Disclaimer: We do NOT own Twilight. But we do enjoy fucking with Edward.

Dark Salvation

AN: WHAT the hell happened to Edward? Don't we ALL want to know? Well, here you go… Oh and thanks to the 167 of you that kicked ass with reviewing last chapter!

Edward POV (chapter 19)


I smiled as I looked over at Bella. The sun was just rising and peeking in the window, illuminating her sleeping face. Ahhh…Wednesday morning, time for my run with…oh…that's right, Jasper isn't here.

Don't let that stop you, Edward, run anyway. I smiled at the thought. Just because Jasper wasn't here, didn't mean I couldn't go for my run. And the two of us had missed the one on Saturday morning, I didn't want to get out of the habit.

I smiled and stood, dressing quickly in my running clothes. I grabbed my gym bag, stowing my wrinkle-free khakis and a button-down to wear at work, plus some clean under things into the bag. I kissed Bella and said, "Love, time to get up."

"Five more minutes?" She asked sleepily. The gravel in her voice went straight to my cock, and I knew if I ditched my run, she and I could have one last tryst before work. But already my body felt better from the maintenance I'd been keeping with Jasper as my guide. I needed to keep this up.

"You can rest a few more moments. The alarm is still set. I'm going for my run."

Her eyes opened. "Jasper isn't here."

I nodded. "I know, but I feel better when I start the morning with my run. Plus, it will be easier for me to keep to my routine if I don't lag while he's gone."

She pouted out her lip sexily. "Okay, I'll miss you, tiger."

I grinned and kissed her again. "I'll miss you too, you little wild animal."

She gave me a sexy little growl and I shook my head. "If you are good, I'll come and fuck you on my father's desk again. You know he'll probably have a meeting this afternoon…"

She laughed throatily. "You're a bad boy, Edward Cullen. I like it."

I winked at her. "I know you do. I'll see you later, alright?"

She nodded, and I grabbed my bag, blowing her a kiss and giving her the American Sign Language sign for "I love you". She returned it and I walked out the door.

My mind seemed to go on auto-pilot as I drove toward Jasper's house. Last night was phenomenal and I re-lived part of it as I drove. My cock was hard and dripping by the time I pulled into Jasper's driveway. My hand itched to travel down to it, to caress it and get myself off with the thoughts of what Bella and I had done, all we'd said, but I took a deep breath and stepped from the car.

I stretched and started with a slow jog. I rounded the lake and smiled. Well, if Jasper and I can't be together for our jog, at least I'll leave him a voicemail and let him know I'm thinking of him. I pulled my phone out of my bag and hit my speed dial number two.

It rang twice before I heard one of the greatest sounds in the world; "Hello, Edward."

I took a breath and said, "Jasper? I didn't think I'd reach you! I figured I'd get your voicemail. How are you?" Pause. Nothing. "Jasper? Hello?" I glanced at my phone. Well, shit, I'd lost the call. Damn it. I dialed it again. "Jasper?"

"Edward! You scared the shit out of me! What the hell are you doing?"

Was I not supposed to call? All of my "sub" insecurities came back to me in that moment. "I…uh…I'm going for our Wednesday morning run. I'm sorry, I just thought I'd leave you a voicemail and let you know I was thinking about you…I came out to your lake, I hope you don't mind, I parked in your driveway and…" Fuck! You're rambling, Cullen!

But to my surprise, he laughed. "Edward. I'm so glad to hear from you, really, I am."

I smiled. "Are you having a good trip, sir?"

"None of that 'sir' crap. We're friends on a phone call, right?"

Okay, that was odd…but I went with it and my smile grew. "So we are. Are you having a good time?"

A pause. "Somewhat. I have to admit, it's nice to hear a voice from home, though."

I slowed my steps a bit. "I'm not interrupting anything…am I?" Not that I really wanted to think of him being…busy with anyone, but I didn't want to be rude or anything.

"No, not at all. I'm sight-seeing right now, doing a bit of souvenir shopping, actually."

"So…you can't take a run with me?" I asked.

He laughed once more, and it sounded like angels singing. To think…I only felt that way when I heard Bella laugh. Now, Jasper had easily wormed his way into my heart. No, it wasn't love, but perhaps it was more than just lust, just…desire. Only time would tell that.

"Well, I guess I can, Edward. Luckily I have on some decent shoes…"

I laughed too. "Race ya?"

He paused. "No, let's just take our time, pace ourselves, okay?"

So, we did. We ran together. I had my Bluetooth with me, and I guess Jasper did too. "I told Bella everything." I said.

"You did?" He asked, surprised.

I nodded, then, remembering he couldn't see me, said, "Yes, I'm afraid so."

"And how did it go?" He asked tentatively.

I cringed. "It could have been worse."

"That good, huh?" He teased.

I snorted. "Well, I'll admit, it surprised me how well she did take it actually. Oh, speaking of which…thank you for the box of goodies."

"You've tried things out, I take it?"

I grinned. "We didn't find it until last night. Needless to say, we didn't go to my mother's turkey dinner…"

He laughed. "Edward, I'm very glad. So, you and Bella have…what? Discussed this fully? She has full disclosure?"

"Yes, I didn't…once I got started, I couldn't lie to her about anything. I didn't give her a lot of information, but I did tell her what may very well come of the future…"

"And she was…receptive?"

"Quite. In fact, she wanted to know when she could…" I couldn't say it. I would never ask her to join in. That is off limits. It was one thing to be with Jasper in this way, but it was quite another to ask Bella do the same. The thought made me a bit angry, anyway. I don't share.

"She wants to join in?" Jasper accurately guessed.

"Yes, and I told her no."

"Why?"

My mouth fell open and my steps faltered. "Excuse me?"

"Why, Edward? Surely you would enjoy that…"

"I will not have my wife enter into any…contracts, Jasper. She is an innocent in this."

"I didn't realize we were at war." He said coolly.

"Damn it, that wasn't what I meant. She…she's this sweet, little, naïve, innocent, girl next door. She doesn't belong in this world."

"And you do?" He asked me fiercely. "You have no fucking idea what any of this really is, Edward. What we're doing? It's all fun and games by comparison to the shit that actually goes down. You're a little boy playing with fire, Cullen. Are you sure you're willing to get burned?"

"I am, sir." I emphasized.

He chuckled flatly. "Fine, if you're willing. I think we may need to take things to the next level, Edward, when I return. You have...experimented with the toys I sent?"

I thought back to last night. After our foray with the chocolate trifle, I'd sent her upstairs and grabbed the butt plug. It looked small, practically harmless. And I had enjoyed it immensely. Bella had been very receptive of using it on me, and truthfully? I think it got her all the more excited. After that, she had ran downstairs and returned with a few other things, and we'd experimented with those as well. I hadn't worked up to the largest of the toys Jasper had sent, but I was more than willing to try. "Yes, sir, and I hope to again tonight as well."

"Good, Edward, I'm pleased. Did you enjoy it?"

I felt my breathing get short and my dick hardening with the question. "Yes."

"Did you imagine it was me playing with you?"

I swallowed. "Yes…"

"Did you long for me to be buried, balls deep into you?"

I let out a little whimper. "God, yes."

"Good." And with that, he resumed a completely normal conversation. Damn him. It was rather…difficult to run with a woody.

So, we talked, just bullshitted mostly, like friends would for the rest of the run. There was no Dom/sub in our conversation now, just two men that happened to have quite a bit in common.

Finally, I made my way back to his house. "I guess I need to go…" I said, not able to hide the sadness in my voice.

He sighed. "Yes, me too. But I'll be home in only a few days. You are still planning on picking me up from the airport, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. Will…Seth be with you?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't have his itinerary with me. He may be coming in with a friend of mine."

I blew out a small breath of relief. Hopefully it will be just Jasper and I…I had missed him. His flavor, the sun tea he always drank mixed with his own unique taste. I missed the hardened plains of his body against my own. I missed the conversations we'd have as we ran, and I missed the spankings, the way my flesh would feel like it was on fire, abolishing me of my sins.

"So, I'll see you on Friday, then, Edward."

"Yes, sir," I said sadly. "I need to go. I need to shower at the hospital…"

"Nonsense. You're already at my house; just feel free to go on in."

"I don't have a key, sir."

I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Go to the back door, and look for the thermometer. It's a hidden key box. It has a keypad on it."

I made my way over to it and lifted it. I could see the keypad. "Okay."

"The combination is 62778."

I put the code in and opened it. Inside was a key. "Got it."

"Alright. Use the same code to turn off the alarm, then, when you leave, just type the code back in."

"Alright, thank you, Jasper."

"Thank you, Edward, for calling. I'll see you soon."

"I can't wait," I whispered before hitting the button, ending the call.

I walked around to the front of the house, grabbed my bag, and made my way back to the door. I unlocked it and put the code in. 62778. Why does that remind me of something? Hmm…oh well.

The house was eerily quiet as I slipped off my sneakers at the door, throwing my socks on top of them. I stretched once more before heading to Jasper's bathroom. Hopefully he wouldn't mind me using his shower…

I laid out my clothes on his bed, gulping when I realized that was the last place we were…together. My mind drifted back to all the touches, the kisses, the feel of his body next to mine and my cock automatically grew.

I shut my eyes and sighed. I stripped naked and turned on the shower. Huh…wonder if I could just look around a minute? Surely Jasper wouldn't mind…

I made my way down the hall to the guest room or the "training room" I guess it was. I noticed the dresser and went to it, randomly opening drawers. In the first drawer, there was the box that I knew held his rings. I wanted to know how many he had, how many he had given out, but wasn't sure I really wanted to know the answer to that question. Instead, I shut that one firmly and opened the next drawer.

And oh, holy shit. There were all kinds of bags, which it only took me picking up one to know what was in them. Dildos, vibrators, all shapes and sizes, colors, some were just plain-Jane, some were ones that had funny little ends on them, some were three-pronged, some were double-sided…I'd hit the fucking mother load. I closed that drawer and opened another one.

This, too, had toys in it, though, they looked to be much smaller, and also, most of them were in bags. I saw a variety of those little bullet things along with butt plugs and a string of beads, which, I could only assume were anal beads. Wow. There were things that looked like clamps too, along with a kit that when I opened it, had needles inside it. Weird. I put that back, closed the drawer and opened the one above it again.

My cock twitched and I thought…should I? Would he mind if I…? I picked up one bag, feeling the gadget inside it. It felt like it was roughly the size of a small penis and I thought, hell with it, I'm surrounded by the scent of Jasper, I'm turned on, horny as fuck…I grabbed a tube of lube that was sitting on the top of the dresser and a condom from the basket next to it, and carried my supplies back to Jasper's bathroom.

The steam was thick as I stepped inside. I washed off under the spray quickly, lathering myself in Jasper's body wash, washing my hair with his shampoo. Once his scent was all around me, my dick was aching with need even more so than before, eagerly dripping with precum.

I grabbed the small dildo and slipped the condom on it, lubing it up. I sat on the small stone seat he had built into the wall and worked up my courage. Okay, Cullen, you can do this. The plastic cock was larger and harder than the plug Bella had used on me last night, but I wanted to do this, I wanted it to be Jasper entering me. And the only way he would do that, was if I was prepared for him.

I pumped my cock hard a few times, getting myself prepared. I relaxed my body and imagined myself with Jasper there. He was sitting behind me, his cock hard against me as I rested in his lap. "You like that, don't you?" He whispered into my ear as his hand brushed my cock. His teeth bit at the skin of my shoulder.

"Yes…" I moaned.

"Are you ready?" He asked brazenly.

"Yes!" I panted.

I felt him teasing my entrance, gently probing. I relaxed my body all the more as I felt him tentatively press my entrance. "Jasper…" I whined.

I felt him pressing, pressing, pressing, until he was inside. "FUCK!" I cried, my body almost orgasming from the sensation of being filled.

"Ahhh…my little boy likes that, doesn't he? You're such a good boy, such a good pet, Edward." He moved in and out of me slowly, timing his thrusts as his hand palmed my cock, pumping it.

The steam continued to swirl around us as he pumped into me. I was determined to hold off, though, to be a good sub and not cum like a virgin, though, that's exactly what I was. No one had done this with me before…

He continued to move in and out of me, our movements growing choppy as our releases came quickly. "Ung…Edward…you have the tightest ass…your cock is so hard…"

"For you, Master." I told him. "Only for you. You feel so good fucking me…your cock is hard for me, thank you, Master. Thank you for fucking me…feels so good…"

He let out a long moan as his hand gripped my cock roughly. He tugged just as he cried out, pulling me over the edge as he filled me.

I was panting as I shot my load across the stone, the milky white fluid mixing with the water going down the drain. "Fuck, fuck, shit…" I muttered. My hands were shaking as I came down from my high. Fuck…and I knew; knew it deep down, that being with Jasper would be better than any fantasy I could dream up.

Five hours later, I was coming out of my third cholecystectomy in a row when my father caught me in the hall. "Edward!"

I stopped and turned to him, handing the chart to one of the nurses. "Hey, what's up?"

His face was grave, and for a moment, my whole world spun on its axis. "What?"

"Son…come with me, will you? I have a case I need your help with."

I blew out a breath. "Dad! Can you not scare the shit out of me? I thought somebody had died or something…"

He winced and I stopped. "Is everyone okay? God, Mom? Bella? Rose? Em?"

"They're all fine, Edward, but I don't want this getting out, okay? Just, come with me…we're taking a drive."

My eyebrow rose. "A drive? I have a Trichobezoar excision in an hour."

"Really?" He asked, interested.

I nodded. It wasn't often we got a human hairball in, and I was lucky enough to have diagnosed it straight away while I was doing my time in the pit. The other residents were chomping at the bit, but our chief resident had informed everyone that unless I was dead, I was helping her with the surgery. Yes, I was crowing a little bit… "Bailey's having a cow. The other residents are pissed, but they'll get over it."

He laughed. "That chief resident is full of piss and vinegar, but she's a great person."

I smiled. I'd always enjoyed her. She took shit from no one, and gave none back. She was a straight player. "So…what's up?"

Dad shook his head and led me to his car. We drove to Emmett's office and quickly walked inside, heading for the conference room. "Dad. What are you…?" And then I heard the last voice I ever expected to hear again.

"Edward! I've missed you!"

Tanya. Fuck.

I took a breath, glared at my father, and smiled. "Tanya. Hello."

She stood from where she was sitting next to a rather attractive man and pulled me in for a hug. "It's so good to see you, Edward. I heard you got married."

I rubbed my wedding ring and smiled. "Yes, to Bella, she's wonderful."

"Bella? Is she a Disney Princess?" Tanya asked with that obnoxious giggle. Ugh…and to think I gave up my virginity to this.

"No, she's not, but she's a princess to me." I responded.

She smiled. "Oh, always the charmer!"

"What are you doing here, Tanya? Aren't you a big Hollywood star now?"

She paused, the smile falling off of her face briefly before it jumped back into place so fast I wondered if I'd imagined it. "Yes, I am. My latest movie just grossed a hundred million and it's still making money."

I nodded. That had been the movie Bella and Rose had gone to see a few weeks ago…the night Jasper and I had watched a movie, the night he touched me for the first time. Sure, it had been innocent, a neck massage…but still, it had…aroused me, even then. I cleared my throat. "Yes, I haven't gotten to see it, but Bella and my sister-in-law, Rosalie, did. They said it was terrific, that you'd done an excellent job."

She giggled again. "Thank you. I'm glad I'm approved by the women. A lot of them feel threatened by my looks…"

Ahhh, good old Tanya. She really hasn't changed. Vain to the fucking core. Just then, I heard, "Well, hell! It's old home week!"

"Emmett!" She cooed as she jumped up one more, diving into his arms quickly. "How are you doing? All you Cullen's just look better with age!"

Emmett held her out at arm's length. "I could say the same. Damn, you're beautiful." He eyed her. "You got your nose done, and cheek implants, didn't you?"

She smiled. "I'd heard you were as good as your father."

"You should have let me do it. I did let you have your first taste of beer."

"Yes, but it was your brother that took my virginity." She stated.

Emmett winked. "Only because I didn't get there first."

"She was jail bait for you, Em." I spoke up.

He grinned and sat next to me. "So she was. Too bad. I'm happily married now, got a baby on the way."

"How exciting!" She said. "Oh, this is my husband, Alexander."

I smiled at him. He was built similarly to Emmett, had that same sparkle of mischief in his eye, and I briefly wondered why Tanya even went for me, anyway. Huh, maybe she did always have a thing for Emmett. It would explain why she hung onto me the way she did.

We exchanged pleasantries before my father said, "Tanya, you wanted this to be informal…"

She nodded gravely. "Yes, I take it you've had a chance to look over my test results…?"

My brow furrowed. "Tests? What are you talking about?"

She swallowed hard. "I have cancer, Edward. Stage two colon cancer. The doctors are optimistic, but I wanted a second opinion. I've gotten one, and your chief resident is going to perform the bowel resection surgery this Friday."

"Tanya…I'm so sorry…" I started.

She shook her head. "I've been dealing with it. I'm young, healthy, I'll be fine, I know that, but I wanted something while I was under the knife anyway, I want breast augmentation. I want Carlisle and Emmett to do the surgery. And I want you to be there as well."

I blinked. "Huh?"

She smiled. "What better way? I trust no one like I trust the Cullen Boys. You will be there, won't you? I refuse to let you tell me 'no'."

Well fuck…so much for getting Jasper on Friday…

Friday morning I felt like a ten ton weight was on my shoulders. I was not thrilled with being in the surgery. "Bella, are you sure you don't mind picking Jasper up from the airport?" I asked, nervously.

She smiled. "Why would I mind, Edward?"

"Well, this will be the first time you'll have seen him since I…"

She shook her head and walked over to me, taking my chin in her hand. "Edward, I told you, I'm here for you. I'm not what one would call…happy about the situation, but I am trying to deal with it. If this is what you want, and you swear to me that you'll not stray aside from Jasper, I really have no choice. I love you and I want to be with you, and if you want me too…"

I shut her up by grasping her, kissing her roughly. "You know it's you I want." I told her.

She nodded. "Then I'll be on my best behavior."

"He may have…a friend with him. If so…"

"I know, I know, don't like, say, 'Hey, Jasper! Heard you like to fuck guys!' right?"

I winced. "Since when did you become so crude?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Since I started hanging out with Rosalie."

I rolled my eyes. "I hate I asked."

Her hand went out, palm up. "Now, are you going to let me drive the Volvo?"

I grimaced. Bella, God love her, but she had a dirty streak in her, and not the kind that was…fun. Her car was proof positive of that. She had books and mail and candy wrappers and water bottles strewn about her car. Her workout clothes may be in there, along with three to five sweaters where she would get cold, and then hot as the day progressed and forget to bring them into the house. My car was always spotless on the inside, the only thing ever staying there was an extra jacket for myself, and a blanket for her when the Seattle weather proved too cold for her when she rode with me.

I sighed and handed her my keys. She, in turn, deposited hers in my hand. "No talking shit about my baby." She said fondly of her car.

I sighed again. "Please try to remove the trash from mine today, okay?"

She shot me a look. "Fine. I've got to run into the office, but not to worry, I'll make sure to be at the airport on time."

I nodded and kissed her again. "I love you forever."

She smiled. "Love you forever, too."

I made it to the hospital with plenty of time to do my rounds before scrubbing in next to my father. "Son, care to tell me why there is a very pissed off secretary in my office?"

My brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Care to explain why Bella didn't know your past relationship to Tanya Denali?"

"Fuck…" I muttered. Great. Just what I fucking need. I took off my rings and looped them onto my chain before grabbing the scrub sponge.

"So," Emmett stated as he walked into the scrub room. I groaned, knowing nothing good would come of his big mouth. "Ready to see Tanya's tits again before I create a masterpiece with them?"

God…this was going to be one long assed surgery.

Bella POV

I don't know why Edward worries so much about me driving his precious Volvo. My car is fine. Sure, it's scuffed up a bit, but it's a relic of my college days. And until we have a family and need an SUV, my car will be fine for my little trips around town. He's just possessive. Stupid, shiny, Volvo owner. Talking shit about my car. Though, I had to admit, driving around in his car was nice. It didn't take forever for the heater to warm up, and it didn't whistle as you drove down the road.

I made my way into the office, bringing my breakfast bar wrapper, along with my milk carton in, throwing them into the trashcan and sat down at my desk. I had about an hour before I had to leave to get Jasper.

I sighed. Jasper. Whatever was I going to do about that? I had always thought I had life planned out. What I'd never planned on was him. All six foot, four inches of his Texas charm and sexy, curly hair, talking about what it meant to be a sub for his Dom to Edward, telling him that he needed to be spanked to be well…I tried, I was trying so hard to understand this all, but I was still so confused.

But one thing was clear as a damned bell…the attraction my husband felt for Jasper, I felt as well. My own fantasies had drifted since our discussion last Saturday. And when I rode Edward with that buzzing bullet or whatever the hell it was in my backside, it was all too easy to imagine it was Jasper filling me. How odd that now, after five years of marriage, seven years together, my sexual side would come out to play.

I checked my voicemail messages and knocked on Carlisle's door. "Carlisle? Don't forget, you're scrubbing in to help Emmett today, remember?"

He looked up from his desk and smiled at me. "Yes, Bella, I haven't forgotten."

I smiled. "It must be someone important indeed, to have the chief of surgery in on their surgery."

He nodded. "An old family friend."

"Oh, well, that's nice."

"As a matter of fact, Edward is going to be in on the surgery as well."

My brow furrowed. "Why would Edward be in on one of your surgeries?"

Carlisle chuckled. "What Tanya wants, Tanya usually gets."

"Tanya?"

He nodded absently as he stood from his desk. "Yes, Tanya Denali, the actress?"

"Tanya Denali is getting work done, here?" I asked. I had just watched her latest movie not too long ago. She was famous. Like, Julia Roberts famous. Sandra Bullock famous. Everybody knew her name.

"Yes, her family and ours go way back. She and Edward used to date, actually."

I felt my heart fall once more. "And he's doing her surgery, with you?"

"She has cancer, Edward and Dr. Bailey are doing the bowel resection while Emmett and I do her breast augmentation and I stitch her abdomen. She doesn't trust anyone else to do it but me and refused to have the surgery unless all the "Cullen Boys" were present to wait on her hand and foot." He chuckled, but I found nothing humorous about the statement.

Edward had lied. When he told me he had a surgery he couldn't get out of, he'd said it was Bailey that demanded he assist. Not that some Hollywood floozy wanted him to do it. The nerve of him!

"Bella? Are you alright?" Carlisle asked me.

"Peachy." I retorted. "I have to leave and pick up Jasper from the airport, Edward promised him, but that was before something more important came up."

Carlisle flinched. "Bella, she's a patient. You know that they come first."

I nodded, somehow managing to hold in the tears. "Of course, just like in customer service, the customer is always right. I just wish your son would have fucking told me the truth before he decided to hide what he was really doing today."

"Bella…"

I held up a hand. "I…I've gotta go. I'll deal with him, with this later." I stomped out of the room, grabbed my purse off my desk and hurried back out to the parking structure. But once I was sitting in the car, my façade broke and I burst into tears.

First Jasper, now Tanya? What the fuck is going on with him? With us? What were we doing? Simple, I was doing nothing. I was getting used and abused. Sure, I knew that Edward was better than me. I knew I was a plain, simple person, I accepted that, thought he had too. But to find out he's been with little-miss-perfect movie star and lied to me about it? Fuck no, I wouldn't put up with that shit.

Today was the day. I'd take Jasper home and show him that I could be what he needed, make him want me for a change, show Edward I was worth more than to be played and made a fool of.

I sniffed one last time, pulled out my small makeup bag and reapplied my powder. I quickly swiped on some mascara, a little bit of eye shadow, some lightly colored lip gloss, unbuttoned a few buttons on my shirt, thanked God I was wearing a short skirt today, and made my way to the airport.

I took a detour, stopping at a convenience store near Sea-Tac. I picked up a bottle of that Lipton Green Tea stuff for Jasper, a Sprite for myself, and a Coca Cola in case he had a "friend" along. I was dying to know what Edward had meant by "friend" but I wasn't sure I really wanted to know.

I pulled up to the terminal and saw Jasper's lanky frame along with another man standing next to him, average height, very well built, long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, but there was something about him I didn't like, didn't…trust. He…scared me somehow. I shook it off and smiled as I stepped from the car. "Jasper."

"Bella!" He stated warmly, enveloping me in a hug. "I just got the text saying you were picking me up."

My face dipped into a frown before I said, "Yes, well, Edward had an important surgery he had to handle. I hope you don't mind…?"

His smile made me feel better instantly. "Not at all. I'm very happy to see you."

I smiled at him and opened the trunk for him to stow his bags. "Bella, James French, James, Isabella Cullen."

The man, James, popped his head up as he eyed me and I had to fight back a shiver. His ice blue eyes looked dead. "H-hello." I told him, holding out a hand.

He took mine and kissed it. "Isabella, charmed."

I gave him a small smile. "Edward said you might have company, Jasper. I brought you some drinks. I wasn't sure if you would be thirsty from your trip."

"How thoughtful of you, Bella," Jasper said as he snapped the trunk shut. "We appreciate it, don't we, James?"

James nodded quickly. "Yes, thank you, Bella."

My eyebrow rose just a bit. Ahhh, so he's one of Jasper's…whatever, just like Edward was. But he wasn't wearing a ring like Edward did. I wonder why?

I moved to the driver's seat and Jasper was waiting for me. "Do you mind? I haven't driven this week, no car."

I shrugged. Maybe he'd be reckless and wreck it. That would fuck with Edward.

"James! Get the door for Miss Bella."

James' head dipped before he smiled at me and again, I resisted the urge to shiver. But I walked over to the passenger side door and let him help me in.

The drive back to Jasper's house was actually quite pleasant. James sat quietly in the back seat while Jasper told me of Italy. I'd always wanted to travel, but with Edward's job, that had been impossible. "Perhaps one day, love." Edward would always say.

"I don't know much about Italy." I told Jasper. "Did you go for business, or pleasure?"

He smiled and James snorted from the back seat. He gave James a sharp look in the rearview mirror and said, "A little bit of both, actually."

I nodded. It wasn't my place to ask, anyway.

When we arrived, Jasper said, "Feel free to come in, make yourself at home, Bella. Edward said you would enjoy the kitchen."

I walked in behind him and he gave me the quote, "ten cent tour" of the house. I heard him instruct James to put his things away in the guest room and Jasper stepped back into the foyer where I was looking at the pictures on the wall. One was of Jasper and Alice. "You still love her." I whispered.

He nodded. "Sometimes, the things you love have to be set free."

I dropped my eyes. Was I doing that? Was I setting Edward free or only trapping him? What to do? Should I…? "Jasper?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

I smiled at his drawled answer. "Do you think what you and Edward are doing is wrong?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, wincing as he did so. "Bella…I don't know what Edward's told you. I think that, in the right situation, we need to sit down as three rational adults and discuss…"

"I don't want to be a rational adult." I said as I quickly unbuttoned a few of the buttons on my blouse. "Fuck rationality. I want to be irrational for once in my life."

I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. "B-Bella…what…what are you…?"

"I want you, Jasper. I want you like I've only ever wanted one other man in my life. I want to be with you. I want to be bound to you. I want what Edward has with you."

His eyes grew wide. "Bella…"

"Fuck it all, Jasper. I want you, damn it. And I'm going to good and well take it." I crossed to him in two strides, shoved him against the wall, and pulled his mouth down to mine.

AN2: So…who saw THAT coming? Whatever will happen next?

Chapter 20: Wednesday - Friday in Italy and then Jasper is home. Kitty is still working on chapter 20 so lots of reviews may keep her writing past where this chapter leaves off. Otherwise, she may just stop here too.