Under the Mistletoe
By Lady of Spain
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
"C'mon, Bella, it'll be fun," Alice whined.
Bella glared at her. "Alice … You know how I hate parties."
"You are so stubborn. And, anyway, this is different. It's a Christmas party. Eggnog, holly, mistletoe, and ho-ho-ho!"
With arms folded across her chest, Bella said, "Ho-ho-ho-N-O-no! Nothing will change my mind."
Alice pushed her bottom lip out in a pout. Then she sighed dramatically, even though she didn't need to exhale. All at once those amber eyes lit up, an idea forming. "I know; how about if I invite Jacob," she said in a sing-song voice.
"Now, you know Jacob won't come without his buddies."
"How many?"
Bella's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious? You're willing to have a house full of wolf boys roaming your halls?"
"Only if you say you'll come."
"Holy cow—and you call me stubborn …"
Alice's face practically sparkled without the sunlight. "So, will you?"
After a loud tongue click, Bella relented. "Okay, what am I supposed to wear?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I'll rent tuxes for the boys too."
The little pixie was jumping up and down in excitement. Just one week away—one week.
Jacob blinked in surprise. The chamber of horrors was opening its doors to a wolf? How did that happen, for Pete's sake? He wondered if Bella had a hand in this. What the hell, he'd go—it wasn't as if those freakin' bloodsuckers would try anything with other guests present. Besides, Bella would be there. Then he realized … so would Eddie. Ugh!
The invite said that a tuxedo would be reserved for him at Coat N Tails—and already paid for too. Sweeeet! There was no way that filthy leech could fill out a tux like he could. Maybe then Bella would see the difference—pale and pathetic verses tan and terrific—perfection in pants.
While he was still staring at the card, the phone rang. It was Embry. "Hey, Jake … um … did you happen to get a party invitation in the mail today?"
Jacob's head shot back. This was really weird. "Jeez, you too?"
"And Quil, and Jared, and Paul, and Seth and Leah … even Sam and Emily. What gives?"
"Damned if I know. Are you going?"
"You bet I'm going. There'll be food and girls galore. Nothing could keep me away."
"Okay, so I guess I'll pick you and Quil up that night at six o'clock sharp, so be ready."
Did Alice really expect her to wear this skimpy piece of fabric? Where was the rest of it? There was only one arm hole, geesh! It was this black satin sheath with a huge fluffy bow-like thing on the shoulder. She shook her head; there was no getting out of it now. Alice had just left after fixing Bella's hair. She wouldn't let her peek at the dress until after her departure. It was too late; she was stuck. She had to wear it.
The silver Volvo pulled up to the house, and her Edward was at the door in a flash. The smile on his face at seeing her, confirmed her suspicion that even though feeling awkward in this get-up, Edward was immensely pleased with the result.
The long driveway to the Cullens' home was decked-out with a candy cane fence strung with fairy lights. The house itself was surrounded by a mass of red poinsettias, interspersed with white glittering twigs, and more lights. Christmas music belched from the door when Alice welcomed them inside.
Esme immediately took her coat, and Edward pulled her onto the dance floor. Good thing he was such a strong leader; he'd have sore toes … well, that is if he wasn't made of durable vampire armor.
There were quite a few couples already at the party, and a hush passed over the crowd as the La Push boys arrived. They were as tall as oak trees and all looked as if they jumped off the cover of a mens' magazine, except for Leah, of course. She on the other hand was Venus incarnate. Emily, though pretty in her own way, paled in comparison.
Bella singled out Jacob, and her lungs let out a gasp. Good lord, he looked … he looked … oh my gosh … he looked … smashing! Now, mind you, Edward was no slouch. He was a handsome devil in his tux, but Jacob … he was absolutely … no other word for it … smashing! He caught her eye, and grinned, making her weak in the knees.
She'd seen him bare-chested, in jeans and a button-up shirt, even a sports jacket once, but this? Holy cow—the boy cleaned up nicely, nicely indeed. Edward had to drag her away from the spot where she was rooted, ogling the piece of eye candy. He didn't have to be so rough with her though, geesh.
Edward practically hauled her over to the corner where there was some mistletoe hanging, and in a show of possession, kissed her. Bella smiled up at him, forgetting for a moment that Jacob was probably watching, not that this kiss was any different from his usual though. Cautious, hesitant, and restrained to a fault.
Jacob saw it all right, not probably, but positively. His eyes followed the two of them like an eagle about to swoop down on its prey. Dammit, did that lecherous leech have to rub his face in it? He wasn't ignorant of the fact that Eddie boy had her in his hip pocket, but it just seemed that the freakin' tick did everything in his power to taunt the wolf boy. This triangle was killing him.
As Edward walked over to the punch bowl to get Bella some eggnog, Jacob made his move.
She was sitting on a chair by the floor to ceiling glass panes, the mistletoe just a few feet away. He sat down beside her. "Soooo … were you going to say hello to me, or do your best to ignore me for the rest of the evening?"
Just looking at him, was making her heart flutter wildly. The poor girl could hardly speak. "No … I … um … wanted to say hello, but Edward pulled me away just then."
"Yeah, no kiddin'. I saw it all. I can hear it all too."
"What?" Bella leaned forward, straightening his bow tie, and placed her hand over his throat. The scent of her light perfume was getting to him.
"He slipped his hand over hers, and chuckling, said, "Your heart is doin' a tap dance inside your chest." He pointed to one of his ears. "Wolf-hearing, remember?"
He knew without a doubt that he was right, but it was so much fun to hear her deny it. Even while he clutched her hand in his, the beat increased considerably. "I …"
"Never mind. No sense in embarrassing yourself. I know you have feelings for me, even if you don't."
"Jacob Black, you are such a …"
With an eye roll, he stood up. "Yeah, I know. Let's go for a walk."
"What about Edward?"
His eyes smoldered as he gazed at her. "What about him?"
He smirked, lifting Bella to her feet. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Quil giving him a thumbs up and a wink. They went through the side door and out onto the balcony. He held her close to his side to shield her from the cold night air.
Turning his head, he murmured, "You look really beautiful tonight, Bells."
She met his stare. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
Jacob shrugged. "Never wore a tux before."
"Thank goodness." She jerked her thumb toward the party still going on behind her. "You gave half the girls in there a heart attack. Didn't you see the way their heads all whipped around when you walked in?"
Those dark eyes burned straight into her soul. "I only noticed one in particular."
Her face colored at his remark. It was just so cute how she did that, but those pink cheeks confirmed it; he hit the nail right on the head. Bella Swan was taken with him at this very moment.
Looking over his shoulder, Jacob spied Eddie standing in the middle of the room with a cup of eggnog in his hand, eyeing them suspiciously. The leech was pretty damned astute. His suspicions would be correct.
Eddie was too polite to confront them however, so Jacob was sure he wouldn't interrupt his plan. He whirled Bella around and steered her through the door and back into the room, settling under the mistletoe.
"Well, whaddya know. Look where we're standing, Bells?"
"Jake …" she pleaded.
"Ah, ah, ah! We're under the mistletoe. You havta kiss me."
"I don't havta do anyth—"
Her breath was squeezed out of her, and the words obliterated as Jacob firmly drew her to his chest, and covered her mouth with two anxious lips. His muscular arms were around her, and the feel of the satin in her dress was cool and smooth, her mouth, soft and inviting. He was in heaven!
Holeeee cow! Bella hadn't really planned to kiss the boy, but now that she was engaged in the activity, she wanted more. Why didn't Edward kiss her this way? And his tongue—the girl couldn't describe the feelings it stirred up in her. She loved him; that much was true. But this was something new—a feeling of what? Attraction?
She grabbed his hands and placed them about her waist, pulling him in tighter, her own threading through his thick black hair. Oh my gosh, she could get used to this. She shamelessly moaned as her mouth moved with his. Jacob's lips were so warm and pliable, not stiff and cold, and timid. He was not afraid to demonstrate his feelings, and his aggressiveness only made the flame inside of her burn intensely hotter!
Jacob could lead her anywhere he wanted now. The battle was over, and he was the victor. She no longer had a will of her own, and couldn't care less.
Jacob at this point was putty in her hands, and he purposely allowed her to shove him against the expanse of glass. His head jerked back for a second, his eyes wide, "Whoa," he breathed, as the onslaught continued. Jeez, his lips were tingling, along with some other anatomical male parts.
Several people in the room tittered, but not the La Push bunch. Emby and Quil were the loudest, "Woooo, Bella!" They shouted.
Paul interjected, "Get a room!"
The crowd applauded, but Eddie, looking distressed, walked back to the refreshment table and threw the eggnog, cup and all into the glass punch bowl. He speedily dashed up the stairs to his room and slammed the door. The pixie stood in shock, slack-jawed at this turn of events.
Bella finally came to her senses, and pulled away from her mistletoed enticer, her hair disheveled and her face flushed with excitement. Jacob took her hand and waltzed with her out to the Rabbit, amid more cheers.
The following Year, Christmas Eve
Jacob had been gone a while, and wouldn't tell her where he was going. She finally heard the Rabbit as it drove into the parking space outside their apartment. He walked in, grinning and holding something behind his back.
"What's Christmas without this?" he said, as he laughed. He held it over his head. "You havta kiss me, Bells. 'Cuz, see, I'm under the mistletoe."
"I don't havta do anyth—"
And once again, her words were swallowed in a kiss that could move mountains, and/or more importantly, turn her legs to jelly. He was under the mistletoe, but with or without it, his kiss was better than any gift Santa could leave under their tree. Eggnog, holly, mistletoe, and ho-ho-ho-yeah, and well, ya know …
The End