AN: Bella takes a step forward. Jasper lets Alice understand her place in his life.

Chapter sixteen: Move Along

Bella, January, 2011...

January, 2011…

Jasper really doesn't see his beauty. Or he does, but it doesn't matter. It's almost the end of January and my feelings for him are getting stronger with each day that passes.

I don't have to keep it a secret. We have already said what we felt. We want…more.

But Jasper wasn't making things easy for me.

Whenever he's here, everything about him disarms me. His smile, his laugh, the way he gives me those long stares that makes my insides do flip flops. The way he makes my knees buckle when he's near, it's all maddening.

But I affect him too. When I bite my bottom lip, or when I smile, Jasper stutters and even occasionally blushes.

We both have a profound effect on each other.

I love watching Jasper in action. As a boss, he's stern and commanding. It's like watching a general dictate to his troops. Jasper is always so in control yet he's also kindhearted, understanding and charismatic.

So far, living with him has been a great experience. I find so much peace here.

When my chores are done, I can always find a book either from his small library or the larger one in the main house, find a corner and read. No one disturbs me. No one makes crazed demands of me. Life is just...easy. Life is good.

"Bella!" Jasper called up to me.

"Yeah?"

"Come on down here for a minute, darlin'." He loved to call me that now. He used it more than my name.

I saved my entry and logged off, threw on my boots and went downstairs to him.

"What's up, Cowboy?" Since he had gotten in the habit of calling me something, I came up with a name for him. And he loved it.

Jasper looked so good today, standing there in his Wranglers, a plaid shirt, his brown cowboy boots and a gray Stetson. I swear he had a cowboy hat in every color.

"Let's go ridin'," he smiled.

"What?" I laughed. "I have a session with your aunt today."

"And we can go where I want to take you, and still be back in time for that,' Jasper countered.

Smart ass!

"I don't think I should," I pouted, biting my lip. I really wanted to talk to Esme today.

Last night, I dreamt about Jasper and it wasn't a scary dream. It was actually very fulfilling. Dream Jasper did things to me I didn't know existed.

Just standing here now, thinking about it, made me wet. Jasper wasn't aware of the growing weakness I was getting from being around him. It was getting hard to fight.

He groaned, staring at my lip. "Come on, darlin'…" he stepped up the stairs, drawing close to me. His cool breath was on my face and I was putty in his hands. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me close while I fought to breathe. He was intoxicating. "…you know you want to. I swear I'll have you back in no time."

We had limited our touches to simple lacing of our fingers or his arm over my shoulder, or Jasper's favorite, a kiss of my forehead. But the other night, it grew to more when he kissed my neck. I froze, not in fear, but in desire.

He kissed my forehead and then groaned as he scraped his mouth along my jaw down to my neck and kissing it once, while I shuddered, holding onto his waist for support. "Okay."

Suddenly, he jumped away. "Good!"

Did I mention Jasper loved to play?

"You did that on purpose," I said, running after him out the door after grabbing my jacket.

"Yes," he admitted, quickly kissing my cheek and jumping away when I moved to smack his shoulder. I loved how playful he made me feel. "And I got what I wanted." He drew close and pulled me to him, kissing my forehead and staring at me with those sparkling orbs.

"What's that?" I wrapped my hands around his neck as we stopped on our way to the stables.

"You on a horse," he smiled.

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Carefully, darlin', mind how you tease me."

I loved when he dropped those hints of things heating up between us. I felt wanted and desired when he did it.

"Maybe I like teasing," I countered and he groaned, letting me go.

I laughed all the way to the stables.

I watched as he got our horses ready. Jasper had presented me with a gift a few days ago. Mystery. She was so beautiful.

Sam and Maria gave me a few lessons and Jasper took over when he had the time.

Between the three of them, it was like I had never stopped riding. I loved my horse. She was like a kindred spirit. To me, she was just a girl hiding in plain sight, t like me. And she had a fire dancing on the surface too, just like me. I loved her.

Jasper's firm chest, arms and ass were teasing me to no end. His body was my worst enemy. My kryptonite. All I thought about was it and what it looked like without a stitch of clothes on. Whenever I got the chance to see him do anything on the ranch.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a quizzical brow and a smirk as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Y-y-eah!" I said quickly and he laughed.

"Alright then, come on, let's head out."

I got on Mystery's back without Jasper's help and he applauded me. We led the horses out and when we got on the field, Jasper said, "We're just going to trot around a bit."

"Okay," I answered though I had no intention of simply trotting around today. The pasture was vast and I wanted to see what Mystery could do today.

Jasper and I danced around each other on our horses while we talked and laughed, simply enjoying the morning and being in each other's company.

"Jasper!" That voice. I knew that voice. Alice. "Jasper!" she called again and I watched him bristle.

"You should go," I said as his eyes flashed to mine. They were furious and his glare sent a shudder through me. Mystery neighed, probably hating the sound of Alice's voice too, and I calmed her. "She's not going to stop."

"I know," he mumbled, but still made no move to leave.

Alice amazed me. How do you not know when a man doesn't want you? I was no expert, but to have a guy ignore me the way Jasper was ignoring her, was a clear sign that your presence was not welcomed in his life anymore. However, she didn't want to accept that.

I don't fully know what happened between them, but if it was enough to upset Jasper, so I wanted her gone. I felt protective of him.

She called over again, and seeing as Jasper was making no move to go to her, I suggested, "Why don't I go with you?"

"Really now?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "I want to say 'hi'."

He laughed brightly, and angled Thunder to head over to the fence where Alice stood. I did the same with Mystery.

As we trotted over, Jasper said, "I don't want her bothering you today."

"Trust me, she's mostly going to ignore me anyways."

We got to the fence and Alice sneered as she took us in. "What's this? Riding lessons?"

I didn't answer.

"What's wrong with you?" Jasper asked.

"Well, I was calling you over here, honey." She looked at me as she said that and I wanted to smack that smirk off her face.

"What's going on here?" Maria asked as she walked over. She looked between the three of us curiously.

"It seems that your son is giving riding lessons to the help," Alice promptly said. "Is this a new thing you do for staff?"

"Why are you here?" Jasper interjected, rolling his eyes while Maria looked like she wanted to wring Alice's neck.

"Well, someone wasn't answering his phone so I had to come and see what it was, that…" She looked at me with disgust. "…had you so distracted?"

"Well?" Jasper asked.

"Well what?" Alice said with a weird gleam in her eye. If she was going for sexy, it was coming off more like needy, but I was too interested to turn away.

"Well, what did you want?" Jasper asked in an edgy tone. He was pissed. His voice was strained and the way he was gripping the reins like he was restraining himself.

Alice looked between me and Maria before she said, "I was thinking that we could discuss it in private."

"If it has to do with Rose's wedding, I have nothing to do with that," he said. "There is my mother; you can talk to her about that. I just have to show up."

"It doesn't have to do with the wedding," Alice responded. "It's more about us and I believe…" she emphasized on the word while shooting daggers at me. "…that we should discuss it in private."

"No," Jasper said. "You can talk right here."

Alice bristled at that and turned her attention to me as Maria glared at her. "Don't you have dishes to wash?"

Maria and Jasper were both about to answer her, but this one was mine. "No, I have riding lessons that I should been getting to. Good day, Ma'am." She gasped at my answer as I guided Mystery in the direction I wanted her, and with a pull on the reins and my order, we were off in full gallop away from that bitch.

~~abt~~

"Bella!" Jasper called, but I didn't stop my girl.

"Ha!" I said and Mystery took full advantage of the order and pushed herself as we rode effortless across the wide open area. The ranch seemed to go on for miles and I reveled in the cool breeze whipping across my face as we rode far away from everyone.

I vaguely heard Jasper calling me again, probably worried that I didn't know where I was heading but I did. I found this little place up by a stream that also belonged to the Whitlocks according to Sam and I loved it. It was like heaven on Earth there.

"Bella!" I heard again, but I didn't look back."Bella! Stop!" I didn't intend to until I got to that piece of paradise.

When we neared the area, I slowed us down to a trot, taking Mystery through the area the way Sam taught me. I knew Jasper would follow me in, so I didn't bother to look back as Mystery drew us closer to our favorite spot.

Jasper and Thunder came up alongside us in a trot. "How and when did you two find your way here?"

"When Sam and Maria took me riding," I said harshly.

"Oh, I didn't know." There was a sadness to his tone. I didn't like hurting him but I was getting angry. Why couldn't Alice leave him be? He was over her. And she just couldn't take a hint.

We got to the spot and dismounted. "Why I ask, is because this is my favorite place to go, to get away."

"I didn't know that. I'm sorry for snapping at you," I told him. "You didn't deserve it."

"It's okay," Jasper whispered, moving over to me and kissing my forehead.

We tied our horses to an oak tree and sat down together. I took Jasper's hand in mine, loving the feel of his calloused palm against mine. "You're a smart girl," he commented, and I tilted my head to meet his eyes. "Leaving like that."

"I'm sorry for speaking to her like that."

"Don't be," he laughed. "You gave me a way out when you rode off."

I laughed. "Why won't she leave you alone?"

"Because Alice doesn't understand a world that doesn't revolve around her."

"She better get to," I said. I couldn't believe how defensive I was of him. But Jasper deserved someone protecting him for a change.

"Yeah, I don't think my would-be girl…" I laughed at his description of me. "…likes her hanging around."

"No, she doesn't."

He kissed my neck. "Jasper, stop…"

"Sorry." The sadness was back.

"Stop, because I'm not ready. Not stop, because of Alice." He nodded. I was sick of this. "What did she do to you?"

"Cheated on me," he said; it just rolled off his tongue. The hurt in his voice was evident and it fueled my anger. "The funny thing was, I didn't want to believe it. I thought she loved me. Six years, Bella. I wasted six years on her."

"I'm so sorry."

"I should be, and sometimes, I am, but since you, not anymore," he said, gazing into my eyes. "There is something about you that heals the pain. I want to heal you too. I want to be the one you run to."

"You are," I said with conviction. "You're becoming everything to me. I didn't even think someone like you existed for me."

"I'm glad I do." He kissed my cheek.

"Me too."

We sat there, me between Jasper's legs and his back against a tree. He was lost in thought and I allowed the time he needed. When he started to speak, I didn't interrupt because he needed this. "The pictures you saw with Alice and me were from about four years ago."

"Oh," was my eloquent answer, but it was enough for him to go on.

"You see, Alice was a popular girl and I was just the lanky, nerdy looking rich kid with a love for Star Wars, horses and video games."

"I really like that guy."

Jasper chuckled, "He likes you too."

"I thought things were great with us and she was the one," he said. "I took her everywhere. Between the houses…"

All I heard was, "Houses?" I could roll my eyes at myself for sounding so dumb right now. "There's more?"

He smiled, "Yeah, darlin', there is way more."

"Like where? Not to take you off the topic, but…"

"It's alright," he chuckled. "Let's see, an apartment in New York, A home in Dallas, it's where Esme and Carlisle used to live, it's mine. Another home in Houston, that one belongs to Rose now. A place in Paris, I like it there."

"You speak French?"

"Oui," he replied with a smile.

"And where else? Because, oh my God," I exclaimed.

"Well, there's the ranch which is owned by the three of us now and I have another place in Turks and Caicos."

"In the Caribbean?!"

Jasper laughed, "I'll take you there when I get the chance."

"Take me there?" I asked. "You would just up and buy me a ticket to the Caribbean. Travelling out of the country maybe a problem for me, Cowboy, no passport."

"I'll find a way around that," he countered with a kiss on top of my head.

He was unbelievable. "Let's get back to you and Alice," he laughed at my response, and got back to the topic at hand.

"There was a party, and Alice was there. We never really talked before, but that night, it changed," he said. "She approached me and we got to talking." He was reminiscing. You could hear it in his tone. "We talked for what felt like hours."

"So things started from there?"

"You can say that," Jasper replied. "They escalated from there to daily calls and eventually more."

"Sounds nice," I whispered. I couldn't help the sting of jealousy I felt that Jasper got to be normal with Alice.

With her, he didn't have to worry about a thing. There would be no crazed man coming after him or some psycho to wake him up at night while she screamed in the dark.

"Bella, don't do it," Jasper commanded. He moved from behind me and came to squat in front of me. His gaze was fierce as he chastised me. "I like you. I want you. I want to be with you. This has nothing to do with Alice."

I couldn't help the tears that pooled in my eyes. I looked away from him. "She gave you 'normal' and I'm only bringing trouble."

"I don't care," Jasper said defiantly. "You're the one I want."

He pulled me into a hug and I hung on to him. I loved being in his arms. It was safe there. I was loved there.

We stayed like that until it hurt and we let go. Jasper moved back behind me and once again, I relaxed against him.

"Thank you for sharing that with me, and I'm sorry Alice was foolishly enough to hurt you."

"Thank you," Jasper kissed my cheek, and I rested my head on his chest.

It was time. He needed to know…me.

My voice was low when I began and I wasn't even sure if he heard me, but I wanted to talk.

"I know you have a PI or more than one of them to check up on things for the family, so what've you learnt about me?"

I moved away from him and stood, walking a bit to the water's edge. Jasper followed.

He turned me to him, pulling me close. He looked deep into my eyes as if he was searching for something, before he said softly, "You're Isabella Marie Swan, you're 26 years old. You graduated college. You're an English major with a passion for culinary arts. You danced at the Alexandria dance studio and you married James Carter six years ago. And December of last year, you took a stand and walked away."

"There is more, isn't there?"

"Are you sure you want me to say it?" he asked.

"Yes. I need to know what you've learned so that I know what I still have to share with you." He looked stunned by my answer.

"Bella, I have someone keeping an eye on James and if and when he makes a move, I'll know," he said in a serious tone. "Nothing will happen to you. Not while you're here."

I nodded and kissed his cheek before moving out of his arms and walking away. I headed over to Mystery and Thunder.

Again, Jasper followed.

I petted my horse and she neighed. I loved her. I don't look at him when I start, "It was 3 am and I was lying beside him, naked. He wanted us to cuddle." I chuckled darkly at the memory. "Phil was waiting. I had to run that night. I wouldn't have gotten that opportunity again. So I went to the bathroom after he sleepily allowed it, and then when I thought he was deep enough in his slumber, I made a run for it."

Jasper remained silent and I was thankful.

"I got the clothes I hid, on, took my backpack, and I was out the door. He didn't know I had the new code." I looked up at Jasper then. His shimmering eyes were hard, but I wasn't scared. It wasn't for me. "I ran, Jasper. I ran and I ran until I got to Phil and collapsed into his arms. He took me to a motel and gave me a car, money, and some new information."

"We've contacted him, and others too, including your father," Jasper told me. "I'm keeping an eye out for them."

"Thank you," I said, a single tear running down my cheek.

"You're welcome, Bella," he said.

This was the hardest thing to say. "Maybe one day I'll have to run again…" Jasper bristled and moved to protest but I cut him off. "But I swear, I'll never forget any of you. Jasper, from the moment I got in your mom's car, I felt like I could breathe again. And you…" I caressed his cheek and he leaned into my touch. "You are everything."

"Then don't ever leave."

"I'll try," I smiled.

I pulled away and Jasper got our horses untied. I got on Mystery's back and Jasper mounted Thunder.

Together, we rode back to the ranch for me to get ready for my session with Esme. I had a lot to talk about, if I didn't chicken out by the time I got there.

Jasper had shared a bit of himself and I let him know a bit about me.

"Then don't ever leave," His statement with me all the way back.

I never wanted to.