AN: I'm probably not proof reading these chapters properly and I plan on making them longer and longer. This one is quite long, much longer than the usual chapters. I'm trying to get things rolling from here, meaning Bella and Jake will face a few bumps in the road. I haven't decided yet how severe they will be but I do have a general idea of where this is going. The next chapter, as per request, will start with Jake's POV so I might take a while to get it right. Enjoy!
The next morning, Charlie, Renee and I exchange gifts under the tree with hot chocolate in our mugs. Charlie got me a thousand dollar gift card for my favourite book store, which is way too much but he won't hear it. So I thank him and give him a huge hug. Renee got me a hoody, which is a big deal because she hates hoodies, and a bumper sticker for my truck which both have references from one of my favourite TV show. It's the best gift she's ever given me, for once she's thought of something that she knows I like rather than what she hopes I will come to like. I hug her so hard she laughs.
I got her a fancy looking perfume that I know she hasn't tried yet. Maybe if I get her something new every year, she'll be the first person to have tried every perfume available in North America. She laughs when I tell her that.
For Charlie I got a DVD box set of fishing documentaries. I honestly have no idea what the fun in it is because it grossed the crap out of me. But Charlie loves everything that has to do with fishing.
"How'd you know, kiddo?" Charlie asks, a please glint in his eyes as he reads the back of the box set cover with a smile hidden under his moustache.
I shrug and smile at him, "Let's just call it a daughter's intuition," or a lucky guess, I grin to myself.
All happy with our gifts, we eat breakfast and spend the day preparing for Christmas dinner. I call Angela at some point to wish her a Merry Christmas. A few neighbours and work colleagues drop by for a moment here and there, including the Hale's. Thank god Rosalie isn't with them. Neither was Jasper though.
We had guests from across the street over for dinner and it all went smoothly. Afterwards I got calls from both Riley and Tyler. All in all, the day went smoothly. We were lucky Charlie got as many days off as he did and I was thankful he was around. I tell my parents that this might be my favourite Christmas so far.
The time of the New Year's dinner at the Hale's was approaching and at this point, Renee had been behaving herself so I felt that maybe I owed it to her to at least try and go to this thing. I know Renee loved socialising, especially if she could brag about me. Everyone knew I was a little on the reserved side so she usually spoke about how well l was doing in school. She would love to tell people that I'm a social butterfly just like her but they all knew it wasn't true. I think she wishes I was more like her instead of Charlie, a daughter to bond with over girl things.
So while she's out with all her friends, I'm usually at home while Charlie has to go back to work. I spend most of the days curled up on the sofa with a comforter watching movies and eating loads of junk food. Sometimes I take my truck out for a drive because I feel like I'm neglecting it but I never really go far. Far enough just to buy more junk food. I'm a slob.
In the middle of watching Jurassic Park for the third time, my phone rang beside me. I paused the TV and answered without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Bella." It's Jake's voice. I sit up a little straighter as if it'll help me hear him better and brush off the crumbs on my shirt as if he could see me.
"Hey!"
"What are you up to?"
"Jurassic Park."
"Again?" He laughs. It's beautiful.
Lord help me.
"Forever," I snort. "It's the best movie ever."
"So is that your plan for New Year? Jurassic Park?"
I groan and sink back into the blankets. "No, I might go to this thing with my parents that I very much don't want to go to. I haven't made up my mind yet."
"I want to see you," he says casually and my heart jumps into my throat.
My voice goes up a few octaves. "Really?"
"Yeah. Is that okay?" He doesn't sound unsure, he's asking to be courteous. I definitely am going to see him.
"Of course. Just say where and when."
"Do you think you could stay overnight? Maybe a few days?" My stomach twists with excitement and I bite my lip. "I can come and get you tomorrow, in the afternoon."
"I think I can manage that," I say breathlessly, suddenly very, very flustered. I run upstairs, phone still to my ear, and grab a small travel bag from under my bed. "Where are we going?"
"There's a place in Tucson that I'll be renting so it'll just be me and you." Oh god yes!
"Okay, great." I wonder if he can tell how utterly feeble my voice sounds. I might pass out from the excitement. Or maybe I might pass out from trying to hold it in as if I'm not breathing. Either way, I'm feeling kind of dizzy in the best way.
"Great. I'll see you then."
When I'm sure the line has dropped, I scream as much as I can without alarming the neighbours. And then I immediately call Angela and explain everything.
She screams.
I scream.
We scream together and fall backwards onto my bed as if my knees are too weak to carry me any longer.
"You have to pack something sexy," is the first thing she says. I hear her shut the door wherever she is.
"I don't have anything sexy," I tell her. I go through my closet and find that I own an overwhelming number of jeans and t-shirts. I can't do this on my own so I tell her to Skype me. I grab open my laptop and wait for her call to come through. When her face pops up on the screen, I show her the useless and wildly disappointing pile of clothes on my bedroom floor. "That's what I have," I tell her. "Help me!"
"Okay," she says calmly. "Don't panic. Here's what we'll do . . ."
One by one we sort through everything I have and I try on the things Angela feels may have some potential. In the end we have a few good pairs of jeans, which apparently make my ass look good, a few flattering tops and a yellow sundress she insists I take with me just in case. I shove it all in the travel bag with some comfy clothes, pyjamas and underwear. In the past Renee has gotten me some very lacy stuff that I have yet to wear. It looks like it's coming in handy now.
"Now, and this is very important," Angela says with her face very serious, "you have to, have to buy a new swim suit."
"What? Why do I need a new swimsuit?"
"Because in case of a swimsuit situation that black one piece you have will not cut it. It has to be a bikini. I recommend a dark blue. It's a good colour on you."
I roll my eyes at her. "Um, I don't think it's necessary."
"It is, I promise you, Bella, you will thank me for this." She stresses her point with grand hand gestures and I feel like I'm missing something important.
It takes some convincing but I cave. She makes me head out immediately to hunt down a new bikini. I send pictures the whole time until Angela is satisfied with a white and blue striped two piece that's barely there. Of course, I fight her on it but she insists. Again, I give in to her. I go home and add it to my bag. "My work here is done," she says when I zip up the bag. She bouncing all over the place, clapping her hands excitedly. "I can't wait to hear all about this." And then she squeals. I join her. "What about your parents?"
"I don't know. I'll deal with that when I get there. If they call and ask you, just say I'm with friends. I'll keep the lie to a minimum." I shrug. "Wish me luck."
"Crossing my fingers." She says. "Call me before you leave."
"I will," I promise. "Talk to you soon."
After our call I get into the shower and shave my legs, cooch and underarms. Now smooth all over, I scurry back to my room, tiptoeing across the cold tiles in the hallway, and try some of the lace panties from Renee, all still in their original Victoria's Secret bags. I modelled for myself in the mirror and then packed the ones that were the most comfortable. I added some cotton underwear for in case the lace doesn't work out. I get dressed, go down stairs to clean up the mess I'd made in the living room and start dinner. I don't know how I will bring this up to my parents but I need to soften them up somehow.
They come home to a set table and dinner waiting for them. Charlie is appreciative but tired. I get him his favourite beer from the fridge. Renee is pleasantly surprised and fusses over how much I've grown up in the past few months. I shake my head in false modesty and tell her that I just wanted to show them how much I appreciate them. It might just be working.
Throughout dinner I try to find just the right time to let them know, or ask rather, if I can disappear "with friends" for the next few days. I'm about to open my mouth and ask when the sudden realisation that they may ask too many questions, especially Charlie, hits me. I know they both trust me but I think its Charlie's habit to ask questions, just to be safe: where're you going? Who are you going with? How many of you? Have any of them been in trouble with the law? Who's driving? Will there be drinking? Do any of them smoke? Worst of all, and this is very likely, he might ask to speak to one of them or a parent or to be here when I leave. I can't risk that line of questioning. So by the end of dinner, I haven't brought it up. And by the time we all go to bed, I have to rethink my plan.
The next morning when I wake up the house is empty. I shower and get dressed and have a bowl of cereal while brainstorming my exit strategy. Seated in the kitchen, I check the clock on the wall and find that I have a few hours before Jake gets here. Hopefully neither Charlie nor Renee would make a surprise appearance. When I'm done with my cereal, I wash the dish and decide that I should make dinner again, soften them up a bit more. I make Charlie's favourite and decide to leave a note on the refrigerator door and the television. I set the table, leave another –which reads, "Don't be mad. I'll be home soon. Love you!" with a heart at the end for Renee's benefit- and clean up in the kitchen.
When everything was done I kind of sat twiddling my thumbs nervously. Nervous because in a few minutes, I would be seeing Jake again. When my phone lights up and starts ringing, I practically jump right out of my seat. I answer it quickly. "Hello?"
"Hey, I'm a few streets away," he says and every part of me tingles with excitement.
"Yeah, great. Pull right up to the drive way. I'll be right out."
We drop the call and I take one last look around the house, just to make sure I left everything in perfect order and that all the windows were closed. Charlie would shit a brick if I left a window opened. I grab my own copy of the house keys, my phone, canvas bag and the small duffle bag and place them all outside the door before locking up. For extra measure, I run next door and explain to the sweet old lady Mrs Day that I'll be out with friends for a few days and I need her to assure my parents that I wasn't abducted. She smiles, says she'll let them know and then promptly invites me in for tea. It takes a lot of convincing her - and a promise to stop by again - that I really can't stay for even a minute. Poor old lady must be so lonely on her own.
I'm just getting back from her house when a huge, dark grey SUV pulls up into the drive way. I grab my bags as Jake steps out of the car looking like a walking orgasm wearing dark jeans, a navy blue T-shirt and a black cardigan. His smile is easy and bright as he walks over but he looks a little tired. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close, planting a small kiss on my cheek. "Hey, pretty girl," he murmurs quietly into my ear. "You ready to go?" He hasn't shaved in a few days and his hair has grown more that I would have expected in the short time. It's rugged and delicious and I just want him right now.
"Yeah, I'm ready," I say breathlessly, obviously no match for what he does to my body. He takes my bags and places them in the back while I climb into the passenger's seat. Inside the cars leather interior is shiny black and completely spotless. There's nothing on the dashboard or in the compartments in the door. A coffee thermos sits in one of the two cup holders and his wallet and keys sit in the compartment under the radio. Other than that the car is entirely empty. It must be a rental.
I buckle my seatbelt as he gets back into the car and starts it up. "How was your Christmas?"
"Great!" I tell him. And I mean it. "For once, there were no arguments or passive aggressive comments or sarcastic jibes. We just enjoyed being a family. You were right. They're being civil."
"I told you so," he says smugly, like I haven't just admitted that he was right. He pulls out of the driveway smoothly and drive off. It's warm in the car and a local band is playing on the radio.
"And you? How was your Christmas?"
He shrugs. "The same as every year. Chaotic," he grins. "We had a bonfire and pretty much the whole community was there. My sisters came home, my aunts and uncles and cousins."
"It's like you have big family," I say.
He nods, smiling at me before turning his back onto the road. "Yeah, you could say that. There sure were a lot of us there."
After a few minutes driving we pull into a gas station. "I need to fill up. The tank is almost empty. It's been a long drive."
I look at him in surprise. "You drove down here? I thought you flew."
He shakes his head, turning the car off. "No, I drove." He says it like it's no big deal.
No wonder he looks so tired. He drove all the way from Washington, which is a whole day's drive. He must be exhausted. "I should drive the rest of the way," I tell him. "Give you a break."
"You don't have to do that."
I shrug. "Yeah, but I want to. I don't mind. Let me drive, pleeeeeeease." I stretch out the please, leaning over the gears, holding onto his arm and batting my eyelashes. He laughs, leaning the rest of the way to kiss me, cupping my cheek with his hand.
"I forgot how weird you are," he grins.
"Does that mean I can drive?"
Another kiss. "Yeah, you can drive." I do a little dance and he laughs again, "Why don't you fill up while I go inside to pay?"
I salute. "Aye, aye, captain," I smirk and jump out of the car. He goes inside the station and I think that maybe now would be a good time to call at least one of my parents so that they don't get home and panic. I dial Renee's number because I figure that if I tell her I'm with a friend or friends, she might not freak out as much. And if she does, she'll have to wait till I get back to chew me out for it. So I dial her number and wait for her to answer.
"Hello, dear," she answers cheerfully. In the background I hear light music and laughing. She must be at that seafood place she and her friends like so much.
"Hey, mom. How's it going?" Yep, beat around the bush.
"Wonderful. The ladies and I are having a great time," she says in that excited way she does when she's having fun. "Tomorrow you should join us. You, know, Margery's son is home from college, I could invite him to come, too. He's very handsome." I roll my eyes. Classic Renee.
"Uh, I'm actually calling to let you know that I won't be home when you get there. I'm out with a friend."
"Oh really?" She says before I can continue. "That's great, hon. Is it a new friend from school?"
"Um, yeah," It's kind of true, I tell myself as I watch the numbers on the meter. "Anyway, so I'm going to be spending the next few days in Tucson. It's like a sleep over." Which is also kind of true. A sleep over with friend who I happen to be sleeping with. Hehe, yeah the lies we tell ourselves and others. "Is that okay?"
I bite my lip, waiting for her answer.
"Oh of course, Bella. This is great! My baby's making friends," she says excitedly.
"Yeah, mom," I laugh sheepishly, pulling the nozzle out of the fuel tank and closing the cap. "Anyway, I'll be back a few days after New Year."
"Alright, dear. Have fun."
"Thanks, mom. You're best. Love you!" I say quickly and hang up.
Well that went better than I expected. No questions asked, just what I was hoping for. I climb back into the car, this time in the driver's seat, getting a feel for the massive SUV. It's big but so is my truck and if I can manage that then I should be good.
It's an hour and half drive to the house Jake rented but there's hardly any traffic and we might make it before then. While I drive I munch on gummy bears that he bought and sing along to radio, like I used to when I still drove myself to school. It brings back memories.
"I didn't take you for a Justin Beiber kind of girl," Jake chuckles next to me half way through my sing along of Sorry.
"Laugh all you want," I stick my tongue out. "This is a bomb ass song, okay. Now don't disturb me mid-song."
I manage to sing a few more songs undisturbed, with Jake singing along to some of them, before I have to shut off the radio to hear his directions. The area is a little mountainy and the road winds a bit here and there so I need to focus on not killing us both.
When we reach the house, I'm stunned. It's perched on a hill and is surrounded by a huge wall with a fancy electronic iron gate. As we roll past the gate and into the waiting garage, I see that the house is bigger than it looks, or longer rather, as it stretches further along the cliff. There's not much of a yard but there's a flower-like fountain and a little path of rounded stone leading from the front door to the drive way. I switch the car off, staring at the house in awe. It's not huge but it's big and glamourous as hell. A very modern looking two storey. The walls are sandy orange with decorative stone making up columns and entire sections. There's a double garage in front of us, with a single wood door.
"Do you like it," Jake asks. I suspect he's amused by my face pressed right up against the car window, gawking at the gorgeous building.
"It's beautiful."
We get out of the car and unload our bags. There are a few grocery bags as well in the trunk and we get those out too. Inside the house smells like it's been cleaned a few times more than necessary. I can smell lemon and bleach and something else I can't identify. The hard wood floors stretch the entire floor with exception of the living area in the middle of the room which is covered in a beige carpet. The walls are the colour of graham crackers throughout the first floor while the furniture is a deeper brown.
Left of the front door, the kitchen is open plan, with black counter tops and an island in the middle that has a sunroof directly above it. I can see the door, right by the double refrigerator that leads into the garage. Opposite the front door, the wall is entirely made of glass sliding doors that lead out to a pool area. "Shut up. If that is an infinity pool, I am seriously going to lose my mind right now, I kid you not," I tell Jake as I place all the groceries on the beautiful kitchen counter.
"Yeah, it is," he grins wildly, very cockily. I would too if I managed to pull this off.
I run over to the glass doors, admiring the luxurious deck with pool side loungers, a built in grill to one side and what I assume is a changing room. "I'm too excited. I can't tell if I'm going to hit you or kiss you."
"I'd prefer the latter," he laughs.
We bring the rest of the stuff upstairs which is just as spectacular, boasting two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a balcony that looks over the pool area. The main bedroom, with an en suite bathroom and glass doors that lead to the balcony, is where we set everything down next to the closet. Standing by the massive windows next to the bed, I feel like I can see all of Arizona from up here. It's breath taking.
Jake's arms come around my waist, pressing right up to my body, his chest to my back. "I'm glad you like it," he whispers. "I'll take that kiss now."
I turn around in his arms, placing my own over his broad shoulders. His eyes are bright with excitement but tired. It doesn't stop the impish grin on his face. He brings me closer, letting me feel his body and how much he wants me. My stomach knots. "Aren't you tired from all that driving?" I snort and press into him. "Maybe you should rest. I think you should rest for a while."
He squeezes my ass playfully "I can rest later. I want you now."
"Right now?"
"Right this second." His smirk is devious and it's kind of adorable.
"I can live with that."
I pull his face to me and bring our lips together, closing my eyes at the feel of him. I really should have prepared better because my lips are a little chapped and dry but I don't care. I've missed this.
He slips his tongue inside my mouth insistently, like he's trying to remind me how long it's been. It feels like it's been forever. His tongue is coffee and toothpaste and cinnamon. Breakfast, maybe. I can smell his shampoo, the overly masculine one I used the last time I was in his shower. It smells so much better on him.
"You smell so good," I muse.
"Hmm." He pops the buttons of my jeans one by one, getting irritated after three. "Jesus, how many buttons do you need?! Why so many buttons?"
"They're high-waist. They're that's how they work," I laugh.
"Well," he says, smiling triumphantly when as he gets the last button, "I hate them".
I shed the jeans, laughing, and toss my sweater and watch him gawk at the very lacy, very red panties that I had on. I do a little spin to show him. It doesn't match my bra but I'm pretty sure he doesn't care. "Do you like them? I ask, looking down at myself just to make sure nothing looks weird.
"You are so beautiful," he says quietly. His expression softens as he stares at my body and I'm suddenly self-conscious, my entire face going red. "Especially when you blush like that. Come here."
He reaches his hand out for me and I take it. He brushes up my arms and then behind my back and unclasps my bra. "I don't ever think I've told you this, but you have the most perfect breasts I've ever seen."
"Really," I ask, cupping them in my own hands and giving them a bit of a jiggle. They always just seemed like breasts to me. I give them a squeeze in my hands and just shrug. "Well, they like you too," I snort. I pull his shirt over his head because I don't like being the only naked person in the room.
He takes a nipple into his mouth and sucks on it gently. His growing beard prickles my skin. I lean back for him and push my chest out so he can reach better. He's so much taller than me that he really has to get low to get to my boobs. "Oh!" I gasp, as slips two fingers into my underwear while switching to the other nipple. I close my eyes and feel it. The sun coming through the windows warms the skin on my back, or it could be the blood rushing throughout my body warming me all over.
"So wet," he groans, circling his thumb slowly. I think he's going to make me come with his fingers but he doesn't. Not really. He falls to his knees, bringing my panties with him and spreads my legs with his palms.
"What are you do-" I start, more out of surprise than anything else, but don't finish because his tongue glides over my clit unexpectedly and I officially can't breathe. Carefully, he lifts my leg over his shoulder and I have to hold on to his shoulder for support while weaving my fingers through his hair. His fingers push inside me and I jerk into his face involuntarily. I can't tell if I'm in shock or if it feels so good that the words are trapped in my throat. I breathe heavily, trying not to fall over as I watch his dark hair between my legs. I have nothing else to hold on to and I don't think my legs will be able to keep me up much longer. "Jake," I whimper. "I'm going to fall."
He chuckles, looking up at me with that same devious smile from before, eyes dark and lusty. "I'd never let you fall, Bella," he declares hoarsely, holding me steady at the hips.
He watches my face and I watch him, humping his face shamelessly, until I can't anymore. My eyes close again and my head falls back as I come into his mouth, ready to collapse. But he's a strong man and he keeps me upright as sweeps everything clean with his tongue until he's satisfied with what I've given.
My leg drops from his shoulder and he stands, holding me around the waist as I sway in a daze. "Did you like that?" he whispers against my neck. He's so hard in his jeans, his bulge trapped between us. He pushes me down onto the bed and stands between my knees. From his back pocket he produces the familiar square piece of foil. He holds it between his lips while he unbuckles his belt and frees himself from his jeans. He climbs on the bed, kneeling between my thighs my thighs then removing the foil from between his lips. I snatch it from him before he opens it. "We're okay this time," I breathe. "We don't need it."
He watches me for just a second, his eyes heavy lidded and hungry, debating with himself between lust and safety.
"Okay." Lust wins.
He rubs himself quickly and then he leans over me and guides himself inside.
"Oh Bella," he groans as pulls out and pushes back in urgently, desperately. "Oh god, baby, you feel so, so good." He's never called me baby before. It sounds so seductive the way he says it, mixed with intense want. I kiss him, move with him and encourage him with my touch as he drives our bodies together. His face is beautiful, his body is magnificent and it moves over me, muscles rippling with effort. The sun, preparing to reach the horizon, shines through the massive windows and makes his skin glow an almost gold-orange colour.
When his head dips, burrowing into my neck, I know he's close. "Bella." I wrap my legs around his waist, holding him closer. "I can't . . ." he pants. "Are you close?"
"Don't wait for me," I tell him, brushing the nape of his neck lightly with my nails. "It's okay."
He pushes harder then, faster until his whole body shudders against mine and his breathe is hot on my skin as he releases inside me, hot and thick.
I let him rest on me, enjoying the weight of his body as he recovers from climax. It feels so amazing to be with him like this again, to hold him. "God I missed you," he pants, echoing my thoughts.
I chuckle. "I missed you too."
We lie like that for a while, just listening to nothing, eyes closed. And then he says, "So what would you like to do on this little holiday of ours," kissing my shoulder.
"Definitely more of this," I laugh.
He laughs with me. "Whatever you want, pretty girl."
AN: Okay, so the next two chapters will revolve around their time in Tucson, the first being a JPOV, and then after that there will be more of speed up on how their relationship will pan out. I can't promise a happy ending, though so be prepared to not like how the story ends.