Chapter 14: In My Arms
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
He couldn't help grinning like a fool as Bella came down from her high. His hand stroking her hair gently, he asked, "So . . . was it better this time?"
Bella bit down on her lip and looked away, shyly. "What do you think?" she replied in a voice barely audible.
"I hate to brag, but I think—it-was-earth-shattering! All of La Push could hear you screaming my name."
"Don't," she muttered, covering her face with her hands.
He leaned over her, and pulled her hands apart, peaking at her face. "Don't what?"
"Don't, say that. You're embarrassing me."
"Why? I loved hearing you yelling my name like that. It made me feel like a man."
He didn't get it. Her shriek absolutely had him undone. It was the most glorious sound Jacob had ever heard and tangible proof that he had the power to please his woman.
"Oh, you're a man, all right," she breathed.
Taking her hands away from her face, she gazed up at him, her eyes shining like the stars in the heavens. "But, what about you?"
Laughing out loud, he retorted, "You have to ask? It was mind blowing. Best sex I ever had. And just think, with practice, it'll just keep getting better.
"I don't understand why you're embarrassed, though. The last time, you practically dragged me by the hair, begging me to get in bed with you. What's different this time?"
"It's not the being in bed with you part—it's the everyone in La Push can hear me screaming your name. That's what!"
"Bella . . . No one even knows we're here. Did you see another human being when we snuck around the back of this house? And anyway, that was just a figure of speech. Nobody actually heard you except for me." Okay, so I'm pretty sure the whole freakin'wolf pack definitely heard it. But I'm not telling you that.
Jacob pushed himself up with an arm. He took one finger and reaching out, traced around her ear, and the curve of her chin. "You know, we could use a little more practice, hotstuff. I can be ready for action in just a couple of minutes." Wiggling his eyebrows, he added, "Would you like me to make you scream that way again?"
She sighed loudly and her cheeks flushed scarlet. Her sweet face took on a look that shouted—please, I'm begging you. "Could you? I mean . . . well . . . would you mind?"
Jacob chuckled, "Are you kiddin' me? I was born to make love to you, Bella."
Smoothing her hand along his cheek, she asked, "It's not going to hurt you is it? I don't want you to deplete your supply of sperm or anything."
He smirked at his innocent lover. "Honey, there's plenty more where that came from. I have an unlimited supply. I could keep this up all night long, and still be shooting—fully loaded."
Satisfied with his answer, Bella ran her hand up behind his head, and yanking him closer, aimed straight for his hot, full mouth. That very act rang the imaginary bell in her head, initiating the start of round two, and coincidentally would start ringing her bell in the process.
They were bundled together so snugly that it would be difficult at a glance to see where one of them began and the other ended. Jacob's arm rested diagonally across her upper back and neck, finishing with a hand entangled in her hair. Bella's head was pillowed on his shoulder, with both of her arms circling underneath his, the fingers of one hand curled up around his bicep.
Jacob didn't want to lose a minute being with her, but sleep was threatening to overtake him. The body that had been tensely wound for the last few weeks was now in a state of total relaxation. He whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry, honey, I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm gonna fall asleep any second now."
She didn't respond verbally, but her steady breathing couldn't hide the fact that she'd already drifted off. He lovingly kissed the top of her head, and shut his drooping eyelids. However, before he thundered off on the train to slumber land, he heard Bella softly uttering his name, and his heart took flight.
Jacob dreamed he was in a garden. There were flowers everywhere, but he was specifically drawn to one intoxicating scent. It led him to a patch of ripe strawberries. He picked one up and popped it into his mouth. It was big, ruby-red, juicy and oh so sweet. His dream was such a vivid one, that he could actually smell the strawberries as he began to stir from his nap. What the . . . ?
He sniffed at the air, and sure enough, he could still smell them, like they were right under his nose. His fingers were touching something warm and soft—someone's hair?
Then he felt a hand tenderly caressing his arm. He opened his eyes slowly . . . where was he? Then an amazingingly wonderful realization dawned. He was at the Ateara's home, in Quil's bed with the love of his life lying naked in his arms.
Jacob yawned, and said, "Hey, sweetheart. Sleep okay?"
"Yes, thank you." She lifted her head, smiling brightly at him.
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Jeez, how long have I been out?"
"Unless that clock on the shelf is wrong, it's going on four o'clock."
"Damn, and I wanted to spend some time with you, instead of wasting it away, sleeping."
Bella rolled her big chocolate eyes. "Oh, now, I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time. We did have a pretty good workout before we crashed."
"Yeah, but now you're gonna give me that: I have to go home and cook supper for Charlie, line.
She leaned her elbow on his chest, placing her chin on her fist. "Okay, I tell you what. Let's go to your house, and get Billy, then we can all drive over to my place, and I'll cook for everybody."
"Now you're talkin'. Is there a game on tonight?"
"I think so," she replied.
Rumpling her hair, he brayed, "Well then, get your clothes on, girl. We're gonna go pick up my dad."
Conversation was animated at the dinner table. Jacob was non-stop talking, and Bella sat there, her cheek resting on her propped up elbow. They cleaned up the kitchen after eating while the older men went into the living room to sit in front of the TV set. The happy couple then went outside to the back porch, their arms around each other, and stars in their eyes. Charlie whispered to Billy as they watched the game.
"Well, I'm happy to see the kids are back together. Looks like whatever problem they had is ironed out. Believe me, Bella had me concerned there for a while."
"I know what you mean. I thought Jacob was going to have a stroke until he saw her again. Kid drove me nuts for two long days. I wish they would grow up already and get married, then I can quit worrying about them."
Charlie bumped Billy's shoulder. "Come on, old man, do you really think, that'll make you stop worrying. You'll have added worries then—grandpa Black."
"Yeah, well I'll have loads of time before that happens, grandpa Swan. Now quit yapping, I'm trying to watch the game."
As Billy and Jacob got ready to return home, Charlie clapped Jacob on the back. "Good going, Son. You got her back on track. I'm so glad to see you're a couple again. I couldn't think of a better guy for her."
Jacob winced inwardly. If her dad only knew. . . that tune would change dramatically.
The Blacks left the house, and Charlie went up to bed. Bella stayed up a while reading, then got in the shower. When she finished, she stepped out of the stall, wrapping a towel around herself. Going back to the bedroom, she heard leaves rustling outside her window. Oh no, was that Jacob in the tree again? One of these days, he was going to take a nosedive and mess up the face she loved.
Bella ran to the window and sure enough, there he was, shoeless and shirtless, hanging from the same branch he used the last time. It was almost like a déjà vu.
She frowned at him, hanging in mid air. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? Had to see you, Bells."
Her mouth hung open in disbelief. "What are you talking about? You just left."
Jacob's lips twitched in amusement. "And your point is? Jeez, never mind—just get out of the way, 'cuz I'm comin' in!"
Clasping the towel covering her chest, she spit out, "Jacob—no, wait, I just got out of the shower. I'm not dressed."
The big bad wolf in him thought, All the better to see you, my dear. Instead, he commented, "Are you kiddin'? You were lying in bed with me, naked, not more than six hours ago. Now step aside, woman."
Bella put a finger to her lip. "Shhh! You're going to wake up Charlie!"
Jacob smirked at her. "I'm not shooshing, 'til you let me in."
"Gah! You are so pushy."
She side stepped, but apparently not far enough. When he catapulted into her room, he sailed into Bella, bringing her with him onto her bed. With a big grin, he announced, "Whoa, Bells, I know you want me, but first, I gotta rest up some."
Straight-arming him, she blurted, "You idiot—why are you here? You're going to get us in trouble."
Jacob grabbed the hand that was trying to push him away, buzzing it. "We're already in trouble, remember?"
Bella rolled her eyes, "Don't remind me."
She began to pull her hand away, trying to get out of bed.
Sitting up, he asked, "Where are you goin', honey?"
"To get dressed."
"What for? I like what you don't have on."
"Exactly . . . I don't have any clothes on."
His grin got wider. "Yeah, I'm acutely aware of that—just the way I like it."
"What if Charlie walked in here? Finding us together in bed, he'd kill us both. I love you Jake, but I can't stay like this forever, so let go of me. I need to put my PJs on."
"Spoilsport . . . Anyway, I've got good hearing. Hell, he can't sneak up on me. I can hear him now, sawing logs in his own bed. So don't worry your pretty little head about it."
He finally loosed her hand and Bella padded to her dresser, picking out a pair of her favorite PJs. They were made of soft light blue cotton, a tiny bow on the front, the only ornamentation. She attempted to change into them discreetly, but feeling Jacob's eyes on her made her nervous, and there went the towel, slipping to the floor.
Jacob's breath caught in his chest. Damn, he was still awed by her beauty. Bella heard him gasp and quickly finished dressing.
Returning to her bed, she turned out the light and slid under the covers. Jacob did the same.
Lying on her side, she faced him, asking, "So, you want to explain why you're actually here?"
"Do I need a reason?"
Her chocolate eyes bore into his.
"I hate to sound like a broken record, but . . . Okay, the thing is, after our little rendezvous this afternoon, I couldn't stand the thought of sleeping alone. So here I am—shove over, beautiful."
With or without PJs, Bella was snug and warm with her wolf boy cuddled up to her. She slept soundly, but morning came too soon. She woke to the sound of her alarm ringing and she slapped at the annoying contraption, rising from the bed.
Jacob woke up with a start. "Crap, I better go. Kiss me goodbye, Bells. Meet me later, at First Beach?"
Bella quickly nodded. "Sure, sure."
"When?" he pushed.
She shook her head. "I don't know . . . tenish?"
"Okay, our bench—ten A.M."
He slipped out of the bed, squeezed her tightly, and softly, sweetly kissed her lips, once, twice, three times. He pulled away and jumped from her window onto the grass below.
Bella ran to the window, waving, and blew him another kiss.
He looked up, grabbed at the air and placed the imaginary kiss next to his heart. Smiling, he backed up, and trotted away.