Chapter Ten
Jasper
I could tell that something had changed, that Bella had fallen in love with me over the past few months and I longed to take our relationship to the next level but at the same time I was afraid. The only sexual relationships I had were with Maria and I knew that was not the kind of relationship I wanted or needed with my mate but what if I couldn't become the man she deserved? Maria had been passionate yes, but she had also been cruel and greedy as well as domineering all things Bella was not. I had even spoken to Carlisle embarrassing as that conversation had been for me and he had tried to reassure me.
"If Bella is the one, your mate, then you could never do anything to disgust or hurt her Jasper. You'll find it all comes quite naturally, to be gentle and loving, forget all that happened in your past and think only of Bella and the future."
When we were given the assignment in Seattle with its overnight stay I could feel Bella's excitement and hunger and knew that this weekend would probably be the most important in my whole life. That how I conducted myself would either make me the happiest man in the world or the most desolate, I couldn't afford to blow it with Bella. How could I continue living without the woman I loved. I knew the tension during the drive would only make me more on edge so I asked Alice for a huge favour and she agreed with a knowing smile.
"I wouldn't worry too much Jazz, it's obvious she's crazy about you and everything will turn out just fine."
"You've seen it?"
I was eager, she could tell me how I should act, how I would act.
"No, it's frustrating I know but I don't see everything and to be honest even if I had seen I wouldn't have told you, it has to be spontaneous."
I was delighted to feel Bella's jealousy and dismay when she saw Alice would be travelling with us and her joy and relief when she discovered I was only doing my sister a favour. Did she really think I would want to have my sister along the first time we would be together overnight? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Alice waved us goodbye outside a hotel on the outskirts of Seattle where she would wait for Rose and Emmett to pick her up. They had decided to go hunting for the weekend while Carlisle and Esme went to Denali to visit Carmen and Eleazar. The plan was that they would be away for a week or two and fly back with Edward and Garrett who were in Alaska for some reason known only to themselves. I was relieved Edward had stayed away, I knew when he returned he would be itching to find out all he could about Bella and I. As Carlisle said it was just his nature being a mind reader but that didn't absolve him of the responsibility to keep his nose out of certain situations.
The paper had arranged rooms at a hotel close to the venue so transport wouldn't be a problem. I hated driving in cities, they were so impersonal and everything moved at either breakneck speed or dead slow, mainly the latter where cars were concerned. Besides which it gave us more time alone together and that had to be a bonus.
The hotel was a small mid range one and we had been given rooms next to each other on the top floor. The elevator was mercifully empty and as the doors slid shut I found myself anticipating the night ahead with a mixture of excitement and fear, just like Bella. I would let her make the first move, I didn't want to pressure her into anything before she was ready, I wanted things to be just right.
I took her overnight bag as she slid the key card in the reader then stepped inside.
"I'll let you get settled then we can go for dinner if you'd like."
She smiled then shrugged,
"Do you think our expenses would run to room service?"
"Oh, I think so but wouldn't you prefer to go out and eat?"
"No, if you don't mind that is."
"I'll be back in about an hour if that gives you long enough to unpack and get settled."
She lifted her bag and an eyebrow,
"Oh, I think ten minutes will do, don't you?"
Bella
As soon as he left me I rushed into the bathroom cursing myself for not saying half an hour and took a quick shower then stood irresolute, should I get dressed again? Or would a robe look too forward?
I had only just thrown on a loose tee shirt and pants when I heard his tap on my door and with a quick look at myself in the mirror, I went to let him in. He didn't seem at all thrown by the fact I still had a towel wrapped around my head.
"Should I come back later?"
"No, come in, it's OK."
I could see his eyes on the bare skin of my neck where beads of water ran from my wet hair down the side of my face and wondered if I looked as much of a wreck as I felt.
"Let's order and then I can dry my hair while we wait."
"Don't on my account, relax."
I was highly conscious of his proximity as we read the room service menu and when he moved away to ring our order through I tried to take a few deep breaths to steady myself.
He put the phone down and sat on the edge of the bed,
"You look beautiful Bella."
I laughed nervously,
"Like a drowned rat you mean but thank you."
Not sure what to do I looked around and then he was standing behind me nuzzling my neck and pulling me close to him so I could feel his arousal. Turning in his arms I wound mine around his neck and pulled him closer until our lips met.
We were interrupted by room service knocking on the door showing just how long we had stood locked together in our embrace and when Jasper released me to open the door I quickly towel dried my hair and threw the soggy item in the bathroom out of the way.
We ate in companionable silence although I was aware that he ate very little. He had told me he had a medical problem that meant he found it difficult to digest solid food and I had told him not to bother on my account but he always insisted on joining me, especially for dinner. When I finished mine I sat back stretching my arms above my head to ease the tension I felt.
"Stiff?"
I nodded.
"Come on, let me help you relax."
He pushed the trolley out into the corridor then came to me taking my hand and leading me to the bed.
"Lie down."
I did as he said nervous as to what he was going to do next then flinched as I felt his cold hands on my bare feet but soon I was relaxing, enjoying the foot massage as he explained how Rosalie had gone through a reflexology phase and used him as a guinea pig. I felt a stab of jealousy at the thought which was stupid, she was his sister after all not a rival for his affection.
When he stopped I wanted to beg him to continue but pulling me to a sitting position he began to massage my shoulders and neck which was even more relaxing but stimulating at the same time.
"Just a minute."
Taking a deep breath to steady myself and pluck up some courage I slipped my tee shirt over my head.
"I read somewhere that massages are more effective on bare skin."
I don't know quite what I expected but when he bent his head to kiss my throat and wrapped his strong arms around me to stroke my naked stomach I groaned with desire.
"Jasper, make love to me, please."
He pulled away a little and I grabbed him in fear he would leave.
"Bella, there is nothing I would like more but are you sure?"
"Of course I am. Can't you tell how much I want you? Being so close to you is driving me insane."
"There are things you don't know about me, important things you have a right to know."
I cut across him,
"Are you already spoken for?"
"No, of course not. I love you but…"
I put a warm finger to his lips,
"Then nothing else matters. Whatever it is can wait, I need you now Jasper, please."
Jasper
How could I refuse when I wanted her as urgently as she wanted me? I had felt her rising emotions as we sat together eating, she was a woman and she desired me, my mate wanted me to make love to her and I wanted that too. She had a right to know my secrets and deserved to know before taking this final most important step but she wasn't listening, she didn't care and I couldn't hold on any longer. I pulled her down on the bed at my side and began kissing every inch of her determined to make this night, this first time, the best of her life.