Chapter Sixty Six

Jasper

Once Peter had left I took Bella through to the huge bedroom and lay down with her on the bed,

"Bella, you're safe, I'm here with you and I'm not leaving. You take as long as you need darlin'."

I stretched out and she wound herself around holding me tight, balls of my shirt in her two fists.

I heard Peter come back some time later. He put his head around the door and mouthed,

"You OK?"

I nodded and he slipped two bags full of clothes in through the door.

"I've put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door so you should be OK for the next twenty-four hours".

He nodded again before turning his head back to Bella and I saw his neck muscles relax as he pulled her even tighter. They were going to be OK, it would just take time.

Bella

I remembered walking through the hotel lobby and Peter kissing my forehead but the only thing that mattered was Jaspers arms around me, feeling his body close to mine and the smell of his calming scent all around me. My fists ached when I next remembered anything and I unclenched then with difficulty looking down to see Jaspers shirt in huge bunches where I'd been grasping it. He knew I was awake but he never moved or said anything until I did.

"Jazz I'm sorry" I whispered.

"For what?"

"For falling apart like that, for being useless"

He pulled me against his chest and I felt his face buried in my hair. He rocked me until I slept again and when I woke this time he was sitting up, my head in his lap, his hand stroking my face.

"Hi beautiful. Feeling better?"

I nodded and rubbed my sore eyes,

"I must look a mess"

"You are always beautiful to me darlin'"

He leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips.

"Hungry?"

I thought about it,

"Yes, I think I am."

He slid out putting my head on the pillow which was nowhere near as comfortable as his lap.

"I'll order room service for you. Any request or are you going to leave it to me?"

I nodded and as soon as he was gone I jumped off the bed and ran to the mirror.

It was worse than I'd thought, my eyes were sore and puffy, my nose glowed red, and my hair looked like a ravaged hay stack. I groaned and wondered what to do first.

"Go shower Bella. I'll see what Peter got you to wear"

I didn't even want to think about that, the surprise would wait for now. I went into the huge bathroom and looked longingly at the huge whirlpool tub. It looked so inviting and I thought what the hell, so I filled it with hot water and stepped in, leaving a huge fluffy towel draped close at hand. I turned on all the jets and closed my eyes as my aching muscles relaxed in the bubbles.

Jasper

I ordered a meal for Bella in half an hour then heard the whirlpool turned on and amended that to an hour. The thought of Bella in that tub had me hard and moving involuntarily towards the bathroom. I stopped, one hand on the door when I heard a giggle.

"You can come in if you like. The bubbles cover my modesty"

I walked in and saw how she knew, the mirror showed a view of part of the bedroom. Seeing her naked in the bubbles did nothing to calm me and I slid down by the head of the tub closing my eyes and trying in vain to calm my animal instincts but it was hard going, especially when she reached down to stroke my face with one hot and damp hand. I took it in mine and kissed the palm then allowed myself a single intake of her blood pumping just below the surface of that small exquisite wrist. Venom pooled in my mouth and I swallowed it, with difficulty, down my parched and scorching throat. This wasn't good, I was too thirsty, I was going to become a danger to Bella myself if I didn't hunt soon.

Bella

He had no idea what he was doing to me sitting there just out of sight, holding my hot hand in his cool one. What I wanted to do was drag him in here with me but I had no idea how he would react to the suggestion of joining me. I sighed deeply and held his hand tighter.

"Jazz?"

"Yes Bella?"

"Are you OK?"

"Fine why?"

"I heard you breathing deeply while you were holding my wrist."

He let go of my hand straight away and I cursed my big mouth.

"I didn't mean it like that. Don't let go of me"

I felt him take my hand back in his,

"I was just worried for you. Are you thirsty? I'm not scared, just interested."

"Then yes I'm thirsty, but I will control myself."

"I know. I trust you. How will you hunt?"

"It's a big town, I'll find food somewhere"

"Do you still want to get married Jazz?"

"Now that is a stupid question. What's happened that would change my mind darlin?'"

"Me, being so weak"

"Weak? I've never seen anyone stand up to Aro like that, even another vampire."

"Except you. Remember I heard what you said"

"That's just chest beating Bella. Its expected of me"

I laughed

"You lie really badly Jazz. Which makes my next question even more important"

He tensed but I couldn't tell him not to worry. It was a biggie after all"

"OK, out with it then"

"And you'll answer truthfully?"

"Of course. I'll never lie to you Bella."

"I know that. You are a man of honour."

He chuckled but waited expectantly.

"Do you desire me?"

There was a deathly hush and I cursed my stupidity. Why would he Bella? You are so ordinary. Maybe once you are a vampire.

His answer was so soft I almost missed it

"More than anything in the world"

Jasper

Bella was driving me mad, I was so thirsty and she knew it but she refused to be afraid. Now she was asking me if I desired her! If she knew what it was costing me to sit here beside her knowing she was naked a few inches from me. The throbbing in my groin was vying with the scorch in my throat for the prize. I needed relief of one kind or the other before I exploded. I started to rise as the knock came on the suite door.

"Room Service"

I cursed and tried to get myself comfortable as I went to get Bella's food in. When I got back to the bathroom she was already dried and in baggy jogging bottoms that did nothing to make her less desirable and a clingy tee shirt that had me hard again in seconds. She smiled,

"I really need to eat then we can continue that conversation. I found myself concentrating on the pulse beating in her throat and I knew she was in more danger now than in Volterra.

"Bella I must hunt, I'm sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can"

I fled through the open bedroom window cursing the monster inside who was roaring loudly for blood.