Chapter Fifty Five
Bella
I woke up properly as the car came to a halt and got up to look at my surroundings. We were up in the hills outside a log cabin surrounded by trees with, it appeared, no near neighbors. He looked at me in the mirror and smiled,
"I hope it meets with your approval darlin'"
"Does it have hot running water and a bed?"
"Yes, or at least it will have very soon"
He got out and opened the back door for me, holding out his hand to help me out. My limbs were stiff and I groaned as I stood up, stretching my muscles.
"I'll get on that hot water, you look round. It's not much, but it is ours."
As he disappeared into the cabin I stopped and breathed in the clear air. The view from the porch was breathtaking and I gazed out across the countryside spell-bound. I couldn't help repeating his words,
"It's not much but its ours...ours" it was beautiful. I didn't hear him rejoin me but felt him snake his arms around my waist and felt his cool cheek against mine.
"Water's heating as we speak. I never thought about stopping for food but if you're hungry I can soon run out and get some groceries"
I turned my head into his,
"Don't you dare leave me. I'd rather starve than let you go. Besides you need to hunt"
"I can do that while you have a soak in the tub"
I pulled away and looked him in the face holding his hands in mine,
"I said I didn't want you to leave me and I meant it"
His brow furrowed so I added,
"We can both hunt together then we'll be ready for the hot tub."
His eyes opened wide,
"You want to hunt with me?"
"Well if I remember rightly we've already shared a meal so its only the next step."
"But taking your prey down is a little different from drinking from a creature already dead."
I stroked his cheek,
"You let me worry about that, and you're wasting valuable time arguing Cowboy."
Jasper
Bella never ceased to amaze me so I took her hand and we headed into the tree covered hills. I knew of a watering hole where we were sure to find some deer and headed that way. She kept up with me and as we broke into a run her hair flowed out behind her, her cheeks flooded with color and I thought I'd never seen such a beautiful sight. We slowed to a walk as we approached the water and I motioned her to wait in the trees. She wouldn't be any good at catching the deer. That could come later, for now she could watch me hunt and join in for the feast if she felt like it afterwards. There were several large stags at the watering-place, an unusual thing as they would normally be fighting for domination but it meant I had a choice of prey. I singled out the largest and as I stalked it I heard her heart beating faster. I took it down as the others ran, snapping its neck instantly, I didn't want Bella to see it struggle. Once it was motionless I heard her walking over, usually to hear another approach my kill I would have turned to defend my meal but it wasn't like that with Bella, it seemed the most natural thing to stand aside for her to feed first. She looked at me hesitantly and I nodded in encouragement. She knelt over the stag and placed her mouth over the right spot instinctively. I think the hide was a little thick for her still human teeth but she bit into it and found the bloods vessel. I heard her start to drink and venom pooled in my mouth, I was so thirsty but I waited until she moved away then almost threw myself on the carcass, drinking greedily until the animal was completely drained.
Bella
It was bizarre but I enjoyed my first proper meal of blood, trying to drink quickly because I knew Jasper was very thirsty, I could feel the burning in his throat as if it were my own and I stepped back to let him feed. Watching him bent over the deer carcass I knew I loved him more than life itself and I knelt beside him stroking his back and feeling the muscles rippling as he swallowed the blood. When he finished he threw the carcass into the bushes and turned to me apprehensively. I smiled and pulled him close smelling the musk of the stag on his clothes and the blood on his breath. I touched his lips with my own and ran my tongue over his, tasting the stags blood but also his venom which still numbed my lips as we continued the kiss until I had to break for breath. His eyes had returned to their golden color after feeding but now there were dark flashes in them.
"You're still hungry"
"Yes, but not for blood."
I nodded and taking him by the hand I pulled him back towards the cabin. He wound his arm around my waist and picked me up,
"You are too slow" he whispered and ran, the wind whistling past my ears as he brought us to the Cabin in a few minutes.
Jasper
I was desperate for Bella and the idea of walking back to the cabin slowly was more than I could bear so I picked her up and ran. When we got back the water was hot so I ran her a bath, putting in some shower gel as it ran to give her some bubbles and finding the bath towels for her.
"I'm sorry I don't have a dressing gown for you but I've found you a tee-shirt of mine. Its clean but that's about all I can say for it."
I handed her the tee-shirt and towels and went out to light a fire in the stone hearth so she wouldn't be cold when she got out of the tub. I heard the splash as she stepped in to the huge old tub and imagined her laying in the hot water, the bubbles floating around her naked body and was hard again. This time I didn't care because I knew that tonight Bella and I would be joined at last. I started the fire and went out to split a few logs for the evening, it didn't take long and I was eager to get back to the cabin. As I walked back in my arms full of logs I heard her voice,
"Are you there Jazz?"
"Yeah, I've just been out to get some logs for the fire. You OK? Do you need anything?"
I heard a deep throaty chuckle,
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I need my back washing. Do you know anyone who might volunteer?"
The logs clattered to the floor as I ran for the bathroom.