Chapter Four
The Proving Grounds
(Jake's POV)
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I hope everyone is liking this story so far. I just wanted to thank everyone who has read the story and especially those of you who have sent me a review. I hope that you see, as the story progresses, that Jake and Bella are meant to be together and with Bella being a wolf, it can only make their relationship stronger.
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The night couldn't have stolen away any faster for me and been replaced by the beaconing rays of the morning sun. I had to see Bella. Everything had changed so quickly that she and I hadn't actually had much time to talk.
I gulped down a pint of milk, grabbed a few pieces of toast, and ran out of the house. Wanting to get to Forks as quickly as possible, I opted for the four legged route, and phased as soon as I hit the woods near my house.
As I ran this morning through the veil of lush green forest, things looked brighter. My senses were heightened and acutely alert. Knowing now how Bella felt about me, knowing that she wanted for us to be together, made the difference.
My paws dug into the damp earth and I sprinted, not thinking, just feeling, feeling so alive, for the first time, knowing that I was running to her, not trying to keep her from running away from me.
As I approached a dense part of the forest near Bella's house, I thought I heard someone talking. I slowed my pace and eventually stopped, so I could listen more carefully. It was there in the recesses of the thick green foliage that I saw Bella and Leah. They must have been out running this morning too, but I'd not connected with them.
They were just putting their clothes on. I crept closer, not making a sound. I felt a bit guilty, as I watched them, but I couldn't look away. They were talking and laughing like they were old friends. It was good to see Leah happy for a change, but it was even better to see Bella glowing from head to toe.
I shouldn't be doing this,I thought. I was invading their privacy, but Bella. Bella was so incredibly beautiful that I was mesmerized. It was hard to see them clearly from my vantage point, so I inched closer, peering through the brush and listened.
"So this is what you face every time you phase? This sucks. My clothes are already dirty from being on this string," Bella said, with a frown on her face, holding up a pair of shorts.
"You'll get used to it. Then you learn to really appreciate a nice hot bath when you get to go home," Leah replied, with a hearty laugh.
Bella had already put on her panties, but was trying to dust off the shorts before putting them on. She almost fell, as she tried to slip the shorts on. I guess some things haven't changed.
I stifled back a laugh, as I watched her dance around on one foot, then the other. Leah reached out and steadied her, having already shimmed into her clothes.
As I gazed at Bella, everything else seemed to disappear. Leah, the trees, the green drapery between us, and it was like she and I were the only ones standing, frozen in time in the forest.
Her long brown hair, swept down almost concealing her perfect breasts. I could already tell a difference in her muscle tone. She was firm and looked stronger, yet, somehow, still very vulnerable.
"Leah. This stupid bra won't fit me. Why?"
"You're getting bigger Bella. That's what happened to me. I filled out in all the right places, but never got much taller. I had to buy all new clothes."
"So this wolf thing accelerates our body growth, like it did the guys, without the massive height?" Bella said, as she glanced down at her chest and felt of her hips. Leah just laughed again and shook her head.
Bella stopped trying to get the bra on and just slipped a T-shirt on over her head. She seemed to move in slow motion as she slid it on and I watched it brush across her bare breasts, causing them to peek under the soft cotton material, then she sighed.
"Don't worry, he will love the new you," Leah said, reassuringly.
"I hope so. He told me he'd have been happy just having me as plain old Bella. I hope he doesn't mind that I'm a little different." Bella looked down at her bare feet, seeming saddened at the thought.
"Why don't you ask him? He's been watching us for the last ten minutes," Leah announced, nodding her head in my direction.
Crap. I thought I was being quiet.
At my revelation, I walked behind a tree, phased, and quickly pulled on my shorts, then went to join them, ready to take my punishment for invading their privacy.
"Hey Bella. Leah. How's it going this morning?" My sincere greeting, was overshadowed by the blush of my cheeks.
"Jake. Were you watching us get dressed?" Bella asked, in an accusatory tone.
"I....I was.....just waiting until you...well.... you know. Yes," I said, kicking a twig on the ground with my bare foot.
"Well Jake. I think I'll go home now. I'm sure Bella can think of an appropriate punishment for your behavior. Can't you Bella?"
Bella turned, and I'm not sure, but I think she gave Leah a wink. Leah reached out and hugged Bella, "I'll see you tonight. Okay?"
"Sure Leah. Thanks for everything."
Leah gave me a punch in the arm, then sprinted past us and disappeared into the brush, leaving me to face Bella and my punishment.
I knew I was in trouble, when I looked into her dark brown eyes. She moved a few steps closer, holding her hands behind her back, like a little girl timidly approaching a new boy at school.
"So you were watching us. Huh?"
"No. I was just watching you. I didn't plan on finding you here. I was on my way to see you and... I just couldn't help myself. You look so beautiful, and.... I didn't want to stop."
"So. You liked lo...looking at me?"
I moved even closer to her, taking her chin in my hand, and pulling her face up to mine.
"Watching you, made me feel things. Things I've only dreamed about. Yes, I liked looking at you. Does that make me a bad person?"
"No. I guess not. You're just being honest." I'm not sure if she could hear my heart racing or not, but the sound in my ears was deafening.
I stroked her hair and pushed it out of her eyes, then traced the outline of her face slowly moving my hand to the back of her neck. There, in the tender, warm spot under her hair, I wound my fingers into her soft, silken strands and gently pulled her body closer to mine.
"I was coming to talk with you, about us. We haven't had much time to ourselves with all that's been going on. But you distracted me," I whispered.
I pressed my cheek against hers and moved all the way across her face with mine, until our lips were almost touching.
I whispered again, "time stood still as I watched you, and all I could think about was touching you, and pressing your perfect body to me and feeling your skin against mine. Does that make me a bad person?"
She didn't answer with words. She simply moved her arms to embrace me, then she slid them up my back, then back down again. Her touch on my skin was intense. It made me tremble and wince with pleasure. No one had ever touched me this way and no one ever would, except Bella.
I exhaled into her parted lips, and pressed my mouth to hers. I tasted her. She was sweet. I wanted more. I opened my mouth and covered her lips with mine. I found her tongue and brushed against it like an artist touches the canvas with his brush for the first time. I felt the texture, savored the flavor, and endeavored to make her mine. I heard the slightest sound escape her. A soft, ariose sound that told me she was pleased.
Reaching down, I wrapped my arm around her waist and formed myself to her. I traced my lips along her cheek kissing her gently, then moved to her ear, "this is all I've ever wanted, you and me, together. From the first time we walked together on the beach, this is all I've dreamed of. I love you more than you'll ever know Bella."
She began placing little kisses on my chest, and put her hand over my heart, "so, your heart beats for me?" she whispered, against my skin.
"You know it does."
"Then listen to mine Jake. It's saying it's yours and I love you too." I stooped down, placing my ear against her chest. I closed my eyes and listened to its accelerated rhythm.
The thought swam in my mind that this moment had almost been lost to me forever. I couldn't bear the thought that she almost let him stop her heart.
After moments of reflection, I was brought back to the present. I had her, safe and secure in my arms now. I raised my head and realized she had pressed her face into my long black hair. It splayed across her cheek as I moved my head up to look at her.
My lips found hers again, this time with a hunger. I bent her back, as if we were concluding a tango, and her head rested against my forearm. Her hair fell away from her neck, exposing her soft, milky skin.
Maneuvering slowly down her neck with the softest kisses, I tasted her skin. It was like honey and dew and it was intoxicating. I scooped her into my arms looking around for a place where we could lie down.
There was a perfect spot nestled against the truck of a mammoth oak tree, of soft green and brown moss. I lay her down and came to rest beside her. We were hidden in a sea of leafy green, wild ferns, as we drifted into our own private paradise.
I never knew how strong my desire for her was until now. Before, I had never let myself get this close, no she had never let me get this close. This was all new to us, yet, it seemed perfectly natural, as we touched and held each other.
As I leaned down over her, she reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear, then ran her hand along my jaw line and I kissed her fingers as she drew them over my lips.
Raising up to met me, she pulled me back down with her, capturing my lips with hers. Her lips parted and she enticed me inside with the brush of her tongue on mine. The deeper the kisses, the more intense the pleasure.
She pulled her T-shirt up exposing her delicate mid-section, as if to tell me she wanted me to go there. So I did. I kissed her stomach, caressed her, and again she made a quiet ariose sound telling me I was doing something right.
I'm not sure how long we were there, or what would have happened next, but all too soon our oasis of pleasure was disturbed, by the piercing howl of a wolf. I froze in place and listened. I could hear the sound of paws biting into the forest floor as they approached fast from the south.
I jumped up pulling Bella up with me and surveyed the thick foliage looking for familiar eyes. There, behind several small fallen trees, our gazes locked. I knew then that something was wrong.
"Bella. We have to go. Are you okay with phasing?"
"Yeah, I think so. What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure, but I think Sam needs us in La Push."
My theory was confirmed when Leah let out another shrill howl. Without thinking, I pulled off my shorts, and phased. Bella's eyes were wide with fascination as she watched me, from the corner of her eye. I phased quickly, so I could find out what was happening.
Bella saw the urgency in my eyes, and quickly removed her clothes too, phasing within minutes. I barked a laugh at her, causing her to turn to look at me, tilting her head and asking "what," in her thoughts, which I could only faintly hear.
"It's just gonna take some getting use to. That's all. Actually, it's going to be very difficult to concentrate with you striping like that in front of me, all the time."
"Well, should I go home and leave this wolf business to the experts?" she asked sarcastically
"No. Sam wants us all there. You and I'll have to work out this little problem in private. Later honey," I said, as we turned to race toward La Push.
I still was having a hard time believing Bella was there with me, right by my side. She was fast and agile and the wolf really seemed to suit her well.
We wove through the forest until we met up with the others at the rendevous point. Sam was pacing back and forth when we arrived.
"Good. Everyone's here. Jake. I suppose you and Leah know what's going on? Bella, were you able to focus on their thoughts?"
"I tried, but it's hard trying to grasp everyone's thoughts all at once. Then I did what you said and let the voices flow through me. It's Victoria. Isn't it?"
"Yes. Jared and Seth were on patrol this morning and they come across her scent, down at the beach. My guess is that she went there during the night, following your scent to La Push, but then became confused by the new tainted scent you're putting off."
Sam paced back and forth for a few minutes, then he stopped in front of Bella.
"Bella. I need to see what you can do. I know this is new for you and all, but a lot of what we do is from instinct. I need to make sure you can handle yourself, if it comes to that."
"Wait a minute Sam. You're not suggesting that she's going to fight with us are you?" I asked.
He was pushing me again and I was going to push back. Bella didn't belong anywhere near Victoria and I'd see to it that she wasn't, if I had anything to do with it.
"Jake, calm down. Listen to what I have to say. Bella, I know that I've been hard on you and Jake in the past, but all that is behind us now and things have changed. You're more a part of us now. Is that where you want to be? Do you understand about our loyalty to the pack?"
"Sam. I would have stood up for any one of you, even before this thing happened to me. I would never have let any of you get hurt, if I could have stopped it. My place is with Jake so that puts me with you too. I want this to end with Victoria as much, if not more than any of you do."
Bella's presences was louder now. My guess was that with her asserting her voice more in her mind it was becoming stronger. I stood a little taller as she spoke to Sam, it really meant a lot to me to hear her declare herself, not only to me, but to the others.
Sam wanted to start things off slow, so he paired us off in twos and had Bella run with Embry for a while. I protested of course, but was told she needed experience with all of the pack and that I could be with her later.
I listened as we all made our assigned patrols, but I still was having trouble hearing Bella's thoughts. Communication with her seemed to work best, if she was closer.
I caught a few things now and then but mostly what Embry was thinking about. We patrolled for an hour, then met up again and Bella paired off with Jared. One by one, she ran with the rest of the pack, until well into the afternoon.
We all made our way back toward the beach around four o'clock and met in the trees nearest the ocean. Sam was satisfied that Bella could keep up with everyone and suggested that we all go home, get some rest, and rendevous later that night.
"Well. I guess I'd better be getting back home. I have to make dinner for Charlie anyway," Bella said.
"Okay. But, I'm coming with you, if you don't mind? You and I still need to talk. Remember?"
So, Bella and I ran through the secluded forest, back to Forks. It was such a thrill to have her with me as we ran. If not for the threat of Victoria, it would have been almost perfect.
