Chapter Seventy Six

Bella

I heard his voice, more beautiful than ever as it spoke my name,

"Bella"

I tensed my muscles, determined not to attack even if he seemed threatening to my new senses. I opened my eyes, looking at the ceiling before I glanced over to him and I gasped.

"Jasper" my voice was unfamiliar to me, it sounded too musical, like Alice's had done.

He looked down at me with such love in his eyes that I couldn't help but smile. I lifted one hand slowly to touch his face, being very careful, so as not to hurt him with sudden movements. I remembered only too well that I would be stronger than him for a while, a legacy of the blood still in my tissues. As I touched his skin it startled me to feel it was the same temperature as mine. He didn't feel cold any more or even hard. His skin felt silky, warm and pliable. I put my hand behind his head and pulled him down slowly to taste his lips with my tongue. He tasted just as good, just as mouth wateringly sexy and he smelled the same as I took a deep breath in.

"You are so beautiful" he sighed, stroking my face with one hand.

I sat up slowly still holding his head close to mine, not wanting him to move away.

"Jasper, you are even more beautiful than I remember, how could I not have seen it before?"

He pulled away from me to sit on the edge of the bed and I noticed he was dressed, a shirt and loose pants. Looking down I saw that I too was dressed in a loose cotton dress. Seeing my gaze he smiled,

"I thought you might feel a little vulnerable naked"

I nodded then something occurred to me and I touched his shoulder,

"No. Not me, you."

He had dressed to hide his scars, those badges of savagery that frightened our kind. He hung his head a little as he nodded.

"I didn't want to scare you. Didn't want to see fear in your eyes the first time you looked at me".

"I could never fear you Jasper, I love you".

I appreciated what he'd done and I wouldn't make something of it yet, but I determined to see those scars soon.

He took my hand and pulled me up,

"Feeling thirsty?" he asked me gently.

I touched my throat, "Yes, but not uncontrollably"

He smiled and pulled me to the window,

"Lets hunt together" he said jumping and pulling me with him.

The feeling of falling was exhilarating and I wanted to do it again but he ran, taking me with him. The speed made me want to laugh with delight but I merely followed him, watching the cat-like way he moved and wishing he was naked.

When he stopped I almost ran into him I was so distracted. He touched my arm and put a finger to his lips then pointed through the bushes ahead. I looked and saw two deer, grazing peacefully. A sudden urge overtook me and I pulled away, moving silently through the undergrowth until I was close enough to pounce. Both deer went down together, necks broken by instinct. I looked round to see Jasper watching me from a distance. I smiled and beckoned him over, wondering why he moved so cautiously. When he was close enough I grabbed his arm and pulled him down beside me,

"Shall we have dinner together?" I asked and he looked at me with admiration.

We drained the deer then walked away hand in hand,

"Why were you surprised?" I asked him curiously.

"Bella you're like no newborn I've ever met"

"Why? What did I do wrong?"

He laughed "Nothing darlin' Newborns don't usually share a kill."

"But you're my mate, we share everything"

He nodded still looking a little cautious.

"How long was I changing?" I asked suddenly.

"Only forty-eight hours. I've never seen such a fast transformation."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No just surprising."

We walked on until we came to a small meadow, a clearing in the trees. The sun was shining and I ran out into the centre whirling round and putting my arms out to see them sparkle. Jasper watched me leaning against a tree trunk and smiling. I beckoned him forward and grabbed his arms twirling him round with me. He smiled at my exuberance then pulled me down to lay by his side. I caressed his face, watching the rainbow shards sparkle as I moved my hand. He closed his eyes and relaxed as I touched his face gently with my fingertips then I traced a line down his throat to the top button of his shirt. As I started to unbutton it he tensed and tried to stop me but I shook my head and continued until it was open all the way, then put my hands under the two sides and pushed it slowly open exposing his badly scarred chest. There were so many scars and I tried to kiss each one individually as I worked my way down to the waistband of his pants. I stopped and looked at his face.

"Aren't you scared?" he asked.

I shook my head, "No. I love you and I trust you. These mean nothing" I said touching the scars. He smiled, "You are one crazy newborn"

I nodded, "Yep, but I'm also one very lucky little newborn. I have you" and I kissed his throat.

Touching the scar he wouldn't talk about before, I raised my eyebrow and he sighed.

"OK Bella. That's the scar my maker left on me, every so often she would renew the mark so I remembered who had sired me."

I touched it again, "Maria did that?"

He nodded.

"I don't like the thought of that bitches mark on you."

He grimaced, "Can't do much about it I'm afraid. Those scars never fade away."

I smiled at him, "Oh I can do something about it".

As I leant forward he tensed but I was fast, too fast, my teeth sliced into the old scar and he groaned in pain but I wouldn't let go. I sank my teeth deep into the flesh where the scar sat so proudly and pumped my venom in. When I finally let go he was gasping and I saw the new bite mark standing out against his flesh. It had totally obliterated the old ownership mark and I smiled,

"See. You belong to me now. A new owner."

He smiled working his shoulder to try to get it working again.

"Remind me never to upset you. If that was a love bite I'd hate to feel a hate one"

"You never will, now kiss me before I choose another part of your anatomy to mark."