CHAPTER TEN

(BPOV)

Like a fire had been lit within me, I hungered for more of him. All sense of place and time now abandoned.

There was no more feeling guilty over what my heart had been screaming for. No more trying to over think what I felt for Jacob. No more living in the dark hell I'd been damn near suffocating from for months. Jake had lifted that heavy veil for me and I was eager to embrace whatever the future may hold in store for us.

Life was about living... not just existing and I planned to do just that. To live again.

His firm hands roamed up my back and I became like putty in them.

Mold me... shape me... do what you want with me- I'm yours for the taking.

I held nothing back in my kiss, returning his passion with my own desire. A warmth invading me now from his touch. I basked in it, welcoming it's presence and marveling at just how amazing it felt to be held like this... by him.

The feel of his arms securing me to him, as if holding every shattered piece of me, putting them all back in place. I had never been able to be so free before. With Jacob there was no fear of losing that self restraint. I was finally free to express what I felt without the need for such limits.

My hands were in his hair, my mouth molding to his as the heat radiated from him. It's draw, enticing and inviting.

The sudden sound of Embry's approaching yell had me nervously pulling back from him. "Yo, Jacob! Where you at, bro?"

"Damn it." Jake muttered, a sly grin forming on his face. "His timing is awful!"

I nodded in agreement and reached for his hand when a clueless Embry came jogging in.

"There you are-" He sighed, stealing a glance down to our joined hands. "...Oh, uh- I ... didn't know you had company... Hi Bella."

"Hi Embry." I replied to him with a sincere smile, feeling the heated blush rushing into my cheeks and giving away my embarrassment.

"What do you need, Embry?" Jake asked.

"Well, my car is acting up. I told you about the noise it was making last week? You said you'd take a look under the hood? Remember?"

"Oh yeah." Jake sighed, meeting my gaze. "I did tell him I'd look at it. Sorry man, I forgot."

"I can always come back later if you're... busy?" Embry stammered, looking more uncomfortable with each passing moment. I couldn't help but laugh at his awkwardness.

"It's okay Embry. I'll wait inside with Billy. I'm sure he could use some company while Jake looks under the hood for you."

"Are you sure? He can come back-." Jake offered in protest.

I leaned up on my tip toes and stole a kiss. The innocence of it changing when Jake secured an arm around me. His lips lingering so close to mine.

"I'll be just inside. Don't worry about it." I breathed, finding it increasingly difficult to leave him.

"Okay, I won't be long."

I waved to Embry as I left, seeing his shocked and wide eyed expression now. He waved back and tripped over Jake's tool box when he stepped forward.

"Uh... B-... B-Bye, Bella."

I couldn't help but laugh all the way to the house. The look on Embry's face was so priceless. I could only imagine what he said to Jake after I left.

Billy was welcoming to me as I waited in the house with him for Jake to finish.

"Well Bella, You're looking a lot better these days." Billy smiled.

"I feel a lot better these days. Thanks to Jake."

Billy's grin was wide, genuine and equally infectious.

"I'm really grateful for all he's done for me, Billy."

"He cares for you... a lot. No secret there, dear." He replied.

"I wouldn't have made it through all this without him."

"I'm so glad to see you well again. I know your dad is, too. Had him real worried for you there for a while."

"I know."

Jake soon sent Embry on his way and came in to join Billy and I.

"What's the damage on that old junk of his?" Billy laughed.

"Needs a new alternator. Won't hold a charge. That's all. Told him I'd order it and put in a new one when it arrived."

"Always something with his car." Billy chuckled. "I'm heading out for the day. Sue should be here to pick me up soon. She wanted some company."

"Good, tell Leah and Seth to be on time for the pack meeting tomorrow? Sam wasn't thrilled they were late last time."

"Will do. They'll learn eventually." Billy sighed with a shake of his head. "Have a good day you two. Be back for dinner later."

Sue waved to me from her car as Jake helped his father get settled in. I waved back and couldn't help but think of Harry and how much he was greatly missed. My father had taken his death hard and still talked of him often.

"So... Do I get you for the day?" Jake asked, a charismatic grin on his face.

"Yes, If you'll have me." I sighed.

His hands found mine, drawing me to him. "I was thinking we could take a ride on the bike down to the beach? Have lunch and pick up where we left off earlier-."

I could only nod when his soft lips brushed mine. The move sending delicious tingles down to my toes. I captured his lips and felt the electric warm current run over me when my tongue met his. Heavy desire spread through my veins with visceral weight as a vibrant flush settled into my cheeks.

I was helpless to stop myself from indulging in him as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly. His warm hands trailing down my sides and soon sliding up under my shirt.

My breath caught as his strong hands touched my bare back, caressing my skin as his lips brushed my ear. "Bells-"

The way he said my name. The sincere adoration behind his tone had my heart sprinting and my hands shamelessly roaming and exploring the well defined muscles of his chest. His warm skin so alluring to the touch as his whispered words hung in the air.

"-I love you."

My response was breathy and immediate to him. "I love you, too."

His heart warming smile was radiant in return and I couldn't help but smile back.

"What you said this morning..." He began, a nervous hesitancy to his tone.

"I meant it. All of it. I want us, Jacob."

"I want us, too Bells." He whispered in reply before bringing his lips back to mine.

It had been so long since I'd felt anything real that I was eager to simply bask in the feeling with him. Like seeing the sun for the first time in weeks.

Jacob backed me up into the house, swinging the door closed firmly behind him, and I was suddenly aware of just how empty his house was and just how very alone we were.

"I think you shocked Embry!" Jake chuckled.

"I thought so."

"You should have heard him when you left. He had a million questions."

"Oh yeah?"

"Of course." He laughed. "He loves gossip. Worse than a woman, I swear! Asking me when we started dating-"

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him he needed to mind his own business and not gossip so much. Besides... We hadn't talked... and-"

"Today-" I interjected with a grin. "You should tell him... we started dating today."

We were both grinning like fools and I didn't care. I was happy... for the first time in months... I was happy again.