Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.
Rated M for several reasons. I can smell citrus in the air . . . .
Chpt 30 Steps to Being Alone
BPOV
It soon becomes apparent that the pre-honeymoon is only a surprise to me. Everyone seems to be highly excited about it an' already has some function to perform, still, he did say alone.
Jasper, in full on seduction mode, is pushing my restraint to the limits. Despite him having a lot to do before we leave everywhere I go I can feel his dark gold eyes virtually burning the clothes from my body. However, he's still sticking to his vow not to touch me until we are completely alone. By now I think he's suffering as much as I am, thanks to him I'm not the sexual innocent I was when he met me an' if he wants to play games then I'm prepared to give as good as I get. Almost, he's a maestro at it an' his control if far better than mine.
Even with all the rushing around we've still nearly managed to jump the romantic gun four times already. Time number two was my favourite, he can do that to me again any time.
All in all I've spent the last few hours wandering around in a haze of lust an' love.
For some reason my upcoming romantic tryst has sent Simon into a tailspin more worthy of a surprise attack by an army of super vampires. He's cursed my luggage, my underwear, my swimwear an' pretty much the entire contents of my wardrobe. I've tried to tell him I probably, hopefully, won't need many clothes anyway but he an' his partner in crime, Char, are having none of it.
Elise has been despatched on an emergency shopping strip an' a pitiful quantity of my clothes have made it onto the approved list an' into my suitcase. Feeling subversive I have sneaked a pair of my comfy harvest festivals into the case but I fear they may be discovered when Simon makes the final inspection he's threatening.
Jasper's packing is causing nowhere as much hysteria, partly because he rarely dons underwear anyway an' partly because Simon deems him to have a suitable collection of beach attire already. Men have it so easy.
"Finally." Simon growls as Elise bounds up the stairs laden with shopping bags. "Why don't you go and find the Master, Mistress? The three of us will finish the packing."
"Um, no offence but I'm not sure I trust you Simon." I mutter. "An' Char I definitely don't trust."
"Bella." My sister huffs, pretending to be offended. "When have I ever steered you wrong? You an' J deserve this, we're just gonna make sure it's a perfect as possible."
"Okay." I concede eventually, knowing they're going to stiff me somehow. "Just please put some normal clothes in."
"Of course Mistress." Elise promises in the type of voice a dentist uses when he tells you it isn't going to hurt.
"I'll put the mating texts that Carlisle sent in too." Char chuckles. "Just in case J leaves you alone long enough to read them."
Oh great. Thanks for reminding me of that.
At a loose end I trail down the stairs an' out of the house.
The first person I see is Demetri powering up an' down the pool. Suddenly feeling awkward about him, not to mention Jasper an' I's recent PDAs, I start to turn away but he's already spotted me.
Stay in the pool. Stay in the pool. I chant in my head.
No such luck.
Smirking he heaves himself out giving me an' eyeful before tactfully wrapping a towel around his lower half. Like that helps. I really can't cope with the sight of his hard muscled body at my current level of sexual frustration.
Stupid sexy husband.
"Mistress." He begins, looking as awkward as I feel. "We should probably talk . . . ."
I gaze at him imploringly. Not now, don't bring me down now.
"When you get back." He amends, smiling slightly. "But Mistress, you should know, you're relationship with the Master, you should never feel guilty for it around me."
"Demetri, I . . . ." I shake my head. "We'll talk when I get back, okay?"
He nods an' flashes his pirate's teeth at me.
Muttering to myself I turn away an' stomp down the side of the house intending to see if Jasper's in his office. As his French windows come into view a pair of strong arms wrap around me, lifting me off my feet an' dragging me into the shrubbery.
The scent of their owner invades my brain an' immediately makes me wet with anticipation.
"Darlin'." My body responds automatically to his low voice. "You smell so good."
Unable to turn in his strong grip I push myself back against him an' he groans.
"Why are you doin' this?" I whimper.
"I can't stay away from you." He murmurs, grinding himself into my ass. "I want you so much."
"Jasper." I moan.
Leaving one arm to bind me to his chest his other hand drops down ghosting down my leg until it encounters my bare skin an' rises up under my sundress.
"Oh shit." He groans when it meets the bare flesh at the top of my thighs. "Oh god you're so wet."
"Jasper please." I beg breathlessly as he slides one finger into my folds.
"I can't." He groans again, withdrawing his hand. "I promised."
Now it's my turn to groan.
"You know if you keep this up we'll never last until this secret destination." I practically pant as his large hands slide up an' down my sides bunching up the fabric of my dress.
"Bella." He whispers turning me to face his him, capturing me with his eyes an' slowly lowering his mouth to mine.
A jolt of electricity shoots through me as our lips meet an' begin to move gently but purposefully against each other. Automatically my hands mirror his, shooting into his hair to hold his head to mine.
He moves our bodies closer together an' I melt into him opening my mouth to allow his tongue to claim it.
Desire swells inside me again an' this time I just know he isn't going to stop . . . .
"J." Pete's voice slices through our mood like a knife through butter. "Stop molesting Mrs J in the bushes an' get your horny ass back in here. We've only got half an' hour till you leave an' this fuckin' 'audience' next month ain't gonna organise itself."
With a sigh Jasper transfers his lips to the top of my head.
"I don't know whether to hug him for helping me keep my promise." He chuckles. "Or punch him out for being a cock blockin' son of a bitch."
"Humph." I disentangle myself from his embrace, not an easy thing to do in my current state, an' straighten my dress and hair.
With a rueful smirk Jasper re-arranges himself in his jeans, also no easy thing in his current state, an' leads me back out onto the path.
Pete grins evilly as we emerge an' darts back in through the windows.
Chuckling Jasper leans down to brush his lips across my forehead an' then follows Pete inside.
"Honestly J." I hear him scold as I walk away. "You'd think at your age you could keep it in your pants for five minutes. You're gonna have her all to yourself in a couple of hours for fuck's sake . . . ."
At a loss for something to do I wander around the compound with a stupid grin on my face an' with a jolt I realise that I am truly happy an' for the first time in a long time I actually feel completely relaxed. It's more than just the demise of Rutilio, although god knows that's enough of a weight lifted from my mind, an' it isn't because everything in my life is complication free, it's not. It's more a realisation that I'm where I belong, with the people I belong with, albeit more of them than I would have envisaged, an' that whatever comes at us with our new station in life it's coming for all of us an' we'll face it an' deal with it together.
The last of the anger an' frustration I didn't realise I was holding against Jasper melts away from me leaving me freer an' lighter. It's a surprisingly physical sensation, like peeling off wet clothes that have trapped you in their inescapable an' clammy embrace. Almost like dropping one of my shields.
Speaking of which, I shake myself mentally, I don't care if Operation Pack to Embarrass Bella is still underway I want a shower before Jasper an' I head back to the airport.
In our room I am greeted by three smugly grinning fools an' a large pile of luggage.
"Hop in the shower hun." Char laughs taking in the deeply suspicious look on my face. "Your travel outfit's on the bed an' we'll take the cases down to the car."
Grabbing a towel I slide past them locking myself in the safety of the bathroom.
I shower quickly, anticipation taking me over. In just a few hours Jasper an' I will finally be alone and I can't wait. In fact, I can't bear to be away from him a moment later.
Drying myself of hastily I dress in the outfit they've left on the bed. Lacy underwear. Check. Light sea green dress with a deep v back an' front and a fit an' flare skirt. Shows off my figure to perfection. Check. Matching sandals with kitten heels an' whispy straps which criss cross my ankles and calves. Check. Short, soft brown leather jacket, the color of one of Jasper's well-oiled saddles. Check. Matching purse. Check. Designer sunglasses. Really? Oh what the hell. Check.
Surveying myself in the mirror I acknowledge they've done a good job so far. I look good enough to eat, even if I do say so myself.
Tingling with excitement I follow the sound of voices down into the driveway where one of the muscle cars I remember from Wyoming is idling on the asphalt, waiting patiently, while the men drool over it.
Jasper turns first, sensing my presence. In two quick strides he has me in his arms.
"You look beautiful." He whispers into my hair.
"You don't look so bad yourself." I allow. He's wearing casual black pants, a light blue cotton shirt unbuttoned just low enough to hint at the magnificent chest beneath an' shiny black brogues.
"Shall we Mrs Whitlock?" He offers, gesturing grandly at the car.
"Let's." I answer eagerly letting him settle me in the deep leather passenger seat.
Most of the Cowboy Coven have turned out to see us off an' for once their presence doesn't irk me, I wave back happily as Jasper roars off down the drive in a completely unnecessary cloud of tyre smoke.
As soon as we hit the open road he reaches over to take my hand, resting it in his lap an' massaging my palm with his thumb.
An' that's how we stay, hand in hand, as he steers us adeptly through airport check-in an' onto our flight.
I pass the uneventful flight curled up against his side, enjoying the smell of him an' the feel of his arm draped across my back. We don't talk much, mostly just light banter because he refuses to tell me our ultimate destination.
It's dark when we arrive in Miami. The warm night air embraces us as we leave the busy airport behind in our hire car.
Now we are here I'm even more curious about our destination, especially when Jasper drives us to a marina.
"We're hirin' a boat?" I ask, imaging he an' I, alone together on a boat, bobbing around in the ocean miles from anywhere. I shiver in anticipation.
"Not exactly." He smirks, helping me out of the car.
"Mr Whitlock?" A short balding man, with 'I aim to please' written all over his face rushes forwards to shake Jasper's hand. "My name is Reynolds. Your yacht is ready Sir. If you will follow me I'll have someone bring your bags."
He trots off with Jasper an' I striding behind him. Leading us down a twisty path of wooden walkways before stopping and gesturing grandly in front of something sleek an' white that screams luxury.
"It's nice to see such a fine vessel in use again." He says happily. "She sits here for far too long. As I have explained to Mr Carrington many times I am more than happy to arrange for her to be chartered lucratively to our very best clients."
Noting Jasper's forbidding look he ushers us on board, still talking.
"Mr Carrington has already supplied all the paperwork and some very specific instructions for stocking the kitchen. He assures me you are competent with her operation but if you require any assistance leaving the marina I will be more than happy to help you. I have piloted her many times."
"I'm sure we'll be fine." Jasper drawls. "I have owned one like her in the past."
"You have?" I ask at vampire speed while my eyes rake in the luxury surrounding me.
"Carlisle's got one." He shrugs. "Alice an' I used to take it out sometimes. He keeps it in Indonesia, got his own island out there too. Isle Esme."
Wow. I knew the Cullens were rich but a luxury yacht and an island?
"This one belongs to us." Jasper chuckles as Reynolds drones on oblivious.
"Simon didn't mention us ownin' a boat." I gasp.
"Apparently he didn't think you took the news about the jumbo very well so he decided to keep some of the other assets back to discuss another time." He smirks, lifting my hand to his lips an' kissing it briefly. "Which has played right into my hands."
"Jasper, what o . . . ."
He holds his finger to his lips an' directs my attention back to Reynolds who has finished talking an' is offering a set of keys to Jasper almost reverentially.
Two men arrive with our luggage as Reynolds an' Jasper conclude their business an' I stifle a giggle as he ushers them all, none too politely, off the boat.
"Alone at last." I murmur, gazing up at him through my lashes.
"Not quite." He smirks again. "Make yourself comfortable Mrs Whitlock, I anticipate a cruisin' time of roughly five hours to our destination."
"Destination?" I ask in a triumph of hope over experience.
Laughing he takes my hand an' leads me up to what I assume is the bridge, I know nothing about boats, settling me easily onto his lap he nods to the men watching from the dock an' they untie the lines while he starts the engines which rumble into life.
With a wave of thanks he guides the boat out of our 'parking' space an' steers it towards the ocean.
Sighing contentedly I snuggle into his chest.