he darted back away from me before shuddering violently and erupting into a soundless haze leaving the Seth I knew crumpled on the floor.

I gasped, my eyes wide as he lay bare and still there, not moving at all. In a panic I whispered, "Seth!"

I sighed in relief when he opened his eyes, his gaze unnervingly finding me. Weakly he stood up, swaying on his feet towards me. I flashed to him in an instant just in time to grab him as he lost consciousness in my arms.