~Thanks so much for helping me get back on track. Sometimes a song comes on while I'm thinking about a chapter. Debbie Gibson's "Lost in Your Eyes" worked magic for me for this one.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 21: Lost in Your Eyes

We pulled up at the restaurant. I already had more fun with her than I'd ever before and the official date part was just beginning. Bella never bored me. She could talk about anything or sit quietly and I still was enthralled. She was even allowed to change my radio without causing a problem. I was officially whipped.

"You ready?"

"Yes, I'm starving. Have you been here before?"

"Nope, but I researched it. It's supposed to be really good."

She smiled and said she was happy we would experience it for the first time together. I opened my door and hopped out. She scooted over, I held my arms open to grab hold of her. Bella paused. Her legs were facing outward, my hands were on her waist but she didn't move all the way out. She sat there and stared. I did the same. Her hand moved across my face. I grabbed her fingers and brought them to my lips.

"Jacob, I really like spending time with you."

I tightened my grip on her waist. We were almost even so I leaned in for a kiss. Bella dug her hands into my shoulders and we let go and lost ourselves in the kiss. I heard cars and and activity in the background. Who knew, maybe people saw us but I didn't care. She was the only thing on the forefront of my mind. Her kisses alone brought me all sorts of thrills. I could barely go an hour without one of them now. We were down to the exact time of our reservation so I reluctantly put an end to it.

"I like spending time with you too, honey, especially like this." I spoke close to her lips before stealing one more quick kiss. "It's time for our reservation, so to be continued, okay?"

She jumped into my arms and I slowly slid her to the ground enjoying the entire glide down my body. Bella slipped her hand in mine and we took the short walk across the lot into the restaurant. We ended up in a rounded booth, so we met in the middle. We ordered an appetizer but Bella thought the dinner plates looked huge. She wanted to share with me.

"Didn't I tell you before, I don't share?"

"Please, I don't want to order a bunch of food and have it go to waste. Actually, I really want to try their bread pudding, so I'll only eat a few bites. Pretty please, Jake with sugar on top. You won't go hungry. I promise."

I told her I was only teasing. I'd happily go hungry for her if I had to. We both agreed on a dish. Dinner was amazing and she was right, I had plenty. The food was very good, but the company was even better.

"I really like this. I don't know how I'm going back where we have to be secretive again. Is this how it will be, sneaking off occasionally for out of town dates?"

"No, we'll find plenty of time to be alone, I'll make sure of it. We work together, remember?"

"Yeah, how could I forget," she joked.

I knew what she meant. I tried to explain it a little better. I opened up about my, dating history and my epiphany after taking on the garage. "Charlie knows that I wanted a change, and he agreed with me about settling down. I'm not so sure he had it in mind I'd turn over my new leaf with his newly adult daughter. In fact, I know he didn't. Don't get me wrong. I got over the age difference awhile back, but you have a lot of living ahead of you. We are at different life stages in a way. Mom's dropping hints about grandchildren, I have a business and a home. I know Charlie wants to see you go to the school of your dreams. Obviously, I don't want to hold you back. I care so much about your happiness."

I paused to catch my breath, she was listening intently. I wasn't sure what I was trying to say to her. Should an eighteen year old be tied down in a serious relationship? Charlie would say no, but I saw it completely different. I knew I had to find a balance. The wolf was chomping at the bit. He'd prefer I make her pregnant this instant and lock her away from all other male interaction. He was also an uncivilized beast, but the truth was, he was a part of me. I tried to pretend we were separate entities in the beginning, but I knew we were one now, more like split personalities inhabiting the same mind, body and soul for the time being. What was happening with Bella was escalating quickly. I knew where it would lead, unless she stopped us. The relationship was going to be intense, passionate and totally exclusive. It already was and we hadn't even escalated to making it sexual. I almost lost it just letting that word filter through my mind.

She spoke up, "I know my age made you hesitant at first, maybe more than our blended family relationship. Can't I have it both ways? I might only be eighteen, but I'm mature for my age. I can fall in love and still find my path. I can have a career too. My mom chose her career above all else, but I think I can have the best of both worlds. I'm way more balanced than she is. I just need someone to believe in me."

"Bells, I do believe in you. I swear it, but Charlie feels like you finally can make your own choices. He told me how you always sacrificed for your mother. I don't want him to think I'm asking you to make sacrifices for me. He'll resent me and that's if he gets passed the brother/sister issue." I was kinda hung up on the fact she said 'fall in love' because I wanted that so damn bad with her.

She looped her arm with mine. "I'm ready to try this with you. I want it, secret or shouting it from the rooftops. I can't stop smiling when I'm with you." I leaned over and kissed her cheek just as the waiter dropped off our dessert. I let Bella try the first bite. "Umm, this is so good. Here." She shoved a large bite into my mouth. I could get used to letting her feed me. She was pretty good at it. Bella said the vanilla rum sauce was the best part. She swiped over the plate with her finger and then rubbed it across my lips.

My sweet, innocent girl knew exactly how to turn on her sexy side. I grabbed her hand and held it still. I overdid it cleaning off her finger. She tried to take her hand back but I wasn't having it. I sucked the tip of her finger in my mouth a little further and gently nipped her skin between my teeth. Bella sucked in a breath and shifted in her seat. I felt the heat between us. We needed to get out of there. I started taking bigger bites, so we didn't let that delicious bread pudding go to waste.

"Slow down, I still want some."

"Easy, woman. I'm going to give you your share, a little at a time." Bella's leg moved against mine. She leaned in and let me feed her a bite. Her hand squeezed tight just above my knee. "I need to get the check, like right now so we can get out of here."

"Yeah, what's the rush? You have big plans somewhere else?" she giggled at my predicament.

I told her, maybe I did. "We could go for a stroll out by the lake or maybe a drive down a dark, deserted road." She agreed, said she was even willing to get lost with me.

I tried really hard to be a gentleman and take Bella on a nice walk. The lake was peaceful and it was a beautiful night, but other people were also taking advantage of the scenery. We needed to go off alone. That was evident the minute we stepped outdoors and couldn't keep our hands and lips off each other.

I didn't know the area as well, but there was no way, I could make it back to La Push where I knew every hidden nook and cranny perfect for a little undisturbed make-out session. Bella looked on her phone and kept telling me directions to spots she thought looked remote. I finally stopped off in an area not too far off the road. I cut the engine and killed the lights.

I just needed her mouth on me again. The kiss quickly heated up. Bella responded by turning into me more, even lifting herself up on her knees, anything to get closer. I didn't hesitate, I exited the front seat and re-entered through the back door. She didn't have a chance to figure out what I was up to or catch her breath. I reached over the seat and pulled her over. We didn't have to worry with the steering wheel any longer. Any position in a vehicle for me was a tight fit, but I would find a way to make it work. The backseat was pretty roomy if I could haul Paul, Emb and Quil back here.

I draped her over my body and fell back with my head against the opposite door. Kissing Bella was excellent, kissing her while she was on top of me was pure heaven. She was aggressive and not shy about letting me know what she wanted. Her legs opened and my thigh fit just right in between hers. The cab of the truck was filled with her sweet aroma. I walked my hands down her back and eventually let them rest just below her waist. Her dominant hand started tugging my shirt. She pulled it out from the waistband of my jeans. If my clothes started coming off, then I surely would want something of hers removed. I thought seriously about where we were, what was happening and that it was only our first date. I grabbed her frisky fingers.

"Wait. Stop. We need to slow down, baby."

Bella asserted herself forward again and smashed her mouth against mine. Her lips were smooth and soft but they were relentless. She plunged her tongue into my mouth and took over. Of course, I conceded. I wasn't putting up any resistance. She caught her breath and proceeded to kiss across my jaw and down my neck. "What if I don't wanna slow down?" She went for my shirt again. I swear Bells wanted to touch my chest as badly as I wanted to touch hers.

I had to do the right thing. I stopped her again and attempted to sit us up. "Bella, I thought we agreed to take things a little slower." I kissed those active hands of hers in between talking, "We shouldn't start undressing just yet. I won't be able to control myself."

"Good, let's lose control." She moved closer.

I stopped us from getting into another lip lock. "Honey, seriously this is so good right now, but we can't, not like this."

She blew her hair out of her face like she was super frustrated. "This coming from the man that just asked me to move in with him before our first date. You're a walking contradiction, you know that? I'm pretty sure what you wanted when you pulled me back here and I'm in complete agreement or I would've stopped you."

"I know, I'm being a bit confusing, but it's not fair to you. You're so special to me. I'm not going to take your virginity in the back of my truck. You deserve something a little more romantic and meaningful."

A strange expression crossed her face. I think I pissed her off without meaning to. "Who said I was a virgin? We never even discussed that once."

I froze. Time ceased to exist. Had I totally misread all the signs? Sure, most of the girls I knew in high school were no longer virgins when I was eighteen. That's how I'd learned a thing or two about sex. I'd known Bella a little over a month, seemed like a lot longer, but I was open that I had a past. It would be pretty damn hypocritical of me to expect her to be pure for me and only me when we'd only just met. My wolf got super jittery underneath my skin. He was spouting off mine, ours, mate and a bunch of other possessive shit. I knew I needed to say something, but first, I mentally killed a faceless, nameless individual for ever touching her. How wrong was it for him to think he had a right to claim her perfect body? Then an even worse thought came to mind, what if there was more than one? I needed to find some self-control before I spoke again or I could very well scare her away for life. I felt like I was shaking, not going to phase, but possibly freak out.

And suddenly the tense moment was broken by a wave of laughter. "Oh, my God. You're so easy. That was hysterical. I wish I could have taken a picture, so you could see what your face looks like. Of course... I'm totally a virgin, it's so obvious. I knew there was no way you didn't know. I was just messing with you."

"Jesus, Bells. Do you want to give me an aneurysm? Fuck, I was about to lose my shit which is ridiculous and sexist and I'm sorry, but I can't stand the thought of you with someone else... ever."

She climbed all the way back in my lap and threw her arms around me. She gave me a ton of kisses all over my face and one sweet one across my mouth. "I'm sorry. That was childish, but kinda great too. Jake, I know what we said, but when I'm with you, something takes over. I just want to be closer, as close as we can get. It's like I want to climb into your skin and live there forever. I know I want to give that part of me to you, only you. I don't really want to wait. I know it's completely crazy, but I don't feel like we're rushing. It feels right and natural. You don't have to plan some grand romantic gesture, as long as I'm with you, it'll be perfect. Oh, and I started taking the pill. Mom made me get them before I moved here. I know the whole safe sex mantra, we should always use condoms too, but I just wanted you to know, I was thinking ahead and being responsible. I knew we might be headed here if we ever stopped going in circles and got together."

She added they were effective immediately because she'd researched them and her period was over in case I was wondering but I already knew that tidbit. Jeez, she wasn't making it easy for me in the least. My girl was fierce and convincing. The wolf was ready to ditch the condoms once and for all and I kinda agreed. Thoughts consumed me, my body was definitely on board, but I tried to make her understand where I was coming from.

I think she got it, because she stroked her hand so lovingly across my face, I melted into her touch. We sat still for a few seconds taking each other in. "I can tell this is very important to you and I want us to be in agreement, so I'm good with lots of kissing and making out for now. I'll stop trying to undress you if that helps. I didn't actually think we were going to do it here in the truck anyway. I'm sorry, I'm still a little naive, but let's not go home just yet. I need this time with you."

"You're really great, you know that?"

"Thanks, but I really need you to shut up and kiss me again." That's exactly what I did. Bella and I could gain plenty of pleasure from our kissing. With her straddling my lap, we quickly escalated once again. Her sweater dress was making me hot in every way. Seriously, though, the temperature in my truck was sweltering and it was a cool night. Maybe, I should take off my damn shirt after all. I finally felt what her perfect ass felt like in my hands. I kneaded her flesh and massaged my way down her legs.

"Damn, why did you have to cover your legs up tonight? I wanted to feel your sexy legs so many times."

"I knew it was supposed to be cold." She offered to take off her leggings, but I said she better not. We had a few layers between us, but I knew she was feeling how hot I was for her the few times I pulled her hips harder. She let out a whimper and I was almost ready to give in to a little further exploration. I could take off those legging thingys and maybe share some knowledge with her. We didn't have to have sex in the car, but maybe... My phone went off from the front. Bella tried to hold me down to keep me from checking it. The guys knew I'd probably kill them if it wasn't an emergency, so I felt like I had to have a look. Charlie's name was bright on my screen. I told her I was answering.

I hit the speaker. "Hey Charlie, what's up?"

"You get lost or something? It's getting pretty late." It took me a minute to think of a response. I was leaning over the seat to reach the phone and Bella took advantage of my untucked shirt. She ran her hands up there. She was trying to tickle me while I was talking to Charlie. Good thing I wasn't ticklish, but she took it a step further and lifted the fabric to give me hot kiss on my back.

"Jake, you still there?"

"Um, yeah... " I knew I sounded funny, but her lips on my body was super distracting. I tried to brush her off with a wave of my hand, but then she started giggling. I fell back to the seat and Bella got right back in my lap while I tried to convince Charlie we'd be home soon even though we were more than hour away. "We stopped for some food. I was hungry."

Bella started giving me neck kisses. She whispered in my ear, "Hungry for his daughter."

"Shhh," I hit the mute, "Are you crazy?" She just laughed some more.

Charlie was still talking. "Is that Bells? What'd she think of the cabin?"

I spoke again, "She liked it just fine. Look, Charlie. I know you don't like talking and driving, so we'll see you soon."

"Oh, yeah, sure thing. Your mother talked me into a movie, we'll be up. Drive safe."

I hung up, finally. That was the longest five minute conversation of my life. "You're a bad girl, you know that."

She burst into loud laughter then. "That was so much fun. Maybe this secret relationship is going to be a blast after all."

"Yeah, that was a laugh riot, trying to talk to him while you have me turned on, but seriously we have to go and we need to cool it. He's going to be waiting up." She climbed over the seat and I playfully swatted her butt. I got out, and stood there for a second. I hoped the cool night air would cool me off, but as soon as I slipped into the seat next to her, I knew it might take me the whole way home to lose the hard on I had for her. She was still extremely affectionate and loving even when I drove. As long as she was touching me, I knew the real truth... nope, not even then.

~Thanks for reading.

I'm about to go over 500 reviews. Officially, freaking out here. That definitely makes this story my best start, even surpassing "Won't Go Home Without You" and "Revival." Funny, how it was basically a whim to keep me from retiring from fanfiction. I guess the idea paid off. I'm so appreciative to each and every bit of encouragement you guys give me. Thanks so much.

Taking bets how long they keep a lid on their passion for one another. LOL!