His Ness was missing.

Jake continued to search the roads around the student residences. After at least thirty minutes of driving around and around the quiet streets of the university, he made his way back to Nessie's dorm to check in with Bella. As he stepped out of his car, he pulled his phone from his pocket to call her for the thirty-seventh time.

The dial tone rang once, then twice, then as the third robotic trill chimed, it was cut short by her voice. "Hello?"

Jake let out a panicked sigh, almost a cry. "Ness, where are you? Are you okay?"

There was as short confused pause at the end of the line. "I'm fine. What's wrong sweetie?"

"You didn't answer your phone."

"Sorry, the reception can be pretty patchy down here."

"Where are you?" he barked. His fear sounding like anger.

"I'm in the gym," she explained, bemused and starting to get a little irritated by his sudden and unprovoked hostility.

He fiddled with his keys, scrambling to unlock the car and start heading towards her. "Where's the gym?" he asked as he sat down.

"In the basement. What's going on Jake?"

He could hear the slight irritation and also the surfacing fear in her voice. He really didn't care. She was okay. That's all he cared about for the moment.

"Nothing. Just wait a sec." That was all he said before the phone went dead.

Ness huffed, looking at her now disconnected phone. She picked up her towel as she roughly wiped some of the sweat off her brow and neck, a little pissed off at his cryptic and weird phone call. She'd pushed herself on the treadmill over the past half hour or so, and after the weekend of ups and down she'd had, Ness decided she'd had enough for the evening. She was picking up her water bottle, about to leave the room when he burst through the door. She braced herself, taking a small step backwards as he launched himself at her and held so hard it was hard to breathe.

He was breathing heavily as he buried his face into her neck, his hands trembling against her. "Oh god, Ness. Don't you ever do that to me again. Ever." His voice was muffled by the ponytail that hung over her shoulder.

"Do what?" She still didn't understand. Her irritation was gone, now replaced by apprehension as to why he was behaving like this. Why he was even still here at the campus. He looked scared out of his mind. "What happened? What's wrong? Why aren't you half way across the Sound?" she checked her watch. "You're going to miss the ferry."

Suddenly overcome with the weariness of relief, Jake flopped down on the workout bench, pulling Renesmee into his lap as he went. She comfortingly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he lent into the crook of her arm, his forehead innocently resting in the edge of her breast. "I came back to tell you something. And when I got upstairs Bella said you'd gone for a run. You didn't answer your phone. It's dark outside. You have a stalker… I panicked. I've been searching the streets for the past half hour."

He looked up, kissing her cheeks, her eyes, her jaw, her forehead and her lips, it was if he was convincing himself she was unharmed with his lips.

"Jake. I don't have a death wish. I would never go running by myself at night. Even before I had an insane person after me. I was on the treadmill."

"I know… Now." He smoothed her hair over her shoulder, his hand caressing the side of her face, down her neck and over her ribs.

"Is Bella freaking out too?" she stood up, and off his lap, as he jumped up, pulling her out of the gym.

"Crap! I forgot. We'd better go see her before she reports you as a missing person."

Bella was almost as frantic as Jacob had been when they walked back to their shared room. After at least ten minutes of various hysterical sounds of relief, hugs and some tears, Bella said her goodnights as the couple made their way back down to Jake's car hand in hand. They had to say their heart-wrenching goodbyes all over again.

Another forty-five minutes of kissing and sweet-nothings in the near freezing cold, Jake took a seat behind the wheel. Almost two hours late.

"Be careful driving this late at night," she cautioned. "Pull over if you feel yourself getting sleepy. Or stop at a hotel or something."

Jake just shot her an unconcerned look, "I'll be fine." He put the Rabbit into reverse and begrudgingly backed out the car space. He wound the window down and stuck his head out as he started to drive off. "I forgot to tell you what I forgot to tell you." Ness laughed, shaking her head at his jumbled sentence, nevertheless understanding exactly what he meant. "I LOVE YOU RENESMEE MASEN. DON'T YOU FORGET IT!" he yelled, as he drove off into the frost laden night.

- o ~ O * O ~ o –

Renesmee's days were filled with school work and her nights were completed talking to Jake on the phone or just looking at each other on the computer screen as they went about their nightly routine, and her weekends were completely occupied with competitions.

She received two more gifts from her faceless shadow. The first unwanted gift was a large bunch of flowers, with a card attached that had read 'we are meant to be'. That had rattled Ness, but nowhere near as much as the other gift. It was a gold framed photo of her, it looked to have been taken as she had stood on the medal dais in New Mexico a few weeks earlier. As Renesmee stood alone in her dorm room she looked around her, making sure her curtain was fully drawn and the door was locked. That photo in her hand meant that her tormentor must have followed her all the way to Albuquerque. The frame burnt her hands like it was toxic waste. Ness flicked the door open and ran to the industrial entrance of the residence. She threw it straight in the large communal bins out the back. She wasn't safe anywhere.

Ness kept on studying and training, she put her all into competing. She was doing her best to remain focus as she kept one eye on the track and the other always looking over her shoulder. She kept Jacob away from Seattle. As desperately as she missed him, she couldn't bear the idea of someone hurting him.

The important indoor championships came and went. The scout had apparently like what he'd seen as Ren had hurdled her way to another personal best and first place.

In despite of all the distractions, Ness had kept her form and gained the sponsorship she'd been seeking. She'd be wearing a lot more Nike clothing from now on.

The moment she'd crossed that finish line her focuses had shifted. It transferred to getting though the everyday things that brought her closer to Jake. She was ready. She'd been ready to take things further with him weeks and weeks ago. She missed him more than she'd ever missed anything or anyone in her life. He was her life.

It was a beautiful clear, March, Friday afternoon that Bella and Ness arrived in the in the town of Sequim, Clallum county. The girls were staying overnight at Rose and Em's place. It was a relaxing time for the friends. Rose fussed over Bella, inquiring about Edward— she had a secret crush— and she wanted to hear all about Renesmee's athletic feats.

Renesmee's Aunt Rosalie was in her element hosting a teenage slumber party for the two adult college girls. They both went along with it, neither having had much involvement with the late night fun a sleepover could bring when they themselves were in high school. Both girls had experienced major disruptions to their life during high school. Ness had been forced to deal with her Grand'Mere's stroke and subsequent paralysis, and additionally, to add to her self-induced ostracism, training had always been a greater priority than friends and parties.

Bella had moved schools in junior year and she had held eyes only for Edward within weeks of arriving in Forks, the only slumber parties she went to had been with him— and there hadn't been much sleeping going on.

They all moved into the living room where Emmett started a warm, crackling fire. They sat around toasting marshmallows by the fireplace. It was so corny, Bella loved every minute of it and Ren, well, she was used to Rose's corn.

Rose entered the living room with Renesmee's fathers' guitar in hand. "Let's hear some camp fire songs, Red," she said as she handed the instrument to her. Ness sighed and rolled her eyes as she wound her fingers around the neck. She tuned the strings and looking to the celling, pulled her face into a thoughtful scrunch.

Everyone took turn requesting the songs they wanted her to play. Carefully, Ness would find her way over the chords and sing. Around and around the circle by the fireplace the requests flowed until Bella finally decided to stop at her turn, and retired to bed. That set the flow on for Rose and Em to turn in too.

Ren was left to stare into the dwindling fire, quietly messing around with the guitar. She wanted to hate the instrument, she hated everything it stood for. But it felt so comfortable in her arms. The wood was smooth and the colored band of folk-print around the sound hole was such a familiar pattern. She doubted she'd ever really be free of the demons of her childhood, but just like she'd let her heart open to Jake, she thought she could find it in her heart to love the memory of her parents. One day.

Red Robin was starting to see the benefit of letting people into her heart. Sure, it left you vulnerable to heart break, but if the gamble paid off, and she'd recently put it all on 'Black', you were left happier and stronger and more at peace than she ever imagined she could be.

Ness wanted to use the notes she strummed to help her forgive, she'd never forget. But she hoped that with her own full and contented life she could forgive her biological parents. And heal. And truly move forward.

As she sat alone in the quiet, darkened house with nothing but the faint strumming of her fingers, the fear crept in. As always her thoughts were never far from who might be watching her through the windows. It was so unsettling to think someone had been watching and following her for such a long time.

The frightened child wanted to hide away and run like she always had. Yet, on the other hand, the adult in her, the person who truly valued the life she was leading, wanted to stand her ground. The woman who was falling in love with Jacob wanted to be an active participant in her own journey, she wanted so badly to keep on participating and see where this incredible journey took her. All she had to do now, was figure out how to stop her fears from consuming her and continue to live her life the way she wanted, all with some creepy voyeur watching silently in the shadows.

Trying to clear her mind of her anxieties, she let her fingers form a few familiar chords. Letting the music come unconsciously until she felt her heart rate slow and her tight chest relax. She wasn't ready for bed yet though, so she kept playing. Renesmee thought she might start playing more often. She missed her cello too. She resolved to try and commit some of her busy schedule to practice more. She didn't have the time to re-join the orchestra, especially if she was going to be spending all her spare weekends with Jake. But she could let the music sooth her in her free time, between training and classes.

Ren thought of some of the precious memories she had of her and Grand'Mere Sophie sitting in the living room playing their celli together. Rouge-gorge wondered idly if all Sophie's old sheet music was still in the bureau in the lounge. Maybe she'd have a look tomorrow.

Her thoughts came back to the instrument in her hands. She recalled a song she had on her iPod that she'd wanted to learn, it was one of the songs she'd put on the USB play list she'd given Jake for Christmas as well. She attempted to transpose the cords, committing them to memory. She wanted a new repertoire.

_o\O/o_

Bella left sunny Sequim early the next day leaving Ness to her own devices while she waited for Jake to arrive. She wondered over to the old house next door. Her home. It was starting to look over-grown and run down after so many months of neglect. It broke Renesmee's heart to see the house she grew up in become so dilapidated. Her Great grandmother had been a very house proud woman. She'd always kept it clean and neat, and working in the gardens had been her joy.

Renesmee walked up to the house and let herself in. It had been nearly a year since she'd last entered that house. The anniversary of Sophie's passing was only a few days away. Strictly speaking, Ren wasn't meant to go in until the Will was finalized. The ongoing challenge from her biological Grandmother had come to a head. Renesmee had ended up telling the lawyers that Elizabeth could have all the other properties except for the house in Sequim. It was the least valued in a monetary sense, but priceless to Rouge-gorge.

Ness opened the door and she was immediately struck by the familiar smell of the house; wood, and bees-wax polish, lavender and old lady. The smell of home. The delicious cedar floor stretched thought the front room and down the hall, dotted with woven rugs and runners. The walls were white painted wood panels, stretching half way up the wall and then stepping into a light green wallpaper. It was like being in a time capsule as she walked down the hall to the kitchen in the back. Sophie's Kitchen. It was empty, bar the old gnarled table in the middle. No casserole was bubbling on the hob. The glass windowed cabinets above the bench were sparse. The bowl that Grand'Mere had always kept over flowing with fruit was now empty.

Rouge-gorge remembered fondly how she would come and go through the kitchen, snacking on an apple or pear as Sophie stood in her half apron cooking up something appetizing for supper. There was a hook on the wall by the back laundry door, the well-worn, dark floral apron hung still on the nail. Ness lifted it off and tied it round her waist as she moved back up the hall. She perused the front room again, noting the way her footprints had shifted the powder of dust beneath her feet, Renesmee decided it couldn't hurt to clean up a little. The house was exactly the same as she remembered it, a snap shot of her life here with her Grand'Mere; only now muted by the sprinkling of that fine, greyed haze.

She vacuumed and dusted each room as if she was twelve again, doing her chores for pocket money. She found the reams of old sheet music and left them by the door to take back to Seattle with her. She opened windows and let the fresh air blow through, ridding the house of the staleness of her memories. Nessie wanted to make new memories this weekend. Treasured memories with Jake. She had been planning on just sleeping next door at her foster parents and then maybe sneaking into Jake's room in the middle of the night. Her eyes sparkled as a much better idea came to her. She wanted Jake to know her? Then what better place than in the bed of her pubescent years? Ness made up her old bed and then, getting a bit nervous, put clean sheets on the spare— just in case.

She walked across the back gardens and through the gate in the fence that connected the two yards. Ness popped her head into Rose's kitchen to tell her she wouldn't be staying there that night. Then walked down to the corner store and picked up some fruit and fresh milk, and a few things to make lunch and dinner for when Jake finally arrived. She hadn't been able to cook for him much. She was looking forward to the prospect of it.

On her return she noticed how much the grass has started to grow as spring approached. Small buds and leaves were daring to flower after a few days of heat. The rambling vines still carried last season's dead branches. Renesmee set to work clearing the debris, trimming back overgrown hedges, raking the old decaying autumn leaves.

She'd been working for almost an hour when she heard the purr of an antique engine. She turned to the road to see an exquisitely re-modelled aqua car pull into the drive. An even more exquisite man behind the wheel. Ren dropped her rake and sprinted to the driveway. Jake had just enough time to exit before she was upon him. Her arms thrown around his neck, crushing herself to him.

She kissed him, "I. Missed. You. So. Much," she said as she peppered her lips around his face until every inch of him had been kissed.

"Hey beautiful. I missed you too," he smiled as he placed the key into her hand. "I brought you a present."

She wound an arm around his waist as she leaned to inspect the interior of the car. "When did you finish it?" she asked with child-like exuberance.

Jake bit his bottom lip, happy to see her smile. "Wednesday. I thought I'd surprise you."

She reached up, kissing his smiling lips. "This is such a good surprise. But seeing who drove it here is the best part."

Jacob looked at her face, drinking her in. Her green eyes were almost sparking in the late morning sun. She looked so happy, relaxed, at peace. At home. He'd missed her so much. He passionately hoped they could see each other more often now she had her own mode of transportation. Skype just wasn't cutting it.

He looked her over, taking in her muddy appearance. She had on her loose fitting jeans, the knees were soiled with dirt. A few buttons of her grey Henley were undone, revealing a hint of her décolletage, the long sleeves were bunched up to her elbow.

She noticed him eyeing her grubby appearance. "The garden was such a mess; she would have been rolling over at the state of it. I couldn't help it, I had to tidy it a little."

"Let me help you. I don't mind getting my hands a little dirty," he said reaching into the back seat to grab his overnight bag. "I thought we could take old Betsy here for ride later. But you're not getting in her looking like that," he said, shaking a playful finger at her. "So let me help you finish this yard, then we'll clean up. And then…" he announced with pride. "Then we see what the old girl can do!"

"Old Betsy?" she questioned, laughing as she walked him up the porch.

"What? It's a good name for her."

"Okay. If you say so," she cackled as they entered the front door.

She took his hand and her mood sobered slightly as she led him into the home of her youth. "Let me show you the house I grew up in. The house where I became me."

They spent a good hour in the garden working off some restless energy. They stopped to kiss or hold one another every few minutes, never straying more than a few feet apart. Renesmee saw a glimpse of what the future might hold for her with Jake. She treasured the idea of them making a home together one day. She could definitely get used to this domestic bliss. These were the memories she wanted to make.

They finished up, putting away the tools into her Great Grandfathers old wooden shed. It had once been painted a soft powder blue. Now the paint was peeling off, the grey weathered wood was visible from underneath.

As they locked up the shed, Renesmee's phone buzzed in her pocket.

She answered and began to walk into the house with Jake following her down the hallway. She was nodding and okay-ing as she listened.

She held her hand over the receiver quietly mouthing, "It's my lawyer," pointing to the floor, "for the house." Jake nodded his understanding as he took out two glasses from the cupboard and filled them from the tap and cut up an apple for them to share. Ness smiled at him as he set it down and took a seat. He placed her glass at an empty spot at the table, there was no way he could have known but it was the spot she'd always sat at as a child. She thanked the person on the other end, pressed the end button and softly put the phone down on the counter.

"Okay," she breathed, "Wow. Okay."

She sat down at the old wooden kitchen table, in her old seat. How many meals had she shared around it? It looked as old as the house. The stories that table would tell... if only it could talk.

She inhaled deeply, her shoulders and body rising before she let it all out, her elbow resting on the table with her knuckles turned in, pressing into her chin and mouth. She looked over to Jake, raising her eyebrows. "Well it's done. I own… this house… and… two more in Seattle. The only thing my grandmother got was the house in Vancouver." She sat staring at the marks on the wooden table top in front of her.

"I have a car, a house, sponsorship." She looked up at Jake, squeezing his hand across from her. "I have you." He placed his other hand onto hers rubbing small circles on the back of her soft skin. "I can't believe how good my life is right now. Everything is falling into place." She sighed, shaking her head with self- flagellation. "I'm frightened it's too much good luck for one person." She picked up a piece of apple, chewing over her thoughts.

"It has nothing to do with luck, Ness. You worked damn hard to get as good as you are, I worked damn hard on that car, your Grand'Mere worked damn hard on making your life worth living, she gave you this house because she loved you as much as you loved her. And you have me cause, well," he paused, smirking at his own joke. "I guess that is pretty lucky," he grinned as he crunched another apple slice, chewing noisily. "But seriously, I'm here because I love you. More than life itself. That's not luck, that's fate, Ness."

No matter what Jake said, she did felt lucky he was here with her today though. Maybe it was fate. Either way, she was happy. It felt to Ness, that they were on a mini holiday. For the next two days there was no school, no training and no fears. Just one another. Nevertheless, she couldn't forget that it was only one weekend, and come Sunday night, she'd return to Seattle and Jacob to La Push, and all her troubles and pressures would come crashing down on her again.

"I love you Jake," she stood up, stepping over to where he sat. She looked exhausted all of a sudden, the happy carefree girl he'd seen in the backyard was gone, like she faded away by the ringing of her phone. She looked both older and younger inside this house, sitting at this table. Like all her cares were lifted and she was a twelve-year-old, telling her Great grandmother about her day in French, and then, simultaneously, she looked ancient and broken, her eyes betraying the magnitude of hardships in her life thus far. So often he'd see glimpses of her, the real her. He thought, as much as she said she wanted to share everything with him, that there were parts of her she kept hidden away. He didn't think she even knew they were there, but Jake saw some of her vulnerability and he wanted nothing more than to ease some of her pain.

As quickly as it came, she then seemed to snap out of her funk, pushing her worries down, that too perfect smile he'd seen before was now plastered across her face.

She leaned forward, "thank you for being here," she said, placing a soft burning kiss on him. Then she stood straight, taking her now empty glass to the sink. "I'm gunna have a shower. Here," she invited, holding her hand out for him to take, "come and wait in my room."

He followed her down the hall, letting her guide him until she bade him to sit on her bed. He watched her curiously, as she put her phone on her old study desk, turning the music on shuffle.She seemed happier here. More like her real self.Not simply a copy of the person she thought everyone wanted her to be. She left the room smiling as she went to collect some towels from the hallway closet and the clean clothes from her bag. The song on shuffle changed, a soft ballad he'd not heard in a long time began to echo throughout the house. Her smile was gone again as she re-entered the room, an air of melancholy that Jake couldn't work out seemed to suddenly be following her around the old home. "I won't be long," she half-smiled as she went into the adjoining two-way bathroom, she left the door half ajar.

Jake could hear the thumping of the hot water pipe as water surged through it for the first time in years.

Taking off his shoes, he lay back on her childhood bed. He looked around the room, seeing the sprinklings of evidence to attest that this was certainly her bedroom, the hideaway of her adolescent years. On the shelf above the desk were an arrangement of shining trophies and medals. A pin board next to the shelf still had affixed a flyer for a classical music concert advertising a date from years ago. There was a poster of a teen heart throb on the wall, the corners of the picture curling away and dog-eared. The bed he now lay on was simple, a single bed with a white iron arch at the head. The quilt was white, with lines of embroidered flowers along the edge. The kind of quilt your grandmother makes for you, he thought to himself. A sheer white cotton curtain flapped gently against the open double window.

Jacob listened to the sound of the water coming from the bathroom, he imagined how it would look as it lapped over her body. He felt himself start to harden as he wondered about the plan for the rest of their weekend. It kind of felt like it could have the makings of a dirty weekend. Had he brought enough condoms? He really hoped he'd be able to use at least one of them.

He thought he'd been patient. The whole stalker thing had really put a dampener on their intimacy. He like the feel of this house, the privacy and romance of her child hood home. Thinking about romance, he silently berated himself as he realized he probably should have bought her flowers. He did build her a car though.

The music was quiet as he listened to the sounds of the water. He wondered if she was soaping up her tits right then. Oh yeah. His groin was definitely fuller now, straining against his zipper, desperate to get out. Trying to get comfortable he shifted himself around in his pants awkwardly. He hoped he could soap them up soon…. Fuck, he wanted to see her naked... She was really flexible. He bet she could get her… He was snapped out of his fantasies by a soft cry coming from the other room. A thump against the wall, then a heart breaking wail wafted through the door. Jake sat up on to the edge of the bed as he listened to her soul racking sobs. His lust vanishing like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him. He stood and walked over, leaning his head against the door, desperate instead to comfort her.

"Ness? You alright?" he called gently as he swung the door open.

"Jake," she called, sobs shuddering through her. He entered the bathroom to see the shadow of her through the curtain.

He could see her silhouette crouched in the corner of the shower, her cries were slashing him apart inside. Nakedness be dammed, he stripped off his shirt and jeans and stepped into the edge of the shower with nothing but his boxers on. He looked down at her and it shattered him to see her like that. She was huddled in the corner, ankles crossed, her knees balled up to her chest, her arms reaching around her legs as her head hung down. Her hair was plastered to her head and he could see her shoulders jerking with each sob. "I played that song when I scattered her ashes. It's almost been twelve months," she hiccupped through her tears. "Every day I miss her. Being in this house. I miss her so much," she sobbed. "It's too much. It's all too much. Why can't I feel happiness without being reminded of all the bad things," she cried, her sadness overflowing her head lifting up and resting on her knees to look at him. Her eyes wet by the water and by her tears. Her face was blotchy, and her nose red and running. She was a mess.

Jake still thought she was beautiful.

"I'm so sick of being scared. I just want to live my life." Renesmee half turned towards him as a fresh wave of tears hit. He saw her naked body, but at that moment, only cared about her soul and how it seemed to be shattering into a million pieces.

"Oh, sweetheart," he crooned as he stepped further into the shower and positioned himself behind her. Lowering himself to the floor, he wrapped his arms and legs around her, providing a protective cocoon as the water cascaded over them. Jacob sat on the bottom of that stall, holding the love of his life until her tears quieted and the water began to chill.

Before the water could turn completely cold, he reached up to the tap, shutting it off. Renesmee turned and leaned her side into him, placing her cheek against his neck with her hand above his heart. "Sorry you had to see that," she sniffled. After bottling up all her emotions over the past few weeks, hell, the past few years, the news of her inheritance was the last burden of life— irrespective of it being good or bad news— that broke the dam.

For too long, Renesmee had dealt with things alone. She never relied on anyone's help or support and it was rare that she let people in. She had mastered the illusion of showing only the controlled, focused and flawless young woman she so desperately was striving to be. Life was so often too much for one soul to handle. She was fast learning that simple lesson of surviving the journey of life, that love was there to help us share those burdens.

Jake wanted so much for her to share her life with him. To divulge her innermost secrets. To hold her when she cried. To help her to see what she perceived as her weakness as her strengths.

"Sweet heart. I want to know all of you, remember? This part too. The good, the bad, the clean and the dirty. Your words, remember?"

She nodded, looking up at him, her hair still dripping as the steam from the hot water started to dissipate. Her gaze fell over his body, down to his hips where there was nothing but a thin wet piece of cotton between them. She laughed, the kind of liberating laugh you have after a terrible sorrow.

The mood in the room perceptibly lifted as her eyes raised to his. "I can't believe you got in with your boxers on," her shoulders were now jerking with amusement.

"What? I wasn't going to take advantage!" he sang out. "I was almost going to leave all my clothes on, but I only bought one pair of pants with me and then I thought, if I take my pants off, I may as well take my shirt off too."

She laughed again. "See that's what I love about you Jake, so practical even when stepping into the shower with your stark-naked, virgin, on the edge of a mental breakdown girlfriend," she chuckled, shivering a little, goose bumps raising along her flesh.

Noticing her chill, Jacob said, "Let me get you a towel," as he rose, lifting her up with him. He stepped out of the shower, keeping his back politely to her as he passed a large soft towel though the curtain.

Behind the screen she dried herself and wrapped the towel around her body, under her arms, tucking the corner in between her cleavage.

Jacob was bent forward rubbing his hair with the soft towel, his wet boxers discarded in a corner when Ness emerged from the cubicle. He looked up and quickly wrapped the towel around his waist. She wore the towel over her chest, her breasts supporting the white wrap, a corner was tucked in to her cleavage, giving Jake a small preview of what was underneath.

As she stepped over the lip, her leg glided out from the split of the cloth. He couldn't help but look at her long, sinewy thigh as it bent and moved as she stepped. He sucked in a breath. As much as he had seen her wearing less before, knowing she was naked underneath pushed him to want more.

She bit her lower lip, bringing it into her mouth as Jacob raked his eyes up and down her outline. His eyes were intense, Renesmee had had boys look her up and down, many times, and normally she would feel a discreet repulsion at their overtness. But watching as Jake's eyes travelled up her body, meeting with hers, sent a longing through her and a pulling in her abdomen.

His upper body was bare, and Ness' senses feasted on the hard muscle of his chest and shoulders. She eyed the ripple of his abs and the delicious way his hips made a V, disappearing below the towel that was, in no way hiding his desire. A craving to run her hands over his hard lines moved her reflexively forward. It was as if her limbs had a will of their own as she stepped towards him and ran her hands over his stomach.

His arms had been hanging limply by his sides as she approached, his hands pressed against his legs like a school boy in gym, waiting to be chosen. He closed the space between them, leaning forwards and gently rested his hands on her hips. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked, his throaty deep voice sending a shiver through her. "I love you so much Renesmee. You're the missing piece of my heart I didn't even know I'd lost." He held her close, his eyes shifting back and forth between hers, intense and heartfelt. "Do you know how much I love you?" He could sense the connection they shared, like a magnetic pull, holding them together. He felt like a thirsty man, lost in the desert, searching for water. Only, he hadn't realized he was parched, not until he had seen her. She was his oasis.

Renesmee tilted her head up, her lips hovering over his, the spark between them arcing over the space. "Show me."