Chapter 7 – Going places

BPOV

The Texas house was beautiful, beautiful and huge. It consisted of one floor with two wings, in a U shape, with a courtyard in between. There were four patches of brilliant green lawn – how they managed that in the blistering heat of the Texan sun, I didn't know – divided by cobblestoned walkways in the form of a giant cross. Each path lead to a wing and the one facing south went towards the stables. In the center of the courtyard, where the walkways converged, there was a fountain almost big enough for me to swim in. It felt very medieval European and I was certain this would become my favorite part of the house. Except for the bedroom that is.

The whole west wing of the house was Jasper's and mine, a mirror copy of the east wing where Peter and Charlotte would be staying. There were two giant bedrooms linked by an ensuite bathroom. Both were decorated in warm earth tones with a king size four poster bed dominating the room. Jasper let me pick the room I wanted and I took the one with the antique wooden dresser perched against one of the walls. It reminded me of my late grandmother's house in Phoenix, the only place I had ever felt truly safe and loved. Strange thing to associate that with being in a house filled with vampires, yet I had this feeling Jasper wouldn't hurt me again.

Those first few days in Texas Jasper had been hovering. At first it was nice to have him around all the time, mostly because we had the greatest sex. There was want and lust, but not the all-consuming need that was present the first times we were together. It did wonders for my abused back and I discovered that slow and intense could be just as hot as quick and needy. I guess that's the first thing Jasper thought me and I was sure there was lots more to come.

After the second day the hovering had become extremely annoying. As much as I wanted to, I wasn't physically able to have sex all day. And talking with each other until dawn was exhausting. Especially when it was obvious we weren't ready to share everything. I hadn't talked about the abuse in my past and even though he never asked about it, it stood like a wall between us. Just like his outburst when I had called him Major. Any topic that could be remotely linked to it was considered taboo. At least for the time being. But I could let that rest for now; I was sure I would find out eventually.

The third day I exploded. Every time I made a move he was there. If I went to the bathroom, he wanted to know where I was going; if I scratched my nose he wanted to know what was wrong, food kept magically appearing every time my stomach dared to make a sound. Worst part of it was that it was all done in good will. But I couldn't take it anymore.

"Enough!" I yelled semi-hysterically when he wanted to throw out the coffee table I had accidentally bumped into. He stared at me with wide eyes, like a deer caught in a headlight.

"Stop treating me like a baby, Jasper, I'll survive it if you leave me alone for five fucking minutes!" I spat at him, harsher than I intended. His eyes darkened at my words and he put the coffee table back down very carefully. When I looked into his eyes, I could feel his rage and his attempts at keeping the bloodlust at bay. I tried to calm down for his sake, and my safety I guess, but his next words made my blood boil.

"Then don't act like an infant, Isabella," he said in that deceptively calm voice I had once heard him use with Peter.

"What are you calling me?" I shrieked and he flinched at the sound of my high pitched voice. "Are you calling me a child?" I walked up to him and started poking my finger in his chest, emphasizing my words. "Is that it, Jasper? Am I nothing but a child to you? Some innocent girl you can mould and shape like you want to? You know what that makes you? A fucking pedophile!"

During my rant, his eyes had become impossibly darker, but with my last sentence I had crossed a line. A low rumble erupted from his chest and my breath caught in my throat. Whatever he did to me now, I had only myself to blame. I prepared myself for the inevitable as my face became an expressionless mask and my muscles tensed. My eyes lost their focus and I stared at a point on the wall behind him.

Suddenly I felt his posture change. He stepped closer to me and grabbed my chin in his hand, forcing me to look into his eyes again. I nearly gasped when I saw they were much lighter than before, more amber than black.

"Listen to me, Isabella," he spoke very softly, "whatever you say or do, I am never going to hurt you."

He waited for the words to sink in and when they did my legs trembled underneath me and he wrapped his arms around me in support.

"I don't know which bastard fucked you up like this, but if he ever crosses my path, I swear I'll tear him up limb for limb."

His voice was cold, but passionate and the sincerity in it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm sorry I called you a pedophile," I whispered and he chuckled.

"I'm sorry I called you an infant," he replied and hugged me tightly. "You could've just told me you needed some space, darling," he said, caressing my hair.

"I didn't want to hurt your feelings," I said.

"And I didn't want to hurt you by leaving you alone in a new house."

I giggled at the utter stupidity of the fight and he laughed quietly with me.

"Some empath am I," he said after our laughter died down. "I could tell you weren't at ease and I just imagined it was this place."

"You couldn't know, Jasper," I sighed, looking back up at him. "I've been on my own most of my life, if it wasn't physically alone, it was emotionally. And this thing we have is the exact opposite. I just think I'm going to need some time to adjust."

He nodded and I saw the acceptance in his eyes. "I understand, darling. I wasn't expecting us to magically get along all of the time. This is going to take hard work, but I have this feeling it's going to be worth it."

I smiled, knowing exactly what he meant. I wouldn't call it love just yet, but we were going places…

After what we since then referred to as the coffee table incident, both Jasper and I were much more at ease. Turned out we were both very private people with limited need for company. It didn't bother me when all three of them went out hunting and left me by myself or when he and Peter took off to have what Charlotte called 'male bonding time'. That gave Charlotte and me the opportunity to have some girl time of our own.

I had felt from the first time I saw her that she had the hots for me, so to speak. The way she had looked at me almost screamed 'I want you!' and not in an innocent way. I thought she was a really attractive woman and if it weren't for Jasper, I might be game for some experimenting. But as things were, I wasn't even remotely interested and she sensed that just as quickly as I was on to her. We were both okay with that, so things never turned awkward between us. I did have this feeling though, that Jasper had a bit of a problem with Charlotte's emotions about me, although he never mentioned it to me. Probably didn't think I'd notice.

"It looks like you're miles away from here, Bella," Charlotte's voice shook me from my musings. I was lying on the edge of the fountain, feet immersed in the cold water, staring up at the sky, when she found me in the courtyard. I sat up and she sank down beside me.

"I was just thinking about you," I said.

"Good or bad?"

"Good, I guess." I winked and she stuck out her tongue. "I was just wondering how come it's never been awkward between us," I said and waited for her response. We had never openly discussed this and now the men were out bonding, we were truly alone for the first time. She thought about my question for a couple of seconds and then her expression changed into what I could only describe as an evil grin.

"I could make it awkward if I wanted to," she said in a low voice and leaned into me. Her hand came up to caress the side of my face and I shivered under her cold touch. She inched even closer to me until her ruby red eyes were all I could see. She stared at me without blinking and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning. I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame and I licked my lips in anticipation. My heart sped up and my breathing hitched as her eyes started turning darker. Every fiber in my being screamed to kiss her, but the thought of Jasper held me back. He was my lifeline that kept me from going under completely. Then she blinked and the spell was gone and we were just two women sitting on the edge of a fountain.

"You've made your point," I croaked catching my breath and she chuckled darkly.

"It isn't awkward, because we don't let it be," she sighed, "and that's something the guys won't ever understand."

I nodded and smiled wryly. I did understand it; I just wished she told me rather than showed me. I couldn't deny now that I was attracted to her as well.

"I'm sorry," she suddenly said interrupting my train of thought. "I shouldn't have done that. It is almost impossible for a human to deny a vampire, even if you're not attracted at first. I can't imagine the will-power it took you not to kiss me when I wanted you to."

"It was the thought of Jasper that stopped me," I admitted.

"That damned bastard, always messing with my mojo," she joked, but there was something in her voice that made me think she meant what she said. And suddenly I wished I hadn't asked her about the awkwardness.

We spent the rest of the day discussing nothing in particular and it was comfortable, just like it had been the first time we talked on the trip over here. Yet I had this feeling in my gut telling me that something had changed even though there were no signs.

Late in the afternoon, Jasper and Peter returned and they had remembered to bring me some food for later on. When they came into sight, I felt oddly relieved and Jasper shot me a funny look. I told him I was happy they had brought me food and he shrugged it away. I didn't know whether it was pent up frustration from Charlotte's little experiment or guilt for being attracted to her, but I practically dragged him to our bedroom. The need to have him was taking over and I wanted him to claim me again. And I knew it wasn't going to be gentle.

He was on to me immediately and grabbed me into a tight embrace as soon as we entered the room, kissing me roughly.

"Who do you belong to?" he growled while ripping off my shirt.

"I'm yours," I panted as he dipped his head to my breasts, sucking a nipple into his mouth. He knew I liked it when he bit down on them gently, but this time his bite made me moan in pain. He looked up at me and lowered my shorts and panties, without ripping them to shreds. Seconds later his own clothes were gone and he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

"Do you trust me?" he asked when he felt my surprise and I told him in a steady voice I did.

A rush of movement and a cool breeze on my skin alerted me we were outside. He laid me down on a cold stone surface in the light of the setting sun. He looked glorious in the dying light, sparkling like a diamond, his eyes blacker than coal, the red light made him even seem alive. Then I realized were I was, laying on the edge of the fountain. He knew. He knew and he was proving a point. I was his and this time he was going to make sure there was no doubt about that with Charlotte. And with me for that matter. I was surprised with myself that it didn't bother me more.

He knelt down next to me and spread my legs, one foot dangling in the cold water, the other firmly planted on the cobble stones. He kissed his way up from my knee over my inner thigh until he reached my center.

"I want you to scream tonight, Isabella," he whispered and sucked my clit into his mouth. The things that man did with his tongue and fingers were too much for me. I couldn't keep count on how many times I screamed his name in ecstasy. He didn't relent, gave me no time to recover, but kept on going until my throat was raw and my body was shuddering uncontrollably. Then he turned me onto my knees and bent me over the stone edge. He thrust his cock into me growling lowly. I surrendered completely as he pounded into me and hoarsely I screamed his name one last time as he came inside of me, his hands gripping painfully into my hips.

I was utterly spent when he scooped me up in his arms and carried me to our room. He gently put me down on the bed and covered me with a sheet. I was fluttering on the edge of unconsciousness when I felt his lips on my forehead. Next, I relaxed under a wave of peace and calm and slid into a dreamless sleep. The last thing I heard was his voice, softer than a whisper, but clearer than a bell.

"I love you, Isabella."

AN: So, I hope this answers some of your questions about Charlotte (or maybe creates more?). If there are other things that you wonder about, don't hesitate to let me know. I'd also like to know what you really think of the for the love you give me, it means the world to me...