BPOV
I followed Jasper back to our clearing in the woods, my mind whirling with confusion and remorse. I still couldn’t believe that I’d forced Tanya to cut her hair. I knew, logically, that it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t know that I could make her do anything, but still, the simple fact that I was prepared to do it to her myself didn’t sit well with me at all. I was confident in Edward’s love so why was I so threatened by her flirting with him? It didn’t matter what she tried, he’d never betray me in any way. But seeing her touch him had just sent me into a blind rage and I’d lost control. I’d worked so hard to maintain it and yet it was gone the first time a woman touched my husband in front of me.
“Are you quite through beating yourself up yet?” Jasper’s exasperated voice called back to me. I hurried to catch up to him.
“Jasper, how could I do something like that? What’s wrong with me?”
He chuckled. “This may sound weird, all things considered, but you’re only human, Bella.” I rolled my eyes at his joking at a time like this. “Don’t think I can’t feel your irritation.” Amusement laced his tone as he walked ahead of me, not bothering to turn around and see the tongue I was sticking out at him.
“You’re a real riot, Jasper.”
“I really am, when I want to be.” He did turn then and flashed me a mischievous grin. We reached the clearing and he walked over to one of the elm trees and plopped down, patting the spot next to him with an inviting smile. I sat down next to him and waited.
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know, maybe that it wasn’t my fault and I should stop sulking and get on with learning to use and control my power?”
“Why should I say that when you already know it’s true?”
I frowned and looked into my lap. “Because it would make me feel better than my saying it.”
“I shouldn’t have to. It happened, it wasn’t intentional, you’re sorry, it’s over, move on.”
“But if she didn’t do it, I was going to do it for her.”
Jasper barked out a laugh. “Bella, you wouldn’t have been able to. If you’d jumped on her, we’d have stopped you in time. It was the fact that you made her do it, the shock of that delayed us just a few seconds.”
“Alright, but still, it’s my fault.”
“So it is. Are you going to sulk about it all day or are you going to learn so the next time you get angry, you don’t lash out and do something you’ll regret?” He regarded me calmly. He was right but I wanted to smack him anyway.
“I want to learn.” I may have said it through gritted teeth but I meant it.
He smiled serenely, unruffled by the irritation that must be rolling off me in waves. “Are you starting to get a little worked up, Bella?”
“You know that I am.”
“And the only times you’ve used your power, thus far, have been when you’ve been angry, correct?” Oh, oh! He was trying to make me mad so I could tap into my gift. Of course now that I knew, I wasn’t mad anymore.
I giggled. “Now you made me lose it.”
“It’s really not a problem.” He stared at me for a few seconds and I felt anger start to suffuse my body, that red haze taking over like it had earlier. I wanted to start punching trees again. I wanted to hunt Tanya back down and hit her a few hundred times. I wanted…
“Make me do something.” What? I wasn’t mad at Jasper, I was just mad period and…”Bella, think of something and make me do it.” God he was annoying, making me concentrate when all I wanted to do was destroy something. “Get to it, Bella. Are you afraid that you can’t control someone who knows you’re doing it? That’s probably it. You’re too weak to take on someone who is prepared.”
I glared at him, arms crossed like he hadn’t a care in the world, like a newborn raging vampire was not in front of him. Perhaps I should rip those arms off so he didn’t cross them in all his smug glory. “Well it’s clear you can’t take me on, Bella. Maybe you’re not woman enough for Edward after all. I’m sure I can catch up to Tanya and let her know that you’re not worthy to be with my brother.”
My arm drew back to strike him but he caught my hand before I could make contact with his face. “Use it, Bella. Make me do something.”
“Ugh, fine!” I pushed his hand aside. “Go push that tree over.” I pointed across the clearing. Jasper just sat where he was and stared at me. “Um, I said, go push that tree over.” I waited for him to go do my bidding like a good dog. It really had sounded like I was talking to a pet or something. Fetch! “Why aren’t you going?”
“Because you’re not making me.”
I huffed. “I most certainly am.”
“You’re telling me but you’re not making me.”
“Well how in the hell am I supposed to make you? I don’t know how to do it! I just thought it and they did what I said. Why aren’t you?” I was yelling now but I didn’t care. He was either frustrating me on his own or using his power as well, I didn’t know which and I didn’t care.
“Use it, Bella, use that anger and make me push the tree over.”
“I don’t know what to do, Jasper! Why can’t you just go push the tree over like I told you to?” I threw my words at him and all of a sudden he was up and headed for the tree I’d picked out. He swung a hand and connected with it, a loud bang echoing as his hand struck the tree and then a resounding crack as it fell over. I looked at him as he turned back to me.
“Did you do that on your own or did I make you do that?”
He smiled. “You made me do it. The only question is how. What was different that time than the other times you told me to do it?”
I shook my head, mystified. “I don’t know. I got madder than I was the first couple of times but…”
“No, that’s not it. Think about what you did. What was in your mind at that moment?”
“I don’t know!” I threw up my hands in frustration.
He ran a hand through his hair, reminding me much of Edward in that moment. Some of the anger ebbed away with that thought. I tried to think about what I had done. “I think…”
He leaned forward. “You think what?”
I frowned. “I think that last time, I got so mad that I not only said the words to you but I thought them as well? I mean, of course I always think my words but I actually felt them and pushed them at you, maybe?” I asked him.
He smiled in triumph. “Yes! Exactly. You not only have to think the words, you have to mentally shove them at the person you’re trying to control.”
“Wait a minute; did you know that all along?”
“Yes.”
I smacked his shoulder, finally giving in to the urge to hit him. “And you couldn’t have told me that before we got started?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want you to learn on your own. It’s your mind, your power and you need to figure it out, feel it out. I gave you a nudge with the anger, which is fine to start but you’re going to have to learn to do it without getting mad. That’ll be the real test for you.”
Yeah, like this wasn’t hard enough already. “Jasper…” my voice sounded disturbingly like a whine. I didn’t whine. I felt like a little kid back at school though. My other training sessions were much more fun. Where were the flying baby dolls when I needed them?
“Bellaaaaa,” he sing-songed in response. Ugh. He chuckled at my reaction. “You know if you figure out how to use your power you might just be able make Edward’s day.” That had my interest.
“How so? I could make him my very own sex slave?” He coughed, caught between a laugh and gasp.
“Please! I don’t need to hear that, I already get enough from you two daily!” I giggled, unrepentant. He deserved it for irritating me earlier.
He glared at me. “What I was trying to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, was that if you could learn to control it, you’ll be able to lower that barrier in your mind and let him in.”
Edward could hear me? I didn’t want to let him to do it all the time but I’d love to surprise him by letting him hear my thoughts. I gripped Jasper’s arm, incredibly excited. “How? You have to teach me!” It’d be the perfect Christmas present for him and it wouldn’t cost me a dime.
Jasper smiled in satisfaction. “See, all you needed was the right motivation.”
“Yeah, yeah, Edward is my kryptonite. Teach me!” He laughed and shook his head.
“Too easy.” I growled and he laughed at me some more. “Alright, as I told the others, our powers probably work in a similar way. When I want to make someone feel something, I focus my attention on the person or persons and I mentally push that emotion at them.”
I was fascinated, I’d never known the mechanics of Jasper’s power, I’d just been the recipient of it numerous times. ”How do you do it?”
He thought a moment before answering me. “The brain is compartmentalized, you know? Certain parts control certain things. I’m not going to get all medical on you, you can go to Carlisle if you want exact locations of synapses and neurons and such. What you really need to know, though, is where in your brain the power comes from.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”
“Just concentrate on it when you’re using the power. Our brains are so much more focused than humans, you will actually be able to pinpoint where it’s coming from. Maybe not the first time you try but you will locate it. Emotion comes from here.” He pointed to the left side of his head. “I focus in on that, tap into the emotion and as you said, push it at whomever I’m trying to influence.”
“That’s strange, how did you learn how to do it?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had a lot of time to learn and then perfect it. I didn’t have anyone to guide me through the process.” He looked at me expectantly.
“Thank you, Jasper. Though I may not be the best student in the world, I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I really would be lost without you.” Or I’d be a crazed newborn, running around killing people and apparently controlling their minds.
He took my hand in his. “I don’t need your thanks, Bella. I’m doing this because you’re my sister and I love you. I want to make things easier on you. You gave up a lot to be with us and I, for one, am grateful. You’ve brought happiness into Edward’s life and peace into mine, not to mention the joy you bring to my Alice.”
I shifted, surprised and warmed by his praise but uncomfortable as well. I didn’t do well with attention like that. Of course he knew everything I was feeling so why bother being embarrassed? “You’re just glad she has someone else to buy clothes for.”
He chuckled and released my hand. “You see right through me.” There a wistfulness to his response though and I couldn’t leave his kind words unanswered.
“Jasper…” I plucked at blades of grass instead of looking into his all-knowing face. “I truly am thankful for all you’re done for me. I always wanted brothers when I was growing up and now I have two wonderful ones. I gave up a lot, I admit it, but I got way more in return.” He pulled me into a gentle hug and I rested my head on his shoulder. This is what I always imagined having a big brother would be like. I knew reality was that I’d probably have been teased mercilessly and tormented, but this feeling of love and protection would still have been there as well.
He released me and nudged my shoulder with his own. “Enough slacking. Back to work!”
The sun peeked through the clouds and his face was illuminated in the shifting light. The scars that I’d grown used to stood out in a way they didn’t on overcast days. Usually I was barely aware of them but the sunshine made them impossible to ignore. Jasper must have caught the expression on my face because he smiled. “Takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?”
I reached out and pressed my fingers to his cheek. He brought his hand up and patted mine where it rested. “How did you survive it?”
His eyes unfocused for a minute, seeing a past I wasn’t privy to. “I don’t know, honestly. It’s a question I’ve asked myself thousands of times, sometimes grateful I made it, other times not so much.”
“I know you weren’t alone the whole time but…”
“I was alone. Even when I was with Maria and then Peter and Charlotte, I was always alone. It wasn’t until I found Alice that that changed.” He stared at me. “I think you may understand that better than most.” He was right, I did. I’d always felt alone until Edward came into my life, regardless of my relationships with my parents. And when he left, I eventually tried to fill the hole but I was still always aware of it. Had he never returned, I would have lived but I wouldn’t be alive.
“Yeah, I definitely understand that.”
“I will forever be sorry, you know.”
What was he talking about? “For what?”
“For your birthday, for causing him to leave you.”
I took our hands off his cheek and gripped his between both of mine. “You didn’t cause him to leave me. He did that, Jasper.”
“But my attack facilitated that. I nearly killed you.”
I shook my head emphatically. “If it hadn’t been you, it would have been something else. Edward was looking for a reason to leave me then, you and I both know it. He was always waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did, he ran. I don’t hold that against you and I don’t hold it against him either. We had to go through what we did to get where we are today. I have no regrets. You shouldn’t either.”
He smiled ruefully. “You truly mean it. You’re entirely too forgiving.”
“Even if I had ever blamed you, which I didn’t, you’ve more than made up for it since then. Who kept me from hurting during my change? Who helped me with my bloodlust so that I’d never kill a human? Who’s helping me right now?”
Jasper actually looked almost bashful, looking away and scuffing his foot on the ground. “Well really, it’s no big deal.”
“It’s a very big deal and you know it. And because I haven’t said it nearly enough, thank you. You’ve made my transition into the life way easier than it had a right to be. All the rest of you suffered while I’ve cruised through everything. That’s in large part due to you.”
He tugged his hand from mine. “There’s nothing to thank me for. Now stop trying to distract me and get back to work.”
“Sir, yes sir!” I snapped a military salute at him and he snorted out a laugh.
“You’re a smart one, aren’t you?”
I grinned. “My teacher taught me well.” He cuffed me on the shoulder. “Okay, okay, I’m doing it!”
It wasn’t easy and the first few times that we practiced I would lose my concentration. I’d be able to get the order out of my brain and make Jasper do silly things like dance a jig and do a handstand, but it took several tries before I could physically locate the part of my brain that controlled the power. After that, we spent a few days just trying to use the power without Jasper’s elevating my anger levels. That was the truly difficult thing to learn, when I was mad the order would just erupt from inside me. When I wasn’t, I had to find the strength to make it happen.
I gritted my teeth and tried to throw the thought at Jasper. Go pick me a flower. He didn’t move a muscle and I sighed. “I can’t do it.”
“Yes, you can. You’ve were doing it even before you were a vampire.”
“I have not! At least not consciously, though that would have been cool. Imagine if I’d been able to order Jessica and Lauren to shut up.” Jasper flashed an appreciative grin. We all could have enjoyed that little benefit.
“You have though. You were controlling your own mind first. And I suspect you’ve been doing it since your change as well.”
“How so?”
“All those times you told us that you kept talking to yourself, reminding yourself to stay calm, to be focused and not to attack people. That was you using your power to keep yourself in check.”
Really? Now that he mentioned it, those thoughts had been centered in that same part of the brain he was talking about. “I think you’re right.”
“I know I am.” Confidence laced his tone. I rolled my eyes. “Back to work.” And so it went, for hours on end. I pushed command after command at him, sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. Emmett tried to join the training a time or two but Jasper sent him away, telling him he was too much of a distraction. Em pouted about it but left us be, as did everyone else.
Finally, after countless tries and several tantrums on my part, I seemed to have a fairly good grip on my power. Jasper refused to let me practice on anyone else until he felt I’d mastered it. “You don’t understand just what this means, Bella.”
“What?”
“You are the most powerful vampire I’ve ever come across.” No way. That was just ridiculous. I was three months old.
“Come on, you’re exaggerating to scare me, right?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Do I look like I’m joking to you?”
“No, but…”
“Bella, there are many gifted vampires out there. You’re now related to three of them and you’ve met and mentally eluded several others. Nobody has ever been resistant to Edward’s mind reading, you are. Same goes with Aro and Jane. There are some vampires that act as shields but that’s all they do. You could actually use your power against them while blocking their own. Mind control is unheard of. Do you understand why I’ve been pushing you?”
I shook my head, flabbergasted by what Jasper had just told me. I didn’t know if I wanted it to be true. I’d gotten used to the idea of my gift over the last few days and had even come to appreciate it somewhat, but to be the strongest of our kind? That was scary.
Jasper took my hand, shaking me out of my thoughts. “Someday Aro will find about you. He’ll get his hands on one of us and your power will be revealed. He’s already curious about it. And if he knew what it was? He’d do anything he could to get you to Volterra and use you. Imagine what you could do? You could bring down any resistance with just one thought. Jane and Alec would be completely useless, not that he would give up some of his favorite toys. He could use you to convince Alice to join the Volturi along with me and Edward. Anyone he wanted.”
Okay, now I was truly frightened. Jasper was right. Aro would want me even more than he wanted Alice and Edward. He mustn’t ever find out. I started running through possibilities in my head. Maybe we should leave New Hampshire already, get a place somewhere we’d never lived before so they wouldn’t know where we were. We could just disappear and maybe Aro would eventually forget I existed. We could…
“Bella, calm down.”
“How am I supposed to calm down? You just told me that someday the Volturi will come and try to take me away.”
He laughed. “The operative word in that sentence would be try.”
“Come on, Jasper, you know how powerful they are. They can bring a whole army with them if they want! There are eight of us!”
“Yes and those eight consist of a future seer, a mind reader, an empath and a mind controller.”
“Even with our powers…”
He shook his head. “Only with your power, Bella. That’s all we need. That’s why I’m pushing you to learn it. If you can learn to turn it on whenever you need it, and you’re close to that already in less than a week’s time, then you can stop hundreds, thousands of vampires.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. There was nothing I could say to that. It completely blew my mind. I opened my mouth to speak but I had no words to let out. Jasper waited patiently, just letting me absorb what he’d said. Thousands? I’d only ever controlled one mind. “But I’ve only controlled one person at a time.”
“We’ll practice on crowds soon. It’s the same concept. You just push the thought at a group instead of one person. I’ve incited armies to fight before and calmed a whole high school or two. It’s no different and it won’t strain you anymore than one person does.”
“I can’t wrap my mind around it, Jasper. I’m just me, Bella. I’ve been insignificant all my life. I don’t know how I, of all people, could have that kind of ability.”
“Edward always said that you don’t think enough of yourself. Jeez, Bella, you’ve never been insignificant. You’ve hidden who you were really were out of fear of the spotlight. It’s a sentiment I am most familiar with, though it wasn’t fear that kept the rest of us hidden. Yet, like us, you’ve always stood out, even though you didn’t want to. Maybe now you’re starting to realize why.”
I shifted, uncomfortable at the idea of being in a spotlight still. As far as I was concerned, my family deserved all the attention they got but I couldn’t conceive of any of it reflecting on me at this point. I was still the plain one in this family and I was honestly fine with that. “Oh Lord, would you cut it out already? I can feel you putting yourself down.” It was annoying not being able to hide my feelings from him like I could Edward. Hey maybe with my power…
Jasper grinned. “Go ahead, try to block me.”
“Are you a mind reader all of a sudden?”
“No, your face just gives everything away. Plus I could feel you getting excited about something and I put two and two together. It’s a good idea anyway. If you want to let Edward in, you need to learn how you keep him out. You did it to me once already without knowing it. Try it.”
“Yeah, but I was mad then and I just told you to stop. I didn’t put a block up or anything.”
“Well put one up now. You won’t know until you try.”
“I wouldn’t even begin to know how.”
“Envision a wall going up in your mind.” I tried to picture it. “Okay, here we go.” Instantly I felt melancholy sweep over me, as if my heart was breaking. I gasped and Jasper pulled his power back immediately. “Try again.”
I certainly didn’t want to feel like that again so I pictured a steel wall, impenetrable. Nothing can get in, nothing can get out. I concentrated on that wall as if my very life depended on it. Jasper tapped me on the shoulder. “Now tear the wall down.” I did as he asked; the steel disappearing before my eyes. I felt giddiness, his and mine at my success.
“I did it!” I threw my arms around Jasper and he squeezed me back, joining in my excited laughter.
“That was great, Bella, you’re truly getting the hang of your abilities. It took us days to get the mind control figured out but only minutes now to learn something new. I’m proud of you.”
I gave him another hug and pulled back. “Thank you for working with me. I never could have done it alone.”
He grinned. “You probably could have, it just would have taken you a lot longer.”
I could not help but agree but still gave him a shove. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Are you ready to go test your abilities on the rest of the family?”
I giggled, thrilled with what I had planned. “Yep!”
Jasper eyed me for a minute and shook his head. “I have a feeling this is going to be interesting. Let’s go.”
I veered off home for a second and got out what I’d need, doing my best not to picture what it was for. I didn’t want to forewarn Alice. She’d see what I was going to have her do but hopefully not until I gave her the order. I bounded into the house and threw myself into Edward’s waiting arms, giving him a kiss that showed my utter excitement in all I’d accomplished today.
He kissed me back and laughed against my lips. “Well, hello there, love.”
“Hi yourself, handsome.” I threaded my fingers through his hair and started kissing him again. I heard some throat clearing behind me, reminding me we were not alone. Sighing, I removed my lips from where they most wanted to be and turned to find Jasper watching me with his arms crossed.
“Don’t you have something to do?”
“Oh, yeah!” So I forgot. Who could blame me when those lips were on mine? I begrudgingly removed myself from Edward’s arms and sat next to him on the couch. Jasper, Alice, Emmett & Rosalie were all in the room. Rose was glaring at me and I hastened to reassure her that I wouldn’t do anything to her.
“Rose, I’m not going to use it on you, okay? I’ll do it only if you volunteer.”
She eyed me with distrust but nodded. “You’d better not.” Clearly only time would convince her. As long as she didn’t make me angry I should be able to avoid controlling her.
“Where are Esme and Carlisle?”
“Right here dear.” Esme and Carlisle walked in hand in hand. I smiled at how cute they were together even after all this time. Everyone was seated and I looked around nervously, not sure where to start.
Emmett bounded over, making the choice for me. “Me first! Make me do something!” He was grinning from ear to ear in his excitement but then his face fell. “But don’t make me swallow another key, okay? That didn’t feel very good coming back up.”
I giggled. “I won’t, I promise. I won’t do anything that will cause you bodily injury, only some humiliation.”
“Bring it!”
I smiled, mentally flipping through the various options I’d thought of since my power came to light. Perform ”I’m a Little Teapot” in a high falsetto. He didn’t hesitate, his huge frame was up and one arm went behind his back and one curved forward. “I’m a little teapot, short and stout. Here is my handle, here is my spout.” Everyone in the room burst into hysterics, including Rosalie much to my surprise. Emmett’s attempt at a girl’s voice with his deep timbre made it even funnier. He finished with a flourish, after emptying his spout one more time.
He swooped down upon me and yanked me into his arms, twirling me around the room. “Bella, that was awesome! I’m truly proud of you! You’re going to be an epic prankster in time!” I joined him in his hearty laughter, pleased that I’d been able to tap into my power so easily. He put me down and I turned my attention to the room.
“Who’s next?”
“That would be me.” Alice danced into the center of the room. “Have you decided on anything?”
I laughed. “I’m about to. You don’t think you’re going to be able to see it and thwart me somehow do you?”
Her smile was challenging. “Maybe.” Jasper raised an eyebrow and gave me a nod. I let the thought flow and watched Alice’s face flicker in horror as she ran out of the room.
“Looks like she beat you, Little Sis!” I laughed, confident that wasn’t the case. Sure enough, Alice returned a second later, a look of dejection on her pretty face. She was dressed in my rattiest sweat pants and t-shirt, an old Forks Police Department shirt that had a hole in one of the sleeves and a fraying hem. Alice looked as if she was being burned at the stake. Emmett took one look at her and fell off the edge of the couch. “Epic!” He ran up the stairs and was back in seconds, camera in hand and clicking away. Alice screeched and lunged for the camera but Emmett danced away cackling madly.
Jasper saw her face and wrapped her in a comforting hug but shot me a smile over her head. “I don’t like you anymore,” she directed at me as she burrowed into his chest. The clothes sagged around her, far too big for her tiny frame.
“Oh come on, Alice, it was funny and it had to be something you wouldn’t normally do!”
Her face scrunched up in disgust. “I certainly wouldn’t wear these rags.”
“I know. That’s what makes it funny. Consider it payment for the key bellybutton ring.”
She sighed and released Jasper. “Fair enough. I’m going upstairs to change though, then I’m burning these!” She gestured at my shirt and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“If you burn my clothes I’ll make you burn all yours as well.” Her mouth dropped open in horror as she saw that I meant what I said.
“Fine, you can keep your rags!” She was up the stairs in a flash.
Edward chuckled. “You could have made her wear them all day.”
“I’m not that mean. That was fun though.” Alice returned, freshly dressed in a purple silk blouse and black pants. She handed me my t-shirt and sweats, folded neatly. I smirked at her.
Edward chuckled softly at me. “I guess I’m up next, unless Carlisle and Esme want a turn?”
“I do!” Carlisle had been watching with rapt attention. Of course he wanted a turn. He’d probably be analyzing any different nuances in his brain for hours afterward. I hadn’t really planned on doing anything with him or Esme and I had to think a minute. Inspiration finally struck and I grinned in anticipation. Wariness flashed over Carlisle’s handsome face but he had nothing to worry about. While I could happily torture my brothers and sisters, I wouldn’t do the same to him and Esme.
Dance with Esme. Carlisle’s face went momentarily blank as he reached a hand out to Esme and pulled her to her feet. “What…” she started to ask but stopped as he twirled her around the room in an effortless waltz. Delighted giggles burst from Esme’s lips and she tossed a huge grin my way. “Oh, Bella, the things I would do with that power!” There was a hungry sparkle in her eyes so I decided to make her even happier. Pick Esme up in your arms, like a groom carrying his bride. He immediately complied and Esme wound her arms around his neck and looked at me expectantly.
“Do you want me to make him do more?” I didn’t know what was or wasn’t appropriate in this kind of situation, I didn’t want to violate Carlisle in any way, even if she was his wife.
Esme seemed to understand my hesitation. “Maybe you could just have him carry me upstairs and then let me take it from there.” I gave her a nod; that I could deal with. Carry her to your room and close the door. He moved quickly up the stairs, Esme smiling and waving a shy goodbye at us as he shut the door behind them.
I glanced nervously at everyone’s reactions and they were all watching me with awe. “Dude, Edward, you are so lucky! Bella can totally make you her sex slave!” Rose whacked him in the head but Emmett was undeterred. “Just imagine, she can take one look at you and order you to…” he broke off when Rose hit him again.
“To find the key?” I asked with a smirk.
Emmett’s eyes widened and then he burst out in the gut busting laugh that shook the room again. The rest of us joined in. “Yes! Exactly! What guy wouldn’t love a woman that could do that?”
“I don’t know,” Rose drawled. “It seems to me that it’s pretty easy to get you to do my bidding without mind control and Edward’s just as whipped as you are.”
“Yeah but still, she could get anybody to.”
“Hey! Watch yourself, Emmett!” Edward growled.
I took his hand in mine and squeezed it reassuringly. “I would never do something like that!”
“I know, love, our brother just has a dirty mind.”
“I can’t help it!” Emmett protested. “It’s just a good thing that someone like Bella has that power because in the wrong hands…that would just be very bad.” I saw Jasper exchange a glance with Edward.
Before I could ask what that was about, Edward turned to me. “So, is it my turn finally?”
I didn’t really feel comfortable doing what I had originally planned, not after what Emmett had said. “Maybe we could just wait.”
Edward’s eyes flashed with disappointment as he cupped my cheek in his hand. “Bella, nothing you could ever ask me to do would be inappropriate.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to violate you. I hadn’t really thought that it was like that but it is.”
“No, love, it’s only a violation if the person is unwilling. I’m volunteering.” He leaned forward and stage whispered in my ear, “Especially if you want to make me your sex slave.” He bit gently down on my earlobe and I hissed in reaction.
“Ugh, my eyes!” Rose turned to Emmett. “Take me upstairs, now.” He hopped up and scooped her up just like Carlisle had Esme. “See, no mind control necessary,” she informed us smugly. Emmett just shot us a grin and raced upstairs.
Jasper let out a shaky sigh. “I guess it’s just one of those days. Shall we Alice?” She tittered and took his hand, skipping gracefully up the stairs as he jogged next to her.
Edward dropped my hand and started toying with the ends of my hair. “Maybe we should have a private demonstration of your power, at home?”
“I think that sounds like a good idea.”
He took my hand and led me out of the main house. We were in our bedroom seconds later. Edward released my hand and sat on the edge of the bed, folding his hands in his lap and looking for all the world like an eager pupil on his first day of school. I suddenly felt like a teacher about to seduce her student. Well, he was younger than me.
“Before I do anything, will you tell me what you and Jasper were silently talking about?”
The excitement slipped away from Edward’s face. “Nothing really.”
“Do you want me to make you tell me?” This was kind of fun, I could actually do that but I didn’t want to have to.
“No! He just thought about your power in the hands of Aro. He’s worried about him finding out.”
I sighed. “I know; we talked about it as well. I thought maybe we should move somewhere…”
Edward shook his head. “Demetri would find us. We’ll just hope he doesn’t find out and if he does, we’ll deal with it.” He patted the bed and I went and sat next to him. “Now, will you please take advantage of me?”
I plucked at the bed spread, feeling uneasy again. “Are you sure? I really don’t want to make you do anything you don’t want to.”
“Bella, is there anything that I don’t want to do with you?” I shook my head. “I want you to do this. Just think of it as you guiding me to do whatever you want. Believe me, if I had that power, I’d love to use it on you. Never without your consent, but wouldn’t you give it anyway?”
“Of course I would! I always want you, Edward.” He grinned at me expectantly. “Alright, I get it, you always want me too.”
“Yep, so get on with it!”
I gave myself a minute to try to recapture the excitement I’d been feeling anticipating this moment. Edward just watched me patiently, his golden eyes shining with love and desire. Seeing that brought on my own and I was ready. Take off your shirt. I watched ravenously as his fingers unhooked the buttons quickly and efficiently, revealing slivers of pale skin and taut muscles. I licked my lips as he shrugged the shirt off his shoulders.
Stand up. He immediately complied, unfolding from the bed. Kiss me. His lips moved over mine softly, almost reverently. Take off my clothes. He pulled up my t-shirt and unfastened my jeans, lowering them. I kicked them off and he stayed at my feet, waiting for his next command. I felt powerful but lonely in that moment. I knew he wanted this, wanted me, but I hated that his mind wasn’t really there.
Come back to me. He stood up and I pulled myself from his mind. He looked at me, confusion etched across his features. “What’s the matter?”
“It doesn’t feel like you’re really with me when I’m controlling you like that.”
He brushed my hair out of my eyes and kissed my nose. “Bella, I was completely with you in that moment. I wanted to do everything you were asking me to do.”
“But your face was blank, Edward, it didn’t feel like you. It was like you were my puppet.”
He smirked. “I prefer the term love slave.”
I laughed and shoved him, pushing him back down on the bed. “Are you sure about this?”
He pushed himself up on his elbows. “Bella, do you know how incredibly sexy it is, having you tell me just what to do? If you verbally asked me to I would, so why wouldn’t you mentally telling me to have the same affect? I am perfectly aware of what you’re doing and I love it. I love you. Please?”
Like I could resist my gorgeous husband asking me to let him make love to me. “Alright, you asked for it.” I climbed next to him on the bed. Take off your pants. He complied and I smiled when I saw he was wearing nothing underneath. “Ready for me, are you?” He didn’t need to answer; I saw the evidence right before me.
I lay next to him and Edward just watched me, waiting for my next demand. Kiss me again. His mouth found mine and I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy those skilled lips moving against mine. With tongue. His mouth opened and his tongue tangled with mine. Touch me. His hands moved up my arms, caressing me as he made his way up my body. Touch my breasts. His hands moved down my shoulders and he cupped a breast in each palm, rolling them gently in his hands and squeezing with the perfect amount of pressure. He was giving me exactly what I liked. Kiss my neck. He tore his lips from mine and traced a line down my neck and back up. It was getting very hard to concentrate to even bother giving orders. His hands and lips felt too good and I moved mindlessly against him.
Take off my underwear. His hands slid down my body and he moved my panties slowly down my legs. I whimpered at his touch. Kiss my stomach. His lips pressed to my tummy, around my bellybutton, against the ring, down near my hips. I moaned and pushed against him. Did I dare ask him to go where I really wanted him? Taste me. His tongue darted out against my hip bone. No, taste me here. I guided his face to my entrance and he went to work immediately, his tongue darting inside me. Find the key. I couldn’t even attempt to maintain control when he was feasting on me so I just lay back and let myself float with his ministrations, his tongue moving over me like lightning. My entire body felt like it was on fire as I came again and again. I cried out as Edward kept going, not stopping despite me finding my release. Stop. He complied immediately and I took a breath and let out a shaky laugh. Edward looked up at me, a wicked smile on his face.
“Come here,” I said it aloud and mentally. He moved up my body, the hard muscles of his chest brushing against me. Make love to me. His body aligned with mine and he slowly entered me. Kiss me. His lips captured mine as he began to move within me. Faster. He increased his pace and I moved my hips in rhythm with his. His eyes were open and staring into mine, the love I felt reflected right back at me despite my being in control in that moment. Faster. He picked up his pace and I matched it, feeling the pressure building in my body again. I wondered if…come with me. I tightened around him and his hips crashed against mine as he achieved his own release at the same time.
I wrapped my arms around him and Edward remained pressed against me. His head rested against my shoulder and I brushed my hands through his hair. “That was intense,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my neck.
“Yes it was.”
“In a way, it almost felt like I was finally reading your mind.” I bit back a grin, knowing that someday soon I hoped to let him do just that.
“It is pretty much the same thing.”
He grinned happily. “I liked it.”
I laughed. “So did I.”
He touched my cheek. “So no more worries about using your power on me.”
I bit my lip and shook my head. “Not in that context. But I promise I will never use it to change your mind or during a fight or anything.”
He kissed me. “I’m not worried about that at all, love.” I was. If I got mad and lost control, who knew what I could do? “But I do think you need more practice. Shall we try it again?”
I laughed and flipped him over. “I think that’s a very good idea.” Kiss me. His lips met mine again and I melted into him, ready and willing to order him around all night.
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