𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃

V | "If not for him, then for me."

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MARGEAUX WAS RELIEVED WHEN THE HOTEL ROOM DOOR FINALLY OPENED. What revealed itself; however, was not what she was expecting. She abruptly stood to her feet, fumbling only for a millisecond before staring aghast at the most beautiful man she had ever seen in her immortal life.

He was naturally handsome. With bright golden eyes like melted honey. Matching warm tresses which fell to the top of his shoulders in rustled curls. A unintentional twist in the set of his Cupid bow lips, so when they purse, a smirk appears. Then, it was his lean muscular build. Tall and solid, his stance more than ever was confident and sure. Like a drill Sargent giving his shouting command.

He commanded a room with a simple look and she'd never been intimated like this before.

However, what really made him the most remarkable sight she'd laid her eyes upon, was his scars. Her enhanced, blue eyes could make out every scrap and slice of vampire teeth in his marble flesh. They littered every place his arm was visible, climbing up to the crooks of his neck. It was frightening, traumatizing and mesmerizing all at the same time.

She wanted to trace each indent with the tip of her finger. Memorize the texture of everyone of those stinging, venomous bites.

He was a warrior. And as someone who often failed in life at fighting her own battles, she was highly attracted to him.

Yet, that wasn't just it either. There was something magnetizing about him that drew her in. Like a thrice bound cord was wrapped around her heart and tethered to his center. It was wild and unrelenting -- her heart's reaction to him. It beat ferociously, causing a lightheaded sensation to wash over her supernatural senses.

The world spun dizzily off its axis and she was soaring through space and time just looking at him in the eye. She once thought comfortability made someone a mate to another, that settling was what forged a bond. Like she and Edward. Like Caius and his wife. Like all other mates she had witnessed in her long lifetime. But she had never been more wrong.

This man here. This recklessly devastating strong tower of a man was her mate. And she only had to take one glance at him to know for certain. That shit of a racing heart in her chest wasn't slowing down any time soon. Denial wasn't an option for Margeaux Bellerose.

"Good evenin'," Was the first thing he said to her. A low, timber voice that sounded like brandy being poured over ice in front of a fireplace. Hilariously, Marge could hear the nonexistent saxophone playing through the room like a theme song.

Who she actually expected to see come through the door, did. Isabella Swan peeked out from behind her body guard, she assumed, and shyly cringed in the form of a smile at Marge. The poor girl was shaking like a leaf, but Marge knew she had good reason to be nervous or scared. Not but a few hours ago, she was threatening her self-control.

Truthfully, Margeaux fought to keep her eyes on the human girl. She felt like she was set up. On comedic television for the world to see the great Margeaux Bellerose choke on her damn tongue.

Sliding her hands down her dress, she suddenly felt naked under his gaze. On display like a clothing shop manikin being stripped and changed during open store hours. "I see you brought reinforcements. Smart, but I won't touch you."

"The uh, no I --"

Jasper, briefly tapped Isabella on the hand to stop her stuttering. Bella's face went from uptight to mellowed in a matter of four seconds. Marge glanced between the two and wondered if that was his doing or if they had a close relationship.

"I'm more here for Bella than you." He drawled with a southern twang. his eyes searching down the length of her body like Marge was holding a world-ending grenade in her hands. Either that, or he found something utterly fascinated about her frame.

She squinted, stretching her closed mouth into a smile. "Yes, and who are you exactly?"

"Jasper Whitlock, ma'am." He held out a roughly scarred hand. And when she met his in the middle, Margeaux was caught off guard when he flipped it over and placed a chaste kiss to the back of it. Her stomach exploded with an array of vibrant colors, making her warm all over.

Slightly breathless, she muttered, "Pleasure." Feeling her cheeks heat, she exhaled in exasperation. "Right, let us continuons; Carry-on. Sit down. I've deduced you like to be called Bella? Italian?"

The three of them found seats around the glass table. Jasper being restrained and tense than the women. Marge was far more relaxed despite her sudden attraction to the man in the room. She was used to faking her internal meltdowns.

Bella maybe not so much. She fidgeted in her seat, picking at the long sleeves of her shirt. "Uh, Phoenix, Arizona actually."

"Mhm," Marge hummed with vague interest before cutting to the chase. "I'm going to be frank and I hope you will do the same. In order to make you more forthcoming with information, how about I allow you one question for me?"

She was being generous because she could've threatened the information out of her. However, Margeaux decided to be uncharastically gentle. She hoped it would get more authentic information out of her this way.

Margeaux waited for Bella to think of one, trying to look anywhere but Jasper Whitlock. It felt like an eternity when the Swan finally parted her lips with some confidence. "... So – Who, no... How do you and Edward know – each other?"

The hybrid was expecting something more challenging to explain, but she supposed Bella was testing the waters. Seeing if Marge was really a woman of her word. She sighed just thinking about him. A twinge of saddness slithering into her heart for the good times. When she was rebelling her father's wishes and do what she wanted when she wanted to.

It was when she really got to know the parameters of her gift.

A bitter taste presented itself on her tongue. "We were l' amateur. Friends with benefits as you Westerners say. It went on for three years... well, until he left." She paused, furrowing her brows. "I'll let Edward tell you the details of our – entanglement."

"When was this?" Bella looked troubled, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. Or maybe she was intimidated, saddened, annoyed. The brunette was very hard to read. Perhaps that is why Edward enjoyed her company so much.

Whereas Margeaux thought she was replacable and predictable. Isabella Swan was a never ending story. A fucking mystery box waiting to be opened with a new surprise every sunrise.

The Bellerose tutted, "Ah. I said only one."

"The subject is the same," She added.

Smirking with mirth, Margeaux allowed it. "Touché, 1932." Abruptly, she stood to her heeled feet and blushed when Jasper mirrored her movements in the following second. She felt the need to explain herself, "I need a drink if we're going to stroll down memory lane."

"I'll pour you one," Jasper was incredibly intense. He was already walking towards the kichenette to prepare it before she could object.

"I can very well make my own drink." Margeaux protested as he smoothly walked to her side, glass in hand.

The drink wasn't as appetizing as he. Shoulders squared, lips smirked to hide his distress, eyes smoldering. "Looks like you'll have to find another way to procrastinate. There you are."

"Thank you," She bit out with a narrow of her eyes.

Their hands brushed as she took the glass. An electric current so strong, she was worried they fried every breaker in the building. His skin was sensationally cool, caressing her soft skin like a tender kiss. The fact that he called her out wasn't lost on her, but she didn't have the strength to care when he was standing so close.

He smelt divine. Warm and smoky like a campfire in the middle of the woods. Hints of embers and fresh pine touched her nose and left her reeling. It was all but unconsciously that she adjusted her stance a little closer.

When she realized, she went back to her seat. Albeit taken off guard when he pulled it out for her. His large hand sliding down her velvet clad back while the other touched the back of the chair. She gathered quickly that he was a gentleman. Stuck in his old ways. Not that she minded. The phantom heat of his hand still stung against her spine, making her self-conscious of the area.

She needed to breathe. Otherwise, she would combust.

From then on, Margeaux decided to ignore Jasper altogether. Because he had moved his seat to the one right beside her. His interest focused on her and Bella's face. Her once professional interaction with the culprit, was now becoming harder and harder to maintain.

Nevertheless, Isabella recalled every senquence of events since Edward left Forks, Washington. From being found in the woods, to free falling from cliffs. It was probably the most elaborate, dramatic story she had ever heard. And she didn't give a flying fuck because a obscenely handsome man was staring into the side of her face, head in hand.

When she was done, the room descended into silence. Margeaux filed away the unnecessary amount of information in her head and sighed long and exasperated. A subtle frown gracing her olive features.

"What happened... how can I say this? Was unfortunate and, woman to woman, I would persuade you to leave him." Bella looked to protest but Margeaux raised a singular hand. "But, I know I am biased and my efforts would be in vain. Additionally, it is far too late for you, little lamb."

Wetting her bottom lip, she swirled her alcoholic glass before setting it aside with finality. "We are finished here. I will take your informations into account."

A staleness cultivated the air where neither moved from their place. Jasper glanced between the two woman and cleared his throat, gestering to Bella with a tilt of his chin. "Bella, give us a moment, please."

The human girl warily observed the two before clumsily standing to her feet. Her chair scraped noisely as she moved and walked out the front door with a more dazed expression that she'd admit.

As soon as she was gone, Margeaux made the effort to stand, but she was blocked in by Jasper's chair. Her knee was now touching his own, sending her head first down a rabbits hole of afflictions.

"Are you trying to run?" He chuckled a light hearted sound and she forced herself not to pout in annoyance.

"What do you want to speak about? The attraction? The connection? I'll save you some time and tell you it's not possible."

His expression turned serious, an arch in his brow to wanted to trace just as much as his scars. He leant against the table with his elbow, watching her. "And why is that?"

"Because I plan on killing your coven brother and his mate." She scoffed, humorlessly. "I don't think you'd be so willing to be with me when the entirety of your coven despises everything I stand for."

"And what do you stand for?" Jasper laid his arm back down and stole a few inches by his passion alone. Margeaux felt cornered. At any moment, she could've forced him to stop or stand still. Taken over his mind and make him walk out of here without looking back. Maybe forget all about her. But she didn't move a muscle.

Her heart beat faster as he neared, their legs intertwining now. The skirt of her black dress inched upwards. He paused just short of fore arm length. Close enough to touch, but far enough so she could think for herself.

"The thing is, Margeaux, we don't know each other at all. For me, that's a problem." The way he said her name, like spreading butter over bread. Or taking your first dip in a hot bath. Feeling silk sheets against your bare skin. It was all too much.

Margeaux struggled to meet his gaze but she swallowed her pride and lifted her blue eyes to his. The golden heavens versus the deep oceans. She had never felt so overwhelmingly herself in a long time. This was a presidented moment in time. The moment she got her breathe back. "Because I want to know... all about you."

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Written Unedited 29 November. 2021

Is it hot in here orrr?? Trust me, it was different writing Jasper with Margeaux than it was writing Hannah with Jasper (Time's Temptress) because Han is more... polite? Marge is more blunt so she needs a straight forward counterpart.

Let me know what you thought of their first meeting! Comment, Vote! Xx