The Descent
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 20
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at our destination. Prepare to deplane, and please, enjoy your stay in the beautiful city of San Antonio, TX.”
With a quiet sigh, I slipped dark glasses over my eyes, finally allowing myself a shallow breath as I stood to collect my bag from the overhead compartment.
The journey from Italy back to the States had been tense, with barely time between connecting flights to grab a meal. I’m sure if he knew of my thoughtfulness, the fat, sweaty guy seated next to me would’ve appreciated my efforts, but there he was, leering at me in all his ignorant glory as I retrieved my bag and queued up to get the hell off this tin can. Allowing myself a look back while shuffling forward, I sneered at him and he paled.
Now chuckling, I kept moving toward the exit, knowing that flashing a fang at the fat bastard wasn’t my finest moment, but it made me feel better, so why not? If he said anything, who would believe him, anyway?
Through this experience, I now knew one thing for certain though; I sure as shit wouldn’t fly commercial again for a very long while, or at all if I could help it. Private jets are the shit…just sayin’.
Once I made it into the terminal, I took a second to look at the board to see where to go to pick up my checked bag and headed out, intent on escaping this cluster fuck of humanity as soon as possible.
Doing so was in their best interest, after all, because if one more person ran into or shoved me, I was gonna start whittling away at their numbers, one throat at a time, fuck the consequences.
It was as I was standing around an empty conveyor belt, waiting for my bag that I felt two arms circle me from behind. I tensed, just barely stifling the urge to flatten whoever had the nerve to touch me, when a smooth, accented voice murmured in my ear. “Whoa there, darlin’. It’s just me. No need for all that hostility.” He chuckled lowly and I grinned, turning in his hold to wrap myself around him.
“Jesus, Jay, a little warning would’a been nice,” I breathed into the crook of his neck and shoulder, my eyes slipping closed as I took in his soothing scent.
Warm, soft lips placed a kiss under my ear as he drawled a reply, “I can leave if ya want.” He drew back and arched a brow as a slow, cocky smirk curved his lips.
I buried a hand in the curls at the nape of his neck. “Don’t you dare,” I said before tugging him into a slow, heated kiss.
“That’s more like it,” he said when he’d drawn back, his muddy brown eyes searching mine as we stared at each other.
“I missed you, so much,” I said while playing with his hair. His lips curved into a smile, revealing that dimple I loved so much.
“I missed you too,” he finally admitted then his gaze flitted over my shoulder. “Let’s get your bag and get the hell outta here.”
I kissed the corner of his mouth and nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
When we exited the terminal, I spied the car I’d borrowed from them parked by the curb and quirked a brow as he popped the trunk and stowed my bags. As he opened my door, he shrugged. “It wasn’t hard to find.”
With a nod, I slipped into my seat and he closed the door before circling around to slide in behind the wheel. “So, we going straight home, or…”
Smoothly easing into the flow of traffic, he shook his head. “Nope, I figured we’d spend a night or two in the city. Already got a room booked.” He took my hand and rested it with his on the center console as I smiled.
“That sounds really good, actually.”
He grinned and lifted my hand to his lips for a kiss. “I was hopin’ you’d say that.”
I grinned back. “Jasper Whitlock, you’re such a charmer when you wanna be.”
“I know,” was all he said and I chuckled.
“Cocky bastard.”
“That’s only a negative trait if I can’t back it up, darlin’ so thanks for the compliment.”
I scoffed a laugh. “I can see I’m gonna have to take you down a peg! Your head’s so big I’m surprised it fits through doors!”
“You love me anyway,” he said with a bright, teasing grin as he smoothly steered through traffic and I nodded, something tightening in my chest as I gazed at him. God, but he was beautiful, especially in that unguarded moment…
“I do,” I said, lacing my fingers with his, and it was true. In fact, I could safely say I’d never loved anyone more.
He glanced at me and his smile softened. “Careful sugar, that whole ‘taking me down a peg’ isn’t quite panning out with the feelings you’re pumping out right now.”
With a roll of my eyes, I reached over and smacked his shoulder as he laughed. “Ass,” I grumbled while doing my best to hide a smile.
In all honesty, it was good to see him like this. He seemed genuinely happy—his mood the brightest I could ever remember—and I had to wonder if it was the result of being free of that cursed bond. I was inclined to believe so.
When we got to the hotel, he pulled in front, got out and tossed the keys to the valet as another attendant got our bags from the trunk. When he’d stacked them on a cart, Jasper handed him a tip and grabbed the cart. “We’ll take it from here.”
“Yes, sir,” the attendant said as Jasper took my hand and tugged me along into the lobby.
“Wow,” I said as we headed to the elevators. “Nice place.”
He pressed the up button and smirked. “Beats the hell outta the Motel 6 down the way.”
I leaned over and whispered, “I’d do you anywhere, Whitlock. I’m not picky.”
He chuckled as the doors opened, tugging me close once we stepped in. “I’ll be taking you up on that, Swan, just as soon as we’ve talked.”
I groaned, resting my forehead against his chest as his fingers massaged the back of my neck. “Talk?” I whined. “Is that really necessary?”
“Yep.”
“It’s so overrated,” I persisted as the elevator climbed through the floors. He lightly grunted as I palmed his semi through his jeans and I smirked as I peeked up at him.
He sighed and kissed me softly before murmuring, “Talk first, Swan.”
I blew out a breath and nodded just as the doors opened to our floor. “Fine, we’ll talk.”
As he stowed our bags in the closet, I took off my dark glasses and tossed them on the dresser before launching myself at the huge, fluffy looking bed, landing with a bounce before kicking off my shoes.
“Fuck, this bed is awesome,” I breathed while spreading out to enjoy it.
A minute later, he joined me, pulling me against him as he kicked back against the pillows. “This is nice,” I said while resting my head on his chest and he hummed his agreement while carding his fingers through my hair.
“So, what’d you wanna talk about?” I said after a few minutes of just holding each other.
“How about the fact that I no longer feel a bond to Athenadora, which has been the case I might add, since shortly after you took off without a word to anyone.”
I glanced up at him and he stared back with a raised brow. “What’d you do, Swan?”
“All right, I won’t lie to you,” I stalled, my nerves kicking in. I’d done something life-changing…fucked with his life without his knowledge or permission, and wasn’t sure how he’d take it once he knew.
He sighed. “I’m not exactly ignorant, here darlin’. I know you did something to the bond, I just don’t know what, so quit with all the apprehension and dread. What’s done is done and I’m not missin’ the bitch. I know you didn’t kill her though, because I don’t feel any pain.”
I smiled and kissed his chin. “Nope, no matter how much I would’ve liked to, I didn’t kill her, and I’m so happy you’re not feeling any pain.”
His arms tightened around me and he kissed the crown of my head while breathing deeply. “That still doesn’t answer my question, sugar. What’d you do?”
“I…went to see a Voo Doo Priestess in New Orleans…”
He hissed lowly. “That’s some shit you shouldn’t mess with, darlin’…”
I popped up and cupped his cheek as he frowned at me. “I was careful, Jay, I promise…and she was…nice. I mean, she was weird, but she didn’t threaten me or anything.”
We were silent a moment, his eyes searching mine, then he sighed. “All right, sugar, I’ll trust your judgement. Just…you should probably avoid going back there.”
I bit my lip and looked down at the mattress. “I…can’t exactly do that, Jay. Not yet.”
He lifted my chin with a crooked finger and stared at me, his eyes narrowed as he murmured, “Why not?”
I looked away as emotions choked me, especially as my mind conjured Caius’s face the last time I’d seen him—the deep pain and sadness in his eyes… What I had planned was going to hurt the proud King…badly, and I dreaded doing it. Then I looked back at Jasper whose brow was creased in concern as he leaned down and kissed my cheek. “What is it, baby? What’s got you hurtin’ so bad?”
Turning toward him, I straddled his lap and tucked my face in his neck while playing with his hair. “I love you, Jay.” I raised my head to see his soft smile. “I hope you know that.”
“I do,” he said, his hands cupping my face as he brushed a kiss on my lips. “I can feel it,” he whispered into the kiss. “How’d I get so lucky?”
I gusted a laugh. “Well, I seem to recall this badass vampire showing up just when I was about to end things in a meadow, one way or another…”
We smirked at each other as I continued, “I also recall that same sexy badass pretty much taking what he wanted.”
He pulled me close, his hands splayed on my back and ass while he growled against my neck, “Did he now?”
My head rolled back as he kissed and sucked and nipped down my neck to my shoulder, his one hand kneading my ass as I rolled my hips and breathed, “He did, and it was the hottest fucking thing…makes me wet just thinking about it.”
He growled and tore my shirt and bra with a quick swipe of his hand as his kisses trailed from my neck to my chest. “So fucking beautiful…” he muttered before twirling his tongue around my nipple.
With a moan, I buried my hands in his soft curls, pulling him closer as he sucked in a mouthful, “Yes, baby, just like that.”
With a growl, he released my nipple and threw me back on the mattress before tearing my jeans and panties off, his eyes darkening by the second as I watched. “I need to taste you,” he said while parting my legs with his hands on my thighs. The next second, I cried out as he buried his face between my legs, his tongue running the length of my slit before circling and flitting over my aching clit. “Jesus, Jay,” I cried while gripping his hair. He wasn’t taking it easy on me as he flattened his tongue then sucked with those talented lips while sliding two fingers inside me.
I arched and spoke in languages neither of us recognized as he worked his magic. The boy definitely knew what he was doing… Still, as good as those fingers were, I knew his cock was better. “Fuck me, Jay, please…need you…” I begged, nearly growling when I felt his lips tilt into a smug smirk.
He didn’t let up and I felt that coil tighten the same moment I heard the fastenings of his jeans pop as he shed them. He rose up on his knees, his eyes alight with passion and amusement as he stroked his erect cock. “This what you want, Isabella?”
I licked my lips as my eyes darted from his face down to where his hand lazily stroked his perfect cock. Then I narrowed my eyes at the teasing look he was giving me. “You know it is,” I said as I moved, tackling his chuckling ass to the bed and straddling him.
“Then take it,” he murmured, pulling me down into a searing kiss only to groan into it as I sank onto him, taking in every glorious inch of him while relishing the way he filled and stretched me. “Always so damn wet and tight…” he groaned while bucking his hips.
I moaned and circled my hips, rising and falling as he planted his feet to meet me with his own thrusts. I smirked down at him as the bed began to rock. “I don’t think the bed’s gonna survive.”
He grabbed me, flipping our positions to pound into me while growling, “So we’ll pay for the damn thing.”
I threw my head back and cried out as he fucked me relentlessly, wrapping my legs around him as he drew me close and slanted his mouth over mine. The kiss was just as aggressive, his tongue plunging past my lips to stroke against mine as I gripped his hair and held on for dear life.
It was all I could do for the moment as his hips snapped forward, his thrusts powerful and hitting that spot inside me that made my vision go white.
He was wild yet focused, his powerful form fully engaged, every muscle seeming to roll and flex with his movements as he took me, spinning me up higher than I’d ever been before as I bucked and writhed beneath him. “Oh fuck, Jay!” I cried as my orgasm hit, my inner walls gripping and pulsing around his hot, hard, silky length.
“Isabella…” he groaned into my neck as he buried himself one last time and filled me.
We laid there, his weight a pleasurable reassurance as I placed light kisses on his neck, my fingers playing their way through his wild curls as we savored just being together. I ran my foot up the back of his thigh and smiled as he nuzzled my neck. “Isabella?” he murmured as his fingers stroked my side.
“Yeah?”
I felt him kiss my neck before nuzzling just under my ear. “I love you, darlin’…I love you.”
My breath hitched and I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat as my eyes closed, the emotions I felt choking my ability to speak.
He drew back to look at me and the look in his eyes…I could only describe it as fervent; full of warmth and honesty and passion. It made me feel like my heart would burst trying to contain it. And best of all, it wasn’t anything like the tragic bond he’d shared with Dora or that I still shared with Caius.
This was real and true and free…a connection—a bond made through nothing but the purity of what we felt—and it was all the more beautiful because of it. “I love you too, Jay,” I whispered while cupping his cheek, “so damn much…”
The smile he gave me then was slow and sweet. “I’m completely free of Dora, aren’t I?” he asked and I gave him a slow nod.
“Yeah, you are.”
He leaned down and kissed me, rolling us to our sides while keeping me close. “Thank you,” he whispered into my hair as he held me. “I don’t know how it’s possible to be free of that cursed bond after all this time, but thank you.”
I smiled against his chest, placing a kiss over his heart before saying, “You know, my motives weren’t completely selfless.” I raised up to see him and he cocked a brow. “I wanted you, completely, all to myself, and just the thought of you being tied to that conniving bitch…”
He smirked and carded his fingers through my hair. “Remind me to stay on your good side, sugar.”
I gave him a cheeky grin. “Oh, I will, Major, don’t worry.”
He pulled me into a slow, deep kiss and we whiled away the next hour or so just being together, neither of us feeling the need to do much else. It was peaceful, quiet, perfect…
“So, what now?” he asked while tracing small circles on my lower back as I rested my head on his chest.
“What now?”
His voice rumbled pleasantly against my ear as he answered, “You said you have to go back to New Orleans?”
My stomach sank at the reminder that all was not perfect in my world—not yet anyway—and I sighed before nodding. “Yeah,” I murmured, “I still have the bond between me and Caius to deal with.”
He tensed the barest amount. “You’re sad about it,” he observed and I couldn’t deny it. I was, because Caius may have been an arrogant ass at first, not to mention blindly loyal, but under his flaws, he was a good guy with a loving heart—a heart I was about to shatter beyond repair. “I am,” was all I said.
“Then, why do it?” he asked, his words quiet and body tense as he awaited my answer.
I traced the outline of his pec with a fingertip while weighing my answer carefully. “Because you deserve to have the love of someone who’s free to love you completely, that’s why.”
Relief and love flooded my senses and I realized it was coming from him. He’d been holding it all back, until I’d uttered those words. I rose up to look in his eyes. “One day, very soon, I will love you as you deserve to be loved.” I placed a soft kiss to his lips while tracing his temple with gentle fingers. “And then, we’ll never look back.”
His eyes searched mine for a beat then he pulled me close and breathed into my neck, “No looking back.” His arms circled me and I moaned as he slid into me, our bodies rocking together as we made slow love to each other.
We spent the rest of the day and all night either making love or lying there, tangled together, speaking quiet words of our hopes for the future and the things we’d do and see together and when the sun rose, we did too, quietly getting ready for the day ahead.
He’d booked the room for two nights, but we checked out early, as he, no doubt, sensed my restlessness to be done with what I still had to do.
While he was busy settling the bill at the desk, I walked out, pulling my phone from my pocket to make a call. He answered on the second ring. “My Lady? What can I do for you?”
“Demetri, I need you to escort our favorite little psychic to New Orleans. Are you free to do this now?”
“Yes, my Lady, although she is a slippery target. It may take some time.”
I sighed. “I could really kick Aro’s ass for letting her go.” I heard him chuckle as I continued, “I understand, just try not to make solid decisions—keep changing your mind and contact me when the cat’s in the bag so I know when to meet you for the ceremony.”
“I will, my Lady.”
The call ended and I smiled as Jay’s arms circled my waist. “They’re bringing the car around,” he said while kissing my neck.
I hummed and covered his hands with mine while snuggling into his hold. “It’ll be good to be home for a while.”
The valet pulled up and they loaded the bags in the trunk as I got in the passenger side. Jay tipped the attendant and slid in behind the wheel just as my phone rang. My gaze darted to his as I answered. “Hello?”
“Isabella, Carlisle Cullen here. I’d like to speak to you, if I may?”
I rolled my eyes getting a chuckle from Jay as he pulled out onto the road. “I could make a sarcastic comment here Carlisle, but I won’t, so speak.”
I heard the Cullen patriarch sigh. “I had hoped to speak to you face to face, if possible.”
This time, I didn’t resist. “All things are possible, Carlisle, if only you believe.”
“Been hanging around Pete too damn much…” Jay muttered and I grinned.
“Fine,” Carlisle snapped in a rare display of temper. “Name a time and place and I’ll be there.”
I arched a brow. “Now we’re getting somewhere. All right, the Whitlock Estate, this evening, say…7 o’clock?” I glanced at Jay who gave a nod.
“Thank you, Isabella.”
“Well, you caught me in a good mood, Carlisle, so think nothing of it.” I ended the call and stowed my phone while glancing at Jay. “What do you figure that was about?”
His fingers tapped the wheel. “What decision did you make recently that affects him or his coven?” he asked with a knowing look.
“Ah,” I said with a nod, “Alice.”
“Most likely, darlin’,” he agreed.
“So, they’re coming to beg or bargain for her continued existence…”
He gave me a loaded look. “Don’t let the benevolent exterior fool you, sugar. Carlisle Cullen is a vampire, like the rest of us. He may not like to fight, but he will.”
My eyes widened. “Wow…you think he’s bringing the fam with him?”
“He’d be a fool not to. He’s no untrained slouch either, so don’t underestimate him, sugar. Many have in the past, to their shock and detriment.”
I bit my lip. “Are you worried?”
He glanced at me. “I’m cautious, not worried. I’m confident in our fighting skills, but it’s never good to be cocky. You go gettin’ cocky in this life and you end up in pieces or as a pretty purple puff a’ smoke.”
I growled at just the thought of someone hurting Jay. “Well then, he better hope all he does is talk, ‘cause I’m gonna be ready to end his ass if he tries anything else.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at our destination. Prepare to deplane, and please, enjoy your stay in the beautiful city of San Antonio, TX.”
With a quiet sigh, I slipped dark glasses over my eyes, finally allowing myself a shallow breath as I stood to collect my bag from the overhead compartment.
The journey from Italy back to the States had been tense, with barely time between connecting flights to grab a meal. I’m sure if he knew of my thoughtfulness, the fat, sweaty guy seated next to me would’ve appreciated my efforts, but there he was, leering at me in all his ignorant glory as I retrieved my bag and queued up to get the hell off this tin can. Allowing myself a look back while shuffling forward, I sneered at him and he paled.
Now chuckling, I kept moving toward the exit, knowing that flashing a fang at the fat bastard wasn’t my finest moment, but it made me feel better, so why not? If he said anything, who would believe him, anyway?
Through this experience, I now knew one thing for certain though; I sure as shit wouldn’t fly commercial again for a very long while, or at all if I could help it. Private jets are the shit…just sayin’.
Once I made it into the terminal, I took a second to look at the board to see where to go to pick up my checked bag and headed out, intent on escaping this cluster fuck of humanity as soon as possible.
Doing so was in their best interest, after all, because if one more person ran into or shoved me, I was gonna start whittling away at their numbers, one throat at a time, fuck the consequences.
It was as I was standing around an empty conveyor belt, waiting for my bag that I felt two arms circle me from behind. I tensed, just barely stifling the urge to flatten whoever had the nerve to touch me, when a smooth, accented voice murmured in my ear. “Whoa there, darlin’. It’s just me. No need for all that hostility.” He chuckled lowly and I grinned, turning in his hold to wrap myself around him.
“Jesus, Jay, a little warning would’a been nice,” I breathed into the crook of his neck and shoulder, my eyes slipping closed as I took in his soothing scent.
Warm, soft lips placed a kiss under my ear as he drawled a reply, “I can leave if ya want.” He drew back and arched a brow as a slow, cocky smirk curved his lips.
I buried a hand in the curls at the nape of his neck. “Don’t you dare,” I said before tugging him into a slow, heated kiss.
“That’s more like it,” he said when he’d drawn back, his muddy brown eyes searching mine as we stared at each other.
“I missed you, so much,” I said while playing with his hair. His lips curved into a smile, revealing that dimple I loved so much.
“I missed you too,” he finally admitted then his gaze flitted over my shoulder. “Let’s get your bag and get the hell outta here.”
I kissed the corner of his mouth and nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
When we exited the terminal, I spied the car I’d borrowed from them parked by the curb and quirked a brow as he popped the trunk and stowed my bags. As he opened my door, he shrugged. “It wasn’t hard to find.”
With a nod, I slipped into my seat and he closed the door before circling around to slide in behind the wheel. “So, we going straight home, or…”
Smoothly easing into the flow of traffic, he shook his head. “Nope, I figured we’d spend a night or two in the city. Already got a room booked.” He took my hand and rested it with his on the center console as I smiled.
“That sounds really good, actually.”
He grinned and lifted my hand to his lips for a kiss. “I was hopin’ you’d say that.”
I grinned back. “Jasper Whitlock, you’re such a charmer when you wanna be.”
“I know,” was all he said and I chuckled.
“Cocky bastard.”
“That’s only a negative trait if I can’t back it up, darlin’ so thanks for the compliment.”
I scoffed a laugh. “I can see I’m gonna have to take you down a peg! Your head’s so big I’m surprised it fits through doors!”
“You love me anyway,” he said with a bright, teasing grin as he smoothly steered through traffic and I nodded, something tightening in my chest as I gazed at him. God, but he was beautiful, especially in that unguarded moment…
“I do,” I said, lacing my fingers with his, and it was true. In fact, I could safely say I’d never loved anyone more.
He glanced at me and his smile softened. “Careful sugar, that whole ‘taking me down a peg’ isn’t quite panning out with the feelings you’re pumping out right now.”
With a roll of my eyes, I reached over and smacked his shoulder as he laughed. “Ass,” I grumbled while doing my best to hide a smile.
In all honesty, it was good to see him like this. He seemed genuinely happy—his mood the brightest I could ever remember—and I had to wonder if it was the result of being free of that cursed bond. I was inclined to believe so.
When we got to the hotel, he pulled in front, got out and tossed the keys to the valet as another attendant got our bags from the trunk. When he’d stacked them on a cart, Jasper handed him a tip and grabbed the cart. “We’ll take it from here.”
“Yes, sir,” the attendant said as Jasper took my hand and tugged me along into the lobby.
“Wow,” I said as we headed to the elevators. “Nice place.”
He pressed the up button and smirked. “Beats the hell outta the Motel 6 down the way.”
I leaned over and whispered, “I’d do you anywhere, Whitlock. I’m not picky.”
He chuckled as the doors opened, tugging me close once we stepped in. “I’ll be taking you up on that, Swan, just as soon as we’ve talked.”
I groaned, resting my forehead against his chest as his fingers massaged the back of my neck. “Talk?” I whined. “Is that really necessary?”
“Yep.”
“It’s so overrated,” I persisted as the elevator climbed through the floors. He lightly grunted as I palmed his semi through his jeans and I smirked as I peeked up at him.
He sighed and kissed me softly before murmuring, “Talk first, Swan.”
I blew out a breath and nodded just as the doors opened to our floor. “Fine, we’ll talk.”
As he stowed our bags in the closet, I took off my dark glasses and tossed them on the dresser before launching myself at the huge, fluffy looking bed, landing with a bounce before kicking off my shoes.
“Fuck, this bed is awesome,” I breathed while spreading out to enjoy it.
A minute later, he joined me, pulling me against him as he kicked back against the pillows. “This is nice,” I said while resting my head on his chest and he hummed his agreement while carding his fingers through my hair.
“So, what’d you wanna talk about?” I said after a few minutes of just holding each other.
“How about the fact that I no longer feel a bond to Athenadora, which has been the case I might add, since shortly after you took off without a word to anyone.”
I glanced up at him and he stared back with a raised brow. “What’d you do, Swan?”
“All right, I won’t lie to you,” I stalled, my nerves kicking in. I’d done something life-changing…fucked with his life without his knowledge or permission, and wasn’t sure how he’d take it once he knew.
He sighed. “I’m not exactly ignorant, here darlin’. I know you did something to the bond, I just don’t know what, so quit with all the apprehension and dread. What’s done is done and I’m not missin’ the bitch. I know you didn’t kill her though, because I don’t feel any pain.”
I smiled and kissed his chin. “Nope, no matter how much I would’ve liked to, I didn’t kill her, and I’m so happy you’re not feeling any pain.”
His arms tightened around me and he kissed the crown of my head while breathing deeply. “That still doesn’t answer my question, sugar. What’d you do?”
“I…went to see a Voo Doo Priestess in New Orleans…”
He hissed lowly. “That’s some shit you shouldn’t mess with, darlin’…”
I popped up and cupped his cheek as he frowned at me. “I was careful, Jay, I promise…and she was…nice. I mean, she was weird, but she didn’t threaten me or anything.”
We were silent a moment, his eyes searching mine, then he sighed. “All right, sugar, I’ll trust your judgement. Just…you should probably avoid going back there.”
I bit my lip and looked down at the mattress. “I…can’t exactly do that, Jay. Not yet.”
He lifted my chin with a crooked finger and stared at me, his eyes narrowed as he murmured, “Why not?”
I looked away as emotions choked me, especially as my mind conjured Caius’s face the last time I’d seen him—the deep pain and sadness in his eyes… What I had planned was going to hurt the proud King…badly, and I dreaded doing it. Then I looked back at Jasper whose brow was creased in concern as he leaned down and kissed my cheek. “What is it, baby? What’s got you hurtin’ so bad?”
Turning toward him, I straddled his lap and tucked my face in his neck while playing with his hair. “I love you, Jay.” I raised my head to see his soft smile. “I hope you know that.”
“I do,” he said, his hands cupping my face as he brushed a kiss on my lips. “I can feel it,” he whispered into the kiss. “How’d I get so lucky?”
I gusted a laugh. “Well, I seem to recall this badass vampire showing up just when I was about to end things in a meadow, one way or another…”
We smirked at each other as I continued, “I also recall that same sexy badass pretty much taking what he wanted.”
He pulled me close, his hands splayed on my back and ass while he growled against my neck, “Did he now?”
My head rolled back as he kissed and sucked and nipped down my neck to my shoulder, his one hand kneading my ass as I rolled my hips and breathed, “He did, and it was the hottest fucking thing…makes me wet just thinking about it.”
He growled and tore my shirt and bra with a quick swipe of his hand as his kisses trailed from my neck to my chest. “So fucking beautiful…” he muttered before twirling his tongue around my nipple.
With a moan, I buried my hands in his soft curls, pulling him closer as he sucked in a mouthful, “Yes, baby, just like that.”
With a growl, he released my nipple and threw me back on the mattress before tearing my jeans and panties off, his eyes darkening by the second as I watched. “I need to taste you,” he said while parting my legs with his hands on my thighs. The next second, I cried out as he buried his face between my legs, his tongue running the length of my slit before circling and flitting over my aching clit. “Jesus, Jay,” I cried while gripping his hair. He wasn’t taking it easy on me as he flattened his tongue then sucked with those talented lips while sliding two fingers inside me.
I arched and spoke in languages neither of us recognized as he worked his magic. The boy definitely knew what he was doing… Still, as good as those fingers were, I knew his cock was better. “Fuck me, Jay, please…need you…” I begged, nearly growling when I felt his lips tilt into a smug smirk.
He didn’t let up and I felt that coil tighten the same moment I heard the fastenings of his jeans pop as he shed them. He rose up on his knees, his eyes alight with passion and amusement as he stroked his erect cock. “This what you want, Isabella?”
I licked my lips as my eyes darted from his face down to where his hand lazily stroked his perfect cock. Then I narrowed my eyes at the teasing look he was giving me. “You know it is,” I said as I moved, tackling his chuckling ass to the bed and straddling him.
“Then take it,” he murmured, pulling me down into a searing kiss only to groan into it as I sank onto him, taking in every glorious inch of him while relishing the way he filled and stretched me. “Always so damn wet and tight…” he groaned while bucking his hips.
I moaned and circled my hips, rising and falling as he planted his feet to meet me with his own thrusts. I smirked down at him as the bed began to rock. “I don’t think the bed’s gonna survive.”
He grabbed me, flipping our positions to pound into me while growling, “So we’ll pay for the damn thing.”
I threw my head back and cried out as he fucked me relentlessly, wrapping my legs around him as he drew me close and slanted his mouth over mine. The kiss was just as aggressive, his tongue plunging past my lips to stroke against mine as I gripped his hair and held on for dear life.
It was all I could do for the moment as his hips snapped forward, his thrusts powerful and hitting that spot inside me that made my vision go white.
He was wild yet focused, his powerful form fully engaged, every muscle seeming to roll and flex with his movements as he took me, spinning me up higher than I’d ever been before as I bucked and writhed beneath him. “Oh fuck, Jay!” I cried as my orgasm hit, my inner walls gripping and pulsing around his hot, hard, silky length.
“Isabella…” he groaned into my neck as he buried himself one last time and filled me.
We laid there, his weight a pleasurable reassurance as I placed light kisses on his neck, my fingers playing their way through his wild curls as we savored just being together. I ran my foot up the back of his thigh and smiled as he nuzzled my neck. “Isabella?” he murmured as his fingers stroked my side.
“Yeah?”
I felt him kiss my neck before nuzzling just under my ear. “I love you, darlin’…I love you.”
My breath hitched and I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat as my eyes closed, the emotions I felt choking my ability to speak.
He drew back to look at me and the look in his eyes…I could only describe it as fervent; full of warmth and honesty and passion. It made me feel like my heart would burst trying to contain it. And best of all, it wasn’t anything like the tragic bond he’d shared with Dora or that I still shared with Caius.
This was real and true and free…a connection—a bond made through nothing but the purity of what we felt—and it was all the more beautiful because of it. “I love you too, Jay,” I whispered while cupping his cheek, “so damn much…”
The smile he gave me then was slow and sweet. “I’m completely free of Dora, aren’t I?” he asked and I gave him a slow nod.
“Yeah, you are.”
He leaned down and kissed me, rolling us to our sides while keeping me close. “Thank you,” he whispered into my hair as he held me. “I don’t know how it’s possible to be free of that cursed bond after all this time, but thank you.”
I smiled against his chest, placing a kiss over his heart before saying, “You know, my motives weren’t completely selfless.” I raised up to see him and he cocked a brow. “I wanted you, completely, all to myself, and just the thought of you being tied to that conniving bitch…”
He smirked and carded his fingers through my hair. “Remind me to stay on your good side, sugar.”
I gave him a cheeky grin. “Oh, I will, Major, don’t worry.”
He pulled me into a slow, deep kiss and we whiled away the next hour or so just being together, neither of us feeling the need to do much else. It was peaceful, quiet, perfect…
“So, what now?” he asked while tracing small circles on my lower back as I rested my head on his chest.
“What now?”
His voice rumbled pleasantly against my ear as he answered, “You said you have to go back to New Orleans?”
My stomach sank at the reminder that all was not perfect in my world—not yet anyway—and I sighed before nodding. “Yeah,” I murmured, “I still have the bond between me and Caius to deal with.”
He tensed the barest amount. “You’re sad about it,” he observed and I couldn’t deny it. I was, because Caius may have been an arrogant ass at first, not to mention blindly loyal, but under his flaws, he was a good guy with a loving heart—a heart I was about to shatter beyond repair. “I am,” was all I said.
“Then, why do it?” he asked, his words quiet and body tense as he awaited my answer.
I traced the outline of his pec with a fingertip while weighing my answer carefully. “Because you deserve to have the love of someone who’s free to love you completely, that’s why.”
Relief and love flooded my senses and I realized it was coming from him. He’d been holding it all back, until I’d uttered those words. I rose up to look in his eyes. “One day, very soon, I will love you as you deserve to be loved.” I placed a soft kiss to his lips while tracing his temple with gentle fingers. “And then, we’ll never look back.”
His eyes searched mine for a beat then he pulled me close and breathed into my neck, “No looking back.” His arms circled me and I moaned as he slid into me, our bodies rocking together as we made slow love to each other.
We spent the rest of the day and all night either making love or lying there, tangled together, speaking quiet words of our hopes for the future and the things we’d do and see together and when the sun rose, we did too, quietly getting ready for the day ahead.
He’d booked the room for two nights, but we checked out early, as he, no doubt, sensed my restlessness to be done with what I still had to do.
While he was busy settling the bill at the desk, I walked out, pulling my phone from my pocket to make a call. He answered on the second ring. “My Lady? What can I do for you?”
“Demetri, I need you to escort our favorite little psychic to New Orleans. Are you free to do this now?”
“Yes, my Lady, although she is a slippery target. It may take some time.”
I sighed. “I could really kick Aro’s ass for letting her go.” I heard him chuckle as I continued, “I understand, just try not to make solid decisions—keep changing your mind and contact me when the cat’s in the bag so I know when to meet you for the ceremony.”
“I will, my Lady.”
The call ended and I smiled as Jay’s arms circled my waist. “They’re bringing the car around,” he said while kissing my neck.
I hummed and covered his hands with mine while snuggling into his hold. “It’ll be good to be home for a while.”
The valet pulled up and they loaded the bags in the trunk as I got in the passenger side. Jay tipped the attendant and slid in behind the wheel just as my phone rang. My gaze darted to his as I answered. “Hello?”
“Isabella, Carlisle Cullen here. I’d like to speak to you, if I may?”
I rolled my eyes getting a chuckle from Jay as he pulled out onto the road. “I could make a sarcastic comment here Carlisle, but I won’t, so speak.”
I heard the Cullen patriarch sigh. “I had hoped to speak to you face to face, if possible.”
This time, I didn’t resist. “All things are possible, Carlisle, if only you believe.”
“Been hanging around Pete too damn much…” Jay muttered and I grinned.
“Fine,” Carlisle snapped in a rare display of temper. “Name a time and place and I’ll be there.”
I arched a brow. “Now we’re getting somewhere. All right, the Whitlock Estate, this evening, say…7 o’clock?” I glanced at Jay who gave a nod.
“Thank you, Isabella.”
“Well, you caught me in a good mood, Carlisle, so think nothing of it.” I ended the call and stowed my phone while glancing at Jay. “What do you figure that was about?”
His fingers tapped the wheel. “What decision did you make recently that affects him or his coven?” he asked with a knowing look.
“Ah,” I said with a nod, “Alice.”
“Most likely, darlin’,” he agreed.
“So, they’re coming to beg or bargain for her continued existence…”
He gave me a loaded look. “Don’t let the benevolent exterior fool you, sugar. Carlisle Cullen is a vampire, like the rest of us. He may not like to fight, but he will.”
My eyes widened. “Wow…you think he’s bringing the fam with him?”
“He’d be a fool not to. He’s no untrained slouch either, so don’t underestimate him, sugar. Many have in the past, to their shock and detriment.”
I bit my lip. “Are you worried?”
He glanced at me. “I’m cautious, not worried. I’m confident in our fighting skills, but it’s never good to be cocky. You go gettin’ cocky in this life and you end up in pieces or as a pretty purple puff a’ smoke.”
I growled at just the thought of someone hurting Jay. “Well then, he better hope all he does is talk, ‘cause I’m gonna be ready to end his ass if he tries anything else.”
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.