Chapter Twenty Two

Jasper

I hated leaving Bella even with Esme but there was no way of my staying with them without rousing Charlie's suspicions. Still I would be seeing her in a few short hours and the ache in my chest had almost disappeared although I knew it would return now I was away from my mate. Edwards actions hadn't helped matters, they had made things more complicated instead, Bella wasn't a fool and she was already suspicious so I could do nothing that would make her start to question either myself or the family. It suddenly struck me that Edward hadn't mentioned Bella's thoughts at all since meeting her and I wondered why so when I returned to the house I sought him out in his room. He looked a little wary as he saw me standing at his door but then nodded his head slowly,

"You've come to ask me about Bella haven't you? I can't tell you anything, I don't know anything. I can't read her thoughts. The one girl I would wish to read more than any other and her mind is a blank to me."

"Blank? Has that ever happened before?"

"No, never. She's a most unusual girl. I get nothing at all, its as if there's a shield around her thoughts yet I don't think she knows of it. Maybe its an aberration but I think its a gift she was born with, like your empathy and Alice's visions. They just became stronger and more powerful when we were turned into vampires. Its a good job she's human brother or the Volturi would be pricking up their collective ears and Aro would be sniffing around. He'd love to get his hands on a shield."

"He's got Renata, she's a shield"

"Yes but Renata needs to be touching Aro in order to work her magic and she's not a true shield. She only diverts people and things. Its not quite the same thing. Bella stops me reading her mind at a distance and I wonder if as a vampire she will be able to do more"

"As a vampire?"

"Well if she's your mate surely you'll turn her? Why wouldn't you?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead Edward to be honest. For now I like her just the way she is."

"Well I guess if anyone should have a human mate its you. Major Whitlock could certainly keep her safe."

I laughed at this and Edward relaxed, I think he understood I was happy enough now he was leaving Forks and Bella behind.

"I'm sorry its got to be Alaska but if anyone knows about controlling the thirst from a singer its Eleazer, he seems to be a fountain of knowledge."

"That's what comes of spending years in the Volturi guard and years afterwards researching. He could probably tell if Bella is a true shield or just another Renata. Maybe they should meet".

"I think I'll keep Bella away from other vampires at least for now Edward but thanks for the thought."

I went to my room stripping off and taking a long cold shower while thinking about Bella. The way she had held my hand, her scent, her pretty face and warm smile. Everything about her called to me and I found myself stiffening so with a groan I got out of the shower and lay on my bed with a book. The civil war would take my mind from Bella although the ache in my chest was a constant reminder. I don't know how long I lay there ignoring the sounds of the rest of the family around me as Edward played his piano to calm himself, Carlisle wrote in his study, the scratch, scratch, of his pen soft but audible. Esme was singing to herself as she checked some drawings for a client, I could hear the rustle of the papers being turned and Rose and Emmett, well they were doing what they always did of a night time, they would take themselves off to their room or the woods and make love. Sometimes when I heard them I wished I had a mate of my own, someone who was as hungry for my body as Rose was for Emmett's but it had been so long since I lay with a woman that I had almost forgotten what it was like. Certainly not like the passion of my brother and sister, there was little love and certainly no sweetness in the sex between Maria and I, it had been raw hunger and simple lust and I hated to be reminded of it or of her.

A car drew up but I took little notice of it at first then remembered who the visitors were and jumped from my bed to pull on a pair of pants not a moment too soon as my door was flung open wide and Tanya Denali stood there licking her full red lips and devouring me with her hungry eyes. I reached for a shirt but she beat me to it holding it on one finger close to her body forcing me to reach for it and finding myself with arms full of sexually active female. I struggled to put the shirt on and push Tanya away but even using my gift to calm her it was like fighting a nymphomaniac octopus.

"Don't fight me Jazz, we both know you need a woman in your bed"

"Yes a woman Tanya not a succubus."

"Oh that's OK I'm both darling. Why do you keep pushing me away when its obvious that you find me attractive?"

It was difficult to argue with her when her gyrations had indeed aroused me physically if not mentally.

"Tanya put me down."

She licked her lips and nuzzled my neck before sliding her body down mine and then stepping away.

"Major, you can't keep saying no to me, you need it and I'm willing and very able to supply it so why not?"

I pushed past her and ran down the stairs thanking the Gods she wouldn't be here long, let her ooze all over Edward on the journey North, let him suffer. Emmett was sticking as close to Rose as biologically possible without causing offence and Carlisle stood with Carmen and Edward while Esme watched me with a rueful smile. She knew Tanya always targeted me as the only single male in the family. Eventually Tanya sat down talking to Rose and Alice when she reappeared with a smile of greeting for me but no explanation. I could feel Tanya's eyes on me as Esme explained about Edwards problem thankfully without mentioning the connection between Edwards singer and me. I knew they would be leaving the same day but as the hours ticked by and they showed no sign of readying themselves I sloped off and finished getting dressed keeping a wary eye out for Tanya but then I heard a vehicle turn into the drive and as I recognised it I groaned throwing a jacket over my shoulder and running back downstairs only to find Tanya had beaten me to it.

She stood looking over Esmes shoulder at the red truck coming slowly down the drive as Emmett called up to me

"Jazz, the girlfriends here"

Tanya turned to look at me, a mixture of shock and frustration in her eyes and I knew there was going to be trouble unless Carlisle intervened but by the time he walked through from his study he only had time to warn our guests that Bella was an ignorant human, meaning she didn't know our secret, before Bella appeared at the top of the porch steps smiling shyly,

"Hi Jasper. I thought we could use my truck today as you drove last time. Sorry if I'm a little early"

Tanya moved to stand at Esmes side a wide grin on her face,

"Well hello, please come in I'm just dying to meet Jasper's girlfriend. He must have forgotten to mention you to us."

Bella looked startled and started to blush but Tanya had already taken her by the arm and almost dragged her through the doors and into the house.