Chapter 12 - April

After trying for so long to fight my attraction to Jasper, I knew I was at the tail end of a losing battle. I wasn't under the assumption that he was in love with me, but at the moment, I couldn't bring myself to care. He may not have been the Prince Charming I had always dreamed of, but the urge to allow him access to my body had become too great for me to deny. He was my mate, for better or worse, and right now, I wanted to experience some of what that title had to offer.

"How open to the idea are you?" Jasper asked. "If I wanted to take you right now, would you let me?"

Something about the way Jasper had intervened when that other man approached me had made my desire for him even more apparent. I had never been one to fall into the trope of the jealous lover, but tonight, it was definitely working for me.

Add to that the fact that I was still trying to convince Jasper that not all women would treat him poorly, and all my reasons not to sleep with him had gone out the window.

His eyes roved over my body, hidden beneath a thin layer of blue fabric. I had chosen it because the color matched his eyes—the same stormy, blue eyes that were undressing me as we spoke.

"Pretty open," I admitted. "Why don't you undress me, and we'll see what happens?"

Jasper shook his head at my suggestion. "The dress stays on," he commanded. "But take off your panties."

"As you wish," I replied.

I hooked my thumbs underneath the hem of my skirt and pulled them off, dropping them to the floor between us.

"Now it's your turn," I said, stepping forward and moving my hands to undo the belt around his waist. I tilted my head up and leaned in to kiss him, but he stepped back to prevent it.

The confusion and hurt I felt must have been evident on my face.

"I told you, it's just sex," Jasper explained uncomfortably. "No kissing. If you want to change your mind, I would understand."

"I'm not going to change my mind. I know exactly what I want to happen," I said.

I could manage this without the kissing. Somehow, some way, I would find the secret to breaking through his icy exterior. Underneath it all was a man worthy of healing, and I was determined to unlock the door to him.

He finished unbuckling his belt and moved on to the button and zipper. "And what exactly do you want to happen?"

"I want you to know me. All of me," I said honestly. "And I want to know you deeper, too."

"We'll know each other deeper in just a minute," Jasper said, smirking at my double entendre. "But first, I want you to remember your promise to obey my commands." He looked at me seriously, waiting for an answer to his unasked question.

"Yes, Alpha," I responded demurely.

He stepped forward and placed one hand on my waist, moving the other under my dress so he could feel between my legs. My body reacted almost instantly to his touch, becoming aroused as he stroked me with his fingertips.

"Good girl," he whispered intimately as I felt his fingers becoming wet.

My breath came in spurts as I began to pant. I leaned into his body, wanting to feel his warmth against my exposed skin. His powerful arm moved his hand delicately and methodically for a few moments, teasing my opening. When he deemed that I was ready to continue, he stopped and abruptly turned my body around, pushing me gently toward the bed.

I climbed atop it and began to lay back.

"No," he growled in a low tone.

He was trying to control his passion, but I could hear the desire in his voice. He grabbed my ankles and dragged me toward the edge of the bed, flipping me onto my stomach as he did.

"I want you to look into my eyes," I told him, turning myself back over to face him. I sat up so that I could reach him and pulled him gently over so that he was forced to brace himself with his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist, and I reached down to feel the erection pressing through the fabric of his briefs before shifting the fabric down to expose him. My hand wrapped around his shaft, and I pulled him carefully toward me.

His weight shifted as he leaned onto one forearm and wrapped his hand behind my shoulder. He plunged into my opening, and I inhaled sharply, surprised by his sudden urgency. I bit my lip as waves of excitement flowed through me.

My hips rocked in sync with his as our tempo increased, bringing us closer to the edge as I stared into his eyes.

"Yes, Jasper," I moaned.

As soon as I said his name, he stopped, standing up and flipping me back over onto my stomach. His hands gripped me by my hips as he reinserted himself quickly and continued to ravage me from behind.

"Don't. Talk," he growled, each word punctuated by a powerful thrust. "It's. Just. Sex."

I could tell I had angered him, but I didn't regret it. All I could think about was that I wanted his body closer to me—as close as he could get. I arched my back as he continued his thrusts. His breathing became labored as he exerted himself.

I gripped the bed in front of me as I felt him enter me again and again. My skin began to sweat from our exertions, and I could feel my stomach tightening with my arousal as I approached the pinnacle. I bit down on the sheets as I climaxed, muffling the sound of my euphoria.

He pulled out quickly, and I heard a grunt as he reached his own release. When he was done, he wiped himself on the sheets of the bed next to me.

My legs felt unsteady as I rose from the bed and located my underwear. A part of me wished that I had gotten through to him, but most of my mind was preoccupied with replaying everything that had just occurred. A rush of endorphins coursed through me, clearing my mind and relaxing my body.

"Don't try that again," Jasper warned, clearly angry at me for trying to turn our quickie into something more meaningful.

Without another word, he zipped his pants and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

I sighed and sat back down on the bed, frustrated that our first sexual encounter had ended this way. I had made the mistake of thinking this date was a turning point for us, but I had been wrong. There was more work for me to do if I was ever going to help Jasper to change.