*Jasper's POV

  After Annabell woke up I helped her into the bathroom. With all the blood in her hair and on her clothes, she looked like she killed someone, rather than being injured herself, since her wound was a mere scar by now. She sat on the edge of the bathtub. Attempting to move her broken arm, she frowned. "Ow... Jay? Would you help me wash my hair, please?" It was obvious that even though she agreed to let me help, she didn't pn on askio help at all.

  "You are so stubborn." I shook my head slightly aaking off my shirt so it wouldn't get wet. "Of course I will. Please, try to take it easy until you fully recover, Ann. I don't want to see you like that again, my love..." My voiearly broke at the end. I couldn't get the image of her still body in a hospital bed from my mind. I didn't know what I'd do if she died.

  Reag for my hand, Aried to stand up, but was unsuccessful and I caught her before she'd fall. "Whoa... I'm sorry." She apologized aed her hands on my chest when I steadied her on her feet. Her hands were still not as warm as they should be. "I promise to take it easy. But-" Suddenly she cut off. She looked dazed. "Ummm..." I waited for a moment. She looked like she fot what she wao say.

  Decided to tease her a little bit. "I thought you were in a hurry." I said quietly, leaning down to her ear. I heard her heartbeat qui. She said Catelyn was ing soon. I thought, putting any more teasing aside for now. "We really do o get the blood out of your hair before someone sees you and starts asking questions." I admitted.

  "Yes." Agreed Annabell, and started pulling the bottom of her tank top up, revealing a particurly dark and big bruise on her side. She struggled with the fabric with one hand. I pced my hand over hers to stop her. "Umm, were you serious about throwing the bloody clothes away?" If that was the case, she didn't o suffer pulling it over her hurt arm.

  "I guess so. With the blood already dried up, it's no good anymore anyway." Replied Annabell, little fused. Since she was ok with it, careful to not hurt her, I tore the bloody piece of fabri two. "Oh." She gasped, shocked. Thearted to ugh. "You... could have... said something... first. You know?" Got Annabell out between fits of ughter. I couldn't help but smile. It was nice seeing her ugh after what went down today.

  "You're right. Sorry, Ann." I apologized, more of purplish bruises on her creamy skin that were hidden by her top before, just like I suspected. g my jaw I promised that psycho a sloainful death, when we find her.

  "It's alright." Reassured me Annabell while sitting down ohtub again.

  Aurhe water on and after cheg its temperature she o me, while leaning slightly backwards above the bathtub. I lowered the shower head on the wall and leaned over Annabell. ing my arm around her back, supp her I felt her tense. "Rex, Ann." I coaxed and she rested her back against my hand.

  "Hold onto me, angel." I told her and whe go of the edge of the bathtub to her arm around me, I slowly lowered her so her hair was uhe shower. Pushing aside the thoughts about the warmth of her exposed body, occasionally toug mine. I was making sure to hold her as gently as possible, to not cause her more pain.

  Slowly running my fihrough the dark, silky mahat was her hair to help water wash all the blood away, I tried to ignore how the heat ing from the beautiful body below me seemed to rise.

  "Are you alright, Ann?" I asked worried, hearing her breathi more and more irregur.

  "Mhmm." Was all I got in respo I felt her growing desire. I stopped moving for a moment, making sure my own was under trol.

  "Are you sure?" I asked, but couldn't hide the effect she had on me, which made my voice husky. Taking a deep breath she nodded.

  "There-There's a shampoo over there." Motioned Aowards a little table o the bathtub, where stood a white bottle with a picture of a red rose and its leaves were all around the bottle like vines. Reag for the bottle I actally pressed Annabell closer to me and she gasped.

  Thinking that I caused her pain, I wao apologize. "I'm sorry, love does it hr-" However, when I moved again with our bodies pressed so closely to each other, I felt a wave of pleasure from her. That feeling and the soft moan that escaped her lips, cut my question short.

  Embarrassed, Annabell bit her lip. "My love..." I whispered in her ear. Keeping her injuries in mind, I carefully repeated the movement that caused her to voice her pleasure. Luring another sweet moan from her. "Mmmm I 't get enough of your lovely voice." I quietly hummed. "There's o be embarrassed." I could listen to her divine sounds of pleasure for days.

  "Th-the blood..." Brought Annabell my attention back to the task at hand. "Catelyn should arrive soon. If she finds us like this and with my bloody top on the floor, she'll probably try to take you down with a pan thinking you're murdering me." She giggled.

  "Poor pan." I said attempting to souhetic to the pieetal that would most likely get a dent and we burst out ughing.

  Resuming the slow strokes of my fihrough her hair, this time with a shampoo, I felt Ao pletely rex. "Ann? Are you with me?" I asked softly, trying to wake her up after her hair erfectly . Using a puffy, sky blue spohat was hanging by the shower, I gently ed any traces of blood that were left on her faed shoulders before turning the water off.

  "Oh, I think I dozed off for a moment, didn't I?" She looked quite exhausted regardless. When I opened my mouth to ent on it, she burst out. "Oh my god, it's Monday!"

  "Yes, a is. Is something wrong?" I asked fused, unsure what was so important about Monday.

  "Yes! I fot my groceries!" Excimed Annabell. "Mrs. Johnson has them always ready for me on Monday." She expined, feeling quite happy. From what I had a ce to observe, people usually didn't care nor bothered to think about making the effort to help and make anything easier for Annabell. Which made me like this Mrs. Johnson already.

  Steadying Annabell on her feet, I started to dry her hair with a towel which was folded on a nearby shelf. "Don't worry, angel. I'll go get them for you." Then I heard Catelyn's car in the driveway. "Catelyn is just pulling in the driveway." I informed her, supp Annabell on the way back to her room. I carefully helped her put on a new shirt. It hid the splint quite well.

  "Thank you, I think I'm good. Go before Mrs. Johnson leaves to go home." She said impatiently.

  "I'll be right back." Kissing her forehead, I got on my way.

  *

  There was only one grocery shop in this small town so I didn't eveo ask whie beloo Mrs. Johnson. ing closer I saw her look around the street as if expeg someoheurhe lights off and was about to lock the door before leaving. "Please wait!" I called out, trying to not startle her as it was quickly getting dark.

  fused, she turned around to look at me. "Good evening ma'am. Are you Mrs. Johnson?" I asked, hopeful. She cautiously looked me over from head to toe before answering. I didn't find her rea strah the events ile making the News.

  Also sidering that people couldn't see my face around the town much. Holy, the only pce I spent time iown was school. "Yes, that's me. How I help you, young man?" I was certainly not young, crossed my mind as she watched me warily.

  "Yes, please. I was hoping I could get the groceries for Annabell Bck. She got hurt at school today and couldn't e to get them herself this time." The ced her hand over her heart, shocked.

  "Oh no. What happened? Is she alright?" She was holy ed, making me grateful to this dy in her fifties, if I could guess. For she was really one of few that seemed to care about Annabell.

  "She fell dowairs." I replied, g my jaw. It was safer to make people believe that it was an act thahem know someoried to kill her, when that someone was a vampire. "She has a few broken bones and will stay home for a while to recover." I informed her. Ily letting her know that I may be the one ing to pick the groceries up in her pce for some time.

  "Goodness! I was w why she didn't stop by on her way from school like always. Oh, wait here a moment." She said walking baside the shop. Few moments ter she walked out again, handing me a full paper bag. "Here you go, son. There's everything she asked for and some fresh fruit to help her recover." Smiling, she was about to turn back to the door when I pulled out money for the groceries. "No, no, that's ok. Tell Annabell I wish her a fast recovery, please." And she went to finally lock the door.

  "Bless you, have a nice evening ma'am." I wished her. Slipping the money in her pocket when she didn't look and then I took off, hurrying back to Annabell.

  *

  "Are you sure it's a good idea to let a guy into your house though? It may even be dangerous." I heard a woman's voice, when I got back to Annabell's house. Small yellow Toyota was still there so it must have been Catelyn. A guy in a house? Could it be Ann, told her about me? I couldn't help but wonder, ing closer.

  "Jasper is not just some guy." Retorted Annabell. She was a little angry and seemed to be defending me before Catelyn. "Jasper is the most g ale man I've met and I'm the most blessed girl in the world since he chose to spend his time with me. He makes me happy, just by being there." I could always feel her love but hearing her say those words made me absolutely ecstatic for I felt the same about her. "And I never felt more safe than by his side." That I was also happy about but I felt like I just kept on failing to protect her.

  Catelyn giggled and Annabell got embarrassed. "I see, I see. If that's the case, I am happy for you child." I heard Catelyn again. "I've noticed you are being more your cheerful self again tely. Now I know why. You are in love, my dear. Alright, I put you sagne in the fridge and the rest in the freezer like always. Is there anything else I do for you before I go? It's getting te and you look exhausted, child. Let me help you to your room." Offered Catelyn and I felt Annabell getting anxious.

  Apparently she didn't want Catelyn to go upstairs and I could guess that her bloody clothes were still there. Trying to figure out how best to hahis, I knocked on the front door.

  "Who could it be this te?" Asked Catelyn, worried.

  "Ummm, that would be Jasper..." Replied Annabell hesitantly. She must have been sure it's me. I was w if she was ok with me ing to her house officially for her to hesitate like that, but it was a little te to ge my mind. I could only imagine what would happen if Catelyn didn't find anyone on the porch after kno the door. Annabell's house was quite far from the town for something like that to be an i prank.

  So, I took a deep breath and waited for her to open the dood evening ma'am." I greeted politely with a smile when she did. "I'm Jasper Whitloieet you." I slightly bowed my head, not wanting to risk a handshake. She seemed suspicious of me enough as it was. Letting her feel how y skin is, would definitely not help.Catelyn itting image of what most human men found attractive. Long blond hair in a loose bun, blue eyes, slim waist and heavy chest. She was wearing bright red lipstick, quite provocative red blouse which was showing a lot of cleavage while her tight, tiger striped leggings looked a little too tight around her ass.

  "Hel-lo, there." She fluttered her obviously fake eyeshes. "What brings you here at this hour?" She asked, eyeiheuro Annabell, sitting i. "Child, you didn't tell me he was so good... ummm I mean-"

  "Pardon me ma'am." I could see Annabell struggling to stand up from the chair and hated that I had to move like a human. Interrupting the woman that couldn't be much over thirty years old, I slipped around her over-perfumed form into the house and swiftly walked straight to Annabell. Putting the paper bag o ter, I took Annabell's hand and supp her with my arm around her waist. I helped her stand.

  "Thank you." Annabell smiled at me tiredly. She was barely standing. If I didn't hold her, I had no doubt she'd fall.

  "Maybe we should have gotten a wheelchair from the hospital. I'll call Carli-" Annabell shook her head.

  "No, I don't need a wheelchair." Resolutely disagreed Annabell. Theuro Catelyn, who was awestruck, still standing by the opened door. "It's ok, auntie. Jasper ig up groceries for me since I couldn't. Don't worry, I'm fine now. As always, thank you for the food." She said and it was obvious she meant it as a goodbye, expeg the dy to leave.

  Annabell was sincerely grateful to this dy. She oher hand seemed somehow off to me. She seemed to care about the girl in my arms but something I couldn't put my finger on, bothered me about her. She finally recovered and closed her mouth. "Is there something else on your mind?" Asked Annabell slightly fused sihe woman still didn't move.

  "Errr... not really. Are you sure it's ok for me to leave you aloh... Jasper?" Catelyn asked, and I'd swear she looked me ain. Not cautiously like the shop owner did, which would make sense if she was truly asking out of for Annabell's safety. Catelyn's demeanor reminded me more of the girls at school, who were stabbing Annabell's back with their looks because they wao take her pce when she was with me.

  "Of course. Like I told you, I'm perfectly safe with Jasper." Said Annabell smiling, unaware. “There’s o worry, you go home. Thank you again." I didn't miss the ahat fshed across the dy's features before she smiled. Gently I pulled Annabell closer, kissing the top of her head. "I guess I'm more tired than I realized." Mumbled Annabell resting her head on my chest.

  I wasn't about to waste any more time with Catelyn. Annabell needed rest. Reag under her knees aly pig her up I started walking towards the staircase leading upstairs. Turning to look at the dy o time, her eyes were wide and she couldn't hide her jealousy anymore. "Annabell o rest now. Please, close the door when you leave."

  I stayed polite but I didn't smile at her anymore. I just kept on walking. It took until I reached the top of the stairs to hear her huff and walk out of the house, nearly smming the door behind herself.

  Annabell was asleep by the time I walked into her room. I quietly chuckled thinking about what she said about my arms being fortable. It must have been true, because she slept in my arms a lot and like she didn't seem to wao let go of her earlier, I didn't want to let go now.