Chapter 4
Jasper POV
I was sitting in the living room, reading through one of my civil war history books, when the shrill ring of my phone began. I looked at the Caller ID and smirked. “What can I do for you, my Lord?” I answered.
There was a brief silence. "My lord?" Caius questioned, amused. “You can speak freely then?”
I arched my back, stretching, before relaxing back into the sofa. “Yes, I can, everyone is hunting with the exception of Alice and Edward. I believe they are still in Volterra, aren’t they?” I chuckled a little. What trouble are they in now?
“They are," he replied. He sounded detached. "That is not the reason for my call though.”
Odd. My brow furrowed. Since when does Caius Volturi beat around the bush? I considered teasing him about it, but on the other hand, it sounded important. I chose to assure him instead.
“I am not worried about the phase of the moon at all," he told me. "I have something to tell you and you are not going to like it a bit."
I rolled my eyes. What's different?
"I found my mate—"
I sat upright in shock. Then my lips stretched into a smile--well now. I was going to purr into the phone when he continued without pause.
"—she is beautiful, smart, understanding, sultry.... I could go on, but above all, you know her and she is a human."
"What?" I hissed. "Your mate is human? I know her?" That can't be. "What do you—?"
"Calm down, Major," he harshly commanded. I reluctantly shut my mouth. "I'm not myself right now, and you know it. Your shouting is making me slightly agitated, and I needed to talk to you about this now. You going off in a tirade is not helping in any way."
He was right though. He had enough to deal with, and didn't need my bitching on top of that. I waited for a second, but he apparently didn't care to elaborate on his statement. I closed my eyes and leaned forward, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Mate, I mused. A human mate, who I know. I didn't converse with many humans. Humans stayed away from me, and I had no interest in them. Besides, I didn't know any humans in Volterra. I thought, perhaps it was someone from Forks who visited Volterra. But then...the Volturi only involve themselves with humans they intend to eat.
A human! Of all things. Of all the ridiculous.... He better change her ASAFP. It didn't work out for Edward; why should it work for Caius?
Bella.
Oh shit. Bella was human. I knew Bella. Bella was in Volterra.
I stood up, pacing."Wait a damned minute," I said. "You don't mean...?"
But--Hell!—it was her!
"Isabella is the one who began the changes in me that I do not like nor do I understand. I am grateful for them regardless."
I couldn't believe it. Bella was mate to my ruthless friend who has no caring bone in his body--
Changes?
“Caius, what do you mean that she’s changing you?” I asked.
“I seem to be calmer with her around," he admitted. "I feel foolish saying this out loud, but I long to be near her every second. I feel things I have never felt before with her and it bothers me….What I feel shakes me to my core!”
Amazing. It sounded like obsession. “Oh man, you are falling in love with her. Or you already have. How is she? Does she fear you? Does she know of our arrangement? How did she take it?”
I could picture him rolling his eyes as he answered, sounding sad. “Yes, I have fallen for her. Isabella is fine; no, she does not fear me and I have no idea why. As for our arrangement...."
I suppressed my laughter. Coward.
"Well, she knows I have a friend and is taking it well, it seems; but she does not know it’s you!”
“I see. Are you going to tell it’s me, or are you going to spring it on her?” I asked.
“No, I am not telling her," he said viciously. Then he sighed. Pity stabbed at me; I could only imagine his frustration over the matter on top of the upcoming full moon. "I was hoping you would return to Volterra with me after The Phase of the Full Moon.”
“You need me to placate her and set your mind at ease, is that it?”
“No, Major, I need your help in telling her of our little arrangement. And, I have an offer to extend to you. Only when the time is right and she is alright with our dealings.”
I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “You’re not going to tell me what it is?”
“It’s more of an arrangement for Isabella when I am busy or indisposed. I want you to be her companion. You are, after all, the only man I would ever allow near her.”
“Caius, I would be honored. But what will Bella think??? You are giving me allowances of caring for her in physical ways also.”
I heard something bang. I guess his hand slamming down on his desk. “I am aware of what I am doing, Major!" he snarled. "Do not agitate me or—”
“I'm shaking in my boots," interrupted.
"Hmph," was his only reply.
"I will see you in about 15 hours.”
Caius POV
We spoke of other things that were happening in the states and decided to talk more face to face. Now, I wondered, how will this all pan out?
My animal smiled smugly and tapped menacingly on the iron bars of its cage to gain my attention. Everything will be fine, Caius. Isabella accepts you as you are and will have no problem with these arrangements. I have a problem with the thought of another man touching what is mine though. Do you not feel the same?
The Major was the only man I would allow to touch her in any way. She will love getting to know him. They have been kept apart for too long and the time is now for her to know him. I plan on making this right between them. Besides, I growled mentally, he knows she is mine.
I am aware of that, you moron. I only have a problem with him touching her before we do. You do so seem a crazed idiot sometimes. Especially after Athenodora.
I managed to quell his temper, while thinking of Isabella. I was utterly mystified by her. She had placed a spell on me and I became bewitched by her sultry innocence. Her beauty alone rivals that of the goddess Aphrodite, as she rose from the sea. I could feel my desire for her body grow in strength; as I got uncomfortable, due to my painful erection, from thinking of her soaking wet, rising from the sea.
I felt like I was losing my mind.
I tried thinking of her and the major in a hot embrace but that only made me become harder.
Caius dear, you are not doing much for our problem…. Perhaps an ice cold shower would help? Oh, I do see what you mean about the Major being good for her. That thought was awfully hot; I would like to join in their fun! Kissing her while she’s fucking him, that would be good. Even watching him kiss her while we are making love to her would be a joy in itself. Now I see why you wish for him to be her companion!
SHUT UP! I hollered internally as I stalked to my chambers for a shower. I needed to relieve the pressure before I saw her again.
I longed for her touch and wished she were stroking me, as the water cascaded down my body. I tightened my grip on my member, as I thought of her writhing beneath me. My thoughts alone couldn’t do justice for how she would actually feel. My release came with blinding speed, thinking of Bella’s walls clenching around me.
Sated for the moment, I returned to my office to finish with the stack of papers on my desk. They mostly needed my signature in order for them to be processed and filed. I had begun to think Gianna was right that computerizing it all might have been easier.
My thought’s wandered to Aro and his plans of keeping Bella from me. How was he planning on accomplishing this? He knows she would die being without me and I without her. Is that what he wants?
I had to find out.
I was sitting in the living room, reading through one of my civil war history books, when the shrill ring of my phone began. I looked at the Caller ID and smirked. “What can I do for you, my Lord?” I answered.
There was a brief silence. "My lord?" Caius questioned, amused. “You can speak freely then?”
I arched my back, stretching, before relaxing back into the sofa. “Yes, I can, everyone is hunting with the exception of Alice and Edward. I believe they are still in Volterra, aren’t they?” I chuckled a little. What trouble are they in now?
“They are," he replied. He sounded detached. "That is not the reason for my call though.”
Odd. My brow furrowed. Since when does Caius Volturi beat around the bush? I considered teasing him about it, but on the other hand, it sounded important. I chose to assure him instead.
“I am not worried about the phase of the moon at all," he told me. "I have something to tell you and you are not going to like it a bit."
I rolled my eyes. What's different?
"I found my mate—"
I sat upright in shock. Then my lips stretched into a smile--well now. I was going to purr into the phone when he continued without pause.
"—she is beautiful, smart, understanding, sultry.... I could go on, but above all, you know her and she is a human."
"What?" I hissed. "Your mate is human? I know her?" That can't be. "What do you—?"
"Calm down, Major," he harshly commanded. I reluctantly shut my mouth. "I'm not myself right now, and you know it. Your shouting is making me slightly agitated, and I needed to talk to you about this now. You going off in a tirade is not helping in any way."
He was right though. He had enough to deal with, and didn't need my bitching on top of that. I waited for a second, but he apparently didn't care to elaborate on his statement. I closed my eyes and leaned forward, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Mate, I mused. A human mate, who I know. I didn't converse with many humans. Humans stayed away from me, and I had no interest in them. Besides, I didn't know any humans in Volterra. I thought, perhaps it was someone from Forks who visited Volterra. But then...the Volturi only involve themselves with humans they intend to eat.
A human! Of all things. Of all the ridiculous.... He better change her ASAFP. It didn't work out for Edward; why should it work for Caius?
Bella.
Oh shit. Bella was human. I knew Bella. Bella was in Volterra.
I stood up, pacing."Wait a damned minute," I said. "You don't mean...?"
But--Hell!—it was her!
"Isabella is the one who began the changes in me that I do not like nor do I understand. I am grateful for them regardless."
I couldn't believe it. Bella was mate to my ruthless friend who has no caring bone in his body--
Changes?
“Caius, what do you mean that she’s changing you?” I asked.
“I seem to be calmer with her around," he admitted. "I feel foolish saying this out loud, but I long to be near her every second. I feel things I have never felt before with her and it bothers me….What I feel shakes me to my core!”
Amazing. It sounded like obsession. “Oh man, you are falling in love with her. Or you already have. How is she? Does she fear you? Does she know of our arrangement? How did she take it?”
I could picture him rolling his eyes as he answered, sounding sad. “Yes, I have fallen for her. Isabella is fine; no, she does not fear me and I have no idea why. As for our arrangement...."
I suppressed my laughter. Coward.
"Well, she knows I have a friend and is taking it well, it seems; but she does not know it’s you!”
“I see. Are you going to tell it’s me, or are you going to spring it on her?” I asked.
“No, I am not telling her," he said viciously. Then he sighed. Pity stabbed at me; I could only imagine his frustration over the matter on top of the upcoming full moon. "I was hoping you would return to Volterra with me after The Phase of the Full Moon.”
“You need me to placate her and set your mind at ease, is that it?”
“No, Major, I need your help in telling her of our little arrangement. And, I have an offer to extend to you. Only when the time is right and she is alright with our dealings.”
I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “You’re not going to tell me what it is?”
“It’s more of an arrangement for Isabella when I am busy or indisposed. I want you to be her companion. You are, after all, the only man I would ever allow near her.”
“Caius, I would be honored. But what will Bella think??? You are giving me allowances of caring for her in physical ways also.”
I heard something bang. I guess his hand slamming down on his desk. “I am aware of what I am doing, Major!" he snarled. "Do not agitate me or—”
“I'm shaking in my boots," interrupted.
"Hmph," was his only reply.
"I will see you in about 15 hours.”
Caius POV
We spoke of other things that were happening in the states and decided to talk more face to face. Now, I wondered, how will this all pan out?
My animal smiled smugly and tapped menacingly on the iron bars of its cage to gain my attention. Everything will be fine, Caius. Isabella accepts you as you are and will have no problem with these arrangements. I have a problem with the thought of another man touching what is mine though. Do you not feel the same?
The Major was the only man I would allow to touch her in any way. She will love getting to know him. They have been kept apart for too long and the time is now for her to know him. I plan on making this right between them. Besides, I growled mentally, he knows she is mine.
I am aware of that, you moron. I only have a problem with him touching her before we do. You do so seem a crazed idiot sometimes. Especially after Athenodora.
I managed to quell his temper, while thinking of Isabella. I was utterly mystified by her. She had placed a spell on me and I became bewitched by her sultry innocence. Her beauty alone rivals that of the goddess Aphrodite, as she rose from the sea. I could feel my desire for her body grow in strength; as I got uncomfortable, due to my painful erection, from thinking of her soaking wet, rising from the sea.
I felt like I was losing my mind.
I tried thinking of her and the major in a hot embrace but that only made me become harder.
Caius dear, you are not doing much for our problem…. Perhaps an ice cold shower would help? Oh, I do see what you mean about the Major being good for her. That thought was awfully hot; I would like to join in their fun! Kissing her while she’s fucking him, that would be good. Even watching him kiss her while we are making love to her would be a joy in itself. Now I see why you wish for him to be her companion!
SHUT UP! I hollered internally as I stalked to my chambers for a shower. I needed to relieve the pressure before I saw her again.
I longed for her touch and wished she were stroking me, as the water cascaded down my body. I tightened my grip on my member, as I thought of her writhing beneath me. My thoughts alone couldn’t do justice for how she would actually feel. My release came with blinding speed, thinking of Bella’s walls clenching around me.
Sated for the moment, I returned to my office to finish with the stack of papers on my desk. They mostly needed my signature in order for them to be processed and filed. I had begun to think Gianna was right that computerizing it all might have been easier.
My thought’s wandered to Aro and his plans of keeping Bella from me. How was he planning on accomplishing this? He knows she would die being without me and I without her. Is that what he wants?
I had to find out.