A/N: Welcome to chapter 20, and thanks so much for your reviews. I will try to PM you all as soon as I can.
~Previously on The Alpha Next Door:
"Well, if you keep this up, I'm afraid you're gonna have to wait a few more years…maybe a decade."
She sashayed past him, taking off her wet dress along the way.
"Oh and one more thing…"
He turned around to face her, mouth opening and closing like a trout fish.
"If you so much as lay a finger on my unicorn stuff, I will unleash my fury on Darth Vader."
Rated M for adult themes and language.
Jacob's eyes glowed at the mention of Darth Vader.
His irises flared up as he marched over to Bella with a determined expression on his face.
He snatched the dripping dress from her fingers and ripped it in half like it was made out of paper.
"HEY! You DID not just do that!" Bella screeched, eyes wide in disbelief.
'I play dirty, Bells, so what did you expect? Huh?' He growled, backing her up against a nearby tree. 'Did you expect me to give you a congratulatory pat on the back for putting yourself in danger?'
Bella swallowed, clutching his shorts to her chest.
'Did you really think I'd let you off the hook this time?'
"Oh get off your high horse, Jake! I'm not Brady or Collin…I'm NOT looking for your approval."
'Then what the fuck was that back there?!' His eyes burned into her own as he spoke. 'You think being my imprint is gonna protect you? You think it gave you magical powers?' He snorted. 'Sorry to burst your bubble, Tinker Bells, but you're not a unicorn; you don't shit rainbows and vamp-killing fairy dust!'
"Fuck you, Wolverine!" Bella pushed at his chest, trying to gain back some much needed space.
His heat was suffocating her and so was his monster ego.
'Mmm…if only you could save up some of this feistiness for bed.' Jacob leaned forward, his fingers ghosting over her flushed skin.
"Oh my God, are you freakin kidding me right now?!" She snapped, digging her nails into the back of his hand. "First you chase after me like I'm some kind of wolf prey, then you dunk me in the water like a donut, you destroy my shoes and DRESS, you tell me I'm nothing special…and after all this SHIT, you expect me to have sex with you?!"
'Whoa! Easy there, tiger.' He glanced down at the fresh scratches on his skin. 'I said bed, not sex.' He smirked. 'My bed to be specific…home to the best orgasms on earth, just ask your pussy.'
"Ugh…are you even listening to yourself? ' Bella pushed him away and retrieved her shoes from the mossy ground. "Just shut up and take me home before I stake you in the ass." She warned him, her jaw set in a very angry scowl.
'You wanna go home?' He sneered. 'Fine, I'll take you home; but first, let me take care of one more thing.' He reached out and ripped her bra in half. 'There, much better.'
It happened so fast that Bella didn't even realize her lace cups were dangling from their straps until she glanced down at her breasts.
"Is this going to be your signature move from now on? 'Cause your credit card is so going to pay for all this shit." She said through gritted teeth, clutching the shoes to her chest.
'I'll pay for whatever shit you want as long as you let me motorboat your tits.' Jacob wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, his gaze dropping to her breasts.
"You're a total perv, Black." Bella dumped her boots in his arms and wrapped her dress around her torso, tying a knot to hold the loose ends together.
'Interesting.' The Alpha smirked, juggling the boots in his hands. 'So you're basically cool with letting me touch and lick them like a lollipop…eh, Bells?'
"Shut it, Lil Wayne!" She blushed, tugging his giant shorts over her hips.
'Aw, you're cute when you blush. Your face turns pink just like your nipples.'
Bella sighed, her blush gradually dying down along with her temper. "Leah's right. You are a horny bastard, especially when you're pissed."
'Pissed? I'm not pissed.' He frowned. 'My wolf is pissed, so from now on you're not allowed anywhere near this forest or the cemetery.'
"Here we go again." Bella rolled her eyes, folding both arms across her chest.
'Yeah, here we go again.' Jacob mocked her, chucking the tattered shoes over his shoulder.
He then picked her up in one swift move, using both his arms to cage her legs and waist in a firm yet gentle grip.
"Jeez, I'm not going anywhere, Tarzan. There's no point in arguing with you either." She huffed, muscles aching from all the running and swimming.
'Good. 'Cause I'm not in the mood for your feminist bullshit.' He grunted while sniffing her hair.
"And I'm NOT in the mood for your Alpha male mentality, so I guess we're even."
'Hmmm…so we're simply Jake and Bells for now.' Jacob purred as he carried her to his parked Mustang.
She rested her head on his chest, listening to the kitten-like sound.
It was extremely soothing.
"I never knew you could do that." She remarked, soaking in the warmth radiating from his skin.
'It's a wolf thing.' He explained, moving stealthily through the dark forest.
"I like it." Bella blurted out, tracing his pectoral muscles with her fingers.
'You're so damn confusing, Bells.' Jacob chuckled in amusement. 'I can't figure you out anymore.' He confessed.
"Right back at ya, Black." She sighed. "Seriously. What happened to us?"
'Well, I became a hormonal driven wolf at sixteen.' He replied, giving her a meaningful look. 'But you on the other hand, you're never this impulsive.' He added. 'What you did tonight was so out of character, it shocked the hell out of me.'
"Shocked, huh?" Bella was too tired to hide the disappointment in her voice. "I honestly thought you'd be impressed rather than shocked." She scowled. "But I guess one has to be a she-wolf in order to impress your royal cockiness."
'What?' He paused mid-stride, eyes glowing in the dark. 'You think I wasn't impressed?'
"Umm…yes? I mean, hello...your reaction was far from planet of the impressed." She pointed out, waving a hand in front of his face.
'Jesus.' Jacob hoisted her higher against his chest, his long legs resuming their trek down the forest trail.
'Just because I got mad and tackled you to the ground doesn't mean I…' He struggled for the right words, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed. 'Look, I don't want to encourage you so all I'm gonna say is…you got lucky twice so far.'
"And…?" Bella prodded, poking his sternum with her thumb.
'And uh…your instincts are sharp and so are your reflexes.'
"Really?" She beamed, locking her hands behind his neck.
'Yeah.' He nodded, gliding towards his Mustang which was parked behind the bushes. 'So, you hungry?'
"Huh?" Bella blinked, stifling a yawn.
Food was far from her brain at the moment.
'No…don't you dare fall asleep. I'm not done with you yet.' Jacob released her legs and placed them on the ground.
She clung to his neck, refusing to part ways with his smoldering heat. "But I'm wet, and tired."
'Mmmm….wet…I like the sound of that.' He rumbled low in his throat.
"Ugh, you know what I mean." She rolled her eyes, letting go of his toasty skin.
He padded barefoot to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
'Yeah, I know.' He winked, fishing out an extra pair of shorts and a South Park t-shirt from the messy trunk. 'That's why I love teasing ya, Bells. You make it so damn easy.'
"Haha. You're welcome." She used his trademark phrase and shamelessly ogled his butt while he was getting dressed.
His muscles flexed beneath his russet skin. His tall, muscled outline highlighted to perfection by the full moon.
'Here, put this on.'
He tossed her the yellow shirt, his eyes flirting with her scantily clad torso. 'And make sure to rub it all over your sexy bod.'
Bella blushed, damp hair sticking to her flushed neck. "Do you still want to bottle up my scent?" She coyly asked him.
'What do you think?' He cocked an eyebrow in response.
She ducked her head, sliding her arms through the cotton t-shirt. "I think you're obsessed with my smell."
'My wolf is obsessed with your smell, yeah, but I'm obsessed with your tits.' He smirked.
"Ok, first of all, stop using the word…tits. It's so vulgar." She cringed, tugging the shirt further down her neck. "Seriously, you're starting to sound like Quil."
'Quil calls them titties.'
"God, you're such a smart-ass!" Bella opened the passenger door and her nose was instantly assaulted by the strong air-freshener. "And Darth Vader still smells like a pine tree." She observed.
'Yeah. I can't believe you actually threatened to harm my ride, Bells.' He slid into the driver seat and gunned the engine. 'What did DV ever do to you, huh?'
"Jake. Just shut up and drive to the nearest McDonald's." She ordered while fastening her seat-belt. "I'm in the mood for a Big Mac with extra cheese, no pickles and a large Coke with ice."
'Coming right up, Mistress Bella.' He grinned.
"Call me Yoda, pet."
.
.
.
Jacob ended up ordering dinner from the nearest drive thru.
He was beyond hungry so he purchased four burgers for himself and a Big Mac meal for Bella who was fast asleep in the passenger seat.
He studied her face while waiting for the food and decided to pass the time by making a quick sketch using the charcoal pencil in his glove compartment.
He grabbed a notepad from the backseat and flipped it open.
Bella was curled up like a kitten in his Kenny McCormick t-shirt, her thick lashes casting a dark shadow against her alabaster skin.
She looked so small and fragile in his clothes.
'Silly munchkin.' He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She leaned into his warm touch even though the heater was still on.
He withdrew his hand and propped the notepad on the steering wheel.
He drew an outline of her face before filling it with her sleeping features.
His wolf was so close to losing his shit tonight.
Bella was testing the limits of his patience with her slayer aspirations.
He tried to think of a way to punish her for what she did.
She had to learn her lesson once and for all.
Ten minutes later, the sketch was ready and so was their food.
.
.
.
'Bells, wake up.'
The tired brunette opened her eyes, feeling disorientated like she always did whenever she woke up in Jacob's bed.
"Oh no…not again." She bolted upright in a sea of unicorn pillows.
Her unicorn pillows.
'Your fries are getting cold.' Jacob tossed her the paper bag with a glint in his onyx eyes.
"What are you up to?" She frowned, taking inventory of her precious pillows.
'Eat first and we'll talk later.' He replied, taking a big bite out of his cheese burger.
"I'm not hungry." She slid off the mattress with her pillows in tow.
'Whoa. Where do you think you're going, babe?' Jacob stood between her and the door, chewing noisily on his food.
"I'm going home where there's hot water and a comfy bed other than yours." She tried to dart past him but he was like a moving fortress. He blocked her path with his fast reflexes and monster shoulders.
'Nice try, Swan, but you're my prisoner for the night.' He declared.
"Oh my God, you tricked me!" She gasped, clutching her fluffy unicorn to her chest.
'I did no such thing.' He smirked, folding his arms across his bare chest.
"Yes, you did." She argued.
Jacob's eyes darkened as he towered over her. 'I warned you that I was going to play dirty.' He growled.
"I thought you were bluffing." She shot back.
He leaned forward, bringing his lips closer to her ear. 'Did you honestly think I'd let you get away with that stunt you pulled tonight?'
"Are you freakin serious?" She snapped.
'Oh I'm dead serious.' He responded in his intimidating Alpha tone. 'You're not allowed to leave this room until tomorrow, or Monday morning, depending on my mood.'
"You can't force me to stay here." Bella snorted, staring at him with an incredulous expression that rivaled his serious one.
'I promise I'll keep you entertained.' He licked the shell of her ear, trying to be seductive as well as assertive.
"Jake…" She protested. "That's not fair."
'No it's not.' He cupped her face in his large hands, fear seeping into his voice. 'But I can't risk losing you, Bells. Not on my watch and definitely not at the hands of a fucking vampire.'
His fingers trembled slightly, forcing Bella to let go of the stuff in her arms.
She finally understood what this was all about.
Jacob was afraid of losing her just like he'd lost his mother all those years ago.
She suddenly felt less angry and more troubled by the desperate look in his eyes.
"You won't…" She reassured him, rubbing his shoulders in a soothing manner. "I promise."
He studied her face intently before crushing her to his chest. 'I'm not letting you out of my sight though. At least not tonight.' He insisted.
"Okay." She spoke the words into his tempting skin. "But I need you to fetch me a few things from my room."
'Sure, no problem. What do you need other than your cockblocking pillows?' He snickered.