A/N... who wants to beat up kiki??? I'm sure many of you do. I warned you things would be sporatic this time of year. I do not lie. The holidays this year will be especially rough because of my family's health issues. Many of you know I'm a mom of 3 great kids. My confession time is here *cues sad violin music* so skip if you don't care. My son started randomly vomiting in Oct. Turns out he had a massive growth spurt and his brain is having trouble keeping up with the extra workload on top of the growing it needs. So if he gets too stressed or too excited (he's 5!) he can have a seizure. The vomiting was the effect of the seizure. So we've been trying to keep on top of that. It's not easy! Plus feeling like a failure as a mom doesn't make for good fluff writing! So that's the main reason I've been a bit late in my efforts. Please forgive me!!
I can't thank my beta enough. Nicnicd, you are my rock here. You get where I want to go in the story and help me make sense of it all! I love you so much! A very special thank you to gmoney, and a request. Please, get an account!! So many here have one without writing!! I'd love to talk more!
ARenee363 has brought me on board her wonderful fic Marked. So go read her right away! Marked is the sequel to her immensly popular Inked. You'll love it.
One more thing, and I'll be done. Okay, two more things! One, this is sad for me. It marks the end of something. This is Jasper and Alice's last hurrah. No they won't break up! But this is the last chapter that will focus on their relationship. They will still be around, but the focus on the story will shift to Edward and Bella. Alice's future is set... it's time for her to help Bella and Edward fall. I hope you understand, as I have many fans of them. They will not go away, they'll just focus a bit more on the other couple!
Last.. this chapter earns its M rating. If you are under 18, the mom in me sternly says you shouldn't read it! You have been warned!
I don't own, I just play around a lot!
Chapter 12
APOV
I sighed for the hundredth time that day, glancing at the clock with the never-moving hands, willing it to be the end of the day. My office, once a favorite place of mine, was bleak and desolate, a place holding me back from what I really wanted.
I want Jasper.
He'd been gone a whole week. It never seemed to end. The brief periods of euphoria I felt while talking to him weren't enough to keep the loneliness at bay. He was just as frustrated as I was by the distance between us. The time difference made phone calls next to impossible, both of us setting alarms and getting next to no sleep in order to keep our connection. Our conversations were brief but intense, the distance putting things into perspective for both of us.
I missed him. It boiled down to that simple statement. I missed everything about him. The way he'd look me up and down when he'd first see me, licking his lips. I missed the way I felt when I was near him. He never failed to show me in both big and small gestures that I was special to him. And that made me feel wanted and beautiful. Not only that, we just seemed to fit together. Hearing his voice over the phone just didn't compare to the way it sounded when he sat across from me or whispered in my ear.
The time we'd spent apart told me this may be the guy. Before Jasper, this would be my time to ease away, the distance telling me that I was better off alone. Now, there was no doubt that I was better off with him than without him.
"Hey sour puss, you have a visitor," Jake's new nickname for me, along with the sing-song way he said it made my teeth grind together. Logically, I knew that I was at work and the main part of my job was to meet with potential clients, but I wanted to scream and pout. The only thing getting me through today was thinking of my man, and knowing he was currently on a flight back to me.
"Give me a moment and send them in please Jake," I answered him, standing up to look out the small window at the handkerchief sized backyard that came with the property. It currently housed some café tables for the shop in the basement struggling to make it in the city. I heard Jake close the door behind him and I allowed a little sigh to escape me.
Four more hours until he lands. Five more hours until I can hold him again. Nothing will stand in the way of me seeing him tonight.
Suddenly hands slipped around my waist, causing me to scream and jump in terror.
"Shhhh, darlin'. It's just me. Ali, Ali, look. It's me. "
His voice—something I'd replayed time and again in my mind—flowed over my body, instantly relaxing it. I turned quickly in his arms, eager to see him again. My arms locked around his waist as I drank him in. He looked tired, clothes rumpled and travel-worn on his tight body.
"Jasper! You're back!" I thought I was dreaming. I just couldn't believe he was standing right in front of me. My hands gripped his forearms in reassurance that he was real. Once I was positive I wasn't hallucinating, you couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face, an exact replica of his. He was here, my Jasper was right here in front of me, and I couldn't be happier.
His eyes were alight with excitement, taking me in as I was doing the same. His hands moved from my hips around to caress my back. I shivered slightly as his fingers started roaming over me. His eyes darkened slightly as he licked his lips, leaning down toward me.
"You have no idea how much I missed holding you," his breath whispered over my lips, allowing me to breathe him in. "Touching you..." His hands reflexively tightened on my back before moving to caress me again. "Kissing you." I moaned as he finally claimed my lips with his. Clutching at him, I strove to move closer, hold him tighter, and take him into me.
Our lips met, clashing again and again in our attempts to devour each other. He moved to cup my face and pulled his lips away, ignoring my groan of protest and placing kisses along my jaw before moving back to nip at an ear.
"Forgive me Ali. I can't—," his voice broke off as I adjusted my face to bite his jugular. Groaning, he looked down into my eyes, the dark blue hue swimming with lust and barely contained restraint. I longed to break him from it, to feel him let it all go and show me how he really felt.
"Let go Jas. Show me," there were no other words necessary, the restraint finally breaking with my coaxing. He reclaimed my lips, bruising them with the intensity of his need. My hands moved to mimic his as they fell to undo the buttons on his shirt. I felt the breeze across my shoulders before he dropped his mouth to run his tongue along the hollow made by my bones. I moaned and jerked his shirt off, popping the buttons on the sleeves in my haste.
He looked up at me and smiled a bit lazily before trailing his hand from my knee upward, dragging the skirt a bit with it. When he discovered the hose were actually thigh high stockings held up with garters, he moaned and his smile turned wicked.
"What do we have here Ali? Is this for me?" He unzipped and urged me out of the skirt, stepping back to admire what he'd uncovered.
"I thought about you when I got dressed this morning. I was so excited to be seeing you again," I trailed my finger from my collarbone down, pausing at my breast to cup it and flick at my nipple before ending at the lace sitting between my thighs,. Moans from both of us spoke volumes of our excitement. "I wanted you to see me like this. I hoped you'd like what you saw." I stuck a finger in my mouth, the coy smile a direct contrast to the innocent pose I'd struck.
Inhaling sharply, he stalked forward and roughly pulled me into his arms.
"You have no idea what you do to me darlin'. So innocent looking with your business clothes, but oh so naughty underneath. I love all your contrasts. It's like it's a special secret just for me." My hands moved to his pants, unbuckling the belt and moving to help take the offending garments off.
Without hesitation, I quickly divested him of his boxers and simply basked in the glory of him naked. My hands ran over the hard muscles of his chest, feeling the muscles jump under my hand. I smiled a little, remembering when they had done the same thing that night in my apartment. I traced my hand over the small scar on his hip, the story of him falling off a horse to get it fading quickly away as I eyed the real prize that sprang from his pants.
"I seem to be overdressed." I moved to remedy that fact when his hand reached out to halt my movements. Without speaking, he slowly peeled of my bra, lavishing attention on first one taut peak, then the other. One hand drifted down to play with the edge of my boyshorts while his mouth worshipped one nipple and the other hand teased my other tip. "Please," I begged, my breathing picking up as I ran a hand through his hair to hold him in place. I moaned, my body on fire for more of his touch.
He pulled back, his eyes glowing fiercely with lust and tore one of the last items I wore, leaving me clad in only my garter belt, stockings and shoes. He picked me up and set me on the edge of my desk, pushing paperwork out of the way and adjusting himself to the height difference. Looking at him, seeing him in his most carnal state brought out the animal in me so I leaned forward and attacked his mouth, reveling in the knowledge that I'd brought him to this state.
"Do we need protection?" His breathing was rough and choppy, clearly beyond any reason, but he still stopped to make sure I was protected. We knew we were both clean, having had that talk shortly after the night in my apartment.
"No," I moaned, desperate to be filled. He kissed me sweetly before entering me slowly but with purpose. My head leaned forward to rest on his shoulder, looking down at where he met. When I saw he was doing the same, I was hit with a new wave of desire. He slowly started moving, both of us mesmerized by the sight. I moved my legs to circle his waist, and we caught each other's eye, desire and longing mingled with other deeper emotions I couldn't quite control flowing between us.
Moaning as he picked up the pace, I moved my hips in time to meet his thrusts. The orgasm stared building in my belly, the coil tightening with every move he made. I stopped him, smiling at the surprised look he gave me. I stood, chuckling a little at the whimper that came out of him when he slipped out of me and quickly turned my back to him, bending over the desk to offer him a spectacular view of my ass. He groaned, grabbing my hips and slammed into me from behind.
"Oh God Ali… I've dreamed of this… Of you and me… I can't hold out much longer." That voice that was always smooth and flowing was now rougher, choppy as he tried to hold himself back from the abyss.
He quickened his pace and jerked a bit in shock when he reached a hand to my clit and found it already occupied by me. If possible, he moved even faster, sending me spiraling into oblivion, calling his name in the process. I felt him follow quickly, resting his head on my lower back, breathing heavily onto it, both of us trying to recover.
If I had any doubts before today that Jasper was the one for me, the synchronicity we experienced blew them out of the water. Not that sex was new to me. It was a pleasurable release I'd engaged in from time to time. But never in any of those encounters had I felt this emotionally connected to the person. It was like we knew what the other wanted without saying a word. The touches, once mundane and monotonous took on a whole new meaning with Jasper. I smiled as I felt his lips press against my back before he stood up, pulling me into a hug.
"Ali," he said softly into my hair. "It's never been, I mean, I've never…" his voice trailed off as I reached up to cut him off with my mouth. I poured all my feelings into that kiss, telling him with my actions what I was too scared to say aloud. It was too early to give voice to the fact that I was standing at the edge of love. The way he responded told me he understood and felt the same.
We held each other for a bit longer, the cold finally driving me from his arms to seek my clothing. We grinned at each other like kids getting away with stealing from the proverbial cookie jar as we prepared to leave for my place. There was no doubt between us that he wasn't going home.
Holding hands, we exited my office, ignoring the knowing grins on both Jess and Jake's faces on the way out. As we got to the door, Jasper paused and turned around.
"Ali's taking tomorrow off. Please don't disturb us- I mean her." I laughed at his slip, and the others joined me.
"There's nothing pressing for tomorrow," I told them, unable to contain the grin threatening to split my face in two. "If you need anything, leave me a message, I'll get to it eventually." I wished them goodnight and cuddled into Jasper's arm as he curled it around me.
I showered quickly after arriving at my place, leaving enough hot water for Jasper to relax and unwind after I was done. At first, I pouted a bit when he didn't join me at. My sulking turned to grateful relief when I realized that he had somehow sensed I needed a little time to organize my thoughts.
Plus, I didn't want him to see my inner vixen as she strutted around silly, giddy and sated.
There was no stopping the smug and gleeful smiles from passing across my face as thoughts of my office christening kept creeping in. I danced over to the drawer that held the various take-out menus I kept on hand and gleefully decided on pizza as the best eating option, mainly because if its excellent reheating factor in case of distraction. Ordering the take out and crashing on the couch to mindlessly flip through the channels, I waited for both my dinner and my man.
My thoughts drifted back to what I was now calling "the office episode". Not once did I regret my first time with Jasper being in my office. It was actually kind of perfect because that's where I first started falling for him. I knew once I saw him in that room there was no way we were making it out of there before devouring each other. The tension was too thick; we missed each other too much.
Jasper entered the room rubbing a small towel over his hair, dressed as casually as I was.
I smiled at his white tank top and flannel pajama bottoms, complete with the University of Texas logo. My eyes lingered over his shoulders, so strong and defined in the thin muscle shirt. My own pajamas were picked for comfort over sex appeal, the silky pants and camisole set a lovely shade of buttery yellow.
He smiled before leaning down for a quick peck that turned into a bit more. I muttered unhappily to myself when the buzz of the phone, informing us that our pizza was here, interrupted us. We ate while watching a re-run of Mythbusters and laughing at Jamie's wagging moustache.
After we'd finished eating, the television faded into the background when he pulled me into his arms. We sat there, content to bask in the feeling of completeness we had in each others' arms. He would periodically lean down to kiss my head and I would reciprocate by nuzzling my face further into his neck. He kissed me once more before breaking the silence.
"Ali? Can I ask you something?" He sounded a bit unsure of himself and it started to worry me. Did he think it was too soon? Was it not good enough? Oh God, did I moan too loud or too much? My brain went haywire trying to decipher both the question and facial expression in the seconds it took me to compile my answer.
"You can ask me anything Jazz, you know that." I trailed my fingers up and down his forearm in an attempt to comfort us both.
"It's about your work. I don't want to impose or anything," he trailed off a bit, and my thoughts immediately jumped to Edward. Did he think I was doing a bad job with him? Did Edward say anything to him? Was the seminar too much? My brain was working overtime, and he could tell. His hand reached out to cup my face and angle it so he could look me in the eyes; the kindness and concern I glimpsed there helped to alleviate my fears.
"You're doing a great job with Edward. He seems mush more open and confident than he was before." I let out a sigh of relief at the statement. "Before you started working with him, he was so closed off to others. He would've run away if Bella had approached him. But I saw how he spoke to her and I hear how he says her name," he smiled down at me and gave me chaste kiss before continuing. "I need your help darlin'."
"What do you need help with?" I was genuinely confused by the question. I thought I was already helping Edward break out of his shell, making things easier for Jazz at the same time. I waited expectantly for his explanation.
"Well, you've gotten to be friends with Bella. I was hoping you could tell me what she thinks of him." He looked sheepish as he said it, and the wheels started turning in my head.
"Why exactly do you want to know?" I knew I was teasing a bit, but I didn't want to show my hand until I was sure my assumptions were correct.
"Don't you think they'd be good for each other? They just seem to compliment each other so well. I thought we could... I don't know. Set them up?" The look on his face, so boyishly hopeful, helped me. I made a decision right there to confess the ulterior motives given to me by Esme.
The thought occurred to me that by doing this, I could gain valuable insight to the enigma known as Edward's mind. Jasper had known him for years, and with him guiding me on what to do and more importantly, what to avoid, I could make some serious headway on their happiness. It was also a weight off my mind that someone close to Edward could see the effect Bella had on him. With Jasper in Edward's ear and me coaching Bella along, I was more confident we could help them find happiness.
"Well, Jazz, I kind of have a confession to make." I watched as his eyes changed from hopeful to curious and wary. "You see, when Esme approached me about Edward, she also included Bella in the meeting." I could see I had lost him.
"How does Esme know Bella? I thought she was just a client you were helping at the same time as Edward." I could almost see him trying to make the connections.
"Bella is an author. Esme is her editor. Apparently she has a new book coming out soon. She asked me to help both of them with their confidence in front of the public."
"But the only person Esme edits nowadays is a man named Dwyer." He looked so lost, and the more upset he became, the more pronounced his accent became. It was quite distracting.
"No, that's her penname. They wanted her to have an ambiguous name because of the masculine nature of her characters. Bella is indeed both a woman and the author Esme works with." I looked up at him through my lashes and grinned. "She's also the woman Esme hand picked for her son."
Understanding dawned on his face and he leaned down to kiss me deeply.
"So Esme's the mastermind behind all this? I suppose I'll have to thank her." He leaned down to nibble a little on my lips, pulling me into his lap.
"Thank her for making your boss happy?" I asked while twining my arms around his neck.
"No darlin'. If it weren't for her, I never would've met you. I don't know that I'll ever be able to thank her enough for bringing you into my life."
The tenderness on his face coupled with the words he spoke shifted everything inside of me. I knew before I cared for him, but in that moment, it was so much more. Love washed over me, and poured out of me as I took possession of his mouth.
All this time, I knew I was waiting for something —the little puzzle piece that would bring everything together. I always thought it'd be the perfect man. I stupidly thought I could make one, change him and force him to be who I wanted. But now, here in this man's arms, all that ice cream, all the hot dates with Dr. House, all those lonely thoughts and feelings were worth it. Every minute was worth it because I had found him. Not any man, not even the perfect man.
I'd found Jasper, my puzzle piece.
No words were spoken; none were needed as he lifted me into his arms, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried me to my room. He laid me gingerly on the bed, never breaking the connection of our mouths.
This time there was no urgency in our movements. We could take this as slow as needed, enjoying each other, worshiping... Loving.
Our hands busied themselves by disrobing ourselves and each other. Soon enough we were on our sides, naked body and soul, drinking in the experience.
We savored, learning every dip and curve, every spot that brought about a reaction. When his mouth and tongue lazily explored my hips from bone to bone, I shuddered and let out a long low moan. I felt him smile against my skin and he moved lower still. I held my breath, steeped in the moment, letting it out in one big whoosh when I felt the first long stroke of his tongue along my sex.
His tongue continued to wreak havoc on me, sliding slowly in and out bringing me ever closer to the edge before switching to nibble on my clit. I finally growled my frustration, and in one swift move rolled us around so that I was straddling him.
Instead of tormenting him and prolonging my pleasure, I took him into me with one swift move. His breath hissed out as I watched him struggle for control. I smiled a bit evilly at him, wriggling my hips a bit to throw him off. He immediately reached up to grab them, his thumbs digging into the flesh by my hipbone and fingers gripping near my ass.
Although firm, he allowed me the freedom to control the pace. I set a slow one, sensuously rising up and down, reveling in the feel of him sliding in and out between my lips. With every languorous twist of my hips, the sense of heightened intimacy between us grew more palpable, tangible...right.
I watched him, absorbing every look and sound he made. His whispered groans, the hands that caressed my hips so softly, the excited beat of his heart beneath my palm... They all combined into something magical, perfect... It was us, personified.
Stomach clenching, closer now, I curled my hands around his arms to anchor myself. When I picked up the pace a little, he groaned, looking up at me through his lashes.
"You don't know what you're doing to me baby." He growled the statement, trying to control the pace for the first time as his hips began to move upward, meeting mine dip for dip, roll for roll. "I love seeing your breasts bounce like that. God, you're so beautiful…"
The drawl he normally had was thicker, rougher. But even more appealing was his obvious desire. His eyes drooped, low and sexy and his hands, already holding me tightly began to move around, firm and strong. One hand moved up to cup me, his fingers sliding one by one over my nipple, sending a spasm of lust through me.
"Oh God, Jazz, I can't hold out much longer," I cried, the feeling starting to overwhelm me. My movements became stilted and erratic, throwing off the impending orgasm. I cursed in frustration, trying to re-establish the rhythm that would bring me closer.
Sensing my problem, he wasted no time maneuvering me until he was once again on top. Setting a fast, almost frantic pace, we rode each other faster and harder, desperate to reach our peak. Just as I was at the edge, Jasper reached down and clasped his hands with mine.
"Come for me Ali. Show me that your mine, and know that I'm yours," he breathed into my ear before driving me over the edge. I screamed his name over and over, and when he did the same, I knew what he said was true. We lay next to each other, trying to catch our breaths. I caught his eye, smirking at the lazy smile and satisfied look he wore. We never stopped touching each other during this time, hands either roaming randomly over each other or our fingers entwined; neither of us seemed willing to break the connection we had.
A long while later, Jasper smiled at me, a mischievous look in his eye. Without warning, he hopped up from the bed, running around to my side. He pulled me up and flung me over his shoulder, ignoring my shrieks and laughing at my attempts to smack him. With a laugh he sauntered into the bathroom and turned the shower on, never setting me down in the process.
After another shower, we both lay in my bed, something I never invited another man to do before. He held me tenderly, curled up into his side, one hand trailing lazily over my back and the other behind his head. We were both quiet, neither one wishing to disturb the oddly perfect moment existing between us. He finally breathed in deeply and called my name softly. When I looked up to him, he smiled tenderly at me.
"I meant every word Alice. Being away from you was the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm here to stay darlin'." His eyes lit up with passion and determination. "I want you to know, I'll do whatever it takes to make this work. I need you."
"I hated you being so far away before we'd even defined us. I missed you so much. It was like when you left, you took the best part of me with you," his face reflected his understanding. "I need you too, Jazz. We'll make this work together." I knew that while I hadn't said the words, I was vowing my love and commitment to him, to us at that moment.
We both fell asleep smiling.
Phew... those were really hard for me to write. I am not a sweet love-making gal. Those of you that know me know this!! I'd love to hear what you thought. Please review and let me know!
I'm hosting another contest. I know, I can't stay away! It's a quick one, so hurry and enter the Who's Under Your Tree Contest! Link will be up on my page!! Thank you all so much for reading. It means a lot to me. Even if you don't review, the fact that you read makes me feel special.
