"This is my secret place… Where I come to think." I waited for him to continue, feeling elated and grateful that he had chosen to share this with me. He didn't speak again, just walked forward, and held back the brush to reveal a slightly worn path, dimly lit by the moon peaking through the canopy. We walked on together, his arms shooting out here and there to catch me when I tripped over something that usually turned out to be my own feet.
Within minutes, the trees overhead disappeared and the stars shown with startling brilliance. The moon was full and for once a clear, glowing silver orb, not shrouded by clouds. A black wall stood out against the greenery about thirty feet high, and water reflected the moon as it stair-stepped down a waterfall into a small pool surrounded by moss-covered boulders and plush, green plants. The smell of wild flowers after a fresh rain washed over me, making me think of spring.
As my eyes readjusted to the light, I froze. I noticed a blue heron at the waterside, head tucked beneath his wing. A young raccoon was washing his hands across the way, scrubbing the top of his head and over his nose, and a curious black bear turned at the sound of my small gasp, then slowly lumbered back into the brush.
"Jake… It's beautiful." When I turned to look at him, I wondered whether he had ever taken his eyes from my face. His head hadn't turned since we'd stepped from the path, and his eyes were glued on mine. "You're beautiful, Bells."
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as he pulled me into a tight hug. His mouth moved near my ear. "I never want to let you go." My eyelids fluttered shut. "Tonight, you won't have to."
His mouth was on mine then, his lips moving gently against my own. His tongue swept over my bottom lip, and I melted inside. I crushed myself against him, molding to his form, relishing the heat his body exuded.
Unthinkingly, I pulled slightly away, never breaking the kiss, and reached for my shirt. He released me to grab my wrists. I froze, as his coal black eyes bore into me, searching… "Before we do this, Bella, I need to know that this is what you want." His countenance was firm, but his eyes were pleading.
I couldn't turn him down. I wanted to make mistakes. I wanted to be human just for one night… And I wanted it bad enough that I would accept any consequences that came from this.
"Yes, Jake. This is what I want." Triumph. It was written all over his face. But there was more to it than that… He loved me, and that was visible, too.
Now it was he that reached for my shirt. He pulled it gently over my head, and tossed it onto the closest low-hanging branch. My jeans were gone next. He took a step backward. I blushed as I watched his gaze sweep appreciatively over a figure I didn't exactly flaunt. But as I recognized the look on his face, my embarrassment vanished.
Before I knew it , Jake had closed the distance and pinned me to the forest floor. His lips were on mine again as he wrapped his arms around me. One hand worked dexterously at my bra while the other roamed my body freely, cupping my breast or tracing my jaw with his index finger.
In no time, the bra was gone, hanging from the same bush as my shirt and pants. Both of his hands were now free to explore my figure. He smiled as I fidgeted with his button. It was stuck.
When he was finally free of his clothes, he began kissing my neck, slowly working his way down to my collar bone. Each time his lips touched my skin, it sent shivers down my spine, leaving a heated trail down to the top of my breast, where it lingered for just a moment.
He moved on too quickly, to the lower corner of my abs, down to the inside of my hip. He skipped again, planting a few butterfly kisses on the inside of my thigh, as he slid off the last piece of clothing I had on.
He hovered over me again, as I finally allowed myself to trace the bronzed muscle I had longed to touch-to taste. I kissed his shoulder as he slowly, finally let himself fall.
The soft rush of the waterfall became a roar as waves of sweet emotion came over me. I felt like the pulsating of my own heart would carry me away, as it intermingled with his.
Our hearts danced throughout the night to the savage pounding of our own manmade drums. And when the waves finally did overtake us, they swept us both away to a place only Jake and I could venture into… They swept us into dreams of each other…