Jasper laughed a little shakily. "Bella, don't apologize, please. Trust me, it's not your blood I want from you right now."
Well fuck. That was doing absolutely nothing for how wound up I felt right now.
"So what?" I demanded feeling frustrated. "I'm not that fragile, Jasper. You're the one who's practically an antique here."
He laughed again at that. I took that as a good sign and took a step toward him. He quickly stepped back.
"Bella, you don't understand. Alice's vision-"
"That's what you're worried about? I thought I already told you I don't want to be a vampire."
"You don't get it," he groaned in frustration. "I've known Alice for over 50 years. I've never seen her be wrong before. I can't take that risk. I won't be the one to take your life from you."
Chapter 8
"What exactly did Alice see?" I demanded.
"She saw you and her, together. You were a newborn," Jasper said still standing a full stride away from me. It was like he needed physical distance between us to control himself. I knew the feeling.
"Newborn? Carlisle used that word too. What do you mean? Like, someone who was just turned into a vampire?"
He nodded.
"How can you tell if someone is a newborn in a vision?" I asked curiously.
"You, uh, normally wouldn't be able to, but it's the eyes."
"The eyes?"
"Vampires on a normal diet have red eyes. A newborn wouldn't have had time to clear the red from their eyes with animal blood. You were either a newborn, or you had recently killed a human."
His voice got quieter near the end of his sentence. It was barely a whisper by the time he finished. Killed a human. I appreciated that his family thought well enough of me to assume I had merely been a newborn in the vision. I had a startling realization about my own theory though. Alice couldn't have simply seen a vision of my dream. My eyes had been golden like the Cullen's in my dream. I sat on my bed, shell-shocked.
"What is it, Bella?" Jasper asked.
"I didn't know about the red eyes," I said numbly.
"Why would you?"
"I had gold eyes in my dream."
"Oh," he said, realization dawning. "Bella, I've always known that Alice doesn't have visions of other people's dreams. She can only see flashes of the future."
"How does it work? Alice's power?"
"When people make a decision, it sets a certain future into motion. She can see that future."
I perked up. "So it changes based on people's decisions?"
"Yes. Why?"
"When Alice had her vision, I didn't even know you guys were vampires yet. I couldn't have decided not to become a vampire. Has she the vision since then?"
"I don't know," he said cautiously. "I got pretty upset about it last time. I don't know if she would tell me."
"Well, I do know," I said standing from my bed and stepping toward him. "Look. I have decided not to be a vampire. You have decided not to turn me. No mention of any more visions. Case closed."
"Bella-" Jasper started.
"I don't want to live scared of a possible future forever."
"I don't either," he said. I could see his resolve breaking.
I stepped toward him again. This time, he didn't step away from me, but he did stand almost perfectly still. I reached up and gently cupped his face with my hand, scared he would pull away again. He just watched me, his eyes intense and dark. I moved my hand to the back of his neck, pulling myself up on my tiptoes, and lightly kissed him. He froze for a moment, not moving at all. It was like kissing a statue. Then suddenly, he was kissing me back, one arm wrapping around me.
Whatever I had imagined kissing Jasper would be like, the reality of it was a million times better. It wasn't even like this was my first kiss. My first kiss had been with Billy Finster after an awkward first date to see a movie I hadn't been interested in. The kiss had been more awkward than the movie. After what I had thought would be a soft peck goodnight, Billy had tried to force his tongue into my mouth like a damn battering ram. It wasn't like that with Jasper. The second he started kissing me back, it felt like electricity was coursing through my whole body. My heart was racing. The kiss was soft, gentle. It was as if Jasper was still questioning his self-control, worried about my future humanity.
"Wow," I said when we separated, lost in his eyes that were a dark copper today, trying to convince my traitorous mind to form a more coherent thought. Jasper chuckled lowly. He was still close enough that I could feel his cold breath across my face. "I'm trying not to read too much into things here, but I have to be honest with you, if you are still caught up on Alice's vision after that, I'm going to be a little disappointed."
"Bella, I was only ever worried you would want to throw your life away to be a vampire, like my family. Immortality tempts a lot of people, but the price is too high, and you have so much to live for."
"But now that you know I don't want to be like you?" I couldn't stop the hopeful tone of my voice. There was no point anyway. I knew he could feel my hope.
"I'd like to think you realize how I feel, but Alice always tells me I'm terrible at expressing myself for an empath. Isabella Swan, you are incredible, feisty, funny, and strong. You are like the sun rising after 200 years of night. And I would very much like to take you on a proper date," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. I thought my heart might stop beating in my chest. Surely this was all a dream I was going to wake up from.
"Seriously?" I asked, mentally kicking myself. Jasper could give a beautiful monologue and of course, I would chase it with twenty-first-century slang. He just chuckled.
"Seriously," he echoed back to me. "But you'll have to be patient with me, it might take a while to learn my limits and self-control around you. Especially if I'm not hunting every day. I would never want to hurt you."
He reached his hand that wasn't wrapped around me up to slowly brushed along my jaw and then down my neck until it was resting at the crook of my neck. It felt like his fingertips left tingles of electricity everywhere they touched. I swallowed. He grinned down at me.
"So," I said, willing my voice not to break as I spoke, "you mentioned a date?"
"I did. Our second, I believe," he said.
"I'm sorry, did I miss our first?"
"Edward tells me that Jess is under quite the impression that our dinner in Port Angeles counted as the first. I would hate to disappoint her. Though, it seems to me I ought to meet your father before taking you on a second."
"You want to meet Charlie?" I asked incredulously.
"That is the way these things are done."
"In what century?"
"Mine," he said with a smile. I actually laughed at that.
"Fine, but you'll have to act human. That might mean dinner," I said.
"I actually thought that Carlisle and I could take him fishing this weekend."
"You and Carlisle," I repeated, looking at him like he was crazy. He just nodded. "You are going to go fishing with Charlie?"
"I'd like him to trust Carlisle enough to continue letting you come over for your sleepovers with Alice even if you're dating me. Otherwise, Alice will be very cross with me."
"So, does that mean our date will have to wait until the weekend?" I asked a little sadly.
Jasper chuckled softly. "Now who's the impatient one?"
I huffed softly, "Yes, but I'm only human. I'm allowed to be impatient."
Jasper smiled softly at me and leaned down to place a soft, chaste kiss against my lips.
"Charlie will be home soon," he said pulling back from me. "I should go."
"Don't go!" I blurted out before I could stop myself, and then instantly flushed a deep red. I hadn't meant to say that. Jasper's eyes danced with amusement.
"Bella, I think it defeats the purpose of taking your dad fishing if he meets me for the first time shut away unsupervised in his only daughter's bedroom after convincing her to skip class."
"I know…" I grumbled. "I just- I'm worried if you leave, you're going to change your mind again, decide it's too dangerous for us to date."
His hand that had been resting at the crook of my neck lifted to run anxiously through his hair. I wondered if he knew how damn sexy it was when he did that.
"Bella, I think we've both learned by now that I can't stay away from you, even if it would be the smart thing to do."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, I'm more than happy to be stupid with you."
Jasper chuckled. "It makes me indescribably happy."
I knew I had on that silly grin that Jess, Angela, and Alice had teased me for. I didn't care, nor could I even help it. I was really, really, really glad I had skipped class. Kissing Jasper was infinitely better than blood typing would have been. I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him again, hating that I wouldn't see him again until tomorrow, and then we would be at school.
Jasper groaned softly, pulling away. "I really should go, Bella, or Charlie will see the car out front."
I pouted lightly, causing him to chuckle.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, placing a soft kiss to my cheek and then stepping back from me. I hated the distance instantly. "Bye, Bella."
With that, he was gone. He moved so quickly, he was only a blur of motion. I wondered if he felt he had to move that quickly or his resolve to leave might break, or if that was just me. I heard the SUV drive away.
I stood in that spot in my room for a moment, grinning like an idiot. Then, I let out a small laugh of joy and pulled out my phone.
Well, he didn't make his move. I made mine. Call me ASAP. I typed quickly, sending the text to my group chat with Jess and Angela. I didn't need to text Alice. She may not have seen this happening, as it wasn't like I had decided beforehand, but she and Edward would know as soon as Jasper got back home.
Sure enough, only a couple of minutes later a text from Alice came in.
About damn time.
I smiled widely, glad she supported us, and tucked my phone back in my pocket. I began to pace my room, waiting impatiently for Jessica and Angela to call. Only a couple of minutes later, I heard Charlie pull the cruiser into the driveway.
"Bells? I'm home. I brought pizza," he called as he walked through the front door.
I was instantly grateful. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. I bounded down the stairs.
"Thanks, Dad. I completely forgot about dinner."
"Get too absorbed in your homework again?"
I laughed. "Yeah, something like that."
The two of us sat at the kitchen table and began eating while Charlie told me about his day at work. He'd been stressed the last week. A second hiker had gone missing. The woods could be dangerous. Usually, one or two people went missing in them a year. That was just to be expected, but this made two seasoned hikers that had gone missing from the same area in under a month. It was suspicious and people were worried that an animal might be at fault. I could tell as the police chief, the responsibility of finding out what had happened to those people was beginning to wear on him.
Charlie's stories were interrupted by the phone ringing. He stood up to answer it, taking it in the living room. I pulled out my phone to check it.
BELLA FUCKING SWAN ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I'm screaming. Out to dinner with the family. Will call right after. Jessica had texted.
I should be free then too! So exciting! Angela had sent. Angela didn't use many exclamation points when texting, so I knew she really meant it.
Charlie walked back into the room after a minute.
"Well, that was an interesting phone call," he said with a chuckle, sitting back down to continue eating.
My head shot up to look at him.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Could Jasper really have called Charlie on the phone to ask about dating me? It seemed like that might defeat his whole old-fashioned spiel.
"Oh, Carlisle just called to invite me fishing this Saturday. I was never under the impression he was much into things like fishing, but I suppose they are always going on long camping trips. So I should have suspected. It'll be nice to get to know him better."
I tried to conceal my sigh of relief. I wasn't quite ready to answer Charlie's questions about Jasper and me yet. Hell, we hadn't even been on a date yet so I wasn't even sure what to call our relationship. Could one call it dating if you hadn't actually… dated?
My cellphone rang. I jumped up, throwing my plate in the dishwasher.
"This is Jess, sorry, Dad. I gotta take it. Girl stuff," I said, and then bounded up the stairs and closed the door to my room.
When I answered the phone, Jess just squealed into it for a moment. I laughed.
"I know," I said.
"Okay, hold up. I'm gonna conference in Angela," she said. The line went quiet for a moment and then Jess said, "Okay, you both there?"
"Yeah," I said.
"I'm here," Angela said.
"Good. Tell us everything."
"Well, I thought we would be going to his place when we left school, but he drove us over to my house. He said he wanted to see my room since I'd seen his."
"Oh my GOD. That is such a fucking line," Jessica said. I could hear her grin. Angela laughed softly.
"Don't act like you wouldn't have fallen for it, Jess," she said.
"Fallen for it? I would have jumped on that like a suburban mom on a black Friday sale."
I laughed cheerily. "Well, I don't know. We got here, and we were just talking, and I could tell he wanted to make a move, but I was tired of waiting for him to get around to it. So I just… kissed him."
Jessica let out another squeal.
"Was it amazing? I gotta be real with you, Jasper Hale looks like he knows how to fucking kiss a girl," she said.
"Whatever you're thinking, better than that."
Jess groaned. "Ugh. Look, I know he doesn't have a single brother, but like, a cousin maybe?"
Angela and I laughed.
"Then what happened?" Angela asked.
I flopped down on my bed grinning widely at my ceiling.
"He said he wants to take me on a date."
"When?" Angela asked.
"Where?" Jess asked at the same time.
"I don't know. Hopefully this weekend. He wants to get Charlie's permission first. He and his dad are going to take Charlie out fishing this weekend."
"You have got to be kidding me," Jessica said. "Jesus. I don't understand how the same guy who uses lines like 'you saw my room, so now I want to see yours' can also be that old-fashioned. Is he going to call it courting too?"
I laughed. "I honestly wouldn't put it past him."
"I think it's sweet," Angela said.
"I think I give it two months before Bella jumps him in sexual frustration," Jess said.
"One," Angela countered.
I laughed.
"Honestly guys, I think I'll be lucky to last until our date."
Later that night as I was crawling into bed, my phone buzzed.
Is it sappy to say that I miss you?
I smiled stupidly down at the text message.
Probably, but luckily for you, it turns out I'm a sucker for sappy blonde vampires. I texted back.
The response came almost instantly.
I am very lucky. Goodnight, Bella.
The next morning Jasper was once again alone to pick me up for school. I walked up to where he leaned against the side of the SUV and smiled shyly up at him. His eyes were a light golden color again, and I knew he must have been hunting last night. I stopped in front of him, suddenly unsure of myself. Yesterday had seemed surreal, skipping school with Jasper in my room, but today, back in our normal routine, I wasn't sure how to act around him.
"Good morning, Bella," Jasper said, leaning down to kiss my cheek. I bit back a smile.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked. "Or are we planning on ditching class again?"
Jasper laughed.
"Isabella Swan, who knew you were such a delinquent?"
I grinned at him. "I guess I should keep better company."
"Probably," he said with a shrug, "but I'm glad you don't." He held open the passenger door for me. When we had started driving he continued, "Edward drove everyone else again. I wasn't quite ready to share you yet."
I couldn't help the small smile that made its way onto my face.
"Well, I've got bad news about high school. It's full of people. You're going to have to learn to share pretty damn quickly."
He grinned. "Just as long as I don't have to share with Mike Newton, I'm fine with it."
I laughed. "Jasper, are you, an immortal vampire with inhuman good looks, seriously jealous of Mike Newton?"
"Inhuman good looks?" he asked with a grin.
"Shut up. You know exactly how attractive you are."
He just gave me that smirk that always made my stomach do little flips.
"I think you are evading the question. How are you possibly jealous of Mike, the boy you had to stop me from revenge murdering in the hallway?"
"Bella, I'm jealous of most guys that look at you. I can't help it. I have to feel their emotions."
I blushed a little at the connotation as we pulled into the school parking lot. Even moving at human speed, Jasper was able to get out of the SUV first and open my door for me, helping me out of the car.
"I know you still want to eat lunch with your friends, but what if I joined you today?" he asked, closing the car door behind me.
I beamed up at him. "You want to eat lunch with us?"
"Well, I could do without Mike and Eric, but Jessica and Angela seem perfectly lovely, and I'm happy to put up with anyone else to join you."
I studied him for a moment, thinking.
"I'd love that, but eventually someone is going to notice you aren't eating."
"Don't worry. I've made it this long without raising suspicions. I think I will manage."
"Good," I said with a small smile.
Jasper smiled back and then leaned to place another kiss on my cheek.
"I'll see you at lunch then. Looks like Jessica and Angela are waiting for you. They are quite eager."
I looked up to see my two friends watching from over by the benches. Jessica was practically bouncing with excitement. I laughed.
"See you at lunch." And with that, I went off to join my friends in our excitement over my new relationship development.
When lunch rolled around that day, I stood in the line to grab our food with Jessica and Angela.
"So," I started, dragging out the syllable, "How would you guys feel about eating at our own lunch table? Away from Mike and Eric?"
Angela looked at me suspiciously. "I'm definitely in, but your tone of voice makes me feel like there is more to it."
"Seriously," Jess said, "it's been crazy awkward the last two days. I didn't think Mike would keep sitting there, but why the sudden change?"
"Jasper asked to eat with us," I said with a shrug. "I just figured if we are switching things up, we might as well lose the dead weight."
Jess laughed brightly. "I'm in," she said.
When the three of us had gotten our food, we walked to an empty table on the far side of the lunchroom, passing our normal table in the process. Eric looked a little hurt as we passed, which left me feeling a little guilty, but not guilty enough to keep sitting with Mike every day. Once we had sat down, I turned to see Jasper with his siblings, grinning over at me, clearly pleased. I waved him over. He turned to say something to his siblings. Alice was saying something back, and then Rosalie started arguing. After a short moment, I was shocked to see all of them stand and walk over to our table.
"Bella, I thought you said only Jasper was eating with us," Jess said, watching the group walk over a little flustered. All of the Cullen's together could certainly have that effect.
"That's what I thought," I said back, not bothering to whisper. They could hear us regardless. Jasper shot me a rueful grin.
"Hey, Bella," he said, sliding in next to me and kissing my temple. "Do you mind if everyone joins? I told them I would be eating with you, and then Alice insisted she be allowed to join-"
"They are my friends, Jasper. You barely even know Jess and Angela," Alice cut in, slipping in to sit at the table before we had even responded. It was fine. Jess and Angela loved Alice.
"Right," Jasper said smoothly, "then Rosalie and Emmett decided that eating alone would be too boring. So, it looks like you guys are stuck with the whole gang."
"That's totally fine, Jasper," Angela said, sliding over to make room for everyone to sit down. "The more the merrier."
I grinned at her. Jess and Alice launched into conversation, debating the use of artistic design and costuming is Wes Anderson's films to progress his storytelling. In the end, most everyone had joined in, throwing in scenes and references from their favorite movies from other directors as well. I sat there, throwing in comments when I could over the hum of conversation, feeling immensely pleased that my two worlds had collided so well. Jasper wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pressed a soft kiss to my temple again. I was really happy I moved to Forks.
That day after school as Jasper was driving me back home, he turned to look at me.
"Bella, I haven't had the chance to officially ask, this Saturday evening, would you like to go out with me?"
I smiled. "Don't you mean, if Charlie approves?"
"I'm very charming."
"Have you ever charmed a police chief into letting you date his only daughter?"
Jasper chuckled. "Have a little faith in me, Bella."
"I'm happy to go out with you regardless of how your 19th-century courting ritual goes."
Jasper smiled happily. "Good, but I promise, Charlie is going to love me."
I just rolled my eyes. That boy was too damn cocky for his own good.
"So where will we be going?" I simply couldn't imagine Jasper going to dinner and a movie. It was far too mundane.
"It's a surprise."
"Nuh-uh. No way. How am I supposed to know what to wear?"
Jasper pondered that for a short moment.
"I'll send Alice over with Jess to help you get ready. They'll love it, and I'm sure Alice has already seen the whole night anyway."
"Does Alice really see everything?"
"Only once someone has made a decision, and much more the more she knows someone. Why?"
I blushed. "It just weirds me out a little that someone else can see everything that will happen between us."
Jasper grinned over at me. "Why, Bella Swan, if I didn't know any better, I would think you have some salacious plans."
I blushed an even darker shade of red, trying to fight back my smile. "Shut up," I grumbled.
Jasper just laughed, pulling the car to a stop outside my house. I wanted to invite him up again but didn't know if that would be too forward before we'd even been on a date. Just when I had about decided I didn't give a damn about how forward I was, Jasper said, "I'll see you tomorrow, Bella."
I lost my nerve. "See you tomorrow," I said, hopping out of the car.
Thursday and Friday Jasper came to pick me up with the rest of his family like usual, leaving me unable to invite him to my house again. I was far too embarrassed to do so in front of his siblings. As it was, I was really, really glad that Edward was unable to read my thoughts. Frustratingly, Jasper and I also hadn't kissed again since that day in my room. He had left light kisses on my cheek or pressed to my temple, but I was dying to get him alone so I could tangle my fingers in his hair and pull him down and kiss that stupid smirk right off his face.
On Saturday morning I woke up and Charlie had already left to go fishing with Carlisle and Jasper. I knew that it was important to get out early, though I had no idea why. I certainly never planned on going fishing myself, so it usually didn't matter much to me beyond knowing I would need to fend for myself most weekends for breakfast. That morning I woke up with a text message from Jasper though.
I'm off to charm Chief Swan. Wish me luck.
I grinned.
I thought you didn't need luck? I texted back.
I had showered and was sitting in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal when his reply came in.
I don't. I just wanted an excuse to text you.
I laughed. Jasper, we've kissed. We are going on a date tonight. You don't need an excuse to text me.
The reply came quicker this time.
Then I guess I'll have to do it more often.
The morning dragged into early afternoon, moving slower than time had any right to do. I restlessly finished my homework and tried to read one of my favorite books to distract my mind, Mary Shelley's The Last Man. The familiar words didn't have their normal calming and distracting effect. I pulled out my phone.
I'm going crazy here. How's it going? I texted Jasper.
I had only read half a page before he responded.
I'll pick you up at six.
I grinned. The front door opened. I found myself cautiously walking to the top of the staircase to peer down. Charlie was standing there looking up at me.
"You didn't want to give me any kind of warning, Bells?" he said, rubbing his face with his hands.
I bounced down the steps towards him.
"I wasn't exactly sure if I was supposed to. He's old-fashioned. I'm not sure I know the proper etiquette."
Charlie laughed. "Me either."
We stood in silence for a moment, neither of us sure what to say, and then he continued awkwardly, "So, you want to go on a date with this Jasper boy?"
"I really do. Is that okay?"
Charlie sighed. "Well, I can't say I'm thrilled. I just got you back, and I still see you as the little girl who I tried to take fishing and ended up coming home with the worms as pets instead."
"I'm not going anywhere, Dad, but I'm not a little girl anymore."
"I know, Bells. I know. And I suppose if you are going to date one of the boys in this town, I'm happy it's Carlisle's boy. They are good kids, never get in trouble. And I didn't forget that he pulled you out of the way of that van, but if he hurts you-"
"Don't worry, Dad. If he hurts me, I'm sure Jess, Angela, and even Alice will help you get your revenge."
He let out a laugh that seemed to relax some of his tension.
"Well, I suppose it's good to have accomplices."
"Speaking of, Alice and Jess are going to come over and help me get ready. Is that okay?"
"Of course, Bells. They are welcome any time."
I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon until the girls came over with Charlie while he watched some sports game or another on TV. I figured he could probably use the reassurance that he wasn't losing his little girl, and I could use the company and distraction to kill the time.
Did you use your power on him? I texted Jasper suspiciously as I lounged on the couch next to Charlie.
Of course not. I'm insulted. I think you of all people should know I'm just naturally charming.
I grinned stupidly at my phone.
I think you're lucky there was a stray van to stop that day or he might not have been as accommodating.
At five Jessica and Alice showed up to help me get ready for the date. When I opened the front door for them, they were both carrying bags.
"What's all this?" I asked, leading them upstairs.
"Clothes," Jess said.
"Makeup," Alice said at the same time.
"So I guess we've decided that my clothes and makeup aren't going to suffice?" I asked with a laugh.
"First of all, Bella, we all know you don't actually own any makeup beyond a little bit of mascara. Second, your clothes are fine. These will just help you… make an impression," Jess said, sharing a small grin with Alice.
The two of them began unpacking their bags.
"Here, sit," Alice said, pulling me over to my desk and plopping me down in the chair. She started applying the makeup and then worked on styling my hair next.
"So, any chance you'll tell me where I'm going?" I asked as she worked.
"Nope," Alice said, popping the p.
"Do I get a hint?"
Jessica laughed. "You're hint is that you are still the luckiest fucking girl on the planet. Now sit still or Alice is going to mess up your eyeliner."
I doubted that. Alice's cold hands moved with steady precision. Her superhuman abilities showing through even in something so mundane as applying makeup.
When she finished I got up to look in the mirror. She had curled my hair into tousled messy waves that cascaded down my back. My eyes had smoky liner, and my lips were painted with a berry color.
"Wow," I said. I looked hot. That was the only word for it. I felt like Drew Barrymore in Poison Ivy. Alice beamed.
"Perfect," Jess said, "now my turn."
She pulled out a pair of dark, high-waisted jeans, a black cami with a lace sweetheart neckline, a black leather jacket, and a pair of boots.
"So, you're saying we aren't going anywhere fancy then?" I asked with a grin, as I began to get dressed.
Alice and Jess laughed.
"I'm saying that maybe I should take this," Alice pulled the motorcycle helmet out of my closet, "in my bag with me when I leave so Charlie doesn't see you leave the house with it."
I grinned eagerly. They left my house around 5:50, and the next ten minutes were the longest of my life. I paced my bedroom floor anxiously. Then, I heard the knock on the door. I eagerly bounded down the stairs, hearing the sound of Charlie letting Jasper in.
"Wow, Bells," Charlie said when he saw me, "you look nice."
Jasper was looking at me in shock.
"Thanks, Dad," I said. "Hi, Jasper," I added shyly. He hadn't spoken. He was just looking at me with a slightly stunned expression. My greeting seemed to jolt him out of his daze though.
"Hi," he said quietly, clearing his throat. Charlie glowered. Jasper seemed to notice. "I'll have her back by ten, Chief Swan."
"Ten!?" I asked in dismay.
Jasper laughed and walked to put his arm around me. "Help me out, Bella. I'm trying to make a good impression here."
"Good," Charlie grumbled. "I'll see you later, Bells. Have fun."
I grinned. "Thanks, Dad. I will."
"Not too much fun."
I laughed. Jasper and I walked out the door. I was surprised to see the SUV sitting out front.
"No motorcycle?" I asked quietly, glancing back at the house.
Jasper chuckled. "No, Bella. Since you are too nervous to even ask that question at full volume out front of your house, I decided it would be best to pick you up in something with four wheels."
"But Alice-"
"I figured we could drive back to my house and switch if you're okay with it. The cars can't get where we are going."
I was intrigued.
"Do I get to know where we are going now?" I asked.
"You'll see when we get there," he said, smirking at me once we were in the car and driving. His eyes were light and golden. I knew he must have hunted after the fishing trip today, that he still didn't trust himself around me the way I trusted him.
"The suspense is killing me."
"I can tell." There was that damn smirk again. "By the way, you look incredible tonight. Not that you don't always."
I beamed, feeling something warm blossom inside of me.
"What?" he asked, looking over at me curiously with a smile. I knew he could feel the happiness I was feeling, warm and golden.
"You know that's the first time you've called me attractive? I liked it."
He stared at me incredulously for a moment. I worried that his eyes weren't on the road. I knew how quickly he liked to drive.
"That can't be true," he said.
I just nodded, still beaming widely. We were pulling into the Cullen's garage. He was out of the car in a flash, opening my door and pulling me from the car. He leaned into me, my back pressed against the SUV. Jasper began fervently pressing kisses along my jawline. My breathing hitched, and my mind spun, trying to catch up with this turn of events.
"Bella, you are the most heartbreakingly beautiful, sexy woman I have met in my entire life," he breathed, pressing a kiss just under my ear. My arms wrapped around his shoulders for support. My knees felt weak, and I didn't trust them to hold me up. "I can't take my eyes off of you." I could feel his cold breath against my neck as he kissed lower. "I can't stop thinking about you. Everything you do drives me wild." He punctuated each of his sentences with his trail of kisses down my neck. After the last kiss though, he hit a particularly sensitive spot, and I let out a quiet breathy moan, unable to hold it in.
Jasper's head shot up as he looked down at me. His eyes were dark and intense. He was taking deep (unnecessary) steadying breaths. And I couldn't take it anymore. Using my arms around his shoulders for balance, I pulled myself up and kissed him. He seemed restrained at first, as though he still didn't trust himself. I twisted one of my hands into his blonde curls like I had always wanted to do, and Jasper groaned a little. He ran his tongue along my bottom lip. Another small moan escaped me, and suddenly Jasper wasn't restraining himself anymore. Our tongues were crashing against each other. His hand had grabbed at my waist to pull me closer to him. My body thrummed with electricity. I could feel every place his body pressed against mine with hyper clarity. Even though his skin was icy cold, it felt like my skin burned with the contact. Then, as suddenly as our encounter had started, Jasper was gone, pulling away from me with super-human speed.
"Fuck," he whispered when he was standing a couple of feet away from me. His breathing was ragged and his hair was mussed from where I had tangled my hand in it. He looked wild. His eyes were almost as dark as they had been the first day I had met him. Oh.
"I'm sorry, Jasper," I said quickly. "I shouldn't have done that. You told me you need to take it slow, and I wasn't thinking. I didn't think you were thirsty…"
Jasper let out a ragged laugh. "You have to stop thinking I want to kill you when you do things like that. I promise, your blood is the furthest thing from my mind."
"Then why did you stop?"
"Bella," Jasper groaned taking a step forward and running his hand anxiously through his hair. All I could think about was that I knew how it felt to run my fingers through his hair. "I can't-" He let out a sigh. "I like you, Bella, more than I have any right to, and I want to do this right. But when I wasn't joking when I said you drive me wild."
"You drive me wild too," I interjected, not seeing what the big deal was. It sounded like it worked out pretty damn well to me.
"I know," he grinned at me ruefully. "That's the problem."
"What?"
He ran his hands anxiously through his hair again, and I realized with a start that he was embarrassed. I didn't think that was possible.
"Jasper Hale, are you embarrassed?" I asked with a grin.
He let out a frustrated groan.
"Of course I am. You are the most incredible woman I've ever met, and I want to do this right, but I've never actually dated someone before, never tried to take things slow. And you feel everything so strongly all the time. Sometimes when I get around you it's like I feel all of my lust and then all of yours and it spins around in me amplifying in this giant feedback loop until I'm no longer in control of my actions. I feel like a teenage boy again."
I let out a laugh, daring to close the distance between us and peck him lightly on the lips.
"What was that for?" he asked, grinning down at me.
"Because I like knowing that I can affect you the way you affect me."
"I just never expected it to be this hard, because of my ability."
"No one said you had to stop," I pointed out.
"Nice try, Bella. I made a promise to your dad, and regardless I plan on treating you like a proper lady. You can't seduce me on the first date."
"Second date, I'm told," I said with a grin, stepping away from him. We walked over to where his motorcycle was parked. My helmet was sitting on the seat. I pulled it on and climbed on the bike behind him. "And I bet I could if I tried," I whispered as he kicked the bike to life. I heard him swear under his breath and I let out a light laugh.
"Damn temptress," he grumbled, and we raced out of the garage.
A/N: Fun fact, one time my dad tried to take my sister and me fishing when we were kids and we came back with the worms as pets and no fish. I have not changed. No fishing for me, thanks. Also, this took me so long to write for so many reasons. First, one of my coworkers was on vacation so we were slammed and understaffed for the last several weeks. Second, I've realized although I love reading romance I'm rubbish at writing it. You know that scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier where Natasha has Steve kiss her while they are hiding from HYDRA because she says people get uncomfortable with public displays of affection? That's me. It took me a week just to write the first damn kiss because my second hand embarrassment was STRONG. Hope you guys enjoy it though and I will work on getting better at it.