Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Twilight world.
Chapter 9: Bittersweet
Emily was relieved to see that Jake had persuaded Bella to come to dinner tonight. She was quite concerned about the couple. She knew the tests that they had performed on Bella were painful and she also picked up on some extreme tension between them as well. When Sam spoke to Jake later he had been informed that the red headed vampire who apparently was a female was stalking them. He was not sure if she was after Bella somehow directly or if this was some type of scare tactic to get the wolves to play with her. Whatever her reason was, it was clear that Jake was not going to relax until they caught her and destroyed her.
Emily tried not to get too involved with the pack business but the few things she had manage to accidentally overhear was enough to nearly give her nightmares. She thought it odd that this enemy was a female. In the past they were usually males that crossed this area. She knew she did not have the powers that the pack had but she had female intuition. It had helped her in the past. She decided to remain silent for now with her questions and her fears.
She knew it would only bother Sam if he thought she did not trust the pack to protect her and Eli. She knew they would do their very best to keep them safe but no one was immune to death. Eventually it would find them all.
"Emily, the dinner smells good." Jake growled as he stepped inside after Bella.
Emily smiled proudly as she pulled out the potato and ham casserole that she had cooked for tonight's dinner. It wasn't exactly a gourmet meal but it was a favorite of Jake's. She hoped he might enjoy it. She also prepared a large bowl of cob salad, several pans of homemade rolls, some fresh picked green beans and for dessert she was going to serve her homemade chocolate cake. She had spent most of her afternoon cooking. Sam had taken Eli out for a couple of hours of playtime down at the beach. He was already bathe, fed and put in his bed. Sam had worn him out good today.
"It definitely smells great." Bella agreed as she stood to the side with a awkward position. Emily watched as she fidgeted with her hands in front of her.
"Thank you Bella." Emily replied.
"How about some wine tonight?" Sam suggested as he walked into the kitchen with a corkscrew, pulling out four glasses.
Jake looked toward Bella who simply nodded her head in agreement.
"Sounds like a plan." Jake called out as he took Bella's hand, leading her into the kitchen.
Bella found his touch comforting. She was still feeling the affects of his touch from moments before.
"So Bella what did you do back home? What was your job?" Sam asked as he stood with his back toward them, pouring four glasses with the white wine.
"I was a part time teacher." Bella answered.
"Really? What did you teach?" Emily ask.
"Reading mostly. I pretty much did whatever class I was subbing for." Bella answered with a bright smile.
Jake was surprised to hear about her occupation. It had never occurred to him to ask what she did for a living. He wondered how her being here was affecting her job status? Did she plan on teaching again once Lizzie was well?
"I take it you went to college." Sam stated as he sat the glasses down on the table.
"Yes." Bella answered.
"Where did you go?" Sam continued to question.
"I went to Washington State. My dad wanted me to stay close. My mom wanted me to go somewhere different. She thought it would be a better learning experience for me. Plus I had received several scholarships that would have allowed me to go out of state." Bella explained.
"Wow. Sounds like someone studied hard while attending High School." Sam chuckled.
"Actually I did. I didn't do much else, unfortunately." Bella admitted with a soft sigh.
"So you were like the Valedictorian I bet." Jake finally joined the conversation.
"Actually no. I could have been but I got sick my Senior year and although I made A's I didn't have the highest grades I normally got." Bella answered. She looked rather proud of the fact that she had not done as well as expected of her.
"I see." Emily sensed that Bella did not want to mislead people into thinking she was brilliant. She found that rather odd. Most people who were highly intelligent bragged about their success but not Bella.
"What about you guys?" Bella asked as she stared around at the three of them.
Emily pulled out her chair signaling them to sit so they could eat while they conversed.
"I did not go to college." Sam announced with a loud laugh. " I work at a dealership in Forks."
Bella was surprised by this statement. He did not seem much like a salesman type. She could not imagine him wearing the suit and tie.
"You sale cars?" Bella mumbled as she placed salad on her plate.
"No. God no!" Sam laughed as Jake and Emily joined him.
"I work on the cars." Sam explained.
Bella could definitely envision that position. Not that Sam was not intelligent to sale the cars but his attitude seem a bit frightening. She always imagined car salesman more charismatic. Jake she could see doing such a job.
"I went to Forks Community College for awhile. I got my associate degree but then our darling Eli popped up in our lives so I decided to be a stay at home Mom for now. Perhaps when he goes back to school I might take some more classes." Emily answered as she shoved Sam who was still grinning silly at the thought of himself selling cars.
"Please, he will have you knocked up again." Jake teased as he scooped up a fork full of casserole.
"I don't think so." Emily wagged her finger at Sam who smiled wickedly at the thought of impregnating his wife again.
"What about you Jake?" Bella turned the conversation toward him.
"I own a small shop on the outskirts of the boundary of the reservation and Forks. I work on cars too." Jake replied as he rolled his eyes at Sam.
Jake had offered Sam a job at his shop but he had refused. He explained he wanted something that existed outside of the reservation. He liked working for Michael Newton. He said his boss paid him far more than he was worth. It was definitely more than Jake could have offered.
"Oh. I didn't know." Bella found it rather funny that she had never thought to ask how he could afford such a nice home, take care of Lizzie and yet he was with them most of the time that she had been there.
"This is great." Bella moaned as she dug into the green beans.
"Try the wine. It's very good." Sam suggested.
"It's not Indian wine is it?" Bella looked over at Jake who suddenly burst out into laughter. He knew she was referring to the Indian whiskey he had given her to help with her nerves.
"What?" Emily and Sam said in union with an amuse smile on their faces.
"I gave her some whiskey. Our whiskey." Jake explained.
Bella watched as their smiles grew wider.
"Don't worry Bella, we don't make our own wine." Sam laughed as he sipped on it.
"Oh. Good." Bella smiled back at them as she sip on the drink. She had to admit it was definitely a good brand. It was almost sweet to her taste buds. She took a few more sips before she sat the glass down.
Ten minutes later into the meal there was a knock on the door. Bella had finally found herself relaxing and enjoying the company she was in when it occurred to her that Jake had mentioned there might be more guests tonight. She was rather disappointed they had arrived after all.
"Hey guys." Sam called out as he opened the door.
Bella watched as he took a few steps back to let two men step inside. Bella nearly dropped her glass. She was surprised by how tall, muscular and handsome they both were. She wondered if every guy here came with a six pack, great looks, and some serious height. Was it in the water here?
"Hey did you save us any food?" Embry asked as he rubbed his flat stomach.
"Of course." Sam rolled his eyes playfully.
Jake stood up staring at the two of them as if he wanted to ask them something but Bella watched as the two guys just made eye contact with him and nodded their heads before their serious faces turn toward her. Their dark eyes were suddenly filled with mischievous gleams as they smiled warmly at her.
"So you must be the woman that Jake is hiding in his house." Embry teased as he made his way toward the kitchen table.
Bella gulped hard as she watched the second guy follow him.
"Embry, Paul, this is Bella. Bella these two guys are our friends." Jake introduced them.
"It's nice to meet you." Bella replied with a polite smile.
"I bet. After being stuck with old Jake here I am sure any type of company is better than him." Embry joked as he grabbed a chair between Jake and Sam, plopping down while he began to make him a plate. Paul sat in the chair that was placed between Emily and Sam. He was less chatty. He smiled at her but it was pretty clear that he was less fun to be around than Embry.
Bella finished her dinner placing her napkin down on the table. She sat back enjoying her second glass of wine while she listened to them all talk about various subjects. She was not sure but she almost suspected they were speaking in a code that she could not understand.
Emily handed them each a plate of chocolate cake which seem to send them into hyper zone. Bella found it rather cute. They seemed to enjoy the food as much as they were enjoying the company. It was rather refreshing for her. When she and Collin had dinner guests it was not quite so cozy. He made sure everything was more formal. He had a reputation to keep he would tell her.
Bella had insisted on helping Emily with the dishes while the men went to the living room. They were drinking the whiskey at this point. She could hear them playing music as they argued over which CD to play next. Bella was enjoying listening to them act like a bunch of teenage guys rather than the stuffy old guys that she was accustom to.
"Dinner was lovely." Bella told Emily as she rinsed the dishes before sitting them in the dishwasher.
"Thank you. I'm just glad you were able to get away for awhile." Emily chuckled.
"The wine was delicious. I could have drunk a whole bottle by myself." Bella confessed.
"You nearly did." Emily teased her. She had drank four glasses by the time they had got up from the table. Normally one was her limit but she could not resist the sweet tasting wine.
"I'm so sorry." Bella looked shamefully at Emily.
"Honey, it's fine. We have plenty." Emily laughed at her.
"Oh. Good." Bella nearly felt awful but stopped herself when she realized that Emily was only teasing her.
"Let's dance Em." Embry pulled Emily into his arms as he danced with her into the living room.
Bella sat the towel down on the counter as she turn to find them dancing to a old eighties song. She could not stop herself from smiling if she tried. The wine was definitely putting her in a relaxed mood. When she spotted Jake doing the moonwalk she had to cover her mouth with her hand as laughter erupted.
"You think that is funny? Come here." Jake grabbed her hand pulling her into the room with the rest of them as he began to swirl her around a few times. She was already feeling a bit dizzy and the swirling only made it worse but she did not mind. She was having such a good time. It was such a change for her. Such a change that it felt as if she was finally breathing again. She was no longer dead to this world. At last she felt like she fit in somewhere. She was not the outcast. The freak. She was with friends. She just hoped she never had to leave this world.
The drive home took no time at all. Jake and Bella laughed as the confessed some of their most embarrassing moments during their teen years. Bella had revealed just how clumsy she could be while Jake admitted that there was a time when he was totally frighten of girls and it showed. When they arrived Jake had raced over to open Bella's door for her. He jogged up the porch to unlock the front door and to sniff for any possible enemies inside the house as a cautionary act.
As she walked up to the front porch Bella showed just how clumsy she could be when she trip over a step causing her to twist her ankle.
"Ow…it hurts." Bella winced as Jake raced over to help her up.
"I bet it does." Jake lifted her foot up and saw that it was already starting to swell.
"Come on let's get some ice on it. Damn, can't leave your side for a second." Jake teased as he scooped her up in his arms and strolled into the house, closing the door with his foot as he made his way to the couch. Gently he sat her down as he walked into the kitchen. He got her a small bag of ice as he return to the living room where she sat with her foot propped on the coffee table. He could not stop smiling. She had her head leaned back against the couch with a crooked smile on her face.
Jake lifted her injured foot into his lap as he ease the ice pack onto her swollen ankle.
"Ouch…damn it. I always have to do this." Bella cried out as the coldness seeped into her injury.
"Do what? Twist your ankle?" Jake asked as he watched her face closely. She seem to be torn between being relaxed and slightly uncomfortable.
"When ever I have a good time or something good is going my way I have to end things with a injury or a broken heart." Bella replied honestly as she laid her handover her forehead as the affects of the wine continued to make her thoughts a bit dizzy.
"I know what you mean." Jake laughed softly as he kneaded her calf while smiling wickedly at her.
"Do you? Have you ever wondered if there was something seriously wrong with you? I swear I thought I had to be some sort of freak of nature with how many times I had to be seen by a doctor." Bella winced as her ankle began to throb.
"Your just a klutz Bella doesn't mean you're a freak." Jake shook his head as he laughed again.
"Yeah, well, I have had several people tell me that it was annoying as hell to be around me." Bella replied off handedly as Collin suddenly entered her mind. He tried to be patient and understanding but there had been several occasions where her unexpected injuries had prevented them from doing something or going somewhere important to him.
"Well, they were stupid then. I think you are worth it." Jake replied as he took the ice off of her ankle to examine it. The swelling was decreasing. He was relieved to see she had not broken it after all.
"Ahh….thanks but you have to say that." Bella laughed bitterly as she pulled herself up onto the couch placing her foot on the ground.
Jake sat the ice of the table as he scooted on the edge of the table to stare closer at her.
"Why do I have to say it?" Jake asked curiously.
"Because, I am Lizzie's mother. If I wasn't her mother you probably would have never noticed my existence." Bella replied with another bitter chuckle.
"What? Why would you say that? Sure, I mean it is a good thing you are her mother but I like you as well for being you." Jake hoped it sounded less romantic and more of an honest respond.
"Really. Well who am I?" Bella asked with a mischief grin on her face.
"You are very kind, gracious, compassionate and loyal." Jake answered immediately. It was true. Every word he used to describe her was exactly how he saw her.
"I could be your dog." Bella laughed loudly until an expected shot of pain went up her ankle and into her calf.
"Yeah I suppose you could be but thankfully your not." Jake rolled his eyes as he saw the pain cross her face. Lifting her foot back up he saw her wince as he touch her calf.
"Does it hurt here too/" Jake asked a bit surprised by the location of her pain.
"A little." She admitted as she bit down on her lower lip as he started to knead it some more.
"What about here?" Jake asked as his hands glided upper toward the back of her knee.
"No." Bella giggled as he touch a sensitive spot.
Jake was amused by her ticklish nature so he dared himself to move further up to see what sort of respond he would receive from her. He knew they were both flirting with one another and he had to tread carefully but he was feeling so good for once. He did not want that feeling to end so soon.
As his hand move up to her thigh he spotted the pink shade in her cheeks as her eyelids fluttered.
"Ahhh…umm.." Bella shifted nervously.
"Does it hurt here? Or does it tickle?" He asked as his eyes grew darker with the passion he was feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Tickles. Definitely tickles." Bella replied with a hoarse tone.
"What about here?" Jake leaned closer as his hand slid in the center of her thighs brushing against the warmth of her core.
Bella gulped hard as she closed her eyes allowing a soft moan to escape her lips.
Jake found himself smiling seductively as he leaned closer pressing his lips gently against hers. He was not sure why he had suddenly found himself craving the touch of her lips or how it was possible that he had not kissed her before now but he was definitely enjoying it. Angling his mouth over hers his tongue push against the barrier of her closed lips as he tasted her mouth. It was sweet, hot, and silky. His hand snaked around her neck as he spread her legs with his own pulling her up into his lap, straddling him. The kiss grew stronger, the longing was heavy and thick between them, both were out of breathe but neither dared to break away from the kiss.
Jake could literally feel the heat between their bodies rising as her core rubbed against his hardness. The friction between them was unbearable. He wanted to rip off her pants and pulled her hot sweet womanhood down on top of his big hard cock but he knew it was too soon for that. The kissing had to be enough for now. The kissing that was driving him over the edge. The kissing that made him wish that when the day ever came for him to die it would be in her arms. He felt her hands wrapping around his neck as she let out soft whimpers, tugging at his hair, pressing her firm breasts against his chest. He could practically hear her heart beating. It was so loud, so fast, like the sounds of a drum.
"Yess…." Bella shuddered as a small climax rippled through her body.
"mmm…yesss…" Jake agreed as he slid his hands underneath her blouse touching warn skin beneath.
Her fingers curled around his shoulders as she pulled closer, returning his kiss as every bit as hungrily. He found his hands cupping both of her breasts that were covered by a silky material. His thumb flickered across the material where he felt two hard pebbles. She moaned louder into his mouth.
Jake suddenly feared he might not be able to stop them tonight from going past the point of no return. Every sound, every movement, the very taste of her was making the wolf in him stir madly. He needed her. He needed to feel all of her. His heart beat matched her own. Fast. Loud.
Her fingers were unbuttoning his shirt, and then dropped to the button and zipper of his pants. She undid them and slipped her hand down, searching out the hard, ridge of his cock through the material of his boxers. She stroked him as he pressed against her palm, groaning in the back of his throat.
But noises from outside the house intruded their sexual encounter. Jake made out the sound of a lone wolf howling against the night sky. The howl signal to him that one of his pack members was in trouble. As much as he wanted to continued to explore the possibilities between them, to feel the touch of a woman , he knew he had to refrain for now, to go and be the Alpha that he had vowed to be.
Damnitalltohell. Someonebetterbebleeding.
She trembled in his arms as her strokes grew faster, he let out a frustrated sound, released her, and did his pants back up in a hurry.
Bella sat there looking dumbstruck as he smiled sadly at her.
"What's wrong?" Bella choked out as her disappointment was clearly expressed in her voice and facial expression.
"I will be back. I need to go and check on a few things in the barn and call Sue to make sure that Lizzie is okay." Jake lied as he leaned over pressing a chaste kiss on her forehead before he strolled out of the house.
Bella felt tears stinging the back of her closed eye lids. She felt totally embarrassed and seriously rejected by the very man she had hoped to keep a close relationship with for her daughters safety and health. She might have gone too far tonight and if she had lost Jake due to her unexpected forwardness she would have no one to blame but herself and would understand if her daughter grew up to hate her someday.
Wiping away the tears that had manage to escape between her closed eye lids she hopped up the stairs to her room. Slipping into her pajamas she fell across the top of the bed falling into a deep dark sleep that left her feeling more confuse than ever.
Jake transformed the second he passed the back of the barn. Racing up the hill to the tree edge he found Leah still in wolf form pacing anxiously back and forth.
"What the hell?" Jake growled.
"It's Quil. I can't find him. We were together patrolling and I was listening to his thoughts as he rambled on about some girl he met last weekend in Forks then suddenly his thoughts literally stop in mid thought." Leah transmitted as she answered with a nervousness that made Jake's fur stand up on end.
Leah was always cool and collect when danger was near. What could have possibly happen to Quil that he had not seen it in time to call out to Leah?
"Let's go look for him. On our way lets go get Sam." Jake ordered as they began to race in the last known direction Quil had been heard from.