I stood in front of Jasper's bathroom mirror and looked at my nightwear. After our kiss he offered to run down and grab coffee from the coffeehouse. He promised to grab decaf since it was getting late. So while he is gone here I stand in my night shirt with my cami and boy shorts underneath. Part of me really wishes I had stuck with my usual bottoms and tank top. After all, I have only known Jasper for a week and we'd only been around each other three times. However, the other part of me feels like I have known Jasper forever. Before I could change my mind and put my dress back on I turned out of the bathroom, shutting the light out. As I walked into the living room Jasper was walking back in the door. He looked up from the coffee he was carrying and smiled.
"Well aren't you a sight for these sore eyes." He sat our coffee down on the counter and headed towards me. He took me in his arms and kissed my cheek. "I believe that I am overdressed for the rest of our evening. Let me go change. " The second he let go of me I felt empty. I wanted to be back in his arms.
My eyes followed him into his bedroom. He left the door open as he moved out of sight towards the dresser. I stood still and thought about Jasper. He was in there right now, getting undressed and changing into pajamas. I still had that empty feeling from not being with him. I know it's corny, he is just in the other room and there is no reason for feeling this way. Regardless, I wanted to be with him and not standing here alone. Without giving myself a chance to think about it I walked over to his bedroom door. He had left it open I told myself, closing it would have been asking for privacy. I took two more steps and crossed the threshold. Jasper had his back to me. He was wearing gray pajama pants that sat low on his hips. He was about to slip a shirt on.
"Jasper." He startled as I called his name. I walked over to him as he turned around to face me. I pressed myself against his chest as he put his arms around my back.
"I felt lonely out there." He chuckled at my honesty.
"Well I wouldn't want my darlin' feeling lonesome. I am glad you came in here." He kissed the top of my head then let go to finish getting ready. I put my hand on his chest before he could bend to grab the shirt he'd dropped.
"Don't." He looked into my eyes and held my gaze. He stood there for a moment and I thought I had asked too much of him. Then he shrugged and smiled timidly, taking my hand. We walked back to the living room. Grabbing our coffee we sat back on the couch. I took a sip of the hot coffee then sat it on the table beside me.
"Come here." I took Jasper's shoulders in my hands and turned him so that his back was facing me. I leaned against his back like I had the night he was sick. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt him release a breath. "Jasper, you are amazing. I told you about my dreams and instead of running in the opposite direction you told me you wanted to take my burden. I have never felt so special, ever. I want to return the favor." He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled as I sat up from his back.
Placing my hands on either shoulder blade I slowly started to rub his back. I remember him telling me that he never took his shirt off in front of his family. I wanted to show him how special he was to me. I ran my hands up and down his back, making small circles. Jasper rolled his head from side to side to stretch his neck. I moved my hands back up to his shoulders and began to massage. He let out a low moan.
"This is how much you mean to me Jasper." As I continued to massage I kissed in between his shoulder blades. I took care in kissing each scar that covered his back. I wanted him to feel my total acceptance of who he was. I won't hide my dreams and I want him to know he never needs to hide his scars. I planted kisses over each section of his back. Jasper shrugged off my hands then turned to face me.
"Alice." He closed his eyes and leaned in to me. He gently kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned his kiss. I took his bottom lip in mine and was greeted with another low moan. His kiss was unlike any other kiss I've ever shared. It felt as though his lips were made just for mine. The kiss seemed to last forever.I let out my own moan as I felt him pull away. He still had his eyes closed as he pressed his forehead to my own.
"I'm never letting you go Miss Alice." I smiled.
"Good." We pulled apart and each reached for our coffee. We sipped it in silence as I thought about what had just happened. I had shared the best kiss of my life with Jasper. And my lips were screaming for more. Suddenly my staying the night with him felt awkward. Was he going to expect for more to happen? My intention wasn't for us to be together like that tonight, I had just been looking forward to catching up on lost time with him. Jasper's eyes met mine.
"Alice, I don't want you to think that I invited you here tonight with ulterior motives." Was he a mind reader? "I truly missed you this week and wanted to be with you. If it is okay with you, I prefer to take things slow. I think rushing things only complicates a relationship. I want to take time to get to know you. Spend time enjoying the newness of what we have." My heart fluttered. He said relationship. Were we in a relationship? I sure hoped so. I laughed nervously.
"Jasper, I would love nothing more to take things slow with you. I wouldn't want to be the reason you lost your gentleman status." He laughed at my attempt to lighten the moment. As I opened my mouth to speak again a yawn escaped. Jasper laughed again.
"It seems that I am keeping you up past your bedtime. You can have the bed. I'll take my usual spot." I looked on the floor beside him and noticed for the first time his blanket lying there. I raised an eyebrow at him and crossed my arms.
"Who said I wanted the bed all to myself? You can't have a sleepover and tell the person to sleep in the other room. Either you need to come in there and sleep with me or we are going to be squished on this couch." He raised his eyebrow back at me.
"You and your propositions Miss Alice." I shook my head as I chuckled.
"No proposition intended. You spoiled me last weekend by letting me fall asleep in there with you." He couldn't deny that.
"True, true. Well, if you want to sleep together I think we'll fit fine on here." I playfully socked him in the arm. I took his hand and stood, pulling him up with me. As he flipped off the living room light we headed to the massive bed.
"Why don't you ever sleep in here Jasper?" I question as we worked together to pull back the covers.
"I don't know. It just feels lonely in here." I remembered that I had coffee breath so before climbing into bed I headed back to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Jasper followed.
"Does that mean your bed back home isn't lonely?" Bold question, I know. But it needed to be asked. As he stuck his toothbrush in his mouth he grinned.
"Jealous are we?" I shook my head and frowned. I couldn't talk; I was worried about spewing toothpaste. He pulled his brush from his mouth and spit.
"Back home it felt different. Someone was always home, there was always some sort of noise in the background. It is so quiet in here at night. Plus that bed is huge and I feel like I am getting swallowed up in it. The couch has a cozy feel to it." I rinsed my mouth and wiped it off on a hand towel. I took his hand and led him to the bed. We climbed in together and snuggled against one another.
"No feeling lonely tonight Jasper." I felt his arms wrap tighter around me as he kissed my cheek.
*********
The next morning we slept in before ordering room service for brunch. We lounged lazily in bed as we waited for it to arrive. Jasper had flipped on the flat screen that hung in front of us. We were laughing at old episodes of Saved by the Bell when room service arrived. Jasper went to retrieve the food and brought it back to the room. We shared bacon, toast, and fruit while laughing about the clothes and hair on the show.
After the show ended I took a quick shower. I slipped into my jeans that I had packed and my vintage t-shirt. I towel dried my hair then went back into the bedroom. I didn't want to hog the bathroom. Jasper looked up from the opposite side of the bed where he stood. He was pulling the blankets up to make the bed.
"Only you could look so beautiful fresh out of the shower." I smiled at him.
"I don't know, I haven't seen you fresh out of the shower yet." He winked.
"I think you have me beat. You'll just have to wait and see." I watched him as he retreated to the bathroom. The muscles on his back were well defined. I could get used to watching him walk around shirtless.
While Jasper showered I picked up the living room. I threw out our coffee cups from the previous night, folded his Cowboys blanket and sat it in one of the chairs. I washed the handful of dishes that he had in the kitchen sink. I was rinsing the last cup when I felt arms snake around my waist. I can't believe I didn't hear him come up behind me. I felt his lips on my neck. I turned to see what his fresh out of the shower look was.
He let go and took a step back, knowing what I was doing. I moved my finger in a circle, indicating that I wanted him to spin around. He complied and I took him in. He was barefoot and in jeans. He had chosen a red t-shirt with a scroll design across the front. His still wet blonde curls hung loosely around his face. I smiled at him.
"Not too shabby Jasper, not too shabby." He came closer again.
"Thanks." He reached over beside me and began to put away the dishes I had washed. Together we finished up in the kitchen then headed back to the living room. We settled down on the couch, in what was becoming our usual spot.
"What is the plan today Jasper?" He hadn't mentioned what we were doing today. I am glad he had on jeans and a tee. I hadn't thought to ask him what I needed to wear today.
"I thought I could get a local's tour of Philadelphia." I faked a shocked look.
"Where'd you get a local? What am I supposed to do all day?" He rolled his eyes and pulled me onto his lap.
"Ha ha. I want you to show me around today. Show me what you love about Philly. Show me where Miss Alice likes to go for fun." I nodded.
"I think I can handle that." We stood and went to the bedroom to slip on our shoes. As I checked my purse for my phone I remembered talking to Emmett the day before.
"Hey Jasper, I am headed to Carlisle and Esme's tomorrow for dinner. Would you like to join me?" He looked up from tying his sneakers and grinned.
"Meeting the family? Wow. I would love to. Should I be worried about Emmett?" I couldn't tell if he was joking or if he was serious. He knew how protective of me Emmett was.
"Don't worry about Emmett, he is going to love you."
We spent the rest of our day exploring my favorite things about Philadelphia. I showed him around the university campus. I took him to the park where Emmett taught me how to play football. We ate at The Beacon for lunch. Halfway through our meal Jasper asked me what made it my favorite restaurant. The answer was simple. I met the most wonderful mysterious stranger there once who turned out to be such an amazing gentleman country boy.