A/N: Hello everyone! First of all, let me say a huge thanks to the awesome response the last chapter got. Right after I posted it, my hard drive crashed and I lost my computer for two weeks. when I got it back, I was thrilled to see all the reviews and I have been trying to push out this chapter to get it out sooner than later. I had lost most of what I wrote for this chapter originally, but I think the end product is better now. I hope you all enjoy! :)
The car ride home was a introspective one for the most part, at least for Bella. To say that Bella had needed to come to terms with certain realities was an understatement. The truth was, that no matter how much she wished it, she was most likely never going to get her Edward back again. And if she did, she knew that things were never going to be quite the same.
So now, what Bella needed to decide, was what to do about the future. Does she keep blindly searching for answers, putting possibly Peter and Charlotte in danger? Does she stop looking all together and perhaps try to pick up the pieces of her life and move on? Or does she keep up the search, but try to be content in the meantime, living her life?
What would Edward want? What would Alice want? What would the Cullens want?
Bella wrapped her arms around her legs in the passenger seat, anxious to get home to Wyoming. It was funny; she realized that there was not a precise moment that stuck out to her on when it was that it truly felt like home. But she turned to look at the man that was sitting next to her and was aware that it had to do with him.
No matter what happened from this point going forward, Jasper would always be an integral part of her life. She knew whenever she was in his presence, where ever that was would still feel like home, even if she was three thousand miles away.
She smiled slightly for the first time in two days at the thought, comforted that he would always be there for her, just as she would always be there for him. She cocked her head a little, turning in the direction of the male vampire, watching as his eyes were focused on the slushy road ahead of them.
"What's wrong, Bella?"
"Nothing." And she meant it. Granted, there were plenty of things wrong of course, but at the moment, she was finally coming to terms with what this all meant. She was adjusting the way that she finally needed to.
"You look like you want to say something." Jasper looked at her concerned, a look that they often gave each other.
She smiled slightly at him. "Well, I was thinking... since we have been at Wyoming for a few months, I was possibly considering painting my room? If it is alright with you of course."
Jasper paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. She thought she may have insulted him. After all, he had taken care of decorating each room carefully, injecting his personality in each room.
Jasper then pulled the car over to the side of the road, cutting the engine. He turned his full attention to Bella. "You really want to paint the room?"
Bella looked down for a brief moment before daring to meet his eyes. "If it's okay with you. That house is my home now. But I understand if you don't want me too. I mean you put so much time into that house..."
Jasper leaned over, wrapping her in his arms. "There is nothing I would love more. I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to do make that room your own."
Jasper immediately made a detour to Home Depot, picking up all the supplies. It was nice to talk about something other than Edward, Alice, and the Pack.
Three hours later, Bella was humming along to music, her brush moving up and down the wall at an almost human pace. She understood why painting was a hobby that was so alluring to Esme; as a vampire, they did so much at an accelerated pace. But painting, if you did it too quickly, the paint would end up everywhere and you need to start all over again. Taking your time ensured that the job was done right.
Bella felt almost relaxed with Jasper and her painting. She was looking forward to the end result of the room, having a fresh start, metaphorically speaking. They listened to the radio, listening to an old oldies station that played nothing but music from the fifties and sixties. They both had a similar appreciation for that time periods music, and she hummed along to the music, focusing on the wall in front of her, envisioning the end product. Perhaps, she would even buy some new items for the room, although, truth be told, she loved the items that Jasper had put in it already.
She turned to where Jasper was painting. She couldn't help but admire the nice fitting grey graphic t-shirt and faded boot cut jeans he had on. She smiled, this room was her fresh start, but this entire house had been his. Jasper had changed so much over the years, and this house was the beginning of the transformation from the vampire he was, to the one that stood before her, painting, now.
Bella turned back to focus on her wall. Yes, a fresh outlook was just what she needed. As she went to stroke the wall again, Bella felt a tiny drop of paint land on her t-shirt and sighed. She did not understand know how, even as a vampire, a vampire who was being overly cautious nonetheless; she still managed to get paint on herself. But after all, this was Bella. She chalked it up that she would never have the grace of Alice or Rosalie.
Then she looked down and noticed the color of the paint.
Bella's paint was close to a Hershey Chocolate color; it was covering the east and north walls. This paint however, was a decidedly cream colored paint. The same color that Jasper was intentionally focusing all his attention on in the small space in front of him. Bella glared at Jasper pointedly and his eyes shifted in her direction ever so slightly, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Oh, you are going to get it Jasper Whitlock. Very funny." Bella dipped her paintbrush casually in the can and flung a bit of paint in retaliation, just enough to mark his shirt with several marks of brown.
"I liked this shirt, Bella." His smirk turned into a full out grin. It was no surprise when his paintbrush was in the air, heading towards the petite woman. Bella dodged it just barely, her brown colored wall smudged with a long streak of cream.
"Missed me. Now I have to paint that section all over again." Her brow furrowed as Bella moved at inhuman speed towards the other vampire, hand up in the air, ready to strike. Jasper's hand shot up, clasping her wrist in his hand, stopping it mere millimeters from its intended goal; Jasper's cheek. Bella paused, suddenly very aware of how close her and Jasper were.
Jasper's voice was low. "I wouldn't do that, Darlin'"
The mood in the air had shifted dramatically with their new found closeness. As Bella tried to jerk away, Jasper tightened his grip on her wrist and his other hand grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. Bella could barely think; her mind unconsciously letting go of the paintbrush that was in her hand. The brush fumbled through the air, only to land with a large clang on the floor, paint splattering the both of them.
Neither of them noticed; Jasper's fingers dug into her skin at her waist, lifting up the green fabric of her shirt enough to expose her skin. Bella could focus only on holding back a moan as his hand softly traced the outline of her exposed hipbone, sending tingles up her spine at the contact. She gently bit her lip, her eyes never breaking contact with his.
His other hand released her wrist, fingers running down her arm, deliciously pausing over the side swell of her breast, before finally moving his hand to rest on the other hipbone.
Bella swallowed hard, trying not to concentrate on the fact that this was the most skin to skin contact that her and Jasper had ever shared. It was impossible not to fixate on the way his fingers massaged her skin, the way Bella felt on fire where his hands touched her. There was nothing she could do to prevent her desire that was quickly permeating the room completely. She bit her lip harder, staring at him for answers, wondering how it was that she could want him so much, so much more than she had ever desired Edward.
Jasper leaned in, his southern voice ragged, "Lower your shield Darlin'. Please."
Her shield was what had protected her, had allowed her to deny the truth that was so obviously in front of her. If he couldn't feel what she felt, then it wasn't real. But the bottom line was, there was no denying this any longer. No denying what was now standing directly in front of her, waiting all this time.
And so for the first time in months, she consciously lowered her shield in front of Jasper Whitlock.
What she was hit with was a desire so intense, so all consuming, that it would have literally brought her to her knees had Jasper not held her firmly in place. She couldn't help the exquisite cry that came from her mouth as she experienced everything Jasper felt for her; how every emotion mirrored her own, its intensity and depth just as great.
Bella knew this was it; there was no turning back this time, no way for her to say no and keep pretending that they did not feel this way any longer. She pressed into him, her eyes searching his. "Jasper..." she choked out.
His eyes were clouded over with desire, obsidian in color. His hands gripped her forcefully, his fingers digging in, pulling her even closer to him. Bella for the first time ever, felt the need that Jasper had for her as well, his very hard member pressing up against her stomach.
"Bella..." Jasper did not try to hide the desperation in his voice. "Tell me this is what you want."
Bella, with a shaky voice responded, "This is what I want Jasper."
Before another word could part her lips, Jasper's mouth decended on hers, crushing hers, giving in to the needs that haunted the both of them. Bella's body and mind exploded with the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck, urging him closer to her, opening her mouth to his.
Bella's taste of him for the first time exceeded every expectation, his tongue dancing with hers, the instant knowledge of how right this all felt bubbling up inside her.
Emotions swirled around the both of them like a tornado, consuming them whole. With Edward, every time together had been sweet and loving. But Bella was very much aware that there would be nothing sweet about their coupling, every primal need was rearing to the front. All she knew in that instant was that she needed to make this vampire in front of her hers, that she had denied herself far too long.
Jasper's mouth moved to crook of her neck, sucking and biting down on the forbidden flesh. She moaned loudly, relishing in feeling his mouth attack her porcelain skin. She wanted him to leave a permanent mark on her body, her body craved it almost as much as him. It was an insane feeling; something she had never wanted from Edward, no matter how much she loved him.
His hands roamed up her torso feverishly, ripping her bra in half before taking her formerly lace covered breasts in both hands, squeezing hard. Bella arched her back in response, fisting her fingers in his blond curls, pulling his face up to bring their lips together once again.
Jasper pulled away from Bella. "I hope you didn't like this shirt too much." Jasper half apologized as he ripped that article of clothing in half. He pushed off the already shredded bra as well, pulling back to take her in. "Beautiful." He murmured as if talking to himself.
She pulled his body tighter to her as his mouth lavished attention on her chest. Every caress and swept of his tongue made Bella even more aroused; she reached for him, her body aching to be as intimate with his as what he was able to do for hers. Jasper did not move, his hands only leaving her chest, to grab her ass, lifting her to wrap her legs around his body. He turned the both of them around, slamming her against the lone unpainted wall, his hardness pushing against her wet center, causing her to cry out.
"Jasper..." she whispered against his mouth, pressing her womanhood harder against his member, desperate for release, desperate for the feel of him inside her, completing her. "I need you inside me."
Jasper smiled against her lips at the cry of his name. "Patience, Darlin'." He murmured in return.
Bella, groaning in frustration, grabbed the bottom of his shirt haphazardly, in a vain attempt to remove the offensive piece of clothing from his body. She wanted to see all of him, touch his scars, let him know just how much she truly desired him. Bella almost never let her mouth leave his, during the attempt to shed his clothing, needing to taste him, touch him, thinking that she was going to wake up human and find that this was only a dream. She was rewarded when she pushed the shirt over his his head, leaving her free to explore his upper body.
It was muscular and well defined, and a low growl came from his chest when her lips traveled down his chest midway, before trailing back up, kissing his neck. Her teeth nipped at his earlobe and when her tongue slid into his left ear, Jasper tightened his grasp on her, his accent thick and sultry. "Bella, the things that you do to me."
He threw Bella over his shoulder and quickly retreated to his bedroom, laying Bella down on the soft mattress. He paused for a moment, his eyes intense as ever. "You look good in this bed- my bed." His fingers hooked her yoga pants she was wearing, and tortuously removed them inch by inch down her legs.
Bella wanted desperately to reciprocate; but Jasper stilled her hands with one of his own as she grabbed the button of his jeans. Uncertainty began to fill Bella, and Jasper looked up quickly, his face letting her know exactly how wrong she was. His voice was stern and commanding, and if it was even possible, she was turned on more. "Don't ever worry if I want you Isabella. Can't you feel how much I desire you?"
Jasper projected out a wave of lust of so strong, Bella arched her back again, screaming out his name, her womanhood throbbing from her need of him, on the brink of orgasm. He hadn't even touched her down there yet.
"Can't you feel how much I want you?"
Bella's eyes rolled back at the pleasure and groaned in frustration as another wave hit. She noticed that he had taken off his pants at some point and her body cried out more at seeing all of him. She wanted to pleasure him in every way possible, but she was too far gone at the moment. "Yes! Don't tease me. I'm begging you."
"I do love it when you beg." His hand snaked down her stomach, his fingers plunging into her, quickly filling her. She shook at his touch, sure that she was seeing spots. This is what she had needed all along. She had needed him. Only him. He pulled in and out expertly, his sexual experience of 150 years obvious to her. She felt herself getting close and took a deep breath, calming herself as much as possible in this situation.
"Jasper. Now!" She did not want her first orgasm with him to be on his hand, she wanted it to be while he was inside her. Bella had never been comfortable with her vampiric side, but she knew that it would never be complete until Jasper became one with her, mating with her.
Jasper, as always, understood and she knew in that moment he felt the same way. His face met hers in a fierce kiss, his hard, strong body hovering above hers. Bella squirmed underneath him. Jasper removed his hand to hold up his body, and with his other one, he caressed her face staring at her in the eyes. Something in his made her own whelm with happy tears. "Can't you feel it? Can't you feel how much you have consumed my every thought, my every need? You are my mate, Bella and I am yours."
And with that, Jasper projected love towards her, crushing her, enveloping her. It was the most intense moment of her life, of that she was certain. Bella's eyes rolled into the back of her head, her body desperately trying to come to terms with the strength of all the emotions that were thrown at her.
She reached up, taking his lips again. Jasper pulled away, positioning himself at Bella's entrance. She could practically feel him throbbing outside of her; the anticipation more than the both of them could bear. With a look that could only be described as possessive, Jasper thrust himself inside her full tilt.
Bella threw her head back and screamed in pleasure. It was perfect; she was complete and she needed more. She rocked up against him, and Jasper pushed himself inside, harder and deeper with each pulled him down on top of her, wanting the full contact of his body against hers.
It was amazing; feeling every muscle of his hard body against the softness of her more feminine one. In that moment, they were of one body, one mind. Each plunge more forceful than the last; each kiss more passionate.
Bella was no longer in coherent thought, instead her instincts kicked in, acknowledging what Jasper had already confirmed. "Bite me, Jasper."
Jasper grunted, his movements becoming quicker, more erratic. Bella writhed in the pleasure that he brought her, but her voice leaving no room for interpretation that she was nothing but serious.
"Mark me. I want to be marked by you Jasper."
Jasper's eyes shot up, his eyes clouded over by lust at that those words. He nodded, and his body thrust three more times in to her. With the last thrust, he pulled her body to his roughly and bit down at that perfect flesh at the crook of her neck, the same area Bella had previously wished him to bite.
With the bite, Bella let go, her orgasm taking over her. Her screams matching Jasper's before she collapsed onto him. It was then she noticed the pain of the venom. It was a fierce pain, one that Bella would gladly suffer again, knowing that Jasper's mark would always be there on her. Her vampire was for the first time in its existence, sexually sated, and she let out a purr at the coupling that they just experienced.
Jasper slowly released his grasp on Bella, placing light kisses over her body, taking extra time on where he marked her, worshipping it as he pulled out of her. Bella instantly missed the feel of him, her body reaching out to his. Jasper cupped her face with both hands, kissing her lips softly and lovingly.
Bella smiled against his lips this time, burying the inevitable guilt that she would feel later deep down inside her. She would worry about that later. Right now, she wanted to enjoy what she had finally given into, what her body and mind had been telling her all along, but she had been to stubborn to see.
Jasper was her mate.
A/N: They finally gave in. I think most are going to be happy, some are going to be disappointed they didn't wait longer, and the rest, well, they think it should have happened in Chapter 3! I really hope you all enjoyed it. I did not have the best day today, but I thought that by finally finishing this, a few reviews might cheer me up some.
Till next time! ~~Jenn~~