Disclaimer:
All recognizable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I do not make money from this.

TRIGGER WARNING:
Please do not read ahead if you are sensitive to subjects related to sexual assault, r*pe, and aggression. I refrained from making scenes too graphic. However, proceed with caution. MA only.

(You can skip ahead to the first slash (/) of the chapter if are sensitive to the subjects mentioned above.)

Chapter 15: Warmth

He pushed and shoved me through the people of the club that were either too drunk or too distracted to even notice us. Dread settled into the pit of my belly as he pushed me past the people and into the dark corner that I had my eyes on earlier. The corner that no one else would have taken the time to notice. He roughly pushed me down a dim hallway that was hidden in these shadows. He knew this place well.

He ushered me down to an exit door at the end of the hallway, the pulsing music leaving my ears ringing and muffled. He used his body to shove the door open and led us out into the cool night air. It would have felt nice in any other circumstance. Now I felt exposed in the dim, filthy alley way. I tried not to let the panic consume my body. I needed to stay coherent. I needed to be able to find a way out.

He shoved me onto the cracked ground, my dress hiking up my hips and my chest coming dangerously close to becoming exposed. I squealed in pain as the rocks and cracked ground dug into the exposed skin on my back.

He gathered both of my wrists in one hand and lifted them above my head as he mounted me. I furiously began to try and shove my knees into his groin, but he quickly clamped his heavy boot clad feet onto my ankles, digging into my skin. I cried out in pain and he reached into his pocket and with a sharp click, he held it up to my throat.

"You scream, you kick, or fight back, you're dead. Got it? And even when you're dead I'll still continue to fuck you like the little whore you are," he sneered and pressed the sharp blade into my throat. A warning.

I whimpered, the panic fully consuming me now. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared into the evil emerald shade of his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up," he grunted and with the knife still in his hand, he reached between my legs and shoved my panties to the side. The knife nicked my inner thigh and I ground my teeth another whimper escaping my throat.

"What did I say?" he hissed and pressed the knife back to my throat.

I involuntarily squirmed and yanked against him. He roughly dug his feet deeper into my skin, pinning my ankles into the cracked, uneven concrete. I clenched my jaw even tighter against the pain. I felt tears prick my eyes as I heard a zipper lower. I shut out the eerie darkness and quiet looming around us. Defeat settled into my stomach.

Let him take what he wants and hope to survive.

/

Cold air whipped through my hair.

I could feel my body rocking against something hard.

My head rolled and bounced against it.

Something was clamped behind my head.

Tightness was around my waist.

The chilled air whipped and chafed against the skin of my arms.

I instinctively clung to the warmth.

The tightness around my waist increased.

I pressed my face into the warmth.

The smell.

It enveloped me like a warm blanket.

It scratched the itch.

Soothed the burn.

Doused the flames.

/

There was a sudden stillness.

The air was no longer whipping across my skin. It was now surrounding me. But, I could barely feel it. I clung onto the warmth. The bouncing and rocking I felt slowed to a smooth sway. It was soothing. Like a baby being rocked to sleep.

"Shhh," a smooth sound caressed me.

I pressed my face closer to the sound.

Then the cold was gone. I was surrounded by warmth. There was only the sound of a door shutting.

The smooth sway continued.

I heard a small click and brightness filtered through my lids. I pressed my face closer, blocking out the light.

Then, the tightness around my middle loosened and was starting to push me away. I whimpered again and clung onto the warmth.

A low chuckled vibrated against me and the tightness returned. I sighed and relaxed against it.

The warmth rubbed up and down my back. "Bella," it whispered.

I grunted in response, making it chuckle again.

"Bella, you need to let go," it said.

I shook my head.

Then the tightness loosened again and started to pry me away with more force. A loud whimper escaped my lips as I desperately tried to cling on. It ignored me and set my bottom on something smooth and hard. The warmth left me completely and I pried my damp, burning eyes open.

I found my warmth.

Jacob stood a few paces away from me, looking guilty and something else. Sad? My blurry eyes surveyed the scene in front of me. I was sitting on a counter. In a kitchen. The light was on. I was sitting next to the sink. The rest of his house was dark. My eyes traveled back to Jacob.

"What did you do?" I squeaked out of my throat of sand paper.

He blinked. "I-I felt you," he muttered quietly and fidgeted with the pockets of his shorts.

"Are you gonna hurt me too?" I asked. I lacked emotion. I felt raw. Numb.

Hurt and alarm flashed through his eyes. "No, Bella," he said.

I felt my chin tremble. This man before me didn't want me. I hadn't seen him all week and now he was here. Looking at me like that. Like he was worried. Like he cared.

"I want to go home," I whispered, the lump in my throat straining my words.

He clenched his eyes and shook his head.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Why?"

"You're safe here," he breathed, closing the gap between us slowly.

I shook my head and scooted further back on the counter. He stopped and watched me as I folded myself back against the wall.

He swallowed thickly. "Bella, I promise. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to take care of you. And then I'll take you home, okay?"

"I can take care of myself," I said in a small voice.

"Not right now," he said a bit more firmly.

"Why are you doing this?" I sniffled.

He ran a hand down his face and watched me, a pained look in his eyes. "Because, I need to. I need to make sure all your needs are met. I can't take you home like that. You're going to scare Charlie. Is that what you want?" he asked gently.

"Then take me to Phoenix and Leah's house."

He growled. "No."

I recoiled and shut my eyes away from his furious gaze.

I heard him sigh. "I'm sorry," he said as he took a deep breath. "Just eat something and then you can leave," he whispered defeatedly.

I opened my eyes and he turned away from me to open the refrigerator.

I watched him as he quickly took out a half eaten loaf of bread, a carton of eggs, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of pickles, slices of cheese, a container of dairy butter, and mustard.

"Um, what the hell do you plan on making?" I asked, my stomach clenching at the thought of him cooking with any combination of those ingredients.

He straightened up and examined the pile on the counter. "Uh...what do you want?" he asked.

"Nothing. I'm not hungry."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Yes you are. Eat and then you can go," he said again.

"No."

He watched me for a moment, his eyes burning and angry. I folded myself tighter and away from him. Then his eyes softened and he sighed. "Please?" he whispered and looked down at the mismatched pile of groceries on his counter. He actually looked hurt and upset. He looked younger. Like the Jacob I remembered. The hardened lines of his face smoothened out and his scowl was gone. He just looked sad. One thing I hated doing back then was making Jacob sad. And lord knows I did that way too many times. I guess some things never change.

"Toast," I said.

He looked at me, the pain shifting into something else. "Toast," he repeated.

I nodded.

He looked back at the food on the counter and grabbed the bread and quickly began to untie it. He yanked out two slices and placed them into the toaster next to me. He didn't look at me as he cleared off the counter and put everything back in the fridge except for the butter.

He shut the door and leaned against the surface.

The only sounds were the ticking of a clock I couldn't see and the low humming of the toaster. Clock. Time. What time was it? I searched around the walls for the clock, but I couldn't see it. I automatically reached to my side for my phone. My phone. I had left my phone at the… I shuddered. My heart began to pound. My head swirled and felt panic and paranoia claw its way up my throat.

Then, I felt a warm hand on my arm. I instinctively moved closer and allowed him to envelope me in his arms. He held me tight to his chest and rubbed soft circles on the raw skin of my back. I clenched my eyes as I fought the memories of tonight. I clung onto him. I needed him. I wrapped my arms and legs tight around him and breathed in his scent. My nerves settled and my heart returned to normal.

"You okay?" he whispered and rubbed my back.

I shook my head.

"You're safe," he breathed and squeezed me tight. "You're safe, Bella," he whispered to me.

I nodded and relaxed into him.

The toast popped out of the toaster making me flinch. He rubbed my arms gently. "You're toast is done," he murmured and pried himself from my grasp. He didn't look at me as he grabbed the butter and a plate. He carefully took the freshly toasted bread out of the toaster and dropped it on the ceramic with a soft clink. He opened a drawer and grabbed a knife. He spread a thin layer of butter on each slice and the heat of the bread melted and absorbed the glistening oil. My stomach growled at the sight and smell of the toast. He breathed a laugh and glanced up at me. "Here," he grinned and held out the plate to me.

I did nothing but eye the toast on the plate.

"I-Is it too dark?" He asked warily. "Did I put too much butter? I can make you-"

I shook my head and took the plate from him. "Thank you," I said quietly.

He let out a little sigh and quickly put the butter back in the fridge. He turned back to me as I continued to stare at the plate. I was hungry. But I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to do anything. There was one thing I really wanted. One thing I really needed and I didn't want to ask for it. But, he knew.

He carefully approached me again and tentatively lifted his hand to my cheek. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he wiped a tear off my cheek that I didn't even know I let out. I involuntarily leaned into the warmth of his palm and he gently caressed my skin. I closed my eyes, a few more tears escaping.

"Shh," he whispered. "Don't cry, Bella," he said.

I heavy sob escaped my lips and he quickly took the plate from my hands and wrapped me in his embrace again. He held me gently as cried onto the skin of his chest. I wrapped my arms around myself. A behavior I knew all too well. I let him soothe me. I allowed him to take my pain away. All I needed was Jacob. And I let myself have him.

My sobs reduced to quiet tears once more. And the silence of the night surrounded us again. Except for the clock that kept ticking away.

"You should eat," he whispered after a while.

I shook my head.

He chuckled. "No?"

I nodded my head.

"Yes?"

I shook my head again.

He laughed lowly in my ear. "Silly, girl." His rich voice wrapped me in a warm cocoon.

I shivered and finally wrapped my arms around him, the silky skin of his back tingled against my finger tips and all the way down to my toes.

"Eat," he said simply.

I ignored him.

"Bella," he warned.

I said nothing and continued to hold onto him.

"I heard your stomach growl," he teased and poked at my belly button.

I giggled and hugged him tighter.

"I love that sound," he said throatily as his fingers drew tiny circles onto my back.

I rubbed my nose into his neck. His scent. It was addictive.

I heard him grab the plate.

"Eat, Bella," he said firmly this time.

"Make me," I croaked. My voice was muffled against his skin.

He made a rumbling noise in his chest. "Eat or I go to my room" he threatened.

I shook my head vigorously.

"Then eat," he laughed.

With a huff I leaned back and glared at him. "No fair," I grumbled.

He smirked at me. "I don't play fair," his eyes glimmered with mischief as they danced across my face.

With a smile he held up the plate of toast to me. I just stared at it.

He held it up to his face and pretended to nudge it with his nose like a dog.

I giggled again and finally took a piece.

He grinned at me and set the plate back at my side. He leaned with his hands on either side of me and watched me.

I gave him a weird look. "Is this entertaining for you?" I asked and took a tiny bite of the toast.

He continued to grin at me. "Very."

I rolled my eyes and took a bigger bite. I was too hungry to care. Quite frankly, I needed him close to me even though I knew I shouldn't.

Then, without warning, he kneeled down in front of me and began to unclasp the cuff around my ankle. My feet were killing me. I was still wearing the stupid death traps Phoenix put me in. I moaned as he slipped off the heel and gently rubbed my foot with his warm hand. He smirked up at me and did the same to the other foot. I curled my toes, stretching out the tension from the shitty night I had.

"Thanks," I said through a bite of toast.

He nodded, that smirk still on his face and stood back up to watch me again. Geez. You'd think he's never seen anyone eat before.

"What?" I finally asked and started on the next slice.

His eyes scanned my face again. "You're beautiful," he whispered. "Even better than I remember."

I snorted. "Yeah, that's the imprint talking" I said as I chewed.

His smile fell at that, his eyes narrowing. "You have always been so beautiful to me, Bella."

I examined him for a moment but said nothing.

"Bella, when I look at you," he looked down at my hands, biting his lip. "When I look at you I see the girl I fell in love with," he said, looking up at me again, those chocolate eyes caressing me. "That girl who was too old for me. The girl I had no shot with but still gave me the time of day. The girl I tried to impress by fixing those stupid bikes," he chuckled. "Your beauty will always put everything else to shame. I've always felt that. Five years ago. Now. It hasn't changed. So don't look at me and tell me it's the imprint talking. The imprint did a lot of things but it didn't change that."

I chewed slowly. "How can you be so sure?"

Now he rolled his eyes. "Tell me, do I look different to you?" he asked.

I slowly looked him up and down. He was shirtless, but that wasn't unusual. His jaw was more defined and pronounced. A shade of stubble was visible. Something that wasn't there all those years ago. His cheekbones stood out more. He lost all traces of the young boy I once knew. He looked more like a man. Still beautiful in the way I remembered him. I saw the young Jacob in him, just a manlier version.

"I mean you have stubble now," I muttered.

He laughed deep and throatily. "And?"

I shrugged. "You look like a man."

He nodded. "And you look like a woman. You look like Bella. I see the Bella I knew in those big, brown eyes. I see her. Those pink cheeks," he grinned and trailed a calloused finger across my face. "These lips," he murmured and brushed his thumb across my lower lip. His thumb and forefinger gently brushed my chin before he dropped his hand. "But, you're the same. You look like you've grown up. You're still that Bella, but older," he shrugged.

"Still too old for you?"

His eyes twinkled. "Oh yeah, definitely."

I laughed and threw my last bit of crust at him. "You're still the same jerk."

He grinned and caught it before it fell and tossed it in his mouth. "You're still the same. But stronger," he said solemnly as he chewed.

I sighed. "Yep."

He was quiet again and he just stared at me.

I stared right back.

"So what happens now?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

He gave me questioning look.

"After this are you just gonna go back to hating me? Pretending I don't exist?"

He furrowed his brow. "I never hated you."

I sniffed a bitter laugh. "You don't have to lie."

"Bella," he sighed. "You need to understand something. I thought you died. And I had no idea you were alive. I thought that son of a bitch killed you like I knew he would. I went ballistic. I couldn't handle it knowing that I fucking let him go ahead and destroy you like that."

"Jacob it was my choice. I made that decision."

"Yeah. And look what happened. And I couldn't live with myself because I thought I didn't do enough. I should have tried harder or-"

"Jacob you can't make decisions for me. No matter how stupid or reckless you think they are, they're my decisions to make. And I wouldn't have listened to you. It doesn't matter. I was selfish. I only thought about myself. I know that now. But I would have never left like that had I known what it would do to you."

His eyes, saddened and hurt, paced between mine. "Why did you leave?" he whispered. "You left without telling anybody. You left without telling me."

I scrubbed my hands down my face. "Jacob, I had to get out of there. It was too much. I couldn't stay. Like I said, I was selfish."

He swallowed thickly. "What the hell did he do to you?" he said through gritted teeth.

My stomach dropped. The memories. The painful memories came flooding back.

A/N: This is the last of these graphic scenes. Hopefully it wasn't too jarring or scary. If it was, I apologize. Everything is purely fictional. However, take care of yourselves and take a break if you need to. The story will get happier I promise.