Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight Saga or any of the characters in the story.
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your feedback on the last chapter! You guys always make my day with your reviews! I would like to personally thank Moonbabyxx for making an AWESOME banner for this story, the link to which is on my profile, but you guys should definitely check it out because it's really cool! Anyway, leave some comments if you care to at the end, and I hope you like this chapter! Happy Reading, everyone!
Chapter Twenty Five
The next morning, after Jake had woken her early, much to her dismay, Bella found herself standing in the entry of her apartment in Forks. The roads had been a complete mess and Bella had more than one moment where she'd admit she was being a bit of a backseat driver. Jake had received word that the school on the reservation was still closed due to the clean up that had to be done therefore school would resume on the following monday. For Bella, that only meant that she now had more time to move into her new home and figure everything out regarding the meeting with the Cullens.
As she had entered her apartment a chill raced up her spine at the thought of a vampire being inside of her home. She had basically suction cupped herself to her mate's side, refusing to let go like a toddler afraid of some monsters under the bed. In fact, she was so scared that she asked Jake twice to go into each room before she had, just to make sure that there was nothing lurking inside.
"Bells, other than the meeting with the Cullens, I can promise you that a leach will never come within a mile of you for the rest of your life," Jake told her in a completely serious voice, and she knew he would never joke about something like this. She checked her phone messages and called Charlie back, letting him know that she was alright and that her power had been cut, that's why she had only just been able to call him back. She also told him that she'd found a new place to live on the reservation that was much closer to the school, and therefore, much easier for her. He'd seemed wary at first, but eventually agreed with her that the move was probably for the best.
"Where exactly am I moving into?" Bella asked as she got off the phone with Charlie.
"You'll be in my cottage," he said, "You don't mind that, do you?"
"Jake, that cottage is in the middle of the woods. The only people who are going to know you sneak in at night are the rest of the pack. I think we've passed the point of me trying to argue against you living with me," she replied.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable with it. I could always stay at my dad's when I needed too," he said quietly. Bella smiled gently and reached up on her tiptoes to put her hands on his neck. He seemed to understand what she was asking and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up to his height so her lips could kiss his softly. They both sighed in contentment at the feeling, but still, Bella pulled away so that she would not be tempted to start anything in her apartment.
"I'm okay with it, Jake. Really," she smiled at him and he beamed back at her, much happier at the prospect of starting to live together. He set her back down on her feet but still kept his arms wrapped around her as she turned around to face the room.
"Where do you want to start?" Jake asked as he looked around the small apartment. Truly, there wasn't that much to bring. She would pack all of the canned food that wouldn't go bad, empty out her fridge of things that had gone bad, and bring all of her utensils and items used for cooking. She wouldn't need the TV set, but the comfortable love seat was definitely going to be a step up from the lonely chair that occupied the small living room.
If she was being completely honest, she knew that the cottage was a bit smaller than her apartment now, and yet sharing it with Jake didn't seem like a claustrophobic disaster waiting to happen. It seemed... cozy... Or maybe she was just becoming much more sappy than she'd ever imagine herself being.
"Bells?" Jake asked.
"Sorry!" she apologized for completely zoning out, "You can start in the kitchen, everything goes except for the food that's going to go bad pretty soon. I'll start packing my things," she said and he nodded behind her. He gave her a small, warm kiss on the cheek that made her heart flutter and then left to go into the kitchen. She walked towards her bedroom and began to start packing all of her belongings.
She folded up her bed sheets and stacked them into a pile, unsure if she actually wanted to switch sheets since the others smelled so perfect. Afterwards she moved on to gathering up her clothes and putting them into her suitcases, folded neatly and she wondered where she was going to put them, since the floor, unlike Jake, was not an option for her.
For about an hour the two of them packed up everything in the apartment. Bella was almost a bit embarrassed that she didn't have enough to make the move last a bit longer. She had enjoyed how they had worked in comfortable silence, sharing small touches as they'd passed by each other, silently reminding them that they weren't alone.
"I think that's everything," Bella said as she looked at the piles of things in the living room. Just after she spoke the phone rang that still hadn't been disconnected. Bella picked it up before it could ring again with Jake's fingers rubbing circles onto the flesh of her hips from behind her.
"Hello?" she asked, trying to swat his hands away. That only seemed to give him more reason and held on tighter to her hips.
"Isabella, I hope that you're alright after the storm. I see your power wasn't cut," came the voice of Mr. Molina on the other end of the phone. And just like that the world seemed to shatter around her. Bella straightened up and tried harder to wiggle out of Jake's grasp.
"Hi, Mr. Molina. No, I'm okay, thank goodness. My power just came back this morning actually. How are you?" she asked, trying to level out her voice. Despite her struggles to get away from him, Jake seemed to sense her anxiousness and began nuzzling the mark on the back of her neck, soothing her, even though she still felt nervous.
"I'm alright, but I'm calling about the school. It seems that there's been so much damage that the school will be out of commission for the entire weekend. I already issued a call to all of the student's parents, and the other faculty but I couldn't reach you so I thought I'd try again. Just wanted you to know that we'll be resuming classes on Monday as scheduled," he told her and she let out a breath. For some reason she'd suspected that he'd say something about someone seeing her with Jake over the past two days.
"Alright, Mr. Molina, thank you for the call," she said in a much calmer voice.
"Yes, yes, good bye, then," he responded and Bella hung up the phone as quickly as possible. Jake continued to nuzzle the mark on her neck and she felt that it seemed to calm her whenever he did that.
"Why do you think you marked me?" Bella asked quietly. She didn't want to upset Jake since she knew that he didn't like the idea that he'd hurt her. Instead, he placed gentle kisses along the skin he'd broken and his hot breath washed over her.
"Honestly I think it has to do with being the alpha. I'm not saying that the other imprints aren't important, because they'll carry on the blood line and that's very important to all of us. But you, Bells. You'll be carrying the future alpha, the future chief of the tribe. I don't think that the wolf wanted to take any chances in letting anyone think that you aren't ours. I don't think you can really smell it since you're a human, but trust me, after that bite, you smell exactly like me. No vampire would even dare to go near you since you are entirely marked as my territory. Does that make sense or do I sound like an asshole?" Jake wondered aloud. Bella let out a laugh and shook her head.
"No, you aren't an asshole. Actually I was thinking about how calming it is when you acknowledge it. I almost feel protected just by having it on my skin, which would only back up your theory," she responded and then thought back to something else he'd said, "So wait, I'm carrying the future Chief, so that would mean... You're the Chief right now?"
Jake laughed gently as she put the puzzle pieces together, "Technically my father still is, and until I graduate from High School he will be. It's just easier that way so I don't have to worry about school work and protecting the tribe... Even though I already do that," he told her and she nodded in understanding. Her thoughts had taken a turn down the road of thinking about what it would be like to carry Jake's child. The warm glow that surrounded her at the thought made her smile and she turned her head to give her mate a kiss on his lips.
He responded in earnest, cupping her cheek and bringing his lips firmly to his own. The heat from his body comforted her in such a powerful way that she felt as though nothing could harm her. As her lips parted and her tongue swept along his bottom lip, seeking entrance, Jake pulled away.
"We've got to stop before I throw you down on the floor and take you right here," Jake said in his deep timbre. Bella rolled her eyes at him, but shivered at the feeling of his voice cutting straight through into her bones.
"Let's get this stuff out of here, I'll call the landlord on the way, which reminds me of rent. How much is it a month?" Bella asked.
"Oh, Bells, you don't have to worry about that," Jake said as he picked up a few boxes and walked towards the front door.
"I most certainly do!" she protested as she grabbed a suitcase.
"Yeah, we'll see about that," he said with a deep chuckle as he walked out towards the large red chevy truck parked near the curb. Bell grumbled under her breath about stubborn werewolves and how of course she was going to pay rent.
"I can hear you, you know," Jake laughed as he placed the boxes into the bed of the truck. Bella rolled her eyes at him, but quickly shut her mouth and continued to help move things out of her apartment.
-8-
Unsurprisingly, her small amount of things had fit quite nicely in one trip back to the reservation. When they'd pulled up to the cottage again, Bella had gone inside to start cleaning up while Jake had been left to unpack. She managed to pick all of Jake's clothes up off the ground in the bedroom and cleared off the top of the dresser so there was no more dust. Jake had brought in the boxes and put them in their corresponding places, waiting for Bella to unpack incase he screwed anything up.
And so the rest of the afternoon went by like that. Jake helped move all of the heavy things while Bella proceeded to organize everything into its rightful place. By the time it was a little past lunch time Bella was pleased that the kitchen was organized, the loveseat was nestled in the living room with it's inviting blankets and pillows, and that all of her clothes had found a home in the dresser along side of the clean and freshly folded things of Jake's.
Unlike her old apartment she felt entirely content to be in this place. It felt like home to her.
"Hey, Bells? I have to go and phase, make sure that the pack is alright. I'm going to let them know about our plan to meet with the Cullens," Jake called to her from the living room while she put away all of her toiletries into the small bathroom off of the bedroom.
"That's fine," she called back to him. She was actually quite disappointed that he had to leave her, but she couldn't deny his responsibilities for her own selfishness. Sighing lightly she turned around and was met with Jake's broad, shirtless chest. Had her mind been functioning properly she would have been embarrassed by the gasp she let out at the sight of him. She was stunned every time she saw his body that he was hers. All hers.
"I'll be back later... I have to run a patrol after sunset. So I'll be back after you fall asleep," he said to her, a smirk evident on his face from her reaction, but his eyes were tender. Bella nodded, finally tearing her eyes away from the incredible muscles of his abdomen.
"I'll be here," she said with a simple wave of her hand, indicating her new home. He nodded and then leaned his head down to her own. Tilting her head she met his lips easily. The familiarity of their lips pressed together was overwhelming. His lips gently pried open her own and his hot, silky tongue caressed hers. The small whimper that his ministrations brought forth, caused his hands to reach around and plant a hand on each of her ass cheeks. Easily he brought her small body up into his arms without breaking their kiss.
Bella's legs tightened around his waist hoping to find some kind of friction where she needed it the most. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but since he had taken her last night, the only thing she could think about was when they would be able to do it again. Sex with Jake seemed to be like a highly addictive drug. You crave it and crave it, and when it finally happens, all you can do is wait for the next chance to have it. She moaned again as she remembered the feeling of him filling her completely.
Jake's hands squeezed the flesh of her ass through her jeans and then ran a hand slowly up her side until it rested on her breast. Through the material of her shirt, her nipple peaked and ached for him to touch it. As their mouths continued to push and pull against each other, tasting every part of them, Jake slowly circled her clothing covered nipple with the pad of his thumb. A loud moan flowed from her into his mouth and she felt his body jerk slightly in need. Between his thumb and forefinger he pinched the peak of her sensitive flesh through her shirt and rolled it just enough to drive her completely wild.
And then, he broke away from her kiss, allowing her to breath once again and he looked into her eyes. His had turned from espresso to onyx once again, but there was less animosity and instead there was tenderness.
"I'll be home later," he whispered to her, and Bella couldn't control the small whining sound she made as her head flopped onto his shoulder. He chuckled lightly and set her down onto her feet, pulling her face up to his for a much more chaste kiss. "I love you," he reminded her.
Bella couldn't help but smile, "I love you too, Jake."
His smile was blinding as he finally untangled her limbs from his own, kissed her forehead and then left the cottage. A slight ache appeared in her chest, but when she heard the loud howl of a wolf close by she couldn't help but smile. She was so close to Jake now, she was safe. The only thing she was anxious for now was the meeting with the family of vampires that lived in Forks.
It was a bit of a filler chapter, I know, but it had to be done! Now we can move on to the more exciting things! I hope you liked this chapter, leave me a review if you care to, and as always, thank you for reading!