A/N; Thank you for the wonderful response to the last chapter. Due to my computer problems it's impossible for me to thank you all individually. So I am just thanking you all here! You make me so very, very happy – thank you for all your kind comments and your love for my story. Well, here is chapter 21…I hope you enjoy it! Only two more chapters to go, in case you are wondering :) My new fic Dark Temptations is actually an excerpt from my original work of fiction and I simply "Twilighted" it to see what people think of it. It has been claiming most of my time as I am nearly finished it now and then I will try and get it published. The version that I post here on FFN will differ slightly to the version I will get printed. (In case your are wondering) I also have a Bella/Paul fic that I have just started; it will be posted next week (I hope)
Chapter twenty-one.
Jaspers P.O.V
I stared in astonishment as the strange young vampire fell to the ground in pain. Jane grinned a slow and sadistic smile as she focused her dark red eyes on him. Her enjoyment in her ability to cause pain was plain to see.
We all moved towards him then, curiosity getting the best of us.
"Jane." I said, my voice an order in its self. That was all it took for Jane to release him from her torture.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I asked as I knelt besides the scared new born.
He glared at me until he glanced over my shoulder to find Jane still staring at him her eyebrow quirked questioningly. It seemed he decided that answering was the safest course of action.
" I was with the Cullens and the wolves. I was coming to ask you for mercy when I was struck down." He replied shortly.
I was skeptical and my expression showed it. Could his motives really have been so simple? I had feared for a moment that he had been sent by someone to attack Bella. I still felt that maybe that was his mission.
A secret assassin sent by Edward before his death maybe?
I was undecided. I looked up at Bella where she stood besides me and felt her emotions were just as distrustful as mine were. I nodded and rose to my feet in one fluid motion. I had decided that keeping him alive was more useful to us, after all, dead vampires tell no tales. I smirked at that thought.
"If what you say is true. Then you may come with us back to Volterra, under guard for now, until you prove to us the truth of your claim. What is your name youngling?" I asked.
"David Burl, sir." He replied, although he still glanced at Jane nervously.
I grinned at him then and offered him my hand to rise.
"If what you have told me is truth, David, then you have nothing to fear from Jane. But if for any reason you attack, me or anything of mine. You will feel the pain of Jane's gift again. Not to mention my own anger. Do I make myself clear?"
His face lit up slightly as he realized that he was off the hook, for the time being at least.
He jumped to his feet in a very swift motion, far more practiced and seamless than most new borns I had seen. I filed this information away for future reference. Bella was so far the only newborn I had ever encountered that was completely unlike a newborn. All others had always held to type. I didn't believe that this vampire was indeed a newborn at all. My suspicion that he was more than he told us, resurfaced and I vowed to keep a very close eye on him at all times. I knew the other looked at me questioningly, this leniency was out of character for me and they were all giving off intense surprise and distrust for the newbie. I saw Char stare at him and then share a loaded look with Peter. I knew they felt as I did and that they would watch him closely.
I turned once more to Jacob who was now holding Leah tightly in his arms, still completely unabashed by his nudity.
"Thank you." Jacob said simply. Leah still had the gaul to glare at me, but I found I didn't care in the slightest. She was so spirited and fierce I had nothing but admiration for her. She was a woman to be proud of.
His face for once was not pulled into a sneer of disgust at our presence. He was genuinely grateful for my pardon. I had not done it for his benefit at all, that decision had been solely based on my mates love for him. I could feel the depth of the familial love Bella bore him and it pleased me to spare him for her sake. I didn't want to make her watch as I tore him to pieces. That would have been unnecessarily cruel.
"Go now." I said, dismissing them.
Jacob released Leah and walked up to Bella without any hesitation. I knew he meant no harm so I made no move to stop him. Leah growled at him in irritation, but Jacob ignored her response altogether. His focus was on Bella. I felt out her emotions and found them sad. Bella knew that she would probably never see him again.
"Bells." Jacob said as he faced her. A strange look crossed his face then and I found his emotions were confused. Bella smiled at him then, the dim sunlight glinting off her very white venom coated teeth; her smile was dazzling to say the least.
It was a smile of friendship.
Jacob's confusion had stemmed from the fact that he felt no desire to rip this particular vampire to shreds. Obviously love made a difference. That scrapped the idea that shape shifters and vampires could not live in peace if they so chose. An interesting thought.
"Jacob." Bella replied in the same tone of voice.
"Can I?" He asked, gesturing that he wanted to hug her goodbye. She nodded happily and reached forward to wrap her slim arms carefully around her werewolf best friend one last time.
I saw Jacob sniff her experimentally and glance at me over her shoulder. His expression and his emotions were sad too.
"Bye Bella. I hope you have found what you were searching for. I hope you are happy, you know that's all I ever wanted for you." He squeezed her slightly and laughed suddenly, realizing he couldn't hurt her now and then he pulled her into a fierce bear hug. Bella clung to him for a moment before pulling back to look into his face.
"I am happy Jake, More happy than I can tell you. And you will be too." She said as she shot a glance at Leah. "Right?"
"Yeah, I hope so. Bye Bells. Be safe. Love you – always will." Jacob said as he released her and stepped back. With a running leap Jacob phased in midair and landed as a huge russet wolf, he glanced back at us once more before disappearing into the forest. Leah didn't thank us, she simply nodded and then phased as she ran to join Jacob.
I looked at Bella and felt her pain; I knew that if vampires could cry she would have.
The royal trio signaled to me to prepare for our departure at once. I looked at Jane, Peter and Char, they moved to stand in front of me awaiting orders.
"Make sure there is nothing left here for the humans to find, make it as though we were never here at all." I said. "Bella?"
"Yes, my mate?" She replied, at once by my side.
"Go with them and make sure that there is nothing left."
"Yes Jasper." She said before disappearing with them. Giving her something to do would lessen the pain of Jacob's departure I was sure.
I turned to Felix and nodded in the direction of Carlisle and Esme. "Bring them." I said abruptly.
Within moments Bella was back holding hands with Char and joking and smiling with Jane. Peter walked in their wake, a hungry expression gracing his lean sensual face once again. I could feel his lust; it was all consuming and directed at my Bella. The monster within me almost took offense. I quietened it and gazed into my mate's eyes. They returned my gaze happily. I smirked and reached for her, pulling her into my arms. She didn't release her hold on Char so in the end Charlotte was pulled completely willingly into my arms too. We all laughed softly together in contentment. I could sense that my mate was ready for certain things that she hadn't been before. I reached down and kissed her perfectly curved lips, running my tongue along the crease until she let me in gladly. I was immediately rock hard and filled with lust. My Bella was simply delicious. I drew back and pressed a quick kiss to Char's sexy lips before releasing them both.
"Lets go home." I said.
Bella smiled at me and nodded, a huge smile on her lovely face.
"Yes, lets." She agreed.
Volterra had never looked so inviting as we arrived dawn was just breaking over the horizon, bathing the city in a pale golden glow.
I could fell our elation at being home.
Everyone's emotions were feeding my own happiness, causing my inner beast to fall silent for the first time in so long.
We imprisoned the Cullens, whom we would deal with later and then retired to our chambers. I needed some alone time with my mate.
Once inside I lifted Bella in my arms bridal style and moved with vampire speed to the bathroom, where I snapped on the water and turned the temperature up until it was very hot. Steam filled the bathroom and I grinned at her as she eyed me with full-blown lust racing through her delectable body.
I reached out and tore her clothes off her with deliberately slow movements. When at last she was naked in front of me I stripped down to nothing and lifted her until her long slim legs wrapped themselves around my waist. I walked us into the shower.
Hot water rushed over our naked bodies and warmed us slightly. The feeling was indescribable. I heard Bella moan softly as its warm caressing fingers touched her cold skin.
Our lips met eagerly, tongues touching and tasting. I would never grow tried of the taste of my mate. She was addictive and there was no cure. I knew now that I felt love for her. She had shown me the meaning of true love, the kind that bonds you to another person completely. She meant everything to me and nothing would ever change that. Our lips parted momentarily and I examined her with pleasure. She was so beautiful. Pale alabaster skin, pale pink sweetly curved lips and doe eyes as deadly as any predator. She was breathtaking.
I saw that her dark red and glistening eyes were open and staring at me questioningly. I was just staring at her and I could feel her curiosity as to why.
I lifted her then and slid her tight wet pussy down onto my cock and we both groaned as we stared into each other's eyes.
"I love you, Bella." I said as I thrust into her again.
I saw her eyes widen at my words, even while they darkened to onyx at the same time.
"I love you too, Jasper." She said her voice slightly breathless. "I always have."
"I know." I replied, before plunging to her enticing depths again.
She began to move with me then, meeting my thrusts with movements of her own. I growled deep in my chest at the amazing sensations running through my body. Somehow the connection between us seemed more profound than ever before and it added to the complexity of feelings we both felt. I could sense her emotions and they matched mine, creating a constant replay of our emotions through me. I could feel her hard nipples against my stone chest, I groaned and pulled her closer.
Soon I felt her inner muscles grip me tightly and then she spasmed around me pushing me over the edge to my own release. Her pussy pulsing as we came to a stand still. We kissed again, this time slowly and passionately. Exploring each others well known tastes and curves.
I carried her back to our bed were we continued to make love throughout the day and well into the night. All the barriers were finally down leaving nothing between us and neither of us could get enough of it.
A knock came at the door and we could smell Peter's scent.
"Enter Captain." I said.
"Major we have to…" Peter walked in and started speaking only to freeze at the sight that greeted him.
Bella was lying in my arms, completely naked, her luscious curves on display and her long dark mahogany hair spread across her slim white shoulders and over my chest. Her wonderful nakedness was only emphasized by the black silk sheet, which was draped across both our bodies. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. I could feel his lust which sky rocketed at the sight of us like this. I really should stop teasing my second in command, but sometimes the desire to pull the tiger's tale was just too much to resist.
Peter's eyes became completely black in a second and he didn't speak, simply staring at Bella, in an intense predatory way. I felt Bella's lust spike and I smirked knowingly.
It was time to play.