Winter break was going by far too quickly. The night patrols had eased up after Victoria vanished, and he was grateful to have the more time off. The entire pack had become testy from the long hours and general drudgery of the job. A little more time apart would do everyone some good. The extra sleep was also much appreciated, but not as much as the time he spent awake.

The word was out now. Of course, it was essentially an open secret for the pack and half the tribe. Although some tribe members outside of their circle did not know the entire truth about the Cullens, they knew about Bella's previous involvement with them, and that was enough to make her worthy of some suspicion.

Bella had just let everything circulate by worth of mouth, which means that Charlie found out through an off-hand comment from Billy. He was pleased to have finally guessed right, but less so by the source. This made him slightly grouchier in the beginning, but his obvious preference for Jacob over Edward was very satisfying. Still, he would have to tread lightly; he saw the aftermath of her breakup with the blood-sucker, and he wasn't about to let anyone hurt her like that again. Not that Jake would. It took this long to finally get her, and he was never going to let her go.

With more eyes on them than before, he was very grateful for the tree outside Bella's window. His house was usually a no-go, so they relished the handful evenings that Charlie spent on night duty. Many of their free days and nights were spent together, usually on her couch, but real privacy was hard to come by in a town as small as Forks. The pack's running commentary was the most insufferable. They knew everything he did and said to her. He really had no idea how Sam kept his life with Emily under such tight wraps. He'd have to ask him for some advice. The pack would definitely appreciate it.

He could see her through the window, watching something on her laptop under the dim lights. She had already settled in for the night. She wore her usual long pajama pants and a thin black t-shirt that clung to her body, her hair down around her shoulders. Now if he could get to see her in one of his shirts, he could die happy. He lamented telling her he was coming ahead of time. Maybe if he just popped in again he'd get another show, and he'd be more than happy to help.

He crept in slowly, both to avoid startling her and to prevent any noises that might tip off Charlie. But of course, there was no way to achieve the former; she was easily the jumpiest person he had ever met, though not without reason.

She jumped, letting out a sharp squeak.

" Damn it, Jake! I told you not to sneak up on me," she said, trying to beat him to death with her pillow before he seized it. He grinned.

"You're so cute when you're mad. Not much motivation to listen, is it?"

"Is Charlie still here?" he whispered.

"No, he left for the Clearwater's about twenty minutes ago." Her annoyance partially dissolved and she gave him a wily smile.

She stood up to greet him properly with a kiss. He hated to admit it, but this was becoming one of his favorite things about finally being with her. Month after month of long nights and wonderful, almost painful dreams had tormented him. He would kiss her every second they spent together if it wouldn't nauseate everyone around them. What the hell, he'd do it anyways.

He pointed to her laptop, which was already set up with an episode of the show they'd been watching.

"So I know you're still on the fence, but I think one more episode will seal the deal for you," she said, leading him to the bed.

"To be clear, my main issue is the fact that there are about fifty old white guys with beards and I can't keep any of their names straight."

"Well if you read the books…"

"Bells-"

"It gets a lot easier, I promise. Plus, it's got giant wolves!"

"Yes but they're pets."

"Only for a little bit. They rip people apart later. And I hear that wolves make great pets," she teased, biting his lip.

He relented, and pulled her into his lap. She finished loading the video, and then wiggled backwards into her place. His arms fell on her stomach and her ribcage, his wrist occasionally bumping against her breast when he moved. It was already hard to pay attention to the show anyways, but she was the real reason he couldn't remember their names. There was no focusing when she pressed against him like that, and her choice of clothing had not made it any easier for him. Gazing down her body from this angle was much more entertaining. Two small nubs poked out through her shirt, and he wanted so badly to know what they looked like. One hand slid down to rest above the waistband of her pants, and he turned to plant a small kiss behind her ear. She pressed backwards into him, slowly rubbing herself against him.

"That's mean," he whispered in her ear.

"So are you," she replied, rotating her hips against him once more for good measure. She sure didn't like making things easy for him.

"If you keep this up, we aren't going to make it to the end of the episode." His voice was low and husky, and he could hear her laugh in her throat.

"Oh, is that a threat?"

"It's a promise," he growled.

He resumed kissing her neck, moving down from her ear, to the hollow of her jaw, down to her collarbone. He could feel the quickening of her heart under his lips, and her body relaxed completely. He found his hand had moved underneath the bottom of her shirt and was slowly working its way up her stomach and her ribs before coming to rest nervously on her sternum. He wasn't sure how to proceed; he didn't think he'd make it this far.

She squirmed against him. His own breathing became heavier, and he could feel the problem below growing even more. There was no way she didn't notice it. She moved her hand down to her hip and placed her hand on top of his, guiding it towards the other. He nipped on her ear, and she let out a groan, now pushing both of his hands further up her chest before reaching their target. Maybe he wouldn't have to imagine anymore after tonight.

Now she was just shamelessly grinding against him, her hands squeezing his around her breasts. She was so soft and sweet, it was all he could do to not tear the offending garment off her. She left him to his work, bringing her hands down to stroke his inner thighs, her nails running back and forth over the fabric of his jeans. Eventually they were met with an obstacle, and the sudden sensation of her touch made him gasp. She giggled and moved her hand away, a little red from the encounter.

"You're such a tease, Bells."

He responded by rolling her nipple between his fingers, and enjoying the long moan that followed.

"This isn't a fair fight," she whined.

"I agree," he murmured in her ear. "You've been teasing me mercilessly."

"I meant not fair for me."

"No, this is called payback."

He suddenly slipped his tongue down the pale flesh of her neck to her collarbone, and began gently sucking. It's true: She was delicious. He couldn't wait to taste the rest of her. He was stopped by her hand on his chest.

"Okay, that's it!"

She pushed him away long enough to turn around to face him, her legs coming to rest on either side of him. She was such a shy, anxious girl before. She couldn't even hold his hand without turning red. But now here she was, flushed, fighting for breath, trying to push him down on her bed. Her shirt had fallen disappointingly low, but his view was already blocked by her mouth. She traced her tongue lightly along his bottom lip to gain access. Her kiss was so eager and powerful that he could feel his entire body weakening with each passing second. She leaned backwards and began tugging upwards at his shirt. Before she could finish pulling his arms through, he took advantage of the situation, he worked his face under her shirt, and took her nipple in his mouth.

She let out a long, low moan that very nearly did him in. His hands returned to her back and her chest as he swirled his tongue around her. She grasped the hair on the back of his head, and it spurred him to grab the rest of her shirt and pull it over her head in one smooth motion. He took a moment to behold Bella, his Bella, half-naked and straddling him on her bed. They were glorious; two perky white mounds, her nipples tiny and pink, perched above her soft, milky stomach. The view sent electricity through his entire body, and he wondered if he would faint.

Clearly very proud of herself, she began to grin impishly, pressing her fantastic breasts onto his burning skin as she laid down on top of him. He couldn't catch his breath, and it felt like his heart might explode. She nipped at his neck, planting kisses further and further down until she had reached his muscled pecs. This was it. This was how he was going to die. Sexed to death without even getting to take off his pants.

She must have noticed his near catatonic state, because she stopped and sat up. Her fingers skimmed his stomach and the deep channel between his abs and his hip bone.

"Do you want to keep going?" she asked.

He gulped. A lock of hair had fallen in her face, which was smiling down at him like an angel. Or a demon. Definitely a demon.

"I would love to," he panted, well aware that he probably looked like a goldfish out of its bowl, "I just need a minute. Loving the enthusiasm, though."

She rolled off, landing next to him on her side. He rolled over to look at her, and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her into his chest and burying his face in her hair. Her scent was just as intoxicating as the rest of her.

"You're very good at that," she giggled, nuzzling into his neck.

"Oh yeah? Eh, beginners luck, I guess," he shrugged.

"Well I'm glad that you at least know what you're doing."

"What do you mean?" There was no way...

"This is all just as new to me as it is to you. At least I think it is." She blushed, and he put two and two together.

"You mean you've never-?"

"Nope."

"But...how?" he asked, baffled.

"You're telling me he managed to keep his hands off of you for that long? It took everything I had to keep mine to myself for a few months, and I have to say, there is no way I'm going to be able to go back now."

"Yeah," she said, suddenly quieter. Oh no. He shouldn't have mentioned the leech.

"It wasn't my choice. Wasn't even an option, really. I guess not accidentally killing me on a normal day was hard enough. Even then, I'm still not sure that he would have even if he could."

He rolled his eyes. "Well he's an idiot," he said, kissing her up and down the side of her face.

"So that was purely natural talent, huh?"

She laughed. "Or just a lot of built up frustration."

"You and me both, honey."