AN: Thanks to Lauren (leckadams) for purchasing this story almost two years ago, and waiting patiently for me to get my shit together.
Well folks, I got good news and bad news. The good news is I finished another chapter – Yay! The bad news is it's going to take a while to get you the next one. For the next 5 weeks I'm taking an additional class, so I'll be working full-time, and going to school full-time, so add homework on top of that and I'll have little to no free time. I'm going to continue to write when I can during this time and hopefully post as well. My plan is to get the next chapter out in the next few weeks, but I can't guarantee it.
We are winding down with only a few more chapters to go before the epilogue, and I promise you that every element of this story has been accounted for and will be neatly wrapped and tied with a pretty bow by the end.
Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews and PM's, you honestly have no idea what it means to me. Please keep sending me your questions and thoughts.
Layne Faire is a beta champ. Not only did she make it look pretty, but she did it in less than 24 hours.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.
Chapter 10
Rain fell earlier, making the bayou even more lush and green than normal. With droplets of moisture clinging to leaves and bark, the slow swish of water, and the earthy aroma, it's tranquility personified…for me, at least.
Traveling past a sliver of late afternoon sun, Jasper lifts his face to the sky, soaking up the weakening rays. He looks absolutely ravishing this evening–freshly shaven, low hanging dark jeans, paired with a dark burgundy V-neck t-shirt. His hair is tied back tonight, something I've never seen him do before, but find it sexy as hell.
I sigh dreamily, thinking about our morning tryst and the ensuing shower together before we'd hit the road. So far, he's been an attentive and amazing lover. I expect nothing less when we get around to having sex, which will hopefully come later on this evening.
After arriving back at the inn, we'd both sat in the truck listening to the engine idle, not wanting our time together to come to an end. I'd been pleasantly surprised when Jasper asked me to go out with him again tonight. I'd been quick with my reply, resisting the urge to punctuate it with, "well duh!"
When he'd given me the choice of what we'd be doing I went with my first impulse, telling him I'd like to go dancing. Jasper seemed hesitant at first, and I regretted the choice instantly, thinking that maybe I should've suggested we spend a quiet evening together instead. Ever since I saw him dance with Jacob, though, I'd envisioned it was us together on that crowded floor, grinding against each other.
From what I understand, what happens on the island – stays on the island. With that in mind, I'd decided earlier, that while I'm there, I'd be myself. I couldn't wait to show up on Jasper's arm, letting everyone see that I'd snagged the most beautiful guy in the room.
But sitting here now, all I can think about is getting him alone…stripping off that shirt, licking and biting his smooth jaw, tugging on that fucking ponytail…shit.
Well, what's done is done. I don't know how many more opportunities I'll have to get back to the island before I leave, so I want to enjoy tonight and make the most of what we have left.
I need to expend the energy anyway. I'm full of nerves, as I always am after I've had a new experience in Rosalie's backyard. It seems like whenever I find myself in the midst of the eeriness, something odd transpires. And this afternoon had been no exception.
The remainder of the voyage through the marsh I contemplate the incident that occurred right before Jasper appeared for our date. I'd been in the backyard—on the patio—planning on waiting there for his arrival. But, as the minutes passed, I became anxious for the evening to start and I'd left the safety of the deck.
The backyard is still getting to me; I know it. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I'm doing it to myself. Fueled by an overactive imagination, and an excess of adrenaline, I'm letting one bizarre experience multiply into others. I've never had anything like this occur anywhere else, but it never fails to deliver a shocking message whenever I step onto that soil.
I'd stepped into the gloomy terrain, feeling the heaviness in the atmosphere almost immediately. I'd intended on heading right for the small boardwalk, but when I passed the tree – our tree, I couldn't help but attempt to replicate what happened the last time I'd touched it. My shaky fingers paused while I took a deep breath to calm myself, then I placed them lightly on the bark.
I saw nothing. I felt…
Nada.
Smiling in satisfaction, I'd closed my eyes, tracing the letters 'J' and 'E' with the pad of my index finger, claiming our tree. What I saw after I opened my eyes stole my breath away.
Clear as day, the letters I'd just traced were beautifully imbedded into the bark—right before a gust of wind swept them away.
I'd swear it'd been real…that I'd really seen the elegantly scripted letters deeply engraved into the tree.
It looked real, it felt real, but it wasn't. It's another figment…again.
That little patch of land is seriously messing with my head, and unfortunately the tiresome inexplicability of yet another event has affected my mood. I'd love to ask Jasper about it – ask him if he's had any similar experiences there—but I'm certain he'd just think I'm crazy.
He watches me now, giving me his full attention while he skillfully maneuvers over and around a downed tree. I bet he could make it to the island with his eyes closed. It amazes, yet at the same time, irritates me—that he knows this path so well. I tell him this without disguising my annoyance, but he just lifts an amusing brow in retaliation, pissing me off a little more.
"I guess you should be able to, since you apparently go every night," I spout, derisively.
Oh my God, I couldn't stop this…attitude if I tried, but I want to—desperately. I don't want to be in a bad mood. I don't want the crazy things that happen to me in the backyard to affect me now.
But my unfair rant only causes him to laugh out loud, and me to huff in frustration. Not only am I unable to control my ornery disposition; I can't even contain my vexing thoughts.
How often Jasper's been to the island, or what activities he'd participated in while he was there, before we became intimate shouldn't matter to me now. Unfortunately, knowing it shouldn't upset me doesn't quite make it happen.
There's an uncomfortable silence, while I try to shake this shit off.
"Well, for your information, I usually went once every couple of weeks. I didn't start goin' every night until you arrived," he offers quietly, pausing when we make eye contact. "I didn't find any relief, Edward. None." He promises.
The implication of what he's saying, and why he's conveying it, creates a warm, mushy feeling inside me. Hearing him confirm what Seth had already told me—that he really hasn't been with anyone since I've been staying at the inn—effectively ends my bout of insolence.
Jasper seems to sense the change in me, and shakes his head, chuckling.
"Aren't you a little moody?"
"Yeah… sorry…lack of sleep, I suppose," I concede, refusing to let the earlier incident, or my wayward insecurities, mar my evening with Jasper.
"I guess I'm gonna have to make sure you sleep well tonight then," he suggests.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," I shoot back.
"You, my darlin', have everything to say about that."
Jasper navigates us into the wider, cleaner waters with extreme ease. Straightening up, he raises a brow in challenge, but there isn't any residue of agitation left in me, and I smile conspiratorially at his invitation to spar.
He winks at me, then waves jovially to a nearby police officer patrolling the area in a well-lit motorboat, overtly displaying "Bonnefoy County Police Department" painted in bold black letters on each side of the water vehicle.
"How are they so blasé about all of this…debauchery?" I ask, signaling toward the cop. I'd noticed them before, but I didn't have the nerve to ask about them. Every other time I've been in this boat, there'd been so much discord between us that conversation seemed out of the question.
Jasper laughs, clearly in a stellar mood tonight. He's acting differently since our road trip to Acadiana—but not in a bad way.
Actually, it's been in a really good way.
He's been smiling…a lot. And he's really playful.
"They allow us to go a little overboard on the island, figuring that if we fulfill all our disturbing tendencies out here than we'll be less likely to do it in front of polite society."
"So, why do they even bother coming out here? They don't start trouble?" I ask, still gawking at the authorities.
"They're here doin' their job—by keepin' the peace. They make sure there are no fights and all the drunks get home safely." Jasper shuts off engine and docks the boat.
He stares at me incredulously. "We're not reprobates Edward. They don't hate us. On the mainland we don't change—we're still gay and most of them accept us the way we are. We date, we hold hands, we even kiss a little, and it doesn't bother people much. It's when we're not so civil that our actions aren't readily tolerated." He shrugs, then continues, "But, we don't mind this none."
Jasper jumps off the platform into the soft sand. He smiles, walking backward toward our destination. He's a few feet ahead of me, his eyes shining, and he looks so fucking sexy. His arms spread out, as wide as the smile on his face. "This is our island Edward, and we welcome whoever wants to come. So, what're ya waitin' for?" He turns around, running toward the bar, with me racing to catch up.
I'll follow him anywhere.
XXXXX
Stay Still by Edward M. Cullen - cont'd
"So, am I being charged, Sheriff Whitlock?"
Jeremy's gut wrenches at the formality of Tony's words and the blank look portrayed in his eyes.
"No." Jeremy relents.
"Good…then I can go?" He doesn't wait for an answer, abruptly standing up and jarring the steel chair when he does. James jumps to his feet, intending to follow him, but Tony turns angrily. "No need for an escort James, I've been here enough to know my own way out."
It's true. He'd just been to the station three days ago, sharing a couple of loaded pizzas with the two of them. He'd made sure Jeremy and his deputy had eaten when they'd spent late nights working on the case.
The case Jeremy had been building against him.
The door opens, revealing a desperate looking Maria pacing the floor on the other side. She doesn't look past Tony's slumped figure, only having eyes for her brother. She puts an arm around his waist, ushering him away.
"Fuck," James utters, his head hitting the interrogation table.
"I can't believe this," Jeremy manages to grit out.
James raises his head, staring at the wall ahead. "Well, you know what they say about keeping your enemies close…"
But Jeremy couldn't believe that.
Had their entire friendship been a lie?
XXXXX
The night is young, but the bar is already swarming with men, and a slew of women. Apparently, there are a few bachelor/bachelorette parties in progress—explaining why the guys and gals are outside, doing their thing on a Sunday night. I don't bother lingering out there—not when I'd rather walk in on the arm of Jasper instead.
He seems to be sociable tonight. With Jasper's arm wrapped around my waist, he stops at several tables along the edges of the bar to chat with friends or acquaintances of his. There's no doubt we're here together—and he's letting everyone know it.
We sit at a crowded table, full of his buddies, and they introduce themselves, but it's already too loud and overwhelming for me to hear most of them. I'm not concerned, figuring I'd just ask Jasper for a recap of their names later.
We're only chatting for a few minutes when I feel a soft tap on my shoulder.
"Hey Seth," I greet, genuinely happy and slightly abashed to see him. My face heats in remembrance of my previous display of misplaced affection after I'd only just met him.
I feel extremely guilty for kissing Seth; even more so for just leaving the poor boy standing there afterward. He didn't have any idea what was going on with Jasper and I, and didn't deserve the way he was treated by either of us.
Yeah, I'm going to have to apologize for that one.
I shouldn't have let Seth kiss me—I shouldn't have kissed him back, and Jasper shouldn't have yelled at him. Nonetheless, here he is, standing in front of us with no hard feelings, offering a bright smile and looking as friendly as ever.
Seth says "Hi" around the table, his cheeks turning pink under the perusal of Jasper's friends.
I notice one guy in particular staring at him in a way that sets my own skin on fire.
"Get lost Seth," Jasper seethes.
"No," I counter, holding onto Seth's arm firmly, not allowing him to be punished for something that hadn't been his fault. "Stay."
I beseech Jasper with my eyes, silently asking for his trust. When his eyes soften, I know I've got his acquiescence, and I reward his yielding nature by planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek. "We're going to go get a drink. I'll be back."
He growls, but smacks my retreating ass. I've noticed he likes to do this. I've also noticed that I don't seem to mind when he does. I'm actually quite fond of him touching my ass—and the sting isn't all that unpleasant, either.
Miraculously, we reach the bar without getting groped or manhandled along the way.
After ordering beers, we embrace briefly, and I love the way our hug doesn't seem forced. Sadly, I wish I felt this comfortable with just one of my 'friends' back home.
"So, I see you and Jasper are here 'together-together' this time," he deduces, nudging my elbow with his. I smile bashfully in return, watching his beautiful light green eyes sparkle with understanding while his gaze drifts from Jasper's table back to me.
"Holy shit, it's as serious as all that?" he guesses, while his finger skims over my heated cheek. I peek at Jasper, discovering that he's been observing us. I wink at him, before turning back to Seth, who is also eyeing Jasper with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Stop messing with him, Seth."
"C'mon…look how cute he is when he's irritated," he implores, with a devilish smile.
"Yeah, he is isn't he?" I concede, with an inordinate degree of pride. My date is hot…which reminds me...
"So, what's up with the way the gorgeous guy sitting across from Jasper was staring at you?"
Seth glances over to the table, quickly blushing when he notices that the good-looking man is also gazing in our direction.
"You must be mistaken. That guy is way out of my league."
"I don't think he agrees. You should ask him to dance," I suggest.
"And watch him laugh in my face? No thank you."
"I think you're wrong – I saw the way he was looking at you."
"He's been around a while, Edward," Seth replies, resignedly. "If that were the case, he'd have already made it known."
"Maybe he's just shy," I reason, although it doesn't seem fathomable.
"Yeah, right…did you even look at him? Boys that look like that—they aren't shy."
"Well, I think you'd make an adorable couple."
"Whatever," he deadpans.
Chuckling, we simultaneously turning to the bar when our beers arrive and take long pulls from the icy bottles. When I place mine back on the bar, I find Seth watching me with a huge smile on his face, instigating a fit of laughter.
"What?" I ask, self-consciously.
"You look so different from the last time I saw you. You were so unhappy and confused…like tense and unsure." He stiffens his whole body, painting a sad look on his face to illustrate his point.
"Shut up. I didn't look like that," I admonish.
"Well, Jasper clearly brings out the best in you," he decides with satisfaction, relaxing his posture again.
"Yeah?" It's not like I haven't noticed. I sense the resplendent happiness that seems to radiate throughout me, but I didn't think it'd be that visible to others.
I wonder if Jasper notices too. Maybe that's why he's been so happy.
"So, Jasper's sister's gotta be delighted he's moved on."
Aw, shit! I was supposed to call Alice this morning and arrange some visitation. Dammit. I guess one more day isn't going to make a difference. It's too late to start worrying about that now.
"What's up?" he asks, detecting my brief plight.
I shake my head, "Nothing, I planned to call my sister today and forgot. But, to answer your question—Rosalie doesn't know yet."
"Why? What's he waiting for?"
"Me," I admit, reluctantly.
I don't know what it is about Seth that makes him so approachable, but I spend the rest of my beer telling him about my dilemma—that I wanted to apprise my family first, but I'm frightened of how they'll react.
Seth offers the right amount of sympathy and understanding to make me glad I've confided in him. It's nice to finally talk about it with someone—especially someone who doesn't have a vested interest. He encourages me to open up and talk to Jasper about it, but something still holds me back from doing so.
And I'm not ready to admit that reason out loud – even to Seth.
The truth of it is, I don't want to lie to Jasper.
Telling him my only issue for not 'coming out' is that I'm waiting to inform my family seems like an outright lie - and until I figure it out for myself - I don't want to mention it to him.
What if, after I've spoken my family, I'm still not willing to be open with my sexuality?
I'm convinced that I won't have my answer until I've told them. In the meantime, I refuse to promise Jasper something I'm not sure I can give him right now.
"Oh well, it's not like your sticking around anyway."
He studies my stricken expression, then snorts, shaking his head in mild disgust. He's about to say something that, based on his facial expression, is guaranteed to annoy me, but I'm saved by a large man laying a hand on Seth's arm.
"Hey Seth…y'wanna dance, baby?" He's cute, but a little on the heavier side - and older.
Seth looks contemplative, before nodding slowly – decisively.
His smile is forlorn. "See, Edward," he hitches a thumb in the direction of the guy that's asked him to dance – the shimmer gone from his eyes. "This guy…he's in my league. I've tried to play with the big boys, and I've paid for it."
He slams the remainder of his beer, and I watch as he leads the stocky man onto the dance floor.
He's wrong. He can do so much better than that.
I sigh, searching out Jasper with my eyes, watching from a distance while he laughs and converses with his friends.
"Well, it looks like you're not sticking around anyway."
Seth's words haunt me.
Why am I standing here when I should be spending every single minute I have left with Jasper?
Placing my empty bottle on the counter, I grasp the fresh one that has just been delivered. When I turn, I notice Jasper's gorgeous friend sitting at the bar, with a big sexy pout on his face. I still have eyes…
He directs a glare toward the dance floor, before hunching up to the bar.
A matchmaker - I am not, but it doesn't stop me from leaning across my seat. "He's single, y'know."
He has a killer smile, one that makes me a little fainthearted. "What makes you think I care?" he contests, his voice smooth as satin.
"You-you stare at him," I stutter.
His smile falters, turning a wistful glance toward Seth's dancing figure.
"Yeah, well, it's more complicated than that."
"Complications can yield the best rewards," I rebuke, a little braver.
"Good advice," he concedes.
We both stare at each other while we take swigs from our beers.
"So, you're Jasper's boyfriend, huh?" Boyfriend…I wish.
"Uh well, it's complicated," I throw his words back at him, hoping it will effectively divert the question.
"Complications yield the best rewards," he repeats, causing us both to chuckle.
"You pay attention."
He just nods, then tips his beer in my direction, before pulling on it again.
I extend a hand. "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name back there. I'm Edward."
His grip is strong, and sure. "It's nice to meet you Edward. I'm Garrett."
Garrett glances across the bar, the smile he's sporting disappearing in a flash. I'm afraid to see what Seth has done to cause such a disgusted look to pass over his features, but I hope he didn't go to the backroom with that guy. Seth clearly wasn't thrilled with the man's company, and he deserves better than to settle for some tepid attraction.
"What's wrong?" I ask, cautiously.
"How close are you and Jasper?"
"Very close, why?" I ask, noticing his tensed posture—like an agitated animal ready to pounce.
"Because Jasper has never turned down Jacob, and well, he just walked in."
"Jasper wouldn't do that to me," I say, but my newly born confidence plunges when I watch Jacob stride in, exuding grace and sex appeal. Men stare at him, lustfully, from every direction. Seth's even stopped dancing and is also ogling the man.
"Are you a fan too?" I manage to say between gritted teeth.
"Me? Absolutely not. I wouldn't touch that bastard with a ten-foot pole." Looking around, he grunts. "But it appears we're in the minority."
Garrett's right, but Jacob doesn't even notice the attention he's drawn. He only has eyes for one man, and I know the very second he finds his prey.
I watch, paralyzed when Jasper's eyes fall on Jacob in mid-conversation with his friend. They connect, and their contact doesn't break.
Jacob doesn't waste any time heading in Jasper's direction.
It's like watching two cars just moments away from colliding. You want to stop it from happening – but it's inevitable.
"What are you doing standing here with me? Go get your man. Don't let him win." Garrett nudges me forward, finally waking me up from my daze.
Jacob reaches him before I do, automatically pulling Jasper into his side, to kiss his cheek, like he'd done the last time we were here. I stumble when I realize that Jasper has yet to pull away from him.
He won't do this to me.
I pray I'm right when I step up to them. I think I stop breathing when Jasper seems startled, then angry at my sudden arrival.
He's about to say something to me when Jacob interrupts. "Oh, hi…Edmund, right?" He puts extra enunciation on his mistake, and I'd wager he's done it deliberately.
Jasper stiffens, turning his attention back to the man with his arm still around him. "Don't act like your surprised to see him Jake. I told you that I'd be here with Edward tonight."
So, he'd already warned Jake that he'd be here with me.
Just fucking great.
"But chéri, when you stopped by this afternoon I told you that I'll be parting with shipment soon, and won't be back for sometime. You said you were bringing your friend to dance. Yes? I only thought we could spend a bit of time together, then you can dance with your ami."
Jasper stopped by Jacob's?
He's still seeing him?
To say that I feel betrayed and hurt is an understatement. I wish I could run, but there's nowhere for me to go. I'm on an island for christsakes…trapped here.
Maybe I can catch a ride with Seth.
Without thinking, I'm backing up.
"Don't do it," Jasper warns, lowly. His tone is dark and threatening, but there's an edge of desperation in his eyes.
He finally pushes Jacob's hands away from him. "Then you misunderstood, Jacob. I felt like I'd made it explicitly clear when you asked me to drop off the part you ordered from Emmett that I'd be here with Edward – in every sense. I never mentioned comin' here with just a friend."
I should have never doubted him. Dammit, but it's still so hard for me to believe that someone like him would only want me.
"What are you saying Jasper?" Jacob insists.
"He's saying that he's here, with me…together." I finally take a stance, placing my arm around Jasper's waist—pulling him close. He doesn't mirror the action, but I take comfort in the fact that he hasn't pushed me away.
"So, are you saying you'd prefer to spend the evening with this gens rather than with me?" he says, eyeing me with disbelief.
"I don't know why you're doing this Jake, but since you are, I'm tellin' you, again, that I'm here with Edward and no one else. Now if you don't mind, I promised him that'd we'd dance…among other things." The last three words are said in such a way that there is no uncertainty as to what the meaning is.
Jasper leads me to the dance floor, spinning me around forcefully. The syncopated sound of bass and snare drums thrum through the sound system in a delightfully sinuous melody, making it difficult to hear Jasper's voice, but I cope, and his angry words cut deeply.
"I trusted you with Seth, so why couldn't you trust me to handle Jacob?"
His point is valid, and I start to respond, but my mouth clicks shut when I realize I don't have an acceptable explanation.
He shakes me softly, his anger giving way to a hurt that is plainly visible in his eyes. "Why?"
And the pain in his voice goes straight to my heart.
"I'm so sorry Jasper…I just want to be with you so badly that I wasn't thinking. I know you have…something…with him, and I don't want him to steal you away. I should have trusted you, I was just so scared," I appeal to him, clutching at his neck, trying to pull him closer to me, but he flips me around, ripping my shirt over my head in the process.
When he tugs me back against him, the bare skin of my back connects with his shirtless chest. Wrapping his hands around my middle, he thrusts his groin against my ass.
"We've already had this conversation, so don't doubt it Edward. While you're here, you're mine, and I'm yours."
While it's no declaration of love, it still means everything to me.
I raise my hands, hooking them behind Jasper's neck, rotating my ass against his cock. He holds my hips tightly, and it doesn't take long for us to find a mind-blowing rhythm that rapidly drives me to the very brink of my sanity.
I want him so much that I ache.
One of his hands comes up to tangle in my hair, pulling my head back to expose my neck to his hungry mouth. He dips right in for a taste.
His fingernails scratch at my scalp while his other hand settles on my waist, digging into the smooth flesh located there. His dick pulsates to it's own beat, relentlessly yearning against my backside. I feel his desire…his longing, pressing, needing, begging.
I'm helpless when his blistering palms spread over my body, roaming…heating every inch of my chest and stomach, desperately kneading and squeezing. At this point he's only able to give by taking what he needs, and I love his abandonment. I don't just eat it up, I swallow it whole, consuming every one of his greedy touches like a starving man.
He pauses at my nipples, tweaking them, and I arch into his hands, pushing my ass into his rock hard erection at the same time.
"Kiss me," I plead, turning my face to his. It's an awkward angle and our lips barely meet, but our tongues urgently twist and flick against each other. I cry out when he latches onto my dick, massaging me through my jeans, until I can't stand the torture any longer.
I turn in his arms and our mouths immediately open for one another, my shaft mashing directly over his, steel meeting steel. We manage three dances…three dances of unadulterated agony, and I'm about to blow my load.
Apparently he feels the same way.
"Let's get outta here," he proposes, gruffly.
"No. Here. I can't wait. I want to taste you now," I respond, fiercely.
Jasper looks confused.
"Take me to the back." My smile is wicked, filled with pure naughtiness.
"No," he insists, stubbornly.
Huh?
"I want to go back there. Please Jasper."
"Why?" His question perplexes me. Isn't that what one does when they get horny and they want their partner?
"You don't want to take me back there?" My voice is small, and I can't quash the feeling of rejection.
Jasper looks unhappy, but he swivels, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the back. "Fine. C'mon."
First and foremost, I want to go to the backroom to express my very primal need for Jasper, but I have to admit there's also this base urge to claim him as mine. My eyes scan the bar, making sure I have an audience of one. Jacob. It's important to me that he sees Jasper taking me back there—and he does. I only give him a moment's notice, like an annoying task I'm able to check off my list, then move on without a second thought.
I gawp at Jasper's butt as I follow him to the entrance of the pleasure filled area. Our t-shirts hang from the waistband of his low-rise jeans, a drape hiding his gorgeous ass I'm only moments away from having my hands on.
The doorway is covered with a dark, thick cover. He pulls the fabric aside, before ushering me through. Once we make it back into the dimly lit area I tackle Jasper, kissing him passionately.
He's all I want.
All I think about.
But Jasper pulls away irritably.
"Jasper, what's wrong?" I question, breathlessly. But I see I've gotten way ahead of myself when Jasper stands idle and calm…deathly calm.
What have I done now?
"Look around you," he spits out.
Huh? Okay...
My eyes flit across the room impatiently.
Sheer curtains dangle everywhere, giving couples the illusion of semi-privacy. The air is damp, and reeks of sex, but it's not unbearable.
My eyes turn back to my love and he sees my confusion.
"Really look Edward," he demands, sternly.
My aggravation escalates; my focus becomes more acute. My eyes dart around the area.
"What do you hear?" he beseeches.
"Um, what do I hear? I hear grunts, moans…gasps…uh, whimpers?" I answer, locating where the latter noise is coming from. I spy a middle-aged man with hair covering his entire body, except for the crown of his head, sweating profusely. He wears a wedding ring as he pounds into a bent young boy, probably just old enough to get into this bar.
Jesus, the boy's got braces, for christsakes.
I quickly turn away, sickened by the sight just to be tormented by another - an obese man lurking in the corner, watching…us, while he strokes himself. His breath whistles through the large space between his front teeth, he whacks his tiny penis.
Jasper's voice is raspy against my ear. "This isn't what you think it is. It isn't sexy, Edward. This place is filth. Just look at what you're stepping in for fucksakes. Look closer," he commands.
He turns me around harshly, holding me tightly, so that my back presses against his chest, and my face is inches from a grimy wall. I'm sure it was once painted white, but it's now stained with dirt, sweat, cum and God knows what else.
I'm disgusted, and all the lust and desire I felt at being back here with him has died.
"This is where we go to simply satisfy an urge…to curb a craving. We come here because we don't want to take each other to our homes. Taking them home makes it something…it makes it real."
He turns me swiftly, gripping my face in his hands. Stabbing me with his piercing blue eyes, he whispers urgently…pleading for me to understand "You…Edward… You. Don't. Belong. Here. We…," he states, waving his hand between us, "…are better than this."
He brushes tears from my cheeks that I hadn't known were there, and envelopes me into his warm chest. I lean in, digging my fingers into the supple muscles of his back. He didn't want to bring me back here, not because he didn't want me or is ashamed of me, but because he thinks I'm better than this…better than anyone else he's ever brought back here.
This isn't a place you take someone you have feelings for.
I look at him with undisguised adoration in my eyes. "Let's get out of here."
We walk back through the bar toward the exit, our arms securely fastened around one another. Jacob is standing by the door with an arm draped around Seth, and there's no way we'll escape without one more confrontation.
"Where are you guys off to so early?" Jacob asks.
I keep my head down, letting Jasper handle this. At this point, I don't care what Jacob knows, or doesn't know.
It's insignificant.
I glance up at Seth, willing him to stay the fuck away from Jacob, but he doesn't even see me. He only has eyes for that asshole. Even though those eyes don't seem to be very happy right now.
Garrett's in the corner, staring moodily at his beer, and I want to scream out in frustration, but it's their problem—not mine.
I realize I might never see Seth again, and I do want him to be happy, but he's not a boy, he's a man—making his own choices.
Jasper glimpses down at me with a wide, happy smile, and everything but him is forgotten. He winks, and without even glancing at Jacob, answers his question with one final, softly spoken word.
"Home."
AN: lol, so if you've read any of my other stuff you know my stories aren't all about the sex, but no fear, the moment you've been waiting for is up next. By the way, don't think we're finished with Jacob yet…
As a matter of fact, this story will begin heating up next chapter in more ways than one, so since it's been working so well, I'm offering the same deal – with a review I'll give you a sampling of the next chapter but this time you get a choice of two different teasers. Let me know if prefer the 'Hell Yeah!' or the 'Oh No!' snippet. If you don't specify I'll just pick one for you. ;)
If you haven't told me what you've thought of the story yet, there is no better time to start; we're getting to the best parts!
Until the next time…xoxo