All I Need
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 06
"Marcus," she breathed as his kisses moved from her lips to her neck where he nipped and sucked. "Mmm," she moaned while tilting her head, hands gripping the front of his jacket. Anything to anchor herself for she was losing herself, slowly but surely, to him.
"Isabellllaaa," he drew out her name between kisses as his hands roamed her body, his touch light, reverent, sensual. "You haunt my every thought, every moment of the day; your scent, the way you look at me, the way your hair flows like silk through my fingers… I am a prisoner…" he breathed against her temple, "and cannot escape."
She laid her head against his chest. "And you wish to?" she murmured softly, her heart sinking.
He gathered her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I…do not."
She smiled and leaned back in his arms. "Then take what you want Marcus. Take me if you will."
He looked into her eyes for a moment before setting her away gently and walking to the sideboard. "I...cannot," he stated, his tone stricken as he poured a drink. He picked it up and turned to her as she pulled the cloak close, a sudden chill overtaking her. "Isabella," he began, a conflicted expression on his face. "I would love nothing more than to carry you to my bed and make love to you until you begged for mercy…"
She tilted her head up as her eyes bored into his. "What?" she cut him off. "Is it because I'm human? Too weak? Too fragile?" she asked with a sneer to cover her insecurities.
He looked toward the window, a muscle twitching under the tension in his jaw. "You're so very young," he murmured before sipping his drink. He looked back at her. "So very young and innocent…"
Her expression twisted in anger and her chin jutted out as she approached. "Bullshit," she stated simply. "I'm mature enough to know what I want."
He cocked a brow. "Is that so…" he drawled. "Just days ago, you left everything and faced certain death to rescue the mind reader. Tell me, sweet Isabella, why did you do such a thing if you are over him and ready to move on?"
"I…" She looked down because she didn't have an answer. "He was going to kill himself," she protested weakly, "…and I'm not heartless."
He set his drink down and stepped toward her, tilting her chin up with a crooked finger. "I see what you do not," he murmured while staring into her eyes. "You have a bond—weakened and sickly, yes—but there, nonetheless, and I cannot take you while it yet exists. I will not."
He dropped his hand. "I will send your friends to you," he said as he stepped around her and walked out of the room. A tear rolled down her cheek and she swiped at it angrily just as she heard the door close.
~o0o~
She was just brushing out her shower-damp hair when she heard the outer doors open and close. "Bella?" a familiar female voice called out.
"In here," she answered as she finished up. "I'll be right out."
She walked down the hallway and entered the living room to see Alice and Jasper sitting on the couch. She smiled. "Hi guys."
Jasper frowned at the emotions coming from her. "What happened Busy-B, and don't try bullshittin' me either."
She sighed and flopped into Marcus's chair. "It's been a hell of a day Jas."
Jasper cocked a brow. "I gathered," he said dryly as Alice leaned against him with a frown.
"I didn't see anything Bella. What happened?"
Bella blushed when she thought about Marcus but shook it off to begin telling them what happened after lunch. Jasper growled as Alice's eyes went glassy. "So some asshole attacked ya?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, but Marcus got to me in time, thank god."
"Where was Felix?" Jasper asked. "Do I need to be kickin' some ass?"
Bella's eyes widened. "No! It wasn't his fault Jas, it was mine. I left the kitchen and didn't wait for him."
Jasper nodded. "All right then. Suppose I don't need to tell ya how stupid that was?" He eyed her and she shook her head.
Alice came back to herself. "Oh my," she muttered.
"What'd you see Ali?" Jasper asked.
She glanced between him and Bella. "Well Jas, you had just decided to pay a visit to the dungeons when I got a vision. Marcus is…already there." She shuddered and looked at her husband. "There won't be anything left for you to visit honey. Sorry."
Jasper nodded. "Good," was all he said before looking at Bella again. "Now, what else?"
"What else, what?" she muttered and he arched a brow. She tossed a hand in the air. "Fine! Marcus rejected me, okay. Happy now?"
Alice looked at her in sympathy and Jasper nodded. "At least you're bein' honest now."
"Oh Bella," Alice murmured. "I'm sorry."
Bella shrugged. "Par for the course with me Ali. I should've expected it, really. I'm doomed to die with my V-card."
Jasper snorted a laugh and she glared. "S'not funny," she grumbled.
Alice clapped once and stood. "Let's get outta here, hm? Go for a walk in the gardens. Have you been yet Bella? They're lovely."
Bella and Jasper stood. "No, I haven't," she said as Jasper opened and held the door for them before closing it and offering an arm to each girl.
"Ladies…" he said and Alice giggled.
"Such the gentleman," she said.
"Damn straight," he said with a nod.
Several hallways and a set of stairs later, they exited out the back of the castle and Bella's breath caught. "Wow, you weren't kidding," she said as she let go of Jasper and walked ahead. It was breathtaking and stretched over acres with all manner of flora nestled over gently sloping hills and valleys. Towering trees dotted the landscape and it was all surrounded by a high brick privacy wall.
Jasper and Alice hung back, walking arm in arm as Bella strolled down one of many twisting pathways. It was as she rounded a curve that she came across an arbor situated over a bench. She almost missed it, draped as it was in vines.
"Bella?" a very familiar voice startled her and she put a hand to her chest as she turned toward it.
"Edward," she said and he smiled and stepped into the filtered sunlight.
"It's good to see you," he murmured. "I've been so worried but they wouldn't allow me to see you. Thank you for coming."
Her brow furrowed and she glanced back to where Alice had been just moments before. She and Jasper were now nowhere in sight. She looked back at Edward. "I didn't exactly agree to see you, though I should have suspected since Alice suggested this visit to the gardens."
His face fell. "You didn't want to see me?"
"I…" she sighed. "I don't really know Edward. I mean, that day in the throne room, it really sounded like you only wanted me for my blood—like I was some sick obsession or something. What am I supposed to think about that? How am I supposed to feel?" She shook her head. "I really loved you, you know? You broke me."
He stepped closer. "Bella, please let me make it all up to you?" He moved closer still and she tensed when he cupped her cheek. "Won't you give me a chance?"
"A chance for what?" she whispered, heart aching.
"A chance to prove my love. A chance to make up for all of my shortcomings. A chance to love you and be loved in return."
A tear fell from her eyes as she locked gazes with him. "I…" she said but before she could finish, Jasper showed up looking livid.
He held out his arm to her. "Isabella, let's go," he said, his tone brooking no disagreement.
She nodded and hooked her arm through his.
"Jasper, this doesn't concern you," Edward growled.
Jasper nudged Bella behind him and faced Edward head on. "It very much concerns me. You see, Isabella is Marcus's charge and I am in charge of Marcus's guard. That makes her and her safety my business. Now, you really wanna go there with me Eddie? 'Cause I'll oblige."
"Her safety? You?" Edward snorted. "Oh, that's rich."
"I only had a problem around her when you were there, throwin' off waves of bloodlust strong enough to rile up a fuckin' elephant, son. Any other time, I was just fine, so now, who's the real threat to her safety, huh Eddie?" He snorted. "Hell, you should see how black your eyes are now."
Edward sneered at him. "Better than your red ones…Major," he seethed. "Gone straight back to your old ways the second you got the chance, didn't you? You're weak and disgusting and always have been."
"Least I never sipped at my supposed love like a fine cabernet, night after night while watchin' her sleep, ya little pervert. Couldn't even muster up the balls to drink her straight out, could ya?"
Edward growled and got right in Jasper's face. Bella tried to step around Jasper but he held her behind his body with one hand as she protested. "Stop this Edward! You're being an ass!"
"Hush darlin'," Jasper murmured, never taking his eye off the hostile male in front of him. "I got this," he assured lowly while standing nose to nose with Edward. 'You really wanna get your ass handed to ya in front of her?' he thought? 'Cause ya know I can. Be happy to as a matter of fact.'
"Pfft," Edward said and backed up. "Go…take her," he said with a dismissive wave of a hand. "I'll talk to you soon Bella."
With that, he turned and disappeared and Bella covered her face as she trembled. She couldn't recall a time when Edward had looked so scary. It had shaken her.
She felt strong arms wrap around her and she leaned into the embrace while she broke down. "Shh, darlin'," he soothed while rocking her side to side. "It's all right now. You're fine."
She nodded against him and backed away while drying her tears. "Sorry," she muttered.
"Nothin' to be sorry for, sugar. It's all over and 'sides, I can handle him. No problem." He held out his arm and she took it. "Let's get ya back to your rooms. I think we're done for the day, huh?"
They began walking. "Definitely," she agreed.
He looked down at her and smirked. "And don't think I'm gonna go easy on that test tomorrow because of all this. You're made of tough stuff. You can handle it."
Her mouth dropped open and she stared up at him. "You're still gonna make me take that test tomorrow?"
He grinned. "Yep."
"Jasperrrrr," she groaned. "Who knew you were such a hard-ass?"
He merely chuckled. "We got a lot 'a material to cover baby-doll, and not a whole lot 'a time to do it. Gotta keep the schedule."
She rolled her eyes. "You guys are all immortal. What's your hurry?"
"The Volturi runs a pretty tight ship, Busy-B, you'd be surprised. And Marcus is the boss. He gives me a schedule, I stick to it."
"Fine," she sighed. "Guess I'm studying through dinner tonight."
They walked for a bit in silence until Jasper felt her curiosity. "What is it darlin'?"
She looked up at him. "What happened to Alice? Why isn't she with you?"
His expression hardened. "We had a bit of a disagreement. She's back in our rooms."
"Was it over what just happened? I mean, you guys were right behind me one second and then you weren't."
He glanced down at her and then back to the front before answering. "Ali has a real problem with allowin' dear Eddie to manipulate her toward his own ends. He did that today, but don't you worry sugar, I'm taking care of the problem. I doubt she'll allow herself to be used again." He paused and then continued with a bit of a growl in his tone. "Least she better not anyway."
Bella's eyes widened and she looked up at him while tugging him to a stop. "Oh god Jasper, please don't be mad at her because of me!"
His brows drew together as he looked down at her. "Isabella, stop this."
'Stop what?" she asked, not catching his meaning.
"You, my dear, have a very bad habit of takin' every negative thing that happens around you and makin' yourself responsible—at least in your own mind. It's ridiculous and it's gonna stop right now. Alice did—and has done—things that have put her in the hot water she's in. No one else. Were you responsible for her helping Eddie get to you today?" he asked sternly.
"Well," she hedged, "it was done because of me, so…maybe?"
He shook his head slowly. "You're amazing and in this case, not in a good way. Did you conspire with the two of them for this little meet and greet? Did ya plan any of it?"
"No!" she denied. "Of course not."
"Then how can any of this, including the trouble Ali's in, be, by any stretch of the imagination, your fault?" he asked, his exasperation clear in his tone.
She hung her head. "It can't," she muttered.
"Exactly right, it can't, so stop makin' everything your problem and all about you. It's ridiculous. Understand?"
She nodded and they began walking again. "Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry," she muttered and he sighed and patted her hand.
"Hells bells girl, I'm gonna break you of this martyr complex ya got if it kills me."
She smirked and peeked up at him. "Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"You're already dead."
He smirked and shook his head. "I knew I should'a whooped your little ass when I had the chance." He looked down at her wide eyes.
"You wouldn't…"
He grinned. "Don't tempt me."
"Marcus," she breathed as his kisses moved from her lips to her neck where he nipped and sucked. "Mmm," she moaned while tilting her head, hands gripping the front of his jacket. Anything to anchor herself for she was losing herself, slowly but surely, to him.
"Isabellllaaa," he drew out her name between kisses as his hands roamed her body, his touch light, reverent, sensual. "You haunt my every thought, every moment of the day; your scent, the way you look at me, the way your hair flows like silk through my fingers… I am a prisoner…" he breathed against her temple, "and cannot escape."
She laid her head against his chest. "And you wish to?" she murmured softly, her heart sinking.
He gathered her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I…do not."
She smiled and leaned back in his arms. "Then take what you want Marcus. Take me if you will."
He looked into her eyes for a moment before setting her away gently and walking to the sideboard. "I...cannot," he stated, his tone stricken as he poured a drink. He picked it up and turned to her as she pulled the cloak close, a sudden chill overtaking her. "Isabella," he began, a conflicted expression on his face. "I would love nothing more than to carry you to my bed and make love to you until you begged for mercy…"
She tilted her head up as her eyes bored into his. "What?" she cut him off. "Is it because I'm human? Too weak? Too fragile?" she asked with a sneer to cover her insecurities.
He looked toward the window, a muscle twitching under the tension in his jaw. "You're so very young," he murmured before sipping his drink. He looked back at her. "So very young and innocent…"
Her expression twisted in anger and her chin jutted out as she approached. "Bullshit," she stated simply. "I'm mature enough to know what I want."
He cocked a brow. "Is that so…" he drawled. "Just days ago, you left everything and faced certain death to rescue the mind reader. Tell me, sweet Isabella, why did you do such a thing if you are over him and ready to move on?"
"I…" She looked down because she didn't have an answer. "He was going to kill himself," she protested weakly, "…and I'm not heartless."
He set his drink down and stepped toward her, tilting her chin up with a crooked finger. "I see what you do not," he murmured while staring into her eyes. "You have a bond—weakened and sickly, yes—but there, nonetheless, and I cannot take you while it yet exists. I will not."
He dropped his hand. "I will send your friends to you," he said as he stepped around her and walked out of the room. A tear rolled down her cheek and she swiped at it angrily just as she heard the door close.
~o0o~
She was just brushing out her shower-damp hair when she heard the outer doors open and close. "Bella?" a familiar female voice called out.
"In here," she answered as she finished up. "I'll be right out."
She walked down the hallway and entered the living room to see Alice and Jasper sitting on the couch. She smiled. "Hi guys."
Jasper frowned at the emotions coming from her. "What happened Busy-B, and don't try bullshittin' me either."
She sighed and flopped into Marcus's chair. "It's been a hell of a day Jas."
Jasper cocked a brow. "I gathered," he said dryly as Alice leaned against him with a frown.
"I didn't see anything Bella. What happened?"
Bella blushed when she thought about Marcus but shook it off to begin telling them what happened after lunch. Jasper growled as Alice's eyes went glassy. "So some asshole attacked ya?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, but Marcus got to me in time, thank god."
"Where was Felix?" Jasper asked. "Do I need to be kickin' some ass?"
Bella's eyes widened. "No! It wasn't his fault Jas, it was mine. I left the kitchen and didn't wait for him."
Jasper nodded. "All right then. Suppose I don't need to tell ya how stupid that was?" He eyed her and she shook her head.
Alice came back to herself. "Oh my," she muttered.
"What'd you see Ali?" Jasper asked.
She glanced between him and Bella. "Well Jas, you had just decided to pay a visit to the dungeons when I got a vision. Marcus is…already there." She shuddered and looked at her husband. "There won't be anything left for you to visit honey. Sorry."
Jasper nodded. "Good," was all he said before looking at Bella again. "Now, what else?"
"What else, what?" she muttered and he arched a brow. She tossed a hand in the air. "Fine! Marcus rejected me, okay. Happy now?"
Alice looked at her in sympathy and Jasper nodded. "At least you're bein' honest now."
"Oh Bella," Alice murmured. "I'm sorry."
Bella shrugged. "Par for the course with me Ali. I should've expected it, really. I'm doomed to die with my V-card."
Jasper snorted a laugh and she glared. "S'not funny," she grumbled.
Alice clapped once and stood. "Let's get outta here, hm? Go for a walk in the gardens. Have you been yet Bella? They're lovely."
Bella and Jasper stood. "No, I haven't," she said as Jasper opened and held the door for them before closing it and offering an arm to each girl.
"Ladies…" he said and Alice giggled.
"Such the gentleman," she said.
"Damn straight," he said with a nod.
Several hallways and a set of stairs later, they exited out the back of the castle and Bella's breath caught. "Wow, you weren't kidding," she said as she let go of Jasper and walked ahead. It was breathtaking and stretched over acres with all manner of flora nestled over gently sloping hills and valleys. Towering trees dotted the landscape and it was all surrounded by a high brick privacy wall.
Jasper and Alice hung back, walking arm in arm as Bella strolled down one of many twisting pathways. It was as she rounded a curve that she came across an arbor situated over a bench. She almost missed it, draped as it was in vines.
"Bella?" a very familiar voice startled her and she put a hand to her chest as she turned toward it.
"Edward," she said and he smiled and stepped into the filtered sunlight.
"It's good to see you," he murmured. "I've been so worried but they wouldn't allow me to see you. Thank you for coming."
Her brow furrowed and she glanced back to where Alice had been just moments before. She and Jasper were now nowhere in sight. She looked back at Edward. "I didn't exactly agree to see you, though I should have suspected since Alice suggested this visit to the gardens."
His face fell. "You didn't want to see me?"
"I…" she sighed. "I don't really know Edward. I mean, that day in the throne room, it really sounded like you only wanted me for my blood—like I was some sick obsession or something. What am I supposed to think about that? How am I supposed to feel?" She shook her head. "I really loved you, you know? You broke me."
He stepped closer. "Bella, please let me make it all up to you?" He moved closer still and she tensed when he cupped her cheek. "Won't you give me a chance?"
"A chance for what?" she whispered, heart aching.
"A chance to prove my love. A chance to make up for all of my shortcomings. A chance to love you and be loved in return."
A tear fell from her eyes as she locked gazes with him. "I…" she said but before she could finish, Jasper showed up looking livid.
He held out his arm to her. "Isabella, let's go," he said, his tone brooking no disagreement.
She nodded and hooked her arm through his.
"Jasper, this doesn't concern you," Edward growled.
Jasper nudged Bella behind him and faced Edward head on. "It very much concerns me. You see, Isabella is Marcus's charge and I am in charge of Marcus's guard. That makes her and her safety my business. Now, you really wanna go there with me Eddie? 'Cause I'll oblige."
"Her safety? You?" Edward snorted. "Oh, that's rich."
"I only had a problem around her when you were there, throwin' off waves of bloodlust strong enough to rile up a fuckin' elephant, son. Any other time, I was just fine, so now, who's the real threat to her safety, huh Eddie?" He snorted. "Hell, you should see how black your eyes are now."
Edward sneered at him. "Better than your red ones…Major," he seethed. "Gone straight back to your old ways the second you got the chance, didn't you? You're weak and disgusting and always have been."
"Least I never sipped at my supposed love like a fine cabernet, night after night while watchin' her sleep, ya little pervert. Couldn't even muster up the balls to drink her straight out, could ya?"
Edward growled and got right in Jasper's face. Bella tried to step around Jasper but he held her behind his body with one hand as she protested. "Stop this Edward! You're being an ass!"
"Hush darlin'," Jasper murmured, never taking his eye off the hostile male in front of him. "I got this," he assured lowly while standing nose to nose with Edward. 'You really wanna get your ass handed to ya in front of her?' he thought? 'Cause ya know I can. Be happy to as a matter of fact.'
"Pfft," Edward said and backed up. "Go…take her," he said with a dismissive wave of a hand. "I'll talk to you soon Bella."
With that, he turned and disappeared and Bella covered her face as she trembled. She couldn't recall a time when Edward had looked so scary. It had shaken her.
She felt strong arms wrap around her and she leaned into the embrace while she broke down. "Shh, darlin'," he soothed while rocking her side to side. "It's all right now. You're fine."
She nodded against him and backed away while drying her tears. "Sorry," she muttered.
"Nothin' to be sorry for, sugar. It's all over and 'sides, I can handle him. No problem." He held out his arm and she took it. "Let's get ya back to your rooms. I think we're done for the day, huh?"
They began walking. "Definitely," she agreed.
He looked down at her and smirked. "And don't think I'm gonna go easy on that test tomorrow because of all this. You're made of tough stuff. You can handle it."
Her mouth dropped open and she stared up at him. "You're still gonna make me take that test tomorrow?"
He grinned. "Yep."
"Jasperrrrr," she groaned. "Who knew you were such a hard-ass?"
He merely chuckled. "We got a lot 'a material to cover baby-doll, and not a whole lot 'a time to do it. Gotta keep the schedule."
She rolled her eyes. "You guys are all immortal. What's your hurry?"
"The Volturi runs a pretty tight ship, Busy-B, you'd be surprised. And Marcus is the boss. He gives me a schedule, I stick to it."
"Fine," she sighed. "Guess I'm studying through dinner tonight."
They walked for a bit in silence until Jasper felt her curiosity. "What is it darlin'?"
She looked up at him. "What happened to Alice? Why isn't she with you?"
His expression hardened. "We had a bit of a disagreement. She's back in our rooms."
"Was it over what just happened? I mean, you guys were right behind me one second and then you weren't."
He glanced down at her and then back to the front before answering. "Ali has a real problem with allowin' dear Eddie to manipulate her toward his own ends. He did that today, but don't you worry sugar, I'm taking care of the problem. I doubt she'll allow herself to be used again." He paused and then continued with a bit of a growl in his tone. "Least she better not anyway."
Bella's eyes widened and she looked up at him while tugging him to a stop. "Oh god Jasper, please don't be mad at her because of me!"
His brows drew together as he looked down at her. "Isabella, stop this."
'Stop what?" she asked, not catching his meaning.
"You, my dear, have a very bad habit of takin' every negative thing that happens around you and makin' yourself responsible—at least in your own mind. It's ridiculous and it's gonna stop right now. Alice did—and has done—things that have put her in the hot water she's in. No one else. Were you responsible for her helping Eddie get to you today?" he asked sternly.
"Well," she hedged, "it was done because of me, so…maybe?"
He shook his head slowly. "You're amazing and in this case, not in a good way. Did you conspire with the two of them for this little meet and greet? Did ya plan any of it?"
"No!" she denied. "Of course not."
"Then how can any of this, including the trouble Ali's in, be, by any stretch of the imagination, your fault?" he asked, his exasperation clear in his tone.
She hung her head. "It can't," she muttered.
"Exactly right, it can't, so stop makin' everything your problem and all about you. It's ridiculous. Understand?"
She nodded and they began walking again. "Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry," she muttered and he sighed and patted her hand.
"Hells bells girl, I'm gonna break you of this martyr complex ya got if it kills me."
She smirked and peeked up at him. "Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"You're already dead."
He smirked and shook his head. "I knew I should'a whooped your little ass when I had the chance." He looked down at her wide eyes.
"You wouldn't…"
He grinned. "Don't tempt me."
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.