A/N: Edited some mistakes in this chapter and added a line or two but not very significant.

THE NEXT STEP

"Can I kiss you, Bella?"

"Yes, please, Jasper"

Soft.

So soft lips.

So good.

So so good.

I have never been kissed like this before.

Gentle. Passionate. Sweet. Sensual.

It's a mixture of everything.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Jasper… Hmmm..

"Yes?"

Oh! I called out loud?

"Nothing."

He leaned back and looked at me curiously and I can feel my cheek warming up.

Great… just great. How embarrassing!

He touched my cheek and leaned near my ear. "How did you like that step?" he whispered.

"I think you know how I liked that, Jasper," I teased.

"And I think you know that the feeling is mutual… so I'm thinking… what should I do next to get to another step?" he asked then he slightly licked my earlobe.

Oh my! This boy makes my knees weak. So weak…

"What do you have in mind?"

"Tell me your story," he said when he pushed himself back away from me. He was looking at me with so much passion in his eyes that I can't help but stare at him.

He's so beautiful. His eyes are as blue as the sky. It held emotions that I can't decipher but I swear I will. But right now, the most obvious look is want. He wants me. I want him, too. His lips are so kissable. It's plump and pinker now that I kissed it. Yum. And his nose… so perfect. I'd love to give him an eskimo.

So I did.

He chuckled, "Bella…"

"Yes?" I asked still rubbing my nose on his.

"Are you trying to ignore my request?"

That stopped me. Request? What request?

I think he saw the confusion on my face. "Your story…" he said matter-of-factly.

"Oh…"

My story. What's my story? Should I tell him? Will he think that I'm just playing him? Am I just playing him? Is he just a distraction for me? Am I just a distraction for him, too?

"What story do you want, Jasper?" I asked turning my back on him and walking towards the fountain. I stopped by the fountain and I felt him behind me.

"I think you know what story I'm asking about, Bella... A beautiful woman like you, all alone here in the Sin City. What gives?"

I sighed, "I don't want to talk about it. Not yet."

"That bad, huh?" He chuckled. "I bet it's not as bad as mine."

That got my attention alright.

"What do you mean?"

Thinking.

He's thinking really hard.

After what seems like hours he finally replied, "I feel the same. I don't want to talk about it either…" He trailed off. His brows furrowed. When he noticed me looking at him, he smiled.

"So how can we get to the next step, Beautiful? Should we stop here?"

Should we? But I don't want to. But I can't tell him that. The alcohol is wearing off so that means my courage is, too.

"Do you want to stop, Jasper?"

He narrowed his eyes on me and smiled, "You know I don't want to stop, Bella. Not with you."

I don't know why but what he said made me smile. May be because I don't want to stop, too. Not when it comes to him.

"Jasper….?"

"Hmmm…"

"Kiss me…"

And he did.

Over and over again.

.

.

.

The sun is peeking out from the horizon. I wonder what time it is.

"It's 6:30, darling," Jasper said. So I guess I asked out loud.

Wow. Jasper and I have been together for more than eight hours now. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't complaining at all. Nah-ah. I haven't had this much fun with anyone since… Never! Wow. Reality bites! I mean, I know how to have fun especially with my friends but I can't compare this moment with the ones I have with them. Jasper is not my friend, he's my… he's…

"What are we, Jasper?"

"What's that?"

"What are we? I mean, we're not friends since we don't know anything about each other… definitely not lovers… we just met… Oh my gosh! We just met and we have kissed!"

"A lot!" He chuckled. "Does that bother you? I thought you were enjoying it as much as I am." He's laughing now.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"Oh no, Bella! I am not laughing at you! You amaze me."

What?

He pulled me to his chest and held me tight. "Does it matter what we are, Darling? Cause right now, all I know is that this past eight or so hours has been the best hours of my life! You make me forget things, Bella… You make me happy."

I had to smile at that. He makes me happy, too.

"I know how you feel…"

"You do?"

"Yes, Jasper. You make me happy, too."

"Good."

More kisses. Thank, God!

.

.

.

"Whew! I haven't had that much pancake since I was playing football in high school!"

"Oh? So you were a high school jock?"

"Bella, Bella, Bella… there are so many things that you don't know about me."

"Oh don't I know it!" We laughed.

"Did we make a fucking rule or was it a mutual understanding for us not to ask anything personal about each other?"

"Honestly… I don't know. I mean… you haven't stopped kissing me since I gave you my name."

He poked my side, "And you loved every second of it. Besides, we talked about books and movies."

Oh yes I did. And yes we did.

"Is it too late to start over?"

"What do you mean, Jasper?"

"I still want to get to know you…"

"Okay."

"Okay. Let's get out of here."

"Where are we going?"

"You choose. Your room or mine."

"Jasper, I… I'm not…"

"I know, Bella. You're not that kind of girl. We'll just talk. Unless you want to sleep."

"No. For some unknown reason, I don't feel sleepy at all. Let's go to your room. "

.

.

.

"Yeah… so my dad is the Chief of Police in our town and my mom is a freelance Interior Designer. My brother, Paul, serves in the military. He's coming home next week to attend… I mean… to visit us."

Whew! Nice save!

"Oh, my Pops' gonna love him. He served the military, too. He was a general so that's what we call him," Jasper said on the other side of the couch in his suite.

"You still have your grandparents? Lucky!"

"Yeah. I still have all four of them but I'm closer to my mom's parents. I call them Pops and Mah. I am running the family business with Pops."

"How about your parents?"

"Dad is a doctor and mom is an architect. She manages her own firm."

"Ohhh-kay… rich family alert!"

He laughed, "What?"

"You're family's rich."

"Is that a crime?"

"No. Of course not. It's just that..."

"Tell me, Bella… please…"

I sighed, "I had my fair share of bad experiences with rich people, okay?"

"Will you share them with me someday?"

Someday? Does that mean that we'll see each other again when this is over? Whenever that is?

I nodded, "Someday…"

"I sure hope you don't hate all the rich people you meet."

"So far… not all," I grinned at him. I think he got my double meaning because he grinned back.

"Come here."

So I did and he kissed me. Deliciously.

He hummed, "You think that's enough getting-to-know-each-other session for us to get to the next step?"

"It depends. What's the next step? Are these steps we're taking the same as bases?"

He chuckled at that, "No. We have our own step. We make it as we go. And right now, I would love to take this to the next level."

"Tell me."

"Sleeping together. Literally…" He said followed by a yawn.

I had to laugh at that. "Do I bore you, sir?"

"Never. I just thought that we could both use some rest."

"Uh-huh," I acquiesced because I can feel the night's events' catching up on me.

"I'd love to sleep with you, Bella," he whispered close to my ear then ran his nose from below my ear to my chin and captured my mouth again.

"God… I'll never get tired kissing you," he said as he carried me towards the bedroom.

He put me down outside the ensuite bathroom in his room. He stalked off towards his suitcase and pulled out a shirt.

Suitcase.

Did he just arrive or was he leaving soon?

"Here. You can sleep on this. You can change in there."

"Are you sure you want me to sleep here. I can go to my room, you know."

He leaned forward and gave me an eskimo, "I want you… on my bed… wrapped around my arms."

Ohhh… I love the sound of that.

Who am I to deny him, right? Right.

I think I'm gonna love these steps that we're making up.

.

.

.

"Well, I'm not ready to go home yet… I don't care if she left or not… Listen, Rose, I'm fine. I just need a fucking break, okay? Good! I will call you guys when I want to. I will call mom and Mah later."

BLAG!

What the hell was that?

Did Jasper throw his phone on the wall?

Who's Rose? Is she his girlfriend?

"Shit! Sorry! Did I wake you?"

"No. I'm already awake before your breakdown," I replied.

He smiled, "You call that a breakdown? That's nothing. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you. I haven't slept that well since forever."

"Me, too," he smiled.

Shit! That smile's going to be the death of me! But wait… I have to think straight. Damn! Why didn't I think about this last night? I mean, the guy is good looking of course he's taken! Shit! Shit!

"Shit! I need to go!"

"Wait! What's wrong?"

"I'm not this kind of girl, Jasper. I don't ruin someone else's relationship even if they ruin mine!'

Oops! Shit!

"What do you mean? Whose relationship are you ruin-"

I cut him off, "Yours! Obviously that was your girlfriend on the phone… I mean you're good looking and rich and very sweet and… Oh shit! Are you married?"

"WHA-"

"No don't answer that. I'd rather not know."

By now, I'm zipping up my dress. I was surprised when Jasper grabbed me from behind and hugged me tight.

"Easy there, Missy. Breathe. Now let's start over alright?" I nod. He let go of me and went in front of me.

"Hi, my name is Jasper Whitlock-Cullen and I am very much single, never been married, thank you very much," he smiled at me then continued. "I find you very attractive, Miss. May I get your name?"

I can't help but grin. He's so beautiful.

"Hi. I'm Isabella Marie Swan. I find you very attractive, too. I just made a fool out of myself didn't I?"

"I don't know what you mean… we just met." Oh he's being cute!

"Whitlock-Cullen, huh?"

"Yeah. It's a long story. So… Marie?"

"From my grandma Swan," I shrugged. "And I got time… to listen to your long story, I mean."

"Good. So let me tell you about my sister. I was just talking to her on the phone awhile ago… you know… before we met." He smiled goofily at me. I know I'm blushing all over.

Oh, Jasper Whitlock-Cullen, what are you doing to me?

.

.

.

"…my father almost lost it when Pops suggested that I just take Whitlock as my last name without the Cullen."

"So your last name has been compromised?"

He chuckled, "Yeah… I guess you can say that."

"Wow! Rich people drama!" I laughed at him and he laughed, too. "So… let me see if I got this right. Your mom is an only child, right? Therefore she can't carry the Whitlock name, which is attached to your grandfather's business' name. So when you were born, your grandfather literally claimed you as the heir to his business, hence, attaching 'Whitlock' on your last name. Did I get the story right?"

"Nailed it."

"Great. I don't want to fail my Whitlock-Cullen History finals," I smiled sweetly at him.

"Ha-Ha, smart ass."

"Always have and always will be. You're one lucky dude to have met me," I teased.

He stared at me and I felt the heat forming on my cheeks. Damn! I feel like a teenager! There's something in his eyes that makes my insides churn… in a good way. Then he smiled his panty dropping smile and said, "Yes. I am one lucky bastard, ain't I?"

Oh Lord… give me strength! I am close to jumping this man.

He cleared his throat, "So… how long are you gonna be here?"

"I don't know… I'm not ready to go back to reality yet…" I trailed off and looked down. If it's up to me, I don't want to go back to reality anymore. I don't want to face the people that will rub a couple of "I told you so's" on my face. I can stay here with Jasper forever.

What? Really?

Yes. Really.

"Me, too. I don't think I'm ready to go back to reality yet as well. If I could, I will stay here forever… with you…"

What did he just say? Can he read my mind?

Okay. Come on, Bella. Get a grip. He's probably just playing with you. You just met him for God's sake!

Really? Now, I'm thinking that? After all those kisses? Those sweet, delicious, yummy, yummy kisses? And after sleeping with him… technically?

I cleared my throat. I need to change the subject, "How bout you? Are you about to leave?" I nodded towards his suitcase.

"No. I just got here. Didn't get a chance to unpack yet. I've been driving for weeks now…"

Weeks? Wow?

"Road trip?"

"Yeah. I guess you can say that… Look, I promise I'll tell you about it but for now… Can I spend more time with you? I mean, if you don't feel like leaving yet?"

"Yes. I'd love that."

He sighed in relief. Did he think I was gonna say no? Oh please!

"Great. That's great! Ummm… How bout I take a shower now….. then… ummm… we can move to your room so you can shower as well. After we can… we can decide if we'll go out or stay in for dinner." He was stuttering. Why the hell would he stutter?

"Mr. Whitlock-Cullen, what's gotten into you? Are you nervous or something?"

He released a shaky chuckle, "Yes, Miss Swan, I think I am."

"Why is that?"

He came closer to me, took my hands and placed them on his shoulders. He placed his hands on my hips and leaned his face close to me. I'm starting to get nervous, too.

"Because as crazy as it may seem… I want this dinner to be a date," he said without breaking eye contact with me.

Then he leaned further, his mouth closer to my ears, "And I'm hoping to get to another step."

Oh my…. Yes, please!

A/N: Thank you for dropping by. :)