***Thanks to everyone who read, tweeted, reviewed that last chapter. You all continue to blow me away!

***Thanks to TwiCarol for fixing my usual mistakes and to Lady Tazz for pre-reading.

***None of these characters are mine. I just like to play with them and do dirty things with them!

Bella

Jasper and I stood on the porch as Peter and Char pulled up in a brand new, obnoxiously large pick-up truck. Jasper squeezed my hand and led me down to it.

"You like it? It's red." He smiled. "Just like your old truck."

"It's great, but what's it for?" I asked. "We have my SUV and your car."

"Yes, but," he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "this one is perfect for making love under the stars." He tapped on the open bed of the truck. "Very spacious."

I smiled at him. "You think of everything."

"I'm the one who went and got it since you two seem to be inseparable these days." Peter hopped out of the driver's side door. "Enjoy your forty minute shower this morning?"

"Shut it!" I laughed. "And, I believe we were in there for over an hour." I bit my lip and looked at Jasper. I was sure he could feel what I was thinking. It had been a very invigorating shower.

He smirked.

"Whatever, little one. Char and I left, so I lost track of your morning antics."

"Do you have to go?" Char asked as she came around to where we were standing and threw her arms around me. "I'm gonna miss you."

"We won't be gone that long." I hugged her back.

"How long?" she asked.

"As long as it takes," Jasper said as he pulled me from Char and wrapped his arms around me. "I'm looking forward to spending some time alone with my beautiful girl."

I turned my head, seeking out his lips. We kissed for a few seconds, but Peter pulled us out of our bliss.

"Can you take a break?" he asked.

"Hmm," I groaned against Jasper's lips. "If I pop up my shield, it'll be like he's not even here."

"Ahh, little one, you hurt my feelings." Peter laughed.

"Hardly." Jasper released me and shook Peter's hand. "We'll be home soon."

"You better be." Peter nodded.

"I'll miss you too," Jasper said as he reached for Char so they could say their goodbyes.

Peter stepped toward me. "You take care of him."

"Of course." I stared at Peter and he was more intense than usual. Something was off, I swore I felt it. "What's wrong?"

"Can't put my finger on it," he said as he watched Jasper.

"It doesn't feel right, does it?" Being Jasper's mate must have put me more in tune with my feelings because lately they were going crazy.

I knew this was a bad idea.

"Would you two stop?" Jasper said. "If I can't feel it, neither can you. Bella, get in the car."

"Fine." I huffed before quickly kissing Peter and Char goodbye. As independent as I wanted to be, there was something about a dominant Jasper that made my insides jump and my panties wet. I couldn't help but obey when he told me to do something. Char said it was because he was my mate, but a little part of me liked when he ordered me around. He was sexy when he was authoritative, plus, I knew if I listened to him, I'd be rewarded later. "See you soon."

Jasper spoke quickly to Peter, but I still caught the gist of the conversation. Jasper was mad Peter said anything to me about us leaving. It bothered me that Peter was having some unresolved feelings about us making this trip.

"Don't be worried." Jasper pulled out of the driveway. "We're doing the right thing. You need resolution and this is the only way we're going to get it."

"But, Peter knows something. Why didn't you tell me?"

"He doesn't know anything concrete. And, we decided it's better for you to go then to stay home because of a feeling that none of us can pinpoint."

"And, Alice? Does she know we're coming?"

"I should think so." Jasper reached for my hand. "I haven't spoken to anyone other than Carlisle. Right now, he and Esme are the only two at the house."

"Emmett and Rosalie?"

"There was an accident in the South of France, where Rose and Em were hiking."

"Are they okay?"

"Yes." He squeezed my hand. "But, there was a fatal car wreck down by a road they were near. It was pretty isolated and Rose and Em were the only two there. They tried to help, but it was too late to turn any of the victims. Just as they were calling for help, Rose heard a child crying in one of the cars."

"Oh?"

"Emmett had to lift the car up and Rose crawled under and retrieved the little girl."

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, amazingly, she wasn't hurt. Unfortunately, her parents were killed in that crash and she has no one else. Carlisle investigated and it was determined she was an orphan."

"How horrible." If I could cry real tears for this baby's loss, I would.

"Yes, it was, but Rosalie became rather attached to this little girl and Carlisle moved heaven and earth to ensure that she was no longer an orphan."

"Emmett and Rose?" I asked.

"Yes, Lila Rose Cullen is the newest addition to the family. Rose and Em are in France tying up the final paperwork on the adoption."

"Vampires can raise a human child?"

"Of course," he said. "She's too young to know what we are and by the time she's eighteen, they'll be able to decide what's best for her. I'm sure Rose will want her for all of eternity. But, that's a ways off since she's only four."

"So, they get to have a baby?" I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. I knew it was wrong, because I chose this life and I knew the consequences. The things I'd give up. "That's great."

"Bella?" Jasper said. "We're going to have a full life, too. I know it's hard for you to think about the future when your present is so uncertain, but I promise, once you get through this newborn stage, it'll get easier."

I nodded.

"I think a talk with Carlisle will do you some good."

"And, Alice? Where is she?"

"I haven't spoken to Alice in a while, but Carlisle thinks she's headed to Seattle. She's eager to see us, well, mainly you."

"I don't know how I feel about that, Jasper." I needed to be honest. "She's never tried to contact me, not even when I became like you."

"I know, sweetheart. I don't understand why, but maybe if you saw her, you'd have the opportunity to hear her side of things."

I looked down at my lap, trying not to let my feelings get in the way, but it was too late. My empath already knew what I was feeling even before I did.

"It was wrong for them to leave you," he said. "I take responsibility for it."

"It wasn't your fault."

"In the beginning, maybe not, but after we got together, I took you to Texas and pretty much kept you isolated. And then, when I turned you, I still kept you to myself. I've been trying to do what's best for you, but maybe I keep you too sheltered."

"You want to protect me," I said. "I get that, but I don't know if seeing the Cullens again will be the reunion you're hoping for."

"It doesn't have to be a happy reunion. I just want you to have closure. I want you to see how fond Carlisle and Esme are of you. And, I want Alice to have a chance to explain things."

I understood what he was trying to do, but I still wasn't sure. Carlisle and Esme were always good to me, so I could allow them this visit. Rose and I were never friends, so it didn't make me sad that she wouldn't be there although I would've liked to have seen Emmett again. I thought Alice was my friend and maybe she was, but she would never mean to me than what Char did. Char and Peter could never abandon me. Jasper said it was because they were our coven and we were meant to stay with them for eternity. The bond between the four of us was unbreakable.

It was nice having that sense of belonging. Jasper gave me that, too.

I decided it was in the past. Whatever happened with the Cullens was over. I tried to tell myself it didn't matter anymore. I had Jasper and he was the only person I'd ever need. He was my other half, the love of my existence and whatever transpired between me and the Cullens had to happen in order for me to find Jasper. When they left, it tore my heart out, but the experience put me on the path to Jasper.

I smiled at him as he drove down the dark and winding road. He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen, both inside and out. He was loving and caring. He always knew what I needed and when I needed it. He put me first, took care of me and made me feel special.

He glanced over at me and smiled. "I can feel all of that."

"Then you know how grateful I am to have you."

"I do because I feel exactly the same way."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, because I really didn't need it, and inched my way closer to him. I snuggled against his side and closed my eyes. I was calm and peaceful, and not because Jasper was intentionally manipulating me. He didn't have to. I just needed to be close to him and feel him against me.

It didn't matter what had happened when I was human. I realized whatever I endured when the Cullens came into my life was all the way it was supposed to be. It brought me to Jasper. All of it.

That day in the cafeteria, the biology lab, the van and …

No!

I sat up because I suddenly didn't feel tranquil anymore. How could I have blocked him out? I thought about reuniting with Carlisle and Esme, seeing Rose and Emmet. I even thought about what I'd say to Alice. But, I never once let him enter my thought process.

"Bella?" Jasper pulled off the main highway and parked on a deserted dirt road. He turned toward me and took my face between his face. "What is it? You were so calm and serene and now you're afraid and nervous. The anxiety coming off you is off the charts."

I shook my head and then backed away, pressing my body against the passenger door.

"Bella." Jasper moved toward me and tried to manipulate me, but I threw up my shield. I didn't even know why I did that but now that it was up, Jasper could no longer influence me with his gift. Whatever I was feeling was all mine. "You have to tell me what's wrong."

"Edward."

He closed his eyes and ran his palm along his jaw. "Yes, I was wondering when you were going to bring him up."

"I can't, I mean, I don't want…"

Jasper stared at me, looking deep into my eyes almost pleading with me. He looked worried.

"I can't assist you with your shield up," he sighed. "And, I want to touch you, so please drop it for me."

I nodded and mumbled, "Sorry," as I put it back down.

He opened his arms for me, so I crawled across the seat and settled against his body.

"I panicked," I felt really ridiculous.

"I know." He stroked my hair. "I was waiting for you to realize seeing Edward was a possibility. When I told you I wanted to take you to see the Cullens, you never asked about him and I didn't want to push you. When I found you back in Forks, you were healing and you were coming to terms with the fact that you weren't meant to be with him."

"The pull I felt for you was stronger. I didn't understand it at the time, but now we know it was because we were meant to be together."

He nodded. "When I went to see him in Alaska, you didn't want too many details, so I told you only what you needed to know, and I thought that was enough."

"It was," I agreed, "when I was human."

"Your human mind resolved what had happened, but your vampiric mind needs more of a conclusion. It's just the way we process things."

"But, I'm still the same person, why is what happened three years ago affecting what I want now?"

"I don't know, but you were so adamant about sticking to the animal diet when you were human and even now you are showing much more restraint than any other newborn I've ever encountered, but something is blocking you from fully committing."

I twisted in his arms so I could look at him. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for this man and I knew he'd do the same for me.

"You have to trust me," he whispered. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't think it wouldn't help. Carlisle thinks I'm onto something and he has agreed to help you however he can."

"I'm here headed to the Cullens because you told me I should."

I crawled into his lap and straddled him as he pushed the seat back as far as it would go.

"I can handle Edward," I said.

"I know you can." He smiled. "You're stronger than him at the moment, so he should probably be the one panicking."

I laughed at the thought of me beating up Edward. It could be fun!

"My devious girl."

"He hurt me and he never should have left me the way he did, but everything happens for a reason. And, if he stayed with me out of pity or obligation, I never would've found you. I'd still be human and more importantly, I'd still be a virgin."

Jasper quietly laughed as he stroked my cheek. "Well, I took care of those details, but you're still nervous."

"I haven't seen them in three years. I'm not sure how I feel about them."

"They won't force you into feeling anything for them. They just want to help. They owe you that much."

I leaned forward and slowly ran my tongue along his bottom lip, savoring his taste. "I owe you so much."

"You don't owe me anything." He ran his fingers through my hair.

I trailed my lips down his jaw, stopping to kiss just behind his ear. He let out a soft laugh and it always cracked me up to discover my big, strong vamp was ticklish in various places, behind his ear being one of them.

He was so freakin' cute!

I continued my path along his neck, wiggling myself down his body and between his legs. I positioned myself on the floor of the very spacious truck.

"And what is it that you're doing?" He looked down at me with a wicked smile.

"As if you didn't know." I reached for his belt buckle. "Unless you don't want me to."

"I'm a guy. I want you to."

"Hmm…" I lowered his zipper.

He reclined the seat and then twisted his fingers in my hair, gently nudging me closer to where he wanted me to be. I quickly reached into his boxers and pulled out his more than eager cock. I licked my lips before swirling my tongue over his leaky tip.

"Bella…" he moaned.

Jasper loved sex. When I was human, I could hardly keep up although I tried my best. Now as a vampire, all I wanted to do was touch, lick, suck or fuck some part of his body.

I slid my mouth down his shaft making sure to scrap my teeth along his sensitive skin as I went. That was a skill I only recently mastered since becoming a venomous being. At first, Jasper didn't want my teeth anywhere near his precious cargo, but my skills quickly took over and he never complained again.

"So good…" he whispered as he moved my head up and down.

I licked the underside of his cock, moving my hand in between his legs to cup his balls. He rested his head against the seat and let me take over. I indulged in him for over an hour, taking pleasure in the sounds he was making and the way he tasted. Each time he released down my throat, I decided I needed to make him do it again.

"Bella…" He thrust his hips forward and shot his cool liquid into my mouth, violently jerking against my face. He tightened his grip on my hair as I continued to lick him clean. After a few minutes, he pulled me up into his lap. "Four times is more than enough. We're never going to get to Seattle if I let you keep that up."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. "I love doing that to you."

"I know." He laughed. "But, you're depleting me of everything I have."

"You want to hunt?"

"Do you?" I could hear the surprise in his voice because I didn't initiate the idea of hunting. He usually had to drag me out of the house and practically force feed me.

"Umm, yeah, I kinda do." I was surprised by it myself, but I was thirsty now and I could smell the deer off in the distance.

"Let's go." He slowly kissed me before adjusting his pants. "Thanks for the four times by the way. Now I owe you."

"Yes, and I intend on collecting under the stars."

"Then I'll definitely need to hunt if I'm gonna keep up with you."

"Then I suggest you hunt." I smiled as I pressed my lips to his. "You have a long night ahead of you, cowboy."

He pulled me out of the truck, flung me on his back and took off into the forest. There was nothing sexier than a very determined Jasper Whitlock!

***Who wouldn't want a determined Jasper?

***It's that time of year again…I'm off on vacation so there won't be a post next week. My deepest apologies! But, I plan to get some writing done, so I'll be more than ready when I get back!