A/N:
Dearest readers, I feel it's time you get to know the real me. I've been living a lie for so long, and I can't do it anymore. I've updated my profile to reflect the real me. Please, read it and understand a little more about this 7-11 lovin' gal.
RobotMoose- You rock my world. Thanks for not hating me after everything you've learned. Thanks for writing this with me. Your'e the shiznit.
MamaboMama- Thanks for betaing.
Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the other crap her marketing and PR suits tell her to own.
Alice strolled through the racks of bright, colorful comic books in the Comics and Collectibles shop. She had a strange and unusual love for comic books and graphic novels. It was a love she had picked up from her father. When she was little, she would sit in his lap, and he would read them to her. Alice was always fascinated by the colorful pictures and drawings.
Thus far, this was the one secret she'd been able to keep from Rose and Bella. If they ever found out about her obsession with comic books, she would never hear the end of it.
With her head in the clouds, she briefly glanced around, scanning the store for anything that stuck out. Not seeing anything in the immediate vicinity, she walked over by the front counter where the owner kept his new stock and favorite merchandise.
Scanning the rack in front of her, she spotted it, her heart jumping for joy as she reached out and picked up the book. It was the Amazing Spider-man, 1964, 1st Series, eighteenth edition. She was elated. As she turned to her right to ask the cashier to unlock the book box so she could get a better look, she heard a slightly familiar voice behind her.
"You're not really going to get that, now are ya, darlin'? I didn't peg you for the comic book type."
It was that sweet southern drawl she had been introduced to several weeks back when her friend Bella had called her to the bar for an emergency visit. And rightly so, Bella and her sub-contractor Edward had been at each other's throats at work, and in more ways than one. It seemed that there was an abundance of sexual tension between the two, but they couldn't get past their dislike of each other to come to terms with what we all knew. They were meant to be together. The problem was, they were completely alike, and neither wanted to back down.
Alice smiled a small smile to herself before turning around to speak to the only man in the last year that had been able to make her heart flutter just by speaking. Not that she was giving into him. Technically, he was still the enemy, he thought way too highly of himself for Alice's taste, but still, it never hurt to wonder.
"As a matter a fact, I do believe I am. And before you ask, yes it's for me, no I don't look like a comic book freak, and no, I'm not an amateur."
A dazzling smile played upon Jasper's face as Alice spoke. He loved her spunk, and she was always surprising him. He laughed, "I would never presume otherwise. I'll bet you know exactly what you're doing. You know, we should get together and talk shop sometime. Did you know they had number forty-three in here last week? I read it first thing. If I had known we shared the same interests..."
"Interest." Alice spoke.
"What?" Jasper sounded confused.
"I said interest. As in singular. As in one. We share an interest, and thanks, but no thanks on the invite. I'm not interested in talking shop." The look on Jasper's face was comical. You would think he had never been turned down before, and he expected his southern charm to just lull her away. Not likely, she thought.
She was right. Jasper wasn't used to being turned down. And in that one conversation, the gauntlet had been thrown. She was a challenge, and one he wanted to win. Never one to let anyone get the last word, Jasper continued before she could turn around.
"So, what exactly is it that you find so intriguing about this series?"
"Are you serious?" Alice said incredulously. "Stan Lee and Steve Ditko are masters at their craft! The Amazing Spider-man is art; it is imagination made incarnate. It is literally comic book magic." Alice huffed out like anyone would dare to ask her such a question.
Mirth covered Jasper's features. He suddenly loved getting this tiny woman all worked up. It gave her animated features even more of an edge. Her small, angular face revealed lovely pink cheeks and round almond shaped eyes. There was a light spray of freckles across the bridge of her pert nose. And her mouth, turned in a frown, was shining from the gloss she had applied. Her hair was shoulder length and dark black; it made her eyes darker and added and air of mystery to her personality. Oh yes, Jasper wanted more.
"I never doubted you, merely found it intriguing. It's not everyday you find a woman, such as yourself, into the finer art of comics and graphic novels. I just wondered-"
"A woman such as myself?" Alice said, surprised yet again at the words coming from this man's mouth. "You know what? You're getting me all worked up, and I was having such a great day. So, before it get's any worse, I'm going to get my book and leave. Now, if you'll excuse me, Jasper." Alice turned back to the cashier and asked to have the book unlocked so she could purchase it. Jasper stood behind her, grinning from ear to ear. He liked this woman. He really liked this woman.
Just as Alice thought she had escaped, she felt warmth on her ear. "Darlin', I love getting you all worked up." He paused before continuing, "Please, tell Bella I said howdy." Jasper backed away and left the shop with a smile wide as the span from Seattle to Dallas across his face. It was going to be a great day. The only good days were the ones where he got to see Alice.
xXXx
"What do you mean you ran into him? Just out shopping or something?" Rose asked, curious as to why Jasper would show up at a women's clothing store.
Alice sighed a wistful sigh. "Yeah, I was just browsing in the stores, and he showed up. I was doing okay with it until the end, when he stood behind me and whispered naughty things in my ear. I had to run out and buy new underwear after that."
"He was following you? Do you think he's figured out what happened with you two after the bar?"
"I really don't know, Rose. I mean, I left him in his apartment with all his clothes laying next to him on his bed. The only hint I gave was the matchbook from the bar; I left it on his nightstand. I don't think that actually says anything about us having sex."
"Having sex? Is that what you're calling it these days? Because the very next morning you couldn't quit screaming at me about 'The best orgasm ever!'"
"I know. Believe me, I remember it well. I just can't think of it that way if I'm going to make him work for it, you know? Just him whispering in my ear did me in. Could you imagine if he actually knew what he did to me? Good God, woman, I'd be a pile of goo!"
xXXx
"I'm telling you, absolutely nothing has worked. I've tried being sweet and silly and flirty and all that crap girls like. I've used my best Texas twang and did the ma'ams and darlin's and everything. Nothing's worked. What the hell happened?" Jasper sat down on a rock at the edge of the jobsite. He really wanted to bend Edward's ear on the subject, but Edward was always cooped up in the site trailer doing, what referred to as, 'the hard work'. Jasper and Emmett had been picking up the slack on the construction ever since the first week.
Emmett laughed. "Have you tried a polo shirt? It seems to work for me."
Jasper shot off the rock, pissed that one of his best friends couldn't understand. Alice wasn't like any other girl. He'd met her at the bar, remembered laughing and flirting with her all night long. Then he remembered waking up with a headache from hell. And ever since that morning, he couldn't get her out of his mind. He'd tried everything. He went back out to the bars the next weekend to see if he could find another woman. But thirty minutes into his bar trolling, he lost interest. None of the girls in the bar did anything for him, regardless of how scantily clad they were. It's as if Alice had wormed her way into his thoughts and refused to leave. "Damn it, Emmett! I'd probably get more help if I talked to the lead for the plumbing company. Jason, or whatever his name is."
Emmett didn't budge, but did call after Jasper's retreating form, "Jacob? He's not going to be any help with you getting your girl. He's a downright dirty dog!"
Jasper didn't care. He needed to hear a voice of reason. He needed someone to give him some idea of how to get Alice or how to get her out of his mind. Feeling lost, he walked into the site trailer and started ranting. It wasn't until the sounds in the trailer went totally silent and the air started to reek of tension that Jasper finally looked up; immediately, he felt stupid. Standing against the wall was an obviously flustered Bella. Jasper didn't notice the skewed clothes or mussed hair. All he saw was the horrified look on her face. He assumed it was because of the things he'd just said about her good friend and business partner.
Jasper then looked across the trailer. Directly across from Bella was Edward, equally as flustered. His hair was as wild as ever, and his clothes were askew. What Jasper noticed above all else, though, was that Edward seemed plastered to the wall, as if an imaginary force were holding him there. Jasper felt bad, like he was interrupting some sort of fight between the two. It seemed all they did anymore was fight with one another.
"I'm... I'm so sorry. I'll... um... I'll just leave you two. You can get back to... um... arguing." Jasper started to walk out.
Edward spoke up, still held against the wall. "No, Jasper. That's alright. The moment for arguing is kind of over now. Don't worry about it." He straightened his clothes and motioned to Bella to do the same. "What can I help you with?"
"Nevermind. I'm sure it'll figure itself out in time, I guess." Jasper hung his head, feeling stupid for letting something like this get to him.
Edward nodded his head, accepting Jasper's dismissal. Bella wasn't so convinced. "Jasper? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Two sets of masculine eyes widened almost comically. "You're willing to help me out, Bella? But she's your friend. Isn't that like a conflict of interest or something?"
"Well, I'll make you a deal. You help me get Aro and his electrical crew to respect me and my company, and I'll help you get the girl, if I can. And if I can't, then I'll help you find someone else." It seemed like a fair deal to Bella. She'd easily won over the young plumbing crew, but the older, stodgier men of Volturi Electrical were a harder sell. She thought Edward was the hardest, meanest, rudest man she'd ever met, but Aro trumped him. Aro seemed to have a certain respect for business owners, as he felt that was the pinnacle of success. Yet Bella owning Three B.A.R. Construction with her friends didn't count in his book. Why he ever agreed to the job in the first place, she'd never know.
"I'm not sure how to get that ass to respect you, but I do promise to try my hardest. Either get me the girl or get me to not care about her, okay?"
Bella walked over and shook his hand. No words were exchanged, just a simple agreement amongst... friends?
xXXx
Angela, Three B.A.R.'s receptionist, always drew straws to figure out who would do which site inspection every week. She prided herself on always choosing the assignments at random, as no one site was any easier than any other site. It was the easiest and fairest way she could ensure the sites were properly evaluated. If an inspector always visited the same site, she could easily form a bond with the crew and, even innocently, overlook safety infractions. By keeping the ladies on their toes, they tend to look at a site with fresh eyes.
Today, Angela didn't pride herself on her fairness. Today, she prided herself as a shrewd businesswoman. Patting the newly acquired hundred dollar bill in her back pocket, she called in the last assignment.
"Alice? You ready for your safety inspection assignment?"
"Sure, where do you want me this week?"
"This week you've got the Cullen House. Bella's site." Angela paused long enough to hear Alice drop the phone and scream. "Alice? Alice? ALICE! Pick up that phone right now and be a professional about this!"
She sighed into the phone. "Fine. I'll be a professional. Give me the details."
"No non-conformances reported last week. Since then, two new subs have shown. Both companies have been in the business a long time and have likely become lax on the minor regulations. Keep an eye out for those." It was the same spiel she gave week after week.
"You're sure it's me who's supposed to do the Cullen house? Are you sure Rose isn't supposed to do it this week?" Alice pled with everything she had.
Picturing the new shoes she was going to buy after work, Angela smiled. "Yes, I'm sure you're assigned to the Cullen House this week. Remember to get your report in by Friday morning."
xXXx
"Gentlemen, your company has signed a contract that outlines our practice of random safety inspections. My business associates will be stopping by to assess this site. I'd like to remind you that your company may be fined for every infraction. So, keep up the good work, make sure you stick to your schedules, and safety first." Bella would have liked to have walked away after her mid-week pep talk. Until the crew respected her, the talks were always awkward. She waited for question, comments, or concerns. As usual, there were none from the new crews. Edward's crew knew her well enough to approach her whenever necessary, so they, too, were silent.
She wandered away to the usual mumblings; "Who the hell is this broad?" "She doesn't want to get behind, but I sure do." "Who did she fuck to become project manager?" "Why does her daddy let her out of the office?"
All of that was normal. What shocked her most was the deep baritone of Edward's voice. "Listen up, idiots. That woman owns the company. She means business. So don't fuck around with her. The more you fuck with her, the more I have to deal with her bitchy attitude, and I can't stand that side of her." She smiled to herself.
xXXx
Alice pulled up to the jobsite, fully capable of completing the inspection, but unable to actually get herself out of the truck. She shielded her eyes from the site, cautious of seeing the one man that could undo her resolve. Taking a deep breath and grabbing her clipboard and hard hat, she exited the truck, slamming the door unintentionally. Cringing internally, she looked over at the jobsite to see all eyes on her. Nodding to the men as she walked forward, she saw the one face that she was hoping to avoid, and locked eyes. Jasper... There was no mistaking what she saw in his eyes. He knows...just keep walking Ali, act like everything's normal. You don't know that for sure. Giving Jasper a brief nod, she continued forward and made a sharp turn to the left, entering the site trailer, closing the door and leaning up against the back of it, relief pouring through her now that she was out of the line of sight.
Glancing around the office, Alice groaned internally. Sitting at his desk, staring at her with an amused expression, was a third of the trio that started this mess; Edward. Bella looked up from the paperwork she was doing, a small smile spreading across her face. Masking her features, Alice stood up straight, walking to the front of Bella's desk and sat down. Turning her head to Edward she opened her mouth and spoke, in what she hoped was a professional voice.
"Edward, how are you?"
Refraining from laughing, but unable to hide his smirk, Edward replied. "Alice, I'm doing fine. It's good to see you again."
"Glad to hear it. Would you mind giving Bella and I a few minutes? I'd like to go over some site details with her." Her look was blank, but her eyes were panicked. Edward, feeling the need to push, smiled, stood up, walked to Bella's desk and sat on the edge, crossing his arms.
"Oh, come on, Alice, anything you say to Bella, you can say in front of me. We're all partners here, right?" A wry smile covered his face.
Lifting her foot behind Edward, Bella gave him a quick shove off the desk, making him stumble forward. "No, we're not partners. I'm the boss. Get over it already. Now get lost for a few and stop giving Alice a hard time." Raising her brows, Bella glared at him.
"Okay, okay... I'm going!" Grabbing his hardhat from the table beside the door, Edward exited the trailer, laughing as he shut the door behind him.
Bella watched Edward walk out the door, eyes glued to his ass. Alice grew frustrated with Bella's game. "Oh come on, Bella! Can't you at least try to hide it, if you not going to admit what's going on?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about, Alice." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"You two have been at each other's throats for a while. And that can't be the only body part you two have been at. You think we haven't figured it out? Well, we have. You may as well just admit it and stop hiding from everyone. We all know you both want each other, even if you act like you hate each other."
"I'm sure that's not what you came here to say." Bella looked down at her paperwork and signed the bottom of the page, dismissing the subject.
Forgetting for a moment about Bella and Edward, Alice took a deep breath, words flying out of her mouth. "Angela called me this morning about the safety inspection assignment and told me I pulled the Cullen House straw, and he's out there Bella, and I don't know if I can do it with out falling all over myself. You have to tell me what to do!" By the time Alice was finished with her tirade, her hard hat was on the floor, her hands were in her hair, and her breath was short from rushing all her words out.
Standing up and moving around the desk, Bella knelt in front of Alice, pulling her hands from her hair. "Alice, calm down. Look at me!" Biting her lip, she slowly looked down at Bella, eyes still wide and wary.
Whispering, "Bella, I can't go out there; I just can't. He knows. I know he knows."
Giving Alice's hands a gentle squeeze, Bella smiled softly, speaking in a soothing voice. "Alice, honey, why do you think he knows? And why are you in such a panic about this man? You had a great night together, he doesn't remember a thing, and he's obviously attracted to you anyway, or he never would have confronted you in the boutique. Just take a deep breath, pull up your big girl pants and go out there. Don't let him see you sweat. Go take control."
With tentative movements, she grabbed her hardhat and clipboard from Edward's desk. Her first few steps onto the jobsite were filled with terror. She couldn't face him. She couldn't see him all sweaty and in his element. It would do her in like nothing before. And no matter what, she couldn't allow herself to feel anything for this man. He's a chauvinistic, self-centered, egotistical bastard. Sure, he knew his way around her body, but no doubt from too many years of practice with anything with a pulse. He was all wrong for her, and she knew it.
She'd always wanted a wonderful man who cared about somebody other than himself. A man that was kind to others, even when no one was looking. A man that was the exact opposite of Jasper.
But she had an inspection to conduct. Any small misstep on a jobsite can result in high insurance bills, lost work days, law suits or even death. Most employers never wanted that for any of their employees. They definitely didn't want to tear them away from their families prematurely.
Alice concentrated hard on seeing the jobsite and not the individual workers. If she could take the personal aspect out of the equation, she could inspect the site like any other. And she did.
At the watercooler, Jasper watched Alice walk around the site. She looked at everything, never missing a detail. And she must have known her regulations, because she looked for the little things that OSHA would notice, but most others would miss. She looked amazing with her hardhat, work boots, and work clothes. Her jeans hugged her curves just right. Her plain t-shirt followed every curve of her tight, little body. The flannel plaid shirt tied around her waist hugged her ass just right.
When Jasper noticed Jacob, the plumbing sub, staring at her as she walked away, he saw red. Jacob was almost in a full drool. Jasper had no claims on Alice, but there was no way in hell Jacob was going to ogle her that way. Trying to get his attention, Jasper elbowed Jacob in the ribs. Jacob grunted, but didn't take his eyes off Alice's retreating form. Without thinking, Jasper picked up the smallest orange Igloo water cooler and dumped it over Jacob's head.
Jacob sputtered and turned to Jasper, standing up on his tiptoes to stare into Jasper's face. "What the fuck, Whitlock?"
"Oh. Um… yeah. Sorry about that. You looked like you needed cooling off." Jasper had no excuse for his actions. None. He acted in rage alone.
"Damn straight I need cooling off. If I don't start cooling off right this second, your ass will be mine. Don't ever fuck with me like that."
Jasper didn't really see Jacob as a threat, but he'd never make it known. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone now." Although he felt like an idiot, the drowning accomplished what he wanted it to. Jacob was no longer staring at his woman.
As Alice was walking back to her car, she noticed one of the guys putting up a ladder to get to the roof of the house. The end of the ladder hit right at the roofline; OSHA requires ladders to reach at least three feet above the edge of the roofline. It's a regulation that so many contractors overlook. Turning on her heel, she called to the man ascending the ladder.
"Excuse me. Sir?"
He made a visual show of being bothered. "What? Can't you see I'm trying to work?"
"Sir? I need to talk to you about safety standards. Please come down here."
"I promise not to die. Now, go away so I can do my job."
Alice checked her notes and figured the older man must be Aro Volturi, head of the electrical crew. "Mr. Volturri, I'm simply trying to do my job. Please descend the ladder."
"You've got to be kidding me. Go away. I'd just like to get to work."
Alice planted her feet and gave the best stare she could. "Aro Volturi, get your ass down here right now, before I fire you!"
All heads turned toward the commotion. Aro puffed up his chest. "You can't do shit to me, little girl."
Emmett, who was already working on the roof, made his way over to where Aro was perched. "Dude, she could have your ass in a sling. I'd listen if –"
Aro threw up his hand, effectively silencing Emmett. He then put his arms across his chest in a non-verbal dare to Alice's authority.
Alice had the only ace in her pocket that could possibly work against Aro. "Sir. I personally wrote your contract. And had you bothered to look it over before you signed, you'd know that I can easily fire you, fine you or sue you until you're so broke you're out on the streets begging for money. You aren't the first, and you won't be the last I've had to do that to. So get your ass down here before I make good on my promise."
"Fine, little girl. I'll come down just so you stop screeching at me. You're making a scene, and it's distracting my jobsite." Aro's descent was loud and full of ego.
Everyone on the jobsite heard what Aro had to say. Everyone knew just how pissed Alice was, but no one moved an inch. They just stared at Alice and the anger radiating off of her in waves.
With a loud thud, Aro hit the ground and put his hands on his hips, waiting for whatever Alice was going to dish out. Alice started stuttering, trying desperately to get every evil word out of her mouth at once. Aro's evil smile grew with every nonsensical syllable out of Alice's mouth.
Sensing the nuclear explosion about to take place, Jasper rushed to Alice and grabbed her by the elbows. He swung her around until she could no longer see Aro's smug face. Then he put up his finger to quietly ask Aro for a moment. He moved around and leaned in close to Alice, whispering in her ear. "I don't know how serious you were with your threat, but please don't shut this jobsite down because of that asshole. I need this job, and I know I'm not the only one. Please, Alice."
Jasper moved away before Alice could respond. He left her there, still pissed, but slowly counting to ten under her breath. He moved to stand right in front of Aro. Aro may be older, and supposedly wiser, but Jasper had strength and height on his side. Towering over Aro, he growled in his most intimidating voice, "Listen, and listen good. You are a subcontractor. The ladies own this job site. And based on the contract you failed to read, it sounds like they own your ass, too. So do whatever Alice tells you to do. Or else."
It never crossed Jasper's mind to figure out what the 'or else' would be. He was banking on the fact he'd never have to use it. Luckily, Alice had calmed down enough to intervene.
Raising her voice so the crew could hear her words, she made her announcement. "Gentlemen. I am here to conduct a safety inspection. You've all done quite well today. Mr. Volturi, however, has made a common mistake. Had the incident gone smoothly, he would have heard me tell him that his ladder needs to extend past the roofline at least three feet. It's really a simple fix. And if it proves to be too difficult for Mr. Volturi, I'll happily show him how to raise his ladder on his own, as I'm sure no one in their right mind would dare offer to actually help raise anything else for him." Alice smiled a wicked smile as laughs bellowed from many of the crew.
Aro's face grew red, but Alice continued. "Having said that, let me tell you about the contract your brilliant Volturi Electrical company signed. Three B.A.R. Contracting may fine each infraction of an OSHA regulation up to ten-thousand dollars. And not only do we fine the individual company, but we continue fining the company each time the infraction is noted and not corrected. And should the financial impact not be enough to encourage compliance, shutting down the jobsite at a financial hit to the subs, not my company, is an option. For those still confused, I can ensure that none of you get paid one tiny cent until Mr. Volturi here chooses to comply." Knowing sighs and surprised gasps rung out all around her.
"It is in your best interest to ensure that your fellow crew members comply with OSHA regulations. I wrote the contracts you and your bosses signed. I am not stupid. There are legal stipulations in those contracts that basically say that if you choose to become a liability, we'll own you. I own this jobsite. Bella owns this jobsite. And Rose owns this jobsite. Last I looked, that means all of you with penises, no matter how small and indiscernible, do not own this jobsite. Get used to it."
Without any fanfare, Alice turned on her heel and left to her truck. Most of the crew returned to their tasks, some talking quietly about the scene they'd just witnessed. Jasper, however, couldn't just let Alice walk away.
He walked quickly, trying to catch up to her without seeming too obvious. Even if he couldn't get the girl, in this instance he couldn't let the girl get away. Not after Aro initiated a pissing contest and lost so horribly.
"Alice. Alice! Wait up!" His steps quickened to a jog.
But so did hers. "Please just go away, Jasper. I said what I needed to say. Now let me go on with my job. You do the same." She sounded defeated, and she was. She'd had to dress down a jobsite before, but never because of someone as horrible as Aro. She was thrilled with how she reacted, but she didn't fool herself into believing the fight's over just yet.
And then there's Jasper. She couldn't allow herself to remember, for one second, the feel of his body pressed so close to hers, the musky smell of his hard working body, the tickle of his breath as he whispered his plea. God, she definitely couldn't start to think about any of that.
Alice arrived at the truck to find Bella waiting for her. Hidden from the men of the jobsite, Bella took Alice into a hug and didn't let her go. She sighed into Bella's chest, "I so need our dinner this week. And cocktails. Lots of cocktails."
Bella hated herself. Alice was clearly in need, but she couldn't make their weekly dinner date. All three girls got together once a week to eat and drink and bitch about the workweek. But Bella had other plans. Plans she didn't want to miss out on. "Um, Alice? Mind if we make it a lunch date this week? Maybe we can take a long lunch on Friday or something. I just can't do dinner anytime this week."
Alice pulled away and looked up. "Seriously? Did you just see what happened? After all that, you're denying me alcohol? And lots of it? Fine. We'll do lunch, and Rose and I will go out for drinks later. You'll just have to miss it." She sighed. Cocking an eyebrow, she asked, "What has you so busy, anyhow?"
Bella stammered. "Oh, I… uh, need to get back to work; make sure the guys aren't revolting after your awesome tirade out there. So, let's just do lunch instead. Okay, great. Have a wonderful afternoon. See you tomorrow." She rushed away before Alice could ask any real questions. The inquiry would be bad enough at their lunch, and she needed time to figure out what to say.
xXXx
Alice rushed into the diner they all agreed upon for lunch and threw herself into the booth beside Rose, who was looking at her watch and smirking. "Sorry I'm late, guys, I just can't seem to win these days. If it's not one job site it's another." Alice shook her head in exasperation. "I swear sometimes I think men were born with their brains in their dicks!" Alice covered her mouth, looking around the diner, giggling as the heads turned staring.
Laughing, Rose shook her head at Alice, the stares from the diner patrons not bothering her. "Sweetie, if you're lucky you'll find a man with a brain in his dick and his head. Trust me on this, because I've only met one. It's rare..."
Bella raised her brows, staring at Rose, while Alice's jaw dropped. "What?" Rose said, raising her hands.
"What guy, exactly, would this be, Rose? I was always of the impression that most men you dated were worthless unless they were in the sack. And you never mentioned any of them having brains." Bella smirked sarcastically. "Alice? Has she ever shared this with you?"
Grinning and shaking her head, Alice replied, her voice sweetly thick. "No, I don't believe I have. Maybe you could clue us in?"
"Or," Rose replied, "maybe you could clue us in?"
"What do you mean?" Alice replied.
"Come on, Alice, you think we can't tell when something is up?" Cocking her head to the side, Rose smirked. "What's going on in that head of yours, Alice?"
Sighing deeply, Alice calmed herself down, composing her thoughts. Then she exploded. "It's Jasper! My God, he just gets me all riled up. One minute I'm drooling over him, and I want to take him behind the trailer and do unspeakable things to him, and the next minute I want to strangle his sexy ass. I mean really! This is a man that could care less about anyone but himself. He's so cocky and thinks just because he's spewing that sweet southern drawl he can make things all better. Well, let me tell you-"
"WAIT!" Bella held up her hand, smiling widely, interrupting Alice. "You're complaining because he tried to smooth things over? Are you talking about the incident with Aro?"
"YES! And YES!" Alice replied, frustration spilling out.
Walking over with menus in hand, the waitress started to do her spiel. Alice smiled at her sweetly. "Oh, we don't need those, we know what we want." Ordering quickly, Alice continued, hunching over the table, getting closer to Bella and Rose. "Look, I could have taken care of that myself, I didn't need him stepping in and playing referee. I don't know what he thinks he's going to accomplish by playing the hero." Sitting up, Alice crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her chin.
"Alice?" Rose smiled and asked, a slight question in her voice, "Did you ever stop to think that maybe he just likes you? Oh wait," Rose laughed. "You're the one that got him drunk, bagged him and then left!" Rose grinned. "I think maybe you're the man in this relationship. You need to go take care of your woman!
Bella snorted, trying to hold in her laughter and Alice's head snapped around, glaring. "You're not making this any better, Bella!"
"Oh come on, Alice, Rose is right, just admit it. He only makes you feel this way because he really likes you, and I think you like him, too. You're just looking for excuses now and want us to reconfirm your feelings." Bella shrugged, pressing her lips together. "Sorry, babe! It's not going to happen."
Alice continued to glare at Bella as the food was brought out to the table and placed in front of them. Picking up her sandwich Alice took a bite and swallowed, a wry smile covering her face. "Say, Bella, speaking of just looking for excuses, how is Edward?"
Heart jumping slightly at the sudden change in subject, Bella schooled her features and smiled. "How would I know how Edward is? I could care less about his well being."
Raising her brows, questioningly, Alice took another bite of her sandwich and looked at Rose, winking. "Just admit it Bella; Rose and I already know what's going on, it's written all over your face. And Edward's. You couldn't hide it if you tried. Every time the two of you look at each other I hear Marvin Gaye in my head, singing 'Lets Get it On.'"
Rose laughed, choking on her sandwich. Taking a quick drink and wiping her mouth, she smiled widely at Bella. "I can't say I hear that exactly, more like 'Afternoon Delight.'" Rose started humming the tune, Alice joining in quickly.
"Rose! Alice! It's not like that at all! You two have no idea, you don't understand..." Bella sighed, trailing off, looking from Rose to Alice and back. "Fine!" Bella said slightly aggravated, throwing her hands in the air. "You caught me!" She looked back and forth again between Alice and Rose, taking a breath and sounding defeated. "I don't know what to do, guys. The man drives me crazy, yet I can't get him out of my head, and our sexual chemistry is through the roof!"
Shrugging, Rose popped a fry in her mouth and chewed, taking a drink. "Okay then, so what's the problem? Nothing wrong with fucking him."
Groaning, Bella pushed her empty plate out of the way and lowered her head to the table, mumbling. "Yeah, if that's what it was all about."
Taking Bella's face in her hands, Alice lifted it off the table and looked at Bella, astonished. "Excuse me? What did you just say?
Blushing, Bella lifted her head and confessed. "I said 'if that was what it was all about.' Guys, I am in so much trouble." Laying her head in her hands, she continued as Alice and Rose stared at her in shock. "One second it was all about the sex, only about the sex. I couldn't stand him for anything more than that, his attitude, hell, his entire personality was enough to drive me crazy, but oh my God, he devours me sexually, and I can't get enough. Then one day it all changed. He started being sweet; he took me to dinner. Last night he spent the night in my bed, ALL night. I let him; I wanted him there."
"HOLY SHIT! You fell for him, Bella!" Rose exclaimed, raising out of her seat slightly, looking at Bella with wide eyes. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know, Rose! He just got under my skin and now...fuck! I'm sunk." Grabbing Rose's hands and squeezing, she continued, panicked. "What do I do Rose? I mean, he cooked me fucking breakfast this morning! If the guys find out..."
Placing a hand under Bella's chin, Alice smiled, and turned her head toward her. "They do what, Bella? They couldn't possibly treat you any worse. I think it's sweet, and even if he is a macho pig, I like him and think he's perfect for you, so there! Give it a chance, Bella. I bet he surprises you."
"Seriously, Alice?" Bella looked to Rose. "Rose? Any comments, oh queen of the heartless?"
Smirking, Rose shrugged. "As long as he's good in the sack, babe!" Looking at Alice, seeing the displeasure on her face, Rose continued. "What! It's true. Okay, okay...Look, Bella, you like him, okay maybe you more than like him, and he obviously feels the same about you, too. Nothing wrong with seeing if you two have a little something...more. Can't hurt any right?
"Okay then, fine. I'll give him a chance." Bella held up a hand, stopping the automatic agreements from Rose and Alice. "On one condition. Alice, you have to talk to Jasper, and I don't mean about work, or on site, I mean really talk to him."
Shaking her head and grabbing Bella's hand, Alice squeaked out "What? No, Bella, anything but that!"
"Sorry, girl!" She looked at Rose as the waitress laid the check on the table. "Rose? Fair is fair, right?"
"She's right, Alice. Fair is fair." Laughing loudly Rose picked up the check. "I'll get this since I can't make dinner tonight."
"Wait, what? What do you mean you can't make dinner? You, too? You guys are abandoning me! Why, Rose?"
"I had something come up that I have to take care of, Alice." Giving a slight shrug, Rose picked up her purse, walking to the front counter to pay.
"Rose, you come back here!"
Laughing and scooting out of the seat, Bella looked at Alice. "I already tried. She's not talking. Come on, we gotta get back to work."
xXXx
After spending the whole afternoon and evening struggling with her thoughts on Jasper and writing up the nonconformance report for Bella to review, Alice didn't get much actual work done. And sleep didn't come easily, either. When she did finally fall asleep, she slept soundly and dreamlessly. Feeling refreshed, Alice drove to the Cullen House site to deliver her report.
She got right out of the truck and marched to Bella's trailer. She didn't look around the jobsite, and she didn't want to see Jasper. She was determined to ignore him in order to get over him. He was physically her perfect match, but he wasn't what she needed emotionally.
She put the report on Bella's desk, since no one was inside the trailer. It was unusual to not see Bella or the leads using the trailer for paperwork, but it did happen occasionally. So she thought nothing of it. With a whistle on her lips and a bounce in her step, she left the trailer and started for the truck. But something caught her attention.
"So help me God, Aro, follow the fucking regulations!" The comforting southern drawl of the threat filled her ears. Instinctively, Alice looked up to find the source. She knew exactly who had yelled it, but she needed visual proof. Curious, she snuck closer to the altercation, making sure no one saw her. What she spied when she had visual confirmation awed her.
Standing a few inches apart were Aro and Jasper. Aro pushed Jasper's chest with his finger. "You talk to your mama that way, boy?"
"My mama's gone. There's no way in hell I'd talk to my nana like that, though. My nana raised me to be a gentleman. She taught me to never speak to a lady the way you do, and to always do what's right. So get with the program and stop risking my job because you're too stubborn to follow a simple rule. Raise your fucking ladder."
"What do you care if I get the site shut down? It's not as if you need the money. I'm sure you live a nice life and have never had to actually work for the basics in life."
Alice looked around and noted the rest of the men hard at work. Apparently these two going at it wasn't anything new to them. How much had she really missed over the last two days?
"Oh, you did not just say that. I've worked every day since I was a teenager. And all of it, just for the basics. My nana gave up everything to raise me when my mama left. She couldn't afford to live on her own, let alone raise me. As soon as I could, I got a job to help her out. Aside from the basics, every cent I make goes to her. So don't you dare threaten my chance to make her life a little easier. I'm the only reason that poor old woman isn't working two or three jobs."
Alice's jaw went slack as she listened in. Jasper inched even closer to Aro, almost touching nose to nose. "So, no. I'm not some snot-nosed kid that needs beer money for the weekends. I work hard for my money, and I can't let you cheat my nana out of it. I'm serious, Aro, you fuck this up and you'll have a major problem on your hands."
She couldn't believe her ears. Jasper wasn't the spoiled, thoughtless jerk she thought he was. Not only did he give everything he had to help his grandma, but he was willing to go toe to toe with Aro over his treatment of her and Bella. Just a few minutes ago, she was ready to write him off, but now this. Yes, this certainly changed everything.
Feeling confused and, for some reason, giddy, she headed back to the truck to get to her own site. Along the way, Bella called to check in.
"Hey, you. Were you able to drop the report off, or do I need to go pick it up at the office?"
Alice laughed. She'd completely forgotten the reason she was at the Cullen House in the first place. "Yeah, the report's on your desk."
"Wonderful. How was the jobsite this morning? You have any other incidents with Aro?"
"Me? No, I didn't have any run-ins with Aro. Something tells me you'll have an easier time with him now, by the way."
"You think so, huh? Well, I hope so, at least. I'm so tired of him and his douchebaggery as it is." Both ladies laughed at that.
Bella wanted to make sure Alice was okay in her thoughts after their lunch conversation yesterday, but couldn't bring herself to offer up a supportive shoulder. She'd be there in a minute if Alice requested it, but she wasn't going to offer up her free time on a silver platter. "You have some plans this weekend? Something to pamper yourself and forget the craziness of the week?"
Alice took a nanosecond to come up with something that would be a treat. It's the same thing she secretly treated herself to anytime she was down; a new comic book. "Yeah, I'll do some retail therapy. Don't worry, I'll be back to my old self in no time. Have a great day, Bella."
xXXx
Alice opened the door to the comic book shop, listening to the familiar tinkle of the bell, and smiled to herself. Taking a deep breath, she stood there for a moment with her eyes closed, enjoying the old inviting scents of the store. Smiling, and feeling better then she had in weeks, she walked straight to the back of the shop, her mind half on Jasper and what she had seen yesterday with Aro, and half on the wonderful collection of ink and paper surrounding her.
Grinning and biting her lip, Alice gently flipped through a stack of books on a table marked for clearance, when she heard a familiar voice in her ear...again.
"Well, hello there, darlin'. Imagine my luck runnin' into you here twice, and in a matter of weeks. It must be fate." Jasper stood mere inches from Alice, breathing in her scent as he whispered in her ear, figuring, if anything, there was no reason they couldn't at least be friends. It was a complete stroke of luck that she happened to be here today, of all days. He had needed something to cheer him up, and this store usually did the trick, even if he never bought anything. The fight with Aro had gotten to him, reminded him that he had other obligations, people to take care of, and who was he to even be entertaining the thought of dating, especially someone like Alice. Why in the world would she ever want to be with a working class, poor cowboy?
Restraining herself from smiling, Alice turned around and almost had to suck in a deep breath. This man was amazing no matter what he was in. Today it was a Navy t-shirt, jeans and battered work boots. Yep! He is melt-worthy. Putting on a polite smile, Alice spoke, completely blowing Jasper away.
"Hello, Jasper." Alice smiled, almost mischievously, practically bouncing as she spoke. "How are you today?"
Jasper stood before Alice, speechless. This was not something he expected. As a matter a fact, he figured he would have to lay the southern charm on pretty thick to even begin to crack her shell, and there she was, smiling and talking to him. Too bad he had given up.
Flashing his best smile, he subtly looked Alice over, easily noticing the tight jeans and snug t-shirt. Involuntary, his dick twitched, and he mentally berated himself for the betrayal. "So, what brings you here today, darlin'?"
Still smiling, Alice replied. "Actually, I came here to treat myself. It's turned out to be an okay week."
"That is has," Jasper lied, trying to keep the happy smile on his face, when all he really wanted to do was escape. The nearness to Alice was killing him, and all he wanted to do now was go home and wallow, taking the weekend to, hopefully, get over his need for her. Unfortunately the pull was just too strong, and before he knew it, he was opening his treacherous mouth and asking questions. "How do you usually treat yourself?"
Grabbing Jasper's hand, Alice giggled and pulled him toward the back of the store. "I'm glad you asked. Let me show you." Grinning from ear to ear, Alice looked over her shoulder at Jasper and winked.
Struggling internally, Jasper followed Alice, wondering how in the world he was going to get out the door and away from her without completely blowing his resolve. Her cheerfulness was making him regret his decision, he wanted her, even if he she didn't want him. He needed an out, and quick! "Uhm, Alice darlin', I just-"
"Here it is!" Stopping in front of a display, Alice turned around and gave Jasper a dazzling smile. Seeing no way out, he stopped and smiled, looking over at the case, a familiar twinge of want flooding through him.
Looking back up at Alice, his face sober, Jasper spoke. "That used to be mine."
"What do you mean?" Confused, Alice tilted her head, looking at him.
Walking up to the case, laying his hands on either side, Jasper, looked down, smiling slightly. "My grandfather gave it to me when I was a kid, it used to be his, but a couple years ago, my nana got sick, and she didn't have the money, so I sold it." Jasper shrugged and looked back at Alice, seeing what he took as pity, covering her face. Continuing quickly, "I loved this one, though. It was the first appearance of Edward Nigma in the Batman series. What drew you to it?"
Gazing at the book in the case, Alice sighed, her feelings for Jasper mutiplying instantly. Treading carefully with her next words, she spoke. "I've been admiring this book for months; it's pure art. I mean, I know that with most comic books, the words and pictures function together to tell a story in a unique form, but this one...well, it's more than that. The colors, the way it's laid out, it pops out of the page and into your head."
The look on Alice's face as she spoke was one of complete awe. Jasper had never seen anyone so enamored before in his life. It's how he imagined himself; passionate, full of life, seeing beyond what others did. There weren't many that understood a passion like this. Jasper's heart lurched. He wanted her, even though he knew it could never be, and he needed to separate himself from her as quickly as he could.
"Well, ma'am, I'm certainly glad I could give you the opportunity to collect such a treasure." Jasper made a show of tipping a non-existent hat as he nodded his head. "Alas, I must go, the afternoon is growing late. It was a pleasure."
Confused, Alice said her goodbyes and watched Jasper leave the store, leaving quickly thereafter, wondering why in the world a man who seemed so intent on catching her eye could so easily blow her off. Deciding she needed a bit more retail therapy, she visited a few other shops, browsing and just enjoying the time being able to shop. As she walked out of the video store, with Avatar swinging from her hand, she spotted Jasper around the corner, under a stairwell. Furrowing her brow, she continued on, a smile spreading over her face the further she walked.
She walked into her favorite shoe store. It was a charming little shop with shoes piled against every wall. She loved to shop here because there weren't any pushy sales people. She didn't need to request sizes from the back. What Mr. Riley had in stock, he had on the floor. And he knew Alice. He never bugged her. She was a loyal customer, and he knew it. She felt at home here. Eyeing the new inventory, Alice made her way around the store, grabbing a shoe box here and there. When her arms were full, she found her favorite chair and started trying shoes on. Every time she had a new pair on, she made a pass by the window, under the guise of trying out the shoes' feel, of course. With every pass, Mr. Riley would stare out the window with her, looking for whatever she seemed to be searching for.
The thrill of shoe shopping lost a little something every time she looked out that window and didn't see Jasper. After the fifth pass - the fifth pair of absolutely adorable shoes - Alice slumped in her chair and stared at the large stack of boxes. Something changed; the shoes didn't interest her. Sighing heavily, she took off the pair of leopard print high heels and placed them back in their box. She started to put the boxes back together, getting ready to return them to the shelves, when Mr. Riley stopped her.
"Dear, don't worry about the shoes. I'll put them back where they go."
Distracted, Alice looked out the window again. "Oh, um, thanks, Mr. Riley."
"It's Ben."
"I'm sorry?"
"It's Ben Riley. I figure you should know my first name. My grandkids always say you need to know someone's name if you're going to take advice from them."
Alice rubbed her eyes, kind of confused. Mr. Riley had always stood at the counter, reading a book or going through his register receipts. He'd smile sweetly and offer assistance, but never anything more. "I'm not sure I understand."
He took a seat next to her, lowering his old bones slowly into the chair. Patting her hand, he stared out the window and started speaking softly. "You've been visiting my store for years. Sometimes by yourself, and sometimes with your friends. You're always happy and seemingly fulfilled. You enjoy shoes because they add fun and frivolity to your life. But today it's changed. The spring in your step is gone. The sparkle in your eye as you strap on a sandal isn't there. And you keep staring out the window, searching for something."
She couldn't believe she was doing this, but her mouth opened, spilling her innermost thoughts. "I thought I was happy. I have a great job, good friends, supportive family. What more could a girl want? But not too long ago, a guy came into my world and turned it all upside down. My mind's been so messed up over him. First, I can't like him because I don't want to get hurt falling for the wrong guy. Then, I find out he's more than he seems, not the wrong guy at all, and he seems to have backed off. Right when I get myself all together, he stops pursuing me. It's frustrating, and it hurts."
He patted her hand, glowing in that way only a grandfather can. "If he's not smart enough to see what a catch you are, then it wasn't meant to be." Mr. Riley grabbed the arms of the chair for support, shakily pushing himself up. "But don't be too quick to give up. Some guys take a while to get smart."
Alice laughed, feeling like maybe this sweet old man was right. So he wasn't outside waiting for her. It wasn't as though she'd asked him to. No, what she did was tease him at the comic book store; show him something he couldn't have. Oh crap, she really was mean to him, pointing out the one comic book in the whole store that could make him feel sad. She had to remedy this. Even if he just wanted to be friends, she wanted to do something nice for him, something to show him she's a nice person, a caring person. Filled with a new resolve, Alice started out the small shop, only be to be stopped by Mr. Riley's hand on her arm.
"Sometimes you just have to wait for a guy to get smart, honey. It can take a while." He turned to walk away, but not before looking over his shoulder with a wink. "But I think this guy might be getting his smarts quickly. He's two stores down, milling around, trying not to stare through the shop window every two minutes."
With a smile, Alice left the shop. Jasper had been waiting for her; he wanted to be near her. He was the playful type, so Alice didn't want to ruin his day by acknowledging his stalking, so she walked the opposite way. Of course, this meant her comic book surprise would have to wait, but that was okay. The simple act of him secretly waiting for her had changed everything. He wasn't ignoring her; he wasn't trying to stay away.
Walking into her favorite boutique, Alice nodded a hello to the uninterested college student manning the store. The store boasted refined elegance, but the music blaring through the speaker spoke of a different vibe. Every time she visited the shop, someone new would be at the register. And whatever the worker wanted to listen to was usually on the speakers. Today, this college student must have loved heavy metal, because the raucous noise was filling every negative space in the store, a dichotomy of sight and sound.
Alice browsed the racks, trying desperately to drown out the noise, until she came across a simple black A-line with red piping. Grinning, she pulled it from the rack, checking the size. Perfect! She browsed the other racks, pulling a few items here and there. When she'd searched the whole store, she stood in front of the uninterested girl and raised the clothes, trying to get her attention. Without looking up, the girl threw a small keyring at Alice. She picked the keys up off the floor and headed to the back of the store.
In the roomy dressing room, Alice laid out her finds on the chaise. She put the keys on a small pedestal, finding only enough room next to the large crystal vase of fresh flowers. She sat down on the overstuffed chair and removed her shoes, followed by her clothes. She tried on a pair of high-end jeans and a top. Although she wore all types of clothes, she always felt prettier in designer ensembles. She tried on another top, deeming it too young. The third top was too mature. Deciding on just the jeans, she took everything off again. As she was folding the tops back up, she thought she heard the quiet sounds of the door opening. It was hard to tell over the music, but the door had a unique squeak to it.
It was unusual for more than one customer to be in the boutique at the same time, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. She didn't think anything of it and continued folding clothes. She put on the dress, zipping up the back and posing in the mirror. She stood on her tiptoes, mimicking the effect of high heels. She held her hands in her hair, trying to mock up a fancy style to go with the dress. Suddenly her hands fell, her feet flat on the floor. The distinctive sounds of boots hitting the wooden floor startled her. She quickly got to her hands and knees, hiking the dress up just enough so it didn't get dirty.
There, underneath the small gap between the floor and the door, she saw him. Jasper had actually entered the boutique and was milling about near her dressing room. She didn't want to hide, so she got up and started to unzip the dress, but something caught. The zipper wouldn't move any farther, and wasn't unzipped enough for her to slip out of it on her own. A frustrated sigh left her mouth. She couldn't get the attention of the girl if she tried, the darn music and her obvious apathy for her job assured that. Even if she tried, Jasper would see her.
Sitting down for a minute, she ran through the possibilities. She wanted to buy the dress, so ripping it off wasn't a good idea. She could just wait it out, wait for Jasper to leave, but he knew she was in there. Feeling trapped, she put her head in her hands and breathed deep. If she was going to ask for his help, she was going to do it right. Poking her head out the door, she caught Jasper's eye, waving him over.
He sauntered over, taking his time, exaggerating his swagger. "Why, Alice. What are you doing in my favorite store?"
She rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore his comment otherwise. "I hate having to ask this of you, but I need your help."
He tipped his imaginary hat to her. "Lead the way."
She opened the door, allowing him in. He wandered around the spacious dressing room, a look of awe on his face. "Hot damn! We normally get a tiny little closet to try things on. Sometimes we even have a privacy curtain at some of the fancier stores."
She laughed. "Well, we are the fairer sex."
He eyed her up and down, his eyes lingering on her shapely curves. "That you are." He said without any humor in his voice.
She looked into the mirror, seeing his eyes on the dress. She ran her hands across the dress, feeling the smooth fabric slide under her fingers. "I like it too, but I can't get it unzipped, can you help?"
He was stunned. Stammering, he finally blurted out, "Yes!" He chuckled quickly, trying to mask his enthusiasm. She turned slightly, exposing her back to him even more. She grasped the dress across her chest and stilled. He walked up behind her, almost afraid to touch her. He looked into the mirror, catching her gaze. They stayed staring at each other, locked in that moment. Without shifting his eyes, he grasped the zipper, giving a slight tug. It started its descent, revealing more of her body. When the zipper was completely open, his hand lingered, unwilling to move any farther away from her.
The heat of his gaze did something to her. It was as if his eyes had captured hers, keeping her from looking away. She slowly lowered her hands to her side, allowing the dress to fall from her body, the rush of the dress' silk lining causing a ripple of goosebumps to cover her almost bare body. It landed in a heap at her feet. Without a flicker in his eyes, Jasper ran his hands down her sides. She used every last bit of willpower to keep from moving; she needed him to lead.
He lowered his head until his lips met the velvet skin of her shoulder, keeping his eyes on her beautiful reflection the mirror. His lips moved back and forth, lightly tickling her. When she didn't break the stare, he let his tongue finally taste her sweetness. Her shoulder was on fire, every pass of his lips was torture, but when he started to lick, her mind fuzzed over, and her shoulder started to burn. Her breathing increased, her chest rising and falling rapidly. When his hands started across her stomach, she finally closed her eyes.
His breathing halted when she closed her eyes. She stood there, trusting her body to him, and he would treat it with all the respect it deserved. Gently, his hands traced the top of her underwear, a smooth line from hip to hip. Then he moved up to her stomach, rising slowly to the underside of her breasts. He caressed the edge of the swells, her nipples puckering in response. At her neck, he sucked and licked so slowly, so sensuously. As his fingers moved to tease her breasts, his mouth also moved to tease behind her ear. She had stayed silent, pulling herself into her own senses. As he moved along her body, she felt each individual hair move under his hand. She felt the rising of each goosebump, the sensation moving from head to toe. It wasn't until he lightly pinched her nipples and sucked her earlobe into his mouth that she made a sound.
Jasper had to breathe deep, calming himself when she'd let out a growl; a growl that started low in her belly and rose higher with each pull of his mouth. Seeing her pleasure with such little stimulation was torture enough. He wanted to see her purr. His fingers circled her nipples one more time before moving down her body again. He kissed his way around the nape of her neck, hitting her other shoulder just as his hand slipped under the elastic of her panties. She laid her head against his shoulder, her eyes still closed. Her crisp, short hairs tickled his fingers. He moved his hand lower, slowly stroking, with each pass his fingers getting more and more moist. He kissed up to her ear, whispering softly, "Open your eyes."
When her gorgeous eyes opened, she saw his blonde waves falling over her shoulder, his brilliant blue eyes peering out between the strands. She looked down the mirror to see his hand inside her panties, stroking her. Her calm exterior was at war with her insides. She was boiling with heat, her stomach muscles twitching every time his fingers passed exactly where she needed them to. She watched as his hand continued to stroke her.
He saw her eyes widen, her mouth slightly open, as she watched him please her. Smoothly, Jasper moved his whole body around her, his hand around the edge of her underwear, pulling it down, while he moved to his knees, right in front of Alice. She moaned at the loss of his magic fingers, but otherwise stayed still, waiting for him to make the next move. He stared up at her, moving her panties down her legs with both hands. His breath moved across her sensitive skin, causing her to gasp.
A quiver shot through her body like a lightening bolt the minute his full, warm lips met her body. Bracing her hips from moving, he started to taste her, his tongue darting in and out of her flesh, her taste coating his mouth. Her body shivered every time his tongue hit her, each shiver stronger than the last. When the shivers were strong enough to keep her from standing on her own, he picked her up, her legs across his shoulders, his mouth still working. He walked on his knees over to the chaise, laying her down on top of the neatly folded clothes. As she reclined, her knees fell apart, opening her body for Jasper.
Jasper half laid on the floor, his upper body at the foot of the chaise. He continued his assault, lapping at her. She arched her back, her breasts jutting up. With one hand, he held her down. With the other, he entered her. She started to pant aloud, trying to keep her voice soft, despite the blaring music just outside the locked door. The mirror opposite the chaise showed his back muscles flexing underneath his tight tshirt. Her orgasm was at bay until she saw his head bobbing up and down between her legs, his hair subtly swinging with every movement. The sight of him touching her was too much; she laid her head back and stared at the ceiling. She clenched every muscle in her body, her teeth clamped tight together. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she screamed out Jasper's name. He continued pleasing her until she completely stilled.
When he pulled away, she looked at him. He smiled; she was beautiful. Her hair was slightly mussed, her cheeks flushed, her nipples swollen. She smiled back, willing him closer with her eyes. He stayed kneeling by her feet. Instead of stopping right there and thanking him for a lovely afternoon, she pulled together all her courage. Reaching forward, she grabbed his t-shirt at the chest and pulled him up her until he was lying on her. Licking her lips, she pulled him down, kissing him soundly. Smooth cotton comforted her hands as she caressed his strong back. His soft curls wove between her fingers as she dug her hands into his scalp.
His belt buckle had to be digging into her hip. He hated the thought of causing her any discomfort, so he pulled back, sitting up to remove his belt. She reached out, pulling the belt from his pants, then unbuttoning the button fly. While she moved his pants off his hips, he took off his tshirt, tossing it aside. He moved his pants the rest of the way, taking them off with his boots. When he was fully naked, he put his boots back on. Alice gave him a funny look; he smiled and shrugged.
His bashful smile did her in. She had to have him right then and there, so she launched herself at him, jumping into his arms. He kissed her hard, walking them both to the mirror. He held her up against the mirror, stilling them both. He needed to collect his thoughts, or it would all be over the minute it started. With his hips pulled back slightly, he thrust into her. She started to move ever so slightly, but he stopped her. Using all his strength, he held her arms over her head, his knees slightly bent under her to keep them from falling. Whispering into her mouth as he kissed her, he said "Hold still. I need it to last."
She did as he asked, kissing him, but not moving her body in any other way. When the tension fell from his shoulders, he started to move, making long, languid strokes with his hips. He let go of her hands, aching to touch her breasts again. Her hands fell to his shoulders, bracing herself against him. They moved in tandem, giving and taking when they needed. The skin of her back slid against the smooth surface of the mirror; up and down, up and down. The familiar tension coiled in her stomach. Her body tightened again, Jasper growling in response.
As she fell over the edge again, he joined her, hissing her name as he came. They stilled, unable to move. Eventually, he grabbed her, cradling her to his chest. They lay down on the chaise again, wrapped in one another's arms. Alice snuggled into his chest, thinking out loud, "I've missed this with you."
Jasper pulled back, putting his finger under her chin so she would look up at him. He narrowed his eyes, looking into hers for some sort of explanation. Something about the light in her eyes called up his memories. Every minute of their first night flooded into his consciousness. She bit her lip, realizing what was going through his mind. As he smiled a mischievous smile, he drawled, "Darlin', I think you've got some 'splainin' to do."
