Sorry I didn't get to post on Friday, but just returned from a week of vacation in a campground with NO Internet access. Who had that bright idea??? I seriously was shaking and my husband was ROTFL at me. Every once in a while if we drove into town I got some access on my mobile so some of you got a reply that way, sorry to the rest of you. The good news is I got to write.

Thanks to everyone who has been out there spreading the word on our little lovebirds. Huge thanks goes out to Jasper's Darlins for recing my story on their blog, check it out if you haven't JaspersDarlins(dot)blogspot(dot)com and to notashamedtobesoilyfan for pimping me out, love ya. I am totally into her New Phase of the Moon right now; it's a very sweet Bella/Jacob story that is getting a little steamy.

Only At Night

Chapter 13

Communication

BPOV

It was amazing how much more time I had to study now that I didn't have to go to work. I finished classes and ran a couple quick errands and was home by one o'clock. Damn, this was going to work out great, I could get caught up on all my reading and studying during the week so that my weekends would be free to spend with Jasper.

I ignored the five voice mails from Jay and booted up my computer and grabbed an apple before hitting the books. I logged into my email and up popped a message from Jasper.

Stanford is stoked and I have to catch a flight later this afternoon to go iron out some details. I'll call you when you are home from school and before I have to board my flight. ILY. J

Aww, he sounds excited.

The hollow metallic sound of the doorbell ringing startled me. I wasn't usually home at this time of day, I wondered nervously who could be ringing the doorbell. I knew it wasn't Jasper, he was still in Texas. The only other people who knew where I lived were Rose and Jay. Oh shit, he wouldn't dare….

I snuck quietly to the front of the house and peeked through the curtains to the porch. It wasn't Jay. I had no idea who it was. It was definitely a man, tall, dark hair. No way in hell I'm answering the door to a stranger. The man turned right towards the partially opened curtains and stared directly at me. Shit.

"Hello, umm I have a delivery for a Bella Swan." He held up a large package and suddenly I realized it was flowers. I looked to the street and sure enough there was a FTD truck parked at the curb.

"Hang on a minute." I called out and grabbed a couple dollars from my wallet for a tip.

I walked over to the door and chuckled, Jasper.

I opened the door and smiled to the delivery man.

"Hi, sorry about that, I wasn't expecting anyone." He was cute; a couple months ago I would have been flirting shamelessly.

"Yeah, happens all the time, no worries, are you Bella Swan? These are for you." He pushed the package to me and I opened the storm door to take the delivery and hand over the tip.

"Thank you." I couldn't help but smile at him thinking about Jasper.

"Have a nice day." He ran from the porch and to his truck shaking his head. I'm sure he thought I was a bit crazy.

I smiled all the way to the kitchen thinking about Jasper and how sweet he was. I pulled out a vase and began running the water while I opened the wrapping.

Wow, a dozen red roses. The card read beauty for a beauty, Love J

Hmm, it didn't really seem like something Jasper would do. I trimmed the stems and put the roses in the vase of water and dropped an aspirin in. I had the perfect place for them, the dining room table where I could enjoy them while I studied.

I was about to start typing an email to Jasper to thank him when my phone rang. Hmm, my cowboy.

"Hi, on your way to the airport?" I couldn't help but smile as I lifted one of the flowers to breathe in the fragrance.

"Just checked in and heading to the gate now. I was hoping I'd get you before I boarded. How was your day?"

"Great. So I take it Stanford was thrilled? How long will you be there?"

"Well, that depends, do you want to come join me for the weekend or should I come to Seattle on Friday?"

"Oh, um, what do the flight schedules look like? I can't leave before probably three Friday afternoon. Is there a flight around then or could you leave earlier and be here by then?"

"I could leave earlier than three so maybe I could get to you faster than you can get to me. I'll come to you."

"Ok, what time would your flight get in?" I was all for anything that got us together sooner rather than later.

"Hang on darlin'." I could hear Jasper talking to someone in the background and then the clicking of a keyboard and laughed knowing that he had someone looking up flights for him as I waited patiently. "Ok, it looks like I can be in Seattle by about 6pm, that should give you enough time to get your studying done so we can talk about our plans Saturday and Sunday."

"Perfect." I heard Jasper say, "book it" and come back on the line. "How long can you stay? You don't have to leave Sunday do you?"

"No, I can stay a few days, but then I am going to have to go back to Texas and start packing. I have to be back in Palo Alto in three weeks and I want you to come down so we can look at places to live. I can stay in a hotel for a while to start off so we don't have to rush, but the sooner we get settled the easier it will be once finals start for you and summer school starts up for me."

"Can you stay through the week and go back the following Monday? That way we will have two weekends and a whole week together. Then you have two weeks to pack and get situated to go. I think I'm off of school that following week for spring break so I could come and spend it with you and we can look around for a place."

"I think that will work. Ok, let me get the return flight booked and then I have to go board the flight. I'll call you tonight, love."

"Ok, have a good flight."

Damn, I forgot to thank him for the flowers. Oh well, I'll send him a text; just as soon as I go to the bathroom. I realized I was doing the dance next to the table the whole time we were on the phone.

J-

I love roses, thanks.

B, xoxo

I studied for awhile but kept finding myself distracted with thoughts of Jasper and Palo Alto. I wondered about where Jasper would want to live, would he want a house, a condo, did he want to be near the university or maybe on the Bay. I realized that coming to an agreement on the price range was going to be an interesting conversation.

Even if I sold my house and put every penny into the new place it wouldn't be a fraction of what Jasper could afford. Would he even want or be willing to live in something I could afford half of? Then there was the question of how to even raise that subject since he didn't know that I knew the situation. Oh hell. Maybe he would tell me before we had to have that conversation. Although, agreeing on a budget for housing could be the perfect opportunity for him to tell me. Of course this was a great time to buy a place, we could probably get a much better deal with the economy, but that also meant that I probably wouldn't make out so well, selling this house.

Now that I no longer have a cushy job and income, I am going to have to dip into my savings to pay bills for the next couple months on top of it. The good news is that now that I don't have to worry about the job I can move as soon as the semester ends and study for the bar in California. I can be with Jasper that much sooner, and take the California bar.

Oooh, I wondered whether Stanford had a bar review course, I should look into it and sign up for it there. So much for studying; I spent the next couple hours surfing the web for bar review courses, bar exam requirements and the real estate market in Palo Alto before logging off, getting ready for bed and waiting for Jasper's call.

JPOV

I finished booking my return flight and laughed to myself; I was never going to be able to refuse her anything was I? The whole point was to get her down to Palo Alto to look at houses before I had to move not after. Oh well, maybe I could start working with a realtor while I was there and have some things to show Bella all lined up.

I wonder what Bella will want, a house probably, she seems to love her plants and her deck. A condo would probably not be her first choice. Hell, I am going to have to have the money conversation with her before we start looking. She is probably going to put up a fuss about being able to afford half of it. I can live without a mansion but I can't live someplace where we are constantly on top of each other.

Sharing a sixteen thousand square foot house with Peter basically meant we never had to see each other if we didn't want to. Funny how we really only used seven or eight rooms in the whole place. We both had our own bedroom suites and offices of course and we shared the kitchen and a great room. Once in a while we used the game room or the movie theatre and the pool but that was actually pretty rare. Charlotte used the pool more than either of us.

Honestly, there were rooms that I haven't been in probably since my parents died. The dining room, no Charlotte made us have Thanksgiving dinner in there one year. I know I haven't been in the formal Living Room or Mom's sitting room or craft room in years. Peter took over dad's office when he finished school. When I finished school we converted a couple bedrooms into another master suite. I guess I'd leave it furnished so that Bella and I would have a place to stay when we came home to visit.

Hell, I guess packing isn't going to be that big of a deal, I'm not going to move any of the furniture. We'll see what Bella wants to keep of hers and buy whatever else we need new.

The flight boarded and just when I was going to shut off my phone it beeped that there was a text message. Smiling that it had to be Bella, I checked the message.

J-

I love roses, thanks.

B, xoxo

"Sir, you need to turn the phone off now, we are taking off. Do you need anything else before I sit down for take off?" The flight attendant was rather suggestive at that last part.

"No." I was not interested.

"Well, enjoy your flight, if there is anything I can do for you, you let me know now, I'm Jane, by the way." She leaned over to offer her hand and flashed some cleavage.

Oh hell no.

"Thank you Jane, but I'll be fine; I'd rather not be disturbed if you can help me with that I'd much appreciate it." I gave her some good old southern charm and closed my eyes flipping off the phone and putting it into my pocket.

I'd have to ask Bella about the roses tonight.

I tried to get some sleep during the flight but kept getting distracted with thoughts about the upcoming negotiation with Stanford and the one that was no doubt coming with Bella.

I really didn't need the salary from Stanford but, I was not going to agree to less than I should. I was more concerned with creative freedom over publishing and course content and needed to focus on my arguments to retain control over both. I spent some time ironing out my positions and reasons that it would benefit the University.

The negotiation with Bella promised to be much tougher. Maybe I could convince her to keep her house as an investment and I could buy the house here. The market still not being what it was when she bought it might actually be a plausible recommendation. I'm sure she won't agree that is a fair trade.

Bella. She sure is something. Just thinking about trying to win an argument with her anytime during our lives was enough to make my head spin. That woman would get anything she wanted from me; the problem was she didn't really want anything but me. It would always be more about what I would go without to keep her happy. So damn stubborn she was. God, I was so crazy about her.

I had to figure out to handle telling her about the money. She is not stupid; she has to know there is some money. She had absolutely no idea who I was so I know she doesn't know the specifics. How could I tell her without her running scared? I knew I had to be honest and upfront but I didn't have to lay a number on the table right away either.

Maybe getting her used to the idea that there was a lot of family money and then easing her into the reality of it would work best. I would need to explain that it really wasn't like I actually spend it. Maybe if she understood that, she would not be so intimidated. Shit, who am I kidding, I'm intimidated by it, and Peter is intimidated by it. Hell Charlotte won't even get married she is so damn intimidated by it. Hell, maybe Bella will surprise me and handle it better than any of the rest of us.

Yeah, right

What, it could happen.

Whatever you need to tell yourself man.

I fell asleep and woke to turbulence. What had I been dreaming? It was something about Bella and flowers. Did she want roses? Maybe I should have sent her flowers. Shit she said thanks; did she get flowers and think they were from me?

Damn, another half an hour before we landed, it would be an hour before I would be in the car and able to call her and talk.

It felt like time stood still waiting for the plane to land and reach the gate. I had to keep deflecting Jane's advances and was getting annoyed. Why the hell was it always old people in first class? I couldn't blame her; she probably never had anyone remotely close to her own age in here.

All this flying lately was really working on my nerves. Maybe it was time to rethink the commercial flights and look into charters. Peter and I have always agreed we would never buy a plane but now that we are going to be so far apart maybe we would need to rethink that. No, flying was hard enough as it was.

Finally, Jane opened the door to the terminal and I was the first one out the door, carry on in hand and off to find my car service. The damn car was not at the pick up location and I had to call to find out that it would be there in ten minutes. Not enough time to call Bella and it was too loud out side. I sent Peter a text message to update him on my plans. He texted back a minute later.

"Wuss."

Great.

At last the car service pulled up and I climbed into the back seat and pulled out the phone to call Bella. It was already getting late and I hoped she wasn't asleep.

"Hi Jasper." She sounded tired.

"Were you asleep already darlin'?"

"No, almost, but I wanted to wait for you to call. Are you there yet?" I could hear the fight to stay awake in her voice.

"Just landed and I'm in the car on the way to the hotel now."

"Hmm, did you get the penthouse again dear?"

I chuckled, she was out of it; I must have woken her.

"No love, no point, I'm only going to be here a few nights."

"Oh, good flight?"

"Yeah, it was fine, honey you sound exhausted, why don't you get some sleep? I can talk to you tomorrow." Damn, I hated that I wouldn't get to talk to her or sing her to sleep.

"Can't sleep well without you."

"Go to sleep, I'll hang up when you fall asleep."

"Ok, Love you."

"Love you too. I sang her to sleep with something my mother used to sing when we were babies.

Sleep my baby, sleep tight, sleep my

angel, sleep right. I'll love you in the

morning just like tonight.

She was out in one verse.

Damn, I didn't get to ask her about the flowers.

BPOV

By the time classes let out on Wednesday there were three more messages form Jay and two messages from the HR manager of the firm. Aw, shit.

I called the HR manager back and ignored Jay. It seems Jay was panic stricken that I was going to sue him. The HR manager informed me that I would be paid though the summer and the firm would pay for my bar exam courses and the exam itself. If I were still interested in a job in the San Francisco office it was mine. I explained that I would need time to consider that and discuss it with someone. When I didn't elaborate with whom I would be discussing it, I think she assumed it was a civil rights attorney because the pot kept getting sweeter. By the time I hung up I had full pay and benefits until I started full time or the New Year and until September to make a decision on the job in San Francisco, a glowing letter of recommendation that would be ready in the morning along with the details of our agreement in writing. I was satisfied. And the best part was, she never mentioned signing a release. Not returning Jay's calls paid off.

I couldn't wait to talk to Jasper. I had no idea how late his meetings at the University would go, and the last thing he needed was his girlfriend calling him in the middle of it. Girlfriend. I was giddy just using the term in my head. I was his girlfriend.

I called Rosalie instead and filled her in on what had happened with Jay, but kept the details of what actually transpired scarce. She didn't need to be reminded of anything. I offered to help her with some of her wedding planning and shopping now that I would have a little extra time on my hands until finals.

We scheduled time to go look at dresses once Jasper left town. Rose was excited to have another opinion and I was happy to help her. We made plans to have dinner on Saturday night so that she could meet Jasper and he and Emmett could get to know each other better.

Everything was great and looked as though it would only get better over the next few months.

Jasper called as I was heating up noodles for dinner. He explained that he had to attend a dinner with the department chair and the dean and only had a couple minutes to talk. We were both disappointed but I managed to ask how the discussions were going and he seemed pleased. He was going to get full control over the content of what he published as long as he met certain goals on the types of publications and frequency. He would be able to complete the work he had started on the book he was working on. That was a big issue for him so I was thrilled that he was so happy about it. I mentioned dinner on Saturday with Rosalie and Emmett and he was all for it. Jasper apologized for not being able to sing me to sleep tonight and I assured him that I would be just fine; I missed him and couldn't wait to see him on Friday. He promised to call on Thursday and said goodnight before disconnecting.

I ate and searched the web some more for real estate in Palo Alto. I found a couple houses that looked neat. I discovered that I really like the Craftsman Style that was popular in the area. I printed a couple out to show Jasper, if for nothing other than the style of the houses. There was also a loft condo that was amazing and way out of my price range, but maybe Jasper would be more comfortable with the sleek modern loft style so I printed it out too. I reasoned with myself that if Jasper wanted to spend more toward our home than I could afford to match I wouldn't make a stink. I wanted him to be comfortable too, but I would have to draw the line at anything resembling a mansion.

I changed and got ready for bed and made sure my phone was charged and set it on my night stand just in case Jasper tried to call. I couldn't sleep with all the thoughts of seeing him in two days. I kept trying to think about something else but it wasn't working. I just kept envisioning cowboy hats and supple leather boots and decided I needed to either get up and take a cold shower or take care of myself.

Yeah, a cold shower was not really going to do the trick. I lay back on my bed and thought back to the first nights with Jasper. The leather of his boots, the lingerie show, the car, the bar in the penthouse, the elevator all swirled around in my head. The elevator did it.

Holy hell I just remembered that we never picked up the clothes that we had discarded on the elevator floor.

The dirty little thoughts of who found the ripped clothes and what they thought had me worked up to the point I needed friction and was dry humping my bed. Imagining Jasper's magic fingers I lowered my hand down below the waist band of the little lace boy shorts I was sleeping in. My fingers were met with the moist heat of my sex. The things that man could do with those fingers fueled my thoughts and before I knew it I was moaning into my pillow. I was coming within minutes and aching for Jasper.

God, it was ridiculous, I couldn't even sleep without him with me or on the phone. How long had I lived here alone without a worry and now suddenly without Jasper I was hearing noises in the night? I reached over and turned on the lamp on my nightstand and thought I heard it again.

What the hell? There was something outside.

I got up and looked out the front window, peeking between the curtains again. A car pulled out onto the street and drove away. One of the neighbors must have had company.

Thursday. One more day to go. Things were completely back to normal at school. In fact I was picking up even more of the slack in the classroom, and whispering answers to my classmates. The shocked stares and mouthed 'thank yous' said it all. Man, I really have been living in a bubble. I met with my study group for a couple hours after school for the first time in ages and then went home to get caught up on next weeks reading.

I spotted some weeds in the flower bed by the front windows and took a minute to pull them before going inside. As I bent down to pull the nefarious buggers I noticed footprints in the dirt by the window. Probably the flower delivery guy when I didn't answer right away yesterday. Now that shit just made me mad.

JPOV

The talks with Stanford went better than I expected. They were so thrilled to have me that I managed to get the control I felt I needed over the content of the required publishing in exchange for my agreement to the number and types of publications. Overall I was pretty pleased with the deal we struck. One of the other professors in the History department was able to refer a real estate agent so I took the opportunity to call and meet briefly with her. I explained that we would need to get a brief overview of the area and the different neighborhoods. When she asked for a price range I had to laugh. Would Bella agree to let me pay more than half? I explained that we had not yet set a budget but to give us an idea of the property values by different areas and not to be concerned about upward limits. Fortunately she had a handy worksheet that she shared to help us narrow down our needs.

I spent the flight to Seattle on Friday thinking about what I would need in a home and wondered how well it would match Bella's wish list. I decided then that I would have her fill it out herself and the compare it to mine before we started to talk.

The flight landed right on time and I picked up a rental car and entered Bella's address into the GPS and headed for 'home' and my Bella. I snickered at the thought that wherever Bella was would be home from now on.

Pulling into her driveway I noticed her neighbor pulling away from the curb, he slowed and man if looks could kill. I'd have to ask Bella what his deal was. She must have heard the door close, as I was walking to the door with my bag the front door opened and she came running full speed jumping on me, wrapping her arms around my neck. Chuckling I dropped my bag and held her up by the waist and twirled her around.

Bella attacked my lips and I couldn't help laughing at her enthusiasm.

"Darlin' I would give anything to come home to this everyday, but maybe we should take it inside, huh?"

"Missed you cowboy." Bella slid down planting her feet back on the ground and removed her arms from my neck grabbing my hand and leading me to the house.

"I missed you too darlin'." I grabbed my bag and let her lead me in.

"Dinner is almost ready, why don't you put your bags in our bedroom and get situated. I'll call you when it's ready." She kissed me on the cheek and smacked me on the ass as she walked toward the kitchen.

I growled at her and she just laughed. 'Our bedroom' hmm; I liked that.

"Hey, what's with your neighbor? He gave me a dirty look when I was getting out of the car."

"Who knows; who cares. Go, before dinner burns."

I unpacked and noticed that Bella had cleared a section of her closet and two drawers were left open and empty. Subtle Bella. God I love her. I hurried and finished putting things away and dropped my toiletries bag off in the bathroom and headed to the kitchen. Bella was engrossed in tossing a salad so I snuck up behind her and blew on her neck under her ponytail. She jumped and I laughed.

"Smells delicious."

"Hope you like lasagna." She bit that damn bottom lip and she could have made spam and I would have loved it.

I grabbed her and kissed her licking at that sexy lip that so often was my undoing. Bella deepened the kiss and before I knew it we were making out in the kitchen panting and getting entirely carried away until the timer on the oven beeped startling her back to reality.

"Damn, garlic bread." She smiled and pulled away reaching for an oven mitt. Fuckin' Minnie Mouse. She had a Minnie Mouse oven mitt, only Bella could put on a Minnie Mouse oven mitt and look hot. I just wanted to grab her and take her right over the oven. I didn't, instead I asked if there was anything I could do to help.

"Can you bring the salad out to the dining room?" She had no clue how hot she was.

"Sure." I carried out the salad and the lasagna as she cut the garlic bread.

She had an open wine bottle on the table so I poured two glasses as she came into the room.

We ate and talked about Stanford and I told her about the realtor and the worksheet to narrow down our wants, she told me she had been researching the market on the internet and asked what I thought about the craftsman style. Figures we would like the same things. I really don't know why I had been so worried.

We finished dinner and I helped her with the dishes, washing so she could dry and put away. I guess I'd have to learn where things were.

"Bella, there is something that I need to talk to you about." I said as she was hanging the dishtowel to dry.

"OK. Why don't we go sit out on the deck?" She poured two more glasses of wine and carried them out while I started a fire in the fire pit.

"Bella, this is not an easy thing for me to explain but I think I owe it to you to tell you before we go any further. It can be a little overwhelming but you deserve to know a few things before you make any more sacrifices for me. Please just listen to everything I have to say before you respond."

"I'll listen Jasper, but just so you know, there isn't anything you can tell me that will change the way I feel about you." Her smile warmed her face and I truly believed it would be okay.

"Bella, you already know that my family history goes back generations and that I still live on the ranch that has been in family for a couple hundred years. I think you have already surmised that there is some family money. You need to know that ranching is not the only source of income attributable to my family. My ancestors were also into oil and a few other mining ventures among other things. Several generations back they had managed to amass quite a bit of wealth. By the time Major Whitlock was born there was never any need for anyone in the family to ever work again. That would just be unheard of in my family so things just continued to snowball. I don't really think any generation since the Major and my great-great grandfather has even been able to spend the interest, so it just keeps compiling. Now that it is just Peter and I all of it comes to us. Bella, it is a lot of money, but what you have to understand is that neither Peter nor I could give a shit about money. We would both gladly give every penny up to have our parents back. So when you said you missed your parents, believe me, I understand. I just feel that you need to know what you are getting into. You asked me before why Peter and Charlotte had not married; the money is the reason. Charlotte is terrified that people will think she is after the money which is absurd; she cares about that even less than we do. Bella what I am saying is that it is very intimidating even to us and it does mean that we do have to be more aware of certain things because of it. I love you and I really hope that this doesn't scare you off, but you have the right to know."

"Jasper, the money doesn't matter. I have to be honest with you. I already knew. I found..."

"What? You knew?" She didn't just say that did she? I stared at her with my mouth hanging open.

"You already knew? When did you know?" Jesus my chest was tightening, I couldn't breathe. Oh God, Peter is going to flip his shit. Wait, when the fuck did she know?

"Did you know when we met? Did you know before you quit your damn job, is that why you quit your job?" Oh fuck, was this a game to her? No not Bella, no fuckin' way, please God don't let this whole thing have been about money, please. I don't think I could handle it if she doesn't really love me.

"What? No jackass, I quit my job because my boss told me that the only way I could transfer to San Francisco was if I fucked him. You bastard."

Bella stormed into the house and slammed the bathroom door behind her.

Jesus, what have I done? Could I be any more of a dick? Of course she wasn't with me for the money. Fucking Peter, filling my head with shit about being careful, girls will use you bullshit, all my damn life. She already knew about the money and she didn't care, how the hell could I be such an ass?

The damn stress worrying about how she would handle this information had me so worked up for weeks that I snapped when she said that she knew. I automatically assumed the worst and I just crushed her. The best thing that ever happened to me and I just destroyed her trust. I did the only thing I could and went after her.

"Bella, please, let me in. I am so sorry, please Bella, please. I'm an ass, I know that. Please let me apologize. Bella, please, I have never ever had to tell anyone that and I have been a wreck about it for weeks. I know it's no excuse but I freaked when you said you already knew. Please, please forgive me. Bella, at least let me in."

The tears were rolling down my cheeks as I sunk to the ground against the door. I fought the urge to hit the wall and clung desperately to the hope that she would be able to forgive me. What I just accused her of was so damn out of line.

Wait, her boss did what?

"Bella, open the damn door, what the hell did your asshole boss do?"

I heard the lock turn on the door and I jumped up and through the door. I held her tight and cried, kissing the top of her head.

"God Bella, there are no words for how sorry I am. That was so uncalled for."

"Jasper, I've already forgiven you. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for you to have to tell me that. I want you to know that I didn't know until just recently. Rose recognized you when you came into the bar and she showed me a magazine article of my sexy most eligible bachelor. She knows me better than I know myself and she made me admit to her how I felt about you and that nothing would change that and then she showed me the article.

I admit that I freaked out a bit but then she challenged me telling me I was a hypocrite because I had just admitted that nothing would change the fact that I was in love with you. Honestly, she did us both a favor. I'm sorry I didn't say anything but I thought you needed to tell me yourself and I knew you would. If you didn't tell me this week, I was going to tell you I knew. I didn't want to keep anything from you."

"God, I love you. Now, what the hell was that last part about your boss?"

"Yeah, sorry, that wasn't the way I wanted to tell you." Her eyes hit the floor and she looked so nervous wringing her fingers together.

"Are you ok? He didn't touch you did he?"

"I'm fine. He tried, but I kneed him and told him to fuck himself, quit and walked out."

"Um, wow. I'm impressed." My little tiger. Was it wrong that the thought of her defending herself made her even hotter?

"Yeah, the best part is that the HR Manager called after I ignored several of his voicemails and I am getting paid until the first of the year, the bar exam and my review class paid for and a glowing letter of recommendation which I already have and I got it all in writing."

"Well damn, remind me not to mess with you. But I'll still kick his ass if you want me to." I smiled at her and half hoped she'd agree.

"Yeah great, then he'd be suing you just because of the dollar signs, I don't think so."

"Come here and let me take care of you darlin'." Just then I realized that she was covered in only a towel and was still damp from the still running shower.

Pulling my shirt over my head and stalking her back towards the shower while I undid my jeans she finally got the idea.

I peeled the towel off of her glorious body and dropped it to the floor lifting her into the shower. Taking my sweet time I lathered her hair in her freesia shampoo and worked conditioner through from the roots to the ends massaging her scalp and neck. I placed kisses up and down her neck tilting her head back to rinse the conditioner from her hair and moved my hands down to her shoulders to massage the stress that knotted her muscles.

My poor angel, what must she have been thinking the past couple weeks. The tension in her body was apparent now that I actually took the time to treat her the way she deserved. It seemed I could find a hundred ways from Sunday to mess things up and she just kept forgiving me. Tonight I would treasure her the way I would vow to for all eternity.

Caressing her body with her scented body wash I took the time to linger over each part of her body working out the soreness and the fatigue that seemed to make its way into even her toes. Her lower back flinched under my thumbs and took its time to loosen and respond to my ministrations. Bella moaned and squirmed with each new muscle group I worked. By the time I finished massaging her entire body under the warm water she melted into my chest and pulled my arms around her waist tucking her head under my chin. We let the warmth cover us for ages until the water eventually began to cool.

I turned the shower off and wrapped her in a clean towel and carried her to bed where I rubbed lotion into her exposed skin. She fell asleep with a smile and I covered her with the sheet kissing her head.