Running

Chapter Two: Crossing Lines

Previously:

For dramatic effect then, Edward whispers his next words directly into Jacob's ear. "Then why are you still here?"

Edward does not know precisely what he expects Jacob to do or say, but the shudder that runs down his spine catches him completely off guard.

Jacob's thoughts are muddled-a rapid stream of half-formed notions and emotions. Edward wonders if Jacob always thinks this way, or if the phenomenon is a hold-over from his recent transformation. Edward can't figure out what Jacob's thinking, perhaps because Jacob himself does not know. Jacob is deeply conflicted; a state of mind Edward is unfortunately familiar with. An unexpected wave of empathy washes over Edward at this thought. The vampire always thought the wolf saw the world in black and white, what then could Jacob be so unsure about.

Edward asks as much. Jacob's guards are just a bit too late in going up and Edward hears, Whether to kiss you or kill you—

Edward does not know what compels him (he is tempted to blame that traitorous "other" inside his head) but he tilts his head and makes the decision for Jacob. With the taste of Jacob's mouth and the feel of his full lips against his own, Edward is suddenly acutely aware of how warm and solid and strong Jacob's body is beneath him, of how nice it is to want something and simply take it, and of how Jacob does not seem to be struggling.

He pulls back slightly and opens his eyes, unaware that he had closed them, searching for a reaction. Jacob's eyes are still shut, his eyelashes fanning his high cheekbones. Jacob's brows furrow, and his eyelids twitch but remain shut. Jacob lifts a hand to Edward's arm, his shoulder, across his neck and to his face. He leaves his hand there, wanting assurance that Edward his still there, yet unwilling to open his eyes.

Opening his eyes would make everything too real. If Jacob opens his eyes now, he will have to see Edward, smirking or sneering. Disgusted no doubt. And who could blame him? Jacob is repulsed with himself. How did he let this happen? What is he going to do now? Why didn't he just leave when he had the chance?

From somewhere inside him, he hears the answer echoing in his mind. Because you wanted an escape, however brief or unorthodox, you wanted a break from being strong, from hiding your emotions from everyone including yourself. You wanted to be wanted. You wanted to surrender.

Jacob cringes inwardly at how weak his thoughts sound, even to himself. God, I sound like some trashy novel.

With his face hovering scant inches above Jacob's, Edward smiles and chuckles. The wolf feels his stomach flip.

"You do. But I like it." Emboldened by another mad rush of an emotion that Edward cannot name after ninety years on Earth, Edward leans down to kiss Jacob again. When Jacob's lips press tentatively back against his, Edward feels a wave of warmth suffuse him. For the first time in nearly seventy years, he does not feel cold. "If you start using sordid euphemisms, though, I'll be forced to start skimming."

Jacob looks up at him, summoning the presence of mind to make his question clear, plainly in his eyes and mind if not aloud.

Edward receives this as a wordless interrogative. It is "what" and "why" and "how" at the same time. Edward sighs and lowers his head to the meeting of Jacob's neck and chest, listening to the hammering heartbeat there. "I do not know," he replies to the unasked question. "And I really do not want to think about it." He kisses down Jacob's collar bone, across his left pectoral and down lower to take a nipple into his mouth. The sensation of Edward's chilled mouth on Jacob's over-heated skin causes him to buck violently, which causes the corner of Edward's mouth to quirk slightly.

With a predatory gleam in his eye, Edward releases Jacob's nipple to ask, "Do you want me to stop?"

Jacob's inarticulate groan and the rolling of his hips is all the answer Edward needs, although he is not averse to hearing the stream of Oh no. Oh God, no. Don't stop. Please, don't stop, please don't stop running through Jacob's head.

For reasons Edward does not deign to explore at the moment, he obliges and begins to slowly lick his way lower…

Author's Note: Please review! Not sure where to go with this…