Title: Patience, Chapter 14 - Torn

Pairing: Jacob/Bella

Rating: M

Spoilers: Twilight, New Moon

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns and originated these extremely compelling characters. I'm not making a dime from this.

14. Torn

Bella watched the muscles in Jacob's forearm flex as he put the car in park. They sat silently in front of her house. After a few seconds, he looked at her.

She wanted to kiss him, but she knew Charlie could peek out at any time. "Will you be at my window?"

He smiled. "Not right away. I need to run home."

What could he possibly need to do that was so important? "But you're coming right back, though, right?"

"I promise."

She sighed. She hated that she had to go inside without him. After everything that had just happened, she didn't want to tear herself away even for a second.

"Come on," he said. "I'll walk you to the door."

"I think we can dispense with the formalities at this point."

"Yeah, probably, but I just don't want to leave you yet."

She felt herself grin. She couldn't help it. It was like he was inside her mind. "Okay. Come on."

He launched out of the car, there to open her door for her before she even had her fingers in the latch. She stepped out, and Jacob wrapped her warmly in his arms for the most amazing hug she'd had in days. She took deep breaths as he squeezed her, feeling rejuvenated, whole.

Too soon, he pulled away. "Sorry. I was just dying to do that."

"You don't ever have to apologize for that."

"Good, because I'm going to do it again really soon."

She laughed.

He put his arm around her shoulder as they walked together to the door. On the front porch, he turned her to face him and put his hand on the side of her face. She could tell he wanted to kiss her. The fear of Charlie catching them made her heart stutter. But, after a moment, Jacob moved his hand around her shoulder and pulled her against him for another soul-warming hug. They stayed like that for a long time, Bella leaning into him while he stroked her back.

Oneness. Peace. Belonging. She'd be perfectly content to sleep here all night. Eventually, she gathered herself and drew away. "I have to go in."

"I know. I'll see you soon."

"Okay." Still glowing, still warm, she smiled at him and turned her hand on the knob. She stared into his eyes for as long as she could as the door closed.

Charlie came in from the living room. "Well? How'd it go?"

She knew she looked like an idiot, smiling dreamily, but she didn't care. "It was good."

He nodded wordlessly. He looked like he was sizing her up. She felt a twinge of self-consciousness then. Could he tell what she and Jacob had been up to? Could he read it in her eyes? Were her lips swollen? Was her hair coming loose?

"Well, don't stay up too late, Bella. You still have school tomorrow."

She breathed deeply. She seemed to have passed the fatherly assessment. "I won't, Dad. I'm going up to bed now."

"Alright. Goodnight then."

She hugged him and turned to head up the stairs. Right away, her thoughts returned to Jacob.

Jacob. Even his name sent a ripple of pleasure through her. She needed him back in her arms with such intensity, it bordered on pain. So many barriers had been torn down between them tonight. It felt like this was the first day of something incredible. He loved her, and she loved him. It felt so…exciting. She couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring, but she also wanted time to stop, so they could live in this moment forever. It was the best and worst feeling in the world.

She went into her room and opened the window for Jacob before taking her hair down and swaying into the bathroom for a shower.

*******

Jacob felt like he was in a dream as he rummaged in his drawer. He moved quickly, forcefully. The need to get back to Bella was so intense, he could barely think. He would've stayed at her house—parked the car a mile or two away and stayed by her window until she let him in—but he'd needed to come home for a reason.

His hand fumbled around until he felt what he was looking for.

Condoms.

He didn't expect anything to happen tonight, but he hadn't expected it earlier, either. Damned if he'd be caught unprepared like that again. He stuffed the strip in his pocket and grabbed a knapsack to carry his things in after he phased.

He was barely out the door before he burst into wolf form.

Immediately, the frantic voices of Sam, Embry, and Jared shouted in his mind.

Jacob, we've got her cornered! Get out here as fast as you can!

Jacob felt his hackles rise. Victoria.

She's strong, Jake. We need you. We can finish this!

He was paralyzed. Bella.

Don't worry about that right now. Jake, get out here!

He felt like he was being torn in two. Even as he was fighting the idea of leaving Bella in a lurch, he was on his way to help Sam and the rest of the pack. He had no choice. Not if they really thought they had Victoria this time. And he knew that once he told Bella what happened, she'd understand.

He hoped she'd understand.

*********

Waiting was torture. Bella sat in the window, watching the trees with the intensity of a hunting owl. When she got cold, she wrapped herself in a blanket and returned to her vantage point.

Her nerves were raw, both from being constantly on edge, and from her longing, her need to have Jacob with her again. It hadn't waned at all. In fact, it had probably grown stronger.

What could be taking him so long? She was actually starting to get worried. She was about to do something stupid, like taking a walk to look for him, or driving out to his house again. Charlie had gone to bed a while ago. She should have, too. But there was no way she could sleep until she knew Jacob was alright.

If she didn't move or do something, she was going to go crazy. Her nerves felt ready to spring. She got up and paced around the room, shaking her hands at her sides.

Suddenly, she heard sounds outside, and ran back to the window like a dart. When she saw Jacob, her heart nearly came out of her chest. He leapt into the tree, and she stepped aside so he could come in. It wasn't until he was inside that she saw what kind of shape he was in. He was covered with blood. There was a wildness in his eyes, and he was breathing like he'd run a thousand miles.

"Oh my god, Jake. What hap--"

Before she got the words out, he grabbed her head in his hands and kissed her brutally. She was shocked and confused, and pushed against his chest until he stopped his bruising assault on her mouth.

"Jake, whose blood is this?"

His fingers were entangled in her hair. At her question, he snarled and tightened his grip. "No one'll ever hurt you, Bella. No one."

"Who? What's going on?"

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. She could tell he was trying to get himself under control, so she gave him a second.

Finally, his lips parted and he hissed between his teeth. "Victoria."

Bella's heart thundered. "This is her blood?"

"No. Mine."

"Oh my god!" She frantically searched the surface of his skin.

"I'm healed already." An evil sneer narrowed his eyes, twisted up the corner of his mouth. "She's not, though."

"You…you got her, didn't you. Victoria's gone."

His only response was a small nod.

She didn't know what to think. Her mind couldn't grasp it. She'd been living with this terror for so long, and now, it was just…over? Feeling shocked and numb, she guided Jacob to sit on her bed. "Stay here. I'll go get something to clean you up."

As she pulled away, he grabbed her hand. His eyes were fierce, and he was shaking.

"Jacob." She knelt in front of him. "I thought…you said killing vampires was fun. And easy."

"It is. I've never enjoyed killing a vampire quite so much."

She nearly shuddered. Jacob's ferocity was unsettling. She stood up again and kissed his forehead tenderly. "I promise I'll be right back."

He only resisted briefly before he released her hand.

She stepped away and into the hall, making quick work of grabbing a pot and filling it with warm water, then snatching a handful of washcloths. When she stepped back into her room, Jacob hadn't moved. She dipped the first cloth in the water and began to dab the dried blood from his face. "How did you get so much blood all over you? It must have been really bad."

"She was determined."

Bella pulled back. She felt a chill, as deep and cold as the sea. That creature had been after her. "Determined" to take her life. That fiend who could do this to Jacob. She resumed swabbing his skin.

"I'm sorry I was late," he whispered.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just glad you're okay." Most of the blood was wiped away, so she set the first washcloth on her nightstand and dipped a clean one in the water. Her efforts seemed to be calming him. His eyes were closed, and his breathing had almost returned to normal. His brows were still drawn tightly together, though.

She continued until the washcloths no longer showed any traces of pink, taking care to make her strokes slow and gentle. After a while, Jacob looked so relaxed, she thought he might have fallen asleep sitting up. She set the last washcloth aside and pressed her lips softly to the corners of his eyes, first one, then the other. He pulled her against him. If the firmness of his hold was any indication, he was still shaken up. She wanted to offer him some words of comfort, but she couldn't begin to think of what to say, so she just let him hold her. Let him take his comfort from feeling her safe and warm in his arms.

"Lie down," she whispered.

He did as she instructed while she turned out the light. When she returned to him, he clasped his arms around her and rolled her under him, lowering his mouth down upon hers. His tender kiss spoke of all the pain, all the fear he'd felt tonight. She still hadn't accepted it herself, that she was safe now, but she could be there to comfort Jacob. She stroked her hands up and down his back while he dusted soft kisses over her lips. His big body was nestled between her legs. She opened them wider to cradle him.

Jacob brushed her hair back and felt her face with his hands while he kissed her, as if he was trying to see her like a blind person might. She laid there passively and let him feel her presence, her solidity.

As Jacob kissed her on and on, a slow fire began to build within her. Without even trying, he was stoking it. As if he sensed the change in her, his touch became firmer, more insistent. He kneaded his way to her breast in the same moment he delved his tongue past her lips. Bella's body opened wider for him, growing wetter in a rush. She moaned and gasped, suddenly short of breath.

Jacob bit down gently on her lips, as though he were trying to keep her still. She tried to obey him. He felt under her tank and brushed his rough fingers over her nipple. It was almost impossible not to throw her head back, but she settled for making sounds in the back of her throat. His dominance was both maddening and arousing. As he went on teasing her, she started to pant. She used the only part of her body that was free, her hands, to release her pent-up energy, squeezing and caressing his back, digging her fingertips into his skin. He began to move his body against hers. She could feel that he was affected too.

He drew back, hovering over her for a second before kissing her lightly on the chin. "I want to lie naked with you, Bella."

She drew in a shaky breath. He waited patiently for her response, but she was having a hard time putting words together.

When she didn't answer, he lowered his face beside hers and brushed his soft lips against her ear. "Do you want that, baby?"

Her insides turned to molten lava. She nodded as she tried to get her ragged breathing under control.

At her permission, he descended upon her throat and wedged his hands underneath her, squeezing her with such force, he nearly lifted her off the bed. She could only whimper and cling to him.

He went on kissing her as he peeled her tank from her body. His erection felt like an iron bar pressing into her leg. She fumbled with his shorts, needing to feel his skin against hers, but her fingers were clumsy and impatient. He came to her aid, entwining his fingers with hers while he undid the button and zipper, guiding her hand underneath the waistband, pushing his shorts over his hips. His tongue never stopped stroking hers. She explored his muscled ribs while he kicked the shorts off. Jacob's powerful body was at her fingertips. She moved her hands to his backside, savoring this new frontier, while he pulled off her drawstring pants.

Finally, when they were both completely nude, Jacob propped his elbows on either side of her head and stretched the full length of his body against hers. His arousal lay heavy against her thighs. The vulnerability, the intimacy of it stunned her.

Jacob closed his eyes and shuddered. "God, Bella." His hips pumped against her almost imperceptibly. She doubted he realized it. She gave in to the powerful instinct to spread her legs again, and his erection fell between her legs, grazing her wet sex. She convulsed with want. Jacob drew back sharply, sucking in his breath.

Bella mewled at the loss, clenching her hands in her hair. "Jacob, please."

He braced his arms on either side of her head. "Please what?" His voice sounded rough.

"God, I want you so much." She felt like she was near tears with need.

He wedged his hips between hers, pressing his length against her and thrusting hard. "What do you want, Bella?"

Why was he torturing her? She released a desperate moan. "Please, Jacob."

"I want to hear you say it." He was snarling, panting as he pushed against her.

"I need you in me. I want to feel you in me."

Jacob grunted, his face crumpling as he pumped his hips. When he suddenly pulled away, she almost cried out. He grabbed his shorts and nearly tore them in half searching through them.

"What are you doing?" she wailed.

She heard crinkling plastic, and her arousal increased impossibly. Yes. Yes.

Jacob collapsed on her. His kiss was desperate, violent. His fingers delved inside her. She moaned and panted and gasped all at once. She never knew. She never knew how powerful lust could be, how it could make you lose all your senses. She spread her legs wide, wider. "Please…Jacob…yes…"

"You want it?"

"Yes!"

He removed his hand and replaced it with his hips. "Agh…Bella, I can't help it…" He opened his mouth over her neck and sank his teeth into her skin in the same instant he plunged into her body in one long, deep stroke.

Bella's body exploded. Filled to bursting, she contracted around him, convulsed wildly. Jacob snarled against her skin, holding her still while he remained deeply seated within her. Her pleasure didn't end there. Never releasing her neck, he pounded into her again and again, setting off a shower of sparks with each thrust. Her eyes widened at the intensity of it. His rhythm grew deeper, harder, until finally he withdrew his teeth and threw his head back in blind pleasure. She marveled at the beauty of his release. Jacob jerked over her, his eyes clenched tightly shut, as he stifled a guttural cry.

For several moments, he continued to thrust, gradually growing slower and slower. They both gasped for air. Finally, he fell on her, resting the majority of his weight on his elbows.

Bella marveled at what they'd just done. It was really real this time. Her body was still on fire for him. Jacob seemed like he could keep going, too, still big and full within her. The sensation was incredible and unfamiliar.

He nuzzled against her ear, still catching his breath. "Mine," he rasped.

She laughed. "Uh, yeah, you pretty much own me."

He chuckled and thrust into her, nipping at her earlobe. A residual contraction rippled through her, making her whimper. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her softly.

"So, um, Jacob?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Uh…exactly…how many condoms did you bring?"

He laughed low and nuzzled the side of her face. "Not nearly enough."