Disclaimer: SM owns all recognizable characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The plot herein is mine. No plagiarism!
This story contains mature themes and is suitable for those eighteen and over. Thanks to beanothercullen for making this look awesome!
JPOV
A week has passed without incident, because as soon as we got back to New York, Edward got on the phone with my mother, and while she wasn't happy to learn about the fight, whatever she did, stopped Seth in his tracks.
Edward was pleased.
I wasn't too proud of myself after we got home. I shouldn't have let go that far, but I just couldn't stand there and let Seth continue. I wanted Edward to understand that.
But I had nothing to worry about. He did. He said that things escalated so quickly, and Seth was out of line. And he loved me for defending him.
"You're not a violent person, Jasper," he had said. "But that doesn't mean you won't defend yourself or someone you love. You will do whatever is necessary."
I was glad he understood that.
Seth was being an ass and I couldn't stand there and let him stake some ridiculous claim on Edward after he had hurt him so deeply. He had abandoned Edward. That was enough in my book to hate the bastard. And to add insult to injury, he saw us there, together, and still, he wanted to be an asshole about things. He wanted to throw what they had in my face, like he wasn't the one I heard about whom Edward had called and he ran him off the phone, stating that he was just experimenting and Edward was the one to blame for their relationship. Edward was the bad influence.
How was I supposed to sit still while a fucking piece of shit like that insults everything about Edward? I couldn't.
He had obviously come over to our table with an agenda and Edward figured it out. His parents were at the gala and news traveled fast. Everyone knew by now that Edward Masen Jr was in charge of Masen Corporation. And Seth foolishly and selfishly wanted in. He thought Edward was some guy, the boy from high school who loved him, and he saw me as some rich guy with no backbone. The asshole thought he could be an ass and get away with it.
The idiot was wrong. I was no punk. I was the man who loved Edward and would defend him against anyone.
I've loved the changes in my boyfriend since we've gotten home. Edward has been happier and things have taken a turn for the better in our lives since we have resolved his past. Edward now calls Forks, his parents and Seth, his past. "Distant memories at best," he had stated.
Our relationship has grown stronger and we're inseparable.
Edward is now living with me. He moved in a week ago. I couldn't stand waking without him anymore. And Edward felt the same way when I confessed that to him.
When we told Tanya, she wasn't surprised at all. All she wanted to know was what took us so long to figure it out.
"What the fuck took you two so long?" That was her way of saying 'I'm happy for you'.
Edward has been carefully building a relationship with Esme, Carlisle and Bella. He wants them in his life and I'm glad for him. It's nice to see my darling smiling.
We've been taking leaps and bounds in our lives. Between Edward, me, Dad and Grandpa, we've found suitable board members for Masen Corporation. Mom has pitched in at Edward's insistence and gotten a great PR team for the corporation.
Mom has become more involved in my life in the past two weeks. She's been subtly trying to apologize for her mistakes and I've been trying to be forgiving. But there's still a long way to go for us.
I've gone back to work and the NYU campus is more tempting since Edward's been there. Teaching feels lighter and more enjoyable since my return from Forks. It feels like years have been left behind us in that little town.
Edward loves that he goes to school where I work. At first, he wasn't so into it. But now, he teases me every chance he gets.
We dance around each other on the grounds. He loves to wink at me in the halls, or he makes sure to deliver any orders I send to Emmett's coffeehouse so he can kiss and grope me in my office until I'm pleading for mercy, or simply dropping by my office for advice, even though he's not in my class.
Because of the vivid dreams I've been having for the past few nights, I solemnly swear to myself that I'm going to fuck him across my desk one of these days.
Our relationship is going smoothly and I'm happier than I have ever been in my life. But sometimes, when I look back on my foolish days in the closet, I wonder what I was thinking.
But Jake has been there to give me a smack over the head and tell me to forget it and be glad that Edward came along and I woke the fuck up.
He had said this during a visit to my office the other day. He brought lunch.
I'd finished grading some papers and was looking over some files Edward asked me to before he ran out for his psych class this morning; it was the only one for the day. And after class, he was heading to work. I'd pick him up from the coffeehouse.
Jake came bearing lunch in the form of sandwiches and was joking around when the topic came up and I suddenly felt sad that I had wasted so much time not being myself.
Jake promptly told me to… "Shut the fuck up."
"What?"
His eyes were smiling but he was dead serious. "Whatever the fuck is bothering you, shut the fuck up and stop thinking it. If it's about you and Edward, it happened when it was supposed to."
"Since when did you believe in that shit?"
"I don't. Not really," Jake shrugged, taking a bite of his sandwich. "I just believe in love."
"You didn't used to."
"Not after Mom died, but since Tanya…she's opening my eyes and heart, Jas."
"I can see that," I chuckled. "You're in love."
"You don't miss a thing," he said with a cocked brow.
"You're my best friend."
Jake nodded and smiled but said nothing further on the subject of him. He focused on me instead. "Good. So fucking listen to me, Jas. You came out of the closet when you were supposed to. Edward came along and you realize that you were bullshitting yourself. He became your light in the damn dark. He's everything. He means everything. And I can't tell you how happy I am to see you happy and in love with someone. Not to mention, you, being truthful to yourself. It's what I've always wanted for you, asshole."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Our talk stayed on our respective partners until Jake got x-rated. Not that there were many things that Jake could ever not relate to sex.
"Well, I gotta go," he said, getting up. "Sam's in town and I want to keep him away from Tanya."
"Alright, you do that," I agreed. "Don't let him anywhere near her."
Jake had nodded and left. Sam shouldn't be near Tanya. He was bastard who was completely horrible to women.
The incoming text jars me from my thoughts.
Masen620: Are u in your office?
I smile and shake my head. I wonder where he is.
WhitlockJay: Yes.
Masen620: Will be there in a sec.
I continue to look over some more papers and answer a few emails until the knock comes. "Come in!"
Edward peeks in and smirks. "Are you alone?"
I gesture to my empty office, except for myself. "As you can see."
He adjusts his glasses and gives me that crooked grin that makes me want to jump him and enters. I don't move from behind my desk, because he obviously has something in mind and I'm hoping it is what I think it is. I've been fantasizing and planning it.
He locks my door, and hearing the click makes me raise an eyebrow at him. "What are you up to?" Please be what I dream about.
He leans back against the door with a lazy, cunning grin on his face. He's beautiful, and I don't think I'll ever be able to get over that.
A barge of emotions races across his features as he stands there, eyeing me. "You know, when I got in your car that night, I didn't think I'd end up here. The best psychic in the world couldn't make me believe that I'd end up yours."
"I didn't know what I was getting either," I say. "But I'm thankful for one thing."
"What's that?" he asks as he pushes off the door and starts to slowly make his way to me. He bites his bottom lip while running his hand down his body to the waistband of his jeans, unbuttoning them.
My breath catches, but I keep a straight face. "You. Not just the guy I met, the one who climbed into my car, the one who I slept with and couldn't believe that I felt so good after. But all that you are. Your kindness. Your strength. Your vulnerability. All of you. You're what I've been waiting for. You're what my life has been missing."
He smiles and ducks his head, adjusting his glasses again before he meets my eyes. It's his new nervous tick; adjusting his glasses. His friends, Becky and Lily have asked why he didn't just get contacts, but Edward doesn't want them. And we're not sure he can wear them yet. The healing of his eyes still has a way to go.
He takes his shirt off and I moan softly at the sight of his ripped stomach. He's been working out and now has tight abs that I love to lick.
"Well, you're missing one thing," he says in a whisper as he comes to stand in front of me, pushing my chair out and stepping between my legs.
My hands run up his sides, over his ass and finally lands on his firm waist before moving down to his ass again, which I smack and he moans and bites his lip. "What am I missing?"
Edward climbs onto my lap, pulls me into a deep kiss that draws moans from me. He breaks it and moves his tantalizing lips down to my neck and then up to my ear where he whispers, "I'm also your fantasy. I can be anything you want, baby." He grinds his body into mine, to further prove his point, and it's my turn to bite my lip. I have to bite back the loud moan that threatens to escape me.
"Well, as my fantasy, what are you willing to do?"
Edward pulls back with a naughty grin. "Well, right now, I'm your failing student who's here to do anything for an 'A', Professor."
I can't begin to tell him what it does to me to hear him call me 'Professor'. That shit goes straight to my cock.
I love this fantasy and when Edward climbs off my lap and falls to his knees, looking up at me through those thick lashes of his as he unbuckles my belt, it gets even better.
When he frees my aching cock and licks the tip, I want to scream. When he places his glasses on top of his head so he can suck the head of my dick and he works his way down to the base, my heart threatens to stop. When he swallows around me, I lose it and fuck his hot mouth. And after I come down his throat, he gets up and strips and I return the favor by making him stifle his moans while I suck his hard cock.
We're breathless and horny. Edward bites his lip and eyes me. I feel like a feral animal about to attack before I give in and pull his body to me. I take his glasses and place them safely away from us. There will be another time to fuck with them on. I throw him down on my desk and spread his legs. He tells me that the lube and condoms are in his jeans and I quickly retrieve them. This will not be sweet and I warn him of such. I've wanted him like this, in my office and across my desk, for too long.
"Make it worth my while," he looks back and teases with a shake of his ass, which I smack. "Mmm…fuck me, Jasper. Want you, love."
I don't need any more motivation than that, and I take Edward against my desk as I've been fantasizing about. My hips pistols into his while he holds on to the end of the desk for dear life and pushes back at me with just as much force. Our bodies slam together, moving my desk forward, until we both come, toppling over the edge while moaning for each other.
"That was…" Edward chuckles breathlessly as he collapses against the smooth wooden surface.
"It was…" I reply, just as out of air as he is before kissing his back and then expelling myself from him.
He sighs and pouts at the loss but I kiss him soundly on the lips with a promise for more later.
But there's no time later. We change our plans as soon as we get home to going out and then maybe things will go from there. We need some fun.
Edward decides on Emmett's club, After Dark and I agree. He calls Tanya and she invites us over for dinner, promising us that Jake cooked. He won't allow her near the stove anymore.
She's at the apartment by herself now and Jake visits frequently. Things are moving just as fast for them as they did for me and Edward, and I'm glad. I love seeing them together. Because of Tanya, my best friend is surprising me more and more every day. He's becoming domesticated and happy about it. He's sticking to one woman instead of having a different girl on his arm almost every three days. I never thought I'd see the day. But I'm happy it's here. Jake has been there for me all my life and all I want for him is to find the happiness that I have found.
Dinner is a happy occasion. As soon as Edward and I walk into the apartment, he's whisked away by Tanya and they head to her bedroom to chat while she gets dressed. Edward's bedroom has been turned into a guest room.
I find Jake in the kitchen.
"I cooked so you're setting the table," he promptly says and I laugh and accept, but Jake helps me anyways.
However, it's under the disguise so that we can talk before Tanya and Edward join us. He isn't acting like himself. "What's wrong?" I have to ask because he's quiet; pensive. As opposed to the talkative and ever mischievous friend I know.
He goes and gets the main course of grilled steaks and sets it down with a heavy sigh. "I want Tanya to quit the club but I don't know how to tell her."
"Don't want her to think you're trying to run her life?"
"Among the fact that she'll have my head if she knows I talked to Emmett about it."
I scoff in shock. "She doesn't like that. She'll have your head for it."
"Thanks for stating the obvious," he replies sarcastically.
I ignore that and go on. "Why would you do that?"
Jake looks down and grumbles, "I don't like the other guys looking at her."
"So you pull some macho bullshit?" I can't believe he did that.
"Yeah, and now I'm worried," he says. "If she finds out, she's going to…"
"Have your fucking head for such a dumb move?" Tanya says, making us both jump while Edward laughs. She walks over to Jake and wraps her arms around his waist. Edward moves to my side while she speaks. "Oh, I know that you talked to Emmett. I just didn't know what was said until now. And as much as I admire you doing that, don't ever do that shit again. I can handle it, and if I want to quit, it'll be my decision. You got me?"
"Yes," Jake resigns before countering, "It'll be your decision. But I'll kick any punk's ass who tries to harass you. You got me?"
Tanya smiles ruefully. "Yeah, I got you."
We sit down to eat and soon the talk moves from the day's events, to which Edward and I exchange looks and smirk at the question because we damn well know what we did today in my office today, to Edward and me getting hitched.
"Oh, come on, Jasper practically proposed in the hospital," Tanya reminds us all.
"Yes, but I didn't do it officially."
She turns to me and relaxes back against her chair with a mischievous grin. "Well, go ahead. Do it now."
"Tanya," Edward hisses, and she rolls her eyes at him.
"Oh please, Edward, you know you want him to."
"Do you want Jake to propose?" Edward fires back and Jake takes up an interest in the tablecloth. Hmm, that's funny. No witty comebacks from him? What's he up to?
I keep an eye on him while listening to Edward and Tanya's banter.
Tanya is a little caught off guard by Edward's counter but recovers well. "I wouldn't say no if he did."
"I didn't say no," Edward reminds her with a pout.
"So when's the engagement party then, or better yet, why not elope?" she urges. "It's not like you two are going to be looking for anyone else." She doesn't give us a chance to answer, she goes on, "Jasper, you're not going to find a guy as great at a blowjob than Edward, and Edward, you're not going to find a sweeter ass than Jasper's."
"Too much info!" Jake finally chimes in and shouts, putting his hands over his ears.
But Tanya just scoffs and ignores him with a retort. "You know you fantasize about Jasper," she teases, making me raise an eyebrow at my friend in question, causing Tanya to laugh at him, and me, to realize her intent.
"She's fucking with you," I tell Jake and he sighs in relief. But I like the joke so I keep it going. "Unless there's something you want to tell me, Jake. You're not fantasizing about me, are you?" I bat my eyelashes at him for added effect while Edward and Tanya try but fail miserably to keep their laughter at a minimum.
Jake scoffs and puffs out his chest. "No!" he says and then adds, "besides you couldn't take me even if you tried."
"Don't underestimate my boyfriend," Edward warns him.
"Ooohh…fight! Fight! Fight!" Tanya laughs, egging the guys on before she returns to the topic at hand. "But seriously, when are you and Edward tying the knot?"
Edward glances at me and I take his hand, kissing the back of it. "We're thinking about it," I tell her as I stare into his beautiful eyes.
After dinner, we relax and continue chatting until it's time to leave.
Jake is ahead of us with Tanya in his car and Edward is pensively staring out the window in mine as we drive to the club.
"Edward, what's wrong?"
He looks over at me, giving me a small smile. "It's nothing."
"It looks like something," I say with a hand on his knee.
He places his hand over mine. "I'm thinking about what Tanya said."
"About marriage?" Edward nods. "Edward, we don't have to rush anything. I can wait as long as…"
"I don't want to rush but I was just thinking about what she said and how right she was. I'm not looking for anyone else and I don't want to. I just want you. And I don't give a shit whether it's tomorrow, next year or when we're old and gray, I'm going to marry you." He finishes with conviction and then leans over the console and kisses my cheek. "You're it for me, Jasper Whitlock, and it'll always be you."
"Just let me know where and I'll be there, baby," I tell him as I pull into a parking spot outside of After Dark. "I'm ready to marry you."
Edward smiles and kisses me again. This time on the lips. "I think we have some planning to do."
"I'm pretty simple, and I'm not willing to listen to anybody else's suggestion, only yours."
"Well, I want a simple affair too. Family and close friends, that's it."
"Good, we just need a venue, food and good music to dance the night away to."
It's surprising that by the time we're out of the car and heading inside the club, we've already got our wedding details down. Now, all we need is a wedding planner because between Tanya and our mothers, it'll become a larger affair without guidance.
Edward figures that we should tell Tanya and move on from there. I agreed as long as Grandpa is next. He's more than happy to hear that.
Hanging out with Tanya until the club becomes a sea of dancing bodies while the music thumps, is a thrill. She and Edward have danced, I don't know how many times now, sometimes dragging me and Jake out there with them.
I'm currently sitting at a table in the back where I can see everything going on the dance floor and nursing my beer. Jake is beside me doing the same.
"They look happy together," he comments while we watch Tanya grind up against Edward.
"They do."
"I'll tell you something, if I didn't know Edward was gay and in love with you, I would've knocked his lights out for getting handsy with my girlfriend."
"And if Tanya was a guy, I'd probably be thinking the same thing with the way she loves to grope Edward."
We look at each other seriously and then burst out laughing. We watch the best friends finish up their dance and leave the dance floor.
"That was something else!" Tanya comments, taking Jake's beer and drinking it. "But I've gotta get back to work! Break is over!"
She kisses mine and Edward's cheek and leaves for the bar. It looks to be a good night.
But things take a turn for the worse when Edward and I are out on the dance floor and I spot someone I don't want to see near Tanya. He's at the bar, bothering her.
"What is it?" Edward asks, following my hard gaze.
"Jake's cousin," I say through clenched teeth. "He's not the nicest guy to women and he likes when they play hard to get."
"Tanya's mentioned him; she says he's asshole and Jake doesn't want her anywhere near him."
Edward and I begin to move to the bar. But Jake gets there first and we draw close in time to see him getting into his cousin's face.
"Stay away from her," Jake hisses at him and Sam laughs in his face.
"I don't think so. She wants me."
"Get real!" Tanya retort. "Order a drink or get out of here!'
Sam turns to me. "Oh, here with your boyfriend, fag?"
"Yeah," I answer proudly. "Stay the fuck away from her," I nod toward Tanya and he scoffs and calls her a bitch before stalking off.
But something doesn't sit well with me after that and I can't stop watching Tanya as she makes her rounds for the rest of the night. Edward and I do have fun and we even get Jake to calm down and relax a little, but we're all still on our guard.
And it's with good reason.
I don't know when it happened or how we lost Tanya in the crowd. Jake is in full panic and Emmett even comes down from his office, inquiring why. When I tell him about Sam being around, he calls a bodyguard to go look for Tanya. She hasn't returned to her post at the bar.
"We'll go out back!" I tell Emmett over the loud music and Jake, Edward and myself make our way out there.
What we come upon in the back alley makes us jump into action.
"Get the fuck off of me!" Tanya screams and claws at Sam's face before he slaps her hard across hers.
"Fucking bitch!" he seethes while trying to unbuckle his pants.
"Fuck you!" Tanya shouts and punches him in the face before Jake and me drag him off of her and Edward pulls her to her feet.
"This asshole jumped me!" Tanya says. Her lip is bleeding and her wavy blond hair, that was hanging loosely down her back tonight, is now dirty and in disarray.
"What happened?" I ask with an eye on my best friend. Jake hasn't said a word to Sam, who's fighting against our hold.
"I came out here for a smoke. I wasn't alone but this asshole made Cherie think that me and him had to talk. After she left, he blocked me from getting back inside and when I shouted at the prick, he knocked me to the ground and then tried to get my shorts off." She tries to get away from Edward, but he holds her tight. "Let me go so I can kick this asshole's ass!"
"Come and try it, you pathetic bitch!" Sam shouts. "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"
He doesn't get to say another word because Jake punches him right in the nose and breaks it. Sam falls to his knees and Jake shoves me away, not that I'm stopping him, and knees Sam in the balls. He's hollering on the ground and Jake gets on top of him, beating the living daylights out of him.
By the time Edward and I drag him off of Sam, Jake is huffing like a wild dog and Sam is a bloody mess.
Emmett comes and gets us all inside and we stay in his office. Sam is revived and he tells Jake he's going to press charges. Tanya speaks up and says she'll press charges against him and he backs off. We stay until the situation is resolved, and finally, around four am, Edward and I are walking into our place, tired and ready to fall asleep.
"Do you think Sam will ever go anywhere near Tanya again?"
I shake my head 'no' while toeing off my shoes and climbing into bed with Edward; we're too tired to change our clothes, and opt to do it in the morning.
"He'll never go anywhere near either of them again."
"Has Jake ever done that to him?"
My eyes are closing but I want to answer. "Not at that magnitude. I've never seen him that angry and crazy before."
Edward is quiet for a while and I think he's fallen asleep. "Jake is in love with her."
I sigh and smile. "I know."