A/N: So. Does anyone wanna beta for me or nah? I've been doing it without for the last few months and it isn't terrible but having fresh eyes will help to avoid the little mistakes that Grammarly misses.
I know when *I* read, my eyes kind of catch on errors and it momentarily breaks the spell the author cast, you know? I definitely don't want that happening to you, my lovelies!
A big bonus for proofreading for me would be getting each chapter early, sooo ;D
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February's full moon came, and with it, a frustratingly small amount of contact with Alice. On her last call, she had informed the family that, outside of the fact that Edward seemed to be trying to live a spontaneous life to avoid her detection, he was at least, still intact.
Carlisle's samples, collected both during the full moon, and two weeks later at the new moon only confirmed what they had already suspected:
1. Bella was indeed growing more rapidly than would be considered normal.
2. The only thing that happened when venom was added to a collection of her blood, was the breakdown of her red blood cells.
The former was more concerning than the latter, however, as the blood-venom reaction was what would typically be seen with human blood on prepared slides.
On an interesting note, according to the doctor, Bella's cellular structure and DNA were nearly identical to that of humans. There was, however, something a little extra.
"What exactly do you mean by, 'a little extra'," Bella asked skeptically.
Carlisle took several movements trying to think of a way to explain, clearly unused to not having all the answers.
"It's like when you step outside and on a crisp winter day and are immediately enchanted. The sun beating down from above casts diamonds across snow-laden fields, and deep inside, you're filled with this eternal calm. You know that day feels different than other days, even if they look similar or the same as others on the outside. On those other days, however, you don't feel what you did before; the magic of the day is lost, and the knowing is gone.
"There's just something about that day, and in turn, there's just something about your blood, Bella. It isn't the same, but it's hard to see what's different about it, other than knowing that it is."
"Are you saying I'm magical," Bella joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I really don't know," Carlisle answered honestly, causing the girl to gulp with the implication.
"If it helps, however," he continued, "I have a better idea about your cognition and spatial reasoning; your tests came back as exceptional. I have formed a theory that it's due to your constantly changing nature."
Bella raised one eyebrow, not sure she followed.
"Well, think of it this way: as a bird, you must think like a bird, as a leopard, you must think like a leopard. Both animals think differently, and yet, both have a deep understanding of how physics and energy impact their lives.
"Birds have some level of understanding regarding trajectories and efficiency of angles, as well as what is required of them for liftoff and landing.
"In turn, a leopard must determine whether using the energy they have stored is worth exerting when hunting their next meal. If it didn't consider these factors, a leopard could starve to death, wasting energy on prey it could not easily take down.
"While it's automatic and isn't a conscious thought that runs separately from their impulses, the semi-rationality is there. I believe that you have a deeper, instinctual understanding and it has increased your neuroplasticity."
Bella had remained silent during his explanation and contemplated what he said, chewing on her lower lip.
"I don't know that we'll have any concrete answers, Bella," Carlisle admitted slowly. "I'm very sorry to have to tell you that."
"I get it," Bella reassured him quickly. "I'm unique; there's no measure of comparison except human or vampire, of which, I'm neither."
Because I'm alone.
"Thank you for trying," Bella continued with sincerity.
"If there's anything we can do, Bella, we will do it," the doctor reminded her.
"It's true," Esme spoke as she entered her husband's office, carrying a drink for the girl.
"Obviously, we still have a way to go when it comes to getting to know each other, but we do consider you family, dear," Esme continued brightly as she set a mug of tea on Carlisle desk.
"That means a lot to me," Bella remarked with gratitude. "Thank you for being so accepting, even though I'm not like you."
"For Jasper to have you in his life, after all these years," Esme spoke quietly and flicked her eyes to her husband, knowing they were on the same page. "Well, it's easy to love you, sweetheart."
Bella's heart ached with overwhelming emotion, and she couldn't stop the tears that suddenly streamed down her face.
"I'm so sorry," the girl mumbled, looking away and dabbing her eyes with her sweater sleeve.
Her face crumbling in response, Esme reached out to hug Bella. She wrapped the girl in her arms and ran a cool hand down Bella's hair soothingly.
"You don't have to apologize, honey," Esme murmured quietly.
Bella closed her eyes and started sobbing as she gripped the vampire back tightly, as though Esme were a lifeline and the only thing keeping Bella from drifting away.
"I just miss her so much," Bella choked through her tears.
"I know, sweetie, I know," Esme answered with real pain in her voice.
"How could she leave me?"
Esme didn't have the answer and simply let the girl grieve quietly, supported in her arms.
"I mean, I know she didn't mean to leave me," Bella finally rationalized as her tears slowed.
She took a moment to collect herself and upon opening her eyes, Bella saw the face of her very concerned mate in the doorway.
Bella spent a few more moments in Esme's embrace while her breathing returned to normal, then finally loosened her hold. Esme gave her one final pat on the back before stepping away to examine the girl's face.
"It's very normal to be feeling how you do, sweetheart," Esme reminded her softly.
Not wanting to cry again, Bella could only nod and utter a rough, "Thank you."
Esme nodded in response and grabbed the mug of tea from the desk once more to hand to the girl.
Bella took it, grateful for the comfort it would provide as Jasper moved quietly to her side and reached for her other hand to give it a squeeze.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Wrapped snuggly in the warmth of Jasper's blankets, Bella sipped her chamomile tea slowly, eyes turned towards her lap. Jasper sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist, offering her silent support.
The girl's mind slowly started to clear, the feelings of loneliness dissipating as she began to remember how truly loved she was.
"Thank you," Bella repeated, this time to her mate. "For being here."
"There's nowhere else I would rather be," Jasper answered easily as he tightened his grip and pressed a kiss to her temple.
The two sat in silence for a few more minutes while Bella finished her tea. Jasper set her empty mug on his window sill and slowly shifted his body so he could speak more directly to her.
"A thought occurred to me," Jasper started, gauging her reaction and ability to participate in a discussion.
"Care to share it?" Bella asked, feeling a stirring of hope.
"There are legends," Jasper spoke slowly, measuring his next steps.
"Yes, I have heard of the existence of legends," Bella joked, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
Jasper grinned at her cheek.
"The tests you and Carlisle have started spurred me to do some research into the topic of shifter legends," he continued levelly.
"And what have you found?" Bella asked, her voice quivering.
"There was a lot of misinformation about werewolves, obviously, but I came across a more promising tale. It's one that could be easily explored: there's a Quileute legend about tribesmen that can change into wolves at will."
Bella's throat dried as she thought through the information.
"Do you know if there may be some present-day knowledge?"
"There most likely is," Jasper confirmed, seemingly growing anxious.
"What's wrong?" Bella asked, confused.
"Well, you should know; When Carlisle first brought his family here, they were confronted by members of the Quileute tribe."
Bella sat shock-still, listening to the tale with rapt attention.
"The tribe knew they were vampires but heard Carlisle out about their special diet and how they posed a much lesser risk to humans," Jasper explained. "In the end, they struck some sort of treaty when it comes to boundary lines and not killing humans."
"Wow," Bella breathed softly, thinking through the information. "So, they knew about vampires, but where did the wolves come into play?"
"Well, that's the thing," Jasper spoke slowly as he rubbed the back of his head in frustration. "Carlisle was only told this second-hand by the leader of the tribe, and at the time, none of their number could change shape."
"Do you think it's true?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I think it's worth checking into. I will say, however, that I will not be able to go with you, as we are still banned from their lands."
Bella connected the dots quickly. "That's why you couldn't come to the bonfire. Well, the cancelled bonfire."
"Correct."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I didn't keep information from you intentionally or out of malice for the tribe," Jasper reassured his mate quickly. "I didn't think it was true, like stories of bigfoot or leprechauns, and I had never spoken to them to ascertain whether they believe it or not."
Bella mulled the information over.
"Well, it looks like it might be time to call up Jake and see about rescheduling that beach party."
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
"They're pulling in, Bells," Charlie called from the living room.
"Oh, good, I just finished," Bella answered as she ran a paper towel over the bathroom countertop to dry the streaks of cleaner that hadn't quite evaporated yet.
Charlie opened the front door and the creak of a wheelchair was followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Geez, Jake," Charlie exclaimed. "You're getting taller every time I see you!"
"Kids!" Billy answered wryly.
Bella rounded the corner to greet their guests.
"Speaking of," Charlie started, "here's Bella."
"Hey, you guys!" Bella greeted the duo excitedly. "Holy smokes, Jake," her eyes widened in shock. "You're huge."
Jacob chuckled throatily in response. "Is that a compliment?"
"I–, oh, God, I definitely wasn't trying to be rude!"
"I'm joking, Bells, calm down," her old friend reassured her.
Charlie and Billy were inching closer and closer to the living room where some sort of sports game could be heard.
"Wanna help me cut up veggies?" Bella asked archly.
Jacob rolled his eyes are their dads and followed the girl to the kitchen.
"So," Bella started, testing the conversational waters, "how is life?"
"Life has been," Jacob trailed off in thought. "Busy!"
"Lots going on?"
"You could say that," he muttered somewhat darkly.
Bella raised an eyebrow as she pulled out two cutting boards and knives.
"Not bad or anything, just hectic."
"Sounds intense," Bella remarked as she withdrew from the refrigerator with bags of vegetables. She set them down next to the cutting boards and looked at Jacob.
"I'll do cauliflower and broccoli if you do carrots and celery," she offered.
"Deal!" Jacob exclaimed happily.
The two set to work and caught up while Bella waited for the right opportunity to bring up the legend.
"Did you do a lot of cleaning this morning?" Jacob asked suddenly.
"Yeah, actually I did!" Bella answered. "I mean, it wasn't like the house was a pigsty or anything, I just needed to 'disinfect surfaces'," she quoted from the bottle.
"Bleach?"
"Yes–, oh, does it smell bad?"
"It's fine, it's just burning my nose a little," Jacob clarified.
"Allergies?" Bella asked with a frown.
"Probably," Jacob answered with a put-upon sniffle.
That didn't exactly sound genuine, Bella thought, her frown deepening.
"I'm sorry it's bothering you," she offered. "Let me know if there's anything I can get you."
They had almost finished loading the vegetable tray when Charlie walked in and announced he and Billie had put in the order for a pizza.
"Great!" Jacob exclaimed, looking somewhat relieved. "We just finished."
Bella cleaned up the kitchen mess while Jacob, carrying the tray, and Charlie, a stack of paper plates, headed back out to watch the game with Billy.
Bella used her alone time to consider the possibilities.
Yes, it's only a few days after the new moon, but I can't even smell the cleaner strongly anymore. If he can, he must have a very sensitive nose. Maybe there is something to this legend. And if there is, he isn't like me, bound by the moon.
Bella joined everyone in the living room a few minutes later and discreetly observed Jacob. His heavily muscled body was tensed, as though looking for a threat and waiting for a fight.
The treaty struck by his ancestors and Carlisle was a tenuous one,Bella realized. If he is looking for a threat, it's because he can smell Jasper and Rosalie; even if he doesn't realize that's what he's smelling.
Bella chose to digest the information silently, thinking of ways to bring the subject up at another time.
Not until the full moon, the faintest flutter came from her inner animal.
Now you're here, Bella accused angrily, then realized her feelings on the matter were pointless, considering as how it was her, after all. Obviously, her instincts were kicking in because confronting Jacob could be potentially dangerous.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
The monotonous grey clouds had returned, and decided to linger over Forks, Washington, specifically, as if to prove that a few rare mornings of sun weren't reason enough to celebrate quite yet.
The full moon was swiftly approaching, and the tail end of March brought slightly warmer nights, and longer training sessions with her vampiric family. Bella had even found a routine that worked best for her: she started out her warm ups as a human, and halfway through the training would turn her focus to fighting as different animals and evasion techniques.
She could feel her strength building, flooding her with a sort of giddy energy that Bella didn't know how long she could restrain. The night of the full moon was cool and crisp, and thrumming with an electricity that was palpable by both Bella and her vampire family.
Bella dodged a swing from Rosalie and managed to throw the vampire up and over her back, still in human form.
"Bro, just tell me, has she ever kept the ears when you–, you know?" Emmett spoke lowly to Jasper from behind her.
Logically, Bella knew Emmett was joking but anger filled her instantaneously. A mountain lion's claws erupted from her fingers, and in moments, her hands had become paws. Bella's eyes shifted and narrowed as she turned and fixed a hunter's gaze on her big brother.
Seeking out his weak points, Bella felt her face changing. The feline predator's jaw painfully replaced her own, allowing her mouth to fill with jagged, tearing teeth.
Rosalie could only stare in shock, before slowly angling herself in front of her mate.
"Move," Bella ground out coldly, unable to keep from snarling around her fangs.
"Not a chance," Rosalie responded flatly.
Jasper and Emmett looked back and forth and with a slight nod from Bella's mate, Emmett gently moved his own of the way.
Rosalie looked both shocked and hurt that he would so easily pass on her protection.
"We have to settle this, Rose."
Bella roared and stalked forward, pain ripping through her body as the muscles in her human legs tensed, taking on a more feline appearance as she wound up to spring. She launched herself at the vampire with enough force to knock Emmett down.
The two tangled briefly before Emmett was standing once more, waiting for Bella to attack again.
Before she could stand, however, her body shuddered with the energy, and rippled excruciating bolts of electricity through her body, frying her nerves. It was as though her cells didn't know if she was going to complete the shift, or snap back to a humanoid form.
With a cry of pain and frustration, Bella slumped over on the ground and lay, unmoving.
Jasper was crouched at her side in an instant.
"What is it, darlin'?"
"It hurts," Bella panted into the grass, her voice distorted by her feline mouth. "I feel stuck. I don't know what to do!" she continued frantically, nearing hyperventilation as tears leaked from her eyes.
"Take a slow, deep breath, Bella," Jasper directed as he ran his hand soothingly down her back.
She did as she had been asked, Jasper breathing with her.
"Now push it slowly out."
Bella felt her pulse slowing almost instantly.
"Good," Jasper murmured quietly, rubbing the too-tight muscle between her shoulders.
Bella drew another slow breath without being told, and slowly let it out in time with Jasper's own.
Feeling herself coming down from the threat of attack, her body began to slowly change. Only the snapping roll of bones in Bella's wrists, ankles, and jaw being relocated, followed by her screams, filled the clearing. It was over in seconds, but the girl's body went limp, as though she had run a marathon.
"Bella?" Jasper whispered quietly, assessing her arms and legs while she still lay on her side.
"I–," the slash of pain ripped across her face and she paused, panting in anguish.
Jasper rolled her over gently, his look of concern replaced by terror.
Bella lost all grips on calm breathing techniques and began to panic again.
His face softened, "No, it's okay, darlin'. You're okay, just bruised."
Bella drew a shaky breath and nodded her understanding. She reached for one of his cool hands and brought it to her jaw.
The ache was numbed almost instantly, and Bella let out a sigh of relief. Her mate reached for the other side of her face and rubbed his thumbs softly along her skin.
"Bella, I–," Emmett's voice came from the other side of the clearing.
"It's okay," she choked back, a single tear rolling down her cheek in protest at the movement. "I understand why."
Jasper nodded his head to the side, indicating that Emmett and Rose could go.
"I'm so sorry, Bella," Jasper whispered, his eyes closing in regret.
"No, we needed to know what would happen," Bella answered levelly.
"Yes, we did, but that doesn't mean that this was the best way to find out. We should have tried talking you down."
"I'd rather find out here, with you, than out there, without," Bella pointed out, gesturing around them. "I've had moments before where it–, where I almost lost it in public–, but never that far."
Jasper looked down at her face, his own eyes glossy with remorse, and leaned in to kiss her forehead gently. His lips were colder than his hands, and a welcome exchange for his hands. He worked his way down each of her cheeks and along her jaw.
Bella closed her eyes and allowed the glow of the full moon from behind and above to wash over her. Healing abilities working at their peak, she could actually feel her muscles repairing; tissues that had been pulled loose were rebuilding, their grip on her bones tightening.
Jasper pulled away and studied his mate in silence, watching the progress her body was making.
"Your face is clearing," he murmured quietly, not wanting to disrupt her peaceful recovery.
"That's good," Bella responded with a smile that grew quickly. "It doesn't hurt as much to smile."
"I'm glad," Jasper answered with relief in his voice.
Bella opened her eyes once more and fixed her gaze upon him and was struck by his ethereal beauty.
"You look exactly how you did that first night," Bella whispered softly as she reached up to run a hand through his hair. "After I jumped off the cliff and flew away. I felt so many things when I looked back, and saw the moonlight was reflecting on your face.
"I remember how terrified I was that you would follow me, but despite that, I think I was able to see then, too, how absolutely beautiful you are," she paused staring at the stars.
"I think that," she swallowed, suddenly nervous. "I think that I knew then. I think the pull was there, even then."
"It was," Jasper agreed with certainty. "I didn't know what it was, but it's the same thing I felt the first day I saw you, and it hasn't left."
"Is that so, Major Whitlock? I must have positively bewitched you with my ability to stumble over you so gracefully." Bella asked with a chuckle.
"Oh, absolutely. I knew I was done for." Jasper confirmed and cupped her face in one of his hands. Bella relaxed into the movement, meeting his golden eyes, as layers of peaceful calm, and a deep inner knowing draped over them.
"I love you," Jasper spoke softly, running his thumb gently along her cheekbone. "Always have."
"I love you too," Bella choked out with a laugh, consumed by her feelings. Joyful tears filled her eyes. "Also, always have."
"Hey now, you can't just copy what I said," Jasper teased her with smile.
"I can do what I wish," Bella fired back, unable to stop the grin stealing across her face while he wiped a stray tear from her face.
"Yes," Jasper amended, "yes, you can."
Doing what she so wished, Bella tangled her fingers into Jasper's hair, and pulled his face nearer to her own so their lips could meet. She moaned softly into his mouth and his free hand slid down her side to rest on her hip.
Jasper pulled away far too soon, much to Bella's disappointment.
"Perhaps you'd like to shower?"
"Do I smell that bad?" Bella asked with a laugh.
"Hardly," Jasper answered. "We're just a little dirty is all, and I'm worried you're going to get cold."
"Fine," Bella huffed out exaggeratedly as she examined her mud-covered thighs. "I suppose that's a reasonable request."
Jasper grinned, "Good. Ready for me to pick you up?"
"Ready!" she confirmed. A split second later, Bella was clinging to his front and had wrapped her arms around him, before he whisked them off to the Cullen home.
Jasper headed immediately for his personal bathroom and set Bella down on the floor.
"Oof," Bella said as she found her legs again. "Ice pack me later?" she asked, referring to his hands.
"Of course, darlin'," Jasper whispered with a pained expression as he examined her for any other bruises hiding under the mud that covered most of her body.
"I'm fine, promise," she reassured him with a smile. "I mean, the shifting thing was new, but also, sparring with Emmett–, it was like knocking over a statue."
"A statue that had sprung to life and was fighting back," Jasper realized.
"Yep."
"Go ahead and shower off, I'll pop your other set of clothes in the dryer so they're warm when you're done."
"Thank you," Bella answered gratefully and glanced down at herself. Realizing she was mostly covered by mud anyways, Bella turned teasingly away from Jasper's view, and moved stiffly to pull her shorts and underwear off while he watched, unable to look away.
Jasper couldn't stop the low growl of appreciation and desire that escaped his throat at the sight of his mate's half-naked, albeit muddy, body. A fraction of a second later, he was standing before her, reaching up and gripping the hair at the back of her neck roughly to turn her head.
Bella moaned softly at the touch and was immediately embarrassed at the thought of her family hearing her.
Jasper grinned deviously in response as a blush crept up her cheeks.
"Ass," she murmured quietly, then leaned up to capture his lips with her own.
He pulled away and turned her body to get a better look at her rear.
"Yes, it's quite lovely, even covered in mud."
Bella giggled and rolled her eyes.
Jasper paused for a moment, listening.
"In a convenient turn of events, Carlisle and Esme decided they were in desperate need of feeding and have left to quench their thirsts."
"Then perhaps," Bella started as she wriggled out his hold to turn away and remove her top and sports bra. She dropped them on the floor as she stepped into the over-sized shower stall and paused for a moment, pressing a button to initiate water flow before turning her face to watch him over her shoulder. "You would like to join me?" she finished boldly before turning the water on.
He needed no convincing and was gone for only three seconds to start the dryer. Jasper re-entered his bathroom shirtless as he shredded yet another pair of pants, this time in his hurry to join his mate.
Bella glanced at the heap of denim on the floor. "What a pity."
"Hardly," Jasper growled as he closed the glass door behind him. "They served me well and passed honorably."
Bella giggled at his explanation and pressed the button to turn the water flow from the main tap to the shower. Her eyes closed as the focused heads began to spray her body, earning a soft sigh from the girl.
The sound quickly turned into a deeper moan as the water began to rush more forcefully in a preprogrammed massage pattern. Tension easing, she slowly opened her eyes, droplets of water beading off her lashes as she did.
Bella couldn't help but stare as a colorful mist rose off Jasper's body where the water met his skin. She flicked her eyes to the bright lights above them, then back down to her mate, who nodded, confirming that the light source, like the sun, was the cause of the display.
Bella stepped closer, raising her hand to press against his hard chest, interrupting the progress of what she now realized was steam rising from his cold skin.
He shivered with pleasure at her touch.
"It will dissipate as soon as my body warms," Jasper explained quietly.
"You're beautiful," she murmured softly in response as her shock receded. Bella ran her fingers along his chest in patterns that swirled and scattered the crystalline reflections around them.
Jasper reached for her cheek, sending a wave of rainbow lights dancing across her face and revealing a fire in her eyes.
"Next to you, darlin'," his voice rumbled deeply in his chest as he drank in her nude form, "not a chance."
Without conscious thought or effort, their bodies crashed into each other with a desperate and burning need. Their limbs tangled as Jasper hoisted her into the air, pressing her back against the wall behind her with his body.
Bella gasped at the hot water cascading down from overhead, and the cold that surrounded her from both behind and in front. Jasper's mouth was on her neck and jaw moments later while his hands busied themselves with squeezing her ample bottom.
"Oh, fuck," Bella gasped, "I'm so sore–, you have no idea how good that feels."
Jasper slowed their frantic pace and set Bella back onto her feet, who frowned at the sudden separation. He reached behind her for a bottle of shampoo and squeezed some into his hands, flashing her a raised eyebrow.
Bella understood and nodded, allowing her mate to work it into a lather. He made quick work of his task, focusing solely on getting the dirt out of her hair and rinsed the product away. Jasper grabbed the conditioner to finish her off but took more time and care to massage her scalp and tendons at the back of her neck as he went.
"Fuck," Bella whispered softly. "That feels so good."
"Glad to hear it," came Jasper's reply before he began to rinse out the product.
He grabbed a bottle of body wash and continued to run soapy hands up and down her arms, removing the thin layer of mud while massaging her aching muscles. When he was ready to rub her shoulders and neck, she turned to face the wall and placed her hands against it to offer resistance.
She moaned against the cool tile as Jasper worked through tightly wound knots of tension in the shifter's shoulders, hands trailing ever lower down Bella's spine to work out the kinks.
He slid his cools hand around her body to run his fingers along her ribcage, causing Bella's breath to catch in anticipation as he reached her sternum and came dangerously close to her breasts. His hands quickly pulled away, however, and instead worked their way around her back. Bella couldn't stop the soft sigh of disappointment that passed her lips.
She heard a soft chuckle from her mate just before Jasper leaned in to snake one arm across her lower abdomen. His other trailed around her side, sliding up from under her arm to reach between her breasts to wrap his fingers lightly around her neck. With her body locked to his, Jasper ghosted his lips mere centimeters from the soft, vulnerable flesh of her neck, teasing the girl with his icy breath, eliciting a soft whine of desire.
His lips playfully grazed the crest of her ear as softly as flower petals, causing Bella to shiver in response.
"Patience, darlin'," Jasper's normally smooth voice ground out gruffly, sending a flood of warmth from her core.
Aching with need, she was released from his hold a moment later so he could lather more soap in his hands.
Jasper continued to massage Bella's sides, wrapping his hands up and around her body to ensure she was getting clean. His soapy wrists dragged slowly across her nipples, teasing her in what Bella was beginning to realize was Jasper's M.O.
He knelt behind her as he worked the tense muscles on the backside of her legs, before reaching around for her inner thighs and groin, brushing closely to her heat.
Reaching her calves, Jasper paused as her legs began to shake, unable to relax further without giving out on her entirely. He placed his hands on her wet, softly rounded hips, and guided Bella gently to turn around, allowing the last of the soap to run down her back and into the drain, and to give her time to reconsider, or refuse.
Bella's heart thudded heavily, the sound pulsing in her ears as she looked down into her mate's hungry eyes, understanding what it was he wanted; what she wanted. Her desire spread from her center once more and, unsure of how to proceed, Bella slowly ran her fingers through Jasper's water-darkened hair.
Wordlessly, Jasper slid his hands up and around to cup Bella's heart-shaped bottom and pulled her body towards himself. Starting slowly, he kissed up and along Bella's inner thigh. His cold breath earned a shiver and trickle of arousal that he cleaned off with his mouth and tongue.
Jasper's leaned his head and shoulders back before gripping Bella more tightly to guide her center to his waiting lips.
Bella clenched Jasper's hair tightly in surprise as her mate's icy lips and tongue danced slowly against her burning clit, sending jolts of lightning through her veins.
Jasper groaned against her in ecstasy, the feel and taste of his mate overwhelming him. The muffled sound sent waves of excitement through Bella's body. Wracked with the new sensations, she began to tremble involuntarily, her exhausted muscles unable to keep her upright.
Jasper pulled away to look his mate in the eyes, gauging her reaction. Noting the issue immediately, he hoisted Bella's legs up and over his shoulders, planting his face firmly between her thighs.
Bella giggled nervously before relaxing her body against her mate's stony face and hands, and twined her fingers into his hair for added stability.
After making sure she was settled, Jasper worshipped Bella slowly, sucking gently with his cool lips before circling her button firmly with his tongue.
Jasper's ministrations earned another rush of arousal, and Bella began to whimper, a strong heat building steadily inside of her.
He ground Bella up and down along his face in response, earning gasping moans of pleasure from his mate, before pressing his tongue into her slick center and nuzzling her swollen clit with his nose.
Bella let out a relieved moan at his exploration, not realizing how badly she needed to feel him inside of her. She slowly rocked her hips in time with his hands, rubbing on his face, sinking him more forcefully inside of her with each downward thrust.
At the sound of her pulse quickening, Jasper gripped Bella more tightly and darted his tongue roughly in and out of her core, helping her to seek release.
Bella's thighs tightened around Jasper's smooth neck as a growing, molten coil twisted inside of her, winding closer and closer to the point of snapping. With a long whine and a final, almost unbearable, tightening deep inside of her, Bella's body shattered against her mate's face.
Her seemingly endless gasping cries spurred Jasper on, rocking Bella's heated sex against his face to prolong her release. She sank deeply into the feeling, riding out wave after long wave of pleasure that consumed her.
It wasn't until Bella's movements began to slow that Jasper finally relented and slowed their frenzied pace.
She collapsed over Jasper's head, unable to keep herself upright as he lapped lazily at her glistening sex until no trace of her essence remained.
"I'm dead," the girl murmured softly.
She felt him smile against her sensitive flesh. Ever so gently, Jasper straightened to stand while pulling her body away from his. Bella took the hint and raised her legs to assist the movement.
"As the only dead being between the two of us, I beg to differ," Jasper announced before letting the shower spray rinse his face, before turning off the water.
Jasper stepped out of the shower, carrying his mate. He shifted his arms to hold Bella with one, while his other hand grabbed two towels from the rack.
"You're terrible," Bella smirked and rolled her eyes at her mate as he carried her into his bedroom.
Jasper grinned deviously. "I guess that's unfortunate since you're stuck with me. Think you can learn to live with it?"
"I think I can manage," Bella teased back and leaned up for a kiss while Jasper wrapped her body in a towel.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Penelope slept, and in her slumber, the witch monitored the dozens of unwitting participants woven into her masterpiece; how happily they tangled into her web.
Slowly, so slowly; the end was finally coming.