Disclaimer: SM owns all.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Edward POV
Jasper lead me over to his dining table, then left to plate up our dinner.
As I sat down, I lifted a hand and allowed my fingers to lightly touch my lips. I could still feel his lips on mine, still feel the electricity coursing through them. They were warm and soft. Supple and strong and demanding, but still gentle and coaxing. At first I froze, I didn't know what I was supposed to do. So, I just let him lead my lips, and took his actions to mine and reversed them. Inevitably, I became so turned-on by his kiss, but I couldn't focus on that at the moment. I was too embarrassed that he was my first kiss. I didn't want to admit that to him. I just revealed one, big secret about myself to him, I was a little hesitant to find out how he would take the news that he was my first kiss. They knew about my lack of experience, and not just in the military, but my love life -- or lack thereof, in general. But still, to say that your first kiss didn't happen until you were twenty-four? That's not just sad.
It's downright pathetic.
I didn't even hear or notice when Jasper had re-entered the diningroom, until he had placed a plate down in front of me and I inhaled the smell of the chicken. Whatever spices he had used, mixed with the homemade salad and dressing, was making my stomach growl, and my mouth to flood with saliva in anticipation.
"Edward?" Jasper asked once I dove in.
I looked up at him, my mouth open and fork halfway in, and noticed that he looked timid for the first time.
I put my fork down and shut my mouth, "Yes?" I asked, just as timidly.
"How . . . uh, how much experience . . . do you actually have?" he asked.
I blushed and sighed. He might as well know now instead of later.
"None," I whispered. "That was my first kiss," I admitted.
I heard him let out a sigh, and muttered something I couldn't hear underneath his breath. "Jasper?"
His eyes rose to mine, and I smiled. "Thank you," I told him.
Jasper sighed again, but the corner of his mouth turned up. "Edward . . . I really do like you . . ." he sighed, again. "But I feel like . . . I'm corrupting you . . . you're so . . . innocent, and you have . . . no real experience to pull from . . . I just . . ." he let out a frustrated sigh again and ran his hand through his curly, golden locks. My eyes traveled the line of his hand. My hand twitched. I suddenly found myself wanting to feel his hair between my fingers, against my cheek, beneath my lips. I was a little startled by the intensity of the want.
"I just want you to be sure . . . that you do want to try this. I'm looking for a relationship, Edward. Not just to be some experiment. I've been in your place and I understand what you're feeling. I'm willing to let you set the pace, and I expect you to tell me if I go too far, or if you become too uncomfortable or scared. But . . . I guess my main question is, what are you looking for? We need to be on the same page if anything is going to happen. This is going to be hard enough on its own, let alone the added stress on not telling the truth to each other, or rushing, or other stupid misunderstandings."
I nodded, completely understanding what he was saying.
"I do want this, Jasper. I'm absolutely sure, and I won't change my mind somewhere down the road. I want to be with you, in whatever way you'll have me, as terrifying as that sounds to me. And yes, in a way, you are an experiment, but it's not intentional. I'm not using you to figure myself out. I want to be in a relationship with you, Jasper. And, I'll try not to set the pace too slow," I hesitated before continuing, "if we can, we could just . . . go with the flow?" I hadn't meant for that to come out as a question, but it did regardless.
Jasper smiled then, and my breath caught in my throat. This was a smile I've never seen. Jasper is always calm and laid back, but this smile, this was a very happy and excited smile. One that I was going to try my damnedest to keep on his face whenever possible.
We talked about nothing and everything while we ate. We were both still down from the last two days, but it was like an unspoken rule to just not talk about it anymore, so we didn't.
At around 8:30, Jasper pulled me into the livingroom after dinner was finished, and his dishes were loaded into the dishwasher.
"Edward, Emmett and Bella know of my sexual preference. I'll understand if you don't want to, but please know that they are supportive. They're the definition of spportive. Would you let me tell them of our relationship?"
I sighed. I guess having a few people know that we both trust was okay.
Looking back at Jasper, into his eyes, I nodded and said, "Yeah. I trust Emmett with my life everyday, so I think I can trust him with this."
Jasper smiled that smile from the kitchen again, and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest for a moment, loving the feel of his arms wrapped around me, then sat up and cupped his face in between my hands.
I leaned forward and started the kiss, letting him know that this was okay for me. I wanted him to know that this is what I want, and that, yes, I may be scared but to me, he's worth taking the risk for. I tried to convey these feelings into this kiss. I pushed my gratefulness, my excitement, my fear, my contentment, my happiness and my want into this kiss. He groaned when I nibbled on the end of his tongue. Eventually, though, we both had to pull away from each other so we could breathe, or else we'd end up passing out, and took a few deep breaths before leaning back into each other and recaptured the other's lips. Jasper pushed me back until I was laying with my back on the couch, he crawled up my body. He started kissing my chin, up my jaw and nibbled on my lobe.
He licked my pulse point and blew a breath on it before placing an open mouth kiss there, and biting gently as he sucked. I moaned and shivered and couldn't stop the thrust of my hips. We both groaned as we grazed at each other, and Jasper laid all his weight on top of me. I was pinned beneath him and completely loving it. We ended up kissing for a few more minutes before Jasper finally pulled away.
"We have to get to the bar, and if we don't stop now, we won't," he smiled at me and pulled me up from the couch. We both had to adjust ourselves, and grabbed out jackets.
We met Bella and Emmett inside the bar. This was the troop's normal place. Emmett had already informed Joe, the bartender, of what had happened yesterday. We all grabbed a drink and Jasper stood up at the mike, making a speech.
"Hello everyone, and good evening. Today is a memorable day, for so many reasons. This morning, we lost ten members of our fourteen-member squad. We will forever mourn those of the family that were lost this morning. These men were brave, and loving. They all had families and truly loved this country. They gave their lives today, to try and save a young girl from terrorists. Unfortunately, we didn't arrive in time. Today is a day of endings and beginnings," he raised his glass and smiled at me. "Let us make a toast to those who we have lost, the past; and to those who we will gain, and the happiness that is to come again; the future."
Everyone in the bar raised their glasses and smiled, a "Here, here," heard throughout the establishment, and took a drink.
When Jasper came back, Bella was crying again and Emmett was comforting his older sister.
"Guys," Jasper said, taking the seat right beside me. "I have some good news to go with this bad."
Bella wiped her tears and hugged Emmett one last time before sliding out of his lap and back to her chair. My hand was perched on my knee and I felt Jasper lace his fingers through mine.
Emmett, ever the impatient one, let out a huff and after a few seconds of silence, asked, "Well, what is it?"
Jasper lifted our joined hands onto the table and looked at me. My eyes locked with his and he smiled that kitchen smile that I was beginning to love. Sighing, I turned back to the two people sitting across from us.
Emmett's jaw was on the table, and I had to stifle an oncoming chuckle, as his eyes were locked on our hands. Bella was smiling at us. After a few moments of Emmett's staring I slipped my hand from Jasper's and sat on it. I was worried Emmett wasn't as understanding as Jasper promised. I started to squirm in my seat, feeling really uncomfortable. The movement of my hand from Jasper's seemed to jar Emmett out of his shock, and Jasper looked at me a little hurt, but mostly questioning.
"This is awesome!" Emmett finally spoke. I looked at him and he smiled at me. "I'm proud of you for being open with us," he added as an after thought. Then laughed and took a sip of his beer.
I laughed inside my head, but let out a chuckle that everyone could hear.
"When did this happen?" he asked, his voice curious.
I shook my head at him, smiling, and slipped my hand back into Jasper's. He looked over at me and smiled.
Jasper launched into the whole story, me adding to it where I could.
The two just smiled and congratulated us.
This wasn't so bad after all.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Hi Everyone!
Ok once again I've gotta thank my beta Princess HarleyHeaven. There will never be enough words or gestures to how much I heart her! Your amazing skills have helped my chapters and stories to be the best they can be.
So They're being supported, and Edward is starting to become a little more comfortable with this himself. Hope you enjoy it.