Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 49 Welcome Home
JPOV
It was a slightly unorthodox date in the end but I think she got the message.
I Jasper Whitlock, love thee, Bella Swan.
I will go back and finish school with you. Attend college with you. Make love to you every day. I will support you and take care of you, whether you realise it or not, for the rest of our existence.
There are so many things I want to show her, share with her that I can't wait to get started.
But first, we have to face the family.
I know Esme was harbouring hopes for a happy outcome when I admitted defeat and went after Bella but I doubt this is quite the one she had in mind. I'm not used to caring about what people think and if I'm honest its now really only Bella's thoughts that concern me, but still, I think it would hurt if Esme thought this was too soon or somehow disrespectful to Alice's memory. Which I suppose it is, so little time has passed for a vampire, but I can't help what's happened. I loved Alice but my feelings for Bella are so strong there was no way I was ever going to be able to fight them and certainly not for anyone else's sense of propriety.
I want her to feel comfortable here, with my family. I don't mind if she doesn't want to live with them permanently, I'm not even sure I do now that I've found her, but I know how important it is in this life to have somewhere you belong.
Beside me I can sense Bella's own nervousness as we turn off the interstate. I'm very happy with the way we can feel each other now, it's the most peaceful thing I've ever known. I'd send her some reassurance but her shield is down and this new development doesn't extend to me being able to influence her. Which seems right in a way, her emotions are her own and I should only be able to help with her permission.
I settle for squeezing her hand which is still securely wrapped in mine. She stirs slightly and smiles.
How thoroughly she's changing me, how little I care.
BPOV
As we turn down the road to the Cullen's place I check my face in the mirror. Yep, no changes there.
I'm so nervous, but then I suppose I am about to 'meet the in-laws'. What if they don't approve of me? What if they do approve and want us to live with them? What's Kate going to say?
Oh god. They're all lined up outside like a receiving line, at least they're smiling, at least I think they are . . . .
"Will you relax?" Jasper huffs gently, squeezing my hand again.
No, no, not happening, sorry . . . .
He stops the car but doesn't get out. Instead he pulls me towards him and gently kisses me, one hand reaching behind my neck to stroke my scar.
I sigh into his mouth and he pulls back to kiss my forehead. I don't need him to tell me he loves me, its washing over me in warm waves.
"Ready?"
I nod, waiting for him to help me out of the car so I can hold his hand, looking everywhere but at the others.
The driveway is very smooth, even for asphalt, I wonder who laid it, they deserve a drive laying Oscar or something . . . .
When we come to a stop and he squeezes my hand again my brain demands that my head be lifted and reluctantly it obeys.
Kate is beaming. Rose is smirking. Em is hopping up and down on the spot. Esme is beaming. Carlisle is watching us intently with a quiet smile.
Okay. Not so bad.
Smile. My brain orders. My lips quirk up and my cheeks bunch.
Jasper chuckles. Asshole.
"Welcome home." Esme almost squeals, breaking the awkward spell and darting forward to hug Jasper and then me. "I can't wait to hear what's been happening."
Em's next, pounding Jasper on the back and ripping me out of his hand so he can lift me up and attempt to crush me like a beer can. "Welcome back little Bells!"
"Umph." Is the only reply I can manage.
"Put her down Em." Rose drawls, winking at me. "Jazz is getting jealous."
He does look a bit uncomfortable, torn between claiming me back and happiness at being home with his family.
"Why must my pleasures always be rationed?" Em whines, dropping me back on my feet and ruffling my hair.
"Because you're a moron." Rose laughs, taking his hand as he steps back to her side.
"Welcome home son." Carlisle says, embracing Jasper briefly. "And Bella, I'm very glad to have you back too."
I nod, fidgeting slightly under his scrutiny, relieved when his smile widens suddenly and he embraces me too.
Did he just take a discreet sniff? What the?
"Come on." Esme urges, grabbing my hand. "Let's not stand out here on ceremony, let's get you settled in your room. Jasper! Bags."
"Yes ma'am." I hear him drawl behind me as Kate scoots up and grabs my other hand.
"We've been presumptuous and put you in Jasper's room with him." She whispers. "So if you want your old room back, speak now while the menfolk are making a meal of unpacking the car."
"Um. Jasper's room."
Kate giggles and Esme swells up like a bullfrog.
I'm not sure how to take that.
"She's pleased." Kate informs me with a laugh. "Aren't you Esme?"
"Oh yes, very pleased, for both of you."
"Um."
"It's alright Bella." She laughs. "I can be a patient romantic, you can tell me when you're ready."
"Thanks."
"Here we are." She says, swinging open the last door on the right. "It's not very feminine I'm afraid, all he wanted was somewhere to put his books and hang his clothes."
Oh.
I've never seen a space with so little furniture but so much personality.
"You've got the biggest bathroom though." Esme continues. "He's a terrible habit of breaking tubs and shower stalls with those lanky limbs so I supersized everything this time."
"Wow." I peek inside, it even makes the one in New York look small.
"We'll leave you to get settled." She says backing out and dragging Kate with her. "And catch up with you both later."
Alone I twirl around.
His scent is very strong in here.
Every wall is lined with book cases, crammed with books, I can smell the age of some of them.
Fiction. History. Airplane manuals, he wasn't kidding, tank manuals, text books, it's like a small town library all on its own. I can't see where he puts his clothes though. I sniff carefully, denim, and follow my nose. The wardrobe is behind the fiction and after a couple of false starts I manage to get it open. Not very revealing, but very neat, borderline OCD neat. The only personality a collection of cowboy boots, in various states of decrepitude, lined up against the back wall by a very old looking valise.
I close it again and go back to examining the room.
Wide balcony doors opening out onto the tree line. A slightly ratty but incredibly comfortable looking armchair, with a side table and lamp, a foot stool. A sleek and expensive looking stereo. That's it. No bed. I don't suppose he felt he needed one.
With a sigh I sink down in the chair and pick up the book left on the table.
Nietzsche. In German.
O-kay.
I get up again and start touring the shelves, reading the titles, not stopping when I hear him come in and place the bags down by the wardrobe.
In moments he's standing behind me, hands resting on the bookshelf, arms trapping me in place.
"There's no bed." He murmurs, rubbing his nose in my hair.
"U-huh."
"Shall I get the one from the guest room?"
"No!"
Everyone will know why . . . .
"Why not?"
I shrug, not prepared to put my embarrassment into words.
"Why not?"
"What will everyone think?" I squeak.
"That we're developing a healthy active sex life, I would imagine." He replies reasonably, brushing my hair over one shoulder so he can kiss me neck and scar.
Oh no. Not when there are other people in the house . . . . What would Esme think?
"I don't care what anybody thinks." He whispers, between kisses. "And they won't care what anybody gets up to in their own room, this is a house full of loving couples. Adults. You know what goes on, you've been here before."
I shake my head. This isn't my home and even if it was I don't think I could . . . .
He shifts forwards, pressing his erection into my back and I can feel warmth spreading through me.
I can't . . . .
"Do you have any idea?" He murmurs into my ear. "How many hours I spent sitting up here trying to read a book when you were in the house?"
My head shakes again.
"How hard it was, how hard I was, thinking about what I'd like to do to you?"
Head shake, sharp intake of breath.
The titles of the books are looking a little blurry . . . . A King Tiger, is that some kind of prawn?
"Wouldn't you like to know what I was thinking about doing to you?"
Head shake. And a little moan as he rubs himself against me. Definitely feeling warm now. Better lean on the bookshelf, move away from him a bit.
One of his hands moves down, rubbing my leg, sliding up underneath my dress. I really should tell him to stop now, move away while he's left me an opening . . . .
"Are you sure?" His tongue flicks in and out of my ear and my traitorous body grinds back against him.
"J-ah-umph."
His low dirty chuckle has me ramming my thighs together, trapping his delicately climbing hand.
"I think you want to know." He purrs, tugging at my earlobe with his teeth and closing the gap between us. "I think you like my bad side."
I shake my head again.
His hand easily makes its away higher, prising my thighs apart as it goes.
"I know you do." He chuckles again. "I can feel it, I felt it in New York. My bad side turns you on."
"Please . . . . Jasper . . . . not here, not in . . . . the house . . . ."
"Really? You want me to carry you out through the house?" He asks, as his hand reaches its destination, cupping my sopping panties.
"Window . . . ." I gasp, rolling myself into his hand.
"Are we doing anything to be ashamed of?"
His hand eases my panties out of the way, grazing across my flesh.
"N-no." Oh god, no.
"Do you want me to stop?"
No! No, no, no . . . .
A long finger plunges inside me and I gasp, leaning forward, not sure if I'm pulling away from him or making it easier . . . .
Another finger slips in, the two of them moving gently, my body sucking at them wetly.
"You're an asshole." I grind out, leaning further forward and bracing my hands on the shelf.
"I know." He chuckles, following me down, body folded over mine, teeth grazing my neck. "But we need to get over this hang up of yours somehow . . . ."
"Ungh."
"Do you want me to fuck you Bella?" He growls, fingers pumping now, slow but hard. "Do you care if anyone hears us?"
No, no, I don't care . . . .
"I need to hear you say it . . . ."
I can't.
"Say it." His voice is soft and gentle, loving.
I shake my head.
"I love you Bella, tell me, tell me what you want me to do to you right now . . . ."
"I . . . . I can't . . . ." I moan, twisted with desire, aching with it.
"I'm yours." He groans, curling his pumping fingers inside me, making me shake like a leaf in the wind. "Body and soul, take me, accept me, tell me what you want."
"Oh . . . . god . . . . please Jasper . . . . make love to me . . . . hard . . . ."
"Oh love." He purrs unbuckling his belt and letting his pants fall to the floor. "You only had to ask . . . ."
…..
Well that's one of my hang ups out of the way I guess, I wonder if he's working to a twelve step program?
I stretch luxuriously on the thick carpet and when I'm done he snuggles closer with a contented sigh.
Bed shopping tomorrow.
A/N Just in case, I'm on Twitter, I don't tweet (it's my age, it scares me) but if anything happens I'll let you know what's next on there. Was that cryptic enough, do you think? ;o)
