A/N - Sheesh - you guys have no faith in me - or Bella! Let's see if I can win you over :)

Bella closed her eyes after her promise and leaned closer, bringing them together. A kiss can be so many things. A moment in time, locked away forever. A promise. A goodbye. This kiss was none of those.

This kiss was the moment when Bella Swan opened her heart to Jacob Black and let him inside her wall of self-preservation.

Years of having to be too old, too mature, too perfect fell away and for the first time, she was just a girl, kissing the boy she loved. His lips were soft and so unsure. She held his face and with eyes closed, kissed him with everything she'd never said.

Jacob's hands shook on her hips. He didn't grab her or cling to her, and she understood. She'd hurt him so many times, how could he possibly trust her to do as she promised.

"Jake?" she began, pulling away just far enough to open her eyes.

The moment their eyes met the world crashed down around them, magic crackled in the air and the bond that tied them together solidified into an unbreakable iron.

Electricity coursed through her body and she was knocked back by the force of it, but he didn't let her go. His hands held her tightly now, sure of his place in her heart. With a feral howl Jacob announced their imprint to the world.

He pulled her to him without restraint and kissed her. This was the kiss they were always meant to have. The kiss that held nothing back. The kiss that spoke of submission and acceptance. Their mouths moved together, lips and teeth devouring each other with a hunger neither had known before. She wanted to wrap herself around him, climb up his tall figure and cling to him with every ounce of strength she had.

His hand slipped up the back of her shirt while the other gripped her ass, making her squeal, making him smile. The rules were gone, she was his.

Swiftly he moved them to the forest floor and hovered above her, his lips never leaving hers. She pulled him to her, wanting to feel him everywhere. Her skin was aflame with the desire of perfect love, how had she ever considered letting him go? Hitching a leg up around his hip, Bella pulled him closer, needing contact, needing more.

Jacob complied. He ground himself against her, grabbing her breast and chewing on her neck until she writhed beneath him. The sensory overload was enough to make her pass out. After years of being denied, untouched and frustrated, he was everywhere. Hot and strong, and he wanted her. When she was sure she couldn't take anymore, he gripped the fabric of her pullover and ripped it away.

Barechested and exhilarated, Bella moaned and arched up, offering herself to his hungry eyes.

"Bells..." He groaned and pulled away.

"What?" She hated the whine in her voice, but more than anything she didn't want him to stop.

"I... I don't know..."

"Jake, it's okay..." she sighed, resignation settling in. Even with the imprint, he didn't want her. All the self-doubt and insecurities planted by Edward's inattention sprouted and threatened to overshadow her happiness. She reached for her shirt.

Jacob's hand gripped her wrist, stopping her. He growled with his lip curled, punctuating his command with a thrust of his hips that sent waves of pleasure through Bella's core.

"I don't know..."

"What..." she panted.

"I don't know if I can be gentle."

Her eyes widened and her heartbeat sped up to what seemed like a dangerous pace. "Who said you had to be?"

He blinked, shock flattening his features, making his reaction impossible for her to read. Then his weight was on her, his hands wrapped around her back, pulling her tighter.

"Bella..." he moaned into her neck, licking at her unwashed skin. Running her nails down his back, she felt something within her open. And like all the emotions her heart had held back, her body began to yield.

He pulled away, his eyes wild as he sniffed the air before looking back at her. A low rumble began in his chest as he took in her naked torso.

"I want..." His voice was strained, but if he finished the sentence it was washed away by the tide of pleasure that overwhelmed Bella when his lips brushed against her breast. He kissed her softly at first, the stubble of his patchy scruff rough against her flesh.

With a moan, she pulled his face closer, weaving her hand through his hair. He opened his mouth and pulled her in. Warm breath, soft tongue, and then the quick nip of teeth around her nipple had her body shaking beneath his. Twisting herself so she could grind against him, Bella's mind went black. His hands stroked her sides while his mouth sucked and chewed on her breast. She pulled his hair and gripped his shoulders, seeking something outside of her control.

"I want you so much," Jake declared, pulling himself up to his knees and whisking off his shirt.

The line of his collar and shoulders where she had washed was a stark contrast to his beautiful brown arms. She laughed, despite the desire seeing his perfect body inspired.

"Maybe we should clean you up some more." Her smirk was lazy, there was no doubt that this delay only meant there would be more time to be with him later.

"Fuck, look at me!" he laughed, his face shining and open. For the first time since he became the wolf, her Jacob was back.

"Jake, did we just..."

"I think so," he confirmed with a twinkle in his eye. "I don't know why it took so long, but yeah, I'm pretty sure that was imprinting."

Tears pricked her eyes and flowed down the sides of her face, into her hair. Laying on her back, she cried as he brushed the hair out of her face.

"Why now?"

He lay beside her, resting his head on his hand while the other stroked her face, her arms, her breast, her stomach. Any part of her skin he could reach, his fingers grazed lovingly. He shrugged and watched goosebumps rise in response to his touch.

She rolled to her side and kissed him again. Slowly and with languid ease, she brought her lips to his, letting his tongue taste her. "I love you," she whispered and nibbled his lip.

"MmmHmmm," he agreed with a self satisfied tone.

He stood up and stuck the end of his shirt in his waistband so it hung down his leg. She was glad he didn't put it back on. After offering her his hand, Jake pulled Bella up to stand before him. Both were still topless and her natural shyness began to kick in. She pulled the tattered sides of her pullover together across her chest.

Jacob pouted.

"Such a boy." She rolled her eyes, thrilled by his disappointment.

"So..." he shuffled his feet. "Do you want me to go, um clean up, or..."

"Walk me back to the cabin first?"

He nodded, a blush spreading across his cheeks. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he guided them through the forest, back to the small cabin. It was a place she'd hated this morning. A place where she was a captive, but now, as it came into view and the sun shone brightly above, it felt like home.

When they approached, Jacob's stomach growled.

"We have to start feeding you better," she declared, laying her head against him.

"Yeah," his eyes shifted around, looking through the trees.

"Do you want to hunt?" She stopped walking and looked up at him.

"No, Bells, I told you, I'm done phasing."

"Jake, you don't have to do that, if we're imprints there's no reason for you to stop."

He clenched his jaw, ferocity in his eye. "I don't like who I am when I'm the wolf. You deserve for me to be better than that."

"What I deserve is some food, and so do you. If you want to go hunt and clean up while I make some lunch, that's fine. There isn't enough left for both of us to eat for much longer." She paused and took a step back, "Besides, you're far too skinny."

He shook his head, stubborn to the end. "No, the wolf did this to me, to us, I don't want it."

She nodded and touched his face. "I know, but without the wolf how do you know it would have ever worked between us? Without the wolf I would have been killed by Victoria, or Laurent in the woods, or I would have married Edward without you ever bringing me here. How would you have kept me safe? How would I have ever believed in us without the imprint?"

He sighed and looked at the ground.

"Whatever you've done, it's okay. I forgive you, and I love you and I... I'm so thankful you're such a stupid, rash idiot. If you don't want to phase anymore, fine, but don't do it for me."

"When did you start talking so much?" Jake mumbled, still looking at the ground.

"Since I stopped being afraid." She lifted herself on her toes and kissed him gently on the cheek.

Bella walked into the house, leaving the conflicted man she loved behind with his demons. No matter what he did, it was up to him. She would love him either way.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it with a girlish smile. What am I doing? She wanted to scream, laugh out loud, anything to get the nervous energy pent up in her cells out. In two days she'd gone from engaged to a vampire, to kidnapped by a rogue wolf, to imprinted...

The imprint didn't make sense, the fact that it happened now. Wasn't it supposed to happen the first time the wolf saw his mate? Jake had certainly have plenty of chances, what changed? Maybe she'd never know, maybe it was just another in a long line of things she did backwards, but she didn't really care. Now that she had let him in, she was never going to let him go.

She pulled off the tattered remains of her top and threw them on the threadbare couch. In one of the drawers was a men's tank top she'd seen earlier. Pulling it on over her head, Bella lamented not having a bra. The top was comfortable, but not exactly discrete.

After pulling off her shoes, Bella made herself lunch. Black beans, a granola bar and peanut butter. Hardly haute cuisine but it was delicious nonetheless. After stuffing her face with as much food as she wanted, she used her ruined shirt to wipe her hands and clean up.

A knock on the door came, just as she was starting to worry.

"Who is it?" she sang playfully.

"The Big Bad Wolf," Jake's laugh rang out.

Opening the door, she smiled. He was still topless but his chest was clean and his hair was wet. "Can I help you with something?"

"I was wondering if you'd be interested in purchasing a set of Encyclopedias or Ginsu knives."

She broke first, laughing at his serious face and salesman voice. He strode forward, taking her smile as the invitation it was.

Their kiss hello lingered until it morphed into something more powerful and intimate. He walked her further into the cabin, hands on her hips, love in his heart.

"Close the door," she whispered, making him laugh.

"Why?"

"Just shut up and close the door!"

He complied, shaking his head. When he turned back around she stood before him, in nothing but her jeans. His eyes widened and words caught in his throat.

She wasn't brash by nature, but the reaction she'd inspired by taking off her top made the risk completely worth it.

"I didn't want you to rip this one too." She smirked as he closed his mouth and swallowed audibly.

"Probably a good idea."

He swooped her up in his arms, crushing her tiny frame against his chest and kissed her. Bella met him with equal force, their few minutes apart was probably a good idea, to clear their heads, but now that he was back and his bare chest burned against her breasts, all she wanted was more of him. She pushed her hand into his hair and pulled and she chewed on his lips. He tasted like the rain, like home.

His hand roamed her sides, slowly feeling each rib, each muscle. He trailed his hand up and down her vertebrae, leaving her breathless for more.

"Where do you want to..." she started, blushing and looking away.

"Don't be shy." It was a command, but his voice was gentle. "Don't be shy or afraid with me. Be yourself. Just say what you want."

"I want you." She pulled away from him and stepped back, leaving only her fingertips on his chest, keeping him at a distance. She took in his body. He was taller and his chest was broad and strong. He had the appearance of a full grown man. Maybe 25, but his heart was still only 16. The muscles of his arms and abdomen were even more pronounced than before he'd left, accentuated against the thinness of his waist. She could see his ribs and worry crossed her mind again.

"Did you eat?" she asked.

"Yes." He looked away, shame coloring his features.

"Good."

His head jerked up and his gaze bore into her. "How is that good? I just killed an animal and ate it raw? How is that anything other than vile?"

"It's good because you needed to eat. It's no worse than the chicken I ate the other night or the steak Charlie is probably having at the dinner tonight. Jake, I know what you are, it doesn't disgust me or bother me. I'm not pulling away from the animal, I never was."

He nodded, but worry still clung to his face.

Bella reached out and hooked her fingers into the waistline of his pants, pulling a thoroughly shocked and aroused Jacob toward her.

She sat on the ground before him, pulling him down to join her. When she laid down, she smiled and reached out to him. She offered herself up to him, submitting to his desire in a way that satisfied the wolf.

"Fuck Bells..."

His hand ran along the outside of her hip, trailing down her thigh to her knee. Once there, he squeezed her leg, massaging his way higher. She closed her eyes and rolled her head back.

When his hand reached her upper thigh she shivered, overcome with need. Her hips moved involuntarily, seeking what he had to offer. Jacob purred at the sight.

When his hand crossed the threshold of her thigh, she moaned, pushing up into the warmth. A rush of pleasure spread throughout her abdomen, relaxing and releasing her desire.

"Fuck Bells..." He moved quickly, undoing her jeans and wrenching them off so she was bare before him. Bella didn't have a chance to complain or feel uncomfortable before his mouth latched onto her mound.

"Holy shit!" she screamed as his tongue split her in two, searching for the moisture that had ignited his desire with its scent. He buried his face into her, his nose inhaling as his tongue lapped over her folds. He explored every millimeter, every facet of her sex. Moans broke through the peaceful forest, but it wasn't clear whose they were.

Discovering her, Jacob throbbed for release. But the scent of her wanting him was more than he could pull away from. Each new sound she made inspired him to try something else, each time her hips rocked into his face he attacked her with new ferocity. Instinct drove him to taste her, pull her further into him. All he wanted to do was show her how much he adored her.

Her small clit pulsed as he dragged his tongue over it again and again, using the tip to flick at her now and then. When he pulled her softness into his mouth and sucked, she screamed for more.

His own passion ached to take her, to possess her, but he was so afraid of hurting her, he couldn't let himself go. He was too strong and still too close to the wolf to trust himself. Instead he dove into her, gripping her thighs and spreading her legs wider before him. She squirmed, but he knew from the moisture before him that she didn't want to get away.

Jacob pushed his tongue into her, tasting the essence of her need for him. He pulled away, returning his mouth to her clit and inserted a finger into her. The warmth of her gripped at him, pulling him deeper, making him roll his eyes back in pleasure as he chewed on her sensitive flesh until she gripped his head, pulling him closer and screamed.

He withdrew his finger but continued to kiss her until she giggled and shifted away. Her legs lay languidly around him and she giggled again when he pressed his mouth to her inner thigh. Bella giggled. He hadn't thought it was possible for her do that.

After wiping his face with his hand, he maneuvered himself next to her on the floor.

"For the record," she said wrapping her arms around his neck, "I don't ever want you to be gentle."