Intermediate Imprinting: Temptation #5
Nov. 25th, 2012 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elvenavariTitle: Intermediate Imprinting: Temptation
As RPed by:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
starry_nights88 & avari_maethor
Pairings: Jasper/Seth, Edward/Jacob & Emmett/Leah.
Jasper had parked far enough away from the school entrance not to draw attention to himself, but close enough so that Seth would be able to find his car. Impatiently he watched the students file out of the building; impatiently he waited to see his shifter among the students leaving for the day.
When Seth appeared in the doorway of the school Jasper smiled. Seth glanced around for a moment but Jasper knew the moment Seth spotted him because of the wide smile that appeared on the shifter’s face. Making his way through the swarm of students to Jasper’s car, Seth opened the passenger door and got in, setting his backpack and duffle at his feet.
“Hi Jasper!” He greeted.
The vampire grinned widely, mirroring Seth’s as he slid into the seat. “Hey, Seth, how was school?” Jasper asked.
“Boring, I kept watching the clock knowing you would be here,” Seth replied.
“I’m here now,” Jasper replied, leaning over to press a kiss to the younger’s lips.
Seth smiled into the kiss but returned it. “We’d better get out of here so we can continue that,” he said when he pulled away.
“I like the sound of that,” Jasper agreed before he put the car into gear and then drove off towards his home.
Seth took Jasper’s hand into his own for the drive. “You have a nice car, what kind is it?”
“Mustang,” Jasper replied simply with a shrug, squeezing the hand that held his own. “I also have a truck, but I like to drive this one more.”
“So this is what a Mustang looks like… wow…” Seth laughed. “I bet when Jacob saw all the cars you guys had he freaked out.”
Jasper laughed at that. “He did. He really did. Edward had to literally drag him out of the garage,” he replied, smiling at the memory. “I’ll have to show you the rest of the cars.”
“I would like that… I can’t wait to get my own car. Jake promised to help me fix up whatever I get.”
“That’s cool. I’ve never really been into working on cars…that’s Rosalie’s thing,” Jasper shrugged. “Not saying that I couldn’t if I needed to, but it’s more about not wanting to?” He laughed and shook his head. “From what I heard that’s what Rosalie and Jacob bonded over in Alaska.”
“That doesn’t surprise me… but Rosalie? Working on cars? Really? She doesn’t seem the type.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Jasper pointed out, grinning. “You wouldn’t know it from looking at him, but Emmett has several degrees in engineering.”
“You’re right… I wouldn’t know it,” Seth said with a grin. “How many different colleges have you been to?”
“Surprisingly…not as many as you think,” Jasper replied, looking over at Seth. “I actually finished high school (for the first time) when Alice and I found Carlisle. And that was in the 50’s.”
“Really?” Seth was quiet for a moment as he thought that over. “Well I guess it makes sense since you joined the Army early and then were turned… Carlisle is really nice; he and Esme compliment each other really well.”
“They really do, but that’s the interesting thing about mates. No matter what…they always seem to fit together like two puzzle pieces,” Jasper replied thoughtfully.
“…Do you think imprints are like that?” Seth questioned. “I mean… like a vampire and shifter? I know imprints are like soul mates but… what do you think?”
“Honestly. The imprint almost seems stronger than our mates,” Jasper replied, glancing over at Seth’s. “But, then again, you and I seem to match up pretty well…even if you are a shifter and I’m a vampire.”
Seth grinned and Jasper basked in his excitement. He was thankful that they pulled into the garage at the Cullen house then because otherwise he wasn’t sure he would have been able to keep his hands off Seth. As it was he put the car in park, turned the car off and pulled Seth to himself.
“Mm!” Seth’s exclamation was muffled by Jasper’s mouth on his own.
Seth’s lips felt so good against his own, Jasper cupped his cheek and brushed the seam of the younger’s lips with his tongue. Needing to deepen their connection even more.
Seth willingly opened his mouth at Jasper’s request. Their tongues danced against each other, Seth moved a hand up behind Jasper’s neck to bring him closer.
Jasper was leaning over the consol, nearly pressing the other into the door as he kissed Seth, his body tingling pleasantly.
Seth gathered his courage, he had kissed Jasper back before but this… he didn’t know how Jasper would react… oh well. Seth bit gently on Jasper’s bottom lip making a half moan/half whimper sound in his throat.
Jasper’s gasp was lost to the kiss as his eyes snapped open at Seth’s gentle nibbling. He hadn’t liked it when Alice did it, but when Seth tried it…it sent pleasure shooting straight to his groin. He was suddenly glad there was a consol separating them.
A moment later Seth pulled back from the kiss panting. “To…much?” He questioned.
“Not at all,” Jasper replied, smiling slightly. “Just…I wasn’t expecting that. And I wasn’t expecting to like it, but I did.” More than Seth knew at that moment.
Seth smiled and leaned in to capture Jasper’s lips again when someone knocked on his window and he jumped. Blushing he turned to find Emmett standing outside the car, smirking. “We always seem to get interrupted,” he sighed.
“All for the best perhaps,” Jasper replied, smiling at Seth’s pout. He wasn’t sure if he would’ve been able to stop himself from pushing forward.
“Maybe.” Seth turned and opened the door. “May I help you?”
“Maybe,” Emmett replied. “Esme wants to place the order to the beds, what would you like?”
Seth blinked in confusion at him and then turned back to Jasper. “Beds?”
“That’s right! I forgot all about that,” Jasper replied, looking sheepish. “Esme’s getting everyone new beds since you and Jacob practically live over here. She wanted me to ask you what kind of bed you prefer.”
“Oh. Um… I dunno, mom always picked ours out.”
“Well come inside, Esme has a whole magazine,” Emmett told him.
“Alright, be right in.” The bigger vampire nodded and disappeared inside. “Does it matter to you at all?” Seth questioned looking at Jasper.
“Not in the least. You’ll be the one using it,” Jasper replied.
Seth nodded. “Okay, well better not keep Esme waiting.” He leaned in and stole one more quick kiss before grabbing his backpack and duffle bag and getting out of the car.
Jasper lingered in the car, leaning back in his seat and clutching the steering wheel, fighting to calm his body. It took nearly five minutes but finally Jasper let out a unneeded deep breath, got out of the car and followed Seth inside. He found Esme, Seth, Leah and Emmett in the living room. Seth had the most adorable look of confusion on his face.
“Really, pick anything you like, price doesn’t matter,” Esme told him.
“But don’t go overboard,” Leah added.
“Oh, don’t listen to her, dear. Get whatever you want,” Esme said, waving Leah off with a kind smile. “I still think you need a better bed than what you picked out what with a baby on the way and all.”
“The one I picked out was rated one of the best in back support, that is what I need,” Leah replied. “So what will it be Seth?”
“Uh… I really don’t know? This stuff seems like it’s in another language to me. I don’t need a king size or anything but something bigger than a single would be nice, I’m kinda tired of my feet dangling off the edge,” Seth replied.
Esme chuckled softly at that. “Well…here are the full sized beds…” she said, turning to a page as Emmett scoffed.
“He’ll need a Queen…we’re forgetting about Jasper here…” he pointed out. “There’s more things to do on a bed besides sleep.”
Seth blushed brightly at the suggestion and Leah slapped Emmett’s arm. “Emmett! Seth is too young for that!”
Emmett chuckled. “Who said anything about that?” He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “I was talking about Jasper lying next to him when he’s trying to sleep…or helping him with his homework.”
“I’m sure you were,” Leah said rolling her eyes. “That is true though.”
“Why don't you just pick one out Leah?” Seth questioned.
“Because it’s your bed.”
Seth sighed. Finally he closed the magazine, then his eyes and started flipping through it, stopped on a page and pointed. “This one,” he said opening his eyes. “The memory foam Tempur-Pedic, queen size.”
“Perfect!” Esme chirped, marking the bed Seth had picked with a black marker. “I’ll put in the orders as soon as Edward and Jacob get here. With any luck they’ll be here next week!”
Seth escaped before the women started to ask him about comforters and the like; he usually just slept with a sheet anyway since he stayed so warm now. Jasper was leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen by the stairs waiting for him. “Shall we go to your room?” He asked.
Jasper nodded and took the duffle bag from him. “Esme wants you to pick a new room, with the bed coming the one I have is too small,” he explained.
“Why don’t you just pick one? It doesn’t really matter to me as long as I’m with you,” Seth replied.
“Couldn’t pick out one either,” Jasper replied, shrugging. “Though Alice did offer up our old bedroom…but, I dunno, that seems kinda odd to me.”
“Yeah… that would just be weird. I don’t know the house that well so you take me to the room I describe. Not Carlisle and Esme’s, Edward and Jacob’s, or Emmett and Leah’s, not beside the last two… or below them… and big enough for the bed.”
Jasper chuckled at the younger’s answer, but took him to the described room. “How’s this?” He asked, looking around the room, which was actually the remodeled basement, well out of the way of all three couples.
“Perfect!” Seth said as he looked around. “We can put the bed over here and still keep your futon, cause I like to lay with you on it to read.”
The blond headed vampire nodded in agreement. “I can even set up more book shelves,” Jasper replied thoughtfully, looking around the room.
“Yeah! A whole wall full of them, we’ll have to expand your collection,” Seth told him. “We should go to Seattle sometime and do that.”
“Our collection,” Jasper corrected, stepping into the room, still looking around, deciding they could fit a desk in here too for Seth to do his homework on. “We could go next weekend if you want to and if your mom will let you.”
Seth nodded smiling. “That sounds great.” Anyone else would have just lied to their mother about the trip but Seth knew he was a horrible liar. There was no point in trying.
“I was thinking about a desk too,” Jasper said, turning to face the younger teen. “For your homework. Would you want a TV? Maybe a stereo system?”
Seth blinked in surprise. “A desk would be great… a TV and stereo would be nice too but you don’t have to get those things… you don’t have to spend your money on me.” Seth blushed as he thought about the ‘our’ Jasper had used before.
Jasper shook his head, turning and stepping closer to the teenager, reaching to cup his cheek. “I know I don’t, but I want to.” His thumb brushed across Seth’s skin as he spoke. “This’ll be your room as much as it’ll be mine. I want you to be comfortable. If you want a TV and stereo you’ve got it.”
The blush on Seth’s cheeks deepened and Jasper smiled. “Just…just wait until Christmas and my birthday okay? They can be gifts,” Seth offered.
“Can’t wait that long,” Jasper replied, shaking his head even as he grinned.
“You don’t even know when my birthday is,” Seth retorted. “What? Are you secretly a TV addict?” The thought made him chuckle.
“I know it’s already passed,” Jasper answered, still grinning. “And Leah will give me an exact date. You know she will.” He sighed softly, both hands now cupping the boy’s cheeks before he leaned down to press a chaste kiss to his lips. “I’m addicted to your happiness, okay?”
“Passed for this year yes, not next year though. It’s January 28th, I’ll be fifteen. And I am happy; as long as I’m with you I don’t need anything else.”
Jasper smiled at that. “Alright, alright. Fine,” he replied, conceding for now. But when the time came, Seth would find the room complete with a television, stereo, and computer.
Seth watched his imprint’s expression with a raised eyebrow. He wanted to tell Jasper not to spoil him but… he couldn’t deny anything Jasper wanted to give him. Sighing he gave up and looked around the room again. “You wanna go on and move the rest of your stuff down here?” He questioned.
Jasper hummed softly before shaking his head. “I don’t think that’d be a good idea.” He smiled at Seth’s confused look. “My old bedroom is near Edward’s and he and Jacob are rather busy at the moment.”
After a second Seth’s eyes widened and he blushed. “Oh. Um…well… we could stay here or go to the living room?”
Jasper didn’t say anything. Not right away. No matter where he went in the house he’d still be subject to the lustful emotions Edward and Jacob were feeling. It was unsettling, almost bordering on uncomfortable. Normally he could ignore such feelings, but it was impossible when he was around Seth. It became almost impossible to fight his own urges.
“How about,” he started, hoping his voice didn’t sound as husky as he thought it did. “We go outside? Maybe to our meadow? Just for a little while? Until they’re finished…their feelings…” He broke off, shaking his head.
“Of course!” Seth exclaimed, the tone of Jasper’s voice sending chills down his spine. He grabbed Jasper’s hand and Jasper had to keep himself from moaning at the contact. Running upstairs Seth and Jasper said ‘bye’ to Esme, Leah and Emmett before leaving the house. Seth didn’t stop running until they got to the edge of the meadow. “How do you guys stand that?” He couldn’t hear the two but the smell had tickled his nose once they had gone upstairs.
“You get used to it after awhile,” Jasper replied, shrugging, feeling slightly better now that they were no longer in the house or anywhere near it. “But with an ability like mine or even Edward’s…well, you can only imagine how bad it can get.”
“I bet…glad I don’t have them, no offense.” Seth let go of Jasper’s hand and let himself drop down into the long strands of grass. “Join me?”
“Gladly,” Jasper answered, lying in the grass next to the younger boy, he turned to his side, facing the shifter. “It comes in handy, of course, but most of the time it’s just a pain in the ass.” Jasper paused, grinning. “I take that back. Only when you’re not around is when being an empath is a pain in the ass.”
Seth grinned and laced his fingers with Jasper’s again. “Well I’m glad me and my hyper active emotions aren’t a pain in the ass. But… you could feel others emotions before you were turned… just not as strongly right?”
Jasper hummed softly in agreement. “I could always tell how someone felt about something…and I was always able to make them feel better…or worse…” he shrugged. “Now it’s all just magnified. I can feel how people feel and I can make them feel what I want them too. It’s useful in certain occasions, but like I said, a pain in the ass in others. Like when my little brother is busy with his lover.”
Seth laughed. A reply came to his mind but it made him blush so he bit his tongue. Rolling over he watched Jasper’s skin sparkle in the rays of sunlight that escaped the clouds. Reaching his free hand out he started to trace Jasper’s face with his fingers. “What’s the best and worst thing you’ve ever done with your ability?” He asked softly.
Jasper leaned into the teen’s touch and took a moment to think about the younger’s question. He was ashamed to admit to some of the things he had done with his gift, but Seth had asked. He couldn’t deny him. “When I was with Maria-the woman who changed me-I used my ability to train the newborn army she was building and, in the end, I used it to turn her against her sisters. I was…I was jealous of the attention she gave them. So I got them out of the way.”
“How?” Seth questioned. He had a feeling that he didn’t want to know but at the same time he had to know.
Jasper bit his bottom lip and laid back in the grass, staring up at the cloudy sky. He couldn’t bare to look at the other’s face when he told them, it’d be bad enough having to feel his disgust. “A little mistrust can go a long way. It’s another gift I have. I can feel people’s emotions, but I can manipulate them too. I can make them feel things that they don’t mean to. I made Maria suspicious of them, though they did nothing wrong, eventually they confronted her. She killed them. Then I was her favorite.”
Jasper waited for Seth’s disgust or at the very least his pity but it didn’t come. Instead he only felt a wave of love and support. Seth moved closer and sat up enough so that he was now looking down at Jasper. “I understand.”
Jasper stared into Seth’s brown eyes. “How can you?”
“When I was younger and Leah was with Sam I was so jealous of him. She used to spend all her time with me and then when he came along it was like I didn’t exist anymore. I hated him when he broke her heart but I was also relieved because that meant I had Leah back. When she imprinted on Emmett… well I have grown up a lot since Sam but I was jealous of him too. Sam, Jacob, Leah and Quil had all imprinted… as it was going I was going to be alone again. But now I have you.” Seth gave him a soft smile. “And you have me and you’ll always be my favorite.”
Jasper blinked and then turned to Seth. His lips tipped into a grin and he reached for the younger, resting his hand on his cheek, his thumb brushing his smooth skin. “You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he replied softly.
Seth’s smile widened at those words. Leaning down he covered Jasper’s lips with his own. His fingers tightened against Jasper’s where they held hands. His other hand buried itself in Jasper’s hair as he practically lay on top of Jasper.
The vampire did the only thing he could do, he responded eagerly to the kiss. His hand moved from Seth’s cheek to the back of his head, almost holding the younger in place as he leaned up to deepen the kiss.
The kiss lasted until Seth needed to breathe again. “I’m… I’m gonna have to learn… how to breathe through my nose when I’m with you,” he whispered.
Jasper chuckled softly, laying back against the grass, looking up at the young shifter. “I’ll be more than willing to help you practice,” he replied, grinning.
Seth blushed even as he started to laugh. “Oh you!” He exclaimed. Just then his stomach started to growl. “You think Edward and Jacob are done?”
He couldn’t help but to laugh as Jasper hugged Seth to him, burying his face in the boy’s neck before replying, though his voice was muffled, “I would hope so. Let’s go find out. We can’t have you starving to death now can we?”
“I’d rather not,” Seth agreed with a grin.
Jasper smiled, nudging the younger in the side. “You’ll need to get off of me. Otherwise we can’t get up.”
“Oh I’m fairly certain you could get up if you really wanted,” Seth replied but he slid off and got to his feet offering Jasper a hand up.
Jasper accepted the hand, but he didn’t get up. Instead he pulled Seth right back down and into his arms. Then he rolled the snickering youth over until he was on his back and Jasper was on top. “Of course I could,” he replied before chastely covering Seth’s lips with his own.
Seth giggled and wrapped an arm around Jasper’s neck bringing him back for a longer kiss. Before he could stop it a muffled growl came from his throat and he bit at Jasper’s bottom lip as he had done earlier that afternoon. If Edward had been there the only thought he would have gotten from Seth would have been, ‘Mine’.
Again Jasper’s body tensed and Seth’s actions went straight to his cock, but this time there was no consol separating them. There was no way to hide just what that did to him.
Seth felt the evidence of Jasper’s arousal against his thigh. He growled again and explored Jasper’s mouth with his tongue. It was to soon…he knew that but right then it didn’t matter.
Jasper knew he should pull away. He knew he should stop before things got too far, but the urges were too hard to fight. Too hard to ignore anymore and mixed with the feelings Seth was giving off…
…it was a fight he just wouldn’t win.
“Jasper!”
He heard the voice but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Seth. Then suddenly he was pushed across the clearing from the boy. He stumbled the last few steps before catching himself. Edward was now standing between him and Seth.
He was confused as he stood clear on the other side of the meadow. Confused as he stared at his brother and the fourteen year old shifter he had almost made his lover…he paused, eyes widening. He had almost crossed a line. A line that was clearly drawn. He had almost stepped over it, ignoring it completely.
Seth sprang to his feet. “Edward! What are you doing?!” He demanded.
Edward blinked at him. “…Saving you?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You weren’t saving anyone you asshole!”
“No Seth.” Seth’s eyes went to Jasper. His wolf whined wanting to immediately comfort its imprint when he took in the look on the other’s face. “He did the right thing.”
Seth shook his head and took a step toward the vampire but Jasper stepped back. “Jasper. Jasper please. You weren’t doing anything wrong.”
“Seth.”
“Can it Edward,” Seth growled.
“Jasper…love… you weren’t doing anything I didn’t want.” Jasper had to understand that. He had to.
Jasper shook his head. “You’re fourteen, Seth…you’re too young…much too young for something like that…” he said softly, looking stricken. “You might’ve wanted it, but it’s wrong. Not yet. I should’ve stopped. I should’ve…” he shook his head again.
Jasper took another step back and before Seth could reach him, he disappeared. Seth went to his knees at the spot Jasper had been standing. Edward slowly came up behind him and laid a hand on Seth’s shoulder.
“Seth…”
Seth jerked away glaring at him. “Get away from me.” With that he phased and disappeared into the forest.
---
He must’ve sat in his car staring at the house for what felt like hours. He looked at the clock. It had only been five minutes. He felt…
…he couldn’t describe how he felt. He felt horrible for what he had done, even though he still felt justified in it. Seth was still too young. No matter how badly he wanted it.
He had thought he needed some time away. Some time to clear his mind. So he and Emmett went on an extended hunting trip. Three days into the trip he realized how big of a mistake he made when he couldn’t stop thinking about Seth. Hunting, as it turned out, did little to take his mind off of the younger shifter.
But he stayed away the entire week. If only because of Emmett’s encouragement. Now he was parked in Seth’s driveway. Desperate to see him, yet afraid of the damage he had caused and he knew there was damage. He knew Seth had to feel rejected. He knew he had to feel even worse than he did.
The vampire heaved a sigh and made up his mind. He opened his door and got out of his car. He closed the door and then made his way up to Seth’s front door. After hesitating for only a moment, he knocked on the door and waited, expecting the worse but hoping for the best.
Thanks to his heightened hearing he could hear everything inside the house. As footsteps approached the door he heard Jacob’s voice say, “Seth, you have to sleep.”
“…I can’t, you should understand that,” Seth replied quietly, his voice exhausted.
The door opened and Jasper found himself face to face with the only female shifter glaring at him. Leah growled, brought her hand back and slapped him. “Bastard,” she hissed.
Jasper may not have felt the strike, but his head did snap back. If only because of his surprise. Once the shock wore off he could feel Leah’s anger. It sank into him like a sickness. If she way this angry then he shuttered to think of how Seth felt. Thanks to his gift he felt an underlying sense of sadness in the house which sank deeper than the anger.
“Okay…I deserved that…” He said, looking at the fuming woman, heaving a soft sigh. “I want to see him, Leah…and I know you don’t want me to…”
Leah cut him off, almost immediately, her hand in his face. “You’re damn right I don’t want you to see him. Not after you ran off like that. He’s crushed! He won’t sleep! He won’t eat! He’s…he’s not functioning!”
Guilt rippled through Jasper. He pushed her hand down. “Please Leah, I want… need to apologize, at least for my behavior.”
The wind shifted behind, blowing past him into the house. Jasper knew the moment Seth noticed his scent. A chair hitting the floor was his only warning before Leah was pushed aside and Seth’s warm lips were crushed against his own, arms wrapped around him tightly. The whimper that left Seth’s throat was muffled by the kiss did not go unnoticed by Jasper.
When Seth pulled away his eyes darted over Jasper’s face before tears started to roll down his cheeks. “I’m sorry Jasper, I’m so sorry. I’ll never kiss you again if you just promise to never leave again!” Seth threw his arms around Jasper’s neck. “Please, please, just don’t leave again. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
For a moment Jasper was at a loss for words. He was supposed to be the one apologizing. He was the one that did something wrong. Immediately his hands went to Seth’s face, cupping his cheeks. “No, no, no!” He said quickly, shaking his head. “Calm down, Seth. Just listen to me…”
His only answer was a soft sniffle. He didn’t know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
“I’m sorry. I’m the one who should be sorry. You did nothing wrong,” he assured the shifter. “I shouldn’t have run away like I did…but, I almost did something that we both would’ve regretted.”
“But… but if I hadn’t kissed you, you wouldn’t have run away,” Seth insisted.
Jasper heaved a sigh and shook his head. “No…no, it wasn’t that…” he replied softly before he looked away from Seth, finally noticing that they had next to no privacy with Leah glaring at him and Jacob watching from the hallway. They didn’t even have the illusion of privacy. He looked back at Seth. “You, um, wanna take a walk?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Seth,” Leah stated.
“I do,” Jacob cut in and Leah’s glare turned onto him. “Will ten minutes do?” He knew now that Jasper was back Seth would sleep and eat again. By the time they got back he could have a sandwich ready for Seth to eat… if he didn’t fall asleep before that.
“Ten minutes will be fine,” Jasper replied, giving the other shifter a grateful smile. “We won’t go far,” he promised, reaching for Seth’s hand, lacing their fingers together before tugging the teen towards the door.
“Seth!” Leah stated.
“Its fine Leah, we’ll be back in ten minutes,” Seth replied. With that he followed Jasper out the door, across the yard and into the trees. “I’m so glad you’re back Jasper… I was really worried… you wouldn’t answer your phone and didn’t call back after I left you a message.” Seth hung his head. “I thought you hated me.”
Jasper looked over at the teenager, his chest tightening with the feel of Seth’s pain. “No. It’s just…I was ashamed. I promised myself I wouldn’t…” He shook his head, heaving a sigh. “But I almost did…if Edward hadn’t stopped me…”
“You wouldn’t have stopped if I had suddenly said no?” Seth questioned softly.
Jasper didn’t answer right away. He bit his bottom lip and then glanced at the younger teen. “I would like to think I would’ve…” he replied softly, but the fact remained that he had trouble with control.
“What can I do to help?” Seth questioned. “To not tempt you? I don’t want you to leave again. I’ll do anything!”
Jasper chuckled softly at that, running his free hand through his hair before he glanced at the younger teen. Just being around Seth was a temptation; there was something about Seth that drove him crazy. “When we kiss,” he started, hardly able to keep the grin off of his face. “Don’t bite my lip.”
“Okay!” Seth agreed readily. “Wait… that was it?” Jasper nodded. “But I did it in the car and you were fine…”
“There was a consol between us.”
“Oh…” Seth blushed. “Okay, I promise to not bite your lip again until we’re both ready.”
Jasper chuckled again, squeezing the hand he held in his own. Seth smiled, though it was broken by a yawn. Stepping forward Seth lay his head on Jasper’s chest, relaxing against him. Jasper stroked Seth’s cheek before wrapping his free arm around the younger’s back. “Sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll be here when you wake.”
“Promise?” Seth murmured.
Jasper smiled slightly at that. “You know I do,” he replied even as the younger teen closed his eyes and succumbed to the sleep he had been desperate for. He carried the teen into the house and past Leah, ignoring her glare as he continued into Seth’s bedroom and laid the teen down on his bed, though the younger would not relinquish his grip. That was alright, though, Jasper had no intention of leaving. Like he promised he would be there when Seth woke up.
Jasper lay down next to Seth; the bed was barely big enough for them both but Seth curled up against him so it worked. He could hear Jacob and Leah arguing in hushed tones in the other room but didn’t really care, Leah would eventually get over his leaving, something he didn’t plan to do again.
Pulling his cell phone from his pocket he turned it on. The screen read that he had dozens of missed calls but only one voicemail. The call connected to the voicemail was from Jacob’s cell but Jasper knew it was Seth. Bringing the phone to his ear he listened to the message. At first there was just silence, then he heard a soft sniff. “Jasper… I don’t know what I did… please come home? I miss you… I’m sorry.”
Jasper deleted the message and looked down at Seth. “I’m home now; I’m not leaving again anytime soon.”
Seth sighed in his sleep and pressed even closer. Jasper smiled and wrapped an arm around him. A door slammed and after a moment there were footsteps outside Seth’s room. “If you need anything just call,” Jacob said quietly without opening the door knowing Jasper would hear him.
Jasper didn’t make a sound for fear that it’d wake up Seth as the other shifter took his leave, the sound of his foot steps lessening as he walked away from the bedroom. He could still feel Leah’s displeasure, letting him know the woman was still in the house, probably waiting for a moment alone with him. Something he did not look forward to, but knew had to be done eventually. Leah was persistent like that.
Hours passed as Seth slept deeply in his arms. Jasper heard when Sue came in; she and Jacob spoke before she came back to Seth’s room. She opened the door and glared at him but held her tongue knowing her son needed the sleep. Jasper said nothing but tightened his arm around Seth. Sue pursed her lips but then closed the door and went somewhere else in the house.
It was nearly midnight when Seth stirred. He yawned and blinked then looked up at Jasper. A smile lit up his face. “You’re here.”
Jasper was unable to keep from smiling at the younger’s delight. “I promised I would be,” he pointed out softly to remind the teen. “How’d you sleep?”
“Wonderful, I always sleep better when you’re here,” Seth answered snuggling against the vampire.
He smiled even as his heart twinged with guilt, knowing that it was his own fault the boy in his arms hadn’t been sleeping nor eating properly. “That’s good to hear. Are you hungry…? I heard Leah moving around the kitchen earlier, I’ll bet she made enough for you.”
“Yeah, I could eat,” Seth answered. “I did eat while you were gone… just not as much. I wasn’t hungry.”
Jasper didn’t say anything, he forced himself not to. He’d save a proper apology for after the young shifter had eaten his fill. “Let’s go check out the kitchen then, okay?”
Seth nodded and sat up; untangling himself from the sheet Jasper had covered him with at some point. He paused when he stood before looking at Jasper. “Did my mom come in here?” He knew she couldn’t be pleased with Jasper being here.
“She did. Once,” Jasper replied, pushing himself into a sitting position before standing. “And no…she wasn’t very happy to see me.”
“Well she can get over it,” Seth stated as he held his hand out for Jasper to take.
Jasper smiled slightly at that, actually it was more of a smirk than a smile, as he took the younger’s hand. “Exactly what I was thinking,” he agreed easily.
Seth smiled and they left his room going to the kitchen. Seth knew that his mother had gone to bed from the closed door of her bedroom. Leah was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of cooling tea in front of her. Seth spotted a note on the fridge from Jacob.
Hope you’re feeling better kid! See you tomorrow. – Jacob
“There’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes in the oven,” Leah stated.
Jasper had moved to follow Seth, but Leah was up and out of her seat with a vampire-like speed. Jasper blinked and heaved a sigh. “You and I need to have a little chat in the other room while Seth eats,” she said, glaring at him as she nodded her head towards the living room.
Only a fool would’ve refused Leah Clearwater (soon to be Cullen) of anything, so Jasper followed her into the living room, aware of Seth’s concerned stare on his back, but even he wasn’t brave enough to stop his sister.
Leah crossed her arms over her chest as she paced back and forth. “Some gall you have,” she muttered. “I know you can’t stay away. I don’t want you to stay away. But damnit Jasper! I told you not to hurt him. Do you have any idea what it has been like this past week? To watch Seth be unable to sleep or eat… and when he called and you didn’t answer, he was devastated!”
Jasper had prepared himself for this. He had told himself that this was coming from a concerned sister, therefore it’d be bad, but he hadn’t counted on the pain of her words. The guilt they brought on. Everything she said, he already knew. But, still, he felt it. He felt her anger, his own guilt, and then Seth’s happiness. But, now, his happiness was laced with worry. Jasper wondered if that worry would ever go away.
Leah fixed her gaze on him. “Do you have anything to say?”
“Anything I say…you won’t believe it. I know I’ll have to prove myself to you again and I’ll do that, Leah. I won’t hurt him again,” Jasper promised in a hushed tone.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t believe you.” Leah unfolded her arms and stepped closer to Jasper. “See that you don’t. Because if you do… I. Hurt. You.” She emphasized each word with a poke to his chest. Jasper knew this was a promise Leah would keep.
---
After Seth had eaten his fill Jasper led him back to his bedroom for some much needed rest…and his apology. He’d apologize and hope he could one day prove to Seth and everyone else that he’d never do something like that again.
Jasper lay on the bed; Seth laying half on top of him, the younger’s head on his chest over his still heart. Seth shifted and looked up at Jasper’s face. “What’s wrong?” He questioned.
Jasper frowned and didn’t answer right away; he looked down at the younger, bringing his hand to his cheek, cupping the warm skin. “You know I’m sorry, right?” He asked softly, his voice just barely above a whisper. “I never meant to hurt you…that wasn’t my intention when I ran away. Running away in general was a stupid idea.”
“It was,” Seth agreed. “I know you’re sorry, it’s written all over your face.” Seth leaned up and kissed him gently. “I forgive you.”
Jasper hummed softly and though he was forgiven, he still felt the guilt heavy on his heart. “You forgive far too easily. What I did was a truly horrid thing.”
“It was only horrid because you didn’t let me know you were okay. I knew you would be back…eventually. That’s how the imprint works… I think. Edward can’t deny its pull; neither can Emmett so I don’t think you would be able to either.”
“It’s more than that. I hurt you. I made you worry,” Jasper said softly. “And for that…I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Jazz… you can’t change the past. There’s no point in dwelling on it. Use the energy that you’re wasting on moping to make the future that much better,” Seth told him.
The vampire heaved a soft sigh. “You’re right. As always, you’re right,” he replied, caressing the younger’s tanned cheek with his thumb. “I’ll take your advice. I can’t change the past, but I can make sure it never happens in the future.”
Seth smiled and nuzzled his head under Jasper’s chin. “See that you do…” He whispered before sleep claimed him once more.
Jasper chuckled softly at the teen’s reply, his hand moving into his hair, tangling in the silky mass as the younger slept. “I will, Seth. I promise you that,” he murmured gently.
---
A few days later Jasper was watching Seth sleep when he felt Jacob enter the house. The elder shifter was sad, annoyed and lonely. Sighing, Jasper brought the sheet up over Seth and quietly left the bedroom. He found Jacob in the kitchen searching through the refrigerator.
“Jacob?” He questioned wondering what was causing him to feel this mix of emotions.
The said shifter straightened up and looked behind him. “You haven’t seen Edward around, have you?” He asked frowning.
Jasper blinked slowly before shaking his head. “I haven’t seen him at all this weekend.”
Jacob cursed softly under his breath, turning back to the fridge.
“Why?” Jasper asked.
Jacob heaved a sigh, standing straight and closing the door. “I need to apologize to him…” he replied, the barest of blushes touching his cheek as he crossed his arms over his chest. “My dad won’t let me come home until I do…” He looked at Jasper, wide eyed. “But that’s not the only reason I need to apologize to him…I need to because I need to…because I was stupid…and I just miss him so much…”
Jasper had to hold back his laughter at the teen’s sudden outburst. “Did you two have a fight?”
“Yeah… they spotted Victoria and he ordered me to go home. I couldn’t fight his order but I didn’t like it. We had a fight about it later,” Jacob replied.
“Ah. That explains it then. Emmett had mentioned something about Leah telling him about it. She got away. Leah apparently was upset that she couldn’t go after her…being pregnant and all…” Jasper shrugged. “Seth mentioned something about it too.” But, obviously, he didn’t know about Edward sending Jacob home.
Jasper sighed softly. “Edward will probably be home sometime today. He’s probably out in the woods sulking somewhere. You know how he gets.”
“Doesn’t make me want to be around him any less,” Jacob stated. “But yeah… I know.”
Jasper chuckled at that. “Obviously,” he replied, shaking his head.
Seth’s bedroom door opened and he appeared in the kitchen doorway a moment later stretching his arms over his head as he yawned. “What’s up? Jake? I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“I’m on a mission,” the elder shifter replied in a matter of factly tone as Seth arched an eyebrow in question. “I’m not leaving until I see Edward.”
“…And Edward would be at my house because…?”
“Because he promised Leah to stop in and check on you,” Jasper replied, because Jacob wouldn’t know. “Apparently she still doesn’t trust me enough to leave you alone in my care.”
“Oh.” That made sense. “Why is Edward not attached at your hip right now?”
“Fight.” Jacob and Jasper answered in unison before shaking their heads at each other. “I need to apologize to him,” Jacob picked up, Jasper remaining quiet.
Seth nodded. He moved past Jasper, giving him a kiss on his cheek on the way, before getting the bread and jelly from the pantry. A car pulled up outside and Seth glanced out the window. “There’s Edward now.”
Jasper could feel the panic and hesitation well up inside of Jacob, very nearly masking the complete elation he felt at seeing his imprint again.
“Edward will forgive you Jake, don’t worry,” Seth told him. The car door closed and a knock at Seth’s front door came a moment later. “Come on in Edward!”
Jasper moved out of the doorway and came to stand behind Seth, his hands on the younger’s shoulders, as he ate. Seth turned his head and smiled up at him. Jasper returned the smile with a gentle squeeze on the shoulders under his hands.
While Jasper and Seth were preoccupied with themselves, maintaining a sense of privacy when there was none for the sake of Jacob and Edward, the elder shifter walked over to his lover. Sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at the other. “Um…can we talk?” He asked.
Edward looked at him and then over at Seth. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on Seth…” he pointed out softly, his eyes returning to Jacob just in time to catch the teens down cast look. “But he looks fine to me and I’m sure he can occupy himself for a little while.”
Jacob smiled and, just a bit hesitantly, took Edward’s hand to pull him outside. Seth watched them go as he finished his sandwich and made another. “They’ll make up?” He questioned looking up at Jasper.
“For a few hours I expect,” Jasper snorted softly, hiding the smirk behind his hand. “If their emotions are any indication…it’ll be a very passionate apology.”
Seth blushed as he looked back down at the table. “Well at least they left the house then.”
“Exactly,” Jasper agreed readily.
---
When Seth finished his sandwich he and Jasper went to the living room to watch a movie. Seth was looking through the Clearwater collection of movie’s when a certain scent caught Jasper’s nose. Turning his head he took in a deep breath, it was blood, that much he could tell but it wasn’t anyone he knew.
“What do you feel like watching?” Seth questioned. Jasper turned his eyes onto his shifter, in Seth’s presence the smell of blood didn’t bother him. As long as it wasn’t Seth’s blood he thought he could control himself.
“I could go for something funny,” he replied. Seth nodded and pulled a comedy from the collection. After putting the movie in and pressing play he came over to the couch and settled himself against Jasper.
Jasper wrapped an arm around the younger teen, holding him close, letting his scent distract him from the lingering smell of blood as the movie started. The movie was barely half way through when his cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Jasper blinked and then arched his hips to retrieve the phone. “Wonder who that is,” he said softly, mostly to himself as he flipped the phone open to check the caller idea.
Seth glanced over at the screen. “Esme? You had better answer it; it has to be important if she’s calling.”
“Mhm,” Jasper hummed in agreement before answering the call, holding his phone to his ear.
“Jasper,” Esme’s voice was sad; he could almost feel the grief over the phone. “Bring Seth over. And please stop to pick up Bella on the way.”
Jasper slowly nodded, but then remembered that Esme couldn’t see a nod over the phone. “Sure thing…um, Esme is something wrong?” He asked.
"Yes Jasper. Something terrible has happened. Come as quickly as you can," she told him.
Jasper didn’t need to be told twice. He hung up the phone and reached for the DVD remote, turning the movie off. “I need to take you and Bella over to the house,” he said turning to the younger teen. “I don’t know what’s happened, but it’s not good.”
Seth nodded and jumped up. He went to the kitchen and wrote a quick note for his mother before following Jasper out to his car. The blood smell was stronger out here, even Seth noticed it. Seth frowned, “It’s coming from Jacob’s house…” He murmured as he climbed into the car.
Jasper bit his bottom lip, frowning in thought before he shook his head, climbing into the car. “I can’t…” he said, looking over at Seth, an apologetic look on his face. “I could make matters worse with the blood lust…let’s just go pick up Bella, alright?”
“I know.” Seth laid a hand on Jasper’s. “It’s probably better that we didn’t anyway, even without the blood lust affecting you.”
“I’m sure…what Esme has to tell us has nothing to do with that though…” Jasper said, turning his hand to grasp Seth’s before he lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
“I hope not… if anything happened to either Jacob or Billy we’d all take it pretty hard.”
“I know,” Jasper replied, his voice soft as he turned the car on, squeezing Seth’s hand once more before he pulled out of the drive and headed towards Bella’s.
---
Seth sat down on Jacob’s empty side at the Cullen’s kitchen table; Edward occupied the space on his other side. “I know you don’t want to think about this Jake… but we need to. What do you need us to do?” He questioned.
Jacob hadn’t said much of anything since he had woken up. He didn’t even cry when Edward told him his father had passed away along with Charlie (which would explain why Bella was staying with the Cullens currently), it was beginning to worry Edward.
This time wasn’t any different. He brushed a hand through his hair, tried to speak and then shook his head as Edward sighed softly and laid a comforting hand on the back of his neck. “We’ll take care of the funeral arrangements…” the vampire paused for a moment. “Both of them.”
“What can I do Edward? I want to help… I need something to do,” he thought the last bit.
Edward heaved a soft sigh. Wishing there was something he could tell the boy, but he didn’t even know how to make the situation better. He had to worry about his lover and his ex girlfriend’s loss was pushed upon him as well. Sometimes he damned Esme and her heart. “I know, Seth, really I do…” he said, shaking his head slowly, rubbing the back of Jacob’s neck.
“Seth,” Leah called. “C’mon.”
“But I…”
“I know, but just come; when there’s something for you to do they will call for you.” Leah looked at Edward as she said this. When Seth looked at him, Edward nodded.
Seth sighed. “Alright.” He stood and went to his sister’s side. She wrapped an arm around him and led him away from the kitchen.
“Why don’t you go work your magic on Bella? I think she could use the company,” Leah suggested.
“I guess…” He didn’t really know Bella that well. Jasper hadn’t been able to block all the emotions in the house so he had gone to their meadow. Seth planned to join him there later but he wanted to help Jacob first.
“She’s in her bedroom,” Leah replied, giving Seth an encouraging nudge towards the staircase.
“What do I say to her?” Seth questioned as his foot rested on the first step.
“There’s not much to say. I know you don’t want to hear that, but just being there will suffice. She’s got to feel like a fish out of water…being in her ex’s house…everyone’s worried about Jacob. They’ve forgotten her…well, not Esme…”
“Okay…” Seth headed up the stairs, following Bella’s scent to the bedroom that had been given to her. Even though the door was cracked Seth was polite and knocked.
---
The meadow was quiet. It was serene and the picture of calm in the chaos his home had become. Chaos that could not be seen, but was strongly felt by Jasper. Every whisper of agony, every tone of pain and sadness. It weighed him down. It crushed him. He didn’t last very long in the house before he felt like he was drowning. He left. He had no choice but to. He didn’t want to, but everyone understood.
The vampire sighed and stared up into the overcast sky, wondering why life was sometimes so cruel. Just when things were starting to go the right way something had to happen to bring you back to reality. Jacob was hurting. Bella was hurting. And so many others were hurting because of them.
Jasper knew when Seth entered the meadow, he could smell him of course but he was beginning to know Seth’s pattern of feelings as well as his own. Usually the shifter’s emotions were light and airy, happy, but right now they were dampened a little with his grief over the loss of Billy… but he seemed like he was in a fairly good mood.
Seth smiled when he spotted Jasper lying in the grass. “Hey stranger.”
Jasper pushed himself up on his elbows, smiling over at the younger teen. “Hey yourself,” he replied, already feeling better now that he could feel Seth, even though the shifter was grieving himself.
Seth got down into the grass beside Jasper and stretched out on his side. “How are you holding up?”
“Hm. Better now that you’re here,” Jasper answered honestly, laying back down, but turning onto his side so he could face the other. “How about you?”
“Better, I made Bella smile,” Seth answered.
“That’s good,” Jasper said, smiling at that. “Is Jacob doing any better?”
“Still not speaking, I think he’s just in shock… Edward’s worried.”
“I would imagine so…” Jasper agreed on both fronts, sighing softly. “Though I think Jacob would be worse off if he didn’t have Edward…”
“Oh much. I think he would have given up already.” Seth scooted closer to Jasper. Once he was close enough he let his hand rest on Jasper’s side, playing with the hem of his shirt.
Jasper took no notice to the innocent gesture as he watched the younger teen. “Mhm. I’m sure, though, that with time he’ll come out of this shock. His sisters are supposed to be arriving soon. Esme called them before I left.”
Seth nodded. “Rachel and Rebecca will be a big help.” He stared at the space between them before biting his lip. Jasper raised an eyebrow thinking he was just thinking about how to say something. He was shocked when Seth surged forward; pushing him onto his back, warm lips on his own.
Jasper’s eyes were wide with shock and it was his shock that froze him and made him not react right away. Of all the things he had expected to happen, Seth kissing him was not one of them. It seemed so out of place. Jasper didn’t understand why he was on his back with Seth’s straddling him and doing his very best to distract him from everything but the feel of his lips pressed against his own.
Seth whined softly as he kissed Jasper. He was sorely tempted to bite Jasper’s lip but held off on that for now. His hands went to the buttons on Jasper’s shirt and he started undoing them. He wanted Jasper, needed him, before it was too late.
Jasper broke the kiss, almost as soon as Seth started undoing the buttons to his shirt. “What are you doing?” He asked, his voice slightly husky as he stared up at the younger.
“Taking your shirt off,” Seth answered.
“Yeah…I kinda get that…” Jasper replied smartly, his hands going to Seth’s, because the boy had not stopped trying to undo his shirt. “But, why?”
Seth looked into Jasper’s golden eyes. “Good question… I should be undoing your pants.”
“What?” Jasper wasn’t sure he heard right, but made sure he still had a firm grip on the younger’s hands.
Seth made a sound of annoyance as he tried to tug his hands out of Jasper’s grip, it didn’t work. “You heard me,” he stated. “I need to get your…and my pants off for this to really be possible.”
Jasper blinked and wasn’t sure if he wanted to believe what the younger was implying or not. “My pants aren’t coming off…and neither are yours.”
“But I want them to!”
“That’s all fine and dandy, but having them off would lead to things that just aren’t going to happen right now,” Jasper replied, giving the other a stern look.
“Why? Why can’t we? I want to, I know you want to… I will bite your lip.” Seth leaned down and kissed Jasper again, running his tongue along the seam of Jasper’s lips, teasing. Just as he was about to bite Jasper’s lip the vampire flipped their positions and sat up.
“You’re fourteen,” Jasper pointed out, frowning deeply; surprised he had managed to keep his body under control through all of Seth’s teasing. The kid could be persistent when he wanted to be. “Yes…I want to. More than anything…but, that stops me. Every time.”
“So what? Who cares if I’m fourteen? I want you, I need you Jasper.”
Jasper had thought that Jacob had some intense ‘puppy dog eyes’, he had seen him given them to Edward before. But they were nothing when compared to the eyes that Seth was giving him now… especially with the lust he could see in them and feel.
“I care that you’re fourteen. Your sister cares that you’re fourteen. So does your mother.”
Seth stared up at Jasper hoping that he could stare him down but after ten minutes it didn’t work so he sighed in defeat. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I just…everything is so screwed up. You’re the only constant in my life, the only thing that makes me feel complete…Will you kiss me? I promise to be a good boy and to not bite anything.”
Jasper wasn’t sure he could trust Seth, but after a moment he nodded slowly. “Alright…but only kissing…” he said, giving the other a look before he leaned down to press his lips against the others.
Seth kept his promise and only kissed Jasper back. Jasper slowly let his hands go and Seth let his arms come up to wrap around Jasper’s neck. The fingers on one hand buried themselves in Jasper’s hair.
Jasper let out a sigh of relief that was lost to the kiss as he continued moving his lips against the younger’s.
<< Last | Next >>
A/N: Pg. 95
As RPed by:
starry_nights88 & avari_maethorPairings: Jasper/Seth, Edward/Jacob & Emmett/Leah.
Jasper had parked far enough away from the school entrance not to draw attention to himself, but close enough so that Seth would be able to find his car. Impatiently he watched the students file out of the building; impatiently he waited to see his shifter among the students leaving for the day.
When Seth appeared in the doorway of the school Jasper smiled. Seth glanced around for a moment but Jasper knew the moment Seth spotted him because of the wide smile that appeared on the shifter’s face. Making his way through the swarm of students to Jasper’s car, Seth opened the passenger door and got in, setting his backpack and duffle at his feet.
“Hi Jasper!” He greeted.
The vampire grinned widely, mirroring Seth’s as he slid into the seat. “Hey, Seth, how was school?” Jasper asked.
“Boring, I kept watching the clock knowing you would be here,” Seth replied.
“I’m here now,” Jasper replied, leaning over to press a kiss to the younger’s lips.
Seth smiled into the kiss but returned it. “We’d better get out of here so we can continue that,” he said when he pulled away.
“I like the sound of that,” Jasper agreed before he put the car into gear and then drove off towards his home.
Seth took Jasper’s hand into his own for the drive. “You have a nice car, what kind is it?”
“Mustang,” Jasper replied simply with a shrug, squeezing the hand that held his own. “I also have a truck, but I like to drive this one more.”
“So this is what a Mustang looks like… wow…” Seth laughed. “I bet when Jacob saw all the cars you guys had he freaked out.”
Jasper laughed at that. “He did. He really did. Edward had to literally drag him out of the garage,” he replied, smiling at the memory. “I’ll have to show you the rest of the cars.”
“I would like that… I can’t wait to get my own car. Jake promised to help me fix up whatever I get.”
“That’s cool. I’ve never really been into working on cars…that’s Rosalie’s thing,” Jasper shrugged. “Not saying that I couldn’t if I needed to, but it’s more about not wanting to?” He laughed and shook his head. “From what I heard that’s what Rosalie and Jacob bonded over in Alaska.”
“That doesn’t surprise me… but Rosalie? Working on cars? Really? She doesn’t seem the type.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Jasper pointed out, grinning. “You wouldn’t know it from looking at him, but Emmett has several degrees in engineering.”
“You’re right… I wouldn’t know it,” Seth said with a grin. “How many different colleges have you been to?”
“Surprisingly…not as many as you think,” Jasper replied, looking over at Seth. “I actually finished high school (for the first time) when Alice and I found Carlisle. And that was in the 50’s.”
“Really?” Seth was quiet for a moment as he thought that over. “Well I guess it makes sense since you joined the Army early and then were turned… Carlisle is really nice; he and Esme compliment each other really well.”
“They really do, but that’s the interesting thing about mates. No matter what…they always seem to fit together like two puzzle pieces,” Jasper replied thoughtfully.
“…Do you think imprints are like that?” Seth questioned. “I mean… like a vampire and shifter? I know imprints are like soul mates but… what do you think?”
“Honestly. The imprint almost seems stronger than our mates,” Jasper replied, glancing over at Seth’s. “But, then again, you and I seem to match up pretty well…even if you are a shifter and I’m a vampire.”
Seth grinned and Jasper basked in his excitement. He was thankful that they pulled into the garage at the Cullen house then because otherwise he wasn’t sure he would have been able to keep his hands off Seth. As it was he put the car in park, turned the car off and pulled Seth to himself.
“Mm!” Seth’s exclamation was muffled by Jasper’s mouth on his own.
Seth’s lips felt so good against his own, Jasper cupped his cheek and brushed the seam of the younger’s lips with his tongue. Needing to deepen their connection even more.
Seth willingly opened his mouth at Jasper’s request. Their tongues danced against each other, Seth moved a hand up behind Jasper’s neck to bring him closer.
Jasper was leaning over the consol, nearly pressing the other into the door as he kissed Seth, his body tingling pleasantly.
Seth gathered his courage, he had kissed Jasper back before but this… he didn’t know how Jasper would react… oh well. Seth bit gently on Jasper’s bottom lip making a half moan/half whimper sound in his throat.
Jasper’s gasp was lost to the kiss as his eyes snapped open at Seth’s gentle nibbling. He hadn’t liked it when Alice did it, but when Seth tried it…it sent pleasure shooting straight to his groin. He was suddenly glad there was a consol separating them.
A moment later Seth pulled back from the kiss panting. “To…much?” He questioned.
“Not at all,” Jasper replied, smiling slightly. “Just…I wasn’t expecting that. And I wasn’t expecting to like it, but I did.” More than Seth knew at that moment.
Seth smiled and leaned in to capture Jasper’s lips again when someone knocked on his window and he jumped. Blushing he turned to find Emmett standing outside the car, smirking. “We always seem to get interrupted,” he sighed.
“All for the best perhaps,” Jasper replied, smiling at Seth’s pout. He wasn’t sure if he would’ve been able to stop himself from pushing forward.
“Maybe.” Seth turned and opened the door. “May I help you?”
“Maybe,” Emmett replied. “Esme wants to place the order to the beds, what would you like?”
Seth blinked in confusion at him and then turned back to Jasper. “Beds?”
“That’s right! I forgot all about that,” Jasper replied, looking sheepish. “Esme’s getting everyone new beds since you and Jacob practically live over here. She wanted me to ask you what kind of bed you prefer.”
“Oh. Um… I dunno, mom always picked ours out.”
“Well come inside, Esme has a whole magazine,” Emmett told him.
“Alright, be right in.” The bigger vampire nodded and disappeared inside. “Does it matter to you at all?” Seth questioned looking at Jasper.
“Not in the least. You’ll be the one using it,” Jasper replied.
Seth nodded. “Okay, well better not keep Esme waiting.” He leaned in and stole one more quick kiss before grabbing his backpack and duffle bag and getting out of the car.
Jasper lingered in the car, leaning back in his seat and clutching the steering wheel, fighting to calm his body. It took nearly five minutes but finally Jasper let out a unneeded deep breath, got out of the car and followed Seth inside. He found Esme, Seth, Leah and Emmett in the living room. Seth had the most adorable look of confusion on his face.
“Really, pick anything you like, price doesn’t matter,” Esme told him.
“But don’t go overboard,” Leah added.
“Oh, don’t listen to her, dear. Get whatever you want,” Esme said, waving Leah off with a kind smile. “I still think you need a better bed than what you picked out what with a baby on the way and all.”
“The one I picked out was rated one of the best in back support, that is what I need,” Leah replied. “So what will it be Seth?”
“Uh… I really don’t know? This stuff seems like it’s in another language to me. I don’t need a king size or anything but something bigger than a single would be nice, I’m kinda tired of my feet dangling off the edge,” Seth replied.
Esme chuckled softly at that. “Well…here are the full sized beds…” she said, turning to a page as Emmett scoffed.
“He’ll need a Queen…we’re forgetting about Jasper here…” he pointed out. “There’s more things to do on a bed besides sleep.”
Seth blushed brightly at the suggestion and Leah slapped Emmett’s arm. “Emmett! Seth is too young for that!”
Emmett chuckled. “Who said anything about that?” He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “I was talking about Jasper lying next to him when he’s trying to sleep…or helping him with his homework.”
“I’m sure you were,” Leah said rolling her eyes. “That is true though.”
“Why don't you just pick one out Leah?” Seth questioned.
“Because it’s your bed.”
Seth sighed. Finally he closed the magazine, then his eyes and started flipping through it, stopped on a page and pointed. “This one,” he said opening his eyes. “The memory foam Tempur-Pedic, queen size.”
“Perfect!” Esme chirped, marking the bed Seth had picked with a black marker. “I’ll put in the orders as soon as Edward and Jacob get here. With any luck they’ll be here next week!”
Seth escaped before the women started to ask him about comforters and the like; he usually just slept with a sheet anyway since he stayed so warm now. Jasper was leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen by the stairs waiting for him. “Shall we go to your room?” He asked.
Jasper nodded and took the duffle bag from him. “Esme wants you to pick a new room, with the bed coming the one I have is too small,” he explained.
“Why don’t you just pick one? It doesn’t really matter to me as long as I’m with you,” Seth replied.
“Couldn’t pick out one either,” Jasper replied, shrugging. “Though Alice did offer up our old bedroom…but, I dunno, that seems kinda odd to me.”
“Yeah… that would just be weird. I don’t know the house that well so you take me to the room I describe. Not Carlisle and Esme’s, Edward and Jacob’s, or Emmett and Leah’s, not beside the last two… or below them… and big enough for the bed.”
Jasper chuckled at the younger’s answer, but took him to the described room. “How’s this?” He asked, looking around the room, which was actually the remodeled basement, well out of the way of all three couples.
“Perfect!” Seth said as he looked around. “We can put the bed over here and still keep your futon, cause I like to lay with you on it to read.”
The blond headed vampire nodded in agreement. “I can even set up more book shelves,” Jasper replied thoughtfully, looking around the room.
“Yeah! A whole wall full of them, we’ll have to expand your collection,” Seth told him. “We should go to Seattle sometime and do that.”
“Our collection,” Jasper corrected, stepping into the room, still looking around, deciding they could fit a desk in here too for Seth to do his homework on. “We could go next weekend if you want to and if your mom will let you.”
Seth nodded smiling. “That sounds great.” Anyone else would have just lied to their mother about the trip but Seth knew he was a horrible liar. There was no point in trying.
“I was thinking about a desk too,” Jasper said, turning to face the younger teen. “For your homework. Would you want a TV? Maybe a stereo system?”
Seth blinked in surprise. “A desk would be great… a TV and stereo would be nice too but you don’t have to get those things… you don’t have to spend your money on me.” Seth blushed as he thought about the ‘our’ Jasper had used before.
Jasper shook his head, turning and stepping closer to the teenager, reaching to cup his cheek. “I know I don’t, but I want to.” His thumb brushed across Seth’s skin as he spoke. “This’ll be your room as much as it’ll be mine. I want you to be comfortable. If you want a TV and stereo you’ve got it.”
The blush on Seth’s cheeks deepened and Jasper smiled. “Just…just wait until Christmas and my birthday okay? They can be gifts,” Seth offered.
“Can’t wait that long,” Jasper replied, shaking his head even as he grinned.
“You don’t even know when my birthday is,” Seth retorted. “What? Are you secretly a TV addict?” The thought made him chuckle.
“I know it’s already passed,” Jasper answered, still grinning. “And Leah will give me an exact date. You know she will.” He sighed softly, both hands now cupping the boy’s cheeks before he leaned down to press a chaste kiss to his lips. “I’m addicted to your happiness, okay?”
“Passed for this year yes, not next year though. It’s January 28th, I’ll be fifteen. And I am happy; as long as I’m with you I don’t need anything else.”
Jasper smiled at that. “Alright, alright. Fine,” he replied, conceding for now. But when the time came, Seth would find the room complete with a television, stereo, and computer.
Seth watched his imprint’s expression with a raised eyebrow. He wanted to tell Jasper not to spoil him but… he couldn’t deny anything Jasper wanted to give him. Sighing he gave up and looked around the room again. “You wanna go on and move the rest of your stuff down here?” He questioned.
Jasper hummed softly before shaking his head. “I don’t think that’d be a good idea.” He smiled at Seth’s confused look. “My old bedroom is near Edward’s and he and Jacob are rather busy at the moment.”
After a second Seth’s eyes widened and he blushed. “Oh. Um…well… we could stay here or go to the living room?”
Jasper didn’t say anything. Not right away. No matter where he went in the house he’d still be subject to the lustful emotions Edward and Jacob were feeling. It was unsettling, almost bordering on uncomfortable. Normally he could ignore such feelings, but it was impossible when he was around Seth. It became almost impossible to fight his own urges.
“How about,” he started, hoping his voice didn’t sound as husky as he thought it did. “We go outside? Maybe to our meadow? Just for a little while? Until they’re finished…their feelings…” He broke off, shaking his head.
“Of course!” Seth exclaimed, the tone of Jasper’s voice sending chills down his spine. He grabbed Jasper’s hand and Jasper had to keep himself from moaning at the contact. Running upstairs Seth and Jasper said ‘bye’ to Esme, Leah and Emmett before leaving the house. Seth didn’t stop running until they got to the edge of the meadow. “How do you guys stand that?” He couldn’t hear the two but the smell had tickled his nose once they had gone upstairs.
“You get used to it after awhile,” Jasper replied, shrugging, feeling slightly better now that they were no longer in the house or anywhere near it. “But with an ability like mine or even Edward’s…well, you can only imagine how bad it can get.”
“I bet…glad I don’t have them, no offense.” Seth let go of Jasper’s hand and let himself drop down into the long strands of grass. “Join me?”
“Gladly,” Jasper answered, lying in the grass next to the younger boy, he turned to his side, facing the shifter. “It comes in handy, of course, but most of the time it’s just a pain in the ass.” Jasper paused, grinning. “I take that back. Only when you’re not around is when being an empath is a pain in the ass.”
Seth grinned and laced his fingers with Jasper’s again. “Well I’m glad me and my hyper active emotions aren’t a pain in the ass. But… you could feel others emotions before you were turned… just not as strongly right?”
Jasper hummed softly in agreement. “I could always tell how someone felt about something…and I was always able to make them feel better…or worse…” he shrugged. “Now it’s all just magnified. I can feel how people feel and I can make them feel what I want them too. It’s useful in certain occasions, but like I said, a pain in the ass in others. Like when my little brother is busy with his lover.”
Seth laughed. A reply came to his mind but it made him blush so he bit his tongue. Rolling over he watched Jasper’s skin sparkle in the rays of sunlight that escaped the clouds. Reaching his free hand out he started to trace Jasper’s face with his fingers. “What’s the best and worst thing you’ve ever done with your ability?” He asked softly.
Jasper leaned into the teen’s touch and took a moment to think about the younger’s question. He was ashamed to admit to some of the things he had done with his gift, but Seth had asked. He couldn’t deny him. “When I was with Maria-the woman who changed me-I used my ability to train the newborn army she was building and, in the end, I used it to turn her against her sisters. I was…I was jealous of the attention she gave them. So I got them out of the way.”
“How?” Seth questioned. He had a feeling that he didn’t want to know but at the same time he had to know.
Jasper bit his bottom lip and laid back in the grass, staring up at the cloudy sky. He couldn’t bare to look at the other’s face when he told them, it’d be bad enough having to feel his disgust. “A little mistrust can go a long way. It’s another gift I have. I can feel people’s emotions, but I can manipulate them too. I can make them feel things that they don’t mean to. I made Maria suspicious of them, though they did nothing wrong, eventually they confronted her. She killed them. Then I was her favorite.”
Jasper waited for Seth’s disgust or at the very least his pity but it didn’t come. Instead he only felt a wave of love and support. Seth moved closer and sat up enough so that he was now looking down at Jasper. “I understand.”
Jasper stared into Seth’s brown eyes. “How can you?”
“When I was younger and Leah was with Sam I was so jealous of him. She used to spend all her time with me and then when he came along it was like I didn’t exist anymore. I hated him when he broke her heart but I was also relieved because that meant I had Leah back. When she imprinted on Emmett… well I have grown up a lot since Sam but I was jealous of him too. Sam, Jacob, Leah and Quil had all imprinted… as it was going I was going to be alone again. But now I have you.” Seth gave him a soft smile. “And you have me and you’ll always be my favorite.”
Jasper blinked and then turned to Seth. His lips tipped into a grin and he reached for the younger, resting his hand on his cheek, his thumb brushing his smooth skin. “You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he replied softly.
Seth’s smile widened at those words. Leaning down he covered Jasper’s lips with his own. His fingers tightened against Jasper’s where they held hands. His other hand buried itself in Jasper’s hair as he practically lay on top of Jasper.
The vampire did the only thing he could do, he responded eagerly to the kiss. His hand moved from Seth’s cheek to the back of his head, almost holding the younger in place as he leaned up to deepen the kiss.
The kiss lasted until Seth needed to breathe again. “I’m… I’m gonna have to learn… how to breathe through my nose when I’m with you,” he whispered.
Jasper chuckled softly, laying back against the grass, looking up at the young shifter. “I’ll be more than willing to help you practice,” he replied, grinning.
Seth blushed even as he started to laugh. “Oh you!” He exclaimed. Just then his stomach started to growl. “You think Edward and Jacob are done?”
He couldn’t help but to laugh as Jasper hugged Seth to him, burying his face in the boy’s neck before replying, though his voice was muffled, “I would hope so. Let’s go find out. We can’t have you starving to death now can we?”
“I’d rather not,” Seth agreed with a grin.
Jasper smiled, nudging the younger in the side. “You’ll need to get off of me. Otherwise we can’t get up.”
“Oh I’m fairly certain you could get up if you really wanted,” Seth replied but he slid off and got to his feet offering Jasper a hand up.
Jasper accepted the hand, but he didn’t get up. Instead he pulled Seth right back down and into his arms. Then he rolled the snickering youth over until he was on his back and Jasper was on top. “Of course I could,” he replied before chastely covering Seth’s lips with his own.
Seth giggled and wrapped an arm around Jasper’s neck bringing him back for a longer kiss. Before he could stop it a muffled growl came from his throat and he bit at Jasper’s bottom lip as he had done earlier that afternoon. If Edward had been there the only thought he would have gotten from Seth would have been, ‘Mine’.
Again Jasper’s body tensed and Seth’s actions went straight to his cock, but this time there was no consol separating them. There was no way to hide just what that did to him.
Seth felt the evidence of Jasper’s arousal against his thigh. He growled again and explored Jasper’s mouth with his tongue. It was to soon…he knew that but right then it didn’t matter.
Jasper knew he should pull away. He knew he should stop before things got too far, but the urges were too hard to fight. Too hard to ignore anymore and mixed with the feelings Seth was giving off…
…it was a fight he just wouldn’t win.
“Jasper!”
He heard the voice but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Seth. Then suddenly he was pushed across the clearing from the boy. He stumbled the last few steps before catching himself. Edward was now standing between him and Seth.
He was confused as he stood clear on the other side of the meadow. Confused as he stared at his brother and the fourteen year old shifter he had almost made his lover…he paused, eyes widening. He had almost crossed a line. A line that was clearly drawn. He had almost stepped over it, ignoring it completely.
Seth sprang to his feet. “Edward! What are you doing?!” He demanded.
Edward blinked at him. “…Saving you?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You weren’t saving anyone you asshole!”
“No Seth.” Seth’s eyes went to Jasper. His wolf whined wanting to immediately comfort its imprint when he took in the look on the other’s face. “He did the right thing.”
Seth shook his head and took a step toward the vampire but Jasper stepped back. “Jasper. Jasper please. You weren’t doing anything wrong.”
“Seth.”
“Can it Edward,” Seth growled.
“Jasper…love… you weren’t doing anything I didn’t want.” Jasper had to understand that. He had to.
Jasper shook his head. “You’re fourteen, Seth…you’re too young…much too young for something like that…” he said softly, looking stricken. “You might’ve wanted it, but it’s wrong. Not yet. I should’ve stopped. I should’ve…” he shook his head again.
Jasper took another step back and before Seth could reach him, he disappeared. Seth went to his knees at the spot Jasper had been standing. Edward slowly came up behind him and laid a hand on Seth’s shoulder.
“Seth…”
Seth jerked away glaring at him. “Get away from me.” With that he phased and disappeared into the forest.
He must’ve sat in his car staring at the house for what felt like hours. He looked at the clock. It had only been five minutes. He felt…
…he couldn’t describe how he felt. He felt horrible for what he had done, even though he still felt justified in it. Seth was still too young. No matter how badly he wanted it.
He had thought he needed some time away. Some time to clear his mind. So he and Emmett went on an extended hunting trip. Three days into the trip he realized how big of a mistake he made when he couldn’t stop thinking about Seth. Hunting, as it turned out, did little to take his mind off of the younger shifter.
But he stayed away the entire week. If only because of Emmett’s encouragement. Now he was parked in Seth’s driveway. Desperate to see him, yet afraid of the damage he had caused and he knew there was damage. He knew Seth had to feel rejected. He knew he had to feel even worse than he did.
The vampire heaved a sigh and made up his mind. He opened his door and got out of his car. He closed the door and then made his way up to Seth’s front door. After hesitating for only a moment, he knocked on the door and waited, expecting the worse but hoping for the best.
Thanks to his heightened hearing he could hear everything inside the house. As footsteps approached the door he heard Jacob’s voice say, “Seth, you have to sleep.”
“…I can’t, you should understand that,” Seth replied quietly, his voice exhausted.
The door opened and Jasper found himself face to face with the only female shifter glaring at him. Leah growled, brought her hand back and slapped him. “Bastard,” she hissed.
Jasper may not have felt the strike, but his head did snap back. If only because of his surprise. Once the shock wore off he could feel Leah’s anger. It sank into him like a sickness. If she way this angry then he shuttered to think of how Seth felt. Thanks to his gift he felt an underlying sense of sadness in the house which sank deeper than the anger.
“Okay…I deserved that…” He said, looking at the fuming woman, heaving a soft sigh. “I want to see him, Leah…and I know you don’t want me to…”
Leah cut him off, almost immediately, her hand in his face. “You’re damn right I don’t want you to see him. Not after you ran off like that. He’s crushed! He won’t sleep! He won’t eat! He’s…he’s not functioning!”
Guilt rippled through Jasper. He pushed her hand down. “Please Leah, I want… need to apologize, at least for my behavior.”
The wind shifted behind, blowing past him into the house. Jasper knew the moment Seth noticed his scent. A chair hitting the floor was his only warning before Leah was pushed aside and Seth’s warm lips were crushed against his own, arms wrapped around him tightly. The whimper that left Seth’s throat was muffled by the kiss did not go unnoticed by Jasper.
When Seth pulled away his eyes darted over Jasper’s face before tears started to roll down his cheeks. “I’m sorry Jasper, I’m so sorry. I’ll never kiss you again if you just promise to never leave again!” Seth threw his arms around Jasper’s neck. “Please, please, just don’t leave again. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
For a moment Jasper was at a loss for words. He was supposed to be the one apologizing. He was the one that did something wrong. Immediately his hands went to Seth’s face, cupping his cheeks. “No, no, no!” He said quickly, shaking his head. “Calm down, Seth. Just listen to me…”
His only answer was a soft sniffle. He didn’t know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
“I’m sorry. I’m the one who should be sorry. You did nothing wrong,” he assured the shifter. “I shouldn’t have run away like I did…but, I almost did something that we both would’ve regretted.”
“But… but if I hadn’t kissed you, you wouldn’t have run away,” Seth insisted.
Jasper heaved a sigh and shook his head. “No…no, it wasn’t that…” he replied softly before he looked away from Seth, finally noticing that they had next to no privacy with Leah glaring at him and Jacob watching from the hallway. They didn’t even have the illusion of privacy. He looked back at Seth. “You, um, wanna take a walk?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Seth,” Leah stated.
“I do,” Jacob cut in and Leah’s glare turned onto him. “Will ten minutes do?” He knew now that Jasper was back Seth would sleep and eat again. By the time they got back he could have a sandwich ready for Seth to eat… if he didn’t fall asleep before that.
“Ten minutes will be fine,” Jasper replied, giving the other shifter a grateful smile. “We won’t go far,” he promised, reaching for Seth’s hand, lacing their fingers together before tugging the teen towards the door.
“Seth!” Leah stated.
“Its fine Leah, we’ll be back in ten minutes,” Seth replied. With that he followed Jasper out the door, across the yard and into the trees. “I’m so glad you’re back Jasper… I was really worried… you wouldn’t answer your phone and didn’t call back after I left you a message.” Seth hung his head. “I thought you hated me.”
Jasper looked over at the teenager, his chest tightening with the feel of Seth’s pain. “No. It’s just…I was ashamed. I promised myself I wouldn’t…” He shook his head, heaving a sigh. “But I almost did…if Edward hadn’t stopped me…”
“You wouldn’t have stopped if I had suddenly said no?” Seth questioned softly.
Jasper didn’t answer right away. He bit his bottom lip and then glanced at the younger teen. “I would like to think I would’ve…” he replied softly, but the fact remained that he had trouble with control.
“What can I do to help?” Seth questioned. “To not tempt you? I don’t want you to leave again. I’ll do anything!”
Jasper chuckled softly at that, running his free hand through his hair before he glanced at the younger teen. Just being around Seth was a temptation; there was something about Seth that drove him crazy. “When we kiss,” he started, hardly able to keep the grin off of his face. “Don’t bite my lip.”
“Okay!” Seth agreed readily. “Wait… that was it?” Jasper nodded. “But I did it in the car and you were fine…”
“There was a consol between us.”
“Oh…” Seth blushed. “Okay, I promise to not bite your lip again until we’re both ready.”
Jasper chuckled again, squeezing the hand he held in his own. Seth smiled, though it was broken by a yawn. Stepping forward Seth lay his head on Jasper’s chest, relaxing against him. Jasper stroked Seth’s cheek before wrapping his free arm around the younger’s back. “Sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll be here when you wake.”
“Promise?” Seth murmured.
Jasper smiled slightly at that. “You know I do,” he replied even as the younger teen closed his eyes and succumbed to the sleep he had been desperate for. He carried the teen into the house and past Leah, ignoring her glare as he continued into Seth’s bedroom and laid the teen down on his bed, though the younger would not relinquish his grip. That was alright, though, Jasper had no intention of leaving. Like he promised he would be there when Seth woke up.
Jasper lay down next to Seth; the bed was barely big enough for them both but Seth curled up against him so it worked. He could hear Jacob and Leah arguing in hushed tones in the other room but didn’t really care, Leah would eventually get over his leaving, something he didn’t plan to do again.
Pulling his cell phone from his pocket he turned it on. The screen read that he had dozens of missed calls but only one voicemail. The call connected to the voicemail was from Jacob’s cell but Jasper knew it was Seth. Bringing the phone to his ear he listened to the message. At first there was just silence, then he heard a soft sniff. “Jasper… I don’t know what I did… please come home? I miss you… I’m sorry.”
Jasper deleted the message and looked down at Seth. “I’m home now; I’m not leaving again anytime soon.”
Seth sighed in his sleep and pressed even closer. Jasper smiled and wrapped an arm around him. A door slammed and after a moment there were footsteps outside Seth’s room. “If you need anything just call,” Jacob said quietly without opening the door knowing Jasper would hear him.
Jasper didn’t make a sound for fear that it’d wake up Seth as the other shifter took his leave, the sound of his foot steps lessening as he walked away from the bedroom. He could still feel Leah’s displeasure, letting him know the woman was still in the house, probably waiting for a moment alone with him. Something he did not look forward to, but knew had to be done eventually. Leah was persistent like that.
Hours passed as Seth slept deeply in his arms. Jasper heard when Sue came in; she and Jacob spoke before she came back to Seth’s room. She opened the door and glared at him but held her tongue knowing her son needed the sleep. Jasper said nothing but tightened his arm around Seth. Sue pursed her lips but then closed the door and went somewhere else in the house.
It was nearly midnight when Seth stirred. He yawned and blinked then looked up at Jasper. A smile lit up his face. “You’re here.”
Jasper was unable to keep from smiling at the younger’s delight. “I promised I would be,” he pointed out softly to remind the teen. “How’d you sleep?”
“Wonderful, I always sleep better when you’re here,” Seth answered snuggling against the vampire.
He smiled even as his heart twinged with guilt, knowing that it was his own fault the boy in his arms hadn’t been sleeping nor eating properly. “That’s good to hear. Are you hungry…? I heard Leah moving around the kitchen earlier, I’ll bet she made enough for you.”
“Yeah, I could eat,” Seth answered. “I did eat while you were gone… just not as much. I wasn’t hungry.”
Jasper didn’t say anything, he forced himself not to. He’d save a proper apology for after the young shifter had eaten his fill. “Let’s go check out the kitchen then, okay?”
Seth nodded and sat up; untangling himself from the sheet Jasper had covered him with at some point. He paused when he stood before looking at Jasper. “Did my mom come in here?” He knew she couldn’t be pleased with Jasper being here.
“She did. Once,” Jasper replied, pushing himself into a sitting position before standing. “And no…she wasn’t very happy to see me.”
“Well she can get over it,” Seth stated as he held his hand out for Jasper to take.
Jasper smiled slightly at that, actually it was more of a smirk than a smile, as he took the younger’s hand. “Exactly what I was thinking,” he agreed easily.
Seth smiled and they left his room going to the kitchen. Seth knew that his mother had gone to bed from the closed door of her bedroom. Leah was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of cooling tea in front of her. Seth spotted a note on the fridge from Jacob.
Hope you’re feeling better kid! See you tomorrow. – Jacob
“There’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes in the oven,” Leah stated.
Jasper had moved to follow Seth, but Leah was up and out of her seat with a vampire-like speed. Jasper blinked and heaved a sigh. “You and I need to have a little chat in the other room while Seth eats,” she said, glaring at him as she nodded her head towards the living room.
Only a fool would’ve refused Leah Clearwater (soon to be Cullen) of anything, so Jasper followed her into the living room, aware of Seth’s concerned stare on his back, but even he wasn’t brave enough to stop his sister.
Leah crossed her arms over her chest as she paced back and forth. “Some gall you have,” she muttered. “I know you can’t stay away. I don’t want you to stay away. But damnit Jasper! I told you not to hurt him. Do you have any idea what it has been like this past week? To watch Seth be unable to sleep or eat… and when he called and you didn’t answer, he was devastated!”
Jasper had prepared himself for this. He had told himself that this was coming from a concerned sister, therefore it’d be bad, but he hadn’t counted on the pain of her words. The guilt they brought on. Everything she said, he already knew. But, still, he felt it. He felt her anger, his own guilt, and then Seth’s happiness. But, now, his happiness was laced with worry. Jasper wondered if that worry would ever go away.
Leah fixed her gaze on him. “Do you have anything to say?”
“Anything I say…you won’t believe it. I know I’ll have to prove myself to you again and I’ll do that, Leah. I won’t hurt him again,” Jasper promised in a hushed tone.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t believe you.” Leah unfolded her arms and stepped closer to Jasper. “See that you don’t. Because if you do… I. Hurt. You.” She emphasized each word with a poke to his chest. Jasper knew this was a promise Leah would keep.
After Seth had eaten his fill Jasper led him back to his bedroom for some much needed rest…and his apology. He’d apologize and hope he could one day prove to Seth and everyone else that he’d never do something like that again.
Jasper lay on the bed; Seth laying half on top of him, the younger’s head on his chest over his still heart. Seth shifted and looked up at Jasper’s face. “What’s wrong?” He questioned.
Jasper frowned and didn’t answer right away; he looked down at the younger, bringing his hand to his cheek, cupping the warm skin. “You know I’m sorry, right?” He asked softly, his voice just barely above a whisper. “I never meant to hurt you…that wasn’t my intention when I ran away. Running away in general was a stupid idea.”
“It was,” Seth agreed. “I know you’re sorry, it’s written all over your face.” Seth leaned up and kissed him gently. “I forgive you.”
Jasper hummed softly and though he was forgiven, he still felt the guilt heavy on his heart. “You forgive far too easily. What I did was a truly horrid thing.”
“It was only horrid because you didn’t let me know you were okay. I knew you would be back…eventually. That’s how the imprint works… I think. Edward can’t deny its pull; neither can Emmett so I don’t think you would be able to either.”
“It’s more than that. I hurt you. I made you worry,” Jasper said softly. “And for that…I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Jazz… you can’t change the past. There’s no point in dwelling on it. Use the energy that you’re wasting on moping to make the future that much better,” Seth told him.
The vampire heaved a soft sigh. “You’re right. As always, you’re right,” he replied, caressing the younger’s tanned cheek with his thumb. “I’ll take your advice. I can’t change the past, but I can make sure it never happens in the future.”
Seth smiled and nuzzled his head under Jasper’s chin. “See that you do…” He whispered before sleep claimed him once more.
Jasper chuckled softly at the teen’s reply, his hand moving into his hair, tangling in the silky mass as the younger slept. “I will, Seth. I promise you that,” he murmured gently.
A few days later Jasper was watching Seth sleep when he felt Jacob enter the house. The elder shifter was sad, annoyed and lonely. Sighing, Jasper brought the sheet up over Seth and quietly left the bedroom. He found Jacob in the kitchen searching through the refrigerator.
“Jacob?” He questioned wondering what was causing him to feel this mix of emotions.
The said shifter straightened up and looked behind him. “You haven’t seen Edward around, have you?” He asked frowning.
Jasper blinked slowly before shaking his head. “I haven’t seen him at all this weekend.”
Jacob cursed softly under his breath, turning back to the fridge.
“Why?” Jasper asked.
Jacob heaved a sigh, standing straight and closing the door. “I need to apologize to him…” he replied, the barest of blushes touching his cheek as he crossed his arms over his chest. “My dad won’t let me come home until I do…” He looked at Jasper, wide eyed. “But that’s not the only reason I need to apologize to him…I need to because I need to…because I was stupid…and I just miss him so much…”
Jasper had to hold back his laughter at the teen’s sudden outburst. “Did you two have a fight?”
“Yeah… they spotted Victoria and he ordered me to go home. I couldn’t fight his order but I didn’t like it. We had a fight about it later,” Jacob replied.
“Ah. That explains it then. Emmett had mentioned something about Leah telling him about it. She got away. Leah apparently was upset that she couldn’t go after her…being pregnant and all…” Jasper shrugged. “Seth mentioned something about it too.” But, obviously, he didn’t know about Edward sending Jacob home.
Jasper sighed softly. “Edward will probably be home sometime today. He’s probably out in the woods sulking somewhere. You know how he gets.”
“Doesn’t make me want to be around him any less,” Jacob stated. “But yeah… I know.”
Jasper chuckled at that. “Obviously,” he replied, shaking his head.
Seth’s bedroom door opened and he appeared in the kitchen doorway a moment later stretching his arms over his head as he yawned. “What’s up? Jake? I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“I’m on a mission,” the elder shifter replied in a matter of factly tone as Seth arched an eyebrow in question. “I’m not leaving until I see Edward.”
“…And Edward would be at my house because…?”
“Because he promised Leah to stop in and check on you,” Jasper replied, because Jacob wouldn’t know. “Apparently she still doesn’t trust me enough to leave you alone in my care.”
“Oh.” That made sense. “Why is Edward not attached at your hip right now?”
“Fight.” Jacob and Jasper answered in unison before shaking their heads at each other. “I need to apologize to him,” Jacob picked up, Jasper remaining quiet.
Seth nodded. He moved past Jasper, giving him a kiss on his cheek on the way, before getting the bread and jelly from the pantry. A car pulled up outside and Seth glanced out the window. “There’s Edward now.”
Jasper could feel the panic and hesitation well up inside of Jacob, very nearly masking the complete elation he felt at seeing his imprint again.
“Edward will forgive you Jake, don’t worry,” Seth told him. The car door closed and a knock at Seth’s front door came a moment later. “Come on in Edward!”
Jasper moved out of the doorway and came to stand behind Seth, his hands on the younger’s shoulders, as he ate. Seth turned his head and smiled up at him. Jasper returned the smile with a gentle squeeze on the shoulders under his hands.
While Jasper and Seth were preoccupied with themselves, maintaining a sense of privacy when there was none for the sake of Jacob and Edward, the elder shifter walked over to his lover. Sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at the other. “Um…can we talk?” He asked.
Edward looked at him and then over at Seth. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on Seth…” he pointed out softly, his eyes returning to Jacob just in time to catch the teens down cast look. “But he looks fine to me and I’m sure he can occupy himself for a little while.”
Jacob smiled and, just a bit hesitantly, took Edward’s hand to pull him outside. Seth watched them go as he finished his sandwich and made another. “They’ll make up?” He questioned looking up at Jasper.
“For a few hours I expect,” Jasper snorted softly, hiding the smirk behind his hand. “If their emotions are any indication…it’ll be a very passionate apology.”
Seth blushed as he looked back down at the table. “Well at least they left the house then.”
“Exactly,” Jasper agreed readily.
When Seth finished his sandwich he and Jasper went to the living room to watch a movie. Seth was looking through the Clearwater collection of movie’s when a certain scent caught Jasper’s nose. Turning his head he took in a deep breath, it was blood, that much he could tell but it wasn’t anyone he knew.
“What do you feel like watching?” Seth questioned. Jasper turned his eyes onto his shifter, in Seth’s presence the smell of blood didn’t bother him. As long as it wasn’t Seth’s blood he thought he could control himself.
“I could go for something funny,” he replied. Seth nodded and pulled a comedy from the collection. After putting the movie in and pressing play he came over to the couch and settled himself against Jasper.
Jasper wrapped an arm around the younger teen, holding him close, letting his scent distract him from the lingering smell of blood as the movie started. The movie was barely half way through when his cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Jasper blinked and then arched his hips to retrieve the phone. “Wonder who that is,” he said softly, mostly to himself as he flipped the phone open to check the caller idea.
Seth glanced over at the screen. “Esme? You had better answer it; it has to be important if she’s calling.”
“Mhm,” Jasper hummed in agreement before answering the call, holding his phone to his ear.
“Jasper,” Esme’s voice was sad; he could almost feel the grief over the phone. “Bring Seth over. And please stop to pick up Bella on the way.”
Jasper slowly nodded, but then remembered that Esme couldn’t see a nod over the phone. “Sure thing…um, Esme is something wrong?” He asked.
"Yes Jasper. Something terrible has happened. Come as quickly as you can," she told him.
Jasper didn’t need to be told twice. He hung up the phone and reached for the DVD remote, turning the movie off. “I need to take you and Bella over to the house,” he said turning to the younger teen. “I don’t know what’s happened, but it’s not good.”
Seth nodded and jumped up. He went to the kitchen and wrote a quick note for his mother before following Jasper out to his car. The blood smell was stronger out here, even Seth noticed it. Seth frowned, “It’s coming from Jacob’s house…” He murmured as he climbed into the car.
Jasper bit his bottom lip, frowning in thought before he shook his head, climbing into the car. “I can’t…” he said, looking over at Seth, an apologetic look on his face. “I could make matters worse with the blood lust…let’s just go pick up Bella, alright?”
“I know.” Seth laid a hand on Jasper’s. “It’s probably better that we didn’t anyway, even without the blood lust affecting you.”
“I’m sure…what Esme has to tell us has nothing to do with that though…” Jasper said, turning his hand to grasp Seth’s before he lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
“I hope not… if anything happened to either Jacob or Billy we’d all take it pretty hard.”
“I know,” Jasper replied, his voice soft as he turned the car on, squeezing Seth’s hand once more before he pulled out of the drive and headed towards Bella’s.
Seth sat down on Jacob’s empty side at the Cullen’s kitchen table; Edward occupied the space on his other side. “I know you don’t want to think about this Jake… but we need to. What do you need us to do?” He questioned.
Jacob hadn’t said much of anything since he had woken up. He didn’t even cry when Edward told him his father had passed away along with Charlie (which would explain why Bella was staying with the Cullens currently), it was beginning to worry Edward.
This time wasn’t any different. He brushed a hand through his hair, tried to speak and then shook his head as Edward sighed softly and laid a comforting hand on the back of his neck. “We’ll take care of the funeral arrangements…” the vampire paused for a moment. “Both of them.”
“What can I do Edward? I want to help… I need something to do,” he thought the last bit.
Edward heaved a soft sigh. Wishing there was something he could tell the boy, but he didn’t even know how to make the situation better. He had to worry about his lover and his ex girlfriend’s loss was pushed upon him as well. Sometimes he damned Esme and her heart. “I know, Seth, really I do…” he said, shaking his head slowly, rubbing the back of Jacob’s neck.
“Seth,” Leah called. “C’mon.”
“But I…”
“I know, but just come; when there’s something for you to do they will call for you.” Leah looked at Edward as she said this. When Seth looked at him, Edward nodded.
Seth sighed. “Alright.” He stood and went to his sister’s side. She wrapped an arm around him and led him away from the kitchen.
“Why don’t you go work your magic on Bella? I think she could use the company,” Leah suggested.
“I guess…” He didn’t really know Bella that well. Jasper hadn’t been able to block all the emotions in the house so he had gone to their meadow. Seth planned to join him there later but he wanted to help Jacob first.
“She’s in her bedroom,” Leah replied, giving Seth an encouraging nudge towards the staircase.
“What do I say to her?” Seth questioned as his foot rested on the first step.
“There’s not much to say. I know you don’t want to hear that, but just being there will suffice. She’s got to feel like a fish out of water…being in her ex’s house…everyone’s worried about Jacob. They’ve forgotten her…well, not Esme…”
“Okay…” Seth headed up the stairs, following Bella’s scent to the bedroom that had been given to her. Even though the door was cracked Seth was polite and knocked.
The meadow was quiet. It was serene and the picture of calm in the chaos his home had become. Chaos that could not be seen, but was strongly felt by Jasper. Every whisper of agony, every tone of pain and sadness. It weighed him down. It crushed him. He didn’t last very long in the house before he felt like he was drowning. He left. He had no choice but to. He didn’t want to, but everyone understood.
The vampire sighed and stared up into the overcast sky, wondering why life was sometimes so cruel. Just when things were starting to go the right way something had to happen to bring you back to reality. Jacob was hurting. Bella was hurting. And so many others were hurting because of them.
Jasper knew when Seth entered the meadow, he could smell him of course but he was beginning to know Seth’s pattern of feelings as well as his own. Usually the shifter’s emotions were light and airy, happy, but right now they were dampened a little with his grief over the loss of Billy… but he seemed like he was in a fairly good mood.
Seth smiled when he spotted Jasper lying in the grass. “Hey stranger.”
Jasper pushed himself up on his elbows, smiling over at the younger teen. “Hey yourself,” he replied, already feeling better now that he could feel Seth, even though the shifter was grieving himself.
Seth got down into the grass beside Jasper and stretched out on his side. “How are you holding up?”
“Hm. Better now that you’re here,” Jasper answered honestly, laying back down, but turning onto his side so he could face the other. “How about you?”
“Better, I made Bella smile,” Seth answered.
“That’s good,” Jasper said, smiling at that. “Is Jacob doing any better?”
“Still not speaking, I think he’s just in shock… Edward’s worried.”
“I would imagine so…” Jasper agreed on both fronts, sighing softly. “Though I think Jacob would be worse off if he didn’t have Edward…”
“Oh much. I think he would have given up already.” Seth scooted closer to Jasper. Once he was close enough he let his hand rest on Jasper’s side, playing with the hem of his shirt.
Jasper took no notice to the innocent gesture as he watched the younger teen. “Mhm. I’m sure, though, that with time he’ll come out of this shock. His sisters are supposed to be arriving soon. Esme called them before I left.”
Seth nodded. “Rachel and Rebecca will be a big help.” He stared at the space between them before biting his lip. Jasper raised an eyebrow thinking he was just thinking about how to say something. He was shocked when Seth surged forward; pushing him onto his back, warm lips on his own.
Jasper’s eyes were wide with shock and it was his shock that froze him and made him not react right away. Of all the things he had expected to happen, Seth kissing him was not one of them. It seemed so out of place. Jasper didn’t understand why he was on his back with Seth’s straddling him and doing his very best to distract him from everything but the feel of his lips pressed against his own.
Seth whined softly as he kissed Jasper. He was sorely tempted to bite Jasper’s lip but held off on that for now. His hands went to the buttons on Jasper’s shirt and he started undoing them. He wanted Jasper, needed him, before it was too late.
Jasper broke the kiss, almost as soon as Seth started undoing the buttons to his shirt. “What are you doing?” He asked, his voice slightly husky as he stared up at the younger.
“Taking your shirt off,” Seth answered.
“Yeah…I kinda get that…” Jasper replied smartly, his hands going to Seth’s, because the boy had not stopped trying to undo his shirt. “But, why?”
Seth looked into Jasper’s golden eyes. “Good question… I should be undoing your pants.”
“What?” Jasper wasn’t sure he heard right, but made sure he still had a firm grip on the younger’s hands.
Seth made a sound of annoyance as he tried to tug his hands out of Jasper’s grip, it didn’t work. “You heard me,” he stated. “I need to get your…and my pants off for this to really be possible.”
Jasper blinked and wasn’t sure if he wanted to believe what the younger was implying or not. “My pants aren’t coming off…and neither are yours.”
“But I want them to!”
“That’s all fine and dandy, but having them off would lead to things that just aren’t going to happen right now,” Jasper replied, giving the other a stern look.
“Why? Why can’t we? I want to, I know you want to… I will bite your lip.” Seth leaned down and kissed Jasper again, running his tongue along the seam of Jasper’s lips, teasing. Just as he was about to bite Jasper’s lip the vampire flipped their positions and sat up.
“You’re fourteen,” Jasper pointed out, frowning deeply; surprised he had managed to keep his body under control through all of Seth’s teasing. The kid could be persistent when he wanted to be. “Yes…I want to. More than anything…but, that stops me. Every time.”
“So what? Who cares if I’m fourteen? I want you, I need you Jasper.”
Jasper had thought that Jacob had some intense ‘puppy dog eyes’, he had seen him given them to Edward before. But they were nothing when compared to the eyes that Seth was giving him now… especially with the lust he could see in them and feel.
“I care that you’re fourteen. Your sister cares that you’re fourteen. So does your mother.”
Seth stared up at Jasper hoping that he could stare him down but after ten minutes it didn’t work so he sighed in defeat. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I just…everything is so screwed up. You’re the only constant in my life, the only thing that makes me feel complete…Will you kiss me? I promise to be a good boy and to not bite anything.”
Jasper wasn’t sure he could trust Seth, but after a moment he nodded slowly. “Alright…but only kissing…” he said, giving the other a look before he leaned down to press his lips against the others.
Seth kept his promise and only kissed Jasper back. Jasper slowly let his hands go and Seth let his arms come up to wrap around Jasper’s neck. The fingers on one hand buried themselves in Jasper’s hair.
Jasper let out a sigh of relief that was lost to the kiss as he continued moving his lips against the younger’s.
A/N: Pg. 95
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Date: 2012-11-27 11:52 pm (UTC)