CHAPTER EIGHT
Edward surprised everybody with his determination to become used to being a vampire again. Aside from me, only Jasper and Zara realised how hard it was for him, but everyone believed it was me that was making the difference.
Not every day was a good one. Edward made efforts to hunt at least once in any twenty-four-hour period so that his thirst wasn't a problem and he could then stay close to me, spending the night wrapped around me and the day at my side. However, on some occasions he would be unsatisfied after hunting and would keep more of a distance between us. Other times he would simply fall into depression, convinced that there couldn't be a real future for us and I would have to try to reassure him all over again that we could make it work.
Two months had gone by since the accident and nothing physical had really happened between us. Edward would kiss me until I was breathless and explore my upper body with lips and tongue and the light touch of his fingers, encouraging me to jerk off, but he wouldn't do any more than that for fear of hurting me and he wouldn't let me touch him, or even look at him. I was desperate to make him feel better and I wracked my brains for a solution.
In the meantime, my leg had been healing well and it was time for another x-ray. Carlisle had suggested he may be able to remove the cast and apply a smaller, lighter one if things were going well and Edward accompanied me to the surgery and sat with me while I was x-rayed. The doctor showed me the image of my leg, the bones knitting together well, although the sight of the screws in there made me shudder. I could only imagine that removing them again would involve another serious surgery when the time came, followed by a lot of pain.
I was relieved when Carlisle cut the plaster off and began to prepare a new substance to apply, telling me that it would be so light I would barely notice it was there. In addition, he would give me a plastic sleeve with seals at the ends to stick to my skin, which could be pulled over the slim new cast to enable me to take proper baths or showers. I was delighted and this gave me an idea that might help Edward.
Unfortunately the others were going to know I was up to something, because I was going to have to ask them to let Edward and me have the house to ourselves. It was Emmett that I chose to speak to about it. I would have found it too embarrassing to talk to any of the women and I was convinced that Carlisle and Jasper would think it a bad idea. Both were still anxious about Edward's control when he was close to me and I knew that one or other of them constantly prowled around the upstairs when Edward spent the night with me as I slept.
"Emmett, can I talk to you?" I asked. I was outside on the porch getting some fresh air and Edward had gone hunting with Jasper and Charlotte. The big vampire was keeping me company.
"You are talking, aren't you?" he smirked. "Oh, I get it; this is a brother-in-law chat, right?"
"Huh...kind of. I'm not after advice, but I do want to ask a favour."
"Go on."
"I want to do something special for Edward, but it's going to be difficult without all of you knowing what we're doing and then...well, I guess it'd be embarrassing."
"You want to get rid of us. Why didn't you just say?" Emmett grinned. "When?"
"I don't know, whenever's convenient."
"Carlisle has a double shift tomorrow. The rest of us could go hunting for a few hours. What are you planning? Or maybe I shouldn't ask."
"No, you shouldn't. I don't even know if it'll work or not, but..."
"You two still got problems?" Emmett interrupted. "Edward's ok now, isn't he? At least most of the time. I honestly thought it'd be much longer than this before he was even safe to be near you."
"He's afraid he'll hurt me," I admitted. "And he's not comfortable with his appearance."
"He won't get naked?" Emmett chortled. "So you want us out of the way so you can seduce him?"
"Something like that," I muttered, feeling my face burning.
"Jake, you gotta be careful," he said more seriously. "I don't really want to think about what you might get up to, but jeez, you could end up on Carlisle's table again. I wouldn't even attempt it if Zara was human."
"Yeah, alright, Emmett, I've thought of that. I'll be fine. Just make sure everybody goes out, please?"
"Sure. I'll go out hunting with Edward in the morning too so he's not thirsty."
"Thanks, Emmett."
"What are brothers-in-law for?" he smiled. "Not sure how I'm going to convince Esme to leave you two alone, but we'll worry about that tomorrow."
Later Carlisle drove me over to Neah Bay to visit my family. It had become a regular trip every Saturday or Sunday, with one or another of the Cullens taking me there and either staying to talk, or leaving me there and returning later to collect me. Carlisle stayed and spent some time talking to Dad while I entertained my sisters. They had previously decorated my old cast with pictures and messages and were now keen to be the first to deface the new one.
"How long will it be before you get rid of this?" Claire asked as she began drawing two smiling faces which she assured me were herself and Chloe, just so I wouldn't miss them too much during the week.
"Probably another two or three months. It's healing well, but it's not strong enough yet."
"Will you still be able to be a coach?" Chloe said.
"I hope so. If I can run ok once it's all better, I'll be able to."
"When can we see Edward?"
"Not yet, he's not well enough. He will be, you just need to be patient."
"We miss him," Claire pouted. "What if he forgets us?"
"That's definitely not going to happen," I assured them.
"Can we draw him a picture?"
"Sure, he'd love it."
This kept the pair occupied for some time, sharing a large sheet of paper and sketching out a picture of a house with Mom and Dad, themselves and Edward and me standing close by. They gave Edward red hair and green eyes and had him holding hands with me. The girls were pretty good at art by then and it was clear who each of the characters were.
"Edward will love this," I told them.
Edward was actually very touched by the picture and pinned it to the wall in the music room so he could see it when he played the piano. He spent some time playing that evening and I sat next to him on the long bench, watching his slim white fingers fly over the keys, creating exquisite sounds without once looking at a sheet of music.
I did my best not to think about what I was planning for the next day. Edward didn't often invade my head now unless invited, but I didn't want the one time he took a peek to show him what I wanted to do and give him the opportunity to avoid it. I convinced myself that once the others were all out of the house, it would be perfect, but I also knew that giving him too much time to think about it would probably have him deciding it was a bad idea.
The following morning, Emmett was knocking on our door at seven, shouting that he was thirsty and that Edward may as well hunt with him. Edward raised his head from the pillow with a groan, clearly about to protest.
"Your eyes are black," I noted. "You better go with him."
"I'm alright for a little longer."
"Go. There's no sense making yourself uncomfortable."
I gave him a light kiss and pushed him away from me. He nodded and I watched as he blurred to his feet, pulled on a clean shirt, fastened it and tucked it into his pants in the space of a few seconds, grinning at my continued fascination with the speed at which he moved.
"Aren't you used to this by now?"
"Yes, but I still find it amazing."
I felt a light breeze, a cool brush across my lips and then he was gone, having crossed the room and kissed me without me realising it. I smiled to myself and lay there a while longer, thinking about what would happen later. I had checked several times that the items I wanted were in the house and all I had to do was set things up when the others went out, somehow keeping Edward from seeing what I was doing, and then persuade him to join me.
Emmett waited until about an hour before dusk and then encouraged everyone to hunt with him. Zara of course knew what was planned, but the others didn't and Esme and Jasper immediately expressed concern about leaving Edward and me alone in the house.
"They've been ok for the past couple months, just because we're not around it doesn't mean that'll change," Emmett said. "Don't you think they might want some time alone once in a while?"
"I'm fine," Edward said at once, turning his pale golden eyes on the others. "I'm not in the least thirsty."
I was relieved that he didn't query the others all going off together or suggest going with them. Instead he went to the music room to play the piano and I realised this was the perfect opportunity I needed. I asked him to play a piece he had composed a long time ago in college and left the door open so that I could hear him as I hobbled around the kitchen, finding wine glasses and a bottle of cherry coke to fill one of them.
"What are you doing?" Edward called out above the music.
"Getting a drink! Won't be long!"
I forced myself to think about other things as I made my way to Carlisle's surgery, grabbed a bag of blood marked 'ML' from the chiller and emptied it into the second glass. I left the glasses on the occasional table in the hall while I went upstairs to the master bath, turned on the hot water to fill the giant floor-sunk tub and opened the cupboard which held Esme's fancy candles. Within minutes I had a dozen little flickering lights along the edge of the tub and I emptied an entire bottle of lemon-scented bubbles into the water before I shuffled, panting from the exertion, downstairs to find Edward. He had stopped playing the piano and was coming out of the room to look for me.
"What are you up to?" he asked again. "I thought you were getting a drink."
"I was." I picked up the glass of blood from the table behind me and passed it to him, then took my own, hoping I wouldn't spill it as I used the one crutch to help me make my way into the main lounge.
"Jacob?"
"I thought it was time we did something special." I lowered myself carefully onto the large couch and put the crutch aside. "Come sit down."
Edward sat close to my side, his lips twitching up at one side into his crooked smile. "You planned this, didn't you? Getting rid of the others?"
"Emmett was pretty helpful." I held my glass up and clinked it gently against his. "This is another new start for us. I know you still have doubts and fears, but so long as we love each other, we'll be fine. I love you, Edward, so much."
"I love you too. Thank you for this." He reached for my free hand and laced our fingers together, his hand cool and his grip firm, but not too tight. He had gotten used to the amount of pressure he could apply without bruising.
We sipped our drinks and leaned back against the cushions, our eyes locked together. His were several swirling shades of gold and it reminded me of when he was human – his green eyes would change colour, taking on one of a dozen tones at any one time, reflecting his mood or his surroundings. I leaned closer and caressed his cool lips with mine, observing the faint coppery taste of blood lingering there.
"It still surprises me that it doesn't bother you," he murmured when I drew back.
"It never did before. It's just part of you, Edward."
"I wish I could do more for you." He squeezed my hand gently. "I want so much to be to you what I once was, but I don't know how."
"Do you trust me?" I asked.
"Of course."
"I had an idea that I want us to try."
His brow wrinkled slightly. "What is it?"
"Come with me." I placed my half empty glass on the nearby table and pulled myself to my feet.
"Where are we going?"
"Upstairs."
"Jacob..."
"Trust me, please," I begged. "I'm not going to do anything you don't want, but I'm hoping you will want it."
He nodded slowly as I picked up the crutch and then removed it from my hand and put it down again.
"Do you trust me?"
"Sure."
"Hold on, then."
I let out an embarrassing sound similar to a squeal as I was suddenly swung off the ground into Edward's arms and I held onto his neck firmly.
"You sound like a girl," he teased.
"Shut up."
Edward headed for the stairs at normal speed and climbed them steadily, then halted outside our door.
"I can hear water running," he said.
"It's in the master bath."
He carried me to the bathroom and I opened the door slowly so as not to cause a draft that would blow the candles out. The tub was about three-quarters filled and as Edward lowered me carefully onto my good leg, I hopped over to it and turned the faucet off, dipping my fingers in to test the temperature. It was scalding hot, just about bearable for me and delicious for him if I could only get him out of his clothes and into it. He was still standing by the door, a slightly anxious look on his face.
"Come in and close the door," I said. "Trust me?"
He nodded slowly and did as I asked. "You went to so much trouble."
"I just want to make you feel better, Edward. We don't have to do anything, but I know how you love the heat of the water. I thought we could share it; maybe it'll stop you worrying so much that I'm going to find you unappealing in some way."
"You must think I'm being ridiculous," he said with an awkward laugh.
"I've never thought that; but I hope you'll join me in there since I went to so much trouble to get rid of your family."
I gave him a warm smile and turned by back to him while I took off my shirt and cargo shorts, then bent to remove my underwear. I could feel his eyes on me and I determinedly ignored him as I pulled the plastic sleeve over my cast, sealed it in place and sat down carefully on the edge of the tub before lowering myself into the hot, bubble-covered water. The heat made my skin tingle and I let my head fall back against the edge of the bath and closed my eyes.
I could hear nothing except for my own breathing, but then after a moment there was the soft sound of an item of clothing joining mine on the floor. I held my breath and listened to the clink of his belt buckle, then his zipper sliding down and my cock began to rise beneath the water as I imagined I was watching. He had undressed for me countless times before and I recalled him doing so in vampire form after the first time we got married. I knew he was standing right behind me, probably in white shorts, his body pale and smooth, the tantalising line of light brown hair disappearing into his waistband. I pictured him hooking his thumbs into the elastic and lowering the shorts, uncovering the part of him that I hadn't even seen since before the accident. It would be as pale as the rest of him, the head faintly pink and surprisingly soft, almost as it had been when he was human.
I let my breath out suddenly as the bubbles rose and fell around me, the water rippling as Edward slid into it and sat beside me with a long sigh.
"I forgot how good this feels."
"I thought you might have."
He slid lower suddenly, his knees rising up from the bubbles and his head disappearing beneath them. I grinned to myself as he submerged himself, telling myself not to be stupid when I worried that he didn't surface after a minute or two. He didn't need to breathe, but I still had to remind myself of that. Eventually he sat up again, brushing his hands over his head to remove the lemony bubbles, his red lips parted over his teeth in a wide grin. He lay back beside me and rested as low in the water as he could get, relishing the heat just as I had hoped he would.
"Thank you," he said.
"My pleasure."
I felt for his hand under the water and held it as we lay soaking, barely even speaking, me unable to keep the smile off of my face and Edward's eyes closed, his expression dreamy. Time passed and eventually he sat up and stretched, grinning and smoothing his hands over his damp hair.
"My fingers are going wrinkly."
"Stay there. There's more," I said.
I reached behind me to snare the bottle of shampoo I had positioned within reach and squeezed some into my hand. Edward closed his eyes and sat motionless while I washed his hair, massaging his scalp with my fingertips until he was rolling his head slightly, emitting soft moans that went straight to my groin. When I finished, he ducked under the water again to rinse out the suds and then sat up and turned to look at me.
"Want me to do yours?"
"Not yet, I'm not finished."
I picked up the shower gel and sponge, soaking the latter and squeezing out some of the former, then beginning to lather his shoulders and upper back as much as was visible above the water. He leaned forward, arms resting on his knees and I grinned happily as I bathed him, reaching around him to wash his chest. He straightened up obligingly and half turned towards me.
"You're spoiling me."
"That was my intention." I plunged the sponge into the water and squeezed it out over him, rinsing off the soap. "Sit up there."
I indicated the tiles surrounding the tub, holding my breath again as I waited to see if he would refuse. He hesitated for a long moment and then suddenly he was out of the water, his butt resting on the cool surface, legs still in the tub. His chest rose and fell rapidly as I looked at him, my eyes drifting slowly from his leg which was next to me to his cock. It was about half hard, hovering slightly above his thighs and I pressed a soft kiss onto his knee.
"You're so beautiful, Edward."
I applied more shower gel to the sponge and began to wash his leg with it, manoeuvring myself awkwardly until I faced him so that I could reach both legs easier. He closed his eyes and leaned back on his hands, teeth biting into his lower lip as I worked my way up his thighs and then brushed the sponge over his cock.
"Mmm."
Delighted, I slowly began to rub the sponge along his length, watching it grow and rise against his belly, his legs spreading apart either side of me, his head dropping back between his shoulders. He was as hard as I was, the flared head of his cock pink, the organ quivering as I continued sponging it. I rinsed him quickly and then moved closer, stretching my leg out to one side of me in an effort not to put my weight on it.
"Jacob..."
"Sshh. Lie back," I murmured.
I rested my hands on his thighs, the thumbs stroking firmly and he leaned back, lowering himself flat onto the tiles without protest. It was almost like the first time all over again - the first time I ever touched him. I grasped his cock firmly, curling my fingers around it and feeling it twitch immediately. I cupped his balls with the other, marvelling at how soft and human they felt, despite their coolness, not completely diminished by the hot water. His breath hissed out between his teeth as I caressed and stroked, sliding my hand slowly up and down his shaft, rubbing by thumb over the head as he began to leak pre-cum after only a brief moment.
My own erection throbbed achingly against my stomach, neglected and longing for attention, but I continued to ignore it, lifting myself slightly on my good knee so that I could reach to run my tongue over his tip.
"Oh, God," he groaned, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Feel nice?"
"Don't stop. I want..."
"Want me to make you come?"
"Unh..."
I took him in my mouth, swirling my tongue around and sucking gently, something I had been longing to do for weeks and that at last he seemed to want just as much. I lowered my head, taking more of him in, gradually bobbing my head and following the movement with my hand, tightening my grip much more than I would have normally as I remembered how he had begged me to squeeze harder when we were vampire and wolf.
"Fuck...Jacob...uh...Christ..." he moaned, thrusting his hips upwards suddenly so that he plunged deeper than I expected and hit the back of my throat. I pulled off quickly, trying not to gag.
"Sorry." He subsided, shuddering, on the tiles, lifting a hand to rest gently on my head. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, relax."
I drew him between my lips again and continued sucking and stroking, his thighs quivering either side of me with the effort of staying still.
"Your mouth is so hot," he gasped. "I missed this so much. I thought...I wouldn't be able to."
"Mmph," I responded.
I increased my speed as much as I could. He was close, his balls pulled up tight against his body, the base of his cock pulsing in my hand and cool fluid oozing onto my tongue as I sucked and licked and gently bit, my hand flying up and down the lower half. He came hard, filling my mouth with cold sweetness, his yell echoing around the bathroom and his body going limp. I released him reluctantly, drawing the last drops from him before I shifted my position again quickly to make myself more comfortable. Edward remained where he was for a moment and then eventually pulled himself up and slipped back into the water beside me. His eyes were black, but I knew that this time it was from desire rather than thirst.
"That was amazing." He brushed cool fingers down my cheek. "You're amazing. I don't feel like I deserve any of this; I've been such terrible company for you. I'm supposed to be your husband and I haven't been giving you anything."
"You have; you're here," I said. "I know how hard you've been trying to get used to this."
"I love you. You're the reason I'm here. You're what's made this so much easier than it was before; putting up with all of my shit, always having an answer for every negative thought I have, endlessly patient, even managing to get me hard again. I want to do something for you." He smirked suddenly and his other hand came to rest on my thigh below the water. "I'm still afraid I'll hurt you. Guide me this time?"
I lifted his hand from my thigh and placed it over my cock, shuddering at the feel of his touch, cool even in the still hot water. I wrapped his long fingers around me, covering them with my own, guiding his hand up and down slowly, forcing myself to keep my eyes open so that I could look into his. I squeezed his hand slightly, making him tighten his grip just a little and then let go.
"Just like that," I whispered.
He continued jerking me off, his hand beginning to move faster as I thrust myself against his palm, groans and growls issuing from me as my orgasm approached much more rapidly than I would have liked. Edward increased his speed even more and I rolled my head back onto the edge of the bath, digging my nails into his neck as I clutched at him.
"Fuck...I'm coming...uh...so good, Edward," I moaned.
My cock pulsed in his cool grip, shooting its load into the water, his thumb softly rubbing the over-sensitive head afterwards until I begged him to stop. He took his hand off of me and sat still until I opened my eyes and lifted my head slowly.
"That felt so good."
He leaned closer and his lips caressed mine for a moment until I had to pull back to gasp for breath. Then he rose slowly to his feet and stooped to help me up. We didn't speak as we stepped out of the tub and into the shower to rinse off. Edward had already blown the candles out and pulled the plug and by the time we finished in the shower and dried ourselves, the bath had drained. I gathered up all of our clothes and then Edward picked me up and carried me to our room. It was still early, but he lowered me onto the bed and lay down beside me, drawing the sheet over us and snuggling close, his coolness against my warmth, lips, chest, thighs, feet, as many parts of us touching as we could manage.
