A/N: Thank you for continuing to read my first little foray into FanFiction writing. I hope those of you who requested my Jasper drabbles enjoyed them. Well, at long last... well, read and you will see :P
Disclaimer: I own nothing – Jasper and Edward belong to SM (bummer).
Chapter 7
By the time the three siblings left the diner, Edward found that he had agreed to sign up with the school's official tutoring service. Several of the football players said that he had a way of explaining the material that made it finally click for them, and asked that he get on the list so that they could tell their parents they were getting tutoring for their more difficult classes. For some of them, tutoring was the only thing that would keep them on the team, and with the season looking good, they were going the extra mile for once. Still shaking his head that so many people had welcomed his presence and requested his assistance that afternoon, Edward slid into his usual seat in the back of Emmett's car just as his phone rang.
Rosie turned her head just in time to see Edward's grin. "Jasper, I assume?" she asked him as he looked at the caller I.D. He nodded and answered.
"Finished with your tutoring for today?" Edward asked.
Jasper confirmed and asked what Edward's dinner plans were.
"We are just headed home from the diner to see what Mom is cooking – do you want to join us?" Edward invited, remembering that Jasper's mom wouldn't be home until late.
Jasper paused before asking, "Could we just go get a burger or something? I don't want to be a nuisance at your house... and I'd really just like it to be you and me for a little while. I like your family, but they can be a little much all at once, ya know?"
Edward laughed and agreed. "Oh, yeah, they can be a little overwhelming for sure. A burger sounds fine – do you want me to meet you or what?"
"No, I'll come pick you up in about thirty minutes, if that's okay?"
"That sounds great. I'll see you in half an hour then." Edward hung up, still smiling, and turned to Rosie who had been unashamedly eavesdropping.
"Going out, huh? Trying to get away from us?" Rosie teased.
Edward defended his boyfriend automatically. "You know he's an only child and things were rough at home. I think our noisy family is a little much for someone not used to family meals, and he did eat dinner here last night."
"Calm down little brother. I think it's fine that he wants to go get food somewhere else. You two can talk easier away from all of us, anyway," Rosie calmed him down as usual. She was just as good at soothing ruffled feathers as she was at causing them.
Edward walked into the kitchen to let his mom know that he would be going out for dinner. Esme was fairly lenient on the three of them, just asking that they always let someone know where they would be whenever they left the house. He was surprised by her reaction this evening, though. She almost pouted when he told her that Jasper was picking him up. "I like that young man and I'm sorry he doesn't want to stay for dinner tonight."
"I think we were a tad much for him yesterday, and he said he didn't want to become a nuisance to you," Edward explained.
"Well, if that's all..." Esme laughed. "I'll just have to explain to him that he could never be a nuisance and that he's welcome to stay for dinner as often as he likes. It's no harder to cook for four teenagers than for three – you all eat like food is going out of style!" Esme's laughter pealed through the kitchen, warming Edward's heart. He was finding out more about his family than he had ever before allowed himself to see. Their love and acceptance that overflowed onto Jasper as well shocked him, although he had never been given a reason to doubt their reactions. He had just lived in clouds of gloom and pessimism for so long that the easiness of his family toward Jasper and their burgeoning relationship came as a shock. He hugged Esme tightly.
"Thanks, Mom, you're the best!" Edward walked to his room to drop off his book bag and returned to the main part of the house just as the door bell rang. Rosie's voice could be heard at the door, inviting Jasper to come in and wait while she located her brother. "I'm right here, Rosie."
Jasper smiled at him, and Edward's heart jumped. "Are you ready to go?"
Edward nodded and called back down the hall, "See you later, Mom. Bye, Rosie," he added pointedly to his sister, who was still standing there smiling at them. He walked out the door and let it close behind him, then added to Jasper, "Don't mind her. I think she got a double-dose of nosiness at birth."
Jasper laughed and they walked toward his car. He named a local chain restaurant and asked if that was okay for their meal. After Edward agreed and Jasper started the car, he reached over and held Edward's hand. Both boys seemed to feel the rightness of being together, as if it was meant to be. As they ate their dinner, their conversation roamed over more of the mundane and everyday things they wanted to share with each other. Easily they moved from laughter and silliness to more serious topics, filling out the outlines they had shared with each other over text messages all day. They found themselves moving closer and nearer to one another, arms brushing, feet and legs nudging, and finally fingers tangling once again as the meal drew to a close. Jasper paid after a brief argument, insisting that it was his invite so he was getting the check. As they walked back out to the car, hands intertwined again and Edward realized that he was the most relaxed and happy he could ever remember feeling. At the car door, Jasper turned, trapping Edward against the car and leaning in toward him. "I love that smile on your face," Jasper whispered. "Is it for me?"
"Of course," Edward breathed back. "I was just realizing that I cannot think of a time in my life that I have felt this happy or enjoyed someone's company more."
Jasper smirked and said, "Then I'll just have to make it my mission to make you smile like that all the time." At that, Edward surprised them both by reaching up, tugging on Jasper's curls, and pulling their mouths together. What he lacked in experience, he was determined to make up in enthusiasm, and he quickly found that it felt natural to be kissing Jasper. He loved the firmness of the other boy's lips against his and soon found himself nibbling on Jasper's bottom lip, just as he'd fantasized several times previously. After a few minutes, or hours, or seconds, Edward realized he had lost all track of time, or circumstances, or awareness of anything other than the boy before him.
Jasper pulled away and rested his forehead against Edward's. "I think I'd better take you home before we get ourselves in serious trouble," he panted out. "If we are this combustible in a parking lot, I think we'll be magic and fire alone and in private."
Just the thought of being alone in private with Jasper almost made Edward explode. He could feel how hard they both were as Jasper leaned against him, and part of him wanted to beg right then for them to go somewhere and do something about it. The rational part of his brain could barely make itself known, but it squeezed a thought into the forefront of his mind, and reminded him that Jasper wasn't going anywhere. They had plenty of time to explore the physical part of their relationship, and really, didn't he want to enjoy this step before rushing on to the next? His inner dialogue raged on, and Jasper noticed.
"Where did you go just then?" Jasper asked.
Edward blushed and looked away. "What do you mean?" he equivocated.
"Sometimes your eyes glaze over and you seem very far away," Jasper explained, leaning in to whisper in Edward's ear. His warm breath made Edward shiver and he opted for honesty.
"I was convincing myself not to push. I know we need to go slow, not rush ahead blindly, but part of me wants to hurry and experience everything now."
Jasper smirked again. "Thank you for telling me the truth about what you were thinking. Now get in the car, so I can drive you home."
As they drove, Jasper's fingers were never still, stroking up and down Edward's arm or resting on his thigh. Edward tangled his fingers in Jasper's hair again, and they enjoyed the silence and one another's presence. At Edward's driveway, Jasper told him, "I won't walk you to the door because I'd be too tempted to stay and I still have homework to finish, but I'll see you in the morning at your locker, okay?"
Edward leaned in and kissed him again, this time reaching down and placing his hand in Jasper's lap. Stroking his hard cock through his blue jeans, he teased, "Go home and dream of me, baby?"
Jasper groaned, "I think I've unleashed a monster. Kiss me and go inside, sweetheart, before I ravish you right here in your parents' driveway!"
Pleased with himself, Edward lingered for a few more minutes, enjoying the giddy feeling of making out with Jasper. He finally pulled away with one last lick of Jasper's lips, and said goodnight.
A/N: So, was their first kiss worth waiting for? Too much, not enough? And, did anyone see Aggressive Edward coming? Review, please? Feedback makes me smile (and sing, and write some more)!
