-Bells, hold on tighter.
She ignored his words. She squinted her already closed eyes, but not her arms around his torso. She let her hands entwine on his abdomen, but didn't squeeze tighter. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of obeying. The air caressed her hair as she sat behind Jacob, darting up the dirt path that, unbeknownst to Bella, led to the highest point of the cliffs. Through her half-closed eyelids, the trees regularly created plays of light and shadow as Rabbit's noise accompanied that of the wind. The heavy galloping to her right almost convinced her to open her eyes, curious to find out which of the wolves had crossed their path and was running with them in that brief moment. But once again, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction. She felt his hot hand rest briefly on hers and caress them with his thumb. At that touch, a well-known warmth radiated to the level of her heart. She silently cursed him, hiding her face against his broad back, brushing her nose against his long ebony hair. A mere touch, and her anger was already threatening to disappear. It wasn't fair.
It was after a few minutes that she felt the bike slow down. At the place where he had stopped, a stronger wind was ruffling their hair. She made to sneeze when one of Jacob's hairs entered her nostril, but she couldn't. She grunted, irritated. Then she opened her eyes: they had arrived. From the top of the cliff, the ocean stretched out in all its majesty. In her periphery she glimpsed the other cliffs, the smaller ones. They were surrounded by trees, at the edge of the forest. Bella did her best to get off the bike without leaning on him. She staggered, risking losing her balance and falling; she had to cling to his shoulder for support. Jacob chuckled. She huffed, planting her feet firmly on the ground and stepping away from the bike, to the edge of the cliff. She recognized that place. That place was special. She ignored Jacob as he stepped over the bike with his leg in a casual gesture and kicked the kickstand.
-What's wrong with you?
-Nothing.
Jacob huffed. She felt him approach her, touching her arm but she flinched.
-Nothing? Really? - he asked, the irony clearly palpable in his tone of voice.
-Nothing. - she replied, resolute. She refused to let the emotions of that place overwhelm her. She was still mad at him. If Jacob didn't get it, it wasn't her problem. He sighed, stopping behind her. But Bella had not yet realized it enough: she was like an open book to him. There was no person in the world who could understand her better than he could. Imprinting was nothing compared to what Jacob Black felt for her. If only the rest of the world could see, penetrate their souls and realize how special their bond was. How much chemistry those two had.
-Bells. - he attempted again. She turned away, more determined than ever not to let it go. She collided her head with his hard chest and squeaked in pain. She let out an exasperated grunt and pushed past him, approaching the bike.
-Damn wolf! - she muttered, massaging her forehead. This time his hands took her by the waist and turned her around, resting her on the motorcycle seat. She tried to struggle, but she was so small in comparison. She met Jacob's resolute gaze. Though seated on the motorcycle, he towered over her with his height. He remained with his hands firmly anchored at her waist, moving closer to her. Bella tried to ignore the rapturous heat of his body.
-Are you finished? - he arched a dark eyebrow. Bella crossed her arms at her breasts, challenging him with her gaze. -You are so stubborn. Why do you keep insisting?
-Because I am no longer a child! - she slapped her hands on her thighs. -I have the right to make my own decisions.
-Did you forget how it went last time? Six stitches, Bells. Six stitches!
-Then I'm just gonna give my bike to Paul. He certainly won't leave it to rot in the garage.
Ever since she had fallen off the bike a few months earlier, Jacob had not allowed her to ride again. But now everything had changed. Edward had been gone from her mind for quite a while, as had her feelings for him. For her, it was pure adrenaline and she would finally be able to fully enjoy the motorcycle rides without having to think about anything anymore.
-You could have died. I don't want it to happen again.
The nervousness was washed away like if a bucket of water was splashed over her body. Behind Jacob's hard gaze, there was a lurking sadness. She studied his dark eyes, framed by his long lashes. She could not resist those eyes. It was stronger than her. Lost in the pitch-colored sea that was Jacob Black, nothing could have triggered a grudge against him. Her white hand went to rest on his cheek. He sighed and closed his eyes. Neither of them had mentioned the incident since it had happened. Bella had not realized, that Jacob might have been frightened that day. What a fool she had been.
-Okay. - she whispered, biting her lower lip. She looked at him: surrendered to her touch. Jacob squinted his eyes and covered her hand with his. He brought her wrist to the his lips and, sighing, kissed her silvery scar. His warm breath, along with his touch, warmed that cold half-moon. A gust of wind brought them back to reality, reminding them where they were. Bella looked around, sliding her hand away from his. -So?
-So...- he continued, lightness appearing again in his voice. He rested his hands on the seat at Bella's sides. -Do you remember this place?
Her lips rippled into a spontaneous smile as her eyes went from that endless expanse of water to the shore where the sand was dark, just to the foot of the cliff they could see to their right. She turned again to look at him. Jacob Black over the months had gone from being "very handsome" to "gorgeous." Was it his transformation that had improved his appearance? Was it the fact that Bella had finally opened her eyes? She didn't know. But what she did know was that the man in front of her had the ability to burn her inside with just his gaze. The smiling eyes, black and liquid like magma. The high cheekbones under russet colored skin, the white teeth and the full, red lips. His long black hair waved in the wind, occasionally brushing against the gray shirt that wrapped his athletic body.
-Yes I remember. - she replied, feeling her eyes fill with tears.
Sitting on the edge of the cliff, legs dangling in the air, they gazed at the breathtaking view before their eyes. Jacob took a sip from the can of soda and placed it at his side. Bella found herself observing him without realizing it, marveling at how familiar and unfamiliar his profile was at the same time. Jacob had become an important part of her life in a short time and had turned it upside down for her. His hugs were familiar, as were the sunny smiles he offered her, the reassuring words he gave to her. Nonetheless, she was unfamiliar with the taste of his lips on hers, the warmth of his hands at the touch of her skin, the intensity of his scent once their bodies became one. For the past month, Bella was beginning to wonder what it would be like to feel all those things. How it would feel. She wanted to know if, once her nightly dreams became reality, she would feel the same emotions she felt while dreaming about him.
-'Like what you see, Bells? - the teasing tone and mocking smile roused her from her contemplation. She felt herself turning purple and, suddenly filled with nervousness, turned her head away. The cocky Jacob was unbearable. It was a part of him that had blossomed along with his transformation and occasionally peeped out, presenting itself as a parody of her Sun.
-You're such a dork, Jacob.
His warm laugh vibrated in his chest as his fingers took her chin and turned her gently toward him. -Come on, I was joking.
The laughter died on her lips, his eyes were serious and sincere. Bella sighed and closed her eyes, waiting for her angel to appear and, once again, telle her to stop and turn away. But surprisingly, she saw and felt nothing. No cold halo. Just lots of warmth and an equally warm breath on her face.
-Bella...
She opened her eyes. Jacob was watching her closely, his dark eyes darting from hers to her lips. He was so close. A shiver of anticipation ran through her body and, surprisingly, she found herself eagerly longing for that touch. Her heartbeats accelerated, treacherously, making him aware of her sensations. Jacob moistened his lower lip and, bowing his head, touched his lips with hers.
Jacob tucked a wind-waved lock of her behind her ear, and reached up to touch the bike with his pelvis. Bella still bit her lip, flustered, remaining still. She still had not gotten used to his closeness and the emotions it triggered in her. It was all too much. Never had she felt anything like it.
-So, how do you feel? - he murmured hoarsely, his hot fingertips brushing the side of her neck. Bella felt a small flame spring up inside her belly, burning slowly and painfully. Another gust of icy wind, but his touch overpowered the cold. Jacob didn't have much to offer her. The inhabitants of the Indian reservation were economically disadvantaged, so they did what they could. But none of this mattered to Bella. Jacob did not have much to offer but offered her everything he had. A handcrafted wooden wolf, a warm soda can, a walk to a special place. His soul.
-I am happy, Jake. - she replied, without realizing she was offering him a look of pure love. The ecstatic expression with which she looked at him must have been particularly convincing, because Jacob instead looked at her with eyes dark with passion. His hand went to encircle her cheek. He leaned his lips to hers, capturing them in a gentle but firm kiss. At that point Bella lost all control over her own actions and clung to his broad shoulders, abandoning herself completely to the kiss. The small flame that had begun to burn turned into a bursting fire. His hands moved to her waist, drawing her against him. His lips parted hers to deepen the kiss and their tongues met. Bella moaned and she felt like the fire was literally eating her alive. As usual, their surroundings also disappeared. She did not realize that her heart was beating frantically, that she was lacking oxygen. Jacob's lips, his scent, his warmth. They were the only things she needed.
Jacob pulled away from her mouth with an amused smile.
-Bells, breathe, baby. - he whispered playfully. Bella remained with her lips half-closed and puffy from the kiss, her half-closed eyes that would have crossed in moments from the proximity to his face and the dizziness she was feeling. His lips printed a kiss on hers, moist and warm. Then his gaze shifted for a brief moment above her, toward the sea. Bella tightened her fingers around the collar of his shirt, already wanting more, already lacking contact. He returned his gaze to her, holding back a smile. -Charlie and dad are waiting for us. We have to be there for lunch, you know.
Bella rolled her eyes, frustrated.
-All right. - she mumbled, drawing him to her by the collar of his shirt and pressing her lips to his one last time, hard. Like a willfull child, she wanted one last taste. Jacob brushed her nose with his and smiled warmly.
-Maybe one day we could try again, you know, with the bikes.
Bella's eyes lit up with many sparks. After all, with Jacob, she could be what she could never have been otherwise: human, free, herself. Four months earlier, without realizing it, Jacob Black would save her life.