"Hey can vampires even get massages?" Maya asked one day. She was currently curled up on the floor with her back resting against the couch as she and Emmet played his favourite video game. She had been complaining about how it was unfair that vampires could play for hours without getting sore from sitting when the idea popped into her head.
Originally she had come over to hang out with Rosalie, but Bella's presence had eventually led to her and Edward snapping at each other. Carlisle had eventually put a stop to it, reluctantly reminding Rose that as this was Edward's home too, his girlfriend was welcome in the house. Which led to Rosalie storming out of the house to go hunt and Edward and Bella heading up to his room. So here Maya sat, playing video games with Emmet as she waited for Rosalie or Jasper, who had left earlier, to get back from hunting.
Emmet paused the game at her question and tilled his head to the side in thought. "Ya know Kitty, I don't actually know. Since we don't really get sore I don't think anyone has ever really tried."
"You wanna try now?" Maya asked grinning as she dropped her controller to the couch to wiggle her fingers at him.
Emmet grinned in response, his eyes sparking with a challenge, "Give it your best shot kitty."
~~~~~~~~~~
"She is driving me insane" Rosalie bitched, tossing away her finished meal as she did.
She had left to hunt and cool off after Carlisle had made it clear that Rosalie had to remain civil with the human. If only for the sake of the house that would doubtless be destroyed if a real fight broke out. Along the way she had run into Jasper and now the two were hunting together, Jasper listening as Rosalie vented her frustration and annoyance.
"You can't tell me that you actually like her, Jas. I mean come on, she treats Maya like trash and having her scent in our home must be annoying you too. Not to mention the whole issue with the Volturi."
Jasper sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Yes, he agreed with what his sister was saying, but typically he preferred to keep his opinions to himself, it was easier to stay out of the drama that way. "Her scent is becoming a little much" he conceded reluctantly, choosing to focus on the least drama-inducing part of his sister's arguments.
Rosalie snorted, "A little much? Please, her scent is almost as powerful as ours with how much time she spends over here hanging off Edward. I mean our house is supposed to be our safe spot, our place to escape to where we don't have to worry about the smell of humans tempting us and she just doesn't seem to get it! She barges into our home, into our lives, with no idea or care about how much harder she is making it for us! You especially!" Rosalie rounded on him and levelled her finger at his face. "I know you won't ever say anything because it goes against your Southern Gentleman code or whatever, but do you honestly think that we haven't noticed that you hunt twice as often as you used to? Its obvious that having the human and Edward, the idiot who thinks a blood singer is his mate, around is causing you issues! And that's before you take into account how her blood affects us and through your gift, you!"
Jasper let out a growl of annoyance. Its not that he was trying to hide it from his family, he just didn't need them worrying about him all the time. He also certainly did not need them mentioning it to Maya. Knowing her, she would try to help by suggesting that he not come over to her house so he wouldn't have to smell Bella around it. Which would be kind of her, especially given that he knew how much she loved having him around to cuddle with at night, but he was completely unwilling to give up his alone time with her.
"I'm handling it" he grumbled.
"But you shouldn't have to" Rosalie shot back, "Our home is supposed to be our sanctuary. Now Edward has gone and carelessly ruined it! At least tell me its been worth it Jas! That they are disgustingly in love and all that."
At the sight of Jasper's shocked face she scowled, "What? Just because I hate the human doesn't mean I don't want my brother of almost a century to be to be happy. Even when he is being an ass and putting us all in danger."
"I know that. You've just never shown much of an interest in how they actually felt about each other. I guess I just assumed you didn't care."
Her scowl deepened and she glared at him in accusation. "Of course I care if a member of my family is happy. But you're deflecting. Why are you deflecting?"
Jasper rubbed the back of neck and looked away. "Because I don't pick up that much love. Sure its there but its so mixed up with fascination, lust, and obsession its hard to pick out."
"Obsession?" Rosalie made a face of confusion as they turned to begin walking back.
"Yeah, its been there since pretty much the start. Maya and I had hoped it was part of the 'honeymoon phase' as Maya called it, but it hasn't gone away. Worse I'm beginning to think it has nothing to do with them as individuals."
"What?"
Jasper raked a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the words to explain it. "It's like ... Edward ... his peaks whenever the topic of not being able to read Bella's mind comes up. Like its not her as a person he's obsessed with, its that she has the ability to block his gift. I think he would feel the same if another person came along that could do it. And Bella ... well ... anytime the word 'eternity' comes up or how accomplished Edward is her obsession takes over. This is also when I pick up on the love most clearly from the two."
Rosalie snorted. "So basically, they're not in love with each other, but with certain aspects. Lovely, we've been risking ourselves so that these two can enjoy a very toxic and ultimately doomed relationship that will probably take all of us with them."
Jasper groaned but said nothing. They were now close enough to the house that anything they said would be overheard by those inside. He may secretly agree with what his sister had said and believe that those two in question really needed to seriously talk to each other but he was not putting himself in the middle of that drama.
As the two stepped into the yard they heard Emmet let out a moan. Glancing at each other in worry, they quickly sped inside worried they might have been attacked by whoever was in Bella's room.
The sight that greeted them however, stopped both of them in their tracks.
"What the fuck is going on?" Rosalie demanded. Jasper growling behind her. Neither would ever believe that their mates would cheat on them but that knowledge did not stop possessiveness from flaring up in both them at the sight before them.
Emmet was stretched out on the carpet, laying on his front without his shirt on while Maya straddled his waist, running her hands up and down his back. Her hair was falling forward over her shoulders and she looked, in Jasper's mind, very much like she did when she took charge in the bedroom. A sight only he should be allowed to see and experience.
"Babe, you have to try this" Emmet all but moaned, oblivious to the possessiveness pouring from the two. "I didn't even know vampires could get a massage but her hands are like magic."
Maya huffed a laugh as she pushed down on a knot in his back and began to work it out. "Not magic Em, muscle. It's taking a heck of a lot of strength to even budge yours."
Emmet sighed in contentment, allowing his eyes to slide closed again. "Well whatever it is, don't stop."
Jasper snarled and sped over. He grabbed Maya around the waist and lifted her off his brother. She looked up at him questioningly, but quickly grimaced at the look on his face. Mentally cursing, she quickly wrapped her arms around him. She should have guessed this would set off not only his possessiveness but Rosalie's as well.
Turning her head to look at the blonde who was possessively running her hands over her mate, Maya sent her an apologetic look. "Sorry guys, we got into a debate on if a massage would work on vampires or not and I guess we got a little carried away."
"Yeah sorry babe, Jas. She was just gonna do my shoulders but then it just kind of turned into a bet when she discovered how weak her arms really were." While he talked, Emmet shifted so he was seated cross legged on the carpet and pulled Rosalie down onto his lap so he could cuddle her.
Maya stuck her tongue out at him as he laughed at her.
"Bet?" Jasper questioned, arching an eyebrow as he looked down at her.
Maya blushed. "He bet that I couldn't do his whole back before my arms gave out."
"Ah, so of course you just had to prove him wrong" Jasper agreed sarcastically.
"Yep!"
Rosalie snorted. "you two really are no better than children."
"no kidding" Jasper agreed.
"Hey!" Emmet cried indignantly. "Could a child do what I did with you last night babe?"
As Rosalie grinned and opened her mouth the reply, Maya threw her hands over her ears. "Ack, TMI! I do not need that picture in my head!"
Jasper grimaced, "Agreed." He quickly picked her up and sped up the stairs to his room, the sound of his two siblings laughing following them the whole way.
As he set her down, she turned to look at him. "So, forgiven?"
He chuckled, "nothing to forgive Darlin'. Neither Rose nor I would ever actually believe that you two would cheat." He stepped forward to stroke her face with his hand, letting it trail down her face so he could gently grab her jaw. "But Darlin'? No more giving massages. Not until our bond has a chance to settle down some more, okay?"
Maya grinned, "not even to you?"
"Hm, you'll have to convince me of that one" he told her with a smirk.
"Oh Love, that sounds an awful lot like a challenge."
"And if it is?"
"Well you know just how much I hate to lose."
"Indeed I do" Jasper confirmed, pulling her into a kiss.