Chapter Twenty Two

Jasper

I had no idea what to do now I'd picked Bella up, what did she need? What was she expecting from me? Did she have the faintest idea what she'd done? I saw her looking over at me.

"What are you thinking Bella?"

"How beautiful you are and how you make me feel."

"And how is that?"

"Fishing for compliments?"

"No. It's just that I know nothing about you and I have no idea what you are expecting of me. I've never had a human woman in my company like this"

"No. Alice told me about you but I'm not scared of you. I love you and I know you love me or you wouldn't be here now. You wouldn't have come back for me. You came back for the same reason I asked you to. It's too painful trying to live without you. What did your friends say?"

"I didn't tell them. They think I just had business to transact."

"They don't know what I am do they?"

I shook my head, "No. They think you are a vampire in a difficult situation that I'm helping. I do some work like that sometimes. It pays well."

"You are a kind of vampire mercenary?"

I laughed, "You could say that I suppose"

"So what do you think they'll say when you turn up with me?"

"No idea but I think it might be a bit difficult. Don't forget we're all blood drinkers, human blood drinkers"

"If you're trying to frighten me it's not working. If you wanted my blood you could have had it any time over the last few weeks. Even in Phoenix when I was bleeding."

I nodded, "True. Well we'll see when we get there."

Peter

I knew the Major was on his way but I felt he was bringing trouble with him.

"Char what did the Major say when he left so suddenly?"

"Just he had something to do and he'd be back soon. Why?"

"I've got a bad feeling. I don't think he's gonna be alone."

"Maybe he'll bring that woman with him. You know the one he's been helping."

"What do we know about her?"

"Nothing. You know he doesn't discuss his work with us unless we're helping."

"He had a strange look on his face the last couple of days. I think he's up to something. He's not been his usual self. Like he was waiting for something. Hey you don't think he's found his mate do you? Fuck, that would be something."

"Well if he has its good he's bringing her here."

"I'm not so sure Char. Something isn't right. I don't like this one fucking bit."

Bella

Jasper was very wary of me, almost as if he didn't quite know what to do now he'd got me. I knew he hadn't had any experience with women so I made allowances but it got to the point when I had to do something, he was driving me crazy. We stopped so I could eat and use the rest room and he sat nursing a cup of coffee while I ate, watching me.

"Jasper, could I ask you something personal?"

He looked surprised, "Sure. I'll tell you anything you want to know"

"Well I know you feel the same way about me as I do about you so why don't you touch me?"

I had taken him aback, "I wasn't expecting that one Bella. I guess I'm not sure how to go about it."

I nodded, "OK I can work with that. But you do want to touch me?"

He grinned and nodded, "Yes Bella, very much".

When I finished and he left the money on the table I took his hand to walk back to the truck. His muscles tensed slightly but he didn't pull away and when we drove off I sat close to him, resting my head on his shoulder. After a few miles he sighed and put his arm around my shoulders.

"That's nice" I murmured closing my eyes and enjoying the closeness.

His hand at first clenched slowly opened and his fingers stroked my neck as he drove. I think it happened because he wasn't thinking about it and I sure wasn't going to say anything to put him off.

"Do we have much further to go?" I asked when I woke up from a doze.

"No. Almost there. Would you like to stop first? It might be a good idea to get a few groceries in. The cupboards at Peters will be empty I suspect." I smiled and nodded, "Yeah O positive isn't my favourite meal".

He looked a little shocked at my joke but smiled after a while. It seemed his face wasn't used to smiling but it changed his whole appearance.

We stopped in a small town that was almost deserted and I realized it was getting late. There was a convenience store and Jasper waited in the truck giving me a fist full of notes to pay for the shopping.

"Get enough for a few days so we don't have to come back here, just in case you're spotted."

As I went in to the shop I looked back and he was sitting looking at me. Once inside I moved quickly, I hated to be out of sight of him. I grabbed enough cans and packets to last a week along with fruit, sodas and personal items. Did vampires use shampoo and toothpaste? I'd never really thought about it until now. I grabbed the paper sacks full of groceries and struggled out to the truck. Seeing them balanced precariously in my arms he came to help.

"Got enough?" He asked quite seriously and I nodded. "Right. Just another hour and we'll be there"

I started to get nervous as we drove out of town.

"You OK? What's bothering you?"

"Just the thought of meeting your friends. I'm going to be a shock aren't I?"

He laughed loudly, "Oh yeah. Peters going to do his nut".

That didn't make me feel any better but his hand pulling me close for a cuddle did.

"Are you thirsty?" I asked suddenly then wished I hadn't because he pulled away and slowed the truck. "Why do you ask Bella? Am I scaring you?"

I put his arm back around me. "No. I just remembered you didn't have time to hunt before you got to Forks. I'm just worried that I'm making you uncomfortable being so close."

He relaxed again. "I'm fine Bella. I can control my thirst pretty well. If I thought you were in danger I'd leave you here in the truck and go hunt."

"A human from that town back there?"

"No. Too close to Peters. I'd make do with an animal for now."

"Oh so you hunt both?"

He nodded, "Yes. I've had to over the years. Necessity."