Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 34 Paradise Left

BPOV

I am trapped.

Well not exactly trapped per se, I could move if I wanted to, but I don't. Despite the large vampire sprawled bonelessly across me, his weight pressing me relentlessly into the soft bed, I am quite content.

I've tried lifting one of his arms a few times, it flops back onto the mattress as soon as I let go of it.

If I twist around a bit I can peer into his face. The lights are on but nobody's home. He's smiling though, that's got to be a good sign, right?

I'm pretty sure I didn't hurt him. Also a good sign I think.

With nothing else to do I take inventory. I should feel sore, pleasantly sore, but of course I don't. Instead I feel, damn it, I feel horny. I have got a severe problem going on here. My ridiculously sexy husband is draped over me like a comforter one muscular thigh wedged between mine but apparently away with the fairies. An' I'm thirsty.

Huffing I wriggle an' squirm until I've moved him to one side. Hopping off the bed I raid the fridge, cold is not good but it's still blood. Satisfied I give Jasper another inspection, still comatose, an' hop in the shower.

When I emerge he's managed to flip himself over on his back an' is smiling inanely at the ceiling.

"Alright?" I ask with a hint of sarcasm.

Grabbing my wrist he pulls me down on the bed beside him.

"Have I really just lost two days of my undead life?" He asks in wonder.

"Yes." I chuckle. "An' I take exception to your use of the word lost. An' I would like to remind you that you asked or it."

"An' I certainly got it darlin'." He growls, rolling on top of me. "Did we really . . . ."

"Yes we did." I answer quickly attempting to wriggle out from under him again. "You must be thirsty, let me get you somethin'."

"Not so fast darlin'." He drawls, grinding his hips into me. "There's somethin' I need more than liquid refreshment right now."

I attempt to roll my eyes at him but he slides deep inside me an' instead they roll uselessly back into my head.

"Oh god Jasper." I scream, throwing my legs up around his waist.

I'm such a hussy.

An' that takes care of day three.

After which we settled into an obsessive frenzy which I assume would be familiar to anyone in the last few days of their vacation.

We went diving on the reef, no equipment required. Amazing, the colors, the fish, the corals an' the shipwrecks. Shipwrecks are destined to become my first vampire obsession, I think.

We scaled the island's equivalent of a mountain. Alright, small hill. An' we didn't scale it, Jasper jumped most of the way up with me slung over his shoulder, he was having a caveman moment.

He took me over the desk, I even managed to get a few emails done, just to prove a point. Alright, one message, an' I'll have to think of a really good excuse for it before Char gets hold of me.

The contents of my suitcase have been well used, even the cheesy outfits an' the stuff in the box labelled 'EXTREME'. Stupid kinky vampires, I'll never let them pack for me again. I shall not feel guilty. I am on a deserted tropical island with the world's sexiest man. My husband an' mate. However, the contents of that box will be retired to the bottom of the ocean somewhere between here an' Miami. Probably with a small ceremony of remembrance. An' definitely before Jasper realises what I've got planned. The pervert.

We took a trip to Grand Bahama, arriving late to avoid any sparkling issues an' dancing the night away among the humans. It was beautiful an' we felt totally normal. Well, not completely, hot sweaty lustful an' vigorously dancing human is a very appetising aroma and Jasper had to take my mind off it several times.

An' now we're on our way home.

Not so long ago I would have felt bereft at leaving this place an' returning to a world that contains more than just Jasper an' I, but now I don't lament our return to reality.

Don't get me wrong, I feel at little melancholy. But reality is my oversize family an' home is Jasper. An' I'm sitting on his lap.

Mating bond to the side, all is right with the world. Just as it has been since been since I met him. Anyone else might find it crazy. But I don't, an' frankly, mine is the only opinion that counts.

I feel relaxed an' accepting. There's still a question mark over our bond but it's currently only a small one. I obviously didn't have any doubts over our revelation, otherwise no way would I have bitten him, but it was still a relief that my venom had the desired effect. Jasper doesn't realise it but he's constantly reaching up an' rubbing his hand over his new scar. My scar. Which makes we swell with possessive pride.

So I guess he was right. We are still mates. As to whether or not our marking escapade has removed the shield an' restored the bond only time will tell, I sure as hell can't. Other than a fervent wish that I'd bitten him a long time ago there is nothing to indicate that anything has changed.

Neither of us feels the need to talk an' so in companionable silence we return the boat, traipse through the airport an' cosy up on the flight.

Even to a vampire the cold air in Seattle is a slap to the face.

Playing dutiful husband to the hilt Jasper gathers me too him an' half carries me through the annoying airport rituals only putting me down when a squealing Char descends on me with arms opened wide like the jaws of life.

We bounce up an' down for a bit an' them my brother prises us apart an' gives me a tight hug.

"You're very pale for two people who've been in the Bahamas." He announces loudly.

I cringe under the knowing smirks of the other passengers.

"Shut up Petey." I growl.

"Aw, don't be like that sweet thing." He laughs, setting me back on my feet but refusing to release me from his crushing grip. "I've missed ya. No drama, no angst. Nobody's died. Demetri's been mopin' an' Simon an' Char have been re-arrangin' all the furniture."

"How come you're here?" I ask as he drags me outside to one of his huge trucks. "We drove."

"Lil' sis." He informs me as he settles me in a seat. "J might love you but there ain't no way he'd leave one his precious babies parked in an airport lot for two weeks. We retrieved it as soon as you took off. Me an' Char had to beat the crap out of Simon for the right to pick you up tonight. I think he missed ya too."

I snigger, I know Simon, that would have been a lot harder than Pete made it sound.

Char settles in beside me, casting happy glances between Jasper an' I. She's dying for information, I can tell.

"You look very pleased with yourself." She observes quietly as soon as we are on the freeway an' Jasper and Pete are in deep in conversation.

Normally I would demure or outright tell her to butt out, she likes the challenge of getting personal information out of me, but this time I'm so pleased with myself I break out into a huge shit eating grin.

Supressing a squeal she climbs into my lap an' presses her lips to my ear.

"You did it, didn't you?" She whispers urgently.

I nod.

"Oh my god, oh my god." She starts bouncing on me. "I don't know whether to ask about the sex or the bond."

Very quietly I tell her about our revelation, unsure what her reaction will be.

"Oh sugar." She sighs, giving my arm a squeeze. "That fuckin' sucks. Did it work?"

I shrug, an' because whispering around vampires is a pointless exercise, Jasper reaches back without turning an' gives my knee a squeeze too.

The truth is we don't know. The fact that my biting him had the right affect an' didn't end in tears or my head being ripped off is a good indication that all is well, not a certification of same. We still don't really know that our theory is correct or how to undo the damage if it is. Hidden Bella an' I are in for some serious head time.

Char leaves me to my contemplation for a while an' then, true to form, has to ask.

"An' the sex?"

"Was quite satisfactory Charlotte." Jasper growls, playing the gentleman an' trying to spare my embarrassment.

"Satisfactory?" I gasp. "Is that all you'd call it Jasper Nathaniel Whitlock?"

"I, we, you . . . ." He twists in his seat to look at me helplessly.

The expression on his face is priceless when I start to laugh.

"Oh darlin'." He growls. "You want me to tell 'em what really happened?"

"YES!" Pete an' Char shout together.

"NO!" I squeal. "Don't you dare!"

He waggles his eyebrows at me an' turns back to face the front.

"Well, when she bit me I c . . . ."

Desperate I reach forward an' cuff him around the ear, accidentally depositing a hysterical Char on the floor.

"Ouch." He whines as his head rebounds off the door pillar.

"Enough!" Pete yells in panic. "This is a new truck."

"I'd rather hear about their new fuck." Char howls, clutching her stomach. "I've seen the pictures."

"WHAT?" I screech, my voice ripping through a few octaves.

"You do realise J's laptop has a built-in webcam, right?"

My head snaps up, eyes wide with horror. That message.

She throws her head back an' convulses with laughter.

"Don't worry hun." She splutters when she can breathe again. "I deleted it. An' on the bright side I'll never, ever, need to ask you any more questions about what J's like in the sack."

Oh the shame. There was lubricant involved in that particular interlude. Eventually.

Jasper an' Pete are pissing themselves with laughter, the truck veering all over the highway.

"You didn't?" I accuse her.

Pete snorts an' nearly rams the car in front.

Oh my god she did.

"Char!" I scream in outrage, throwing myself down on top of her.

An' so we arrive home, my sister an' I brawling like two high schoolers an' Jasper and Pete laughing their handsome heads off.

Still giggling we spill out of the truck when Pete pulls to a jerky stop at the front of the house.

Demetri, Simon an' Ksenyia are waiting on the steps.

The sight of the Russian coven leader sobers me instantly even though she's smiling indulgently at our antics.

"Master, Mistress." Demetri greets us formally. "Welcome home. Ksenyia has joined us early for the audience."

"Master, Mistress." The blonde bows deeply. "I am so sorry to intrude but we are having issues with which we would greatly appreciate your help."

Jasper an' Pete exchange a glance.

"It's no problem Ksenyia." Jasper assures her. "Please be kind enough to wait an hour while my wife an' I refresh ourselves after our journey."

"Of course Master." She responds with a nod. "Mistress. I will wait as long as you need me to."

She turns away heading back into the house an' Demetri favours us with a wide flash of his teeth before gliding after her. With a nod to Jasper, Pete follows taking Char with him.

Simon darts forwards an' grabs our luggage.

"It is nothing to worry about, I think." He whispers as we follow him up to our room. "She has come on her own and seems to genuinely want our help. She is mortified to the core that she has turned up unannounced while you two were on your jollies."

He opens our door an' heaves our cases onto the bed.

"Send Pete up in ten minutes please Simon." Jasper orders. "And make sure you an' Demetri have briefed him first."

"Yes Master." Simon assures him, closing the door behind him.

Jasper pulls me into his arms with a regretful sigh.

"An' so we're home." He murmurs into my hair.

"Yes we are." I rub my cheek against the scar on his chest. My scar.

We stand, our arms entwined around each other, for a long time until a tap at the door signals that Pete's done hanging around in the hallway waiting for us to acknowledge his presence.

"Duty calls." I chuckle pulling out of Jasper's arms.

"Humph. Come in Pete." He drawls. "We're decent."

"Well fuck me!" Pete exclaims in surprise as he barrels in. "So you are. We should send you away more often."

I flip him the finger an' flop down on the bed next to the luggage mountain.

"Short summary." He explains. "She's havin' some trouble with the ass end of Vladimir's coven. Since they've got wind that the old boy's copped it they're encroachin' on her territory an' causin' all manner of trouble.

Vampire by the name of Cezar. Demetri knows him an' he is a hairy fucker apparently. Amazin' how many vampires have appropriate names."

"How many?" Jasper asks impatiently.

There's a joke there but I manage to stifle it.

"Four includin' him as far as they can tell." Pete answers quickly. "Big D says he's trouble with a capital T an' we should get rid of him as soon as possible."

"An' why does Ksenyia need our help if there are only four of 'em?" I ask. "She's got a fairly sizeable coven of her own."

"Well now." Pete drawls, flopping down the other side of the baggage pile. "That's the question isn't it sweet thing. Why?"

"We are supposed to be the ones that keep the peace." Jasper points out.

"Yeah, but four J?" Pete lifts his hat an' scratches his head. "Ksenyia's one of Vladimir's, she could probably take 'em out on her own."

Jasper looks at me. The obvious question written all over his face. Plot, intrigue, potential danger.

"Don't worry." I reassure him. "At least we'll never get bored."

"Little sister." Pete chuckles. "I knew I was right about you bein' the one for J."

"Whatever Petey." I drawl. "You'd better run along now. Jasper an' I have somethin' to discuss before we see Ksenyia."

"Yes Ma'am." He leaps to his feet saluting cheekily an' scuttles off.

"We do?" Jasper asks, raising his eyebrow at me.

"Yes." I tell him firmly. "In the shower."

Without complaint he follows my example an' strips, dutifully trotting after me into the bathroom.

I turn the shower on to its most vigorous setting an' step in with him right behind me.

"What's so secret we need to get in the shower to discuss it?" He asks, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Nothin'." I murmur seductively as I sink to my knees.

"Oh fuck, Bella." He groans.