Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 29 Home and Rebound
BPOV
Money is a wonderful thing, the airport officials come to you when you arrive in a private jet. I don't know who the pilots were or how they managed it, but the conspicuous disappearance of one passenger in flight doesn't even come up.
Smiling obsequiously they depart the plane an' I manage to wait a semi-dignified count of three before I'm out of my seat, down the steps an' flying across the asphalt.
He's so beautiful. How can I forget how beautiful he is after only a few days? His blonde hair is flopping over his deep gold eyes, trapped there by his weathered black hat. Perfect chest outlined by his deliberately tight plain white t-shirt and lean hips an' long legs encased in worn denim and finished off by beat up cowboy boots.
Grinning fit to burst he opens his arms an' I leap into them without hesitating, wrapping my legs around his waist and fastening myself to him with all my strength.
He staggers backwards a few steps from the impact but that doesn't stop his arms winding around my body nor his lips crashing hungrily into mine.
Home.
I tangle my hands in his silky hair as we dance, the taste of him exploding on my tongue as his snakes into my mouth.
As Jasper waltzes us around the apron, never once breaking our frenzied kiss, I am vaguely away of Pete an' Char having a similarly physical reunion of their own.
After we've twirled a couple of times Jasper eventually finds what he's looking for. Pushing me up against what I assume is several million dollars worth of executive helicopter he is able to free his hands to roam over my body an' finally fist in my hair.
He deepens this kiss, the sensual movement of his tongue pulling a reaction and a startled gasp from the very center of my body.
As it often does when we are together, the rest of the world slips unnoticed into the background.
His body presses into mine as the passionate kiss becomes more intense. His hands slipping under my stolen blouse, thumbs rubbing across my stomach an' gradually working their way up to my chest. As they brush lightly against the swell of my breasts I throw my head back with a metallic clunk an' his mouth drops down to bite an' tease my neck. Desperate to feel his skin I shred his t-shirt without thinking, my fingers stroking an' kneading the muscles of his broad back.
Groaning he returns his lips to mine sliding me down his body an' grinding his hips into me, effectively communicating his need and sending my own into overdrive. I buck against him causing him to thrust his hips into me again, heat flashing through me as the metal skin of the helicopter protests an' the tyres squeal across the asphalt.
Just as I'm about to lose it an' redesign his jeans to match his t-shirt I feel him start to pull back a little an' cool our ardour.
Growling I press myself closer to him an' attack his mouth urgently.
A low chuckle bubbles between his lips as they curve into a smile against mine.
"Unless you want me to fuck you right here in front of all these people I suggest we cool it down some." He rasps into my mouth, still kissing me hard but with less fervour.
"Ungh." Once again I throw my head back, abusing the metal behind me. Honestly, a part of me is thinking about whether or not I mind. Having dropped my shield I'm pretty sure he doesn't.
He continues to rock into me gently as our kiss slows an' cools. Finally, with a sigh, he pulls away a little an' nibbles at my upper lip, lifting me back up so my legs are once again wrapped around his waist.
"I've missed you." He whispers between nibbles.
"Oh god, me too." I groan, fisting my hands back into his hair.
"Never leave me again." He pleads, tucking my head under his chin an' burying his nose in my hair.
"Jasper." I twist in his grasp, flattening my lips over his heart scar. I can feel his desolation an' fear, feel it reluctantly receding. "I love you."
Still blocking out the rest of the world we cling to each other, tamping down our lust and instead just revelling in being close.
After a while the sound of the busy airport around us drags us back to reality.
Setting me down on my feet he looks down into my eyes an' smirks.
"Darlin'." He teases. "You're in so much trouble."
I shiver in anticipation.
"Not that kind of trouble." He laughs. "One of my loyal subjects has been on the phone this mornin' to register a formal complaint about his beloved daughter bein' pushed out of a plane over The Olympic Peninsula. You wouldn't know anythin' about that would you?"
"I was provoked." I snap, caught by surprise.
"I bet you were." He chuckles, leaning down to brush his lips across my forehead.
I close my eyes, savouring the connection.
"J." Pete shouts, ruining my moment. "Can you at least love each other up in the car? We wanna go home."
"Alone." Jasper growls. "We really need to be alone."
Taking my hand he tows me over to the two sporty looking cars which await us.
Pete watches us approach for a moment an' then grins like the asshole he is, hopping into the first one with Char an' speeding away.
Pig!
"No." I snap when I realise that Simon is settling himself behind the wheel of our vehicle. "Demetri can drive."
"But Mistress." He moans looking crestfallen. "It's a Mercedes S . . . ."
"Can it." I order. "You don't get to drive anythin' more excitin' than a game of Whist until I forgive you for that stunt you pulled."
"But Mistress." He protests. "It wasn't just me, Charlo . . . ."
"Ah, ah." My free hand pops up forbiddingly. "Demetri will drive."
Grumbling he heaves himself over into the passenger seat so a smirking Demetri can take his place.
Jasper pulls me into the back with him an' as soon as the doors close Demetri sets off in a cloud of tyre smoke.
"In a hurry?" Jasper drawls making eye contact with him in the mirror.
"Yes Master." Demetri drawls. "You have made a Mistress shaped dent in that multi-million dollar helicopter an' it is my responsibility to remove you from the scene of the crime."
I bury my face in Jasper's chest to muffle my laughter inhaling a huge gulp of his saddle soap an' hay scent at the same time.
It will kill me when he finds a new mate.
I curl up against him for the drive home, listening but not speaking, as they briskly trade information on our different missions.
I clench my fists in the ruins of his t-shirt as he recalls how he was blindsided by newborns as he attempted to rescue Elise an' Sergio. He describes his injuries lightly but I can all too easily visualise every bite an' every tear in his flesh, feel every intrusion. An' all I feel is satisfaction as he describes the death of Sebastien and subsequently Rutilio's only other surviving Lieutenant.
Sadly, neither of them had any information on Rutilio's informant or his on-going plans for our destruction.
Fuckin' Alice.
Shield still down I taste his impotent rage at Alice's thoughtless actions an' the loss of our last chance to question the vampire who has been such a thorn in our side and who continues to be such a blight on our happiness.
Absorbing those feelings I almost regret being so lenient with her. I hope she made a really big crater when she landed.
Eventually conversation lapses an' I stretch out with my head on Jasper's lap as he idly runs his fingers through my hair.
Our return home is suitably low key. The rest of the Guard are already settled in an' everything has an air of normalcy which soothes me.
Jasper drags me over to the corral so he can inspect the horses an' I watch indulgently as he shows a doting Cavalry nearly as much love as he does me. Jaws an' I exchange a brief eye meet in which I promise him a cart an' he vows to make me regret it.
Meh. Still worth it.
With a deep sigh Jasper wrenches himself away an' leads us back to the house so we can clean up before joining the 'gang' who are already waiting.
I settle myself into one of the leather chairs an' watch Jasper obsessively while they re-hash the events of the last couple of days, only taking a proper interest when they broach the subject of the traitor.
"The question is." Pete positions. "Was he or she loyal to the fuckin' Spaniard? If so, how will they react to his death? Do they have it in for us for some other reason? If so, who will they try to align 'emselves with next? If no one else wants in, what else can they try to get at us?
An' on a happier note, if they were just in it for money or some other reward does that mean the threat's gone, or just gone underground until another wodge of cash is on offer?"
"Any ideas?" Jasper questions the silence that follows Pete's summary.
I shake my head. I've got nothing except my reaction to the sight of the muscles bunching in my mate's jaw as he considers the options.
"Do we suspect anyone?" Demetri asks reasonably.
"Carlisle Cullen." Pete growls.
"Why?" Char gasps in genuine surprise.
"There's somethin' not quite right about him babe." Pete expands. "I've always felt it."
"Petey pie." She growls. "He is the dictionary definition of pathetic to vampires an' he ain't never been remotely dangerous."
Pete shrugs.
"I don't trust him either." I admit, flicking an embarrassed glance around the room. "I can't explain it. Sorry."
"Demetri? Simon?" Jasper asks, flipping his legs up to rest on the desk, hands behind his head.
"Master." Demetri answers. "We have no reason to suspect the Guard, coven, of any treason. They have all committed themselves freely to your regime and none of those still with us have any visible link to Asturias or any other credible coven."
"I concur." Simon adds. "The Recognised Covens have all made the appropriate gestures of support, Peter already has his spies digging in. There is no evidence of any plot, grievance or desire to usurp us now that our little friend is gone. Neither is there any indication that anyone is even remotely able to resist us. In all honesty I find Dr Cullen deeply annoying but I cannot offer you either a reason why or a threat that he may present. As Charlotte says, he is pathetic."
"Humph." Jasper closes his eyes turning his face to the ceiling. "What steps can be taken to look for our traitor? I'm not comfortable with lettin' such a betrayal go or the potential consequences to our family later."
They fall to discussing the variables while I watch my mate. He is so many things, lover, friend, warrior, leader, ruler, survivor, father. Just thinking about it makes me feel inadequate but ridiculously turned on.
Really, Pete might bitch about our physical relationship but he must know as well as I do that we concentrate better when we've had ample opportunity to just be together. Oh jeez, I've turned into a complete sex addict.
I look up to find Jasper's eyes boring into me. Whoops, Jasper coma.
Heated discussion swirls around us as we stare into each other's souls.
"Well then." He drawls suddenly, lifting his booted heels from the desk an' leaning forwards across it, gold eyes scorching mine. "If the most credible threat we can come up with at the moment is an iffy feelin' about Carlisle Cullen then I'm gonna take my wife on somethin' in the way of a pre-honeymoon."
"An excellent decision Master." Simon acknowledges. "I will begin packing immediately."
Jasper ignores him an' continues to burn me with his rapidly darkening gold eyes. Suddenly hot all over I wriggle in my chair, slathering my bare thighs with sticky warmth.
He inhales sharply, nostrils flaring.
"Audience is over folks." Pete chortles, ushering everyone out with wildly windmilling arms.
As the door clicks shut behind them Jasper lets out a low growl an' springs lithely over the desk, knocking me an' my chair flat on our backs.
Holding himself away from me on his powerful arms he gazes intently down. Predatory.
"Pack carefully Mrs Whitlock." He urges, voice dripping sex. "We will be alone."
I whimper an' ram my thighs together.
With a smirk he rises swiftly to his feet an' returns to the paperwork on his desk as if nothing has happened.
Stupid seducing vampire.