Jacob slanted his mouth over Bella's and pressed harder. Her eyes fluttered closed as she became lost in their kiss. She could not remember how many they had shared and Jacob didn't care to count. He swiped his tongue along the seam of her lips, begging for entrance, wanting to explore, conquer and imprison the young woman before him. His wolf growled and yipped in approval, wanting to have his other half settled their intended mate over them, to show her who she truly belonged to, and where she belonged. Bella whimpered at the show of sheer will from Jacob and felt a rush of warmth wash over her.
Bella put her hand on Jacob's right cheek and parted her lips slightly. That was all the invitation Jacob needed before he was slanting his mouth against hers again and again. His tongue caressed hers roughly before exploring her mouth further, keeping her tucked closely against his chest, riding out the dull aching waves washing over his chest. Jacob groaned against her lips and almost pulled her onto the bed next to him. His wolf was demanding that he take what was theirs but Jacob knew that he could scare her into running away and he didn't want that. He didn't want to chance that she might run off and never come back.
Blood rushed to his lower extremities, awakening and pulsing, as he scented Bella's heady, spicy scent of arousal filling the room. Knowing that he was physically in no condition to act on his desires, Jacob tugged slightly on the hairs at the base of Bella's neck and released her lips. He stared straight into her earthy depths as he confessed "You know exactly why you're here Bells. You gotta know by now how much you really mean to me, how much I love you, how much I'm right for you. How I…."
Jacob paused as he heard the screen door squeak open and then growled loudly as the scent of approaching leech. He knew that it was Carlisle returning for some medical reason but he still hated the scent of undead in his house. Jacob gently pushed Bella off his chest as the screen door slammed against the frame and Carlisle appeared in the doorway of his bedroom. Bella knelt next to his bed and turned her face away from the door as she realized who it was. Carlisle sighed in defeat and then held up a black zippered case.
"I forgot to leave this with you. There are two vials of morphine in the case and a few sterile syringes for the breakaway pain that you might experience with your healing abilities." Carlisle set the zippered case on the dresser next to the bedroom door and then reached into his black leather medical bag. He pulled out three bottles of medication and set them next to the case. "These are antibiotics and oral pain medications that you need to take over the next week. The dosages should be enough to counteract against your metabolism."
Carlisle set his medical bag on the dresser and pulled out another vial of medication. He pulled out a syringe and put the needle into the stopper, pulling out the precise dosage of pain medication to give to Jacob. He put the cap on top of the needle and started to walk closer to Jacob when the werewolf let out an inhuman snarl, stopping the alpha vampire in his tracks. Carlisle knew for sure that it was because Bella was near Jacob, trying her best to hide next to the future alpha of the werewolf pack. He could see that the oval engagement ring was missing from her left hand and knew what it meant. Carlisle took a step back and placed the needle on the dresser with an alcohol wipe.
"Bella," Carlisle said softly and Bella turned slightly to look at him over her shoulder. "This needs to given to Jacob in the next half hour. I know Jacob would rather have you do this now that you are here. It needs to be given in the muscle of his shoulder or hip. You need to push the needle in an inch to two inches and press the plunger slowly. The medication can burn when given intramuscularly." Carlisle explained before closing his leather bag and turning away. He said over his shoulder softly, knowing that this might be the last time his saw the young woman his coven had come to care so much about. "I wish you the best and if you ever need us, we are just a phone call away."
Bella tensed again as the alpha vampire footsteps could be heard down the hallway and the screen door slammed closed one more time. Bella relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief before looking back at Jacob. Her heart and mind were still swimming at Jacob's umpteenth confession. Even though Jacob had said the same words to her many times, this was the first time that her judgement was not clouded from the heady euphoria caused by the leech's pheromones.
Bella reached for the towel on Jacobs forehead again and dunked it into the icy water. Just as she was about to wring the wet cloth out, Jacob pulled her hand back to his chest, his eyes questioning. Bella looked away and then she sighed dejectedly. She had hurt the young man before her so much, she felt like she didn't deserve to be with him or anywhere near him. Her thoughts and her sorrow had travelled across the iridescent bridge connecting her heart to Jacob, causing the young man to moaned in frustration.
Bella looked at him questioningly, not realizing what had happened and answered, "Jake, I don't know what to say. I'm engaged to Edward, or at least I was." Jacob searched her eyes hopefully before she explained, "I flushed the ring down the toilet before I came into your room. Right now, I don't know what to think or do. I know for sure that Carlisle saw that the ring was missing and I am sure he'll tell…." She hesitated before saying Edward's name. "I just know that this is where I need to be right now. I can't explain it. All I know right now, is if I try to walk out of that door, my mind and heart are gonna shatter into a million pieces."
Jacob smiled slightly at the young woman before him and she returned his smile briefly. She stood up, walked over to the dresser and looked at the needle sitting there. She lifted it and the alcohol wipe, returning to Jacob's side and knelt down again. She looked at the needle and then to him again. His right arm sitting closest to her was already wrapped from elbow to knuckles and she did not want to cause him anymore distress. She blushed vehemently at the thought of having to pull the sheet lower than the muscled v of his hips.
"Can I do this in your other arm or do you prefer your hip." Bella asked, finally noticing the slight tent just a few inches below the edge of the sheet. She quickly turned her face away from Jacob, her neck and chest flushing a bright crimson, her scent spiking with arousal once more. Jacob's wolf yipped and bounced in approval at the back of his mind and he inwardly scolded the animal. The thread of his control close to snapping as Bella's cherry blossom scent became spicier with her arousal, her embarrassment giving it undertones of a cool spring breeze.
Jacob lifted his right shoulder, wincing at the pain and Bella took that as the queue to give him the medication in his arm. While to slowly inserted the needle and pressed the plunger of the needle in, the pain medication burned in the muscle of his arm, slowly spreading outward. It almost felt like he had a layer of fat inserted in between the muscle fibers that slowly started to fade away. Bella capped the needle and threw it into the empty trash can next to his bed. Bella rubbed the spot where the needle had entered his skin to dull the ache of the medication underneath and Jacob put his hand over hers.
"I'm glad you're here Bells. That's all I want right now." Jacob confessed easily, "Just you next to me. Knowing that you're ok is all I need right now." Jacob pulled Bella closer to him again and pressed her forehead to his, smelling and feeling her tears falling on his face. "You need to stay Bells. I need you here." Jacob searched her eyes for an answered and Bella nodded against his forehead. "I wanna be here with you Jake. I'm not going anywhere." Bella answered, placing her hand and head on his chest. Jacob breathed a sigh of relief and felt waves of fatigue start to wash over him. He needed rest and he was pretty sure what Carlisle has left Bella to give him was more than pain medication.
Bella felt the slowing of his breathing and looked up at Jacob. She put her hand on his cheek, his eyes clouding over with fatigue and she knew he needed to rest. The young man had risked his life to save hers, had almost died and still worried about her more than himself. "Just rest Jake. Please." Bella asked and Jacob nodded, replying, "This conversation is not over. We still need to talk." Jacob yawned loudly and growled at the thought that the alpha vampire had given him something to make him sleep.
"And we will Jake, we will, but right now, you need to rest. We have all the time in the world and I am not going anywhere." Bella reassured him and Jacob stopped fighting the fatigue washing over his body. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Bella laid her head back against his right shoulder and listened as his breathing even out, signalling that the young man had finally let sleep overtake him. The much needed rest would help him heal.
Bella took a deep breath and wondered how he had known what she was going to say when she felt that she did not deserve him. She was not looking forward to the conversation they would have when he woke up, the questions that would be asked, and the changes that would take place in their relationship but she knew it was necessary. She was not as scared as she thought she would be. She was more scared over what the future held for her and the werewolf sleeping in the bed next to her.
