A/N - Hey, you didn't think I hadn't been writing these past few weeks, right? I could not upload, but I did have some time to write.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters. And I don't own the song I make reference to in the title of the story.
BPOV
When Jasper offered me to go stay at his place, I felt like my heart was about to explode out of my chest. Was he offering me what I thought he was offering?
I calmed down a little when he pinky-promised to behave. Well, I did calm down but I also felt a teensy weensy bit of regret. Not that I wanted to sleep with him tonight, but I'm sure I would not have been totally against it had he tried to put on the moves on me.
We drove to his apartment and laughed most of the way there. We were both fighting for radio station picking privileges. Neither one of us won since we could not find a radio that annoyed the other enough to keep it on. We settled for no radio in the end.
This was the first time I felt so at ease with a guy. Well, other than Emmett, but he was just special that way. Jasper was easy to be with, joked with and even make fun of. I think at some point I told him he took more care of his hair than I did. "I mean, come on, those curls can't be real," I said to him.
"They sure can, Miss Bella. I'm all manly cowboy here," he said laying the southern accent thick.
"Just because you talk like a Texan, it don't make you a cowboy, city boy," I countered.
"City boy?" He said feigning hurt. "Me? A city boy?"
"Yep," I said popping my P.
"At least call me a city man, Bella. You gotta give me that," he almost begged. I could have sworn he pouted.
"No dice," I said as he came to a stop in a small street. Jasper ran out of the car and was at my door before I could even unbuckle the seat belt.
"Ma'am," he said as he opened my door and offered me his hand while tipping his imaginary hat.
"My, my, Mr. Whitlock," I said in a southern accent. "You really are a gentleman."
He burst out laughing. "What was that? A really bad French accent?"
I stuck my tongue out at him and let him lead me to his apartment. I had been inside guys' apartments before, and they always looked like the same person had decorated them… I was ready to be treated to a mess of Xbox controllers, computer cables, and maybe even guns.
"Wow," was all I could say. This was different. This was classy.
"Sorry about the mess," Jasper said to me.
It wasn't even that messy. However, everything in this place screamed Jasper. From the black leather couches, to the plasma TV hanging from the wall with, to the slick desk in the corner, to the paintings hanging on the walls. You could see this was the place of someone who knew who they were and what they wanted.
"This place looks amazing," I said to him smiling.
"Wait until you see the bedroom," he replied.
I think my knees grew weak when I heard that. "Wait, that came out wrong," he apologized. "What I meant was that the bedroom is the best place to… No, I mean, in there I have my…"
I felt bad for the man. "Don't worry Jasper. I do believe you are a man of your word," I reassured him while patting him on the arm. Wow, he may be a man of his word, but I think I may need all the will power I can muster to not jump him. He is built like a god.
"Is your hand comfortable there or would you like me to flex," he said when I did not remove my hand from his arms. I quickly dropped it to my side and winked at him.
I fucking winked.
JPOV
She winked at me. I almost laughed out loud. Not because I wanted to make fun of her, but because I felt a wave of happiness engulf me. It had been a bad last few years, and this woman made me forget all of that.
"Well, let me give you the grand tour," I said to her and she followed me a few steps behind.
"This is the kitchen," I said. "I don't spend much time in here, but when I do, it's heaven."
"So you cook as well," she said. "A city man who can fend for himself. I like."
"Yes, I can and I'm glad you… like. If you come this way, you will see my balcony. It's not much but it's peaceful." This was my favorite part of my apartment. It overlooked a part of Scottsdale that had not been filled with buildings yet. It was rather peaceful.
I continued with the tour. "Right through this door is my bedroom," I said opening the door. This was my second favorite place. "It's not much, but it's home," I said. She was staring at the corner of the room where my baby was.
"You play?" She asked.
"That, I do," I answered. "Although, I don't do it as often as I might like," I added as I walked towards my guitar. It was my pride and joy and Bella was looking at it with the same wonder I felt for it. This guitar had been a gift from my grandfather to my father. I inherited it when he passed away a few years back.
"Will you play something for me?" She asked. "If you do, I promise I'll play something for you when you stay at my place," she said. "You know if you ever get locked out or… Um… You know."
It was my turn to save her. "I know what you meant. And I will hold you to that."
I sat down on the corner of my bed and patted the spot next to me. Bella took off her shoes and sat crossed-legged on my bed. I followed her example so we ended up facing each other.
"What would you like me to play," I asked her as I tuned the guitar.
"How about your favorite song?" She said.
That was easy. There was only one song I wanted to play.
"But you must sing it too," she added.
"Singing was not part of the deal, miss, but I will make an exception for you."
Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heart
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way
To show her every day
That she's my only one
If my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance
To tell her how I feel
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way
To show her every day
That she's my only one
If my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
So tell that someone that you love
Just what you're thinking of
If tomorrow never comes
"That was beautiful," she said while trying to blink back the tears. "I've heard that song before, but your version is much better."
"Thank you," I said as I gently stroked her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. I felt electricity coursing through my hand, running up my arm and going straight into my core. Bella did strange things to me.
"Jasper," she said almost whispering my name.
I placed my other hand on her other cheek and softly raised her face to have a better look. She opened her eyes and I wished I could show her how I was feeling at that moment. Bella closed her eyes again and leaned forward. This was her giving me permission. I brought my lips closer to her and slowly inhaled her scent. She smelled of summer nights at the park. I could not resist her full lips any more. I moved the few inches I had left and kissed her.
This was a sweet, slow, I-want-to-enjoy-the-moment kind of kiss. There was passion, but no rush or anxiety. It was two worlds coming together but not crashing into each other. It felt like I was floating and flying and running all at the same time. There was no need to deepen the kiss. This is what we needed. She placed her arms around my neck, as I wrapped mine around her delicate waist.
We could have been kissing for minutes, hours even weeks and I could have been happy to stay here on this bed. But like all good things, it came to an end too soon. My phone rang.
"Pick it up, Jasper," she said against my lips.
"I don't have to," I said back not wanting to ruin the moment but knowing it was ruined.
"It might be important. I'll be here when you come back," she said giving me a chaste kiss on the lips.
I looked at the phone and realized it was her. As always, coming back to haunt my life, to make me miserable, to make sure I don't live my life. I would not let her this time.
"No, it is not," I told Bella. I laid her down on the bed and held her.
A/N - Any recommendations for J/B fanfictions? I love sweet Jasper, but I don't mind Darksper either. Let me know if you know of any good ones! I am currently keeping up with both of mama4dukes' stories. She is amazingly talented (http: / www. fanfiction. net /u / 2315965 / mama4dukes). I am also reading Leaves of Grass by Nauticalmass (http: / www. fanfiction. net / u / 2120299 / Nauticalmass). My husband is in Seattle for the next few days so I have to occupy my time somehow.