Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from the Twilight Characters.

Rating: Mature

Beta: Jessipooks

Pre-readers: Mist/LuvinJ

Song Inspiration: Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead

Banner: Mist

A/N: You guys really helped keep my muse alive after last chapter's them coming, it's hard to find the bugger. Thank you for leaving them and thank you for being such awesome readers. Xoxox August

Mr. Uncertain Chapter 9: The Uncertainty of Love

JPOV:

"Thank you." Taking my purchases I began my short journey back to my place. Hopefully Bella would still be asleep.

I knew once she woke up things would become awkward.

Bella would no doubt be embarrassed and probably even a bit shook up. I just hoped she would listen to reason. Last night, had been one of the best and unexpected moments in my life.

Bella and I enjoyed great sex together but there had also been something else involved in it, something I couldn't I looked at her sleeping soundly in my arms I felt as if I couldn't breathe. She was easy on the eyes, has an exciting body, but there was something else about her that intrigued me.

What could this feeling be? I've never really given much thought to the women I've had sex with. Why was this one making me feel like I should do something more for her? Like I owed her or something. I know I sound like a madman and hell, I wish I could call Embry and ask him about these perplexing feelings of mine. That was not an option. Nope. Embry was going to kick my ass when he discovered what I had done to his potential girlfriend.

There was no reasonable way to explainwhat happened to Embry. Simply put, I screwed up royally. Embry had been the one friend I could count on when things got shitty and now I basically shitted on him.

If there was anyway I could lessen the blow I would but honestly there wasn't.

I just hoped that when I tried to explain that I had these unresolved feelings for Bella that maybe he wouldn't hate me so much. I liked the girl. There I said it, okay, maybe in my head but still I was admitting it.

Bella made me feel empowered for the first time, if ever, in my life. I suddenly wanted to be more of the man I knew others expected of me.

When I spoke to her about my hobby with landscaping she opened my eyes to all of the possibilities. I could start a career doing something that I actually enjoyed. She even seemed to want to help me with it.

None of my past lovers ever showed interest in me outside of the bedroom. A few of them had attempted to settle me down but failed miserably at it. She didn't do that. She sincerely liked what I had done and wanted to see me successful.

Her smile. Yes, even her smile made me feel warm and secure. I knew I sounded like a pansy ass but it was all true. She could laugh and I would literally feel like I was doing something right and that made me feel almost worthy.

Bella was an exceptional woman. I had met my match when I met her.

What about Embry? How was this going to affect our relationship? What about Bella? Would she want more from me than a one night stand? Was I possibly just a conquest?

No, that wasn't Bella. She was a good woman with a big heart and although she did basically cheat on Embry with me, I know she didn't purposely hurt him. I can't help but fear that she might regret what we shared and then want to return to Embry. What would I do then?

How could I sit idly by and watch her start a relationship with a guy, even a good one like him, when I knew she was making an enormous mistake? Bella needed someone who challenged her. Embry was stable. He was a good guy with a secure future and he could offer her more than me financially but he couldn't give her the passion that I could.

I guess I would have to wait and see how things worked out once she woke up. With coffee and donuts in my hands I walked eagerly to see the woman who held my future in the palm of her hands.

XXX

BPOV:

My head felt muddled the second I woke up. Easing my eyes open I was relieved to discover I was alone. Images of Jake and I began to explode in my head. I didn't know if I should cry or smile as I watch a replay of last night.

Jake had proven to be more than what I had ever dreamed of in a man or a lover. The man knew what he was doing and he enjoyed giving as much as receiving. I was impressed with his skills but what impressed me more was how he would hold me afterwards. He didn't seem to mind showing me gentleness after he had been so forceful moments before.

Grazing my hand over the pillow where his head had laid, I could barely make out the imprint of his head. The man was like a human heating blanket

He had a body that was so perfect that I couldn't stop admiring it or touching it throughout the night.

Sitting up, pulling the sheet with me, I looked around the vacant apartment and couldn't help but wonder where he had ran off too? Taking the sheet with me I walked into the kitchen in thehopes of finding a note explaining his whereabouts. I found nothing, not one single clue that would explain his disappearance.

A sudden dreaded feeling hit me. Struggling to catch my breath I began to think that what I had felt with him last night, might have been one sided. Of course it had. Hell, the man had been with more lovers than I had fingers and toes. Why would one night of crazy sex with me make a difference in his life? Shit. Shit! What have I done? I allowed myself to do something foolish and now I was standing in the center of the room with tears in my eyes.

It wasn't really his fault. It would make things easier if I could hate him but honestly I couldn't. He had tried to warn me and even stop me but I had refused to listened. There was no reason to try and find blame, we both knew what we were doing and I enjoyed every second of it.

First thing I needed to do was to jump in the shower. I could still smell the faint lingering aromaof him all over me. It was such a heavenly smell but it was also a reminder that what we shared would never happen again.

Jake and Embry were best friends and if I was lucky, Jake would agree to never,ever, tell Embry what we had done.

I would never have Jake as my own but there was still a slim shot that I could find some sort of happiness with Embry. It would never be as intense or exciting as Jake's love but it was better than having nothing at all.

XXX

After allowing myself to cry for a good five minutes I managed to wash up and slip into some clean clothes before my phone rang and brought me back into the real world.

"Hello."

"Hey. I was just thinking about you." Embry's voice replied, my stomach sank and my heart crumbled.

"You were?" Licking my lips before chewing on the inside of it, I took an extra breath to try and force my voice to sound normal.

"Sure was. So I heard about a wonderful B&B a town over that serves the best cheesecake and coffee and wondered if you were interested in taking a ride with me." He offered.

Closing my eyes while I fought back the urge to just confess my sins to him.

"I would love to Embry. " I smiled sadly.

"Good. I can't wait to see you. Can I pick you up in …..say a hour?"

"That sounds perfect. I can't wait to see you too." I meant the words that slipped out of my mouth easily.

"Good. Bye."

Sitting my phone down I wiped away the single tear that had managed to escape out of the corner of my eye.

The sound of the door closing behind me cause me to turn around and at last I was finally looking at the man that had blown my world away.

Jake was staring right at me but his eyes were empty, no emotion.

"Hi." I smiled gently.

"Hi." He replied but without a smile.

"What do you have?" I looked at the bag he carried along with two cups of coffee.

"I went out and got us breakfast but it sounds like you already have plans." Jake walked over to the kitchen table and set it down.

"What?" I approached him cautiously.

"You and Embry?" He looked me directly in the eyes and I saw a flutter of pain cross his dark brown eyes.

"Yes. He invited me to a B&B for dessert and coffee." I gulped hard as he continued to look deeply into my eyes. What was he looking for? It was starting to creep me out.

"Ain't that just wonderful." He took his coffee and began to walk back toward the front door but I stopped him before he could turn the doorknob.

"What's wrong, Jake?" I grabbed his arm and tugged at him. I wanted him to look at me and explain why he appeared so pissed off at me.

"Nothing, Bella." Jake gave me a half smile and tried to break my hold on his arm.

"Stop it! I can tell you're upset but I don't know why?" God, why was he being so damn stubborn?

If he didn't want me to see Embry anymore, all he had to do was say it.

"I'm not upset. I ….it's just...weird for me that you're still going to see my best friend after everything." Jake avoided eye contact with me.

"Then let's talk about it. We need too." I pleaded softly.

"Talking is overrated." Jake snickered.

"Please Jake."

"Bella," Jake exhaled heavily. "If you want Embry then do me a favor and never tell him what we did. He will hate you and me."

"I won't tell him."

"Good." Jake started to leave again.

"Jake."

"What?" Jake moaned irritatedly.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Jake frowned at me.

"Last night. It was …..well...it was perfect." It felt like a thousand butterflies had began to swarm in the pit of my stomach.

"I agree." Jake pulled me into his arms. Holding onto him I enjoyed the erotic scent of him while my heart shattered in a million pieces.

XXX

JPOV:

It bruised my ego that she had agreed so easily to spend time with Embry after the night we shared. I wanted to get the hell out of here before I totally lost my last ounce of sanity. I couldn't afford to let her see how special she was to me. No, it would only make things worse.

Hearing her say that she had enjoyed last night as much as I did, helped me feel a little less hurt but it didn't stop me from wanting to kiss her again and again. I wanted her. I wanted her to look at me the way she did him.

The feel of her arms holding onto me like her very life depended on it, stirred something strong and powerful inside of me. Tenderness overwhelmed my good senses and without giving any more thought to my bruised ego, I tilted her head up and stared deep into her eyes.

There was a fire burning in her eyes that matched my own.

"You are an amazing woman." I whispered before covering her mouth with mine.

I realized in that moment, Bella was the woman I'd been waiting for all my adult life.

She rose up to meet my kiss, rubbing herself against me. A soft humming noise came from Bella, giving me permission to deepened the kiss.

Grabbing her head between my hands I pulled her nearly off the floor while I held onto her and tried to express how much she meant to me without using words.

There was no denying the strong current of chemistry between us but would that ever be enough for a woman like Bella?

XXX