Chapter 25

Jasper POV

The feeling of her happiness was a balm to my ragged emotions. Though all vampires felt emotions more intensely than humans, and newborns more intensely than older vampires, it seemed that my mate felt the most intense emotions I'd ever felt.

Just my fuckin' luck.

More laughter spilled out of me. It felt nice.

Her amusement and contentment were a nice respite from the massive sways of anger and jealousy and utter fucking bloodlust she'd been feeling.

It had been hard to keep myself reined in. In more ways than one.

My mate had been angry. If it hadn't been for my absolute fucking terror that she'd leave me, I'd have been all too happy to let her have that jaw she seemed so fixated on.

When she and Charlie had come back they both felt so apprehensive. I could tell they were both bracing themselves for a big talk. I knew I'd need to touch her to keep us both calm.

I didn't know that I'd soon be feeling the worst fear I'd yet to feel in all my many years.

When I heard that she knew about Alice and I…. I panicked. That she had heard from fucking Peter… I had a flash of anger. A very brief flash. Then… fuck. The terror. Sheer fucking fear. I felt her rage and I was certain she'd leave. She'd been so fucking angry. Livid.

I chanced a look at the claw marks she'd left on the deck.

I'd be replacing a few more boards.

She was worth it.

The trouble with knowing emotions is that so many different thoughts can be behind the same emotion. I knew she was angry. Anyone within hearing distance could tell.

Fucking wouldn't be surprised if her growls hadn't made Garrett & Ty skidaddle that much faster north.

What I didn't know is what her anger had been aimed at. I just knew it was me.

I was wrong.

Turns out, it was Alice.

She was no more angry at me for being with Alice than I was at her for busting up the deck.

And I felt fucking terrible about it.

I knew that Alice annoyed Bella to no end. While making Bella laugh the venom out of her beautiful mouth was now a goal of mine… as seeing her shocked into laughter was now one of my favorite things in the world… I still felt a twinge of guilt that the laugh was at Alice's expense.

While I didn't love Alice as a companion any longer, I did still feel the love of friendship for her. We'd shared six decades together. She'd helped me through a dark time in my life and had been my support system as I transitioned to the vegetarian lifestyle.

She'd been the one to know she was missing her mate. She'd known that Charlie was her mate since the day the Swans started turning. Months ago. She'd stayed in Forks for the sake of the family.

I'd been without my mate… but I hadn't known it. I'd actually been feelin' pretty shitty about losing Alice's mate.

The way he escaped still fuckin' rankled my nerves.

Sure… something about Bella's scent HAD called to me in some way… but I hadn't known.

Not until today.

Today changed everything.

Today, I met my mate and found out a great many things.

I found out that I didn't have as great of control over my gift as I'd thought. The thought of losing my mate made years of restraint drop away in an instant. I'd accidentally hurt her… physically and emotionally. I squeezed her so hard… I couldn't bear the thought of her leaving. I heard a pop. I felt it.

She seemed to welcome it. Seemed to need my arms tight around her.

That part was easy. Holding her til it hurt us both was the easiest thing about that horrid conversation.

It was hard being so desperate.

Even in my darkest days with Maria, I never felt such fear or desperation.

The mere thought of losing her… and I crumbled.

"Hey," her laughter died and she wiped her chin. "Where'd you go? You look so far away. You okay?"

"I'm here." a smile stole across my face. "I'm here, with you." I closed my eyes and breathed her in, not bothering anymore to hide it. She certainly didn't.

Her scent calmed me. My scent calmed her.

The rumble of a purr moved through my chest. She gasped and snuggled her ear into the sound. Soon, her own purr joined mine and I closed my eyes in utter bliss.

Time stood still as we sat together, purring. Only when the sun peeked through the ever present clouds and warmed our marble skin did we open our eyes.

She was angelic.

I felt myself fall further in love with this perfect creature.

The sun glittered across her flawless skin and seemed almost as if the pure innocence she held in her heart and soul was shining through her fucking pores.

And she… this picture of innocent perfection… was mated to a scarred, tainted freak.

"Beautiful" she sighed.

She fucking meant it.

I met her gaze and found her eyes roaming over my face, her awe and desire clear on her face and pulsing strong against my gift.

She really did think I was beautiful.

Words failed me.

Her emotions faltered, and she felt unsure and shy.

I couldn't have that. I needed to know what she needed… what she wanted.

I wished I felt more shame for using my gift, but confidence wasn't a bad thing to give someone.

At least that's what I told myself.

It worked.

Her eyes met mine and she bit her plump bottom lip.

She closed her eyes and I watched as the sparkles shot through the eyelashes that brushed her cheeks.

She breathed me in. I breathed her in, too.

"I want to see them." she breathed. "Please"

I was confused. She felt…. So much desire. Who or what did she need to see? I'd give it to her… I'd give her anything… she only had to….

"Your scars." she said, her own confidence coming into her voice. As soon as she said 'scars' any confidence I felt fled.

"I… I've seen sparkles on a vampire before…" she continued, seemingly mesmerized, "... but you…. So…. fucking… beautiful." she finished with reverence in her sweet voice.

"I want to see how these sparkle… the ones I have been feeling…" her confidence was apparently inspiring. I'd never been proud or fond of my scars, but if they elicited this kind of response from my mate…. I might be swayed.

I no sooner began to nod when she ripped the shirt from me and tossed it to the grass as if it offended her.

"Yep. Less than a second." she murmured. Her eyes focused in on the scar that she'd kissed through my shirt earlier. I could still feel it. "Waaaay better than cute" she whispered before she licked her lips and closed in on the scar.

The feel of her moist lips on my skin felt like fire.

The kind of fire that I'd happily die in.

There was a part of my brain that tried to tell me that we were supposed to be talking. Getting to know each other.

The rest of my brain not only ignored that part of my brain, but conspired to figure out a way to kill that idiotic part of the brain later.

At that moment, my mate was kissing me. Kissing my skin. Kissing my scars.

The love and desire that pulsed from her was almost as debilitating as the burn that her sweet kisses brought.

My eyes must've closed. I stood paralyzed as she used hands and fingertips and the small palms of her hands and lips and kisses and the tiniest peeks of her perfect tongue to explore the skin that my ruined and discarded shirt had exposed to her ravenous gaze.

The heady scent of her arousal filled the air and her already mouth watering aroma became too… intense.

That part of my brain with a death wish piped up again. It realized that we weren't going to talk… but it was asking me if I REALLY intended on taking my mate outside on the deck for the our first time.

That part of my brain needed findin' and killin. Fast.

Before I could further contemplate how to remove select parts of my gray matter, I heard a cute growl of frustration as my mate could no longer reach the exposed scars. With a huff, she grabbed on to my shoulders and deftly leapt up, wrapping her strong, sweet thighs around my waist.

Surprised, my eyes popped open. She looked smugly at me and nodded before she again licked her lips and restarted her exploration of my skin. Unwilling to let the opportunity pass, I had to touch her.

Gently, slowly, hoping beyond hope that she wouldn't ask me to stop, I placed my hands on her thighs. The sigh she gave me was permission enough. Truly, I'd not have been able to ask her to stop her mouth from it's exploration for a verbal answer. I'd have died before I asked her to stop to speak.

Feeling her under my hands was bliss. I hated the denim fabric that stood between my skin and hers, but wasn't ready to rip her clothes from her body without permission.

Yet.

Instead of ripping, I rubbed. Gentle circles, I rubbed, up her thighs slowly until I reached her upper thighs. I hesitated, until a gentle nip of her teeth on my collar bone gave me the nonverbal permission I needed. I spread the fingers on both hands and brought them firmly around the curvaceous swell of her ass.

Fuck.

Feels better than I imagined.

This woman…. Fuck.

If she made me feel like this when we were just touching….

"Even better than I imagined" she purred.

I froze. Did she hear me? How powerful WAS my little mate? Did some of Edward stay with her?

Embarrassment blasted from her.

I hated that she felt like that with me. She never needed to feel like that. Not with me.

"I'm sorry…" she tried to hide her face in the crook of my shoulder.

"Why on earth are you sorry, Darlin'?" while I was baffled, I was more upset that she'd stopped her exploration of my skin. I already missed her soft kisses and gentle touches. Of course, having her legs wrapped around me and her body pressed to mine wasn't a terrible consolation.

Though, I was curious.

I moved my hands from her pert backside to the small of her back and rubbed in gentle circles. I needed to make her feel better.

"I… was thinking...I just… kept wondering what you were hiding…. The way your shirt was laying … after my shower…. It just hinted at… And your scars… oh, these scars... everyone else was scared of em… but I… well… Chuckles and Char could tell I liked 'em…. A LOT… but… then I got mad… so fucking mad at her… and that jaw that I'm owed… then you… your scent… I was losing myself to anger … but you made it better… and I kept feeling them through that fucking shirt…. I wanted to tear it…. your damn shirt was in the way... And then you let me…. then I finally saw. Then I touched and kissed and tasted. So much better than I imagined." She spoke without moving away from my neck, each word and breath brushing against the sensitive skin there.

I loved her little near incoherent rants. They revealed so much. Like just how in tune with me she already was. She wasn't channeling Edward, she was just in tune with me.

I'd been painfully hard since she'd ripped my shirt from me.

This revelation wasn't helping.

"I'm" she started. I felt the tinges of remorse from her.

Not on my fucking watch.

"If you're planning on the next word being 'sorry,' then don't even fucking think about saying it," I growled.

Bella pulled back and looked into my eyes. Her dark gaze met my own and I smiled at the innocent confusion on her face.

"This… today… has been by far, the best of my life. I hereby give you, Isabella Swan, sole permission to see and touch and kiss and taste any and all parts of me that you'd like for the remainder of our eternity."

Possession and pleasure pounded into me.

"Okay." she squeaked.

"Okay." I nodded.

"I, uh…" she felt embarrassed again.

"Please, don't feel like that." I wasn't above begging. "Not with me."

"I…" she swallowed thickly before she continued, "I missed some."

Slowly, painfully, she unwrapped her legs and arms from around me and she slid down my body. She inhaled deeply as she felt the evidence of my arousal pressed into her. First, it met that spot… the one I'd tried so hard not to stare at as I ran after her on our hunt… the spot on her ass that lie just hidden between her legs.

Fuck.

The heat.

Next, as if to try to kill me by pure torture, she continued her sinful slide. When the head of my cock met the heat and moisture of her desire, I was sure I'd die.

I didn't imagine the slight pause.

Surely, she didn't mean to thrust her hips just then?

I'd thought the heat unbearable before….

Fuck.

Her slide continued and my cock nearly wept when it left her denim clad heat and pressed into the soft flesh of her abdomen.

Perhaps it did weep.

I was beyond reason.

Soon, the round swell of her breasts encompassed my shaft for an all too brief moment before she moved away.

I'm sure I didn't whimper. War hardened soldiers don't whimper like that.

Her giggle wasn't the reassurance that I was looking for.

"I, um, still have to get the ones I missed," she scolded.

I certainly didn't whimper a second time.

I wasn't sure what she missed, but I had some pretty fucking good ideas about what I was missing.

Her eyes seemed to drink me in again as she walked around behind me. Her fingertips brushed the skin above the waistband of my jeans before I felt her exploration begin again, this time on the scars I had a harder time seeing.

Each kiss healed wounds I didn't know still hurt. Sure, the actual wounds that caused the scars were long since healed. But… until she started touching and kissing and tasting… I had no idea how much each scar still hurt me. I knew I hated how they made me look.

Without words… without knowing… my mate… my Bella… was healing more than a century of pain.

And she only had my shirt off.

Fuck.

Again, time stood still as she moved around behind me, maneuvering me closer to a chair so that she had something to stand on to reach the backs of my neck and shoulders. There were plenty of scars there for her to attend to.

Once she was happy with her work, she got off the chair and walked purposefully in front of me. I couldn't have looked away if I'd wanted to. This wasn't a shy, unsure girl before me.

This was my mate. My home. My forever.

Passion burned in her gaze and she fixed her eyes on my mouth.

That fucking bubble gum tongue peeked out and wet her lips yet again.

"Missed one more" she breathed.

"Where, Darlin'?" I was fully enchanted. I'd walk into the flames with a smile if she said that's where her kisses were hidden.

"Here" Bella whispered as she stood on her tiptoes to reach the scar that ran through my bottom lip.

If I'd thought that tasting her on the air was good… or kissing the top of her head….

Fuck.

Tasting her lips on my own was another new goal. That's two so far… make her laugh until she spits and kiss her.

Often.

She was very quickly making me a goal oriented vampire.

My lips quickly met hers and my tongue darted out to taste her as she'd tasted me.

If the rest of her tastes half as good as her lips…

Fuck.

She was pressed against me again and all I knew was the feel of her on me and the battle of our mouths as tongues and lips and teeth clashed in unbridled passion. I was so caught up in her that I lost track of everything.

Including the sound of the approaching vampires.

And their comments.

Only my Bella's growl of annoyance alerted me to their presence.

"...careful chargin' in, Babe. Major and Hells Bells are occupied."

"Told you we should've waited, damn it! He's gonna be right pissed off," Char hissed.

"And I told you she was all about them scars," Peter crowed. "Ripped the shirt plum offa his back, did ya?"

"Fuck off, Chuckles," Bella growled.

"Wish I could, Belladonna," Peter was truly contrite… his tone matched how he really felt. He was sorry to be here.

And was about to be a lot fucking more sorry.

I growled. I hadn't forgotten that he told Bella about part of my past without my permission. Now he was interrupting the best moments of my life thus far… and perhaps fucking putting the brakes on some even better shit to come.

Fuck.

Bella.

Come.

"Major," he started, for once sounding unsure, "I… I fuckin' knew I had to do it. You weren't gonna get to it before he had a chance to fuck shit up and make things painful for all of y'all."

Bella's playful mood shifted in an instant.

"He who?" her growls nearly drown out my question.

The sound of two more approaching vampires put me on edge for a moment before I heard Alice's familiar tinkling voice, "It's us…"

The reappearance of Alice and Charlie did not stop Bella's growls.

"Hold me, Jasper" she growled.

I didn't hesitate. Holding her calmed us both… a bit.

Fuck.

Alice continued once Bella's growls weren't quite as loud. "We ran a few miles away to… talk... " Charlie looked at Alice with a look of passion. "We… were talking and I suddenly got a vision." She looked at the ground and frowned. "It's Edward"

Multiple growls rang out and stopped her.

"Go ahead, Alice," Charlie soothed, "tell 'em what you saw."

She smiled at him and continued. "I saw him here… in the living room. Pacing. Muttering about 'the plan'."

"The fuck?!" Bella blurted. She was livid.

Alice swallowed. Fear stopped her words in her throat.

"Fuck." Bella was torn. "I'm… fuck… it's almost painful to even fucking say… I'm not mad at you, Alice. About this."

"My knower's pingin' too," Peter added. "Don't know any particulars, only that Edweird is up to no damn good."

"Why is he even coming here?!" Bella shouted.

Each new wave of her anger burned me. This burn was much more violent than the caressing burn of her passion. I wanted that burn back.

Peter spoke next. The apparent caution with which he chose his words was completely out of character and more than called for. He looked at my mate with his hands raised as if to calm her. "Belladonna, all five of the Cullens are headed this way with their bags and box trucks and all. Edward included."

Her growls were getting really fucking loud again.

"I know we don't want him here," Peter continued cautiously, "Not a single damn one of us. But, twitchy little shits like Edspank need watchin'."

"Watching?" Charlie growled.

"For a spell," Peter nodded,"until those that they've wronged have had their say."

Both Swans stopped growling simultaneously.

Both got dangerous gleams in their eyes.

"Why would he come here willingly, if he knows we are more than likely ready to tear him apart?" Charlie asked.

"He's stupid. And vain." Char offered.

"True," Peter nodded. "Then there's the bits in the box."

I knew all too well the smile that spread over my captain's face.

"Do I even want to know?" Bella's voice dripped with disgust.

"Oh… you probably do. But, there's only so many bits and just the one box and still several hours until they arrive. If I just went blurting shit out, you'd go off half cocked and all angry and shit and get to breakin' or burnin'." Peter paused as my mate's eyes gleamed. "Ol' Eddie is coming here because it hurts and awful damn lot to be without a part of your body."

Venom dripped again from my mates mouth. Rivers of it ran down her chin as she growled.

Her bloodlust seeped into me like an old friend.

"Suffice it to say, Whine-ward is a runner. After he bit you lot, he was ready to turn tail and run away. That right there is against the law. Technically, he sired two vampires. It's unlawful to leave one newborn alone without teachin' 'em the ropes, let alone two. Too much potential for exposure. Sires are supposed to teach their young 'uns."

"He is nothing to us. We didn't need him. We don't need him now." her words were nearly indecipherable through the growls.

"True enough as far as you're concerned. Not so much with the law." Peter grinned. "Rules is rules and shit. Far as our laws go, he made two vamps and was willing to run away. Doc C wasn't about to have that. So… he took a small insurance policy."

"Insurance?" Charlie growled. Bella was beyond words.

"Yes," it was not often I'd seen Alice truly channel her inner beast as she was when she spoke. "Insurance." She looked to Peter. "Did the package arrive?"

"Yep."

Alice looked first at Charlie, then Bella. Her eyes shone with vampiric rage.

"Carlisle knew he'd run away if we didn't have some sort of collateral. So he removed his right arm below the elbow and a toe and Emmett boxed them up and shipped them here."

"I want that box." Bella growled.

"Darlin', until he gets here…" I began. After hearing that he'd rubbed against my mate while he tried to drain her, I wasn't sure why I was bargaining for any part of the fucker.

She continued, this time without any malice in her voice. "Jasper,"

"Yes?" her honeyed tones made me feel melty.

"Jasper, my mate, I want that fucking box. " She stopped and purred. Since she was still wrapped in my arms, the sound reverberated through the core of my entire being.

"Please" she whispered.

She had me whipped.

I knew I'd tear the whole house down to find that fucking box for her at that point. If I was willing to sacrifice myself to the flames for her, sacrificing parts of the scum that hurt her was more than easy.

Peter knew I was going to give her exactly what she wanted.

"No need to get all demolition man on my house, Major." Peter chimed.

"You heard my mate. She wants the fuckin' box, Captain Chuckles." I growled.

"Fuckin' hell, Peter Whitlock. You best tell him or your ass is grass and I'm a motherfuckin lawn mower!" Char yelled. "I ain't gonna spend eternity fixin' up the goddamn house. I kinda fuckin' like it!"

"Fuck. Fine." Peter whined. "Fucking can't have any fun." he continued to mumble. "Not like you can't smell the prissy fuck if you just use your fucking olfactory nerves. Christ. Look in the bottom drawer of my desk. Left hand side."

Bella was off before he finished speaking and I was only half a step behind her. She did indeed follow her nose and gagged as she neared Peter's desk. While I could smell Edward, his venom smelled no different to me than it ever had. Sure, he smelled sweeter than the average male vampire, but that was just him.

"Ugh." she breathed. "Fucking gross"

"You alright, Darlin'?" She'd removed an entire arm before. She didn't seem to have an aversion to getting to the box before we could smell his venom.

"I remember that smell." she shuddered, "it's the smell of death. Dad's death. My death."

Her death was not an option.

I felt the blackness of my beast as it roared to life.

I welcomed it.

Rage ran hot through my veins as I ripped the drawer open and took the whole thing outside. Edward's stench fully filled the room and Bella gasped. I wanted that smell out of her house. I wanted it away from her space.

And I didn't want that smell to soil my skin.

She was disgusted by it that smell.

She liked my skin.

We were going to get rid of the source of the smell. Once and for all.

A/N: Don't kill me, okay? I know you guys want the damn nookie. It'll come. It will. When it's right. These things can't be rushed. Well, maybe in some cases, but it feels wrong with THIS Bella to rush it. Too out of character.

I know I posted a chapter last night, but I AM working on this and wanted to get a bit of feel good out after the outburst and anger last chapter. Thanks to Lady Vader. She puts up with my pesters. Y'all... if it weren't for her, you probably wouldn't get an update. No lie. As per usual, this is unbeta'd.

Thanks for those of you who have stuck with me. You rock.

Thanks to those of you who leave me reviews. I really do appreciate them. They encourage me to keep going.

... I am working on chapter 31. IF my outline doesn't get screwed up again by characters going off track, I'll have 39 chapters at the end. :)

Chapter 26 will revisit two of my favorites - Chuckles and Lovable oaf, badass dudebro, Emmett. :) Will update soon!