*Jasper's POV

  Annabell hid her fay chest again. Her reaade me chuckle. Feeling her warm breath through the thin fabric was more than distrag. I made sure she won't slip from my arms and made my way to the bed, she jumped out of before. She should rest some more but I wasn't about to let her out of my arms. So I sat on the bed and carefully seated her on my p like a child. She was suddenly anxious again and I was certai the wrong idea of why I took her to bed. Not that I would mind, although it's safer for the both of us if I don't imagine what we could do here.

  Sending her ess I reassured her "I swear to never hurt you again Annabell. You rex, my darling."  She raised her head and I saw in her expression that she believed those words. And I swore, once more to myself that, I'll keep that promise even if it should kill me.

  I reached for the b behind her which meant practically embrag her. I heard clearly, how her breath caught ihroat for a sed when I leaned closer. I wao tease her a little because I sensed her excitement and light panic, but the warmth and sweet smell of her body forced me to refrain from such irresponsible as. Because I felt that if I were to tease her, I wouldn't stop at that and did something unspeakable. Then she would run away from me and wouldn't want to see me ever again.

  When I had her safely ed in the b, which should secure that Annabell stays warm even this close to me, I leaned back against the wall behind me.  That was apanied by her relief, disappoi and embarrassment. I didn't uand what was happening inside of her. Her cheeks were tinted delicate pink and she tried to cover it by looking away. I didn't mean to tolerate that and took a hold of her . I didn't allow her to hide her face but I remembered to be as gentle as possible. Now she was surprised.

  "What is going through that beautiful head of yours? Your emotions are like a roller-coaster sometimes." I finally asked uo not show my frustration. Now she went from light shock to uanding and then embarrassment again. "So that's how you do it." She nearly whispered but still didn't answer me. "on' Ann, tell me." But she just shook her head. With a sigh of helplessness I let go of her . I khat it's pointless. Unless she wants to tell me, I won't get it out of her.

  "You really are a stubbirl." I pined defeated. She pouted like a kid and I wao ugh. However, that could anger her, and I liked it the way it was now.  No, actually I don't like it the way it is now. I want more. I needed an excuse to touch her so I wouldn't scare her again. Then I got an idea. In the end it wasn't just an excuse, it was really iing idea and I wondered why I didn't think of it sooner.  "I'd like to try ahe way you do it. I'll y eyes and feel your face, may I?" That question obviously surprised her but she didn't think about the answer for too long. "Go ahead." she said then simply, smiling at me.

  From the moment I came to Forks a her I took a note of that she very rarely smiles. Now she smiled more often and usually that smile beloo me and I was certain there is nobody so happy as me when I realized that.

  Annabell seemed quite excited as she straightened on my p and turned her upper body so she was fag me and I had free access to her fabsp; Then giggling, she put her hands over my eyes. It made me ugh too. "So you 't cheat." she said. But I se wasn't the whole truth. Oh boy... Now I had to deal with this little extra distra. The fact that she wao touch me almost as much as I wao touch her threateo crumble my self-trol. When I posed myself again and was certain I hahis I focused on her emotions, promising myself that this time I'll make sure to not let things get out of hands like at her house, where I left her angry and sad. Only because I couldn't handle myself anymore.

  I found her shoulders and my fingers started their little journey along her neck up, while making sure my touch is as light as possible. I heard her breath to hitch when I touched her bare skin and I was worried she hates how cold they are. However, I couldn't find anything to firm my worries in her emotions, so I tinued. Her oval face erfect, her warm skin smooth with a veil of the softest naturally wavy hair framing this treasure. I khey are bck as the deepest night and her clear eyes looked like a pair of emeralds. Annabell is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen.

  I left the best for st and when my fiips brushed over Annabell's lips she slightly shivered and I felt her excitement. Her hands slid down to my shoulders and I could see now, how beautiful pink graces her burning cheeks, her full lips parted as she was rapidly breathing. Her heartbeat seemed to be trying to catch up with breathing but I khat if my ow still had a beat, it would do the same. I doubt that Annabell is fully aware of what she's doing but she felt almost the same desire as me now. Leaning closer to me, I wasn't able to resist her. She looked nearly determined and I couldn't find a single reason to withhold her what we both wanted. Annabell looked so desirable. I cupped her head in my hands and slowly, as to not scare her and to give her time to ge her mind I closed the gap between us.

  Annabell's soft lips fit perfectly against mine, just like the rest of her body which was now trustfully pressed against mine. She tasted sweet and I nearly lost myself in the warmth she offered. The faint smell of roses surrounding her was intoxig to me. I felt how easy it would be to give in to the passion. I 't allow myself to do that. Ran through my mind. There is still too much she doesn't know, yet. With all the strength of will I could muster I gently ended our kiss. Sensing our desire grow and if I let it tinue even a sed longer, I probably wouldn't be able to hold baymore and stop myself, even if she asked me to and she'd hate me for it. Because I don't think she is aware of all that is at stake here. Why don't we take her? She's ours! Yes she is. I thought with satisfa. But it is too soon. And I ignored him again.

  Annabell looked quite disappointed and if I didn't feel this overwhelming yearning ao tinue, what e so much to stop, I'd ugh. She was breathing heavily and tried to grasp what just happened. Although she looked quite satisfied with herself and then she snuggled against my chest. I couldn't help but smile at hoy she felt. I gently embraced her thinking she is adorable.  Now there was no doubt. Annabell is my mate. I k even before the kiss but now there's nothing that I'd allow to take her from me. She is the reason I am alive. If I call my existehat. The only reason I survived my own personal hell oh was now in my arms. If I only kneaiting for you...

  *

  "Where are we?" Asked Annabel when her breath abeat calmed down. Lifting up to a position from which she could face me."In my, Peter and Charlotte's house. About a mile from your favorite pce."She frowned a little. "How do you know that?" "Well, beside school, that pce is where you spend the most of the time and...." I knew she won't like my answer. She wasn't too pleased whenever I got something right about her.

  "And?" She was impatient. It made me chuckle. "And you talk a lot when you are alone." I was right she didn't like it. Her cheeks burned again as she tried to expin.

  "You know, I didn't sider myself that lucky to imagine you'd stay around this long. Much less having a face to face versation with you. I didn't even think you cared about what I say so I just talked. When a hero from legends you were told as a kid starts to appear around you, at first you don't think it could be real."  She seemed to remember something and that there was more, but I knew if she didn't include that part in her expnation, I won't get her to tell me. So I tried to figure out something else. "How long do you know?"  She smiled sheepishly "You o specify a little. What do I know?" "That I was around you. For start." Looks like she isn't against answering so let's see how much she's willing to tell me. Although she was hesitant, she answered. "I... I sense beings around me. Whether it is a human or not."She avoided the v word. "You know I am not a human, right?" I felt a o hear her say it.

  "Yes." That's not enough. "Do you know what I am?" "Yes, a vampire like Peter." She said slowly. Peter again. What kind of retionship they have?! Earlier he acted like he knows Annabell fes and she didn't deny it. Involuntary quiet growl vibrated through my chest when I remembered Peter's hand on her shoulder and she looked totally fih it!  Annabell raised an eyebrow, her expression was asking, what's wrong. I immediately took a hold of myself and quietly apologized. "Sorry." I still desperately o hear her say something else. "And you are not afraid?" She gave me a bright smile this time. "You tell I am not. So why ask?" She said as a matter of factly. She felt perfectly happy and I was too. Then she tinued. "Anyway, I knew you were around from the first night in the forest that I caught your st." I knew she didn't finish so I waited. "At first I didn't know who you were then, but the way your presence soothed me and yht a light into my world of darkness," I wao tell her the same, she was my light. "I was slowly putting the pieces together. I knew your name long before I met you and when you saved me it all made sense."

  "Frankly, the first night I found you sleeping in the forest you scared me." She ughed at that. "Yes, you scared me. First you look like dead and then suddenly open your eyes. I was so lost in them," I admitted."that you nearly caught me leaning ov-ehm..." Oops... I didn't mean to reveal this part. I thought to myself quite embarrassed. But I said too much already.

  "Ooh I k!" She squealed ughing. Then she deeply inhaled and with a pleased smile she made a tiny fession. "I like the st of horses that's around you, ever since." Her expression was almost dreamy and I would swear my heart felt warm at that sight. I wao tease her a little. "That's all you like?" I caressed her cheek as the blush deepes color. Annabell blissfully closed her eyes aed her cheek against my hand. Picture of her pure trust aion. To ever betray that, would kill me.

  "No." She whispered. "The way you make me feel, the way you take away the loneliness and sorrow. How your touch, even though it should be cold and hard, feels gentle and makes me warm... I like you, Jasper."   For a moment I couldn't move nor speak. Every word she said came from her heart and I was drowning in my oiness, I never dreamed I'd find.   I embraced her again and pressed a kiss into her hair. "My sweet i angel..." I love you.