Hey readers,

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review; it really does encourage my writing if I know how much you are enjoying each chapter. No pressure though, but just saying the more the better.

So with that here is Chapter 25, its simply some playful bantering which I hope you enjoy.

Lots of love

XXX

Jaspers Pov

It didn't take Bella long to drag us to my car, quickly bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited impatiently for me to unlock it. Surprisingly Bella was normally a lot more patient, hell she was the oldest out of us all after all, but I had a feeling that it was more due to the excitement about heading back to my home away from home that had her excited. The amount of joy and enthusiasm which was flowing off her in waves was enough to make me more than a little giddy, hell I was grinning so widely that I thought my face might split from the strain of it alone.

"Calm down" I smiled cheekily with a wink as I slid the key in the lock as I reached her. I could have simply pressed the electronic button to automatically opened it, but then I couldn't have pressed my body flush against hers as I gently shoved her against the metal of my car. Urm…taking Bella on my car, definitely food for thought.

"I would if you hurried up" she clipped back playfully, letting her hand run down my chest causing me to purr before I soon found myself being pushed away as she slipped into the driver's seat with a laugh. I couldn't help but glare at her slightly, it soon switching to Char and Peter as they sniggered like a pair of children.

"Oh, grow up" I frowned only causing them to burst into fits of giggles, and when I say 'them' I mean Peter as well. Ever seen a grown man giggle, hell a grown male vampire giggle? Not a sound I would class as normal, far from it actually.

"Oh cheer up sweetie, I'll make it up to you later" Bella winked as I slipped into the passenger's seat, her sultry tone hitting my hearing as soon as I had the door shut. Instantly I felt my mood brighten, not that I was really angry with her before but now I was quite pleased with myself that I had milked it for all it was worth. Call me childish but I was getting some lovin' tonight, hell even though we had been at it all morning I still couldn't get enough of my incredibly sexy brunette as she sat next to me, wearing that smile that had my heart skipping a beat.

"Aren't you guys worn out after this morning?" Peter couldn't help but butt in amused, effectively breaking the mood I thought sourly.

"Dick" I snapped while grinning as I reached behind me and slapped him upside the head much like Rose done with Emmett only a lot harder, harder being an understatement. The resounding slap had Peter crying out, Char sniggering and Bella laughing so hard that I was actually thankful for her supernatural reflexes as she sped down the road while staring at Peter in the back mirror with humour dancing in her eyes.

"Shit Major, not cool" was his only reply causing me to roll my eyes, Jesus couldn't he last one minute without commenting on my sex life? Me and Bella may not care who knew what but that didn't mean he had to constantly bring it up, twat.

"Then keep it shut, next time it'll be my fist in your face" I commented as I settled back in my seat, letting my gaze drift over to Bella only to catch her smiling fondly as she stared at the road in front of her. To be honest I wasn't angry at all with him, but it was amusing to say the least to mess around with him. It was one of my favourite pass times, other than Bella of course, she would always be on top of my list. Always.

"Someone's sure cranky after getting' some" I heard him mutter to himself, it not helping that Bella and Char were laughing manically as I rolled my eyes and settled for putting the radio on instead of arguing with the idiot. It was only a few minutes later until Bella spoke up, directing her question to the idiot in the back seat as well as Char who was leaning against said idiot.

"You sure you don't mind me visiting you guys, you can say no" Bella stated as she turned a sharp right, letting the wheels of my car skid slightly on the road as the scent of burning rubber filled my senses causing me to wince. I did love my car after all, it wasn't the newest of models but it was my baby and the fact she was driving like a maniac wasn't settling my nerves for her damaging my beauty.

"Don't be silly Sugar, to be honest we were going to bring it up before we left anyway" Char quickly shut down any doubts causing me to shoot her a thankful look as I watched Bella's face light up in a way which made the major in me purr in delight at seeing her so happy.

"Really?" she couldn't help but ask, my head shaking as she did so. I doubted she realised how much they thought of her as family, not only because she was my mate but because of the type of person she was. She may not seem like it to most but she was incredibly selfless at times when she put others before herself, not to mention she was as smart and as tactical as hell. We made a good match, a perfect one if I was being bluntly honest with myself.

"Of course kitten, you are going to just love Texas" Peter grinned, his southern accent coming through loud and clear causing Bella's already wide smile to stretch into a grin as she pulled into the parking lot, an irritated sigh falling from both mine and Bella's lips as the scent of one Mark Newton invaded our senses as we pulled up at the large store. Great I thought, just who I wanted to risk running into.

"I can't wait" was all she confessed as she turned off the engine before giving me back the keys with a thankful kiss, a small smile tugging at my lips as we all got out. Quickly locking the car up I walked over to Bella, deciding to reach for her hand as we entwined our fingers as soon as our hands touched. Perfect.

"Neither can I Sugar, it'll be great to have another girl around" Char squealed as she followed with Peter, his arm around her waist as she grinned brightly. Char didn't get on with a lot of people, she was a lot like Bella in that aspect but they seemed to enjoy enough others company greatly. Both myself and Peter were thankful, what with both of our mates getting on so well and all.

"I never thought of it like that, ok this just got a whole lot better" Bella smiled as we walked into the store, her hand tightening around mine as she tugged me along much like Char was doing with Peter as they walked side by side. I shot my 'brother' a knowing look only to get one back, it was clear we were both thinking about how much girl talk we were going to end up having to listen to. Lovely.

"So how bad is the damage?" Char asked amused as we entered the DIY part of the store, our presence already causing people to gap. We were too beautiful, too handsome you could say so it was bound to draw attention whenever we went out. I wasn't being vein, it was simply a fact to help us tempt and seduce our prey before killing them. Depressing yes, but it was survival, even if we chose a different diet to most.

At this Bella cringed slightly, her eyes scanning the shelves along with all of ours as we looked for anything we might need. I had done this before, fixing things around the house when my temper got the better of me, but it was definitely the first time it had been due to sex. Well unless you count it when I had taken Bella near the stairs when she had that fuck hot little outfit on, but that was hardly my fault when she was looking so fuckin' tempting in that get-up, not to mention Emmett was the one who got blamed for it thanks to my Bella's quick thinking. She could charm the devil I thought, with ease.

"Let's just say big, and deep, and about my height" Bella winced causing Char to widen her eyes almost comically and Peter to bark out a laugh that had me reaching out as if to smack him again. He quickly darted out of the way, unintentionally meaning he took Char with him as she yelped at his quick movement.

"Sorry hun" he smiled sheepishly when she glared, her expression softening before she rolled her eyes and walked back next to Bella, this time without Peter much to his annoyance.

"It was your own fault" I muttered with a smirk as I saw his dejected expression, his eyes instantly locking with mine as he narrowed them slightly in my direction much to my amusement.

"Hardly, you were going to smack me" he hissed. I couldn't help but bark out a laugh, unintentionally drawing us more attention as both males and females had now started to peek around the isles as they simply stared at us, trying to be subtle but failing miserably. We were all used to it though, unfortunately it was something we had no choice but to put up with whenever we were around humans.

"Did you just hear yourself?" I couldn't help but chuckle as I raised a brow, it turning into a frown when I felt Bella's hand slide out of mine as she walked a few feet away whilst chatting with Char over which colour would match the paint in my room. I rolled my eyes, but kept an eye on her even if I knew she was very capable of looking after herself when the time came. She shouldn't need to I couldn't help but think, that was my job after all, to protect and provide for my mate like the male may sound old-fashioned but each and every mated couple was the same, it was just how it worked since men were more dominant than the females by nature.

"Oh fuck off" was all he grunted in reply, though he was grinning as he stared at Char and Bella as they chatted animatedly, both of us frowning when we took note of the male attraction they were getting as they practically seemed to drool over our women. "Fucking perverts" I heard him mutter, not bothering to lower his voice as a few of them standing behind us jumped and quickly scurried off.

"Just think yourself lucky that you don't have to feel the lust they're giving off" I growled as I walked towards Bella, Peter following me as our clearly possessive looks locked with the human males who quickly diverted their eyes like they should. It may seem like we were over reacting but it was just how our world worked, not that neither of our women complained.

"Fine you have it worse off" he caved with a grunt, even though we hadn't been in any sort of verbal combat. I rolled my eyes but slapped him on the back in a manly gesture, sending him my amusement as I did so.

"We're even mate" I smirked before I walked over to Bella, wrapping an arm around her petite waist as I picked her off the ground slightly so her feet swung in the air in a childish gesture, a yelp of delight and surprise falling from her lips as I felt her love and amusement run through me making me grin, me being able to feel her stronger due to us touching.

"Hey stranger" she smiled as I gently set her down back on her own two feet, letting both of my arms rest around her lower stomach as I brought my head down to rest my chin on the crown of her hair. I couldn't help but release a sigh of contentment, this is what I loved, simply being with her.

"Found it yet?" I asked, my eyes scanning the section of green paints as I did so.

"Of course, I was just waiting for my strapping, strong lover to help me get it down" she winked as she pointed to the high self, my grip on her tightening slightly as I squeezed her around the waist before letting her go with reluctance as I made a reach for the paint.

"Well I am the God of War" I teased as I reached it with ease, the large tin feeling like nothing in my hand as I turned around to face her with a playfully triumph grin that had her laughing. I instantly wanted to melt, however feminine they may have just sounded.

"Well done Major" Peter teased with a clap of his hands, a grin on his face as his eyes flashed with humour. "The God of War…got paint" he continued in a cheeky tone that had me rolling me eyes. I had made Bella laugh which was my goal; I guess it was worth the teasing. What was I saying, of course it was.

"You leave him alone, I don't see you offering to help a lady in distress" Bella shot back as she made a move for the paint, only for me to hold it above her head teasingly. She glared slightly through narrowed eyes but didn't even attempt to try and reach it. I grinned.

"Yes my mate, where were you when we needed help?" Char asked with her hands on her hips, her tone accusing but the humour coming off her was amusing both myself and Bella greatly as I lowered the paint but kept it against my side, my hand reaching for my mates as I did so.

"Come on baby, you know all you had to do was ask" was Peters response, my eyes rolling but I couldn't help but send Bella my amusement as she reflected it back to me with a wink and a bump of her hip.

"But you didn't" Char protested before walking away, both me and Bella grinning as Peter followed after her like a lost puppy.

"But baby…" we heard him start as they turned the corner, Bella laughing at my side as we hurried up our pace to follow them, both of us laughing hysterically at Peters suffering. We knew that Char was only joking with him, but by the look on Peters face it was clear that he hadn't yet grasped onto the fact that Char was only messing with him. Priceless.

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