A/N: a warning – there is a whole hell of a lot of rated M material ahead.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella hadn't been prepared for the bomb that Jacob had dropped on her and was still shocked into near silence by the time Charlie and Billy had returned.
"Doing okay, Bells?"
"Yeah, dad, just tired," the shifter lied to excuse herself.
"Well, that works out since it's about time to head home," Charlie answered before being consumed by a yawn.
Father and daughter said their goodbyes to Jacob and Billy and set off for home in a companionable silence.
Bella took the time they had to review what she had been told.
Embry imprinted on Angela. Which means she was let in on their secret…guess it's up to me if I should spill my own.
Bella didn't feel ready to tell her friend if she was being honest with herself. She was still processing the recent hurt that Angela had inflicted, not just on Jessica, but on the entire group by separating herself from them.
The shifter could understand that from her position, Angela hadn't really had a choice when it came to breaking up with Jessica. Having been imprinted upon was as significant as Bella and Jasper being mates: it just was.
Angela did not, however, have to break up with the rest of her friends.
Unless she feels guilty and doesn't want Jessica to be unsupported. That lives Angela unsupported, too.
Bella's thoughts continued to swirl around her head, and she didn't know if she could handle any more revelations for the evening. It was a relief when Charlie started chatting about the game and asked her if she had fun with Jake and Leah.
"I sure am glad you're making friends, Bells," Charlie admitted happily. "I was really worried about whether Forks would work out or not."
Bella knew her dad had cared and appreciated the immense effort he had put in to making her feel welcome.
"I'm really sorry you had to worry, dad," Bella whispered, not quite sure if he would catch it. "I know I've said that before, but it bears repeating."
"Thank you," Charlie answered, emotion creeping into his voice. "I would do anything to keep you here, kiddo," he tacked on.
Bella was crushed as she thought of the long life looming ahead of her and wondered when fate would take her from her father, the way it had taken her mother from him.
"I'll do my best," was all the shifter could promise.
The two resumed their silence, until Forks was a few short minutes away.
"I know your mom–," Charlie started but wasn't quite sure how to navigate the conversation. "I just hope that you won't have to."
"Me too, dad," Bella answered with tears in her eyes.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella awoke to the sound of an impatient knock on the front door, and without her mate beside her. She groaned, remembering that Jasper had been the last that needed to hunt, meaning that either Rosalie and Emmett, or Peter and Charlotte were outside.
Feeling what she imagined amounted to an emotional hangover, Bella glanced at her alarm clock. It was seven in the morning, and definitely not the time she had planned to wake to start her quiet and reflective Sunday. Remembering that Charlie was at work and that answering the door fell to her, Bella stumbled blearily out of bed, and tread carefully down the stairs.
She opened the door to reveal a swollen-faced, red-eyed Jessica.
Bella realized immediately that her friend wasn't doing well and gestured that she should come in.
"Thanks," Jessica whispered with a shiver and moved quickly into the waiting warmth.
"Wait on the couch while I change?" Bella suggested. "Then I can make coffee and breakfast if you haven't had any."
Jessica took a seat as directed, silence indicating her agreement.
"You need a blanket?" Bella asked kindly, not sure how long her friend had been outside.
"Please, and thank you," the girl responded.
Bella stopped by the hall closet and pulled out two fleece blankets and set them down next to her friend.
"I'll be right back, okay?"
Jessica nodded and Bella ran up the stairs.
Grateful she had showered the night before, Bella changed into a warmer pair of leggings, thick cable knit socks, a fresh undershirt, and a heavy blue sweater. She made her way to the bathroom to relieve herself, wash her face, and brush her teeth to help her wake up.
Bella joined her friend moments later and beckoned her to sit at the dining room table. Again, the girl complied, and took a seat with a blanket still wrapped around her shoulders.
"How long were you waiting?" Bella asked gently as she filled the coffee pot with water.
"Half hour or so," Jessica admitted sheepishly. "I had knocked a few times then went back to my car so I could stay warm."
"Jesus, I'm sorry, Jess! I crashed really hard last night," Bella offered in explanation with a stifled yawn that served to illustrate her point.
Jessica hesitated before muttering, "I didn't.
"Didn't sleep?" Bella asked, shocked that the girl had managed to drive safely to her home.
"Not at all."
"Well, I'm glad I'm making coffee," Bella muttered. "It's going to grind the beans once I turn it on, by the way."
Jessica covered her ears and Bella pressed start. She rummaged through the freezer and found the leftovers of the baked apple pancake she had made for Charlie. She was rewarded by a quick search of the refrigerator with eggs, bacon, and a bit of sharp cheddar.
"Scrambled eggs with bacon bits and cheese?" Bella asked her friend once the coffee maker had finished grinding the beans.
"Ooh, yes please!" Jessica answered with a smile. "Thank you."
"Of course!" Bella responded. "I'm not going to let you starve, Jess."
Bella made quick work of cooking the bacon and eggs and reheated the frozen pancakes in the microwave. Within minutes, breakfast was plated and ready. She set the plates down, and returned to the kitchen for the syrup, coffee carafe, and mugs.
Finally taking her seat and handing a mug off to her friend, Bella took the time to actually examine Jessica.
Poor Jess; she looks exhausted. I can tell she's hurting, but if she can't easily communicate it, how can she work through it?
Decided it would be best to let her friend lead how and when they were going to talk, Bella worked on her breakfast. Both girls were nearly finished by the time Jessica started speaking.
"I said I was better off at lunch the other day."
"I recall," Bella prompted her to continue.
"I'm better off because she–," tears filled the girl's eyes, making it difficult for her to continue. "There's someone else," Jessica finished in a whisper.
"I'm so sorry, Jess," Bella tried to console her friend and moved to hug her.
It was difficult for Bella to feign ignorance of this fact, considering she knew what had happened, but Jessica didn't seem to notice.
"I just don't know what I did wrong," the girl sobbed. "I tried so hard. So hard! I know that as an autistic, sometimes I don't show enough emotions for neurotypicals to understand me, so I really tried to make sure she knew how I feel."
"I know you did, Jess," Bella spoke soothingly. "And I know it doesn't help, but I can promise you, you didn't do anything wrong, it just didn't work out."
Jessica slowly began to cry herself out, and eventually went limp, a rigidity having left her body.
"So, I didn't do anything wrong?"
"No, Jess, you didn't."
The girl sniffled and processed her thoughts as Bella straightened to move back to her seat.
"Sorry, I need to blow my nose," Jessica realized and headed for the bathroom to take care of herself.
Bella finished her coffee and watched particles of ground beans swirling around the bottom, much like her thoughts. The complications surrounding the situation were unique and required careful navigation.
The sound of running water indicating she would be rejoined shortly broke through her reverie, and she readied herself for whatever she would be facing. Jessica appeared much more gathered than before, however and sat with a sigh.
"Thank you for being here, Bella. I know it sucked waking up to this."
"You're fine," the shifter countered. "You're welcome anytime. I'll text you where we keep the spare so you can let yourself in next time."
"Thank you! I hope I won't have to again, but you know: better safe than waking-up-and-stumbling-down-the-stairs-to-your-death," Jessica joked, slowly reverting to her usual self.
"Exactly," Bella answered with a grin. "So, what's your plan for the day? We can hang out here if you want."
Jessica considered for a few moments and took a peek out the back patio at the soft clouds. "I don't think we're going to get any rain today. You want to go running? Or walking?"
That doesn't seem like a bad idea. She could use the chance to blow off some steam that way.
"That sounds like a great idea, Jess! I'll need to change first. Do you need running stuff?"
"I keep workout gear in my car, actually," Jessica answered with a laugh.
"Better safe than running in boots?" Bella asked with a grin.
"Precisely," Jessica called back as she headed for the door, keys in hand. "Be right back."
Bella took a moment to clear the plates and coffee cups from the table and rinsed them off. She dashed back up the stairs and removed her sweater before searching for her jacket, but to no avail. With a deep sigh, she twisted her hair up into a messy bun and padded back down the stairs.
Jessica was changing in the bathroom and Bella used the time to grab the girl's water bottle from the kitchen table and rifled through the glass cupboard for her own. When she turned to face the sink, Bella was pleasantly surprised to find it empty of dishes.
Jessica walked out of the bathroom moments later. "Thanks for filling it!"
"Thanks for doing the dishes," Bella shot back with a smile.
"Least I could do," Jessica responded simply. "All set?"
"Just about. I need to find my jacket and change my socks and shoes, then we're good."
"I have a jacket you can borrow," Jess offered helpfully.
"Dude, thank you!"
Bella thought to grab her cell phone and saw a text from Rosalie.
We'll be following.
R
She slid her arms into the jacket Jessica handed over and stowed her phone in a zippered pocket before locking up behind them.
"The usual?" Bella checked with her friend.
"Fine by me."
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Edward watched as the dark cloaks of the Volturi guard flanked either side of him. He had caused enough trouble near their city to merit intervention.
"My name is Edward Cullen. I request an audience with Aro to share information on a serious threat. I can only do so if I'm shielded or everyone will be at risk," he chanced speaking out loud before changing direction, bent on not actively making choices.
The guard fell back, one breaking away entirely, most likely to propose a meeting with their leaders. Within minutes, the vampire rejoined the grouping with an addition.
The newcomer launched themselves to tackle Edward, and as they fell, said, "Aro has agreed to a meeting."
"And you–."
"I'm a shield, yes," the woman cut him off. "But I can only do so within a certain proximity. Do not run again."
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Over the sound of her shoes smacking the still-wet areas of the path, the hair on Bella's arms stood up; the woods had gone completely silent and had been for some time. She slowed and moments later, Jessica came to a dead stop and fell to the ground screaming.
"My head," Jessica sobbed as she curled into the fetal position. "It feels like someone is taking an axe to my brain." The girl began to writhe on the ground, the pain quickly becoming unbearable. "Something wants in!" she shrieked.
Fuck.
Bella thought quickly, keeping her ears open for what appeared to be an attack in the making. There was what Bella could only think of as a shimmering sort of hum from the trees not far behind them. She swallowed, knowing that Rosalie or Emmett wouldn't be trying to conceal the sound of their movements.
The shifter didn't have the chance to make a solid plan before a marble body slammed into her own, pinning Bella to a tree that groaned under the weight of the impact. Her survival instinct kicked in immediately, and she threw the vampire off, allowing Bella to get a good look at him.
Medium length blonde hair was tied back with a strap of leather, his deep crimson eyes assessing her. He hadn't been a very large man in life, built of wiry muscles wrapped around a medium frame. Bella realized immediately that she could obliterate him.
What an average man, the animal inside of her laughed.
Hands shaking with rage, Bella shifted in a fraction of a second, feeling her way to the form she sought. She knew she resembled the creature that had taken on Emmett all those weeks ago, but this time she was far stronger, and ready to shred the vampire standing before her.
The attacker had the sense to realize he was outmatched, but instead of fleeing, launched at her once more.
Bella reached for the vampire's arm and spun her body to turn with him, using his speed against him as momentum to slam his body to the ground. Pain tore through Bella's arm with the motion, but she ignored it so she could rip the vampire's arms from its body and instinctively, tossed them aside.
The fight left him, and resigned to his fate, the vampire whispered, "make no mistake: she will have you, Isabella."
Bella froze, torn between leaving him alive for questioning and squashing the threat right then.
The sound of a vampire growling, followed by a new type of scream from her friend diverted her attention, however. Bella quickly pieced together that the vampire had been hell-bent on attacking her so that his fellow would be able to get close to Jessica without the shifter's interference.
Leverage.
Amidst the sound of Jessica's screams, Bella twisted the head gripped in her hands clean off its body and tossed it in the opposite direction of the arms. She kicked his body down the ledge of a short hill, satisfied that she would hear him approach if he somehow managed to put himself back together.
One down, one to go.
Bella spun to launch herself at the second attacker but wasn't prepared for the gruesome scene that awaited her. The dismemberment of her own attacker had taken less than two seconds. In that short span of time, Jessica had been sliced with cruel, slashing fingernails. Bloody gashes ran diagonally from her shoulder down and deeply into her abdomen, and vertically from her shoulders to her wrists.
She's going to bleed out, Bella realized with horror.
"You understand the predicament you're in," a vampire with ruby colored hair that matched her crazed eyes asked slowly. "See, you just dismantled my mate, and I happily return the favor."
"What is it that you want?" Bella ground out through a mouth full of fangs, unable to hold back a snarl.
"It isn't what I want," the vampire answered with a wicked grin. "It's what she wants."
Tired of being mentally jerked around, Bella asked angrily, "Who is she?"
In response, the vampire simply smirked and drew her nail slowly along Jessica's neck, allowing droplets to spill. She paused with her nails at the girl's quickly fading pulse point and grinned.
"Come with me, and you can find out; I'll also get your little friend medical attention."
Liar,the animal inside roared unnecessarily.
The sound of a single vampire approaching the group faster than any Bella had ever heard registered in her ears and the shifter readied for another attack.
The red-head apparently thought she was being sent reinforcements, as she didn't even move to protect herself as a blur of white slammed into her body. Within a second, both the woman's head and arms were removed.
The unknown hero quickly gathered the pieces of the first and second bodies then turned a set of red eyes to Bella.
"Lighter?"
Shaking, Bella tried to right herself to see if Jessica had kept a lighter in her pocket. Her hand closed around a pack of matches.
"Only these," she held them up.
"Far too dangerous for me; you must do it," came a response in a soft English accent.
Trusting the newcomer for some reason, Bella did as she was told and watched as a thick purple smoke billowed from the pile, filling the clearing with the smell of burning incense.
Turning back to Jessica, Bella saw how closely the vampire had come to her friend. A growl ripped from her throat and Bella felt the shift begin to solidify, this time, a complete change.
Clothes shredding as they grew too tight around her massive form, Bella stalked forward on four paws and prepared to spring, ready to annihilate the vampire. He placed a hand out to stop her progress, never taking his eyes from Jessica.
"Please, she's going to die."
Bella stopped, worried for her friend.
The brown-haired vampire leaned close to Jessica's face, whose eyes were flicking back and forth, struggling to stay open. She managed to reached for and squeeze the vampire's hand.
"The people that attacked you were vampires," the man answered honestly. "I am a vampire. I do not, however, wish to drink your blood or kill you."
Jessica looked ready to pass out or vomit.
Or both.
"You are going to cease to exist," the vampire whispered slowly. "Unless you make a choice, right now."
Jessica paused and looked at Bella, who, in response lowered her body until she was laying with her belly flat to the ground.
The shifter scooted forward, inch by inch, until she could nudge Jessica's other hand. The girl quickly wrapped her finger's into Bella's fur, taking comfort from her friend, despite her change in form.
"There is little time," the vampire whispered. "The window of opportunity closes swiftly."
"Do it," Jessica choked, turning her eyes to her potential savior as blood dripped down her lips, indicating severe internal bleeding.
"I am terribly sorry, but this is going to hurt like hell," the vampire murmured quietly into Jessica's ear before placing his teeth to the side of her neck.
He worked quickly, biting into areas of higher blood flow, allowing the venom to spread more easily to work quickly on her damaged flesh.
It has to slow the bleeding.
Jessica started shaking and thankfully, lost consciousness due to her previous injuries before she began to convulse.
"We need to take her somewhere safe, or whomever sent our now-disposed of friends will surely hear her. I have friends that live nearby."
The Cullen's.
The vampire risked standing while clutching Jessica's body to him. "So, tell me, why on Earth do you smell like The Major?"
Bella looked at him and couldn't keep an evil grin off her face.
"Oh, dear. Then I suppose we must head for the Cullen's."
Bella nodded, wondering how exactly this vampire knew the family, but was distracted by a pained moan coming from her friend.
"We must move," the mystery man directed. At the sound of an approaching vampire, he whispered, "run."
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella knew they had outpaced their pursuer and felt immediate relief when Emmett and Rosalie joined them a few miles from their home.
Rosalie choked as soon as she saw how bloodied Jessica's body was, and Emmett readied to take the vampire down. A growl from Bella, however, had him falling back. They quickly understood that Jessica wasn't in danger from the vampire carrying their friend.
"What the fuck happened, Garrett?" Rosalie roared angrily.
A nomad.
"I really don't know," the vampire answered honestly. "There were two: one male, one female. This one," he indicated Bella, "slaughtered the man quite brilliantly."
Emmett grinned for his sister's win. "And the female?" he asked angrily.
"I took her out myself," the vampire answered darkly. "It felt like couldn't let anything happen to her," he indicated Jessica. "She's important."
Rosalie and Emmett exchanged glances and, satisfied he wasn't going to harm Jessica or Bella, overtook the trio to ready the house for their arrival.
Esme was waiting on the front porch, hand covering her pained face as she took in how badly wounded the girl was.
"What did you do to me?" Jessica panted.
"I had to change you to save you," the vampire answered her quickly.
Jessica's pain was so overwhelming, however, that she didn't hear him.
"What did you do?" she roared so loudly that picture frames shook on the walls of the home once they were inside.
"Upstairs," Carlisle ordered, leading them to his study, followed by Esme. The wall was sliding open by the time Bella got there. "In," was all he said.
The vampire took the girl inside and was joined by Rosalie before the door shut.
"Emmett, get Bella clothes," the doctor continued to direct the next steps.
"Bella, change back and explain what happened. Jasper is on his way."
Bella ran down the hall to meet her brother who had managed to find her a hoodie and some jeans. He set them in the bathroom and the shifter darted in quickly, wanting to catch everyone up to speed.
She was dressed in record time and slid on the wooden floor in her hurry to make it back to the study as quickly as possible.
"What the hell happened?" Emmett asked wildly.
"We went for a walk like you heard, and all of the sudden, I couldn't hear you two."
"We couldn't hear you, either," Emmett added clearly distressed. "It was like we suddenly didn't know where we were. No direction seemed like the right one and we wandered in circles."
"Jesus Christ," Carlisle muttered quietly, shocking the girl. "Then what?"
"Jessica started screaming about her heard hurting, and all of the sudden a vampire was there. The male was kind of wild looking, but not too much to handle; I finished him in only a few seconds," Bella explained. "But in that time, the female had slashed Jess with her nails. Deeply."
Bella heard Esme's sharp intake of breath, her fear for the girl very evident.
"What of her?" Carlisle asked clinically.
"The vampire that carried just took down the female and told me to set them on fire, so I did. When I turned back around, he was leaning over Jess and I freaked out."
Emmett began growling territorially and moved to enter the War Room.
"Wait!" Bella cut him off. "He didn't want to harm her. I don't know who he is or why he came, but he told me she was dying. I mean, I knew she was, but he offered to save her."
The sound of Jasper roaring in the woods echoed around the home and the others pulled away from Bella instinctively. The shifter got up and ran for the front door, needing to see and touch him as desperately as he did her. She launched herself into the air from half way down the stairs and was caught safely by her mate.
Moments later Jasper had her wrapped in his arms and was running out the patio door at lightning speeds, triggering the alarm. Regardless of the danger, no one dared stop him, and the alarm was silenced moments later.
He didn't stop running until the two came across a small cabin the woods that looked very much like something from a fairytale. A living tree grew through the front porch, winding upwards, far above the roof and into the sky. Aside from a little moss on the roof, which added to its charm, it was extremely well kept.
Jasper reached for and slid a panel of wood on the side of the doorframe to expose a number pad. He shielded it from view and entered a very long key code. Jasper crossed the threshold and a visual assessment revealed a thin layer of dust, reassuring him that no one had entered it in the weeks since he had last stayed at his mancave. He closed and locked the door behind them and moved to reactivate the security system.
Bella's lips finally latched onto his, searching for reassurance. She ran her hands up and through his hair, clutching his carved marble body against her soft. In less than a second, they were in what appeared to be a master bedroom. Still holding her tightly to him, Jasper lowered the two of them to the bed.
His lips roamed her creamy neck, sucking and licking every square inch of exposed skin he came across, hungering for more. Bella reached down and tore the shirt from his body, seeking the feeling of his cool skin under her hands. Jasper followed suit, and the hoodie that had been loaned to her was suddenly no more than tatters on the floor.
Jasper caught sight of Bella's arm and froze, examining the still-wet blood on it. A rumbling growl emitted from his chest and sent spiraling jolts of heat deep into her core; she was far from afraid. Her mate leaned closer and ran his nose along the soft flesh on the inside of her arm. Their eyes met, and a moment of understanding ran between them. Jasper extended his tongue and slid it up and around.
A moan of pleasure escaped Bella's lips as her mate lathed the wound, sucking and licking her clean. Her body responded immediately, the need to be consumed by him as the essence of her life force was, radiating throughout.
When he finished however, his growling became more urgently furious. Looking to her arm, Bella saw the concern: along her inner elbow lay the tell-tale crescent scar of a vampire bite.
But apparently, venom does nothing to me.
She looked to his face and a hunger that Bella had never seen in him blazed brightly in his eyes. It was not her blood he wanted, but her; he needed to claim her, as she did him.
Jasper pulled away from her arm and slid down her abdomen, marking his progress with his lips. His hands sought the waistband of her jeans and slid them down her hips and onto the floor before burying his face between her thighs without preamble.
Bella cried out as his cold tongue swirled against her swollen clit, stoking the fires of her desire. Jasper worshipped her, licking and sucking until, legs trembling, she reached down to grasp his hair, and pulled him back up her body.
The shifter wrapped her legs around him and used her feet to slide off her mate's pants, allowing Jasper's thick, steely length to be released between them. Bella reached down, her hands urgent to spread the dewy venom that leaked from his head up and down his staff.
Their eyes met, each feeling the pull of their mating bond tightening between them. Ever so slowly, and guided by Bella's hand, Jasper held her gaze and pressed into her slick center.
Bella gave a gasp of surprise; the pain was not what she had expected. There was only a brief moment of stinging, that was immediately eased by Jasper's cold shaft. Her gasp quickly turned into a moan of pleasure that encouraged Jasper to continue his journey into her heat.
Jasper rolled his hips slowly, easing himself in and out, testing for Bella's comfort. With each slow thrust, Bella sank deeper into a sea of ecstasy that overtook every atom and molecule of her being. Every soft touch, tender moment, and passionate kiss had led them to this; a culmination of what could only be described as everything.
"You are everything," Jasper rumbled, as though stealing the thoughts from the girl's mind. He wrapped his hands behind her shoulders, holding her body closer to his.
Eyes of pitch and flame explored hers, and Bella found that she couldn't look away. She ran her hands up and down his sides as their rhythm built together, increasing in speed and intensity.
She wrapped her arms around her mate, whining softly in frustration, trying to find a grip that would hold her body in place, needing every inch of him to penetrate her. Intuiting her needs, Jasper propped the underside of Bella's thighs against his own before gripping her shoulders once more, stopping her body from sliding away from his.
Each thrust elicited a gasping moan from his mate that was like music, sending tingling shocks of pleasure throughout his entire body. The sound of Bella's heartbeat quickening alerted him to her building conclusion, and Jasper slowed his tempo, slowly slipping his tip into and out of her entrance repeatedly. He lowered his mouth to capture one of her stiff, pink buds and circled it with his cold tongue.
The teasing was nearly unbearable, and Bella couldn't keep her nails from digging into Jasper's skin as he gripped her other breast with his hand, sliding his thumb around and over the peak.
A sharp tugging emanated from Bella's chest, as though her heart was attempting leave her chest to sink into the body of her mate.
"I love you," Bella gasped out, earning a doubling of Jasper's previous efforts. His lips sought hers, fingers reaching to tangle themselves in her own and pressed her hands into the sheets beside her head.
"I love you," Jasper groaned, just before Bella toppled over the edge of her pleasure. He followed her half an instant later as her velvet walls tightened, clamping down on him, milking spurts of Jasper's seed inside of her.
"You are mine," Bella growled into his ear as Jasper's thrusts began to slow, his cock sliding lazily in and out of her.
"As you are mine, my mate," he answered, lowering his lips to hers once more.
Jasper didn't cease his movements entirely, and as a consequence, Bella felt a trembling begin to build once more.
"I need something from you," Bella informed her mate gently.
"I will do anything for you," Jasper uttered the words for the first time in his life.
"Replace the mark with your own," she begged with a glance to her arm.
Jasper stiffened painfully inside of her, the request enough to have him at the ready. He could only nod his assent as waves from the deep ocean of her love crashed over his entire being.
Jasper arranged her marred arm above her head, not leaving her warmth in the process. He began to thrust deeply in and out of his mate, the instinct to claim her overtaking his every thought.
Bella gasped and moaned as his shaft rammed upward, rubbing along a sensitive spot in the process.
"Harder," Bella cried out loudly, feeling her body winding up once more. "Faster, she begged, tears flowing down her face, overwhelmed by the feelings whirling inside of her.
Jasper eagerly obliged her and gripped her forearm with one hand and pressed her upper arm tightly to the bed with the other while slamming roughly into his mate.
"You are mine," Jasper came with a thundering roar, lowering his mouth to the wound that dared mar his mate's creamy flesh. He sank his teeth deeply, seeking to replace every indentation with his own.
Bella came as her mate broke the skin, feeling his venom enter her veins with a pleasant warmth that flooded her entire body in seconds.
Jasper relented as the shifter's muscles finally ceased spasming around him and lapped the fresh blood off her arm. The two lay in silence, each marveling at the other.
Bella raised her lips, pleased at the layers of her scent and flavor that lingered in her mate's mouth. She pulled her face away to run her lips along his cheek to his ear.
"I am yours," she confirmed with a satisfied smile. "I mean," Bella leaned forward to slide her lips down the side of his neck, nipping lightly, causing her mate to growl deep in his chest as she stirred his arousal. "I was before, but there's physical evidence, now."
She placed the hand of her marked arm on his chest and pushed him gently to the side. Jasper took the hint and withdrew to lay beside her. He gasped in surprise as Bella twisted to straddle his body with her own. She ground her wet lips back and forth along his shaft until her mate hissed with his need.
The shifter raised her hips and took him in one smooth movement. Back deeply curved, Bella stretched her arms out to grip his shoulders, much like Jasper had. Her movements were calculated and graceful; she was the predator now.
Jasper shook at the slow, gentle rolling of her hips. The rhythm was intense and somehow soothing after their previously frantic joining, and instilled Jasper with a serene bliss, everything but his mate forgotten.
Bella pulled on his shoulders, so that he was leaning on his forearms to give her access to his lips. Their kisses were long and languid, focused on drawing out their pleasure as long as possible.
The shifter wound her fingers into Jasper's golden hair and gripped him tightly by the back of his head to pull him closer still. She broke the kiss to slide her tongue up and down the sensitive skin of her mate neck, grazing her canines along the raised ridges that dominated his neck; a request.
"Yes," Jasper's answer rumbled through his chest, his twitching cock encouraging Bella to follow the instinct to mark him as well.
Smiling against his neck, Bella continued to nip and tease him, the anticipation bringing them both to the edge once more. The shifter's teeth sharpened, and with a growl of her own building in her throat, Bella's tongue found a miraculously smooth section of skin and sank her teeth deeply into his marble neck.
Jasper couldn't have imagined that being bitten could ever be a pleasurable experience for him, but the sensation of his mate marking him elicited a violent release. His hands found her hips to provide stability allowing Bella's jaw to grip more tightly on his neck.
It was far easier than Bella would have thought, as though his skin was made of something far more malleable than stone. Her own release followed with a handful of long, slow rolls of her hips.
Jasper hissed out a breath while his mate sucked the tiny rivulets of his venom that leaked from the wound before his body had a chance to seal the wound. More satisfied than he had ever been in his entire life, Jasper watched his mate's face as she pulled away, her smile and contentment mirroring his own.
"You're incredible," Bella whispered, gently tracing the lines of Jasper's face with her warm fingers.
"You are, darlin'," Jasper countered with a grin. "That was."
"Indeed, it was," Bella answered with a laugh, the movement causing Jasper's cock to twitch inside of her.
Her stomach rumbled a moment later, however, squashing any thought of an encore.
"How about we shower," Bella asked deviously, "then I can make myself some food." She thought for a moment. "If there is food."
"There is some pasta," Jasper answered with a smile. "Keeping up appearances and all; but I have some bad news darlin'."
"What?" Bella asked, feeling immediately put out.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to shower alone or you are going to risk starving to death, for I'll never be able to pull my body from yours again."
Bella giggled again, jiggling her body up and down his quickly hardening shaft, proving his point.
Bella stared at her mate seriously and considered. "I hate having this conversation while you're still inside of me."
"But?"
Bella chewed her lip gently, thinking how to word her thoughts. "I don't know how long it will be until we have a chance like this again."
Jasper leaned up to kiss his mate, quelling her fears. He pulled away to catch her eyes. "I promise you, this will be over very soon." An angry snarl was worked its way out of his mouth a moment later. "No one lays hands on my mate."
"Consider it a mutual feeling," Bella answered menacingly, her tight body arching into a pose that reminded Jasper of a viper coiling to strike.
"Fuck," Jasper breathed, his shaft hardening, demanding release.
"Tell me, Major Whitlock," Bella teased evilly. "What exactly about my rage was arousing?"
A moment later, they both realized they weren't going to be able to leave the bedroom as soon as they had anticipated.
"I'll be the one to ask the questions, darlin'," Jasper growled and spun their bodies so that Bella was laying face down on the bed, his cock no longer inside of her but pressed against her thighs.
Arms pinned behind her back, the girl let out a long whine of frustration, bucking her hips against him in the hopes of finding a re-entry.
"No, no, Miss Swan," Jasper purred into her ear, leaning his body weight against her. "I decide when I'm inside of you."
Bella whimpered and her arousal spread, wafting their tantalizing combined scent into the air.
"As it stands, you're in luck," Jasper groaned before sheathing himself inside of her, much to the shifter's delight. "For I find you dangerously hard to resist at present."
Each rough, deep thrust ground Bella's pelvis against the bed, allowing her slick lips to slide against her aching clit. Unable to keep from being lost to the pleasure, Bella was taken in a few deep strokes, bringing Jasper to his own shuddering finish.
He pushed Bella's hair from her shoulder and trailed kisses up and along to the crook of her neck before gently pulling out and rolling his mate over. Lips moving together in the dark, the two basked in the moments of contentment, satisfaction, and love that had been offered them.
"I will move heaven and Earth to keep you," Jasper swore, cupping Bella's face in his hands.
"Thank goodness, for I find you quite agreeable," Bella teased, tucking her face into his neck to place lazy kisses upon his flesh.
They allowed themselves a few minutes of blissful silence before Jasper finally spoke. "Time to rejoin reality?"
"I think so. I mean, we don't know when Jess will be done but we should be there."
Jasper looked exceptionally confused at the statement.
He didn't hear her screaming because she was in the War Room.
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