Chapter Sixty Seven

Bella

I watched Jasper until he hit the street and disappeared into the gloom. I knew he was thirsty, his eyes were coal black and the bruise like marks under them almost the same colour. I had no idea how long he would be so I sat down to eat the food he'd ordered for me. As I looked at the choices I realized how much he had studied me. He knew what I liked to eat even down to how I liked my eggs cooked. He'd risked his life to save me and he'd sat with me naked in the bathroom. He was so much more than I deserved, he knew so much more about me as a person than I knew about him and I needed to redress that.

As I finished my food I heard a noise in the bedroom and ran through expecting to see Jazz but it was Peter I ran into and kissed passionately before I realized, squeaked and pulled away. He laughed and grabbed my hands swinging me around.

"Good to see you too Bells. You had me worried for a while. I hear you kicked some Volturi butt in there."

I smiled at that appraisal of what I'd done

"You should have seen Jazz. He was magnificent"

"Nah, I've seen his act too many times to be impressed these days"

"Of course you probably know him better anyway. What does he like Peter?"

"You know what he's like Bella"

"No Peter what does HE like? Music, colours, books, anything. I need to find out what he likes"

"Why?"

"Because he already knows what I like and I need to do the same for him"

"Why don't you just ask him?"

"Because that's not how it works idiot".

"Well that's rich coming from the Volturi kicking chick. For your information I am not an idiot and I have a certificate to prove it".

"In what?"

"That's personal. Anyway Kung Fu Kid let me think. He likes country music, green, history books mainly so he can bitch about the inaccuracies. Anything else?"

I opened my mouth but he put a finger to his lips and pointed to the bedroom with a wicked smile,

"Now Bells you can't ask me things like that. Jeez, I'm his friend but you can't expect me to show you the position he likes best. Anyway I always thought it was a bit kinky"

I tried to stop a giggle,

"Oh Peter please., I need to know how he likes it. I want to please him after all"

"OK then but you can't tell him I told you"

"I won't, Scouts Honour",

"Scouts?" he mouthed before going on,

"Well from what I hear he likes his women dressed in full riding gear and with one of those short riding crops".

I couldn't do it any longer and burst out laughing.

"Very funny" he said walking in

"I thought that was your bent Peter"

"Nah I like 'em naked, saves time"

I hit him bruising my hand and he walked into the bathroom still laughing loudly.

"I'm having a bath, if you want to join me and see what a real man looks like feel free Bells".

Jazz slammed the door on him and came over to kiss me. I ran my finger under his eyes where the dark bruises had almost gone, his eyes a deep crimson again.

"That's better. You look more comfortable now"

He nodded and smiled gesturing to the bathroom.

"How long has the idiot been back"

"Hey I heard, and I resemble that"

We laughed

"Not long. I hate to say this but I missed his company"

"See I told you I was good for your image. The chicks really dig me"

"Shut up before I come in there and drown you" snarled Jazz

"Won't work, I can breath under water"

"Not with your head up your ass, now shut up and get clean"

"Well now Bella, it seems you have a fighting spirit, I'm not sure choosing the Volturi for your first opponent was such a good idea but I have to thank you for saving me back there".

"I didn't do anything"

"Maybe not consciously but you did it none the less".

"What did I do? Aro was talking about my gift but all I did was to stand there. It wasn't my fault he couldn't read my mind, I'm just odd".

"No Bella you have a very powerful gift, you're a shield and the most potent one I've ever seen".

"Shield? I put a shield up to stop Aro reading my thoughts? How?"

"No idea, but not only did you protect yourself, you protected me too".

"I did? I thought Jane just stopped".

"No that bitch would have gone on until Aro stopped her. You protected me".

I could hardly believe it. I had a talent, even if I couldn't control, it. As long as it protected the two of us I was content".

"Will I be able to control it when I'm a vampire?"

"I have no idea. We'll just have to wait and see. Are you about ready to go home now or would you like to stay here a while and rest?"

Peter

I heard the last question and stuck my head round the door.

"Bella please say you want to go home, I'm already fed up with the cuisine here and Char is going to think I've abandoned her. It'll cost me dear as it is."

She looked across at me and smiled,

"OK Peter, I don't want to upset the minister. We have a wedding to organize".

In the event we stayed two more days because Bella was feeling sick, delayed reaction to the shock of the Volturi I guess. We took her for walks round the town because she'd never been to France before but she drew the line at frogs legs and snails in garlic butter, not that I blamed her, the hunting was hard too with all my prey smelling strongly of fucking garlic. Ironic I hated that stuff, after all wasn't it supposed to keep vampires away in the stories. As we walked round the streets the evening before we flew out she stopped to look in a shop window, it was unlike her to look at clothes but something had caught her attention. The Major looked over her head at me and nodded at the window. Fuck, now I was dress shopping again, I nodded back and grimaced.

Bella

The dress in the shop window caught my eye as we were passing, it was palest green graduating to a deep color at the hem which was just above the ground. It was very simple and had been paired with pale green sandals and a deep green shawl of delicate lace. I remembered Peters words that Jasper's favorite color was green and thought I'd love to try it on just to see the look on his face. It was so light and delicate but not fussy and I knew Alice would wrinkle her nose and drag me away. As it was I pulled the guys along with me but the dress stayed in my mind. I'd try to find something similar to be married in, something cheaper! The price tag had my heart pounding, I'd be terrified to wear it at that price!