Chapter Fourteen

Bella

By the time he stopped my stomach was growling loudly and I was glad to stretch my legs. He took my hand and we walked into the café together. I went to the rest room while he ordered the food and when I came back I saw he was watching for me, only comfortable once I was back at his side.

"I ordered you ham and eggs I hope that is OK"

"Thank you Jasper. That's fine."

I looked round the café just enjoying being free at last. From the corner of my eye I saw he was still watching me and when I turned back he looked down,

"I don't mind you watching me Jasper."

He looked back up,

"Thank you Bella. It's just, I know you are OK when I can see you, I feel more comfortable when you are with me."

"I have no idea why, but thank you. I feel safe with you."

When I finished my meal he paid and we went back to the car, it had just occurred to me that I had no money, none what so ever, well about twenty-five dollars in my pocket, that was all. He felt my unease and looked at me as he drove,

"Is there a problem Bella?"

"I just remembered I don't have any money and I can't draw from our joint account so how do I pay my way?"

"If you need anything, money or thing's just ask. Whatever I can do for you. To make life comfortable."

"You shouldn't have to pay for me"

"I'm happy to, please, at least for now."

How could I argue especially when he turned those beseeching eyes on me.

We stopped again for dinner as darkness fell,

"Bella would you mind driving through the night? I really don't want to stop any more than necessary. I'll go in and buy a travel blanket and you can sleep in the back. Would that be acceptable?"

I nodded rather disappointed and of course he felt it.

"We can stop if you prefer."

I could only be honest with him as he'd been with me,

"No its OK, I guess I was hoping to sleep in your arms again."

I think I startled him because he looked over and had to pull the car back off the edge of the road.

"Sorry but its true."

"I promise as soon as its safe you can sleep in my arms as often as you want"

He stopped soon after and while I grabbed the chance to use the rest room he went in to gas up and came out with a bag which me handed to me,

"Supplies for the human"

I looked inside and there was a hot sub and a coffee which I sipped as he drove off again.

"I could get used to this kind of treatment"

"Good. I'll keep it up"

As I started to yawn he pulled over and got the travel blanket out of its packaging laying it on the back seat but I shook my head.

"This is going to sound very forward but could I sleep in the front? I can lay across with my head on your lap. if that's OK of course."

He positively beamed,

"Be my guest."

I made myself comfortable only now realising how intimate this was and hid my blushes by burrowing under the blanket. I was soon asleep surrounded by his scent and feeling safe once more.

Jasper

If only Bella knew how happy she was making me feel! The very fact that not only was she comfortable close to me but also wanted to be close, much closer than I could have hoped. I drove steadily through Kansas stopping at a rest stop when Bella woke so she could wash and clean her teeth before having breakfast. Looking at her I realized she looked a little crumpled, sleeping in the car had done that. With a sigh I realized we should stop for Bella to rest and shower but when I suggested it to her she shook her head,

"I feel safer on the move and with you. I can change in a rest room but I will need some things. I don't have anything left to wear."

Going shopping did concern me, too much public exposure, so I suggested she borrow some of mine till we were further away from Denver.

"OK"

I was surprised she agreed so easily but I retrieved my bag from the trunk and handed it to her,

"I'll find some of your stuff to wear to sleep, that way my stuff won't get crumpled."

She pulled out a tee-shirt and a pair of sweat pants and held them to her face.

"It's all clean"

She laughed,

"I was just taking your scent in"

"Oh, OK."

She puzzled me every once in a while.

"If you pull over I'll get changed."

I did as she asked and I have to admit to peeking as she wriggled out of her jeans and shirt and into my clothes. She caught me and shook her finger,

"Now I wouldn't expect that of a Southern gentleman"

I held my hands up,

"Guilty as charged Ma'am"

She slept as the previous night with her head on my lap and I was tempted to slow down, string the journey out but that could be dangerous for Bella and I wouldn't put her in danger.

The next day we drove into Texas and I felt easier, the chances of anyone recognising Bella now were very small so we stopped for dinner in the evening and I rented a motel room so Bella could have a good nights sleep in a real bed with clean sheets. She seemed to enjoy her meal but she was apprehensive about sleeping in the motel especially when I told her I must leave her to hunt.

"I'll be as quick as I can Bella but I can't put it off any longer, it might be dangerous for you."

"I understand. I'm sorry Jasper. I'll be fine really"

I went out cursing my weakness, my thirst, and ran into the trees vowing to take anything that came along. I sniffed the air and caught the scent of deer to the south so I followed it hoping they weren't too far away. As I ran I kept her face in my mind as a spur to go faster.

Bella

I locked the door and changed into Jasper's clothes to sleep, they made me feel slightly better but I sat in the bed wrapped up in the duvet watching the door and listening for any unusual sound, like footsteps or a knock. I heard cars pull into the parking lot and froze until there were no footsteps coming towards our room. I looked at my watch, how could time go so slowly, ten minutes, twenty minutes, how long did it take to hunt? But why was I so scared? Who was I scared of? Edward? He thought I was dead, and there was no one else surely. I picked up my cell phone and thought about ringing Alice. Why did she think I needed protection when everyone thought I was dead? When it rang I almost screamed in fright and looked at the screen my mouth dry and my heart beating so fast it was trying to fight its way out of my rib cage. It was Alice's number and I almost answered then stopped myself. If I were dead how could I answer my phone which should theoretically have been melted or blown apart in the explosion or crash. Yet Alice had not rung me before on this number, wasn't she worried about anyone checking my phone records? She'd told me to keep it switched off but it must have been switched on accidentally when I got dressed or undressed. I didn't answer it and eventually it stopped then there was the buzz of a text message coming in.