A/N: Thanks so much for your comments & reviews. I've spent the last couple of days enjoying the Twilight DVD, replaying my favourite bits over and over. Ah, Jasper and Edward. Soo hot!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight but I wish my doctor looked like Carlisle!

Chapter 10

The library was pretty quiet when Alice arrived. There were only a handful of people scattered around the tables.

That's because normal people went out and enjoyed themselves on a Friday night, thought Alice sarcastically. They didn't mope around because someone didn't want them.

No more thinking about Jasper tonight, thought Alice sternly to herself. I'm going to concentrate on looking for the books I need. Then I'm going to go home, have a relaxing bubble bath with a nice glass of wine and have an early night. And hope I don't dream of Jasper again. Yeah, sounds good.

The only sounds heard were the occasional whisper of pages being turned and the librarian moving around, sorting out returns.

Alice wandered down the aisles, searching for some of the recommended books for her Business Law assignment. She found some likely contenders and looked for a secluded table to sit down at in order to go through the books to make sure they contained the information she needed. She didn't want to be disturbed and was pleased to find a table tucked into a corner at the back of the library. She sat down and started perusing the books when the assignment that Jasper had given her class popped into her mind.

While she was here, she may as well start researching some books for his assignment. She was determined to do a good job and impress Jasper with her mind, if nothing else.

As luck would have it, the Civil War books were in the aisle near her table so she wouldn't have to walk far to put the books down. She was crouched down, deep in thought and didn't immediately notice that someone had entered the aisle. As she stood up she took a step backward, bumping into another body as she did so.

"I'm sorry," she said automatically, turning to smile apologetically at the person. Alice gasped in shock when she saw who she'd bumped into.

"Jasper!"

Jasper looked just as shocked as she was, so he obviously hadn't realised it was her when he entered the aisle.

"Alice! Uhh....umm....hello," muttered Jasper, still surprised to see her here.

"Hi. I certainly didn't expect to see you here," smiled Alice, loving the way her name rolled off his tongue, with that slight southern drawl.

Now that the shock of running into him unexpectedly was wearing off, Alice was inordinately pleased to see him. He looked gorgeous as usual, casually dressed in jeans and a light grey cotton top that moulded to his sculpted chest and arms. Looking into his blue eyes was making her insides feel decidedly mushy.

Geez, but he's beautiful. Alice felt herself getting hot all over as she looked at him. God, the temptation to run her hands over his delicious chest was almost overwhelming. His blond, wavy hair looked dishevelled, almost taunting her hands to run through it. She had been trying to get him out of her head, but here he was, in all his gorgeous glory.

"I... ahh....I was working late. I wanted to see if the library had a book that I'd come across in my research and decided to come over while I was still on campus," replied Jasper.

"Do you often work this late?" asked Alice with concern. She hoped he wasn't working himself too hard. "It can't be good for you, you know."

"Sometimes. It's easier getting work done as there are less interruptions and I can really concentrate." Jasper frowned, liking the thought that she was worried about him more than he should. "What are you doing here on a Friday night?"

Surprised, because she expected him to make his excuses and walk away without saying anything, Alice took a couple of moments to unscramble her thoughts.

"Same as you actually." She saw him raise his eyebrows. "Well, I wasn't working late, but I did decide to get a start on some of my assignments and thought I'd get some books I'd need."

"On a Friday night? Why aren't you out partying like most of the students?" asked Jasper.

The thought of Alice out partying with other men didn't sit well with him. Actually, it made him angry. No, make that furious. He pushed that thought away.

"I didn't feel like it, and besides, I got over the whole partying scene a long time ago" replied Alice. She only wanted to be with him.

Jasper looked at her intently, as if he was trying to work her out.

Alice took a deep breath and plunged in, admitting, "I only want to be with you."

"Alice, don't," muttered Jasper harshly. "Don't start this again."

"It's true. I know you don't want to hear it. I know you're trying to ignore this, but I can't. Going out, partying, none of it has any appeal without you."

Jasper sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. "Alice, stop. Look, what you're feeling isn't real. It can't be. You don't even know me and if you did, you'd probably be disappointed anyway."

Alice moved to contradict him but he carried on, "It's just the stress and excitement of starting college. It's a new experience, it can be overwhelming and it's probably messed with your emotions. In a few weeks, you'll be back to normal and you'll be grateful I never took advantage of what you think you feel for me."

Alice felt her temper rise as he spoke. "No Jasper. Don't you dare tell me I'm imagining what I'm feeling. I'm not a teenage girl, suffering her first crush. I'm a grown woman, I've experienced life in the big bad world, I've held a stressful job and I know myself. What I feel for you is real and it will continue to be real, even if you deny it to yourself. I love you, Jasper."

There, she'd said it. She'd only just realised it herself. That this feeling wasn't only lust and want, that she'd fallen in love with him. Probably had the first time she saw him, on the campus grounds.

Jasper looked at her aghast. "Alice! What are you saying? Of course you don't love me. How can you love someone you don't even know?"

"I don't know. I just know that I love you. I know you don't love me, but I don't care. I still want you more than anything I've ever wanted in my whole life."

Jasper ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"This is crazy. I can't believe I'm having this conversation. I just came to look for a book and now I'm having this surreal conversation with someone who imagines herself in love with me," glared Jasper.

Alice's chin rose at that. "I'm not imagining it, Jasper," whispered Alice angrily, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. "Just because you're in denial about your feelings, because you're too scared to admit you want me, doesn't mean I am!"

Jasper looked at Alice, his blue eyes blazing with anger.

With a muttered curse, Jasper reached for Alice, grabbing the back of her head with one hand and dragging her lips to his, the force of it causing her mouth to open in surprise.

Shock held Alice motionless for a instant before a flood of sensation filled her and, groaning with desire, she eagerly began kissing Jasper back.

Jasper's lips moved angrily over hers, wanting to punish her for her words but what started out in anger quickly turned to passion as their tongues duelled, each desperate to taste the other, to learn the secrets of each other's mouths. Their lips moved together urgently, unable to get enough of the other. He pulled back slightly as his lips gentled, only to return at Alice's protesting moan. His tongue began caressing her lips, running it over her top lip. When he ran his tongue over her bottom lip, he took it gently into his mouth and began lightly sucking on it, sending quivers of delight through her body.

Alice felt like she'd died and gone to heaven. Oh God, Jasper tasted better than even her wildest imaginings and he kissed like a dream. She could feel her whole body trembling and the wetness between her legs. Her legs felt so weak, she was in danger of collapsing in a heap so she wrapped her arms around his neck, the movement bringing her body flush with his due to their height difference. One hand was raking through his hair as she'd fantasised doing so often while the other drifted down, caressing his neck and jaw, feeling the slight five-o'clock shadow growing there.

Jasper was kissing her in desperation. Like a man finding water after days in the desert. He felt like he couldn't get enough of her mouth. It was beyond belief how good she tasted. He felt her tighten her arms around his neck and pulled her roughly against his body, his hands moving over her back urgently. He could feel her firm breasts press against him, her nipples hard against his chest and the sensation made his cock harden painfully against his tight jeans. Almost without conscious thought his hand moved down to caress her soft, round backside and pulled her hips towards his, grinding her against his erection, desperate to ease his discomfort the only way he knew how.

Alice moaned as she felt his erection against her belly, the promise of untold delights making her so wet, she knew these panties would be totally ruined. Not that she cared. Nothing was better than this, except having his hardness buried deep inside her. At that thought, she groaned loudly and pressed herself even harder against Jasper.

Alice's groan suddenly penetrated through his lust-clouded mind and reminded Jasper where they were. They were in a public library, where anyone could find them. He abruptly pulled away and took a couple of steps back, trying to get some semblance of control.

They were both panting like they'd run up sets of stairs, Alice's face flushed with desire. Her breasts were heaving and he desperately wanted to touch them, soothe them.

Jasper shook his head, trying to clear it of the lust that threatened to consume him. God, he couldn't believe he'd kissed her. He'd told himself over and over that he wouldn't get involved with her, yet her words and her green flashing, angry eyes had pushed some button in him and he had acted on instinct.

She looked so beautiful standing there, with her lips red and swollen from his kiss, her desire filled eyes begging him to take her in his arms again and it took all his immense willpower not to grab her and kiss her luscious lips again.

Alice looked around dazedly, surprised that they were still in the library. It felt like hours had passed when in fact the episode had only taken a couple of minutes. All sense of awareness had left her when he kissed her. She wouldn't have noticed if a herd of elephants had come stomping through at that moment.

She looked at Jasper and she could see that he had been as affected by their kiss as she had. The bulge in his jeans certainly provided proof of that. She stepped forward to continue kissing him, but he took her by the shoulders and held her away from him.

"Alice, stop. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We're in the library for Christ's sake!"

"I'm not sorry. That was wonderful. It was beyond wonderful, it was, I don't know, I can't describe it," sighed Alice in wonder.

Jasper agreed with her, but he'd be damned if he admitted it. To her or himself.

"Will you go to bed with me now?" asked Alice.

His cock twitched at the thought before his common sense took over again. "No! This doesn't change anything Alice. It was a mistake. It won't happen again," said Jasper seriously.

"Why, Jasper?" cried Alice. "Why are you so determined to pretend there's nothing between us? Especially now. I was there, Jasper. I know you enjoyed that. I felt how much you want me."

"That's beside the point. It was still a mistake. I'm sorry."

With that Jasper, turned on his heel and strode away. If he didn't leave now, he would probably toss her over his shoulder, carry her back to his place and make love to her all night long.

And he couldn't do that. He couldn't place himself at a such an emotional risk again, no matter how much he wanted her.

Alice watched Jasper leave with her emotions all over the place. Being in his arms had been better than any of her dreams. It was indescribable. She was so turned on that she felt she could self-combust at any second.

She also felt a sense of despair that he was being so stubborn about not admitting that he wanted her. It had been blatantly obvious that his body wanted her, if not his mind. What was holding him back? It couldn't just be the teacher-student thing. That was too easy to solve if that was what was bugging him. No, there had to be something more, something that had him running scared.

Alice gave up any pretext of working and left the library. She wanted to relive every moment of tonight, every touch, every caress. She also wanted to pray and hope desperately that this wouldn't be first and only time he kissed her.