The Passing Years 36Between the Scenes Part 2

Title: The Passing Years
Author: Borntobewild13
Rating: M
Pairing: Jacob/Bella
Timeline: After Eclipse. Essentially, this is my version of BD (the book that shall not be mentioned)
Summary: After Eclipse, Jacob came back, got his life together and did pretty good...then he found out that for the last two years, Bella had been living in Port Angeles, that she was still human and unmarried. So, of course, now all bets are off.
Artwork by MajestaMoniet

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They were all gathered around Bella’s kitchen.

Jacob didn’t know what he was amused at the most. The different degrees of dubious expressions on Bella’s pack faces as he rattled off his knowledge of Charlie’s kitchen or their slightly disturbed and deepening awe as Caleb poked his head into cabinets and confirmed that what he was saying was true. “Cereal boxes are sorted by the majority of colors on their boxes. Left to right: red, blue, green and mixed.”

“In the next cabinet would be teapots, sorted by their motifs. Left to right: animals, fruit and flowers.”

“On the side drawers closest to the fridge, top to bottom is filled with the usual things: spoons, forks, spatula all gathered together. That’s kind of boring, but she saves those twisty little things that are usually used to close up the bags for cookies or candy or bread. She sorts them out by color into little Ziplocs.”

Brian hooted as Caleb lifted one and waved it around. Mercy snickered.

Those Ziploc was the straw that not only broke the camel’s back, it also killed it.

Lulu took her eyes off Jacob to stare at Bella who had refused to meet everyone's eyes. Instead she turned her redden cheeks away from them and stared at some watermark on her ceiling, she was trying to figure out what shape it was forming. So far, Bella thought it looked like a snail.

Silence blanketed the room as all eyes focused on Bella who gritted her teeth and tried not to let it get to her. Lulu waited a beat before exclaiming, “Bella.”

Lulu said her name like a mother who had found her child doing something really bad. Like, you know, messing up a kitchen.

Jacob tried to swallow his smile. He really did, but he guessed it showed in his voice. “Do you want me to continue?”

She flashed him a dirty look, but he merely took out a mug, poured coffee from a fresh pot—there was always a fresh something in Bella’s kitchen—and met her eyes with a bright smile.

Damien shook his head slowly in disbelief. “This is going to be long, hard battle.”

Murmurs of disappointment and sighs followed his statements from Tina and Misha as they milked the situation for all it was worth. Brian merely ambled off to the cabinets and pull out a big bag of chips. He shared it with Mercy and Caleb as they watched the others, expecting to be entertained.

“What?” Bella groused. “So I like to have things in order. And I arranged things in Charlie’s kitchen so of course things would be as I like it.” Her eyes flashed with irritation when her pack kept looking at her. “What?”

Lulu and Damien turned away, each wearing pained expressions as if it hurt to look at her. “Come on, folks. Shows over, let’s clean up the kitchen.” They hustled as Lulu herded them out of the room. “And we had such high hopes, too.”

“What are we going to do with her?” Damien muttered, his voice belying the amusement in his eyes.

“But, we didn't do anything. Why should we help to clean up?” Caleb complained.

“There’s more pie in the kitchen.” Lulu bribed.

“Excellent.” Caleb elbowed his way to the front. “Whoever gets there first gets the biggest piece.”

“What is your stomach made of? A blackhole?” Tina asked half-seriously. “Is this a Quileute thing?”

Mercy’s voice was nearly a murmur as they all thumped down the stairs. “I can eat pie.”

“It is a Quileute thing.” The others agreed simultaneously.

Jacob snickered as Bella turned to him and crossed her arms, her face red and mutinous. She looked like she was expecting an apology but Jacob merely looked at her. In fact, he was looking at her so intensely that Bella narrowed suspicious eyes at him. “Are you trying to think of more ways to embarrass me?”

“Actually, I’m waiting for you to stomp your foot.”

Jacob watched delightedly as her face grew even more bad tempered. Bella in a temper excited him. Anger looked gorgeous on her. 

“Fine. You won our bet. What do you want?”

He sipped his coffee, hiding his smile at the thought of all the things that he wanted from her…or do to her. “I don’t know, yet.”

Bella’s shoulders relaxed and she could feel a hint of a smile appeared on her lips as she looked at him. He had looked so comfortable and at ease in her kitchen and among her friends. She liked seeing him joking around with her friends—her pack. She was irked that he went after her with his stories and weird bets but that was just Jacob being Jacob. 

Their eyes met and his lips curved into a slow, sly smile. “But I’m sure I could think of something.”

Bella blinked. It wasn’t what he said, really. It was how he said it, his voice was a mix of chocolate and sugared creams; low and husky and…She shifted her feet at the look in his eyes: dark and heated.

She swallowed and she could feel her already warm cheeks starting to blaze. Thank God that her friends weren't here to hear him. They would never stop teasing her about it.

She heard him chuckle and his fingers grazed her left cheek. “If you keep blushing like that, you’ll get dizzy.”

She tried to elbow him aside but who was she kidding? Nobody could move Jacob unless he wanted to be moved. “I’m mad at you.”

His eyes shone with innocence. “For what?”

She narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t even bother, Jake.”

“Awwww, don’t be mad. I only wanted them to like me, so I shared some stories.”

Bella scoffed. “They already like you far too much for my comfort. I’m sure anyone of them would give you their first born if you ask for it.”

“I can get my own first born, thank you very much.” 

She lifted her eyes to him and felt her heart melt at the way he was looking at her while nerves wracked her heart at the implication of his words. “We haven’t even had a date yet and already you’re talking about kids?”

He shrugged and put his hands on her waist. “ You've seen them, remember? There were two.” He tilted his head in thought. “Do you think they were twins?”

Bella was taken aback by the way he casually mentioned her vision but then her mind was also caught up by the thought. She remembered the dark haired children, how could she not? The moment she saw them was one of the most defining moments of her life. And she remembered telling him about it, the look on his face, and the crushing weight in her chest every time she remembered it. She remembered hearing their children laugh as they ran into the forest, seemingly quite at home in the wild. Like their father.

A boy and a girl. They looked to be the same size. Rachel and Rebecca were twins, so…”Oh my God. It could be twins.”

Jacob did a double take, amazed that Bella was actually considering it, then burst out laughing at the look on her face. “Don’t sound so horrified, honey.”

“Twins, Jake. We could have twins.”

She looked so panicked at the thought that Jacob smothered the smile that threatened to erupt at hearing her say ‘we’ and rubbed her shoulders. “Bells honey, I think we should go on a date first before naming our kids.”

“Oh, that’s true.” Then she frowned. “Wait, why are we talking about my vision like it’s a done deal?”

“Why are we talking and using words like ‘my vision’?”

“Because we’re not normal?”

Jacob snickered, walked across the kitchen and sat on one of the sofas. He sent a wicked grin her way and patted his lap. Bella rolled her eyes but sat on his lap anyway. She giggled when he immediately wrapped her in a bear hug. For a second she thought that this should be awkward, weren't they still in the ‘nearly first date’ stage of their relationship; that nervous, strange phase of any relationship?

“So, where should we go on this date?”

Bella tucked her face against his shoulder, sniffing him. He smelled like oil and musk and sugar and strawberries. When it was clear that she was distracted, he nudged her with his chin. “Hey, answer me, woman.”

“Oh, the woman calling is starting all ready? Soon you’d have me chained to the kitchen.”

“I don’t have to, you already spend all your time in the kitchen. I just have to make sure you spend all your time in my kitchen now.”

Bella snorted, her breath tickling his neck. 

“So?”

“I don’t know. I asked you. So you decide on the place. Surprise me.”

Jacob eased his head away in order to see her better. “You hate surprises.”

“In order to survive in my pack, I've adapted.”

Jacob chuckled low in his throat, his chest rumbled against her cheek. “Was it really that bad?”

She drew figure eights against his T shirt. “It was touch and go for a while. But, I survived. Stockholm syndrome probably helped.”

That earned her another smile from him and she smiled against his neck before leaning her head against his shoulder. “Seriously, Jake. Surprise me. I’m sure anything you choose will be fine.”

“I could choose a bar for all you know.”

“Then I’d probably like it.”

He gave her a dubious look and she rolled her eyes. “ I've been to bars you know.”

He kept the dubious look on his face.

“Lulu. Damien.” She said as an explanation. “Besides, being you. You’d never take me to a place that’s not to my liking.”

“How’d you know?”

“Because you’re you. You can’t help it. You’re thoughtful like that.”

His lips curved when their foreheads met. “Am I?”

“Yes, that’s why I, you know, sort of love you.”

“Sort of?”

Her smile was impish and mischievous and fun. Jacob was fascinated…and of course, he just had to kiss her. As soon as their lips met, her arms wrapped around his neck while he clamped his body to hers with one arm while the other delved into her hair.

Their lips locked with no foreplay whatsoever. 

Tongues tangled without preliminaries. 

Hunger echoed in every touch. 

The playful tone of their banter changed into heat as skin touched skin. Jacob’s hand slipped down her back to worm into her T-shirt.

Hers were already on his naked ribs.

Bella shifted on his lap. “Wait, let me—“ With an adept twist of her body, she straddled him and their torsos crushed against each other. Jacob let out a deep, dark growl and Bella let out a small whimper when he nipped at her bottom lip.

Her nails scratched his back and his mouth drew a hot trail against the curve of her neck. When she let out a moan, he came back up and hunted for her mouth.

Jacob was on fire. And he was so hard it was painful. Quiet, serious Bella always managed to arouse him beyond belief. Who would’ve known that she would become so uninhibited in his arms? When it came to passion, Bella was no delicate flower. She scratched, she writhed, she moaned. All his hard-earned control was smoke. All he wanted to do now was dragged her into bed and spent the night loving her.

He cursed when she bit his earlobe hard. He paid her back by sucking her neck. “Like to bite, honey? How about being bit?” 

“I wouldn't know.” She muttered against her mouth but she shuddered when he drew the soft skin of her shoulder between his teeth and bit down gently. The soft sounds she made shot straight to his groin. She liked it. Holy hell.

“The first time somebody bit me, I didn't like it so much.”

He frowned at the thought of somebody else biting her but she laughed and waved her hand. Her right hand. Where a crescent scar shape stayed cool despite her body temperature. 

Even as if he knew she had survived it, he couldn't help but feel his blood boiled even hotter with anger at the thought that a vampire had tried to kill her.

No vampire would ever touch her now. He would make sure of it.

As if she sensed his anger, she curved her fingers around his jaw then nuzzled her nose against his. His eyes closed as he took a deep breath of her scent and gathered her even closer in his arms. “I’m okay, Jake.”

He felt his shoulders relaxed. “I know you are, honey.” He lifted her right hand and his lips seemed to burn as it touched the scar. He rubbed her back with long steady strokes and sighed when she leaned against him.

“I like this.”

“Hm?” His blood was still hot in his veins but that was probably because Bella was all pressed up against him, feeling soft and curvy and smelling all delicious. Her long heavy hair streamed down her back, still damp from her shower. He played with the strands, wrapping and unwrapping her hair around his fist.

“Just being with you with your arms around me.”

“Well, since I like holding you, that’s fortunate.”

“ I've been thinking.”

“Yeah?”

“What do we tell the dads?”

“The dads?” Humor riddled his voice and hearing it made her smile. Everything about him seemed to make her smile these days.

“My dad and your dad. What do we tell them?”

“Do we have to tell them anything?”

She lifted her head at that and stared at him in bemusement. “You think we should keep this a secret?”

“This?”

“Us, dating each other.”

“Bells, honey, I think they already know by now.”

“How? Did you tell Billy?”

“Bells, with us being in the same vicinity, the end game is pretty predictable.”

She frowned. “Do you think so?”

“Do I think it’s predictable or do I think that they would think so, too?”

She took a moment to think. “Both.”

“Yes, both I and the dads would think so. Besides, they know me so they know I wouldn't leave you alone for too long.”

She smiled. “Wouldn’t you?”

“Hell, no.” 

Her smile widened with amusement because of the ‘are you crazy?’ look he gave her. 

“Besides, can you really imagine us being together without ending up where we are now?”

She thought about it and found herself thinking that it would be kind of impossible for them being in such close contact but not be together. Even when they had just met, Bella had felt a connection with the shy, awkward boy with the beautiful smile.

She tilted her head in thought. “Jake, were we ever just friends?”

He leaned over to give her lips a peck. “If we were, it didn't last long.”

Her mouth curved against his and that encouraged him to deepen the kiss. Bella sighed into his mouth as he kissed her with slow, steady movements of his lips. Jacob was a great kisser and he actually liked kissing. Bella could tell from the way he touched his mouth to hers that he could kiss her all day.

And she loved it.

Oh, she’d gone on a few dates and had kissed her share of guys but kissing Jacob was just so very different. His kisses were luscious and deliberate and he was just so focused on her that she couldn't help but feel like the only girl who was meant for him.

And it wasn't just his mouth (though that itself was enough to drive her insane). When Jacob kissed her, he did it with his whole body; the way his hands stroke her back, her shoulders, tangled in her hair, held on to her hips, wrapped around her waist, curved over her butt, the way his body seemed to gravitate toward hers as if he wanted to be closer, so much closer to her. And then there was always that low, raspy rumble in his chest that tickled hers and made her...well, you know.

And he has so many moods; playful, desperate, sly, gentle, loving, intense.

But even with his shifting moods, his kisses always told her the same thing:

I want you.

I love you.

You’re it for me.

Jacob broke off their kiss and panted into her neck. “Damn. Incoming.”

Bella blinked the haze out of her eyes and got off his lap just as a knock sounded on her door. “You guys decent?” Tina asked. “We’re going to go home now.”

“Uh, I’ll be right down.” Bella rushed over to the mirror in her bedroom and grimaced at her reflection. She went to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face in an effort to tone down her flushed complexion and took deep even breaths to control her breathing. 

Jacob snickered when she muttered something about ‘looking like horny teenagers after a make out session’.

“I can’t speak for you, honey, but I am horny and we were in a make out session.”

After that kiss, well, she was also horny but in no way would she ever admit it.

As they walked downstairs, she smacked him when he patted her butt in a manner that he probably thought of as affectionately comforting. 

Bella ignored the snickers on her pack’s faces when their eyes fell on her flushed cheeks and bruised lips.

Lulu noticed that Jake was putting on his leather jacket. “You’re not staying over?”

Bella frowned, mortified with just how disappointed Lulu sound. “Of course he's not staying over.”

Jacob blinked and turned wide, guileless eyes at her. “I’m not?”

Bella froze in the act of straightening a chair and stared at him. “Wha, uh, do you want to?” Then as if her brain caught up with what she just said, her face blazed brightly.

Jacob burst out laughing, reached over and hugged her to him. “Breathe, Bella.” He pulled her with him as he walked outside, and the others trailed after them. Or so they thought. “I have the morning shift at JEQ anyway.”

He nodded to Mercy and Caleb who had the use of Jake’s Impala for as long as they had to come to Bells. They were bickering about over who gets to drive. “No stops, you guys. I’d know if you did.”

Caleb groaned. “He always knows.” Then he frowned before he opened the passenger’s seat. Apparently he lost the keys to Mercy.

“The Pack watches over them?” Bella whispered and Jacob nodded. He walked to his bike and straddled it before inserting the keys on the ignition. “So, how does tomorrow sound?”

She waved to Caleb and Mercy as the caromed their way home. “Tomorrow?”

“Our date. Are you free tomorrow night?”

All of a sudden, several voices yelled from inside Bells. “Yes, she is.”

Bella turned and yelled back, “Weren’t you guys leaving?”

She rolled her eyes when they laughed like loons. “Tomorrow night would be good.”

“I’ll pick you up at 8?”

She nodded, suddenly feeling shy. She pushed her hair back and just looked at him and he looked back at her. Why did she feel so awkward now? “So, tomorrow at 8. OK. Um, bye.”

He stared at her and she shifted her feet on the sidewalk. Why was he looking at her like that? All amused and—

“OK. Um, bye?” He asked her. “What are we? Nine?”

He hooked a finger on the belt loop of her jeans and pulled her closer. “C’mere you.”

She grinned. He grinned. And the awkwardness dissipated. It was that easy. “Bye.” He murmured against her lips, dropping light kisses on her mouth until she laughed. He nipped her bottom lip and drew back. “Now, it’s your turn to kiss me.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I think I've already kissed you enough for today.”

He shook his head a little. “You haven’t kissed me hello, yet.”

“I haven’t?”

“No.”

“How thoughtless of me.” 

“It was.” He whispered inches from her face, his breath washed against her skin, smelling like coffee and sugar. “I was kind of hurt.”

“Were you? Couldn't have that.” She teased and his eyes warmed in the soft glow of street lights. The light shower earlier in the night left puddles of water that gleamed like crushed stars on the dark asphalt and their shadows were long and blended into one as they moved closer and kissed.

This time the kiss was sweet and dreamlike; the kind of kiss that fairy tales were made of but this, she knew, was as real as anything in her life could ever be. 

When the kiss ended, it was with a sleepy sigh and her eyelids fluttered open slowly to see him smiling at her, the kind of smile that heated her blood and warmed her heart. It brightened even more when she whispered, “Hello.”

He touched their noses together, “Hi.”

She saw his eyes flickered away from her before, with a small grin, he pulled back.

Bella sighed. “They’re watching us, aren’t they?”

Jacob waved to her friends who probably had their faces pressed on the windows by now. She looked over her shoulder and true enough, there they were.

“You guys better not get any prints on that window!”

As an answer, Brian squirted the glass with glass cleaner.

“See what I have to deal with?” She motioned at the smirking, clapping people who were giving her a thumbs up. Misha even had written a perfect 10 on her sketching pad and waving it around.

Jacob laughed.

The Passing Years-35Between the Scenes

Jacob parked his classic black Harley in front of Bell’s and studied the store. The store’s front was charming and inviting, the faux effect of red brick walls and the wide-open windows that presented a display of books, a deep sink-into-me chair, knickknacks and pastries. Little pots of flowers were scattered here and there to complete the come-inside-and-get-a-cup-coffee-and-read look.

It’s been a week, two days and fifteen hours since they’d been ‘together’. Ironically, that night had also been the last night they’d seen each other. On the morning after, Bella was called out on an ordering emergency, while he had to take care of JEQ’s new but starting-to-be-popular department: restoration and customization of Harleys . It was an idea he was trying out, and it seemed to be coming together, since they had four new orders, so he, Quil, Embry and his senior mechanics were kept busy.

Tonight was the first night he and Bella didn’t have conflicting schedules, and she had asked him to come by at closing time.

He caught sight of Brian from behind the cashier and knocked on the door to get his attention. The teenager grinned and walked over to open the door. “Hey, Jake. How are you?”

“Good.” Better than good. His garage was going great, he had finally convinced his dad to get rid of his old wheelchair, and he was going to see Bella. Life was sweet.

He watched the teen lock the door behind him and approved of his cautiousness. He checked the security alarm panel that was hidden discreetly behind one potted lemon tree and winced when a loud jarring sound came from the speakers and hastily filtered his sharp sense of hearing. Even after all these years, his heightened senses had a knack for knocking him on his ass. He quickly searched for something to focus on, something monotonous and simple and decided on the soft, slow ticking of the grandfather clock that stood near the cash register. By doing so, his ears readjusted and every other noise dampened into normal volume.

Brian bopped his head to the music as his wiped down tables and jerked a thumb to the kitchen. “They’re all in there. Just go in.”

“Then why are you out here?”

Brian sighed. “Got the short straw. Besides, I make a mean pot of coffee, but baking isn’t really my thing.”

“Thanks.” As he walked closer, the raspy voice of Sammy Hagar was joined by several other voices singing on and off key, between laughter and insults. The smell of flour, sugar, butter and fruit clogged his nostrils, and he fought not to sneeze, the miasma of scents coating the ceiling of his mouth, teasing his taste buds.

His stomach protested, and he stifled a chuckle.

His lips stretched from a smile to a grin when the sight of complete mayhem greeted him. Flour was everywhere, also bits of fruit and whatever else was smeared all over the floor, coated the tables and splotched against multi-hued skin. There were also suspicious stains against the ceiling and walls. Even as he stood there staring, a piece of banana sailed across the room, what smelled like raspberry juice arched and splattered against Lulu’s apron and had Tina screeching with laughter. A man he didn't know held a squirting instrument like it was an automatic weapon and chased Misha around the long, wide wooden table that was placed in the center of the kitchen, where plates, tinfoil, cookie cutters, measuring cups, blenders, two juice-makers, a thermos, bowls of icing of every color, and carefully rounded dough were scattered in an order that he couldn't quite figure out. Lulu, Tina, Misha and the lone gunman were wearing trash bags over their clothes and shower caps over their heads to protect them from the mess they were tossing around.

Jacob was sure if a health inspector came to the scene, Bells would be shut down for good.

But what amazed him most was that in the middle of all the screaming, squirting, throwing and singing was Bella, covered in muck, dressed in an old T-shirt and sweats and neon plastic sandals on her feet.

And much to his delight, she was dancing.

Oh, all right, she was merely circling the table, swaying back and forth, shuffling her feet and awkwardly flapping her arms, but hey, she got rhythm.

Jacob saw her lips were busy muttering something as she placed mango slices on cups of dough and as he focused his hearing, he heard that she was singing off key. “We were loud, loud like a hurricane, loud like a roaring train. We were LOUD.” She sang under her breath, shifting from foot to foot to the beat of the music as she pinched more flour on to the table, a rolling pin on one hand. Hagar’s Loud was also on JEQ’s playlist, and he kind of felt, well, strangely touched that they listened to the same song as they worked in their own place. He watched her join the other four people in jumping all around the kitchen and found himself thinking that if he wasn't already so in love with her, this would push him head over heels.

You can admire people because of their bravery, respect people because of their actions, care for people because of their inherent goodness, but you know that what you’re feeling is love when you see a person in their dorkiest, stupidest, most mind-boggling behavior and find them endearingly heartbreaking.

Jacob was smiling so wide that his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. Something inside his chest burst open at the sight of a dirty-faced, crazy-haired, shrieking-like-a-mad-woman Bella.

Oh man, he was such a goner. Not that he didn't know that already.

He watched as Bella twisted in mid-air and finally caught sight of him, her jaw dropping with surprise and, typically, she lost her balance. Stepping forward to catch her was something of a reflex.

Bella straightened in his arms and blinked at him, before a blindingly bright smile bloomed on her face. “Jake, you’re here.”

He’d seen that smile before, he’d watched it on her face as she raced across the school yard in order to get to him, he remembered the rich tumble of her laughter as they cleared the miles to the rez territory line, the grip of her fingers on his waist and the glow in her eyes when he had looked back to grin at her.

His fingers tightened on the curve of her slender waist and he smiled back when she looked at him as if she hadn’t seen him for months, and then, as if had she just realized what the scene looked like, a flush rose slowly to her cheeks. “Um, you’re early.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow and sent a meaningful look across the kitchen. “This is a food service thing, isn’t it?”

Her forehead wrinkled.

“You know, serving us poor customers, who don’t have a clue about what goes on in the kitchen… Do you spit in coffee and douse the sauce in rat poison?”

Lulu cackled. “Only when they've been bad.”

Bella scowled at him and Lulu. “It’s our annual cleaning of the staff fridge.”

Jacob perked up. “I remember those.”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Of course you do, I practically crammed everything left in Charlie’s fridge down your throat. It’s a miracle you didn't up and die of food poisoning,” she mused.

“Aw, you’re cooking isn't all that bad, Bells.”

She snorted. Then she realized she was still in his arms—probably from the way Lulu, Misha and Tina were smirking away—and jerked away in embarrassment. Jacob could actually feel a frown starting on his forehead, but he managed to shrug it off. He put his hands in his pocket, because of the sudden urge to pull her back to his side, and spread his gaze over the kitchen. Besides the mess, he’d always been partial to this room, and not just because it’s a source of never-ending miraculous snacks, but because it was cheerful, with the dandelion-yellow walls, the white tiles with small painted daisies, the big back windows painted a moss green and several small potted herbs that gave the air a spicy smell. Not even the state-of-the-art ovens, the walk-in freezer, the subzero fridge, the array of spoons, spatulas and the like hanging over the island, the stove and the silver aluminum racks filled with tin cans and pails and pans could take away the home kitchen feeling. He could see himself pulling out one of the stools and sitting on the island to watch Bella make something or other, just like he had before at Charlie’s.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Bella sneaked a peek at him, as if she was reassuring herself that he was there, and smiled a secret smile. He felt his own lips quirk.

Lulu coughed. “Jake, haven’t seen you in a while.”

Jacob hitched his hips on a clean spot on a counter. “Yeah, been busy with the garage.”

“Business doing good?” Tina asked while she whisked something in a green bowl.

Jacob nodded.

Misha let out a small gasp and snapped her fingers as if she just remembered something. The surprise on her face belied the mischievous twinkling in her eyes “Jake, you haven’t met Damien, right?”

Bella fumbled with her rolling pin, and it dropped with a sharp clack on the table.

Tina swallowed a smile. “You okay, Bella?”

“Fine.” She mumbled as she tossed a look to whom Jacob already deduced was Damien, who lifted an eyebrow back at her. Bella stifled a sigh.

Did that silent exchange bother him? Sure.

Did the cool, calculating look on Damien’s green eyes put his back up? Of course.

Did it grate on his nerve that Damien didn't look ridiculous, even when he was wearing a trash bag and shower cap? Yes.

But then again, he wasn't the one dating Bella, right?

Jake held out a hand. “Jacob.”

He didn't wince when something squished between their hands, “Damien. Been hearing a lot about you.”

Jake inched up his smile. “Same here. Think they’re trying to set us up against each other?”

The grin on Damien’s face was wide and sharp. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“Why would they do that?”

Damien waved a hand in the air. “You know how it is. Women, when they’re bored, they get into plotting, creating trouble, inciting riots.”

Jake stifled a smile and sighed mournfully. “It all went to hell as soon as we gave them the right to vote.”

Damien took out two beers from the crew fridge and handed one to him. They clinked bottles. “Amen, brother.”

The Three rolled their eyes and muttered something derogatory about male genitalia. Bella, however, simply kept flicking them worried looks.

Damien poked a finger on her dirty cheek. “Don’t worry, sweets. I won’t kill him until you tell me to.” He then took a pull from the bottle and smiled amiably at Jake, the smile only widening when Bella speared him with an exasperated look.

Lulu took hold of the rolling pin from Bella’s hands and shooed her. “Now, you two go on. You had dinner plans, and you need to take a shower, Bella.”

As if she just realized what she must look like, Bella made a dismayed sound and hesitantly fingered her hair, which was sticky and clumpy with…stuff. Jacob grinned when an embarrassed flush pinked her cheeks. “Don’t worry about it, Bells. You look, well, delicious. Is that cream custard on your head?”

Misha squinted. “No, I think that’s filling.”

“I’ll just…go.” She made some sort of gesture and inched toward the stairs, ignoring the laughter. Jake trailed after her.

“That turned out quite well.” She commented as they climbed up stairs. “I thought Damien would tie you down and interrogate you or something.”

“He could try.”

Bella aimed a glance at him. “Be nice.”

Jake snorted. “Don’t be fooled by his amiable acceptance, Bells. He’s just waiting for the perfect time to flay me alive.”

Bella stopped and turn to look at him. “That’s ridiculous.”

He leaned his shoulder on the wall. “Bells, I’m a stranger in his territory. Believe me, once I give him an excuse, he’ll kick my ass out. A territory can’t have two Alphas.”

“You’re thinking like a wolf.”

“I’m thinking like a man.” He shrugged. “Personally, I’m kind of relieved you have someone like him at your side.”

Bella glanced at him before walking up again. “Why?”

Jake grinned. “He probably frightened off more than enough guys who came sniffing round you.” Thankful or not, Jake would have to make it clear that scaring him off was…well, laughable. He could respect Damien’s cautiousness; he was after all man of the house in Bella’s little circle. But even when he knew it wouldn’t be a fair fight, he almost hoped Damien would spring a punch at him, because as he saw Bella among her friends, a stabbing pain went through his chest, and he couldn't help but resent them for having Bella, for Bella having them while he was…

It was ridiculous, really. He should be glad that Bella had found friends, and he was. He was also enormously relieved that she found work that she loved and friends that she cared about who also watched out for her…but he couldn’t shake the thought that...he could’ve done better. He should've been here.

It looked like he hadn't quite forgiven her.

He shook himself, little resentments like that could crop up into big ones, and it could mess everything up. But the thought persisted enough that he reached an arm to hold Bella’s. She stopped and turned.

“We promised no more lies, right?”

Bella nodded, her eyes wary.

“That we’re not going to hide anything?”

She nodded again.

Jake looked into her eyes in the dim stairway, but darkness didn’t matter to his werewolf eyes. “I’m jealous.”

Bella’s mouth sprung open. “But Jake, Damien is—”

“No, not of Damien.” He frowned. “Well, sort of but…it’s them, Bella.”

“Them?”

Jake smiled at the confused look on her face. “Don’t you notice? You have your own pack. Lulu, Brian, Tina, Misha and Damien, they’re your pack, and I don’t know them. They had time with you that I didn’t have; they have a history with you that I don’t know. These last few years…I want my pack to be your pack, your family.” Jake paused in embarrassment, to his ears he sounded like a selfish, whiny boy that had lost hold of his favorite toy. “I’m jealous of them…and resentful of their time with you.” Uncomfortable, Jake looked away from her face. God, he hadn’t felt this vulnerable in a long time.

She took a step down so they could be face to face, and held his face between her hands. Her eyes were soft and not a little amused and baffled. He gave her a rueful grin, which made her lips curve into delicate smile. “Jake, how do you think I feel every time you go romping all about the forest with your pack? Then there’s your tribe, and Rachel. Quil and Embry are not just your pack brothers, but also your best friends, and you’ve known each other since birth.”

“Not really, probably since we were four.”

She poked him in the chest before sliding a glance at him that made him feel uneasy. She hesitated, mulled over what she wanted to say, but carried through. “Then there are the women.” Her voice carried softly to him.

“There were the women.” He corrected just as softly, before grinning. “I only have one woman now.”

Her eyes dropped to his collar, even as her hands glided over his shoulders, her fingers curling over the ends of his hair. “I hate every single one of them because they had you.”

He couldn’t help but circle his arms around her waist pulling her to him. Feeling tickled and insanely smug. “Do you?”

She shrugged and tipped her head down and shyly tucked her face into the curve of his neck. Jacob held her tightly, even as he belatedly remembered the muck that she had all over her. But he was mechanic; he had muck all over him daily. Besides, it would take more than sticky sugar and flour to stop him from holding her. He pressed his lips to her temple and felt her slide even closer to him, her arms circling his neck. The scent of sweets and spices and flour wrapped around them, and Jacob couldn’t feel more content as he felt her heartbeat knock against his chest.

His heart twisted, floated and eased down in his chest.

“You know what I miss the most, Jake?”

“What?” He whispered against her ear.

“Your bone-crunching hugs.”

“My bone-crunching hugs?” He repeated, amused.

She sighed, and her breath wafted over the skin of his neck. Bella put her head on his shoulder. “Every one of your hugs, actually.”

His interest caught. “Really?”

She nodded, brushing her cheek on his shoulder. “You always give the best hugs.”

The tiny bites of resentment were overwhelmed by a well of affection and love. He wondered why he fed that small petty part of him anyway, when he could have this. “Well, anytime you want one, you only need to ask.”

Her arms tightened around him before she pulled back and kissed him lightly on his cheek and on the other cheek. Then, after a brief hesitation, she put her lips to his for a quick kiss. He barely tasted her before she put her fingers in his and pulled him up.

He didn’t need a mirror to see the big, stupid smile that erupted on his face. The same smile that had aggravated everyone in his vicinity, the same dreamy look on his face that made Embry and Quil announce him useless and majorly annoying, before kicking him out of their private workroom. Not that he put up much of a fight, he was just happy he could see her faster.

Bella opened the door to her apartment and sighed while Jacob raised both his brows when they saw Mercy lying on the floor with her eyes closed.

“Mercy, I told you, you can use the bed. And you guys aren't finished yet?”

Mercy’s eyes opened. “Don’t blame me. Blame Mr. Perfectionist over there.”

“Hey, any job worth doing is worth doing well.” Caleb shouted from the bathroom. There was a loud clang and a louder curse.

Mercy sat up, “Seriously Caleb, if you can’t do it…”

“Yes, I can. Stop nagging at me, woman.”

Jacob sent a questioning gaze to Mercy.

“He’s fixing…or trying to fix the shower head. He’s been at it like twenty minutes now.” She turned her head to the bathroom. “What’s the problem, Caleb?”

“Shut it and let me work.”

Mercy rolled her eyes. “He’s been like that all day.”

Bella got a can of Coke from her fridge. “Is he even close to finishing? ‘Cause I really need a shower.”

The younger girl looked at her and did a double take. “Geez, what did you do? Throw pies at each other?”

Jacob laughed. “Something like that.”

“Well, since you’re here, might as well join us for dinner.”

Mercy’s dark eyes turned mischievous when they slid to Jacob’s face, before saying sweetly. “Oh, no. We can’t possibly do that.”

“Oh, yes, we can.” Caleb prompted.

Mercy’s smirk grew wider. “But we’ll be interrupting.”

It seemed to Jacob that Mercy and Bella had reached a sort of impasse, since earlier on, Bella would turn quietly bemused at Mercy’s sharp smirk; now she just rolled her eyes before turning to him. “They might as well join us, since a few people seemed to have invited themselves anyway.”

Jacob chuckled softly. “Knew it was too easy.”

“They didn’t mean anything by it, they just want to get to know you better, I guess. I don’t really talk about my life…before.”

She seemed so guilty and ill at ease that Jacob brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “It’s all right, Bells. I’d like to get to know them too.”

The smile that crept up her eyes warmed his heart.

“Right.” Mercy shot to her feet and clapped sharply, ruining the moment. “Before you guys get all mushy and kissy face, I’ll just get myself downstairs and salvage some snacks.”

“Get some for me!”

“Hurry up, creep.” She shouted back at Caleb before she cleared the stairs in record time.

Jacob twisted his neck to the door, just in case Mercy fell and broke her neck. “We got to do something about this you know.”

Bella looked at him while she took out plates and plates of food from the oven, her expression questioning.

“Between Charlie, my dad, my pack and your pack, we’ll never get time alone.”

She bit her bottom lip and gave him a look that he couldn't quite understand. “I know. I’ve been thinking about that.”

“Yeah?”

“What about we go somewhere? You know, just the two of us.” She took off the aluminum foil covering and shrugged, a soft blush highlighting her cheekbones. “Not like a trip—I mean, like a date.”

“A date.”

“Yeah. A date.”

Jacob could practically smell the sweat that was coming off of her. He watched her throat work and the way her eyes sneaked peeks from behind the veil of her hair. It was sweet how she seemed so nervous and unsure. He probably took too long to answer, because she immediately waved a hand. “I mean, it’s all right if you don’t want to. As you said, you’re busy—”

“Hey.” Jacob wrapped his fingers around her upper arms and pulled her to him. “If you want to go on a date, we’ll go on a date.”

She frowned at him. “Not if you don’t want to.”

He wanted to laugh. “Bells, honey, don’t you know by now that I pretty much will do anything for you? And are you kidding me? A date means I finally have you to myself, why wouldn’t I want that?”

Her frown deepened. “I don’t know. Sometimes you just confuse me. When I expect you to do something, you don’t, and when I don’t, you do.”

Jacob chuckled at the aggrieved look on her face. “Good, I don’t want to be predictable.”

“Believe me, Jake, nothing about you is predictable.”

“No? How about this?” He swooped down and covered her mouth with his. The kiss was slow and warm and wet. He teased her with his mouth, his tongue, his teeth and his fingertips on her skin, keeping the pressure of his lips unbearably soft until she lifted herself on tip toes to reach more of his mouth. Fire erupted in his belly and he knew he had to step back or he would end up doing something they wouldn’t be ready for. Not that he would object if she...

Jacob eased back and cleared his throat.

“There’s nothing predictable about that.” She murmured.

“No?” He asked, his tone impish. “Me, having you alone, with my arms around you. I thought the outcome would’ve been pretty predictable.”

Bella snorted a laughed and buried her face on his chest. “Oh, Jake.”

The soft exasperated affection in her voice made him smile, and he propped his chin on the top of her head. “Oh, Bells.”

They simultaneously took deep breaths and closed their eyes.

“AHA!!” Caleb yelled in triumph. “I’m coming out. You two better still have clothes on.”

Jacob groaned. “We are definitely going on that date.” He muttered into her hair, making her laugh.

Liquid Silence

Jacob watched the thread of sunlight that throbbed and pulsed in the water, the way it shifted and danced in the depths in a delicate and intriguing light show and pondered about the necessity of coming up for air.

But the silence, the vacuum silence and stillness was far too tempting.

Comforting.

Seducing.

He watched the waves crashed above his head, bending lights and shadows but inside the water--unlike his life, unlike his thoughts, unlike himself—it was calm.

He watched the tendrils of his black hair, wisping around his peripheral vision, like fingers moving in tune with some sort of untitled symphony.

He closed his eyes against the soothing lull of water, welcoming the whisper of silence that he was craving for.

Jacob had learned the virtue of silence, the value of privacy.

He embraced the sense of isolation, the disturbing feel of being suspended in motion, even the niggling claustrophobia as the water smothered his senses.

He opened his eyes and realized that he had somehow drifted closer to the surface.

The setting sun touched the reflective surface of the water, tinting it with the palest hint of red.

The color of water touched by blood.

He watched the bubbles of his breath climbed up the water, burst to the surface and wondered whether to follow it or stay behind and realized that his body was already hovering upwards, pressed and lifted by the undercurrents, pushing him slowly to the surface.

He tried not to dwell on the bitterness that smeared his throat at the irony, the implication that brought him to his earlier thoughts.

He didn't fight the slow, building pressure...both inside and outside of himself but nevertheless contained it ruthlessly.

Jacob broke the tumultuous surface and instantly the wind whipped and slapped across his face, his chest and throat burned while he took in large gulps of breath as goosebumps ran up and down his skin.

He blinked the water out of his eyes, pushed his hair from his face while he steadied his breathing.

The wind was a roaring force across the smoldering sky, splattered with a dozen hues of orange, red and pink.

The piercing calls of sea birds assaulted his ears.

Then, out of nowhere, there was a whisper in the wind that had Jacob tensing where he stood.

He looked sideways, toward the beach, his sharp eyes focusing on the two boys that stood tall and solid like the sentries they were. His brothers, the word was more than sentiment, more than even the literal meaning of the word itself. The bond was more than what they have become to each other, it ran deeper, farther then who they are, delving deep into the history of their tribes.

There was a time when Jacob resented it.

The lack of choice, the inevitably of it.

"What is it?" He whispered back, letting the wind carry his voice back to his brothers. Trusting their sharpen senses.

"She's gone with the vampire." Embry's voice was careful and worried, the two prominent emotions hovered in the wind that sighed against Jacob's skin.

A wave crashed against the rocks behind him.

"She's been gone three days." Embry continued.

"The council is converging. They call on you." Quil's deeper, harsher voice joined Embry's, still tangling with the rush of wind that took little bites along Jacob's wet skin.

Jacob closed his eyes tightly, fighting the red burning anger that pushed forcefully up his spine, threading in his thoughts, consuming them, tearing them apart.

He stood in the water with the ocean waves slapping against his skin as the horizon burned behind him.

He pushed at the anger, pushed through the pain that sliced his heart and opened his eyes, with a low, low sigh, he plunged into the livid water, swimming to the beach with strong, smooth strokes.

Like the ocean, life also has a knack for ignoring what he wanted.

The Passing Years-34Heartbeats

Jacob parked his classic black Harley in front of Bell’s and studied the store. The store’s front was charming and inviting, the faux effect of red brick walls and the wide-open windows that presented a display of books, a deep sink-into-me chair, knickknacks and pastries. Little pots of flowers were scattered here and there to complete the come-inside-and-get-a-cup-coffee-and-read look.

It’s been a week, two days and fifteen hours since they’d been ‘together’. Ironically, that night had also been the last night they’d seen each other. On the morning after, Bella was called out on an ordering emergency, while he had to take care of JEQ’s new but starting-to-be-popular department: restoration and customization of Harleys of any kind. It was an idea he was trying out, and it seemed to be coming together, since they had four new orders, so he, Quil, Embry and his senior mechanics were kept busy.

Tonight was the first night he and Bella didn’t have conflicting schedules, and she had asked him to come by at closing time.

He caught sight of Brian from behind the cashier and knocked on the door to get his attention. The teenager grinned and walked over to open the door. “Hey, Jake. How are you?”

“Good.” Better than good. His garage was going great, he had finally convinced his dad to get rid of his old wheelchair, and he was going to see Bella. Life was sweet.

He watched the teen lock the door behind him and approved of his cautiousness. He checked the security alarm panel that was hidden discreetly behind one potted lemon tree and winced when a loud jarring sound came from the speakers and hastily filtered his sharp sense of hearing. Even after all these years, his heightened senses had a knack for knocking him on his ass. He quickly searched for something to focus on, something monotonous and simple and decided on the soft, slow ticking of the grandfather clock that stood near the cash register. By doing so, his ears readjusted and every other noise dampened into normal volume.

Brian bopped his head to the music as his wiped down tables and jerked a thumb to the kitchen. “They’re all in there. Just go in.”

“Then why are you out here?”

Brian sighed. “Got the short straw. Besides, I make a mean coffee pot, but baking isn’t really my thing.”

“Thanks.” As he walked closer, the raspy voice of Sammy Hagar was joined by several other voices singing on and off key, between laughter and insults. The smell of flour, sugar, butter and fruit clogged his nostrils, and he fought not to sneeze, the miasma of scents coating the ceiling of his mouth, teasing his taste buds.

His stomach protested, and he stifled a chuckle.

His lips stretched from a smile to a grin when the sight of complete mayhem greeted him. Flour was everywhere, also bits of fruit and whatever else was smeared all over floor, coated the tables and splotched against multi-hued skin. There were also suspicious stains against the ceiling and walls. Even as he stood there staring, a piece of banana sailed across the room, what smelled like raspberry juice arched and splattered against Lulu’s apron and had Tina screeching with laughter. A man he didn’t know held a squirting instrument like it was an automatic weapon and chased Misha around the long, wide wooden table that was placed in the center of the kitchen, where plates, tinfoil, cookie cutters, measuring cups, blenders, two juice-makers, a thermos, bowls of icing of every color, and carefully rounded dough were scattered in an order that he couldn’t quite figure out. Lulu, Tina, Misha and the lone gunman were wearing trash bags over their clothes and shower caps over their heads to protect them from the mess they were tossing around.

Jacob was sure if a health inspector came to the scene, Bells would be shut down for good.

But what amazed him most was that in the middle of all the screaming, squirting, throwing and singing was Bella, covered in muck, dressed in an old T-shirt and sweats and neon plastic sandals on her feet.

And much to his delight, she was dancing.

Oh, all right, she was merely circling the table, swaying back and forth, shuffling her feet and awkwardly flapping her arms but hey, she got rhythm.

Jacob saw her lips were busy muttering something as she placed mango slices on cups of dough and as he focused his hearing, he heard that she was singing off key. “We were loud, loud like a hurricane, loud like a roaring train. We were LOUD.” She sang under her breath, shifting from foot to foot to the beat of the music as she pinched more flour on to the table, a rolling pin on one hand. Hagar’s Loud was also on JEQ’s playlist, and he kind of felt, well, strangely touched that they listened to the same song as they worked in their own places. He watched her join the other four people in jumping all around the kitchen and found himself thinking that if he wasn’t already so in love with her, this would push him head over heels.

You can admire people because of their bravery, respect people because of their deeds, care for people because of their inherent goodness, but you know that what you’re feeling is love when you see a person in their dorkiest, stupidest, most mind-boggling behavior and find them endearingly heartbreaking.

Jacob was smiling so wide that his cheeks hurt, but he didn’t care. Something inside his chest burst open at the sight of a dirty-faced, crazy-haired, shrieking-like-a-mad-woman Bella.

Oh man, he was such a goner. Not that he didn’t know that already.

He watched as Bella twisted in mid-air and finally caught sight of him, her jaw dropping with surprise and, typically, she lost her balance. Stepping forward to catch her was something of a reflex.

Bella straightened in his arms and blinked at him, before a blindingly bright smile bloomed on her face. “Jake, you’re here.”

He’d seen that smile before, he’d watched it on her face as she raced across the school yard in order to get to him, he remembered the rich tumble of her laughter as they cleared the miles to the rez territory line, the grip of her fingers on his waist and the glow in her eyes when he had looked back to grin at her.

His fingers tightened on the curve of her slender waist and he smiled back when she looked at him as if she hadn’t him for months, and then, as if had she just realized what the scene looked like, a flush rose slowly to her cheeks. “Um, you’re early.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow and sent a meaningful look across the kitchen. “This is a food service thing, isn’t it?”

Her forehead wrinkled.

“You know, serving us poor customers, who don’t have a clue about what goes on in the kitchen… Do you spit in coffee and douse the sauce in rat poison?”

Lulu cackled. “Only when they’ve been bad.”

Bella scowled at him and Lulu. “It’s our annual cleaning of the staff fridge.”

Jacob perked up. “I remember those.”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Of course you do, I practically crammed everything left in Charlie’s fridge down your throat. It’s a miracle you didn’t up and die of food poisoning,” she mused.

“Aw, you’re cooking isn’t all that bad, Bells.”

She snorted. Then she realized she was still in his arms—probably from the way Lulu, Misha and Tina were smirking away—and jerked away in embarrassment. Jacob could actually feel a frown starting on his forehead, but he managed to shrug it off. He put his hands in his pocket, because of the sudden urge to pull her back to his side, and spread his gaze over the kitchen. Besides the mess, he’d always been partial to this room, and not just because it’s a source of never-ending miraculous snacks, but because it was cheerful, with the dandelion-yellow walls, the white tiles with small painted daisies, the big back windows painted a moss green and several small potted herbs that gave the air a spicy smell. Not even the state-of-the-art ovens, the walk-in freezer, the subzero fridge, the array of spoons, spatulas and the like hanging over the island, the stove and the silver aluminum racks filled with tin cans and pails and pans could take away the home kitchen feeling. He could see himself pulling out one of the stools and sitting on the island to watch Bella make something or other, just like he had before at Charlie’s.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Bella sneaked a peek at him, as if she was reassuring herself that he was there, and smiled a secret smile. He felt his own lips quirk.

Lulu coughed. “Jake, haven’t seen you in a while.”

Jacob hitched his hips on a clean spot on a counter. “Yeah, been busy with the garage.”

“Business doing good?” Tina asked while she whisked something in a green bowl.

Jacob nodded.

Misha let out a small gasp and snapped her fingers as if she just remembered something. The surprise on her face belied the mischievous twinkling in her eyes “Jake, you haven’t met Damien, right?”

Bella fumbled with her rolling pin, and it dropped with a sharp clack on the table.

Tina swallowed a smile. “You okay, Bella?”

“Fine.” She mumbled as she tossed a look to whom Jacob already deduced was Damien, who lifted an eyebrow back at her. Bella stifled a sigh.

Did that silent exchange bother him? Sure.

Did the cool, calculating look on Damien’s green eyes put his back up? Of course.

Did it grate on his nerve that Damien didn’t look ridiculous, even when he was wearing a trash bag and bath cap? Yes.

But then again, he wasn’t the one dating Bella, right?

Jake held out a hand. “Jacob.”

He didn’t wince when something squished between their hands, “Damien. Been hearing a lot about you.”

Jake inched up his smile. “Same here. Think they’re trying to set us up against each other?”

The grin on Damien’s face was wide and sharp. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“Why would they do that?”

Damien waved a hand in the air. “You know how it is. Women, when they’re bored, they get into plotting, creating trouble, inciting riots.”

Jake stifled a smile and sighed mournfully. “It all went to hell as soon as we gave them the right to vote.”

Damien took out two beers from the crew fridge and handed one to him. They clinked bottles. “Amen, brother.”

The Three rolled their eyes and muttered something derogatory about male genitalia. Bella, however, simply kept flicking them worried looks.

Damien poked a finger on her dirty cheek. “Don’t worry, sweets. I won’t kill him until you tell me to.” He then took a pull from the bottle and smiled amiably at Jake, the smile only widening when Bella speared him with an exasperated look.

Lulu took hold of the rolling pin from Bella’s hands and shooed her. “Now, you two go on. You had dinner plans, and you need to take a shower, Bella.”

As if she just realized what she must look like, Bella made a dismayed sound and hesitantly fingered her hair, which was sticky and clumpy with…stuff. Jacob grinned when an embarrassed flush pinked her cheeks. “Don’t worry about it, Bells. You look, well, delicious. Is that cream custard on your head?”

Misha squinted. “No, I think that’s filling.”

“I’ll just…go.” She made some sort of gesture and inched toward the stairs, ignoring the laughter. Jake trailed after her.

“That turned out quite well.” She commented as they climbed up stairs. “I thought Damien would tie you down and interrogate you or something.”

“He could try.”

Bella aimed a glance at him. “Be nice.”

Jake snorted. “Don’t be fooled by his amiable acceptance, Bells. He’s just waiting for the perfect time to flay me alive.”

Bella stopped and turn to look at him. “That’s ridiculous.”

He leaned his shoulder on the wall. “Bells, I’m a stranger in his territory. Believe me, once I give him an excuse, he’ll kick my ass out. A territory can’t have two Alphas.”

“You’re thinking like a wolf.”

“I’m thinking like a man.” He shrugged. “Personally, I’m kind of relieved you have someone like him at your side.”

Bella glanced at him before walking up again. “Why?”

Jake grinned. “He probably frightened off more than enough guys who came sniffing round you.” Thankful or not, Jake would have to make it clear that scaring him off was…well, laughable. He could respect Damien’s cautiousness; he was after all man of the house in Bella’s little circle. But even when he knew it wouldn’t be a fair fight, he almost hoped Damien would spring a punch at him, because as he saw Bella among her friends, a stabbing pain went through his chest, and he couldn’t help but resent them for having Bella, for Bella having them while he was…

It was ridiculous, really. He should be glad that Bella had found friends, and he was. He was also enormously relieved that she found work that she loved and friends that she cared about who also watched out for her…but he couldn’t shake the thought that...he could’ve done better. He should've been here.

It looked like he hadn't quite forgiven her.

He shook himself, little resentments like that could crop up into big ones, and it could mess everything up. But the thought persisted enough that he reached an arm to hold Bella’s. She stopped and turned.

“We promised no more lies, right?”

Bella nodded, her eyes wary.

“That we’re not going to hide anything?”

She nodded again.

Jake looked into her eyes in the dim stairway, but darkness didn’t matter to his werewolf eyes. “I’m jealous.”

Bella’s mouth sprung open. “But Jake, Damien is—”

“No, not of Damien.” He frowned. “Well, sort of but…it’s them, Bella.”

“Them?”

Jake smiled at the confused look on her face. “Don’t you notice? You have your own pack. Lulu, Brian, Tina, Misha and Damien, they’re your pack, and I don’t know them. They had time with you that I didn’t have; they have a history with you that I don’t know. These last few years…I want my pack to be your pack, your family.” Jake paused in embarrassment, to his ears he sounded like a selfish, whiny boy that had lost hold of his favorite toy. “I’m jealous of them…and resentful of their time with you.” Uncomfortable, Jake looked away from her face. God, he hadn’t felt this vulnerable in a long time.

She took a step down so they could be face to face, and held his face between her hands. Her eyes were soft and not a little amused and baffled. He gave her a rueful grin, which made her lips curve into delicate smile. “Jake, how do you think I feel every time you go romping all about the forest with your pack? Then there’s your tribe, and Rachel. Quil and Embry are not just your pack brothers, but also your best friends, and you’ve known each other since birth.”

“Not really, probably since we were four.”

She poked him in the chest before sliding a glance at him that made him feel uneasy. She hesitated, mulled over what she wanted to say, but carried through. “Then there are the women.” Her voice carried softly to him.

“There were the women.” He corrected just as softly, before grinning. “I only have one woman now.”

Her eyes dropped to his collar, even as her hands glided over his shoulders, her fingers curling over the ends of his hair. “I hate every single one of them because they had you.”

He couldn’t help but circle his arms around her waist pulling her to him. Feeling tickled and insanely smug. “Do you?”

She shrugged and tipped her head down and shyly tucked her face into the curve of his neck. Jacob held her tightly, even as he belatedly remembered the muck that she had all over her. But he was mechanic; he had muck all over him daily. Besides, it would take more than sticky sugar and flour to stop him from holding her. He pressed his lips to her temple and felt her slide even closer to him, her arms circling his neck. The scent of sweets and spices and flour wrapped around them, and Jacob couldn’t feel more content as he felt her heartbeat knock against his chest.

His heart twisted, floated and eased down in his chest.

“You know what I miss the most, Jake?”

“What?” He whispered against her ear.

“Your bone-crunching hugs.”

“My bone-crunching hugs?” He repeated, amused.

She sighed, and her breath wafted over the skin of his neck. Bella put her head on his shoulder. “Every one of your hugs, actually.”

His interest caught. “Really?”

She nodded, brushing her cheek on his shoulder. “You always give the best hugs.”

The tiny bites of resentment were overwhelmed by a well of affection and love. He wondered why he fed that small petty part of him anyway, when he could have this. “Well, anytime you want one, you only need to ask.”

Her arms tightened around him before she pulled back and kissed him lightly on his cheek and on the other cheek. Then, after a brief hesitation, she put her lips to his for a quick kiss. He barely tasted her before she put her fingers in his and pulled him up.

He didn’t need a mirror to see the big, stupid smile that erupted on his face. The same smile that had aggravated everyone in his vicinity, the same dreamy look on his face that made Embry and Quil announce him useless and majorly annoying, before kicking him out of their private workroom. Not that he put up much of a fight, he was just happy he could see her faster.

Bella opened the door to her apartment and sighed while Jacob raised both his brows when they saw Mercy lying on the floor with her eyes closed.

“Mercy, I told you, you can use the bed. And you guys aren’t finished yet?”

Mercy’s eyes opened. “Don’t blame me. Blame Mr. Perfectionist over there.”

“Hey, any job worth doing is worth doing well.” Caleb shouted from the bathroom. There was a loud clang and a louder curse.

Mercy sat up, “Seriously Caleb, if you can’t do it…”

“Yes, I can. Stop nagging at me, woman.”

Jacob sent a questioning gaze to Mercy.

“He’s fixing…or trying to fix the shower head. He’s been at it like twenty minutes now.” She turned her head to the bathroom. “What’s the problem, Caleb?”

“Shut it and let me work.”

Mercy rolled her eyes. “He’s been like that all day.”

Bella got a can of Coke from her fridge. “Is he even close to finishing? ‘Cause I really need a shower.”

The younger girl looked at her and did a double take. “Geez, what did you do? Throw pies at each other?”

Jacob laughed. “Something like that.”

“Well, since you’re here, might as well join us for dinner.”

Mercy’s dark eyes turned mischievous when they slid to Jacob’s face, before saying sweetly. “Oh, no. We can’t do that.”

“Oh, yes, we can.” Caleb prompted.

Mercy’s smirk grew wider. “But we’ll be interrupting.”

It seemed to Jacob that Mercy and Bella had reached a sort of impasse, since earlier on, Bella would turn quietly bemused at Mercy’s sharp smirk; now she just rolled her eyes before turning to him. “They might as well join us, since a few people seemed to have invited themselves anyway.”

Jacob chuckled softly. “Knew it was too easy.”

“They didn’t mean anything by it, they just want to get to know you better, I guess. I don’t really talk about my life…before.”

She seemed so guilty and ill at ease that Jacob brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “It’s all right, Bells. I’d like to get to know them too.”

The smile that crept up her eyes warmed his heart.

“Right.” Mercy shot to her feet and clapped sharply, ruining the moment. “Before you guys get all mushy and kissy face, I’ll just get myself downstairs and salvage some snacks.”

“Get some for me!”

“Hurry up, creep.” She shouted back at Caleb before she cleared the stairs in record time.

Jacob twisted his neck to the door, just in case Mercy fell and broke her neck. “We got to do something about this you know.”

Bella looked at him while she took out plates and plates of food from the oven, her expression questioning.

“Between Charlie, my dad, my pack and your pack, we’ll never get time alone.”

She bit her bottom lip and gave him a look that he couldn’t quite understand. “I know. I’ve been thinking about that.”

“Yeah?”

“What about we go somewhere? You know, just the two of us.” She took off the aluminum foil covering and shrugged, a soft blush highlighting her cheekbones. “Not like a trip—I mean, like a date.”

“A date.”

“Yeah. A date.”

Jacob could practically smell the sweat that was coming off of her. He watched her throat work and the way her eyes sneaked peeks from behind the veil of her hair. It was sweet how she seemed so nervous and unsure. He probably took too long to answer, because she immediately waved a hand. “I mean, it’s all right if you don’t want to. As you said, you’re busy—”

“Hey.” Jacob wrapped his fingers around her upper arms and pulled her to him. “If you want to go on a date, we’ll go on a date.”

She frowned at him. “Not if you don’t want to.”

He wanted to laugh. “Bells, honey, don’t you know by now that I pretty much will do anything for you? And are you kidding me? A date means I finally have you to myself, why wouldn’t I want it?”

Her frown deepened. “I don’t know. Sometimes you just confuse me. When I expect you to do something, you don’t, and when I don’t, you do.”

Jacob chuckled at the aggrieved look on her face. “Good, I don’t want to be predictable.”

“Believe me, Jake, nothing about you is predictable.”

“No? How about this?” He swooped down and covered her mouth with his. The kiss was slow and warm and wet. He teased her with his mouth, his tongue, his teeth and his fingertips on her skin, keeping the pressure of his lips unbearably soft until she lifted herself on tip toes to reach more of his mouth. Fire erupted in his belly and he knew he had to step back or he would end up doing something they wouldn’t be ready for. Not that he would object if she...

Jacob eased back and cleared his throat.

“There’s nothing predictable about that.” She murmured.

“No?” He asked, his tone impish. “Me, having you alone, with my arms around you. I thought the outcome would’ve been pretty predictable.”

Bella snorted a laughed and buried her face on his chest. “Oh, Jake.”

The soft exasperated affection in her voice made him smile, and he propped his chin on the top of her head. “Oh, Bells.”

They simultaneously took deep breaths and closed their eyes.

“AHA!!” Caleb yelled in triumph. “I’m coming out. You two better still have clothes on.”

Jacob groaned. “We are definitely going on that date.” He muttered into her hair, making her laugh.