Chapter Seventy One

Bella

When we saw the flames reflecting in the window of the motel room we knew it was all but over and I moved forward to join the others but Peter took my arm and held me back,

"What? What's the matter Peter? It's over, Carlisle's dead and I want to see Jasper"

"You wait Bells. I don't think it's over yet. They'll leave a message for the Volturi and you don't need to see it"

"Peter, I'm not some scared and stupid little human. I know what's going on, now let go of my arm."

He continued to hold me,

"Bells it's not safe for you right now. Things are a little out of control, why do you think I got you out of there."

"I thought it was so the others could torture and kill Carlisle Peter, why was I wrong? Have they started a sewing circle or something?"

"Don't make light of it Bella. Things have been unleashed tonight that need to be restrained again. You need to stay away until that's happened."

I looked at him in total confusion, then once more Charlotte's words came to mind,

"You don't want to see him...death and destruction are not far behind"

"Peter, are you scared of The Major?"

"Bella, everyone who's ever seen him is scared of The Major, it's just that most of them don't live to tell you that."

"Peter, he doesn't exist as a separate entity, you need to accept that. The man in that room is your friend Jasper."

"No, I've seen the transformation back and forth. That's not Jasper in there and you'd do well to remember that Bella, it might just save your life."

I struggled against him again but his grip tightened,

"Peter" I whispered as low as I could,

"If you don't let go of me I'll knock you on your ass."

He looked down at me, knowing I was capable of delivering on my threat and loosened his grip.

"Please Bella, I'm supposed to keep you safe."

"I am safe and he will never harm me whatever you think."

I took a deep breath and walked towards the cabin as the door opened and Charlotte came out looking grim-faced. She walked past me to Peter and threw herself in his arms for comfort, then turned to me.

"Where are you going Bella? You need to stay away and let him calm down"

"Oh God not you too!"

I ignored her as Jasper's figure was silhouetted in the open doorway. He looked around then walked very slowly and deliberately towards the trees.

"Jasper" I called softly and he stopped but didn't turn

"Be careful Bella." Peter warned

I ignored him, taking a few steps towards my mate.

"Jasper, wait for me"

He turned his head and I saw his eyes, they were burning black fire and his face was almost expressionless.

"Wait here" he said coldly

I shook my head,

"No. We stay together, wait for me"

I took the last few steps to his side and he looked down into my eyes at last.

"It's not safe for you Bella."

"You are safe, you love me and I love you. What could be safer than that?"

He swallowed and his jaw clenched,

"I'm thirsty and angry."

His hands were shaking as I took them,

"Then let's go hunt and we can talk."

I stretched up to kiss his cheek and he flinched.

"I'm sorry Bella I don't want to hurt you"

"You won't

I pulled on his hand and he let me lead him into the trees.

Peter

This was just plain fucking stupid! Did she have no idea what he was capable of when the Major took over? I put Char down and went to follow them but she grabbed my arm to stop me and shook her head.

"She's right Peter. She's the only one who can help him to calm. Have you ever seen The Major hesitate like that before? He's usually into the trees like a missile and absent for days calming himself. Bella's doing it as we watch. Come on, let's get the car and get the hell out of here before the Volturi show up"

"Fuck I'd forgotten about them. What about the others?"

"They'll be fine,come on", and she pulled me over to the car. I wasn't happy but she'd been right about his hesitation, I just hoped she was right about everything else.

Bella

Once in the trees and away from the motel and soon to be arriving Volturi I stopped, still holding Jasper's hand, so he stopped too. I sat down on the fallen leaves and pulled him down beside me.

As I caressed his face he sighed and his mouth worked as if trying to get words out.

"Shh, don't speak, just listen. Thank you for what you did back there, thank you for letting your demons out but now its time for me to drive them away",

I touched the sides of his face with my hands and kissed him very gently on his cool lips. As I did this I pushed him backwards to lay on the ground and pulled his arms around me. At first I thought he was going to resist but he relaxed enough to hold me close, his face buried in my hair.

"It's over my love. You are here with me and we are alone. I love you Jasper."

"I love you too Bella" his words were like a gentle breeze.

"Then show me"

His whole body tensed at that,

"I need to calm first, I might hurt you."

"No you won't, I guarantee that, and I need you."

"Even after seeing what I become?"

"You don't become anything Jasper, its just a facet of your character that you don't allow to the forefront very often. I love all of you and its time you realized that, every side of you, now show me how much you love me."

His strong hands grasped my arms a little harder than usual but he was trying to rein in his anger so I kept silent then rolled us over until I was under his body. He kissed me greedily, forcing his tongue into my mouth and bruising my lips with the force but it was need not violence and that was fine by me. His hands ripped at my clothes throwing them aside until I lay naked in the cold night air his eyes taking in my form hungrily as he pulled off his own incense scented clothes and threw himself on me, crushing my breasts beneath his hard chest as he slid inside me, not as fast or hard as I knew he wanted to, he was restraining himself with difficulty. I ran my fingers in his tangled hair and pulled his mouth back to mine as he thrust faster and faster needing to release his tension into my willing body. When he climaxed he ground his teeth and pulled my hips as close as possible, trying to fill me deeply with his seed. Then he collapsed onto my flushed body and rolled us to lay side by side still connected. He buried his face in my hair and his hands caressed my back, stroking my hips and bringing me to a pitch where I needed him again and as I felt him hard once more I rolled us to lay above him. This time I did the work and he lay there looking up at me, a lazy smile turning to hunger as I moved so slowly, bringing us to climax at the same time. We lay together like this for hours, revelling in the closeness as I watched his eyes change back from black to a dark gold and the stress leave his angels face. It was much later that we left the trees together and caught up with Peter and Charlotte at a different Motel. Peter took one look at my face and clothes and grinned,

"Well, Beauty and the Beast eh? Glad to see you're still in one piece Bells."

It wasn't really Peters fault, I think it was a combination of the tension and fear that had built up over the past few hours but he got both barrels. I walked over to face him dropping Jasper's hand as I did so,

"Right Peter, you and I need to get a few things clear before we ruin a wonderful friendship,

1. Jasper is my mate and as such don't you ever try to keep me away from him again.

2. There is no scary Major. It's all Jasper and he needs support to realize that. No Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, just the one man who tries really hard to be a good one.

3. I am one of you. A full member of the Whitlock family which entitles me to kick your scrawny ass if I feel so inclined, so just watch it."

Peter

I watched Bella's face as she walked up and I was ready for the fireworks. While I accepted the first and third item she'd never convince me of number two, but I was happy to let it go so I did the only thing I could. I sank to my knees and held my hands out to her in supplication,

"Fair Lady I admit my follies, please do not send this poor Knight out into the darkness of exile. I promise to learn my lessons and become more of a man than I am at present."

Charlotte looked exasperated and Jasper bored, but Bella couldn't keep a straight face and took my hands in hers.

"Your Lady graciously accepts your apology so rise fair knight, but watch yourself."

I stood up and took her in my arms swinging her around with a shout of glee and planting kisses on her cheeks. I think I might have got away with the picking her up and even perhaps one kiss but there was still too much of the Major around to get away Scot-free. Bella was lifted from me and placed in Charlotte's arms where she regained her balance while I was pushed up against the wall with a bone crushing crack and I looked into the dark friendless eyes,

"Never take liberties like that again Peter or I might just forget we are friends"

"Too many kisses?" I asked

He nodded and dropped me before picking Bella up and kissing her himself.