Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line, SM owns the characters I'm just having fun with them.

Peter POV

I finally began to hear the approaching vampires that the Major had felt with his gift. I estimated there were at least 75, coming at us from all directions. I took a step closer to my mate and held my ground when he turned his pitch-black eyes my way. His arm shot behind him and pulled me close to his back while his deep voice growled, "MINE!" I had known I didn't need to worry but it was nice to have my theories validated, and also nice my mate didn't try to kill me like every other being who had met his demon before.

He pulled me along with him as he broke into a run heading north, jumping over the Rio Grande into Texas and toward the majority of the vampires heading for us. The tactical part of my brain appreciated the move- he would take out the fiercest fighters first and make the rest run to catch us, eliminating the advantage of surrounding us. Maybe if Maria had done more fighting and less fucking, she might be able to outsmart her top two officers. Lucky for us, she just ain't that bright.

As we topped a small hill, he paused to survey the suicidal vampires headed our way. He let out an ear-splitting roar and let a strong wave of fear out towards the approaching horde. Most dropped to their knees right away, and he rushed forward to start ripping them to pieces. Off to my left I heard James whisper, "Oh shit, his demon is out!" before turning to run back the way he came, and away from Maria's camp. Bet he won't stop running for a week at least, or until he hits the ocean. As I watched him go I felt a newborn come behind me on my right side but before I could react the Major had his head off and roared in his face, "MY MATE!"

One after another they kept coming in waves, and he kept ripping them to pieces smaller than I'd ever seen him do before. I wasn't sure they would ever put themselves back together even if we didn't burn them. I kept my eye on my mate and I couldn't even follow his movements they were so fast. One or two of them got their teeth close enough to graze him but other than that he was untouched.

The whole battle took maybe 10 minutes before there wasn't anything left standing but the two of us. He was still crouched in front of me with his arms extended and breath heaving in and out like a rodeo bull. His golden curls whipped side to side as he looked around watching for more threats and I'm sure he had his gift searching for those who might be stupid enough to hide from him, but there was nothing but wiggling body parts for a good half mile surrounding us.

Before I could think about moving, he whipped around to face me and began checking me over for injuries. He growled as he smelled the foreign venom that had rained down on us and immediately began licking it from my skin, purring deep in his chest as he did so. "MY mate. Good mate." Guess the demon is sticking around until he feels like I've been protected well enough.

I wasn't real sure how to bring my Major back, but I wasn't complaining about the tender care he was giving me either. The demon he was so scared of is apparently a very protective and possessive mate. He picked me up and carried me to a relatively clear patch of land before laying me down and resuming scenting me with his tongue. When he reached the v of my hips and went to open my pants up my eyes rolled back and I couldn't hold in the groan of lust. His pitch black eyes shot up to me as his tongue dipped lower toward my straining member.

Well, I guess we're doing this now. Gotta love an audience when your mate needs to claim ya! All thoughts fled when he grasped me firmly in hand and growled lowly, "MINE."

I couldn't help whispering, "All yours Major. Only yours."

His tongue continued lower down my right leg, covering every square inch. I held my breath as he went all the way down and back up again my left leg. Finally reaching where I wanted him most he slowly dragged his tongue all the way up my length from base to tip before locking his onyx eyes on mine and whispering, "MINE" again.

In a flash he was on top of me, crashing his mouth against mine, our tongues in a futile battle for dominance (he would always win, no question about that). His hand still pumped me, faster now, before he pulled his mouth away from mine to wet his fingers with my tongue. Moving back down my body he used his fingers to prep me before entering me swiftly. Finally one again with my mate I gave into the feelings of intense lust and desire he bounced back and forth between us. I lost count of how many times I came, lost in a cloud, surrounded by my glorious mate.

Hours later he again roared his release and collapsed on top of me breathing hard. He pulled me closer to him, and to my shock I felt him begin to sob brokenly with his head buried in my neck.

"Peter, oh Peter. Thank God you're alright! I thought I'd lost you. I thought I would kill you myself and I-" He broke off with a huge shudder and began crying again.

I sat there for a few minutes absolutely stunned. I had been with this man for over 20 years and seen every side of him I thought there was, but I had never seen him cry. Even when I knew he was breaking inside, particularly after he had to punish me, he never once showed his emotions at this level.

I chanced a glance at him as he lifted his head and noticed his eyes were a lighter red than I had ever seen them before- absolutely shining like he was lit within. I swore I could almost see his love for me, something he had never once shared with me in the past. After studying him warily, I ventured to speak.

"Major? You ok sir?" I softly asked.

"Peter, it's me. I don't know how but you brought me back. Not the major, but me! Jasper! I haven't been myself in so long, but you not only tamed my demon but brought me back to myself as well!" His eyes were still glowing as a breathtaking smile lit up his face.

I sat and studied him some more and noticed the hard lines on his face had eased, and with the sun behind his halo of golden curls he truly looked like an angel. I fought back a gasp as I realized just how young he had been when he was turned. He had told me he was 19 when Maria found him but he had already been in the Confederate army for 3 years at that time, and now another 80 years in the Southern Wars had hardened even his unchangeable vampire appearance far past his true age. But seeing him this morning was like seeing him for the first time. His brow was softened, his jaw seemed more relaxed, and that smile was almost hard to look at it was so beautiful.

I tentatively reached my hand up to brush the hair from his eyes and gave him a lopsided smile of my own. I sent him my feelings of gratitude, awe, and, most important, my all-consuming love for him. I watched as his eyes drifted closed and his smile softened some before he reopened his eyes and shocked the hell out of me.

"Peter, I love you too."