Hey everyone! Okay, it's been almost a week since my last update and I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting. This chapter is over 8,000 words so I hope that it makes up for my long absence. I've been working ten to twelve hour days this last week, so, I've been stretched a little thin lately. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your guys' reviews this time around, but I PROMISE to respond if you leave a signed review for this chapter. However, thank you all SO much for reading and reviewing; you guys have no idea how good it makes me feel to know that you are enjoying my story. I can't believe I've already gotten three hundred reviews for this story, and I hope you guys keep them coming. :) I hope you like this chapter and please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight.
Chapter Twenty-One
Bella had left for the Cullens' house relatively early this morning so Alice could help her get ready for the day. Charlie, who looked rather spiffy in his tuxedo, had left with Bella's mom, Renee, and her step-dad, Phil, only a few minutes ago since I wasn't completely ready and Renee was anxious to see Bella. Renee was nice, if a bit flighty, and Phil was on the quiet side, so, I really didn't get a very good read on him. However, that didn't really matter since today was very likely the first and last time I would meet them. I sighed as I surveyed my reflection in the mirror after swiping on a bit of soft medium pink lipstick across my lips before I tucked my lipstick and compact into my purse for the day.
I had pulled my hair up and twisted it up into an elegant chignon with a few loosened curls that I had pinned with small round 'diamond' hair pins that sparkled in my dark hair. The dress, however, wasn't really something I would have bought for myself but Alice had been right. It did look really nice on my. It was a strapless Monique Lhuillier dress with a rouched crisscrossed sweetheart bodice that was well fitted to my torso and the full skirt practically floated over my hips and ended just at my knees. The soft lilac color of the chiffon dress was nice against my skin tone and coloring, and I definitely had to give Alice serious props. The vampire definitely knew what she was doing when it came to clothes.
I took a deep breath through my nose and turned away from my dresser, and walked over to my closet. My necklace was in place and even though Alice had suggested that I not wear the bracelet Jacob gave me since it would clash with my dress, but I had opted out of taking her advice on that aspect. The bracelet remained around my wrist despite my desire to take it off the night before. Once I reached my closet, I squatted down and picked up the strappy three and a half inch high heels that Alice insisted I wear with the dress, meaning I would be towering over just about everyone at the wedding save for Emmett, Seth, and Jacob. I'd be pretty much even in height with Jasper and Edward, which wouldn't be so bad. I sighed quietly as I pulled on my shoes, fastening them into place, before I grabbed the silver clutch from my dresser and made my way out of my room, down the stairs, and out the front door.
I turned and locked the door behind me as I mentally worked through what I was going to say to Jacob when he showed up. However, as I turned around and walked down the porch steps I stopped short at the base of the stairs on the paved walkway. Standing beside the driver's side door was Jacob and while he looked amazing in the black slacks, white button up, and black sports jacket he looked like he hadn't slept in days. His hair was mused and under his eyes were faint dark circles. Obviously, he'd spent the night pacing outside the house like I thought he had been only to go home, shower, and get dressed that morning. He gave me a faint hopeful smile as he met my gaze across the small expanse of space between us, his eyes never wavering from mine.
"I thought I told Embry to tell you to meet me at the Cullen's place an hour before the wedding," I said as I started walking over to him and Jacob sighed as he took a few steps towards me, stopping as I reached the paved driveway.
"You did," he said slowly.
"Well, you're two hours early and my house certainly isn't the Cullen's place," I said as I crossed my arms over my chest and looked up at him. Even in the high heels that made me stand six feet three inches tall, Jacob was still taller than me by at least four inches which was something that could only be said about NBA players.
"I know, but I didn't want to wait until then," he said.
"Or is it because you didn't want Edward or the others to overhear our conversation?" I asked and he closed his eyes as he sighed once more and lowered his head. After a beat he shook his head and returned his eyes to my face.
"It's not because of that," he said. "I really could care less if he or any of the other Cullens know my opinion on the whole thing." I looked away from him then as I uncrossed my arms, turning my head to the left to look at the grass that I suddenly realized needed mowing and made a mental note of it. "Aurora," he said quietly as he raised his right hand to the side of my face and turned my head so I was looking back up at him. "I'm sorry," he said as he gently ran his thumb along my jaw.
"Sure you are," I said as I pushed his hand away from my face.
"Damn it, Rory, I am," he said sharply and I rolled my eyes.
"I know you sent Embry into my room last night to try and butter me up for you, Jacob, but I'm still angry at you," I said and he took a slow breath through his nose, his broad shoulders rising before they fell as he let out a heavy sigh.
"Why?" he asked and I crossed my arms over my chest again as I glared at him.
"Don't be stupid, Jacob, because you're not. You know that what happens between Bella and Edward isn't any of our business. Why were you so upset last night? What does it matter to you that Bella and Edward are going to sleep together before he changes her?"
"I don't know," he said heavily as he looked away from me.
"I don't believe you," I said as I uncrossed my arms again and he was quick to turn his eyes back to me. "You know why you reacted the way you did last night, but you're either too ashamed or too embarrassed to tell me. Is it because you care more about Bella than you've led to believe this whole time? Have you just been playing with me because of the whole imprinting thing? Using me as a way to get over her, but not really succeeding?"
"What?" he asked sharply, his body tensing and his forehead furrowing as he looked at me. His hands clenching into fists at his sides did not go unnoticed nor did the fact that his shoulders were trembling slightly. I may have crossed a line with my last few allegations, but I wasn't about to take them back. "Do you seriously think that?"
"What else am I supposed to think, Jacob?" I asked. He sighed heavily then before he ran his right hand through his hair, musing it even more than it already was. He shuffled his feet closer to me and raised both of his hands to my face, gently cupping my cheeks in his still slightly trembling hands.
"Aurora, I swear I don't care any more about Bella than I've told you," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. However, I shook my head as I wrapped my hands around his wrists and pulled his hands from my face. I made to let go, but Jacob was quick to grab hold of my hands, even taking my purse from my left hand and tossing it on the hood of my car. I let that slide though when I saw the pain in his eyes as he looked at me. For half a second I felt guilty for being as angry as I was, but it didn't last long and I managed to hold my ground.
"Then why would you react that way? It's something that shouldn't matter to you in the least bit, but apparently it does. Would you want Edward weighing in on our sex life and telling me that I was insane for wanting to sleep with you?" I asked.
"Of course not," he said with a frown, his grip tightening considerably on my hands. "Our relationship isn't any of his business."
"Exactly," I stressed giving him a pointed look. He looked away from me for a beat and I sighed quietly as I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, meeting Jacob's concerned brown eyes with my tired blue. "Look, I know you hate Edward and that you're worried about Bella, but he won't hurt her, Jacob," I said and he sighed heavily yet again as he looked down at our joined hands that rested in the space between our bodies.
"You wouldn't understand," he said and I took another deep breath, readying myself for his response to what I was going to say next, completely unsure if I wanted an honest reaction out of him in the end.
"Try me," I said and he raised his eyes back to mine. "Help me understand, Jacob, because right now I'm angry and hurt that you reacted the way you did over something that you have no say over. You got angry at me when I told you it wasn't any of our business. Why?"
"I wasn't angry at you, Aurora," he said quietly and I scoffed.
"You could have fooled me. You yelled at me, Jacob, for no reason whatsoever," I said and his hold on my hands tightened as he shuffled even closer to me.
"Look, Aurora, Edward is . . . strong," Jacob said slowly.
"I'm not stupid, Jacob, I know that," I said sharply, but he continued on as if I hadn't spoken.
"He can snap Bella in half by barely flicking his wrist if he wanted to. If he's not careful, he can hurt her bad; maybe even kill her." I knew then, looking at his face and hearing the tone and slight trembling inflection in his voice, that there was something else that was bothering him; something that he wasn't telling me. It didn't make any sense for him to act the way he was over Bella, so, there had to have been something else that was making him react that way, and I wanted to know what it was.
"Jacob?" I asked and he opened his eyes to look at me. "There's something more to this isn't there; something that you're not telling me?"
"Rory," he said quietly, but I interrupted because I knew that tone. It was his placating tone that he tried to use on me to calm me down and avoid answering me right away. He'd tried to use it more than once over the course of our relationship and he'd never gotten away with it before, and he wasn't about to get away with it now.
"Jacob, don't," I said. "Don't give me any excuses or dance around the truth behind it all. I want the actual truth, and isn't that something you always promised to tell me?" I asked, causing his eyes to flicker to the bracelet that remained on my wrist before his brown eyes returned to my blue. "Right now would be about time to tell me the truth, Jacob, especially if you want to set things right between us." He stared at me for several beats, the only sounds around us being a few chirping birds and the gentle breeze rustling the leaves on the trees that relatively warm morning. I didn't look away from his face and he didn't look away from mine, and finally after what seemed like forever Jacob took a deep breath and looked down at our hands.
"If I can leave bruises on you, Aurora, without realizing it, what's Edward going to do Bella?" he asked in a whisper before he slowly returned his gaze to mine. I was surprised to see tears actually lining his dark eyes as he looked at me, and for a moment I was stunned into silence.
Two weeks ago, when Charlie and Billy had gone on a weekend fishing trip with a couple of their buddies up the coast, Jacob and I had taken advantage of his empty house. It had been a while since we had had time alone together and the first time we were together that night hadn't been exactly gentle and several other times of the weekend were repeats of the first. By Monday I had dark bruises on my hips and on the backs of my thighs. Bruises I didn't think that Jacob had seen because I hadn't even seen them until Monday morning and I was well covered by then. I hadn't even worn shorts of any kind at all until the bruises had faded away so he wouldn't see them.
However, that explained why Jacob hadn't wanted to do much more than make out or cuddle since that weekend. He'd seen the bruises and was now too afraid to do anything other than that. Sure, we'd made out hot and heavy lately and he was definitely extra cuddly but every time I tried to take it a step further he'd rebuff me with logical excuses that I didn't think twice about until now. Like Charlie would be home soon or his dad was coming in or something along those lines. He was afraid that he was going to hurt me again and I really wanted to knock some sense into him, but I didn't have a heavy blunt object handy at the moment.
"How-," I started, but didn't get to finish.
"I saw them when you were in the shower and getting ready for me to take you home before my dad and Charlie got back," he said as he let go of my hands and brought his hands to my upper waist before he pulled me to him. Automatically, my hands raised to rest on his chest while my eyes remained locked with his. "Why didn't you tell me that I hurt you?"
"Because I didn't feel them until Monday morning," I told him honestly as I looked back at him and he sighed quietly before he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. For a moment, I closed my eyes with him as I tried to wrap my head around what he had just told me and after a beat I pulled my head back to look at him. "So, all of this is because you're worried that if you could hurt me without realizing it that Edward could so worse to Bella," I said rather than asked. He nodded in response and I shook my head slightly. "That's something Bella's willing to risk, Jacob."
"It's not something she should have to risk," he said and I shook my head.
"Again, it's not your call to make," I said simply.
"I know," he said, "and I'm sorry I overreacted. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings last night, and I wasn't thinking clearly. I just . . . you don't even want to know where my head went. It was hard enough to hide everything from the guys last night, and it had nothing to do with Bella. It was like . . . it was like I was projecting."
"Projecting?" I asked arching an eyebrow and he sighed as his grip tightened slightly on my waist. "I think you've been watching too much Dr. Phil if you're psychoanalyzing yourself." I was trying to lighten the serious mood between us and it seemed to work because I saw the corners of his lips turn up slightly.
"I'm serious, Rory," he said quietly, the slight smile leaving his face as he looked at me. "For the last two weeks I've been worried that I was going to go too far with you again and hurt you or . . .do something even worse, and last night I put Bella into my worst nightmares as a way to let out what was bothering me."
"Yeah, definitely too much Dr. Phil," I said and Jacob scoffed as he shook his head as he gave me a pointed look. My anger at Jacob had dissipated now that I knew the real reason behind his overreaction last night and the reason for him being slightly distant with me lately. Everything last night had nothing to do with Bella and everything to do with me, and as ridiculous as it was I understood. "You shouldn't have put your concerns about me onto Bella, Jacob, it just made me think . . . well, it made me think that there was something more to your feelings for Bella."
"There isn't," he said firmly, his grip solid on my waist, and his eyes full of nothing but sincerity as he looked at me.
"I know," I said, "but you should have just talked to me about it. It would have saved us from this mess."
"I was too angry at myself," he said as he shook his head.
"Jacob, it wasn't that big of a deal," I said and he frowned. "They were just bruises, and trust me when I got them I was feeling no pain, and they barely even hurt afterwards."
"I could have-," he started, but I didn't let him finish. I moved my hands up to his neck and pulled his lips to mine, silencing whatever he had been about to say.
"I liked it when you were a little rough with me, Jacob," I whispered against his lips, my eyes still closed, before I kissed him briefly and then pulled back with a small grin. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I chuckled. "I guess I've got a little bit of a kinky side because to me those bruises were totally worth it," I said as I slid my right hand up into the back of his hair. Jacob actually shivered as he let out a shuddered breath and for a brief second I saw lust flash in his dark eyes. However, he closed his eyes tightly, shook his head rather violently, and opened his eyes to look at me with a serious expression on his face.
"Aurora, I could really hurt you if I'm not careful," he said and I shook my head slightly.
"But you won't. I know you won't," I said quietly as I slid my hand from his hair to cup the left side of his face. "No matter what you say to me, Jacob, you'll never get me to believe otherwise because I love you and I trust you."
"So, I haven't screwed this all up?" he asked and I laughed as I ran my thumb along his jaw.
"You came close, too close," I said, "but you've managed to redeem yourself at the moment. However, you're not getting off that easy."
"No?" he asked and I shook my head.
"No, but I'm not sure what you'll have to do to make it up to me," I said. "I'll think of something though."
"Works for me," he breathed out as relief washed over his face before he wrapped his arms completely around me and pulled my body flush against his. He swooped in, kissing me soundly as his right hand slid up my back and took hold of the back of my neck as he kissed me. Slowly, the kiss came to end and I smiled softly as I looked at him. He smiled back before he loosened his hold on me and I laughed quietly as I rubbed my right thumb over his lips and shook my head.
"Pink really isn't your color," I said with a light laugh and Jacob smiled as he allowed me to continue wiping my lipstick from his mouth. "Since I have to fix my makeup, do you want to drive us to the Cullen's place?" I asked as I stepped out of his hold and over to the hood of my car where my purse rested. I had slipped my keys into the purse as I walked and I quickly pulled them out of my bag before I turned back around and looked at Jacob.
"Sure," he said as he took the keys from my hand. However, before I could lower my hand and walk around the front of the car, Jacob was quick to grab hold of my hand and pull me up against him once more. "You look absolutely beautiful, Rory," he whispered as his dark eyes held my blue, and I felt my cheeks warm slightly in a soft blush.
"Thank you," I breathed before he caught my lips in a tender kiss that lasted far too short in my opinion.
"Don't think you're leaving my side at all today," he said and I raised an eyebrow.
"Why? Do you think one of the Cullens or a member of their vegetarian family from Alaska is going to attack or something?" I asked and he grinned as he shook his head.
"No," he said slowly, "I'm worried about some poor sap thinking he's got a chance with you and making a move. You know violence will likely ensue if that happens."
"Jacob," I chided my blush deepening all the more as I looked up at him and his smiling face. He still looked tired, but at least he no longer looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "I'll probably be towering over every other guy but Seth and you at the wedding. No guy is going to make a move on me."
"You're sexy as hell, Rory," he said and I was certain my face was on fire.
"To you," I reasoned and he scoffed.
"If you only knew," he breathed before he kissed me once more and I was suddenly reminded of Edward's plea from the evening before.
"Well," I said quietly when he pulled away before I licked my lips and looked up at him, "please try not to think too much about what you want to do to me later, okay?" I asked and Jacob raised an eyebrow as he looked at me. "Edward said you think loud and he doesn't really want to have the images you whip up in his head on his wedding day." He grinned once more and shook his head as he finally let go of me and I took a step back from him to prevent myself from launching myself at him.
"No promises," he said, his dark eyes serious and I swear I melted a little bit because my skin, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, flamed up like a roaring fire.
During the ceremony I had sat in the back with Billy, Jacob, Seth, and Sue (who insisted that she sit there with us rather than up front beside Charlie). Alice had really out done herself with everything and it had been a truly beautiful ceremony, all of which I had sat tucked into Jacob's side since he had stayed true to his word. His arm had been securely around me practically from the moment we climbed out of the car, and I really wasn't about to complain in the least bit. It felt nice to have everything behind us and moving forward once again.
"There you are," Charlie said as he walked up to Sue, Charlie, Seth, Jacob, and I. I looked at him with a smile as Jacob finally let his arm fall from around my waist, but he was quick to take my left hand into his right. "I was starting to think all of you took off."
"And miss a great party with free food?" Billy asked from where he sat in his wheelchair. "Never," he said with a dramatic shake of his head and all of us, including Charlie, laughed.
"Looks like Edward and Bella are finally free," Seth said suddenly. "Want to go over and give them our congratulations?"
"Sure," I said, answering for everyone, and Charlie got behind Billy's chair before he started to push Billy towards the smiling and deliriously happy couple with Seth leading the way. Sue walked alongside Charlie and Jacob and I took up the rear of our group, and I could feel eyes on me as I walked along, but at the moment I wasn't brave enough to look around to figure out who was staring at me. Slightly uncomfortable with the attention, I shifted a little closer to Jacob and I heard him chuckle quietly before he pressed a kiss to my left temple.
"Told you," he whispered in my ear before he pulled back and I turned my head to look at him curiously, which earned me a smile.
"Told me what?" I asked in a whisper.
"A couple of Bella's friends, guy friends, are staring at you with their mouths dropped open," he said and I felt my cheeks warm a bit as I looked away from him, earning a chuckle from my boyfriend. "I'm thinking about going over there and talk to them about how rude it is to stare."
"Heel, boy," I whispered teasingly at him earning a scoffed laugh from him upon reaching Edward and Bella.
"Hey, man," Seth said as he walked over to them and smacked Edward's hand, "nice to see you. I'm happy for you."
"Thank you," Edward said as he smiled brightly and kindly at Seth. He truly liked Seth as much as Seth liked him, and it was nice change to the hate/hate relationship between the rest of the shifters and the Cullens.
"Hey guys," I said as I freed myself from Jacob's side and walked over to the couple. Bella smiled and looked up at me with a raised eyebrow before she looked down at my feet. "I know. I'm a giant. Blame Alice because according to her it would be against all the laws of fashion for me to wear flats with this dress." Bella laughed quietly at me and shook her head before I leaned down slightly and hugged her. She hugged me back, glancing around my arm at Jacob before looking back at me.
"All good?" she asked and I nodded.
"Yeah," I said with a small smile. "All good." She gave me another smile and nodded her head before I looked at Edward. "Congratulations," I said before I hugged him and I could hear Jacob's quiet unhappy growl at the action, but I really didn't care right then.
"Thank you, Aurora," Edward said softly as I squeezed my arms around his stone like shoulders as hard as I could before I pulled back and smiled at him. Now our eyes were actually even and I swear I had never seen the vampire look so happy before; it was nice to see the guy smile for a change. Edward was far too brooding most of the time for my liking, and I liked seeing this new side of Edward. I stepped back from him only to have Jacob wrap his arm around me and pull me back to his side and where he stood to Charlie's left. Edward grinned at me and shook his head slightly before Billy spoke.
"I hope you'll be happy, Bella," he said sincerely.
"Thank you, Billy," she said.
"Congratulations you guys," Jacob said as he looked between Bella and Edward, and to say I was surprised by the small smile on his face as he looked at the couple would have been an understatement. However, I didn't let it show.
"Thanks, Jake," Bella said softly as she smiled at him and leaned into Edward's side a little more.
"Thank you, Jacob," Edward also said and Jacob nodded his head as he adjusted his hand that was resting firmly on my left hip.
"Well, I plan on getting drunk," Charlie said as he loosened the cuffs of his sleeves and all of us laughed while I shook my head.
"Does that mean I'll have to drive you home at the end of the night, Charlie?" I asked earning a grin and a wink from the man.
"Probably," he said and I laughed lightly before he looked at Sue and Billy. "They're serving up some pretty fancy champagne. Sue, can I get you glass?" Charlie asked and Billy turned around quickly in his wheelchair, nicking Charlie's shins in the process.
"Sparkling fire water!" he declared quietly making me smile. "Sounds great." He started to wheel himself away, but Seth was quick to move up behind him and push him away. Jacob and I started to follow behind Sue and Charlie, but Edward stopped me.
"Aurora," Edward said and I turned back around to look at him. "I would like to introduce you to my cousins," he said and I smiled at him. I had wanted to meet the other members of Edward's 'family' before the wedding, but between Jacob, an overly excited Renee, and a nervous as hell Charlie, I hadn't had a chance. I looked up at Jacob and he did not look happy as he glared at Edward.
"Jacob?" I asked and he looked down at me. "Would you get me a glass of water and wait for me with Seth and the others? I'll only be a few minutes."
"Rory," he started quietly, but I interrupted him by kissing him briefly.
"Thanks," I said as I slipped away from him and he sighed heavily before he practically stomped over to the refreshment table where Sue, Charlie, Seth, and Billy already were. I turned back around to join Edward and Bella when an extremely beautiful woman with long black hair was kissing both of Bella's cheeks in greeting.
"Congratulations, Edward," the tall man that was with her said as the two men 'man hugged' before the woman pulled away from Bella and took hold of the man's hand. There were also two stunningly beautiful blonde women with them. Between the three women and Rosalie I was likely to get a complex, and it was easy to see (at least to me) that they were vampires.
"These are our cousins from Alaska; Eleazar, Carmen, Tanya, and Kate," Edward said introducing the beautiful vampires to us.
"We've heard so much about you," Kate said as she looked at Bella.
"Welcome to the family," Eleazar said as he too looked at Bella.
"Bienvendia," Carmen said.
"Thanks," Bella said as she smiled at them.
"This is Bella's cousin, Aurora," Edward said as he gestured towards me and I smiled at all four of them as I laced my fingers together in front of me as they looked at me with kind smiles on their faces. I knew then that I had been talked about, probably because the Cullens had been forced to let me on their secret.
"Hi," I said lightly. "It's nice to meet all of you."
"You as well, Aurora," Tanya said kindly while Carmen turned to the left and it was then that I saw another statuesque blonde standing not far off from us. However, her pain filled eyes were focused to my right and I followed her gaze only to have my eyes land on Jacob and Seth. Seth looked uncomfortable as he glanced at the blonde while Jacob stood tall, an impassive look on his face while his eyes moved between the blonde and me.
"Irina," Carmen said and I looked at the black haired vampire. "Come meet Bella and Aurora." She slowly walked over to us and if vampires could cry, I was certain she would be.
"I can't do this," she said quietly as Carmen put a gentle hand on Irina's upper right arm.
"You promised," Tanya said softly as she looked at her sister.
"They invited two of them," she said, her eyes going back to Seth and Jacob. Tanya and the others followed her gaze and my entire body stiffened as I unlaced my hands and let them fall at my sides. I glanced at Edward and he sighed quietly as he shifted his hold on Bella.
"Irina, they're our friends," Edward said and Irina looked at him.
"They killed Laurent," she said and I had no clue who Laurent was because aside from Victoria, Riley, and the newborn vampires I wasn't aware of Jacob and Seth killing any other vampires.
"He tried to kill Bella," Edward said and I was pretty sure my eyebrows disappeared up into my hair.
"I don't believe that," Irina said quickly as she took a step in front of Edward. My instincts told me to step in, to try and defuse any fight that might break out, but then I remembered that the tall blonde was a vampire and thought better of it. "He wanted to be like us; to live in peace with humans; with me." I understood what was going on then and for a moment, I felt really bad for Irina.
"I'm sorry," Edward said as he looked at her and Irina shook her head before she turned around and left.
"Irina," Carmen called quietly, but Irina kept walking.
"Well," Eleazar said quietly, "let's not monopolize the bride. Congratulations, and it was lovely to meet you, Aurora."
"Likewise," I said gently as my blue eyes met his gold.
"We're sorry," Tanya said quietly before she took Kate's hand and the four of them left walked away.
"Do I want to know?" I asked as I looked at Edward and Bella and Bella gave me an awkward smile while Edward grinned.
"I know you do, but it's probably a story that's better to be told at another time," he said and I nodded.
"Gotcha," I said earning more smiles from the couple. "Well, I'll let you two mingle. I'll just be over there," I said as I gestured towards Jacob and Edward nodded.
"Thank you, Aurora," he said and even though I didn't know what he was thanking me for, I nodded my head before I turned away and started to walk towards Jacob. However, I only took about five steps before Bella's friends, Jessica, Angela, Eric, and Mike cut me off.
"Hey, Aurora, you look amazing," Jessica said as she looked up at me and I smiled at her as I smoothed out the skirt of my dress.
"Thanks, Jessica. You guys look great too. I'm so glad you were able to make it. I know it means a lot to Bella and Edward," I said lightly. "So, what do you guys think of everything? Alice did an amazing job right?"
"Yeah, it's beautiful," Angela said sincerely. We all chatted for maybe a minute before I felt a warm hand splayed out against my lower back. I didn't jump in surprise because the touch was very familiar, and I turned my eyes to my right before I smiled up at Jacob.
"I hate to interrupt," he said as he looked at the others, but I knew he was all too happy to interrupt, and in all honesty so was I, "but my dad's asking for you," he finished as he looked at me.
"Oh," I said before I looked Mike, Jessica, Eric, and Angela. "We'll talk more later, okay?" I asked and Angela and Jessica smiled as they nodded.
"Sure," they harmonized and I waved at them before Jacob started walking me over to where Billy, Seth, Sue, and Charlie were still congregating. His arm had moved to wrap around me and he once again had a tight grip on my hip as we walked.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to stay back while you talked to those vamps?" Jacob asked in a whisper.
"Yes, and I'm proud of you for staying put," I said as I looked at him. He was still looking ahead and I took the opportunity to kiss his jaw. He sighed quietly as he looked at me and I gave him a small smile. He scoffed a laugh before he smiled at me in return and kissed my temple just as we reached the others. "Okay there Seth?" I asked him quietly and he gave me a tight lipped smile as he nodded his head.
"Yeah," he said and I raised my left hand to pat his shoulder before I looked up at Jacob.
"So, where's my water?" I asked, earning laughs from the others while Jacob rolled his eyes and lowered his arm from around me before he headed over to the refreshment table.
I swear it had been a good long while since I laughed as hard as I had laughed during the various speeches given as dinner ended. Charlie's was by far my favorite and Jessica's slight meltdown was also pretty comical, but it was Edward as he stood before the microphone on the small stage that had been built for tonight that had brought everyone gathered in the Cullens' backyard to complete silence.
"It's an extraordinary thing, to meet someone you who you can bare your soul to and who will accept you for what you are," Edward said and I felt Jacob's right arm raise from the back of my chair to wrap around my shoulders as he pulled me a little closer to him. I leaned into his side, my right hand rising to rest on his chest, while my eyes remained focused on Edward. "I've been waiting, what seems like a very long time, to get beyond what I am; and with Bella I feel like I can finally begin." His eyes never left his bride as he spoke, but after a slight pause he looked around and smiled as he raised the glass in his hand. "So, I'd like to propose a toast to my beautiful bride," he said before his eyes returned to Bella. "No measure of time with you, will be long enough, but let's start with forever." Everyone clinked their glasses and cheered as I felt Jacob press a kiss to the top of my head.
"Edward and I actually agree on something," he whispered and I lifted my head from his shoulder and looked at him, a small smile on my face.
"What's that?" I asked and he grinned.
"Time," he said quietly, "there'll never be enough of it for me to spend with you."
"Don't think that if you're all sweet and romantic tonight that you're still out of trouble, mister," I said. "I'm not completely soft when it comes to you, you know."
"Oh I know," he said quietly before he raised his left hand to my chin and tilted my head up a bit so he could kiss me. I kissed him back, completely forgetting that Billy, Seth, and Sue were sitting at the table with us; and about fifty plus surrounded us at the other tables Alice had set up. When my hand gripped on to the front of his button up and I turned so that even more of my body was pressed up against his, a throat awkwardly clearly broke us apart and I pulled back from Jacob only to look at a grinning Billy. I blushed deeply as I pulled back from Jacob and sat fully in my chair.
"Sorry," I said and Billy, Sue, and even Seth started laughing before Seth stood and walked around the table.
"Come on Aurora," he said as he grabbed my hands and pulled me from my chair and out of Jacob's grip with ease. It was then that I noticed that music was playing from somewhere and the built dance floor was fully of people dancing. Just how long had Jacob and I kissed? My confusion, however, didn't last long when Seth turned my hand and spun me around in a circle before the two of started dancing to the upbeat tempo of the son.
I laughed as I rested my left hand on his shoulder and Seth put his hand on my waist as he griped my right hand in his left and led me around the dance floor. Seth wasn't that bad of a dancer, but he acquiesced the leading to me since (and in his words not mine) I knew what I was doing. We moved around the floor with ease, but a heavy hand settling on Seth's shoulder brought our dancing to an end.
"Jake, come on," Seth whined a bit, but he was only doing it to tease Jacob because a smile was tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Sorry, pup, but I want to dance with my girlfriend," Jacob said as he patted Seth's shoulder and Seth sighed before he let me go only to wink at me as he walked away. I laughed but soon found myself swooped up into Jacob's arms. "So you can dance," he stated simply and I rolled my eyes.
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" I asked and Jacob grinned.
"Yes, but I've never had visual proof. Stuff is always coming up when you've been about to show me," he said and I rolled my eyes.
"Or you couldn't keep your hands to yourself long enough for me to," I said and his grin turned into a smile.
"There is that," he said and I laughed before he spun me out and brought me back to him with ease. "How's your feet?" he asked and I smiled. He had heard me when I had mumbled to myself at the table that I should have brought a pair of flats to change in to during the reception.
"Fine," I said, "but I think I could use a foot massage when I get home. You do have some groveling to do after all," I finished with a smile and Jacob chuckled.
"It's only fair right?" he asked and I nodded my head as the perfect song for a jazz routine I had learned at my old studio started blasting out of the speakers. The music was fast and the base pumping and it was high time for me to show Jacob just what I could do. I pulled away from him and he frowned slightly as he looked at me and then raised an eyebrow as I stepped out of my shoes and handed them to him. He took them and looked down at them before he looked at me.
"Watch," I said before I stepped back and broke out into the routine, praying that my hair would hold and that I wouldn't inadvertently flash my underwear during the various kicks and spins that were laced throughout the routine.
As I spun, shimmied, twirled, and leapt around Jacob a crowd (including Edward, Bella, and everyone else I knew at the wedding) had gathered. However, I didn't care. I wasn't dancing for any of them. I was dancing for Jacob and every time I looked at his face as I danced around him, a small thrill shot through me. His initial surprise and shock had melted into amazement before he looked impressed and proud. As the song and my routine concluded I could easily see both the love and lust in his eyes as I came to rest directly in front of him my heaving chest brushing against his hands, which were still holding on to my shoes. I could feel a bit of sweat on my forehead and along my throat but I didn't care. I just smiled at him as the crowd that had gathered broke out into cheers.
"That . . . that . . .," he said, unable to complete his sentence and I laughed.
"I told you I could dance," I said breathlessly and he leaned into me before he kissed me chastely.
"You're incredible," he whispered and I laughed once more as I took my shoes from his hands.
"Thanks," I said quietly before I felt a cool hand on my upper back.
"That was amazing," Edward said and I smiled at him.
"Thank you," I said as I looked between him and Bella, who was smiling as she looked at me.
"I should have had you teach me a few moves for today, Aurora," she said and I laughed as I slipped my feet back into the shoes that I now hated despite how pretty they were. They pinched my toes together and weren't exactly comfortable after ten hours of wear.
"I thought about that actually, but you were having a hard enough time trying to learn how to walk in the high heels Alice forced you to wear," I said. "I didn't want to add to the burden." She laughed then and shook her head before she looked up at Jacob, whose eyes I knew had yet to leave me since they joined us. I knew she wanted to dance with Jacob, and I was surprisingly okay with it. She had resolved her feelings for Jacob, and saw him as nothing more than a good friend, brother even, and letting her dance with him could be part of my gift to her. "Bella, do you mind if I still your husband for a spin around the dance floor?" I asked. "I'm sure Jacob wouldn't mind dancing with you, right?" I asked as I looked at him and Jacob blinked in mild confusion.
"Huh?" he asked, earning a laugh from all of us.
"I'm going to dance with Edward while you dance with Bella, okay," I said more than asked and Jacob sighed before he nodded.
"Sure," he said before he turned slightly and looked down at Bella with a small smile on his face. He held out his hand to her and she put her hand in his before the pair started moving to the music. Edward's pale hand was suddenly in front of me, and I smiled as I put my right hand in his left before Edward put his right hand on my upper waist while my left found its way to his shoulder, and the two of moved across the floor in small circles.
"I've seen you dance before, but you had a little more fire in you than usual tonight," Edward said with a smile and I grinned as I looked at him.
"Well, I was actually dancing for someone tonight, Edward," I said and he nodded his head.
"He was impressed," Edward said and my grin turned into a smile.
"I know," I said lightly and Edward chuckled before he spun me out and then brought me back into his arms with another light laugh. "It makes me happy to see you so happy, Edward, and I know that's just what your eternity with Bella is going to be. It almost makes me wish I had eternity with Jacob instead of the sixty or so more years that I do."
"Those sixty or so years will be happy ones, Aurora," Edward said reassuringly and I nodded my head as a small smile made its way across my lips.
"I know," I said once more. "You'll visit right? I mean, we're family. You guys aren't just going to disappear on me are you?"
"We'll see each other, Aurora," Edward quietly. "We'll keep in touch, and once Bella's accustomed to her new life and able to control her thirst we can meet up somewhere. I don't know if it'll be in Forks, but somewhere close by so you and Jacob won't have far to travel."
"Promise?" I asked as I looked up at him and he furrowed his brow slightly as he looked at me. "You, Emmett, and even Jasper have sort of become like the big brothers I never knew I wanted, Edward, and Alice and Rosalie are as good as my sisters now. Bella is my cousin after all and I'm never going to find a doctor as good as Carlisle. Plus, Esme reminds me so much of my mom. Promise me you guys won't disappear." I thought and his face softened as he looked at me.
"I promise."