Chapter Twenty One

Bella

I waited until Jasper joined me and we feasted together, it seemed as natural as having dinner with Charlie had, in fact even more comfortable and once the burn in my throat had died down I sat back to watch him. He was so graceful for a man and so very beautiful that I couldn't resist reaching out to smooth his face, it felt smooth and cool, silky even, and he turned to look at my touch. His eyes were a beautiful shade of gold and filled with such love and such longing but as I leaned in I saw a vision of an elfin girl, Alice!

"Are you sure its over with Alice?"

He blinked startled by my question,

"Yes, she told me what you mean to me."

"She did?"

"Yes, I don't know how long she'd known but she told me where to find you, that you were my mate and she was right. It feels like I'm now complete, no aching hollow in my chest. The feeling I thought would forever be a part of me."

I couldn't resist my urge any longer and I leaned in to kiss him, at first sweetly and calmly but then desire overtook me and I demanded more, I needed to feel and taste his kisses and as he opened his mouth to me I licked greedily at his teeth and tongue, it was like nectar to me. I pushed him back onto the grass clawing at his shirt in my eagerness and heard buttons ping off in all directions but nothing could keep me from my goal. I ran eager fingers over his chest, not minding the ridged scars that marred its perfect surface. I lowered my head to kiss each one, the feeling of his skin exciting me more. My hands fumbled at his jeans and he pulled them off hastily, whether through lust or a desire to keep them wearable I had no idea and I didn't care. My hands moved even lower, across his belly until they reached their target. He was hard and throbbing and I knew he wanted it as much as me so I scrambled out of my own clothes and lay atop him. Our naked bodies slid over each other as we vied for position but eventually I gave in and as he entered me I looked up into his face, seeing satisfaction there, and smiled.

His actions were unhurried and he brought me almost to climax over and over until I begged for release. Then he stopped and leaned down to whisper in my ear,

"Now you are truly mine Bella"

And his actions became faster, each stroke delving deeper inside me until at last I heard his gasp as mine joined it and we came together, the feeling intensified by his gift. I felt the whole world dissolve so only he and I remained, joined together for eternity.

Jasper

This was love not a pale imitation and I understood Peter and Charlotte, Carlisle and Esme, and Rose and Emmett now, the intensity of their feelings for each other that had been a mystery to me all this time. As Bella relaxed sated in my arms I thought about the problems she still had to overcome. The biggest of all was Charlie, Carlisle told me they had explained about the Quileutes and us to him but how would he react to being told his precious daughter, his only child was now a vampire? Would Bella want to see him and could she safely do so? As for the Volturi I didn't think we'd heard the last of them but that was down to Bella, it was her choice whether to ignore them or try to take revenge. I recollected Alec's expression when Bella dismissed him with a single glance and his rage when he tried to incapacitate me and found Bella blocking him. Her gift was a powerful and intriguing one, one that Aro would have given anything to collect but it seemed he had only alienated her by trying to engineer a mating with Alec. If he had done his homework he might have discovered that she wasn't a push over or a fool.

Bella

I knew Jasper had deep thoughts and for now they were his but I knew he would tell me soon enough, we would have no secrets between us any longer, we were effectively a single entity. As the burn in my throat started to rise again he shifted and pulled me up beside him.

"We hunt Bella, then we talk"

"No, we hunt, we make love, then we talk"

He appeared to think about this for a few seconds

"OK I can live with that"

So we dressed and went to look for more prey. The animal blood wasn't quite as good as the human blood I'd drunk but I wouldn't become a monster who preyed on humans, I would be worthy of my mate. If after all he'd been through he could live on the blood of animals then so could I, because the alternative, to turn him back into a hunter of humans was unacceptable. This time we hunted together although he did better than me, I was distracted by the sight of him stalking the deer. He was so graceful, so sleek and fast, like a big cat. I caught the slowest as they ran after his attack but it was enough for me and to be honest I was more thirsty for him than the blood, although I soon drained my deer and threw its carcass into the woods to be devoured by the other creatures living here.

He looked over at me,

"You OK Bella?"

"No, I have an itch that needs scratching so get over here Major and don't keep me waiting."

His eyes narrowed,

"Orders all ready Bella? It sounds to me like you need a little reminder who is in charge here"

I stood arms folded,

"Really? And who is going to teach me this lesson pray?"

He looked around and shrugged,

"No one else around so I guess its up to me"

I smiled and beckoned him forward with a crooked finger,

"Take your best shot Major"

The resultant struggle was great fun and of course I got my itch scratched!

As we lay naked on the ground once more I tapped his hand resting on my thigh,

"You going to tell me what you were thinking about earlier?"

"Apart from how sexy you look?"

"Yes, although thank you for the compliment"

"I was thinking about Charlie."

"Oh"

My heart sank at my Dads name, in the thrill of my new life I'd forgotten about him.