I'm so glad you're all loving the uncomfortable conversation between Jacob and Bella... Here's the next piece.
A huge thanks to Eowyn77 for beta-ing this chapter!
The Talk by Heartbroken1
Chapter Two - Insane Experiment
Jacob dropped the subject of mine and Edward's intimacy, thankfully. It had been awkward and just plain weird. Not to mention the fact that I'm sure it was hard on Jacob's heart.
He stepped away from my truck, wiping his hands on a cloth. "Okay, Bells. You're all set for another 3000 miles."
"Thanks so much, Jake. I really appreciate it."
"No problem." He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I'm happy to check your oil any time." He stared at me for a second as though he were expecting a reaction. So I smiled and nodded. He chuckled and slammed the hood closed. "You're all set.
"Are you sure I can't pay you?"
"Bella, you're family. I don't take money from family."
"Thanks, again. I'd better get going."
"Gotta get back to the leech," he grumbled in a low bitter tone. His eyes met mine and he forced a smile. "Have a safe trip." He pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head.
My truck chugged along the road as the sun was beginning to set. I smiled, knowing it would only be a matter of hours before Edward would be back from hunting, and I'd be back in the arms of the man I loved.
Unconsciously, I glanced around, searching for the person who I knew would be following me -- protecting me. There were two groups on the same mission, neither of which would allow me to make the journey completely alone. It was quite possible Jacob, himself, was trotting along, concealed by the trees.
Jacob… I shook my head. His arguments had been absurd really.
Edward's age wasn't an issue at all. The 108-year-old virgin. That was funny. Of all the things about Jacob, I loved his sense of humor most. He could make me laugh harder than anyone else on this planet.
My thoughts wandered to the place it had gone many times. Edward's body. I could clearly see his glorious chest, glistening in the sunlight. In my mind's eye, my hands caressed the muscles that were covered by his cold skin, my breath catching when I reached the waistband of his pants.
The image of an old shriveled male appendage invaded my thoughts and I cringed.
"Ridiculous!" He's beautiful… every part of him.
The fact that Edward was also a virgin wasn't at all the deterrent Jacob was hoping for. Actually, it was quite the opposite.
It was hot!
Edward had waited a long time for me.
I thought of the frustration I'd felt since the time I'd met him and respected him even more. The amount of control it must take to ignore your desires for that long.
A laugh burst from my chest when Jacob's words replayed in my head, "I'd hate for him to pound you right into the ground."
I shook my head and continued to giggle.
Edward was always so cautious when we were doing anything physical -- a little too much for my liking. He'd never allow himself…
My thoughts jolted to a stop as Jacob's voice spoke again, "I've heard that the best part of making love is the ecstasy you get when you lose control."
My heart began to beat erratically as panic set in. Would it not be enjoyable for Edward? I groaned and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. "Damn you, Jacob!" I yelled, hoping it was him out there making sure I made it home safe.
He always knew just which buttons to push in order to make me insane. He'd done this on purpose!
My mind shifted gears and thought about what he was truly proposing. He wasn't just worried about my safety, he was offering himself to me.
No, my more rational side argued. He's just a friend, who's worried about my safety.
Yes. Let's believe that.
I pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Charlie wasn't home so the house was quiet and I sat my bag down on the kitchen chair so that I could get started with dinner.
Fish. After slathering it with butter and lemon, I slid it into the ovenmade a salad and ran to my room to change before Edward returned.
Thanks to Alice there were so many choices. I ran my fingers along the various shades of blue and decided on one that had an enticing dip to the frontand left my neck exposedfor the sweet kisses I was hoping he'd place there.
"Bella, you home?" Charlie's voice rang through the house.
"Yeah, Dad!" I confirmed as I ran the brush through my hair and smoothed out any stray strands. I winked at the excited girl in the mirror. "It won't be long now," I promised her.
When I got to the kitchen, Charlie was pouring himself a glass of milk. "How was your day? Did you have fun with Jake?"
Not as much fun as he wanted… my thoughts surprised me. He's just a friend, who's worried about my safety, I told myself for the second time tonight.
"Bells?"
"Um…yeah…it was fun."
"Are you okay?" He tipped his head to the side, examining my expression.
I smiled. "Yeah, totally. Edward will be back in just a little bit…" and then all will be right with the world.
"Great," Charlie muttered under his breath.
I chose to ignore his remark and went to the task of getting dinner ready. "You hungry?"
He inhaled deeply. "I am and it smells really good."
We sat down at the table and began to eat when the interrogation began, "So what'd you do with Jake?"
"Not much really." I popped a tomato in my mouth to buy myself some time. He wanted to talk about my FLOWER, my thoughts laughed. Who calls it that? I smiled as I swallowed. "We went for a walk on the beach…"
"Hmm…" I could practically hear his mind yelling, Romantic walk on the beach?
"He's a friend, Dad."
"I didn't say…"
"You didn't have to." I rolled my eyes.
"Sorry. So you went for a walk on the beach…"
"We talked about…stuff…"
He'd picked up on my pause. "What kind of stuff?"
Icky, weird, personal, private, none of his business kinda stuff. "Nothing really. Just stuff." Please buy it. Please buy it.
"Oh."
Thank you! "And then he checked my oil."
There was a loud clank as his fork hit his plate and he began choking. He covered his mouth with a napkin and continued to hack while his wide eyes watered.
"Dad, are you okay?" He nodded. "Is it a bone?" He shook his head. "I was sure I'd gotten them all out. Dad…"
He was beginning to turn blue and the coughing was getting out of hand. I jumped up, ran over and slammed my hand into his back so hard, it hurt.
"Dad, do you need me to give you the heimlick? Dad… stand up."
"Be-…" he managed to choke out between gasps for breath. "I… o… k…" His coughing quieted and he wiped at his eyes with his napkin. He cleared his throat. "I'm okay."
"What happened?"
"I guess it just went down the wrong pipe." He was looking at me like I had three heads.
"Are you okay?"
He coughed again. "Yeah, I'll be fine. So Jacob changed your oil, huh?" I nodded. "He's got a real talent for that kinda thing."
"Yes, he does." I had to get off of the subject of Jacob. "So how was your day?"
"Just your average ordinary day at the office." He smiled. He placed the last bite in his mouth and walked over, sitting his plate in the sink. "That was really good, Bells. Thanks."
"Your welcome."
The television flipped on and the music for SportsCenter wafted into the kitchen. I turned the water on in the sink and began the task of doing the dishes. The clock on the microwave said 7:30. I sighed. At any moment, the man of my dreams would sweep me off my feet -- again.
Standing at the sink, I wiped the plates with the cloth. Jacob's voice again floated into my head, "Have you seen 'A Christmas Story'?"
I lifted my hand out of the water and examined it.
"Like sticking your hand in ice when it's wet only makes it stick worse."
Jacob was right. I knew that, but I couldn't stop the curiosity as I stared at the water dripping from my fingers.
As if the world suddenly slowed on its axis, I made my way slowly to the refrigerator, opening the door. My eyes focused on the bucket of ice cubes that were beckoning me. I took a deep breath and plummeted my hand into the frozen blocks. Instantly I felt the bitterness of the cold sticking to my flesh.
I jerked my arm back to reveal the results of my insane experiment.
It was covered in ice!
A scream ripped from my throat.
