Fic: After the Storm
Rating: M
Characters: Edward/Jasper, Esme, Carlisle, Jane, Alec, Felix, Bonnie, Jimmy, Ashley, Alice
Pairings: Edward/Jasper
Chapter Title: Anything but Love
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Summit and Stephenie Meyer do, no money being made off this. This story mine. Characters of Twilight and associated - not mine. OC characters Jimmy Oaks, Bonnie Simmons, Ashley Jameson - all mine. Don't sue.
Summary: A self-confessed, vampire-obsessed man, Jasper Whitlock comes across one such being one dark, stormy night. The vampire, Edward Cullen, affects his life in such a way that Jasper has to decide what he is willing to do for life and love. AU,E/J,dark
Please Note: Dark Edward, Dark Jasper, M-rated for violence, other graphic content and use of crude language.
Again, thanks to my wonderful ladies who pre-read, beta, grammar-nazi and give general feedback on everything! rhenea5018, KuroiBlackNightingale and vampthenewblack
AN: Thank you to those who nominated After the Storm for the Indie Twific Awards: WIP - Canon or AU Story that Knocks You Off Your Feet category and for getting it into the 1st round of voting. Voting for that round is now closed and the final top 5 of each category has been posted. Congratulations to those stories that made the final round of voting! Please don't forget to read and vote for them. They are all brilliant stories. http:// www . theindietwificawards . com / finalnominations . aspx
After the Storm
chapter 11 - Anything But Love
"Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n" ~ John Milton
A broad smile threatening to split his face, Jasper curries his horse with a flourish. With every sweep of the brush, he grins a little wider and he can't help the giddy feeling that wells out of that little secret place in his soul. 'Edward,' sings his heart. He chuckles lightly, smoothing the brush down the roan's hindquarters with a little light-hearted rhythm. He finds himself wanting to dance a little quickstep, but mindful of a vampire possibly happening upon him, he resists, yet it does not stop the happy little hum that comes unbidden to his lips.
"Edward isn't all bad you know," he says conversationally to the horse as he runs the brush down, "He's quite a misguided creature, without a light to guide him. Maybe he and I can work on being each other's kite and anchor. He makes me soar, did you know?" He pauses, leaning on the horse as he gathers his thoughts together. "Alice is part of my past and although I would dearly love to see her, she isn't Edward. He is part of my future. To be precise, he is my future. So really, on my part there is no decision to be made. It's very clear cut." He falls forward as the horse moves sideways. He chuckles after he catches himself and pats the horse affectionately, "Yes, yes, I will hurry up and finish, you impatient thing. You're a little like Edward in that respect."
Edward. His vampire. His lover. There is exhilaration at the thought that he might have a future with Edward. This is a most fortuitous circumstance Jasper has to admit. He had wanted an opportunity to talk to Edward about turning him. Now, although it was not how he had pictured it, Jasper is somewhat pleased that there is not an issue to his turning, just the issue of what happens to him afterwards. But in this blissful mood, Jasper does not wish to contemplate that at this point. He just wants to stay in this idyllic, intoxicating place until the bridge looms in front of him and then he'll cross it. With gusto. With Edward.
"Edward. My vampire," he breathes. An errant thought crosses his mind as he contemplates what it will be like to have this vampire as his mate for eternity; what it will be like to exercise his conjugal rights in the bedroom, and he is torn with a feeling between trepidation and excitement. Edward in his naked glory, Edward touching him, Edward leaning towards him...
A snort from his mount startles him out of his impetuous thoughts and flustered, he drops his curry comb, his face blooming in embarrassment. He laughs softly and bends down, picking it up with a sweep of his arm and on a whim, throws it lightly in the air before catching it behind his back with a little ostentatious display.
The horse snorts again and Jasper smirks at it. "Imbecile - do you not recognise love?" he says to the horse. It gives him a baleful glare before turning away with another snort. "Jealous?" he asks of the horse. Jasper snickers at his whimsy.
Whistling once again, he saunters jauntily to the other side, ducking under the horse's neck with a quick bob, and he stops to give the horse a large smoochy kiss before brushing down the opposite side. Moving the brush in steady strokes, he finds himself broadly smiling once more.
"Nobody can take this moment away from me. Can they, Sweetpea?"
"...the travesty of this is that it's not going to work. They will find out, and they will rebel!"
"No, Carlisle, they won't. Aro said that as long as Edward thinks it's his idea, it will go according to plan. He will get Jasper. "
Back at the house, where he is waiting for Jasper, Edward starts in stupefaction when he hears the voices of Carlisle and Esme talking about him. He had almost forgotten about the others that were in the house. Edward had been so engrossed in both Jasper and his happy thoughts, he had not been paying attention to the conversation inside the house itself. However, when Edward hears first his name, then Jasper's, he feels compelled to decipher the argument within.
Esme continues to speak, "They have to find out first and they won't. It will work, Carlisle. Please believe me. It has to! We have come too far to let it fall down around our ears. The plan will work! It has so far. Let us see what happens. Please?"
Intrigued by the snippets of conversation he hears, Edward tunes in, hearing discussions - heated and angst-ridden voices combined with cool and collected. Listening intently, he makes out the various voices: Esme - he can recognise the distinct tones of her voice - usually low and melodic, akin to the mellow sound of the cello; at present, her voice is tight with tension. Esme's voice indicates that she is trying to be soothing, placating even, but there is an edge to it; Edward likening it to the sharpness of the bow slicing shrilly across a violin, making him more curious as he has never heard her like that before. Carlisle's usually smooth, soothing, almost always dulcet tones of pureness, matching his mate perfectly in both pitch and resonance, are now cutting and caustic.
Another voice cuts in: saccharine sweet overtones; Jane. Edward identifies her before the crisp coolness that is the voice of Alec falls over the top; and underlying them all, the dry, grating voice of Felix a low accompaniment. The vampires are arguing.
"How titillating," remarks Edward to no-one in particular.
Checking that Jasper is still at the stables, Edward sidles up to the side of the house and he leans back against the wall in time to hear Carlisle answering Esme's earlier statement, "And Aro has never been wrong before has he, Esme? I can tell you a number of times that he has been wrong. At least once."
Carlisle's voice is biting, but Edward is so familiar with his past lover's tones that he knows Carlisle is quietly enraged whilst chiding his own mate, "Do you know him, Esme? Do you? I know them from living with them for a century. He is more or less the leader now and can seemingly do no wrong, but Aro has been wrong before. Marcus is a prime example of that. Aro destroyed him. Marcus is merely existing, but only doing so because Aro needs the use of his power. Is that what you want to happen to them? To Edward and Jasper? Do you really want both Edward and Jasper and their gifts to go to waste? For them to be as apathetic as Marcus!? To sit in complete disinterest as Aro asks Edward to look at someone's thoughts? For Jasper to manipulate their emotions? For Alice to look at the future whenever Aro deems it? Aro's power is stronger than Edward's, so he may not even choose to keep Edward. Have you thought of that?!"
"But he must!" An impassioned plea sounds from Esme. Suspecting that Esme has deluded herself to think Aro would uphold whatever bargain she had made with him, Edward snorts somewhat derisively, at Esme's naïvete.
A contemptuous curve to his brow, Edward thinks cynically that he would have never made that misconception. He would have easily known that Aro would double cross him, should that have been him in Esme's place. After all, Carlisle had often told them of Aro's persona: the calm, dry exterior that hid the true cool cruelty beneath.
Speaking of cruelty: a foreboding quiver courses down Edward's spine as an intractable thought crosses his mind. Aro might wish to get rid of Edward, to rid Jasper of Edward in order to control Jasper. He does not wish to think of it, but Edward knows it is a serious possibility considering his own power is most complementary to Aro's directly. The leader of the Volturi may conclude that hearing one's thoughts without touch is not as important as being able to control one who can manipulate feelings. Edward tenses, reacting to the mere thought of losing Jasper, and at the mental image of dying in front of his mate - his very empathic, sensitive mate.
Jasper's very sensitive nature had led to Edward's discussion with Carlisle in the stables earlier. Carlisle thinks that Jasper's power will be manifested in a manner such as manipulating thoughts, or emotions, since he has shown that he can block Edward's power through his thoughts and feelings. The way he had thrown images and thoughts at Edward after their game of hide-and-seek is a prime example. Edward had been lost to the myriad of images and feelings and had not been able to breath through. It is a considerable power in human form. He can only imagine what it would be like in vampire form: the power to calm a roomful of people, to rile up a crowd, to feel sadness, happiness, at the drop of a hat - that is infinite power. Couple that with Edward's own power to hear someone's thoughts - they would be a formidable couple. Aro would have to be salivating at the thought of this at his disposal. "But he will have to get through me first," declares Edward grimly.
Curious as to what may happen to them both Edward stays where he is and listens hard to the differing voices and opinions; whilst keeping a light touch on Jasper's thoughts, maintaining his lover's whereabouts. He does not want Jasper to enter the house during these hostilities. Edward shakes his head at what might happen to Jasper should his lover walk in on these proceedings, and resolutely turns his mind back to the task at hand.
"No, Esme! Are you so near sighted that you cannot see that Aro does not need to adhere to any of this if he so wishes! This plan - your plan - is so precarious it has the potential to explode with such force as to kill us all! He is not to be trusted!"
"But you trust him, Carlisle."
"Only in so far as I can throw him, and I could never get near him to be able to do that, let alone actually do it. He is too slippery a character for that. You should have never agreed to this ludicrous plan. What made you think it would work - honestly? Edward is a loose cannon - too unpredictable."
Edward has to agree. He knows that Carlisle spent years trying to control him, to try and get him to curb his impulses, but it was to very little or no avail. He tried to live as Carlisle had, but the lure of blood, death and manipulation beckoned far too becomingly - until Jasper. Jasper is his saving grace. The sound of Jane's voice beckons his thoughts back...
"Carlisle - do what you need to do. I am going to follow as per the agreement. As far as I am concerned I only need to bring Jasper back to Volterra. I do not have to worry about anyone else." Jane's voice drips with disdain and from that alone, Edward is tempted to take Jasper and run as far as he is able to with his human, but he stays, listening as Alec joins in.
"No, Jane. I want him to have the decision. You and I agreed. Jasper needs to make this decision by himself. It is part of the experiment."
Alec. The level-headed twin. Edward quietly thanks whomever who is responsible for ensuring Alec goes with Jane and for keeping a level head. God knows Edward needs someone on his side. Although speaking about an experiment - Edward does not wish to be part of any experiment. He hears Alec speaking again and Edward holds his breath, learning more of their fate from the boy's words: "I will force Jasper to make a decision. We have never had a human that voluntarily became one of us. I find it immeasurably fascinating. Imagine if you will, succumbing to the venom in such a supplicating manner that it virtually causes no pain. Or it may lessen the time taken to change. I wish to find this out and no-one, not even Aro can convince me to retreat from this course of action. Jasper will choose, and I will endeavour to make him choose wisely. It will either make them a couple and force Edward to succumb to be one of the Volturi Guard, then we have them both, or it will break them and we still get Jasper. If the latter, then Edward can be yours, to do with what you will."
What? Edward is incredulous and starts to curse vehemently, but stops when he hears Esme cry out, "No! Edward is mine! He has always been meant to be mine!"
Jane's voice is dry as she drawls out, "You would have done well to hold on to him then! But alas, you lost him."
Edward hears the abrupt pause, the sudden stop almost a tangible entity in the quiet air, before Esme quietly amends, "Mine and Carlisle's...as it should have been."
"Jane... stop."
Alec's tone is warning, an icy edge to his voice that Edward rarely heard him use. He wonders what is happening for he cannot see. He suspects that Jane was close to using her vast power against Esme and a part of him wishes that Alec had not stopped his twin. The silence from inside the house is overwhelming in its intensity causing Edward to twitch in his earnestness to view the proceedings within.
But prudence forces Edward to stay and it is fortunate, for Alec breaks the silence once again, "If you wish, Esme, you may have him - if he rejects the idea of coming with us, but just remember, he may find out that you were the one behind his first meeting; that you were the one that arranged for him to be there to meet Jasper all those years ago. He may wish to not abide by anything you might have to say if he perceives that he has been deceived in a most utterly abhorrent manner. Which he has been - by you."
"I had to! He met Isabella. Edward was supposed to be with Jasper! It would have ruined everything if we could not bring Jasper home to Alice. Edward had to be the one."
"You may continue to deceive yourself of this, but know that you deceive no-one else. You can believe that Edward should have been your mate if you wish, but know that he will never be unless he is an empty shell of a man. You sold what little you had to offer, in order to buy back an empty man."
Edward could hear the derision in his scathing tones as Alec spoke to Esme. He closes his eyes. Esme. All this time, she wanted him, not Carlisle. Nostalgia takes Edward back to memories of Esme wanting to spend time with him after his return, the persuasive techniques to woo him back to the fold, and he now recognises them for what they were - a chance to be with him, to entice him, to try to get him to fall in love with her. He snorts at the memories. She lost all chance once he met Jasper. She would never hold a candle to the sweetness that the enticing Jasper Whitlock offered. Edward closes his eyes, bidding memories of a younger Jasper to his mind.
"I will come with you."
That is Jasper's voice. Edward's eyes snap open. Jasper. What is he doing here?! Edward pauses, waiting to hear more, anxiety running tremulously through his taut body.
"Ah, the Prodigal Son returns..."
"I am no son of yours."
"You will be. Eventually."
"Nay, Jane. I may become brother-like to you, but I will never let you be my maker. i would rather die by any other means then to have you to answer to."
She hisses and Edward makes a dash for the door to attempt a rescue, but when Jasper speaks, his words force Edward to stop in his tracks at his words.
"I made a decision. I will come with you."
No. A wrenching of his heart tore through Edward. Damn, he had not expected it to hurt so much - Jasper choosing Alice over him. Tears are not forthcoming to Edward, but he is sure that had he been human, he would have had them welling in his eyes. The wrenching ache in his chest is so strong it brings him to fall upon his knees. He barely hears Jasper's following words.
"... and I will persuade Edward to come along. I will not leave my mate behind, even if I have to drag him along every step of the way. Even he doesn't want it, he will do it because he loves me."
Edward bows his head in mute surrender and listens shamelessly to the discussion indoors.
"Edward is headstrong. He will not come graciously."
"He will for me," Jasper's voice is confident.
"If he does not agree to it, will you agree to give him to us?"
"If Edward is not compliant, then we will agree to discuss it further."
Every part of Edward's body screams for Jasper to stop; to stop talking, to stop agreeing, to just stop. In a perfect world, he would, but alas for Edward, this is not a perfect world.
"And if he doesn't?"
"I hope that we will never have to find that out. Leave him to me. I will entreat him to come. He will follow. Or die."
Jasper has double-crossed him. Just like the rest of his family. Edward slumps against the wall of the house, the hurt coursing through his body as he tries to determine what he is going to do.
He stares out over the magnificent waters reflecting the sun's last rays, but he does not see it. Instead, he can only gather his tattered thoughts and wind them around himself in a semblance of a rational mind. Words crash through his fragile being and meld together into one: he will strike first. They will not get him without a fight.
With that thought in mind, Edward races off, leaving behind him - his love.
The light is fast receding as darkness ebbs its way into the forethought of every living creature. Standing fast at the edge of the lake where he and his lover once cavorted in play, Edward stands, gazing hard into the distance at his lover as the man makes his way to the stables once more.
'Blood,' thinks Edward, his eyes bright with his all consuming thoughts. 'There will be blood tonight!' For blood is the price one pays for sin, and sin being what Edward is most familiar with, blood will be spilled in order to pave the way for his Jasper's coming. Edward stares after the figure as he disappears into the stable. The hat may obscure his lover's face, but Edward would know that man anywhere. That stance, that gait, that strong lithesome body. The body that would writhe beneath him in both pleasure and pain this night.
"Tonight," he whispers harshly. "Tonight it will your sin, your sacrifice and you will spill Jimmy's blood upon your entrance to my world. To our world." Edward throws his head back and glares at the roiling clouds in growing blackness of the heavens above. He can smell the apex of the storm on its way. Perfect. "Which way I fly is Hell, Myself am Hell!"
With that, Edward laughs gaily at the heavens.
Aware that he is playing with fire, Jasper seeks out the one destined as his mate. Working on the supposition that Edward did not come into the house and has disappeared after their reparations, he suspects that his vampire has overheard the inner dialogue of the vampires within the house. Thus, Edward must have also overheard Jasper's words. He blanches at the thought.
His heart is torn. Jasper had already decided upon Edward, however with the discussion he too had overheard, Jasper knows that choosing Edward would have backed them both into a corner that they may have never escaped from. Alternatively, he had decided to go with the answer that he had chosen Alice. To buy them - he and Edward - more time.
Jasper desperately wants to see his sister, but Edward is his rock, his foundation. He cannot leave him, nor can he betray him. The decision to choose Edward had been made well before the entrance of the Volturi vampires. It had been made when Edward had first held Jasper in his arms, a decision that had only been solidified over the course of those first few days, and it was a decision that was set in stone with the eradication of Isabella's body and the resultant deaths of Bonnie and Ashley.
Thoughts swirl wildly in Jasper's mind, knowing he cannot bring himself to force Edward into doing anything against his will, but what choice does he have? He heaves a great sigh. If he leaves Edward here, he may be destroyed - if not physically, then emotionally.
'I will find you,' he vows silently.
Suspecting Edward's whereabouts to be the other side of the lake, Jasper saddles a horse, intending to head out, but a cool hand palms his as he grasps the pommel. He turns his head sharply, preparing for a new attacker, but his breath falls out in a relieved whoosh as he meets the solemn eyes of Carlisle Cullen.
"Run, Jasper. Take him far away. Do not return."
Flabbergasted, Jasper can only stare as the handsome man gazes emphatically at him before Carlisle steps back, releasing both man and horse. Staggered by the unexpected request, Jasper swings awkwardly up into the saddle, at a loss for words. The unexpected entreaty fills him with an emotion he dare not put a name to. He swallows hard as he looks down upon the man he knows was Edward's lover for many years before him. A multitude of words run through his head, however he cannot voice any of them. When he finally finds his voice, Jasper discovers he can only say, "I will look after him. I cannot guarantee any decision he makes." To Jasper, the words seem trite, in the shadow of the momentous appeal from the elder vampire.
Nonetheless, it seems to placate the other gentleman as Carlisle nods once in understanding and steps back, letting Jasper walk the horse away. Jasper turns once to look back at the blond man and is astonished to see the man's head bowed as if in defeat. He suddenly understands the magnitude of his responsibility to Edward, and the encumbrance of it is almost too much to bear.
Jasper had not gotten far before he discovers that Edward is before him. However, he is surprised at the stiff stance of his vampire man. It had not made an appearance since the early hours of their initial meeting directly after Isabella's death. And the blond man is even more surprised at Edward's stilted words that pour out...
"I apologise for any reprehensible behaviour to your person. I did not know it would cause quite this much strife in your life. I will finish my task then take your leave." Edward is so very stiff.
Sheer astonishment causes Jasper to blurt out, "Why so formal, Edward? I had thought we had moved beyond the illogicality of the farce?" At his vampire's dour demeanour, Jasper can only respond in kind: formal and stilted. Edward's eyes stare up at him in such a manner that Jasper shivers at the intensity found therein.
"I realised that perhaps a little formality and structure might be in order since everything is so chaotic. It was not my intention to heap this havoc upon you. I only wanted you for myself and I do believe that had Isabella not forced my hand, I would have been hard-pressed to wait for one I believe is the handsomest man I have ever encountered. She tipped my hand and that in itself was a fine feat since I had been adamant that I would not take you too early. I did not wish for you to be turned too early, to be one of the Immortal ones."
"I refuse to believe that! That's pile of hogwash and rot and you know it! You know when you first saw me that I was already old enough; old enough to be beyond an Immortal One. Don't lie to me, Edward!"
"It is not a lie, Jasper."
"It is not the truth either! I was almost a man, Edward."
"You were still a boy."
"To a century old vampire, mayhap, but to a human, I was old enough to not be considered a boy."
The sound of Jasper's distraught breathing is the only thing heard as Edward drops his gaze.
Silence reigns as the air sluggishly moves around them. Light wispy draughts move through hair, brushing them annoyingly against the side of their necks, but still neither man stirs.
"Edward..." Dumbfounded, Jasper searches for the right words, but they elude him. He struggles with all righteous indignation roiling within him. Edward is lying. Jasper knows it. Moreso, he knows that Edward knows it.
In desperation, Jasper thinks hard, hoping that Edward will hear his thoughts. 'I wish to be turned. I wish to be with you. You must come with me to Volterra. We can rescue Alice. Or not. We can just run. My decision is you. I refuse to let these vampires win over what we have. Please, Edward, hear me.'
The lack of response from the stoic vampire is disconcerting to Jasper. He wants Edward to heed his unspoken words. His brow furrows as he frantically wracks his mind for the correct turn of phrase that will persuade his vampire to drop this foolish act. However, before he can find them, Edward finally replies.
"I am going back to the house. Join me if you wish. I have some unwanted guests to rid us of. Privacy is of utmost importance if you wish to be turned tonight."
A few dead leaves falling soundlessly to the ground are the only indicators that Edward had been before him as Jasper is left alone, atop his horse in the dull light of the evening.
Jasper had taken his time in the stables, carefully currying and grooming the horse, letting his feelings flow as he thought about the step he was about to take. Eventually, knowing he cannot avoid it any longer, he returns to both his home and his vampire to find the house shrouded in darkness as he enters the purposely darkened hallway. Discovering that linens have been carefully placed over the many windows to prevent even the moonlight from streaming in through the magnificently large windows, Jasper warily walks in, glancing from side to side, wishing he had a candle to light his way.
Upstairs, Edward waits in anticipation of how this night will end.
Jasper walks slowly onward, and stops abruptly when he sees the line of candles trailing towards the stairs and up towards the darkened upstairs floor. A path is laid out - in candles no less - for him.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," he murmurs, and with a resolute clench of his jaw, the blond man starts up the stairs. The candlelit path indicates the way to his bedroom. Jasper strides determinedly to his door. In one, smooth motion, he turns the handle and steps into the room.
This room is well lit, the candlelight strategically placed. His eyes follow the candles before he stops, swallowing hard as his gaze lights upon....
...there, in the middle of his king size bed, on his bedspread… one very pleased with himself vampire - wearing only a smile.
Jasper's thoughts are jumbled as he takes in Edward's perfect form; his angular jaw; the smooth column of his neck; the broad width of his shoulders; his perfect chest with a little smattering of hair in the middle, teasing Jasper's fervid gaze as his eyes journey over his ribs, down the hollow of his stomach over the ripples of his abdomen to the - Jasper audibly gulps - manhood that currently stood erect between his legs.
"It's a cock, Jasper." Edward's voice holds a note that implies he is entertained, moving to lean upon his elbow, eyes crinkling in silent laughter.
Jasper flushes slightly. 'He can read minds of course, I had forgotten that. And he just read that too. Fuck.' His lips are suddenly dry as he fixates on this stunningly beautiful and ably portioned part of his soon-to-be lover's anatomy. 'Sorry,' he amended in his mind, 'his cock.' It twitched. 'Oh Lord have mercy.' Gripping the door handle for stability, Jasper's voice is rough as he emphatically declares, "I have never seen anything so damn beautiful."
Edward smirks, "I thought I was going to have to come out and get you. They left a while ago. Come on over here."
"Why don't you come up and get me, if you are that eager?" Jasper's tone holds more than a trace of waspishness. Was he supposed to forget the short altercation from outdoors? To forget that his vampire lover was more than a little short and unresponsive to him in their last meeting? He tracks Edward with his eyes at first before with a blur of movement and with a gasp, Jasper can feel Edward against his back.
"He who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires, and fears is more than a king," Edward murmurs. "I heard your thoughts earlier. I'm proud of you, Jasper Whitlock. I cannot say more for risk to you, but know that I understand."
Smiling, Jasper leans back into the caresses of his lover. The breath from his man flows over him, raising goosebumps as it touches Jasper's warm skin. Ripples of excitement run down his back, coalescing and erupting at the apex of his legs as his erection grows with each tingle of awareness of his lover. Delighted in Edward's praise, relief flowing through him as he realises that Edward had heard his words, Jasper tilts his head allowing his lover's hand to trail down the side of his neck. Mutely, Jasper gives Edward the access if he so desires, but instead his mate continues to trail the contrasting coolness of his hand down to Jasper's warm shoulder and along his arm.
Disappointment floods through Jasper. He groans in complaint, but a slight chuckle from Edward as he slowly unbuttons Jasper's shirt, accompanied by lazy kisses along each portion of skin bared and the drag of the material being pulled from his body causes the complaint to flee from his mind. A tremor of want runs riotously through Jasper's body. 'How tantalisingly alluring,' he thinks hazily as numbly, he lets the shirt fall from his willing body.
"Breathe, Jasper," murmurs Edward, amusement colouring his tone as Jasper is pulled closer to his hard body. "I cannot do anything to you if you pass out on me."
More tremors course through Jasper as Edward's tongue lightly flicks at his lobe and Edward's words vibrate lowly in his ear, "And I do so want to do more to you, if you will allow me."
The words spark a further heat within Jasper, allowing his final inhibitions to fall to the wayside. Cool lips brush enticingly against his nape, causing Jasper to jerk his hips forward. However, hard hands palm his hips, keeping them in place, adding a sharp contrast to the heat that feverishly flows through his body. A languorous tongue laps at the crease in his neck. He finds he cannot stop the moan that rises in his throat as that mouth finds the pulse in his neck and bites down gently. Although it does not break skin, Jasper desperately wants it to. He wants Edward to suck upon his skin - to feel his vampire's lips pressed hard upon him; to hear the pulsating beat of his own heart as his lover swallows the blood given freely, flowing freely out of his body. Jasper shudders in extreme pleasure at the thought.
The glide of Edward's tongue down the length of his shoulder causes more trembling and shivering, each quivering motion more intense than the last. His mind is both sluggish and racing; one part of his mind barely capable of understanding what is happening to him; the other... Jasper is all too aware of what that part is concentrating on. He can feel the waves of amorous thoughts crashing upon each other in quick succession, joining with the heat in his body, all flowing down his taut body until his erection is so hard with the depth of wanton feeling cascading through him that he swears it would take a minuscule touch from Edward for him to explode.
It is when Edward starts to nibble along his collarbone that Jasper really starts to unravel - and quickly. The heady combination of Edward's lips nibbling and suckling as his tongue dips into all the crevasses, following the curves and valleys back to the base of Jasper's throat causes an endless string of incoherency to fall from Jasper's suddenly slack mouth.
"Oh my god please do not stop."
Air suddenly circulates around his semi-naked, pliant body alerting Jasper to Edward's lack of presence. His eyes snap open to find his lover on the far side of the room. Questioningly, he takes a step toward his lover, however pauses when the man bids him to stay where he is.
"I have no intention of stopping, but for what I have in mind, you will need to be in a very different form. I cannot allow myself to harm you, Jasper. You need to be a vampire before I can have you - fully. Are you ready?"
Edward's voice is low, but Jasper can hear the hunger in his tone. His heart swelling with emotion, Jasper nods his acquiesce.
Effortlessly gliding up to his lover, and sliding his hand up to his neck, Edward caresses his nape and unintentionally, a moan leaves Jasper's lips.
Feather light caresses upon his skin make Jasper lean into his vampire's cool touch with a soft sigh and his lids fall softly closed, savouring the feel of Edward against his bare skin. A growing tingle of awareness sinuously winds its way down his back as his lover presses his lips against his nape and the soft groan that finds its way out of Edward's mouth vibrates resonantly against Jasper's skin. He shudders at the tremulous touch of the cool lips, feeling them tremble against him and combined with the cool breath that flows over him results in an ache shooting through to his already well-hardened cock.
"Edward..."
A moist trail blazes down the column of his throat, from his ear down to his shoulder as Edward's tongue joins his lips in his foray over Jasper's body. The scent of his vampire lover washes over Jasper as Edward's lips, tongue and fingers move over his body; small, circular motions; light, stimulating kisses over his shoulders, down his chest; hands trailing over his abdomen until they touch his waistband. The blond man can only stand helplessly against this onslaught upon his senses: floating; seemingly weightless as Edward continues his ministrations upon Jasper's pliant and willing body, playing him like an instrument and Edward is the maestro.
As Edward's hands come up to clasp his face, Jasper involuntarily leans into them, grazing his cheek against the smooth palms. Upon opening his eyes, he treats Edward to a heated, wanting look before slowly turning his head to take first one, then two fingers of Edward's hand into his mouth and gently sucks the tips whilst firmly holding his lover's gaze. A heady groan from Edward rewards Jasper and he is aware of the slight smirk upon his vampire's face; Edward watching him from under hooded eyes as Jasper runs his tongue over each tip, curling around one then the other; tasting, teasing, before nibbling lightly.
"You learn fast, my love," comes the husky whisper of his lover, and emboldened, Jasper releases his lover's hand, leans forward and presses his lips lightly against Edward's. Jasper's tongue snakes out to taste him, gliding smoothly along his full lower lip before dipping into that enticing mouth, touching his tongue to his lover's, tasting his sweetness before deepening the kiss and fully exploring the inner recesses of Edward. He cannot get enough of this man and he plunders deep, wanting to find all the secrets hidden within before his lungs force him to leave this heavenly haven.
But before all of Jasper's breath can leave him, Edward pulls away sharply with a gasp.
Breathing heavily, Jasper cannot help but give Edward a smug grin as Edward stares fixatedly at him with amorous red eyes, feeling only want and desire of this vampire man. His breath catches sharply as Edward grasps his face firmly between his palms. He gives Jasper a most penetrating look, before inch by aching inch, Edward moves his head forward, causing what little breath is in Jasper's lungs to leave in an explosive exhalation when the cool lips fasten upon the curve of his neck.
The chilly suckle causes a small sigh to sound from Jasper, his eyes closing with the tantalising graze of his vampire lover's teeth against his fragile exposed neck - an erotic, unspoken threat. Edward's icy tongue dips out to run up the length of his neck, and Jasper throws his head back further as he stands trembling in his lover's embrace.
He hears the low murmur leave Edward's mouth, muffled against his skin, "Oh god, I want to taste you, Jasper."
With a suddenness that takes Jasper's breath away, Edward leans forward and bites down upon his neck. A groan leaves Jasper's suddenly slack lips as the teeth pierce his skin. Dimly, he hears the accompanying groan as Edward drinks from him. The feeling is incredible, indescribable, and Jasper is giddy and light-headed from it.
But then the pain...
Bringing his head up swiftly, the bronze-haired vampire swipes the wound closed with his tongue and he utters thickly, "Welcome to my world, Jasper," as Jasper begins to scream, the venom coursing through his system. "Forgive me," he whispers to his human, before Edward bites Jasper again and again, endeavouring to get as much venom into his human's body as quickly as possible. Finally, he stops and takes stock of the human in his arms. Jasper. Finally understanding from Jasper's thoughts earlier that Jasper was only doing what he thought best, that Jasper's intentions had been to try to keep them both free of the Volturi, free from Aro, Edward hangs his head in mute supplication and admiration to the strength and fortitude in his human lover.
Edward admits he is lucky for having someone like Jasper. Greatly revering that Jasper looks out for him, Edward is somewhat awed as he has never truly experienced it before, having someone who cares about him to such an extent that he is willing to lie for him, to die for him. It is utterly humbling. It is also advantageous that Edward has the ability to read minds for if he had not been able to read Jasper's earlier, this night would have gone very differently. He stares down at the writhing man, wishing that he could take away this pain, but knowing he cannot. Edward swings him up in his arms and moves quickly to the bed, laying down his lover, and thus begins Edward's vigil until Jasper is truly his mate.
AN: ahhh... finally...