Chapter Nine

Bella

I had been very nervous when Jasper asked me to go home with him and meet the family properly now Emmett was home.

"I'd really like for you to meet everyone, I know you have been introduced but it's not the same. I should just warn you that my brother Emmett can seem little scary at first but he's really a nice guy."

Of course, that didn't help my nerves and when I first caught sight of him I could understand Jasper's words, he was huge! From a distance, he towered over the rest, especially Alice who looked like a child standing next to him but as I got closer I could see the twinkle in his eye which not even a little apprehension on his face could altogether mask.

I needn't have worried, everyone made me so welcome that first time although finding my hand engulfed by Emmett's was a little disconcerting.

"Hi, Bella, great to meet you although I have to say I'm a little disappointed."

Everyone seemed to freeze at his words, not just me and then he went on,

"I'd have thought you'd have some common sense in that pretty little head of yours considering you aren't blonde so why get tangled up with the ugliest brother when you could have had me."

I shot a look at Rose who just rolled her eyes before grabbing his arm and tugging him away.

"I apologise for my boyfriend but you should know he's the world's only living brain donor."

As I laughed he allowed himself to be led away, I was going to like this family who even though they were not blood relatives seemed exceptionally close-knit, warm, and companionable. I had yet to meet Edward, the missing brother but very little was said about him. I got the feeling that perhaps he might be a little less welcoming or did Jasper think I might prefer his brother to him? However, good looking or charming Edward might be no one would ever capture my heart like Jasper had.

Life just couldn't get any better than this, I spent my days at work waiting for my evenings with Jasper, especially if as often seemed the case, we were not working the same stories. We spent as much free time together as we could, sometimes going out like to the Christmas dance with Rose and Emmett when I found although he might be huge, Emmett was surprisingly light on his feet and a great dancer as he whisked me around the floor but just as often spending evenings at home if Charlie was working or at the Cullen place where I was made so welcome even if the family was a little different. They just seemed so thoughtful, so caring and eager for me to feel a part of them from the very beginning. There was none of the usual awkwardness of being the "son's girlfriend", nor did I find his sisters ever spiteful or condescending and seeing as they were both beauties that could easily have been the case. I remembered poor Jessica when she went to visit Jeff's family for the first few times. He was fairly new in town with two sisters and a brother, much like Jasper and the girls slightly older had been real bitches while Jeff's mom thought no girl was good enough for her son.

Charlie had taken a liking to Jasper and not just because he proved only too willing to help with the tourist brochure, I think he appreciated my boyfriend's immaculate manners. If only he had known how pushy Jake could be at times I know Charlie wouldn't have looked on him as favourably as he had. Like a lot of guys, he had as many arms as an octopus whereas Jasper was more like the men in Gone with the Wind, very respectful.

Renee had been eager to hear all about Jasper and spitting nails because she hadn't met him and Charlie not only had but approved. She hated to be left out of anything and I know if they could have afforded it she and Phil would have flown up just to give him the once over. Luckily for us they couldn't I loved my mother but she could be very critical and outspoken and I wasn't sure Jasper was ready for her fifth-degree "chat". I knew I wasn't, I'd always told her that the only guy I would introduce her to was the one I decided to marry and Jasper and I hadn't gotten to that stage yet!

Our times together were so wonderful, even if we did nothing but watch a movie on TV or chat about work. He would sit with my feet on his lap and massage them, or play with my hair scattering kisses over my face and neck but never going any further. I guess that was the only thing I could complain about if there was anything at all. I was crazy about him and the longer we were together the more I wanted him. My body felt as if a fire had been lit in my chest when we first met and every time we were together more logs were piled on until I was desperate for him to make love to me, after all, we weren't children but two grown adults.

I waited, hoping he might make the first move but then realised if we were going to take our relationship to the next level it would be down to me to initiate things. I spent a few sleepless nights trying to decide the best way to go about it, I didn't want to appear like Betty the Barracuda. I would hate it if he thought I was too easy or eager when in fact I was more than eager, who looking at him wouldn't be? In the end, I decided on a strategy. Finally, we had been paired up to cover a story in Seattle. The Port Angeles High School had made it to the finals of an Inter-school Quiz competition which was taking place in the city at the weekend. If Port Angeles got through to the final round then we would need to stay all weekend and I was praying that would be the case.

"I wish I were going with Jasper, how come he chose you, Bella? The good looking ones never pay me any attention. What's he like in bed?"

I rolled my eyes at Betty's nosy questioning as we had coffee before work and was thankful Jasper was off for the day.

"Betty! It's got nothing to do with you, maybe that kind of question is why the guys avoid you."

I smiled as Janice, one of the secretaries, leapt to my defence. We both knew the main reason guys, other than sleaze balls stayed away from Betty was because she tried too hard, throwing herself at any male irrespective of age, looks or suitability.

"I just wondered. He's so hot he must be a fireball between the sheets."

I didn't say anything, let her think what she would. I knew most the people I worked with assumed Jasper and I were sleeping together, if only they were right!

On Friday I packed my weekend bag praying I would get the chance to use it, along with the sexy nightie my mom had sent me for Christmas last year although as I wasn't even dating at the time I didn't really get why she'd chosen it, maybe to remind me I should be, you never knew with Renee, my mother seemed to march to the beat of a drum only she could hear. Jasper was coming to pick me up so we could drive together to Seattle, he was always cautious of me driving alone, almost as if he was afraid something might happen to me if he weren't at my side. It was a strange feeling, being protected but at the same time a nice feeling too.

I was waiting ready for him, looking out the window like a little girl waiting to be picked up for a treat so I was a little disappointed to see he wasn't alone. He was already on the porch by the time I picked up my bag and coat and opened the door.

"I hope you don't mind but I told Alice I'd give her a lift to Seattle, she's meeting up with a friend and he'll drive her back."

"Oh, no. Not at all."

I was so relieved I could have kissed him, in fact, I did and lingered a little longer than usual. When I pulled back I wondered what I might see on his face, had he registered my growing need for him? I decided he did, his eyes, darker than normal were shining with a kind of hunger, a hunger I hoped was for me.

Alice hopped in the back allowing me to sit beside Jasper and chatted animatedly all the way to the city although I was too aware of Jasper's proximity and the decision I had made to tell him how I felt this weekend to register much of what she said. Jasper had taken my hand once on the highway and the sensation of his fingers stroking my palm was so erotic I began to wonder if I could wait until we reached our destination. The paper had reserved two rooms for us in a small hotel close to the venue but if I had my way we would only be using one.