DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF

S. MEYER'S CHARACTERS… UNFORTUNATELY.

I JUST PLAY WITH THEM.

Blood In The Snow Chapter 9

Previously:

Edward pulls back slightly to look at me. "Jasper…" He rests his forehead on mine, his eyes closed. "I want you so badly. But, I think we may have something special here and I don't want to risk it by rushing into a physical relationship." He kisses me on the nose, smiling. "Can we take this slowly?"

"I think I'd like that. I sigh in relief. "I feel it, too."

He pulls me close, kissing the side of my neck, down to my collarbone. I moan at the sensations running through me. I can feel him smile against my skin. How did I get so lucky? Not only to survive the Volturi, but to be found and cared for by such a special man…

EPOV

We snuggle on the chaise, just watching the snow drifting down, content to be close. Fingers lightly stroke warm, quivering skin, gently exploring, caressing, soothing. Soft whispers, breath clouding in the frigid air, tickling ears, necks. The world becomes just this covered deck, this chaise… the mountain in the distance our protecting sentinel.

Jasper moves even closer to me, one leg draped over mine. My arms tighten around him, pulling him even closer. "Mmmm…baby…" I bury my nose in the little hollow at the base of his ear, breathing in his delicious scent. He shivers and I feel his fingertips softly gliding down my chest, leaving a scorching trail on my skin. The tip of my tongue peeks out to taste him. "Oh, god…. Jasper…", I moan into his neck. His hand reaches up, gently bringing my lips to his. He softly brushes his lips on mine, stilling for a moment, then the tip of his tongue slips out to run along my bottom lip, asking for entrance. Without thinking, I part my lips, welcoming him in. Our tongues stroke each other, savoring our flavors. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this man.

Time slips away as we cuddle on the deck. The snow continues to fall, but we stay nice and cozy under the blanket. Neither of us feels the need to fill the silence with unnecessary words.
It's like our very souls are joining and we don't need words. My eyes are closed… hmm… did I drift off? I peek out under my lashes to see a beautiful, very amused pair of glittering blue eyes watching me.

"Hi, sleepy head." Jaspers grins at me.

"Hi." I can't help but reach up to stroke his cheek. "How long was I asleep?"

"Have no idea." His grin got even bigger. "Just woke up myself." He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss, then looked out over the deck rail, in to the twilight. "Looks like it's been a while, though."

Tightening my hold on him, I nuzzle his chest. I really don't want to let go, but we should probably get up and move around, get the blood circulating again. "Guess we should go back inside and get warmed up, huh?"

He nods and climbs out of the chaise, dragging the blanket with him, wrapping it around his body, leaving me completely without.

"Hey!"

I lunge for him trying to get hold of the blanket, but he dances out of reach, giggling and racing me for the door.

I nearly fall on my face trying to get out of the chaise and catch that little devil. I can't help but laugh at him. It makes my heart swell with happiness to see him so carefree. I'd do anything to keep my love so happy. Wait… my love? I sit on the edge of the chaise for a minute thinking. Is it possible? Could I really love him so quickly? I have to admit to myself, yea, I do. I can't imagine my world without him. Oh man… I could be in deep trouble. I know he feels something for me, too… so… I'll just see what happens, I guess.

I hop up off the chaise and follow Jasper into the house. He's nowhere in sight, but I can hear his giggles in the next room. Stalking around the corner, I see him standing behind the couch, grinning at me. Crouching, I begin to stalk him, an evil grin on my face, hands out like claws.

His eyes get wide and for just a second he looks worried, then he sees the sparkle in my eyes. I pounce at him and he shrieks and runs for the stairs. "No…no… Edward!" He drops the blanket before it tangles around his feet. "There! You can have it!" He dodges around a chair as I get closer and closer, not saying a word, just grinning at him. I manage to cut off his escape route up the stairs and he scampers in to the kitchen. I can hear doors banging. Now the question is, is he hiding in the walk-in pantry, did he go down into the basement, or… did he go out on to the deck planning to circle around and come back in the living room once I'm out of here? Crouching low, I slink into the kitchen. The basement door is locked, so I know he's not down there. Slowly, I reach out for the doorknob on the pantry door. I yank it open, but he's not there either. Well… he's gone out on the deck. As I open the door to the deck, I hear him come back in through the living room. He's trying to be quiet, but I can hear him mumbling at Alec to get out of his way.

Closing the door, I ease around the corner to peer in the living room. Alec seems to think that this is a wonderful new game, and by golly, he wants in on it! I can't help but laugh. Jasper is desperately trying to get Alec to stop jumping on him and getting in his way, but the silly animal thinks it's all part of the game.

"Alec… no… stop it." Jasper tries to sound stern as he whispers. Alec winds around him, pushing him toward the couch. As he's pushed backwards, his legs hit the edge of the couch and he falls onto it. Alec takes advantage and proceeds to cover his face with kisses, climbing up to lay across his chest. "Alec!" He tries to fend him off, but Alec is much too talented and persistent.

Laughing so hard I can hardly stand, I manage to make my way into the living room. "I think Alec wins this round."

Jasper looks over at me, pleading, "Help me", his giggles at Alec never stopping.

Moving to the couch, I grab Alec's collar and pull him off Jasper. "Enough, you silly hound!" Alec sits by the couch, just waiting for the game to start again… eyes dancing. "That's all. Go on, now." I point to the kitchen and he reluctantly slinks off into the other room. I collapse on the couch next to Jasper. "Nothing he likes better than a good game and he's pretty sure you made that one up just for him!" I laugh.

"Maybe he does, but he cheats!" He sat up, wiping his face with his sleeve. "And he's messy." He gets up, heading for the bathroom. "I've got to go and wash my face. I'm covered in dog slobber!" He laughs.

"Are you getting hungry?" I call out to him.

"Yea, I could eat. After I wash!"

"I'll see what looks good." I went in the kitchen to see what I could find to fix for us.

JPOV

Looking in the mirror as I washed Alec off my face, I realized I looked happy. My eyes were shining, I was smiling and I looked relaxed. It has been so long since this reflection has looked back at me. I'd almost forgotten how I could look. I never want to leave here; I don't want to go back to the world. I am going to enjoy my time with Edward as long as I can. I'll worry about the rest when spring thaws out the roads and we have to get back to real life.

Wandering down the hallway, I see Alec go tearing across the deck, out into the yard. Shaking my head at him, I walk in to the kitchen to the most wondrous sight. Edward… bent over looking in the refrigerator… jeans pulled tight around the most delicious ass I've ever seen. I had to just stand there for a few minutes, admiring him and then covertly adjusted my swelling cock. He must have sensed me standing here. He turned and grinned at me. Oops… caught ogling him. I shrugged and grinned back at him.

"See something you like?" He smirked at me, looking me up and down. I'm sure he could see the bulge in my jeans.

"Actually… yup." I grin at him.

"Good to know." He reached in the refrigerator and pulled out two covered containers, holding them up. "Left over roast and veggies or BBQ pork?"

The instant 'roast' left Edward's mouth, mine began to water. "Roast. I haven't a good roast in forever!" My mom used to fix the 'Sunday dinner pot roast' every week. I missed that.

"Roast it is." He slid the container into the microwave to heat and started pulling out plates and flatware from the cabinets.

We enjoyed dinner and worked together to clean up afterwards. I couldn't help wash the dishes with my cast, but I could bring things to the sink and help clear up.

After we finished, we decided to spend a quiet evening watching a movie or two. Dozing through most of the second movie, we decided to call it a night. Edward checked all the doors to be sure the placed was locked up for the night.

I go on upstairs to start getting ready for bed. I hope he will share the bed with me again tonight. Actually, I hope he'll share it with me for as long as we are together. I try to tell myself that this is just a temporary haven and that with the spring, I'll have to leave. And he probably doesn't have as strong a feeling for me as I have for him. I know we both admitted to feelings, but… what I feel for this man is more than just 'strong feelings'. I know it's crazy, but I love him. I have no doubt. I thought I loved Peter, but I never felt this for Peter. Shit. What if he doesn't feel the same way for me? Can I just be his friend? Or friends with benefits? At this point, I'll take what I can get.

Edward comes upstairs and into the room. "Mind if I sleep in here with you tonight?"

My heart leaps in my chest. "Of course not." I slide over, making room for him, raising the covers.

Edward settles in and turns on his side to face me. Reaching out, he pulls me close to him, softly brushing his lips to mine. "Goodnight, Jasper. Sweet dreams."

"Night, Edward." Moving a bit closer, I return his gentle kiss. He turns and snuggles back into my chest, sighing. As I reach out to turn off the lamp, I think I hear him mumble…"love you…." But it's so soft I'm not sure. I whisper, "love you, too."

A/N: Yeah, I know... a lot of fluff. But hey, they need some down time.

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