Chapter Twenty-nine

Thank you mynxi, for doing what you do, to make this pretty! I'm so sorry I couldn't reciprocate this week

Thank you team Malcolm. NewTownGirl was kind enough to translate, and Pyejammies (and her handsome Scottish hubby, John) and cheedo28 pre-read for me. As usual, I made changes where it was necessary for clarity, so any inaccuracies are my own fault.

Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer, which means I don't own it. I do, however, apparently own mama4dukes' ass! Yay! Any suggestions on what to do with it now?

JPOV

My feet literally flew as I ran, every cell in my body focused on following Bella's scent through the woods. Edward's path was random, and it appeared that he had no clear destination in mind. I began to get distracted by thoughts of how I would make him pay for taking Bella against her will, but Peter's voice drew me back to reality.

"Where the fuck does he think he's taking her?" he muttered angrily. I felt the rage he was feeling because of the way Edward had taken Bella right out of his arms. Peter's protective feelings toward Bella rivaled my own, and the fact that she was taken on his watch didn't sit well with him.

"We're getting closer," I said softly. "Her scent is getting stronger."

"If he had just shown his bronze head two minutes later, we could have taken him," Peter continued under his breath. "Gonna make that fucker pay for walkin' into my backyard and taking my Little Bird while I was too busy kickin' ass to do anything about it."

"Focus, Sugar," Char chided gently. "You can school him good after we get our girl back, safe and sound."

I overheard Rosalie and Emmett talking as they ran. Emmett was furious that Edward had put Bella at risk in the middle of a vampire attack, while Rose was more upset that he had taken her against her will. Given Rose's history, she and Emmett were both very sensitive to violence against women, and Edward would have his work cut out for him, if he wanted to talk his way out of their wrath.

I struggled to control my response to the emotions around me. My own fear and anger was being compounded by everyone else's. All of this turmoil was due to Edward's impulsive action, and I was determined that he would never have the ability to upset Bella again.

The scent trail finally intersected a small path, allowing us to close ranks and run together. I picked up several strong vampire scents, and fear formed a leaden weight inside me.

"Shit, at least ten more," Peter hissed beside me. My head buzzed, trying to process the implications of this development. To this point, my focus had been on recovering Bella safe and sound and I hadn't wasted time guessing at who was behind the attack. However, thirty aggressive vampires, all targeting Bella, added up to someone waging war. That fact narrowed down the potential candidates, and led me to believe we were dealing with…

"Victoria," Emmett whispered suddenly. For a moment, I thought he was channeling Edward's mind reading ability, but then her scent crossed my own nose.

"Damn it, what is he thinking?" Rosalie hissed. "Running off alone with Victoria around?"

"Unbelievable," I muttered. "Bella avoided Victoria for almost two years on her own, and now Edward's gonna hand her right over to the bitch."

My feet moved impossibly faster, driven by the need to get Bella out of Victoria's vengeful hands. The sound of colliding vampire flesh began to echo through the night, followed closely by Edward's pathetic screams.

"Not far now," Peter said tersely. Bella's scent grew even stronger, almost pulling me forward. Finally, I exploded into a small clearing, just in time to see Bella's limp body being thrown viciously into a tree trunk. Her head made a dull sound as it glanced off the tree, but the sound her ribs made as they fractured was even worse.

Victoria laughed as she walked toward Bella, completely unaware of our arrival. Taking advantage of her distraction, I leaped forward, grabbing her mid step and whipping her over my head. I rushed toward Bella, certain that Peter would take care of Victoria. I vaguely registered the others facing off with the group of newborns, but most of my attention was on the heart beat of the woman in front of me.

I crouched over her, quickly running my hands over her in search of additional injuries. Her heart rate was impossibly fast and her lungs made a wet sound with every breath. Her skin was sickly grey and her eyes were glassy. I called her name several times, but she made no response, just staring straight ahead.

I leaned forward into her line of sight, relieved when her eyes lit up a little in recognition. Her heart stuttered and I could hear the rhythm faltering. "Hang on, Baby," I whispered urgently, praying that Carlisle wasn't far behind us. The sound of her heart beat grew muffled, and I felt true fear as I looked down into the eyes I loved so much.

"Hang on, Bella," I ordered. A tiny smile crossed her lips, and she slowly whispered, "Love… you… forever," before her eyelids fluttered and drifted shut. I felt the air moving behind me as Carlisle rushed toward us, coming to a graceful stop at my side.

I slid quickly out of the way, allowing him to get to work. "What's wrong with her heart?" I whispered. "I can hear that it's not beating right."

Carlisle looked up at me, his expression grim. "Cardiac tamponade. The sack around her heart is filled with blood, preventing it from pumping correctly. She also has multiple fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and a probable head injury."

"Can she survive it?" I demanded, certain that I already knew the answer.

"No, Jasper," Carlisle answered sadly. "She has minutes, not hours. She wouldn't even survive the trip to the hospital at this point, even if you ran like the wind." His words confirmed my fears, and I began to prepare myself for what I would have to do next.

"No!" Emmett shouted from across the clearing where he was pummeling one of the newborns. "Don't let her die, Jasper!"

"Jasper, you know what she would want," Peter said quietly. "Do what you have to do, Brother."

Carlisle looked at me, his eyes searching mine. "Are you able to change her, Jasper? If there's any question of your control?" he paused, "I can do it for you."

I could feel his sincere desire to help, but his words prompted an involuntary low growl from me. "No one will touch her but me," I snarled, gratified when he slid quickly out of my way. Part of me regretted the aggressive response to his genuine offer, but I quashed that sentiment. I could apologize later. Bella needed me now.

The sound of her heart grew even fainter, and I leaned over her tiny body. Brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes, I put my face next to hers. "I'm so sorry, Sweetheart," I whispered into her ear. "This isn't the way I wanted to do this, but I have to keep you safe. I will love you forever," I sighed, using her earlier words.

She remained unresponsive as I gently lifted her, baring her pale neck. Closing my eyes, I brought my mouth to her fragile skin, shocked at how faint her normally vital pulse was. Worried that her heart would grow too weak to adequately pump the venom, I quickly targeted her jugular vein and bit firmly down, pushing as much venom as I could into the bite. Her sweet blood rushed over my tongue, but the knowledge that this blood was Bella's made the taste abhorrent to me. Allowing the blood to run out of my mouth, I kept my mouth on the wound for a few more seconds to allow the venom to penetrate as deeply as possible.

She moaned weakly, and I felt hopeful that my venom was making its way through her veins. I removed my mouth from her neck, spitting a mouthful of blood to the side. Gently laying her back down, I brought one of her wrists to my mouth, piercing her soft flesh with my teeth and pushing more venom into her vein.

I repeated the process on her other arm, pressing a kiss over the wound once I was satisfied that I had injected enough venom into her to prevent her death and ensure that her transition would begin. I leaned over to spit out the last of Bella's blood, desperately wishing for something to rinse the taste out of my mouth.

Bella stiffened violently as the pain began to register in her nervous system. Gently lifting her into my arms, I stood up and looked up at the others. The newborns were all dispatched and their remains were already smoldering. Peter and Charlotte stood nearby, Peter's arms holding Char tight against his body.

"She'll be fine now, Jasper," Peter said softly, nodding sadly at me. Rose, Emmett, and Esme stood across the clearing, watching Carlisle examine Edward. He was basically in pieces, but I didn't derive any satisfaction from the pain I was picking up from him.

"I need to get Bella settled somewhere," I said curtly. "Carlisle, I'd prefer to use your house because it's more isolated."

"Of course, Jasper," Carlisle answered quickly. "Whatever you need, to make her as comfortable as possible."

"What I need is your guarantee that the piece of shit you're trying to reassemble will be nowhere near me or Bella while we're there. He's done enough damage to her. I'm not allowing him to make her transformation and awakening anymore stressful than it already will be."

I felt Esme's sadness at my words, but she and Carlisle both nodded their acceptance. "We'll take him to Rose and Emmett's little house," Carlisle assured me. "One of us will stay with him at all times. He probably won't feel like moving around much for a few days anyway; he's really in bad shape."

"No more than he deserves," I muttered, before turning and walking out of the clearing, Bella's tiny body in my arms. Her limbs were twitching sporadically and she began to moan weakly. I noticed Peter and Charlotte following me and felt thankful for their presence. "Victoria?" I asked aloud, aware that I hadn't seen her remains in the clearing.

"Slipped away in the middle of the fight," Peter answered angrily. "She's a tricky little thing, that one. It's like she has a talent for getting out of situations where she should be cornered."

I felt his anger and frustration over Victoria's escape, but I was surprised at my own lack of emotion at the news. My whole focus was on taking care of Bella at the moment. Dealing with Victoria and Edward would have to wait for another day.

Bella began to writhe in earnest and her moans turned into screams. Eager to get us out of earshot of any human residences, I picked up the pace. Her screams grew louder, and I was forced to use my hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. She struggled against my hand, and I felt disgusted that I had to restrain her in any way.

"She doesn't know what you're doin'," Peter said soothingly, "and if she knew, she'd understand. We're almost there anyway, so stop beatin' yourself up for doing what you have to do."

Nodding grimly, I kept walking, thankful when I finally spied the Cullen house ahead of us. We entered through the back door, and I carried Bella up to the room we had used the last time we stayed here, relieved when I was able to take my hand from her mouth.

"Here, Sugar. Lie her down on this until we get the dirt cleaned off of her," Char suggested, spreading a clean sheet over the bed. I sent her a shot of gratitude as I complied. She left the room, returning moments later with a basin of hot water and towels. "While you get her cleaned up, Peter and I are gonna run over to the cabin and grab some of her clothes. Might make her feel better to wake up in her own stuff."

"Thank you, Char," I said sincerely. The door closed softly behind her, and I got to work getting Bella's ruined clothes off before gently washing the dirt and blood off of her. She continued writhing in agony, tossing her head and screaming loudly at random intervals. I wasn't picking up her emotions, but I pushed some love and calm toward her in the hopes that it would offer her some comfort as she suffered. Her screams faded into keening moans, and I hoped that my efforts were helping her.

I continued cleaning her, taking care to remove every smudge of dirt that marred her skin. Her body still wore the bruises from her assault, but I could already see signs that they were fading as her tissue began to harden.

I flinched as I picked up a sharp flash of panic coming from Bella. Immediately, I put my hands on her, running them over her arms and legs while I whispered soothing words into her ears. Her fear disappeared behind her shield, but I continued touching her in hopes that our peace was easing her pain.

I heard Charlotte's footsteps approaching, so I looked up as the door opened. She walked over to the bed and pressed a soft kiss to Bella's forehead before efficiently helping me to get her dressed in a soft t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants. I gently lifted her so that Char could remove the now soiled sheet from underneath her, and we got her settled into the soft, clean bedding.

We both looked up when Peter walked into the room. He mimicked Charlotte's kiss to Bella's forehead before squeezing my shoulder in sympathy. "Char and I are gonna head on out for a hunt," he said softly. "We'll be back before she wakes up and you need us," he assured me.

"Sounds good," I answered. "No point in you guys sitting around counting the seconds too."

Char gave me a fierce hug, her tiny arms wrapping tightly around mine. "You call us if you need us to come sooner," she ordered. "If it gets to be too much for you, you call, and we'll come."

"Thanks," I replied, as she stepped away. "I'll be fine though."

"Yep, you will," Peter said with a smirk, as they walked out, closing the door behind them. Sighing, I slid under the covers and wrapped myself around Bella. She started violently, but she calmed quickly as I tucked her into her usual spot under my chin. I had no idea if she could feel what I was doing, but even if she couldn't, I could at least derive some comfort from holding her.

Closing my eyes, I listened to her heart beat, allowing myself to lose track of time as I focused on the thought of Bella changing into a strong vampire. She remained relatively quiet and calm, although her muscles still twitched sporadically and she ground her teeth frequently. Whispering soothing words, I ran my fingers through her hair and waited.

The afternoon sun was shining through the window when I heard Emmett's heavy footsteps approaching the door. He called my name and knocked quietly before cracking the door open.

"Come on in," I answered quietly, gently repositioning Bella as I sat up beside her.

Emmett looked down at her, his kind amber eyes somber. His emotions were a mix of anger, sadness and excitement, and I waited patiently for him to speak.

"Just wanted to see how you were holding up," he began hesitantly. "I imagine it's pretty rough for you to watch her suffer like this. Rosalie has tried to describe it to me a couple of times, but I don't think I'll ever really understand, since I'll never have to watch her go through it."

"Thanks, Emmett," I said sincerely, touched that he felt the need to check on me. "I'm doing okay. It's as horrible as you can imagine, but I'm trying to focus on the end result."

"That's good," he said awkwardly, and I felt his anger peaking. "I can't believe Edward was stupid enough to run off with her…"

"I know, Emmett, but I don't want to waste my time thinking about him right now. I promise, he will be dealt with, but right now, I'm just thinking about Bella."

"Sorry, Jasper. I didn't mean to come in here and rile you up," he said sheepishly. "Just make sure you don't leave me out when you take care of Edward. That's my little sister, and I want in when you guys make him pay for hurting her."

I smiled as I answered, "Of course we won't leave you out Emmett. The line to kick Edward's ass is getting kind of long though. We might need to make a schedule."

Emmett chuckled at my joke, and I enjoyed the simple, wholesome feeling of Emmett's good humor. "I'll go start a spreadsheet," he quipped as he walked toward the door. "I'll get out of your way now. Let me know if you need anything, but otherwise Rose and I will see you after Bells wakes up."

I nodded in farewell, and he walked out, closing the door behind him. I looked down at Bella, rubbing my fingers over her tense facial muscles. I was beginning to see more physical signs of her transformation. Her hair was becoming thicker and more lustrous, and her skin was becoming more flawlessly uniform.

I heard a different set of footsteps approaching, and I felt Carlisle's regret and apprehension before he stepped in the door. "Can I come in?" he asked quietly.

"Sure," I responded immediately. He stepped in the room, and I felt the conflict he was still feeling about Edward. He apologized for Edward's actions, and I accepted freely, assuring him that I didn't hold him responsible. I did explain that Bella's need for me was the only thing holding me back from drawing on my century of terror to make Edward pay for hurting her.

Radiating regret, Carlisle told me that he understood and wouldn't stand in my way when the time came for Edward to own up for his actions. However, his sincere love and faith in Edward was evident when he respectfully requested that I allow Edward to live.

"There is so much good inside him, Jasper," he said earnestly. "Please give him the chance to fulfill that potential."

Reluctant to have any more death on my hands, I agreed, smiling as I thought about the fact that Peter wasn't present for this little agreement and would therefore be unrestricted in his actions against Edward.

Carlisle examined Bella briefly, confirming my assessment that everything was going as it should. He left quietly, assuring me that he or Esme would be with Edward at all times until Bella and I were out of the house.

I settled in around Bella again, noticing even more changes. Her flesh was no longer humanly soft and her temperature was cooling. Her figure was becoming more balanced, filling out in the places where she was previously a touch on the skinny side. Despite the changes, I could still easily see the fierce little waitress who stood up to the drunken asshole at the bar, all those months ago.

Yet another set of footsteps approached the room, but I was surprised when I picked up Malcolm's scent at the door. I couldn't imagine what the enigmatic Scot wanted to say to me right now.

"Can Ay come in?" he asked deferentially.

"Who's watching Alice?" I demanded anxiously. Bella was transforming by the second, but as of now, she remained fragile and easily damaged. I was uncomfortable with the idea of Alice being able to reach Bella until after she was awake and able to defend herself.

"Alice is nae threat tae yer Bella, Young Warrior," Malcolm answered calmly. "Bonnie Rosalie is sittin' wi' her while Ay take a break, but she shows nae sign o' becomin' active." He looked down at Bella, and I felt the concern he was feeling for Alice. "I jus' wish I ken what impact this will have on what I want ter do fer Alice," he sighed, radiating a touch of frustration.

I grinned wryly at his total focus on his mate, despite the fact that mine was suffering through the burn in front of him. Looking up, he met my eyes and smiled apologetically. "A'm sorry," he began. "I dinnae mean tae ignore the fact that yer lass is hurtin'. After all these years on my own, A'm finding it difficult ter adjust ter caring fer somewan again."

"I understand, Malcolm," I answered honestly. "Can't say I would feel differently if our places were reversed. For what it's worth, I hope whatever you want to do will still work."

"All we can do is wait an' see," he replied evenly. He glanced down at Bella again before looking back at me. A wide smile crossed his face as he turned to walk out the door. "She will be magnificent."

I smiled back at him briefly, but I looked down at her while I replied, "She always has been."

Suddenly, Bella began to twist and thrash violently, her breaths wheezing as the air was forced between her grinding teeth. She began to moan again, and I clenched my hands against the desire to destroy the room around me, looking for an outlet for the helplessness I was feeling.

I hated the fact that she was suffering, but I forced myself to focus on the fact that at the end of her change, she would be an immortal, ready to face eternity by my side. Taking both her hands in mine, I placed them against my face, visualizing tranquility and love pouring directly from me into her.

Immediately, she stopped failing around on the bed, but her muscles were still tense and rigid. Desperate to do anything to comfort her, I began talking to her. I started by describing the night I discovered her in that seedy bar in Manhattan. Whispering into her ear, I reminded her of the beginnings of our friendship and the little steps that led us toward more with each other.

Her muscles gradually relaxed, although her jaw remained clenched. Hopeful that I was reaching her, even through the pain of the burn, I kept talking. Losing track of time, I described every moment we spent with each other, putting my perfect memory to good use.

When I exhausted our story, I started on the memories of her childhood that she had shared with me when I gave her the box of mementos. I noticed the light changing yet again, but still I kept talking, moving on to the ways I wanted to spend our future together. Time passed, and I hoped that my words about our past, present and future were acting as an anchor to her in the middle of her pain.

Suddenly, she began thrashing wildly again, and I listened to her heart begin to stutter. The irregular beats began to slow and she writhed as her body struggled to accept this final change. Gently, I sat up and moved to the side of the bed, keeping her hand loosely in mine. Waking up as a vampire is extremely disorienting, and I wanted to leave her plenty of space so she wouldn't feel intimidated.

Her faltering heart finally pumped its last, and her body seized violently one more time before falling limp against the sheets. I held my breath and waited for her to open her eyes, watching anxiously as her silken lashes fluttered.

Ever so slowly, she opened her eyes, revealing the startling crimson color, and I cautiously leaned forward so that she could see my face, pushing all of my love and assurance toward her. She gasped and sat up quickly, and I instinctively moved back to give her space. Her red eyes gleamed against her flawless porcelain skin, and I whispered her name, thankful for the fact that she was awake and looking at me.

She looked shocked at the speed of her movement, but I wasn't picking up any emotion from her, so I remained still, a gentle smile on my face. "It's okay, Sweetheart," I said quietly. Newborns were usually hyper-sensitive to sounds and sights as they became accustomed to their bodies' new abilities.

"I know everything feels very strange right now, but everything is okay. I'm here with you, and you're okay."

She stared at me, her expression hesitant, before a smile eventually started to cross her lips.

"Jasper," she whispered, leaning forward and reaching toward me with her free arm. I began to pull her into my arms, but I was interrupted by the sound of a door breaking downstairs. Bella stiffened and pulled away from me, her face a mask of panic.

Before I even had time to wonder what was causing the chaos, the door to our room flew off its hinges as Edward knocked it down and ran in. Peter and Emmett chased him into the room, followed closely by Charlotte and Carlisle. I jumped to my feet to block him, but he dodged me, his attention never leaving Bella. He zipped past me, but I was able to grab his leg at the last second, causing him to lose his balance.

"Bella!" he screamed, falling toward her with his arms outstretched.

"Stay away from me!" she screamed, loud enough to make me wince. "What will it take to make you leave me alone?"

Unable to stop his momentum, Edward continued to fall toward her. I did my best to pull him back, but I wasn't quick enough. She swung out with her right hand, cleanly decapitating him before viciously throwing his head into the corner, leaving an ugly crater in the drywall.

I felt the shocked horror of the others as they stared at Bella, who was panting frantically and backing away from all of us.

"Sweetheart, it's okay," I murmured rapidly, realizing that I was losing her to her fear as the seconds passed. She didn't react to my voice, her attention locked on the others as they stared at her.

"Let's everybody back up a little and give Bella some room," Peter suggested, his casual tone at odds with the tension I was picking up from him.

"Stay with me, Bella. Everything is okay," I repeated, as Emmett slowly began to back up. Unfortunately, at the first sign of movement, Bella reacted like a scared deer. Springing across the room, she dove through the window head first. Closing my eyes for a moment in disbelief, I listened to the sound of her running frantically away from the house.

"Well, shit," Peter sighed, giving me an apologetic look.

"Jasper, she could run into a human very easily," Carlisle said urgently, his emotions alternating between concern for Bella and horror over Edward's condition.

My feet were already headed to follow her out the window, but Peter's touch stopped me momentarily. "She'll be fine," he assured me. "She's headed away from the other houses. You'll catch her before she does anything she'll regret."

Nodding my thanks, I jumped out the window and followed her new scent. I ran my fastest, knowing I would be challenged to keep up with her newborn speed. Her scent grew stronger and I began to slow my pace. I heard the others behind me, and I became worried that they would scare Bella into running again. "She's just ahead. You guys head on back and take care of Edward," I ordered. "I don't want her to feel overwhelmed. She's been through enough."

"Sure thing, Jasper," Peter called out, letting me know he would make sure we were left in peace.

Slowing to a walk, I spotted Bella not far ahead of me. I looked down at the ground as I moved forward, assuming a non-threatening posture. She was crouched in front of a large boulder in a defensive posture, her eyes frantically searching for the best escape route.

"Bella, it's just me, Sweetheart. No one else is here, just me. I know you're scared, but you're safe now. No one is gonna hurt you, Baby."

Her red eyes bored into mine, and I could see her struggling to resolve her instinct to run with her desire to trust me. I continued moving forward until I was less than ten feet from her. She was literally vibrating with tension, still debating whether to stay or run.

"I'm not here to chase you, Sweets. I know this is one clusterfuck of a way to wake up to being a vampire, but I promise, no one else is gonna mess with you."

Suddenly, I was hit with a flood of her emotions. Fear, rage, confusion, and thirst all battled for dominance, and she knelt to the ground with her head in her hands.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked desperately, looking at me with lost red eyes.

Continuing to inch my way closer to her, I smiled reassuringly. "Nothing's wrong with you, Bella. This is all normal. You're just learning to process a lot of different information all at once. It's very overwhelming, even without all the other drama. You're running on instinct right now, and you're also very thirsty."

As I came within a few feet of her, I crouched down to her level, projecting love and calm as strongly as I could. I slowly reached one hand out to her, hoping she would reciprocate. She shifted her gaze back and forth between my hand and my face, her indecision clear. Sadly accepting that she wasn't able to trust me enough yet to touch me, I began to lower my hand.

Unprepared for the movement, I was surprised when she quickly shot her hand out to touch mine. Apparently, the speed was a surprise to her as well, because she jumped when we made contact. I quickly folded my fingers around hers and our beautiful peace washed over me. Smiling, I watched Bella's face relax from its tense expression to one of recognition.

"Oh Jasper, I was so scared," she whispered fervently, just before launching herself into my arms.

"I have you, Baby," I murmured into her hair, running my hands gently over her torso and arms. "I have you. You're safe."

"I'm so sorry I ran," she said softly. "I was scared and I didn't know what to do. I knew you wouldn't hurt me, but I just couldn't stop myself from running."

"Don't apologize, Bella," I ordered gently. "It's normal to feel out of control and scared, and Fuckward didn't help matters any by invading your space like that. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Shifting her into my lap, I rocked her back and forth, smiling when I realized she was rubbing her face against my chest, instinctively marking me with her scent. Wrapped up in the sensation of finally holding the woman I loved in my arms again, I lost track of time.

Eventually, her body relaxed completely into mine, and she began moving her hands over my body, clearly amazed at the different sensation of touching me as a vampire. Her emotions were calm, although her thirst was rapidly increasing and I knew I would need to convince her to hunt soon.

She spent several minutes playing with my hair, causing me to rumble in contentment. The sound made her look up at me, and finally I was rewarded with her smile. I stared down at her perfect face, altered slightly by the change, but still my Bella. I smiled back at her, as we moved closer to each other, until, at last our lips met.

I was unprepared for the rush I experienced with the kiss. I noticed the absence of her human heat, but she still felt soft and pliant as my tongue invaded her mouth. Passion rushed through me, and I crushed her body against mine, reveling in the fact that I no longer had to moderate my movements for fear of injuring her.

She met me thrust for thrust, grinding herself against my now straining erection, and before I knew it, we were rolling on the ground. The realization forced me to turn my brain back on, and I gently began to ease away from her. Her eyes clouded with confusion and irritation, and I smiled gently before she could question me.

"We will continue this, Sweetheart. I promise," I teased, kissing her nose gently as she continued to attempt to rub her body against mine. "But first, we need to take you hunting."

She pouted, and I could see her trying to control the current of anger she was feeling at my cockblocking. Standing up, I offered her my hand, gratified when she accepted. "You'll feel much better after you hunt," I promised. "Much less distracted and able to focus."

"Fine," she grumbled, flashing a little smile of resignation. "I'd rather focus on your dick, but if you insist on eating, I'll do it your way."

My dick twitched at her words, but I forced myself to stay under control as I led her out of the clearing and onto the game trail. Within minutes, I had picked up the scents of several deer. I heard Bella gasp as she also identified the scent, causing her thirst to spike.

"Ready to see how it's done?" I asked, smiling at her intense expression.

Her eyebrow shot up at my smile, and she smirked back at me. "Game on," she whispered, taking off like a shot on the trail of the deer. Laughing, I chased after her. Apparently, she needed no instruction in chasing game, but I was damned if I was going to miss the sight of her taking down her first kill.

AN- Sorry for the slight delay. One of my girls has been really sick, and she needed some extra TLC.

MM-I'm so sorry I failed you. On my knees, waiting your pleasure for my punishment.

Don't forget, if you want to know what happened between Bella and Jasper in the hot tub over their long weekend in New York, head on over to the Fandom for Preemies site (link on my profile) and make a donation of 5 dollars or more to receive an entire compilation of one shots and outtakes! Thanks so much to those who have already contributed! Glad you liked it!

Thank you all for reading!

Love,

heavy