Chapter Twenty One 2

Jasper

After she'd eaten, Bella came over and leaning against me closed her eyes. I put my arm around her tentatively and she leaned into me

"Do you know that you smell divine?" she said quietly as Peter splashed in the water again.

"Why thank you ma'am".

She opened her eyes. "I like it when you let your accent through.

I smiled "Well I'll surely try darlin'"

She grinned at me and closed her eyes again.

"I'm sorry I embarrassed you in the water" she said and I stiffened,

"Sorry?" The blush crept up her neck.

"Just accept the apology" she said shortly.

"OK" I said "I apologise too".

"No need" she said, "it was flattering".

We stayed like this till the sun started to go down and my naked torso got too cold for her. Getting up she offered me her hand. "Like to ride back with me?" I asked hopefully.

She looked "Yes I'd like to".

I swung up in the saddle of my stallion and taking her arm swung her up in front of me. Then I kicked with my heels and Thunder cantered off. The movement of the horse and resulting movement of Bella's body against mine caused the same result as in the water earlier. I tried to keep it under control but he seemed to have a mind of his own today. I waited for Bella to stiffen or show some distaste but she leaned back further into me, and I gave up trying to calm myself. When we got back I was sorry to help her down. She smiled up at me.

"I'm going to shower while you do whatever it is you have to do to horses. See you soon" and she went in the house.

I walked Thunder to the barn and rubbed him down using the time to calm myself. I'd never had this trouble before and it was unnerving. Peter came in with the other horses and wearing a smirk from ear to ear,

"Hey Major. See your weapon's ready for action". I decided to ignore him but it never worked. Peter decided when he'd finished.

"So did the lady make it back unmolested?" I carried on feeding my horse as he came over and put his arm around me.

"You need some advice on keeping that thing under control, you come see the master". Then I was saved,

"Yeah, I find two bricks works on Peter every time". I shouted my thanks to Charlotte and made my way back to the house.

As I went up the stairs Bella was coming out of the shower. She wore only a small towel which barely covered her and I groaned. She turned to look at me and smiled.

"Are you in pain?"

I shook my head "No I'm fine".

"Oh" she said with a grin, "You're making it very hard..."before she could finish I heard Peters voice float up to us

"I think you got that the wrong way round Bells".

I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes. One day I would rip his tongue out and burn it I swore to myself. When I opened my eyes again Bella had gone.

"Shower's all yours" she shouted from the bedroom.

I escaped into the steamy room but that was even worse. Her scent was everywhere and the pictures in my head of her in the shower meant cold water for me. I was in there for a good twenty minutes just trying to gain some control of my body. There was a knock on the door.

"Jasper I think I left my brush in there. Could I get it?"

I unlocked the door for her, winding a towel around my waist. She came in,

"Sorry" then she stopped and I saw her take a deep breath.

"You OK?" I asked. She blushed, "Yes. It's just that you smell so good". She touched my shoulder,

"Should I feel like this?" Then she saw her brush and grabbing it, went out.

We spent the evening as before, sitting on the couch listening to music and watching Peter cheat at cards. Bella was finally talked into playing too and I felt a little less comfortable when she left me to sit on he floor, until she moved to my feet and sat leaning against my legs, one hand stroking my calf as she played. Char noticed and grinned but Peter being Peter had no subtlety.

"Hey there girl, you keep that up and the Major might just start to purr". Bella's hand stopped as she looked at him.

"Do tigers purr?" and she started stroking again. My leg was white-hot from her touch and it was spreading up my thigh. I wasn't sure whether it was ecstasy or agony. I wanted her so damn much and now she was showing all the signs of wanting me I didn't know how much longer I could keep my hands off her.

Later she gave the cards back to Charlotte and joined me on the couch again. I put my arm out and she came to cuddle up as before, falling asleep on my shoulder, her hand on my thigh. Peter cocked his head to hear her heartbeat.

"Well Major I think you hooked your woman, all you have to do now is to land her". I looked down at the beautiful woman so close to me.

"I don't know Peter. A lot of what she does is unconsciously, I don't know if she has the faintest idea what she does to me. Sometimes I just want to throw her on the ground and take her, make her mine, but I can't. I promised I'd follow her lead".

He laughed quietly, "Man you have no fucking idea. If she put a neon sign over her head saying I'm crazy about you Jasper Whitlock. Take me to your bedsand fuck my brains out, you'd still be worrying if she really meant it".

He was right but I'd been hurt too many times and I wasn't about to Make another mistake, not with Bella. When she woke up it was late and she sighed.

"I guess I'd better get some sleep. Thank you all for another wonderful day". She touched my cheek, "Thank you Jasper" and she went up the stairs, stopping part way to look back at me. I wasn't sure what she meant by that but Char looked at me,

"She doesn't sleep well Jasper, only on the couch with you. I think you calm her fears. Why don't you offer to sit with her." Peter snickered, "Oh I think he'd like to offer a whole lot more than that".

He wasn't going to stop and rising to the bait only made it ten times worse. I wanted to go up but I had told her I wouldn't do anything unless she made the first move and as difficult as it was, I had to stick to that.