We continued dating getting closer and closer for weeks then months going into winter. Christmas was amazing, we all got together to celebrate. Jake gave me a rose gold necklace with a small blue opal on the delicate chain. Then new years we celebrated on the beach with a huge group and welcomed the new years with our friends and a kiss that took my breath away.
January came , I was heading to Jake's garage on my day off and saw Embry with Sam, Paul, and Jared. I gasped seeing my flirty friend with those men, " oh no, Embry" I whispered. When I got to the garage I could tell he knew " Jake, I'm sorry" I whispered hugging him when we went into his office. " I just saw him, he's so different " I said worried" I was just bringing something by for lunch, thought you might want something ".
Jake smiled sadly" thanks honey, your cooking is my comfort food " he told me kissing me chastely and took the paper bag full of food and lemonade . " So other than the obvious issue how's work?"I asked. "Work is work, what about you? Working for your aunt Danielle must be more entertaining " he said smiling wryly. I chuckled " nothing since the French incident I'm afraid " I told him. After a bit it was time for me to go, I stood up and he followed me to the door. " I better go, let me know if you need to talk or something okay?" I told him running my thumb over his jaw. He smiled softly and kissed my thumb " I know, I love you Andy. Call you later alright " he said and kissed me goodbye.
A few days later I found someone sitting on my back porch steps when I came home from work. "Em? What are you doing here?" I asked." I came here to warn you Andy, I know you love him but it's not going to end well. You need to break it off with Jake, find a nice white guy and move on or your gonna get hurt " he told me.
I frowned " Embry, I don't know what's going on down on the res but I'm not breaking up with Jake. We're finally together, Jake and I really have something. I'm afraid for him but I'm not leaving him just because I'm scared of what's happening. If your that worried maybe you should try keeping your new friends away from him " I told him crossing my arms.
Embry sniffed a hard laugh " it doesn't work that way sweetheart. I just wanted to warn you for your own sake " he told me softly. I could feel the immense heat emanating from him as he stood in front of me. He guarded himself and hesitated before taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger " Em?" I asked hesitantly." I don't want to see that spirit of yours dim"he told me trying to instill it in me with the pleading look he had in his eyes.
"What happened Embry?" I asked softly and stepped back. He sighed " if I could tell you I would, but I can't " he told me sadly" I gotta run, be careful sweetheart " he told me before running off.
Another week went by and I saw him again at a gathering at Billy's with Bella and Charlie. Jake and I were with our friends. He had his arm around me while we ate off of paper plates and chatted. " shouldn't you warn her about him?" Seth asked me nodding at Embry talking with Bella and obviously using some charm. I shook my head " whatever else is going on with him he's still Embry. I'll let Charlie know to keep his eyes sharp " I told him." Besides I think they might be good together ".
I had gotten re-aquanted with Jake's sister Rachel earlier along with her little girl Rain who was two. She took quit a liking to me after Jake introduced me to her. I lifted her up onto my hip when she came over to me " hey Rainy, you wanna go see if your momma wants some help inside " I asked the toddler. She nodded kissing her uncle Jake's cheek making our group including me " awww". I chuckled " I'll be back in a bit " I told him carrying off the toddler into the house. " Hey there momma, you want a hand? " I asked setting Rain down on her feet. " I sure could. Can you help me with these pies?" she asked me gesturing to the pies on her counter. " Sure" I told her and grabbed a few and followed her out to the table set up outside and together we got all the pies set out along with Emily Uley.
When I came back out Jake was missing from our group. I waited a while before asking "where'd Jake go?" I wondered." Him and Quil went after Embry to try and talk to him" Collin told me. I waited wondering if they were able to get through to him.
After an hour the gathering dispersed. " You going to wait for Jake to come back kiddo?" Charlie asked. I nodded" yeah, you and Bella go ahead. I'll be fine here, I just want to say bye to Jake before heading out " I told him.
Collin stayed as his mother was helping clean up. I did to keeping myself busy till Jake came back. The garbage was out back behind the house so I took the two big bags of garbage back and dumped them. " So what is it with you Swan sisters, you both attract the wrong guys " Paul said making me jump since I didn't hear him. I frowned " I'm not sure what you mean " I said carefully and tried to get by but he stood in my way.
" I admit your not bad looking, I can see what they see in you. But now your just in the way "he said cryptically."What is it your trying to do exactly? I just want to talk to Jake before going home" I told him. "We need him, and I'm done waiting " he said and quick as lightning had me up over his shoulder. I shrieked loudly and kicked as he held me around my leg. " Let go Paul, put me down "I yelled beating his back." Hey Black come find your girl, she needs you " he yelled as he ran with me into the woods. " Stop it! Let go of me " I shrieked and writhed trying to get out of his arms.
" Leave us alone, leave Jake out of it" I cried, " shut up, you should've listened to Embry sweetheart things would be much easier if you weren't involved " Paul bit out." Andy!"Jake yelled from not to far away. " Over here, better hurry. Your girls getting scared" Paul taunted as he stopped.
"Paul let Andy go" Sam told him coming out of the trees to the right. " I was out for forty eight hours and all I had was a damn squirrel!" Paul yelled"we need him, I'm done waiting".
Jake came out of the trees " leave Andy out of this, put her down " he said. Paul dropped me to my feet but held my arm. " Get off, what's wrong with you " I grunted trying to get away. " I see why the two of you like her so much " Paul said pointing to Jake and Embry. " Just let her go Paul, don't involve her " Embry said coming closer." I'm done waiting, we've been going in circles trying to catch that leech. We need more numbers, look at him shake he's ripe as a peach" Paul said sarcastically " you a want her Black? Come and get her. Fight me " he taunted pulling me back and wrapping his arm around my waist making me gasp as I hit his chest hard with my back.
Jake was shaking and it worried me. Embry came forward stopping Jake and shoved him in the snow. Bringing his arm back he brought it back over my head with a sick crunch as he punched Paul and pulled me away. " You wanna fight someone Lahote, fight me " he said passing me to Jake as he stood up.
He didn't say a word as he picked me up breathing heavily and walked back out of the woods. He didn't set me down till we came to his old garage behind Billy's where he used to fix cars before he was out of high school. He set me down on his work bench bracing his arms on either side of me while he calmed down.
" Are you okay" he finally asked tipping my face to look at him. " He just scared me, I'm fine " I told him. He read my eyes carefully before kissing me, I opened my knees so he could come closer while I held his cheek and shoulder.
" Are sure your okay?" Jake asked looking me over as he asked holding my arms gently. "Honey I'm fine, not a scratch I promise " I told him softly. He nodded and helped me down " I should probably go now, I just wanted to wait and tell you goodbye before leaving " I told him." Yeah it's getting pretty late, I'll call you later " he said kissing me softly at my Jeep " I love you" he told me. " I love you too Jake, so much " I said hugging him again. He smiled softly and waved as I drove home.
We texted and talked in the evenings on the phone for a week before we could get together again. I smiled seeing he was calling as I got off work, " hey Jake" I said softly. " Hey to you too honey. I miss you, you wanna come by tonight? We can make dinner together again "he offered." Mmm, that sounds great. Let me change and I'll be right over " I told him.
When I got back to the house Embry was waiting again. " I'm so sorry about what happened, are you okay " he asked worriedly." He only scared me, but I guess that was his plan to make Jake angry enough to fight him " I replied hotly. He sighed " Andy I really need for you to listen to me " he began. I shook my head " I'm not leaving Jake Embry, I love him. I've waited so long for him to see me as an adult and love me the way I love him and he does now. I'm not letting that go " I told him." I don't want you to get caught up in what's going on, I don't want you to get hurt " he impassioned holding my arms. " I have to go Jake's waiting for me " I told him.
Embry held my arms gently lifting me so we were eye to eye. " Sweetheart please, please listen to me" he asked. I furrowed my brow " Why are you pushing this so hard Em? Jake loves me, I know you see it. Why can't you trust it like I do?" I asked searching his eyes.
" Your really beautiful when your mad " he murmured brushing my hair back making me uncomfortable. " Embry" I began gently stepping back. He moved with me and caught my chin and kissed me making me whimper. His kisses were warm and soft as his lips tried to coax mine, but all I could think of was Jake. When he stopped he kissed one more time catching my tears with his thumbs as he held my face. " Em please, I can't" I said thickly, he smiled sadly " I love you too Andy, that's why I'm telling you all this. You've been hurt so much already, and I love that stubborn head and heart of yours. I don't want to see you break" he said gently and let me go.
I quickly went inside and put what happened just now behind me as I got ready. Once I was I headed for Jake's. He was waiting for me and came out giving me a bear hug and spun me around before kissing me after setting me in my feet. " I missed you beautiful, it's been a tough stretch " he told me as he lead me inside. " Been a hard one for me too, aunt Danielle has so many deadlines to keep and so much stuff to organize, it's making my head spin " I agreed.
" Poor baby, no wonder you were so happy when I kidnapped you for lunch a few weeks ago " Jake said softly and kissed my head as he rubbed my shoulders. " It's been so crazy" I said shaking my head, " well for tonight, call this your Shangri-la " he told me." I grabbed stuff for burgers, that sound good?" he asked. I nodded " alright what station am I at this evening?" I asked. Jake steered me over to the cutting board with a tomato and knife " How bout you start here, then make up some fry sauce " he said smiling and kissed me cheek before getting the meat going.
I hummed absently as I worked and rubbed my bare foot on the back of my calf when it itched. " Your cute you know that?" Jake said out of no where making me chuckle. "What is that song anyway?" he asked." Um, it's an old nursery rhyme my aunt Leanne used to sing when I was little. They have really bad storms over there, so big it feels like it shakes the house. It used to scare me and my aunt would get me before I woke up my brother or cousin and sing it to get me to relax and go back to sleep " I told him. He frowned slightly " it doesn't sound familiar, which one is it?" he wondered curiously.
" It's called Billy boy, if you ever watched the Sarah Plain and Tall movies you would've heard it" I told him. Did she fix for you a chair Billy boy,Billy boy did she fix for you a chair charming Billy. Yes she fixed for me a chair she has ringlets in her hair, she's a young thing and cannot leave her mother. Did she bake for you a pie Billy boy Billy boy, did she bake for you a pie charming Billy. Yes she baked for me a pie, she's the apple of my eye, she's a young thing and cannot leave her mother I sang softly.
Jake watched me softly leaning back against the counter as I sang . " Now why are you looking at me like that Jacob Black " I asked mimicking his position. He shrugged " just admiring what's mine" he said huskily and turned back to what he was doing. I shook my head wondering how I got so lucky.
When we were done eating Jake brought me into his lap on the couch while we watched a movie. It was the norm for us. Part way through he started nuzzling into my neck and rubbing small circles up my side as he started to turn me. He kissed me building up the passion as he laid me down and hovered over me. When I needed to breath he moved his kisses down my throat and to my neck and shoulder. He stopped in the juncture of my neck and shoulder nipping and suckling making my breathing hitch as he held the back of my knee and hitched my leg up then the other as he suckled harder and rumbled sending vibration down my frame from where I felt it in his chest. I had a grip on the hair at the back of his head and the other rested over his fast beating heart. He nipped me harder than normal making me cry out till he soothed the sting with a wet kiss. " Easy Jake that hurt a little " I whispered, he didn't reply save a softer kiss over where it stung still.
I started to wonder if he was trying to loose himself so that he could forget something. Jake nuzzled that spot again splaying wet open kisses along my neck and shoulder " honey, I think we need to calm down a little " I suggested running my fingers through the ends of his hair. Suddenly he bit down hard making me cry out in pain and I felt hot tears in my eyes and went rigid with shock. He held me tightly and hitched my leg higher " Jake please stop, owe" I pleaded. Finally he unlatched and breathed heavily while loosening his hold on me.
" Oh no" he gasped in a worried tone and gently touched the bite making me gasp a sob. He cursed colorfully " baby are you okay? I'm so sorry,I don't know what happened " he said anxiously and full of remorse as he looked at me brokenly and brushed my hair and tears. " Let me clean it and put a bandage on it " he asked and got up quickly to look for a few things.
" I mauled you like some kind of animal " he said in disgust as he looked sadly at the bite and cleaned it. " Jake I know you didn't mean it, you just got to caught up. You'll be careful now so it's alright " I soothed touching his arm. He looked confused " but I hurt you baby, it's like I branded you. I broke my promise, I swore not to hurt you and I did " he said getting upset.
" Jacob, look at me" I asked softly and cupped his cheek holding his eyes gently. " I've known you since I was just a little girl. I know you'd never hurt me on purpose. We've both got a lot of things pulling us in different directions or worrying us in some way. You just got caught up in the moment, maybe with some pent up angst or something. The point is I know your horrified and that you won't do it again. I trust you Jake and I love you, whatever that was it didn't change that okay?" I told him reading his eyes.
He turned his face into my palm kissing it softly, " I love you so much" he whispered. " I love you too" I told him rubbing worry from between his eyes. He smiled a little " I'm so sorry Andy" he murmured as I took my hand away and continued cleaning the bite and covered it with a bandage taping it down. He kissed over the bandage sweetly and hugged me " I know you gotta go, but I wish you didn't have to "he murmured into my neck as he rubbed my back.
" You can trap me here when there's another rain storm " I told him making him chuckle. " Your beautiful first thing in the morning, especially when it's with me " he said more seriously. I blushed bright red and sniffed a laugh " yeah, you've always been able to move me while I sleep " I murmured." I just knew that I had to hold you " he told me as we walked to the door.
After we said our goodbyes I headed home trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my shoulder. We didn't talk more about what happened, it scared him enough. After that night he treated me like I was made of glass or a bird that would fly away if he moved to fast.
The days approached closer to his birthday and finally I had his present finished. I had sent for a leather wrist cuff from my cousin Josiah who makes them and painted a russet wolf on the top part facing the wearer. The wolf stood on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It took me several weeks to finish it with the tiny details on the small surface.