1949, Prince Edward Island, Canada

[keptherwaiting]

The bathroom is filled with the steam of hot water, making the room appear to have a hazy glow.

Jasper actually fits in the tub for once, a luxuriously large tub for a luxurious hotel room, and Alice with him, leaning back against his chest, squeezed in between his legs.

They were on Prince Edward Island for the weekend and Alice had wanted something nicer than the roadside motels (or forested areas) just outside the populated areas that Jasper favored.

And who was he to deny her anything? Especially when it has been exactly a year since they met in Philly.

He kisses the top of her head, sighing softly, happily.

He wonders if she knows it’s been a year, and that’s the reason for the weekend and the room. He wonders if she knows that he knows?

Time’s a funny thing for vampires to keep track of, and neither of them have mentioned it yet.

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[betagainstme]

“They’re already gone,” she grins, letting her hands slide up to his neck, pressing herself against him.

“It’s just you and me in this hotel now—I’ve somehow poisoned everyone here while also never leaving your side.”

Alice kisses his chin, his cheek. “I’m magic like that.”

[keptherwaiting]

"I always knew there was somethin' special about you, darlin'."

His arms come up around her, holding her close, her body slippery against his in the water.

"My terrifyin' little murderess."

He captures her lips in a kiss, a slow slide of his lips against hers.

[betagainstme]

Alice laughs into his kiss, her grin wide and bright, even if he can’t see it.

She wraps her arms around his shoulders, slipping against his chest in the water.

“I love you,” she mumbles against his mouth. “So much.”

[keptherwaiting]

“I love you too,” Jasper replies, a murmur against her mouth. He sighs, happily.

This year with her has been such a sharp contrast to the rest of his vampiric life; she’s made him so happy.

He laughs suddenly, a soft noise, just thinking about it all. “Never thought I’d be in a bath, in an inn on some island in Canada, with my beautiful mate in my arms.”

[betagainstme]

It’s funny—she’s always known his life would end up like this. As soon as she woke up and saw him in that first vision.

Alice’s smile softens and she pulls back to look at her mate. Her mate. It doesn’t matter how many visions she saw, she’s so pleased they came true.

“I’m so glad you were the first thing I saw when I woke up. So I could make this happen, with you.”

[keptherwaiting]

“I’m glad you saw me and waited for me,” he says, meeting her gaze with a soft one of his own.

He unwraps his arms from around her to touch her face, to trace her delicate features, the corners of her smile.

“Sometimes I feel like I might be dreaming.”

[betagainstme]

“Me too,” Alice whispers, leaning into his touch. “Even if we can’t dream—sometimes I worry this is just a very long vision.”

She presses a kiss to his fingers. “But it’s not—it’s real. You’re here and I’m here and—“

She moves forward, kissing him again, pouring her love into him.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper sighs at the first press of her lips to his again, overwhelmed as always by the strength of her love for him matched only by his own for her, and then he’s kissing her back.

His hands cradle her face as he kisses her deeply, savoring the gentle slide of her mouth against his, the slow tangle of their tongues, the trading of nips to bottom lips.

Everything is perfect and right, as always whenever she’s in his arms.

[betagainstme]

After a long moment, she pulls back, albeit reluctantly. Her eyes are closed and she stays close, leaning into his hands once more. "Our first anniversary," Alice sighs, happily. "I hear most humans celebrate theirs with dinners and drinks. I prefer our setup."

Warm, safe, cradled in his hands and in this giant bathtub. She giggles softly, opening her eyes to smile at him again. "I can't believe we finally found a tub you can absolutely fit in. If I were in here by myself, I'd get lost, I think."

[keptherwaiting]

“Just fit.”

His long legs just make it, if he bends his knees slightly.

He doesn’t care, though. He likes being crowded in the tub with her pressed against him.

He kisses her nose, her forehead.

“I’d rescue you if you got lost in its soapy depths.”

[betagainstme]

"My hero," Alice murmurs, stroking her thumb along his neck. She's still smiling, a dreamy curl of her lips as she looks at him.

"So--I got you a present. Well, a couple, depending on if you want to see the next set of lingerie Delly sent last week, but that's not the actual present."

She fiddles with the ends of his hair, chewing on her lip. "It'll have to wait 'til we're out of the tub, don't wanna get it ruined."

[keptherwaiting]

“You’re always buying me stuff,” he says, giving her a crooked half smile.

“You don’t have to be buying me nice things to keep me. I’m already yours.”

And if this is about the passing of a year -

Well. He hadn’t thought to get her anything, and instantly feels bad for not thinking of it.

He should’ve gotten her something.

He doesn’t know what, but something.

[betagainstme]

"No," Alice answers something he hasn't said yet, may never say, but she sees the variations of conversations before they're ever said, anyway. "You don't have to get me anything--you are gift enough."

She kisses the corner of that crooked smile. "Sometimes I just see things and think you'd like them. And so I get them, and that's that. It just happened to coincide with our one year together--I would have bought it regardless.

"C'mere," Alice tugs on his shoulder, leaning in to kiss him again.

[keptherwaiting]

“You’re answerin’ questions out of time again, darlin’,” he teases, leaning in to meet her for another kiss, quick and sweet.

He doesn’t mind when she does, though. It’s just part of her, and he loves every part of her.

“You’re the only gift I need too. Though I generally like those packages from Delly too.”

They’re usually a lot of fun.

[betagainstme]

"Let's get out," Alice murmurs, pushing her wet fingers through his hair, curling the strands behind his ear. "Let me give you my present, then I can show you the latest gift from Delly, too."

She kisses him again, a soft press of her lips against his, lingering for a moment before pushing up and out of the bathwater, the loss of the water's heat making her shiver a little as she moves to grab one of the large, fluffy towels off the rack.

Wrapping it around her chest, she steps out of the tub carefully, reaching for the other towel and shaking it out, holding it open for Jasper to take when he stands.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper takes a moment to admire her before she covers herself with a towel. She is so beautiful and he knows he thinks and tells her so all the time but it’s true. He can feel his heart come to life just at the sight of her.

He climbs out of the tub after her, slipping the offered towel around his waist, before he’s scooping her up and off her feet.

“I love you,” he murmurs, carrying her into the adjoining bedroom even though she‘s more than capable of walking there herself.

[betagainstme]

She tangles her fingers in the ends of his hair, grinning broadly at him. Snuggling close, Alice presses kisses against his cheek, jaw, the line of his neck.

"I love you, too," she whispers against his skin, her fingers combing through his hair. "I love you so much."

[keptherwaiting]

"What were we doin'?"

Because Jasper's plans have suddenly morphed into placing her on the bed and covering her with his body as he kisses her deeply.

[betagainstme]

"Your present--" Alice's words get swallowed by his kiss, choked off by his body covering hers.

Her hands cup his face, thumbs smoothing over his cheeks as she kisses him back. "You are--" she pants against his lips, "--incorrigible."

She's well aware of the hypocrisy in her words.

[keptherwaiting]

"You're a present," he murmurs, trailing his lips down to her chin and nipping at her jaw. "And I want to unwrap you."

[betagainstme]

"There's nothing to unwrap like this," she giggles, pressing her head back into the bed, giving him more room to work.

It's true--the towel is barely wrapped around her anymore, and her fingers slide down his sides until they reach the towel at his waist, fiddling with the edge of it, slipping her fingers just under.

"I love you."

[keptherwaiting]

”Means I just get to enjoy my present all the sooner.”

As he sits back with a smirk to peel away the towel and reveal her naked body. His own gets tugged off and thrown to the side before he bends to press a kiss to her chest, just above her heart.

“And I love you too,” he adds, and he kisses her chest, again and again, just a brief press of lips to her skin.

[betagainstme]

She shivers again, under his lips, the tingling up her spine more from him than any chill in the air. Her hands roam, sliding down his arms, across his shoulders and into his hair.

Back down his neck, his back, desperately needing to feel him under her hands. She wants to roll them, to kiss him, to be able to touch him more. She wants to stay here, with his weight pressed against her. She wants, and she wants.

His name is a whisper as Alice shifts under him, her hands trailing back into his hair, restless and wanting.

[keptherwaiting]

“So restless,” Jasper laughs, and he kisses his way down to her breasts, tracing her curves of her with his mouth.

Her hands are everywhere, pulling at him, insistent. He loves it, and he loves to tease her too.

“‘M tryin’ to enjoy my gift here.”

[betagainstme]

"But I want to touch you--" Alice whines, hips shifting, pressing up against his. "Kiss you. You're too far away."

She wraps her legs around his waist, ankles crossing at the small of his back, arching herself upward, meeting his mouth with her skin.

It's not enough. She wants to reach him, kiss and touch.