Chapter 9 – Jealousy

A/N: I think I forgot to mention this in a few chapters...I'm not SM and I don't own anything related to Twilight.

I'm pretty sure I've responded to all the sweet comments on the last chapter, but just in case (and for those who post anonymously)—THANKS!

Thanks to my PTB betas, Sheynondoah and TwilightHeart21!

NPOV

Fuck.

How long had Warren been lingering in the damn hallway? And why the hell was he back?

Now wasn't the time to work through the whole Warren issue. I was trying to figure out exactly how I was going to break this little – ahem, life altering – development to him. Here I was on cloud nine, enjoying these unfamiliar, tender kisses and whispers with the man I couldn't imagine being away from, and suddenly my little moment is ruined.

"Please chill. For me?" I pleaded with Jacob, knowing his every instinct was to kill Warren; not only because he was a vampire, but because if he had to have a label, it would be ex-lover, and he just interrupted something so perfect. "He's my friend, Jacob. Remember that. I'm going to have to deal with this sooner or later."

He rolled his eyes and pulled me impossibly closer. "How about later?" he said sarcastically.

I kissed his jaw lightly. "Just give me a few minutes, okay? Don't move an inch."

He raised one eyebrow cockily. "And what if I do?"

I touched his cheek and showed him an image of me wearing a chastity belt. As if. I had to do something to keep him from ripping Warren to pieces.

"I'll stay put as long as he doesn't start acting like an ass."

I kissed his pliant, warm, delicious lips again and felt like I could melt. I didn't understand a bit of it…yet…but I didn't care. Something inside me had changed eternally.

I slid on my robe and flip flops, did a quick check in the mirror only to realize there was no getting rid of the post-sex glow and my hair was beyond help. Warren had probably heard everything anyways, so I just said to hell with it and slipped out the door, opening it as little as necessary before closing it the second I was out.

If there was any doubt in my mind about what Warren did or didn't hear, it was gone the minute I saw his face. He was absolutely crushed. It was official; I was an evil person and should be damned to hell. I felt tears coming and didn't bother trying to fight against them. I deserved this and so much more.

My legs went limp and I slid down to the ground against my door.

This man had never done anything but try to make me happy. I enjoyed his company so much and part of me loved him in a very different way than I felt for Jacob or anyone in my family. I loved him as a friend. Everyone wanted me to be with him, but I just didn't feel it, not once.

He deserved to be loved. He was there for me. He guided me and helped me every time I was in need, every time I was being a whiney bitch and deserved to be slapped and told to shut up.

We had so much fun together. I didn't want it to end, but I also wanted him to be happy. Could I be so selfish as to ask him to continue to be my friend after this? To sit on the sidelines and watch another man fill the role he always wanted? I owed him so much more than this…

"I'm so s—"

Warren interrupted my apology. "Renesmee, you were never mine. Don't be sorry." He squatted down in front of me and stroked my hair. I really didn't want him touching me, but I owed it to him.

"But I am," I whispered. "You've done so much for me. And I truly appreciate it all. You're my best friend."

"Yes, but not your love." He sat down in the floor in front of me. "I'm fine with you not feeling for me the way I feel for you. I've known it all along. But I'm not so sure about this guy," he whispered so low I doubted Jacob could hear. "They're fucking werewolves, babe. One of 'em tried to kill me and damn near succeeded. His mouth was on my throat, and then all of a sudden he stopped."

I didn't bother trying to reason with him. It was useless. I couldn't explain something I hardly understood myself. Jacob and his friend weren't werewolves in the traditional sense, I knew that much.

"Everything's fine. I promise. Don't worry about it. It's not what you think."

"He tried to kill me and could have. They could kill you." I heard Jacob growl and could tell that he wasn't where I left him. He was right behind the door. "Renesmee, you can't do this. I'd rather you find a human than risk your life by being with this guy. Please, don't."

I could hear Jacob's heart pounding in his chest and his deep, measured breaths. He was clearly struggling to stay calm and behind the door like I had asked.

"Warren, you please don't. It's not like that. They aren't even...look, can I come talk to you tomorrow morning? This isn't really a good place to discuss this." I gestured to my left and right, reminding him that we were sitting in the hallway.

"Sure, whatever," he mumbled, getting up and making his way down the hall. "I can't save you from this, Hun. You know where to find me."

I didn't breathe again until the elevator door closed with him inside. He never once turned back to look at me. My head fell back against the door and I just sat there for a moment, thinking of how fucked up the situation was.

There was a light tap from behind the door. "Ness?"

My heart skipped a beat. I'd never experienced anything like this before…this whole being in love thing. It was weird. I never thought anyone could have such a hold on me.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Can I open the door now?" he asked calmly.

I smiled – actually smiled – and stood up. He cracked the door and I opened it the rest of the way. Seeing someone's face never brought me this much excitement. He made me feel like everything was perfect without doing anything at all, by just existing. I'd stopped holding back and fighting against my desire to give my all to him. At this point, I was his entirely…even if it didn't make sense.

He opened his arms and I went to him, closing the door as he pulled me into his chest. "I'm sorry this is hurting you," he murmured into my hair.

I shook my head. "It would have happened eventually. He's been in love with me from the beginning. I'm a terrible person for dragging him along like I have."

"You could never be a terrible person. He said it himself; he knew you were never his. He knows it's his fault. That's why he's not mad at you but himself," he said soothingly, pulling me to the bed and into his lap. I felt so safe and warm and…at home…in his arms. It really did feel like we were made for each other.

"How do you know all this?" I asked.

He chuckled under his breath. "Truth?" he asked. I nodded. "I've been in his shoes. Well, not exactly, but I can relate."

I turned to look up at him. "So you've been in love before?"

He laughed out loud. "I'd hardly call it love. I was young and dumb. Anyways, I'd rather not talk about it. Have you ever been in love?"

"I didn't even know what it was until you. My feelings didn't make sense. They didn't have a name." Staring up at him, I felt like my life was perfect.

"So you never had any love feelings for that…err…guy?"

I laughed lightly. "None at all. He'd try to kiss or touch me lovingly and it'd make me cringe." In truth, I was starting to believe that I couldn't have ever loved anyone but Jacob, like my heart belonged to him my entire life without knowing it.

He stared at me for a moment before timidly asking, "So you're okay with all this?"

"How could I not be okay with it? It doesn't make any sense, but how could something that feels so perfect be wrong?"

"Would it weird you out if I sort of explained everything a little more? There's a little more to it than just being soul mates. I feel like you should know everything."

I only nodded. No matter what he told me, I couldn't imagine it being enough to make me leave him. Nothing could.

"Part of our um…breeding, I guess you could say…part of being a shape-shifter is imprinting. Not everyone does it. There are different theories as to why we do it, but no one really knows. Some think it makes for stronger wolves in the future, others think it's just fate. A couple of guys have imprinted on random girls that weren't even Native American so it's hard to think it has to do with making stronger wolves."

"Wait, so there are lots of shape-shifters?" I asked. For some reason I thought it was only him and Embry.

"A good bit, yes. Last time I counted, there were seventeen. Not all of them have imprinted, though." He paused for a moment,"When we imprint, it's like an instant love unlike anything else in the world. I'd felt a pull to you all week. I could smell you everywhere. And when I finally saw your face at the party, it happened. I tried and tried to fight it but I couldn't. The bond was too strong."

I felt that way, too. Everything he just said applied to me. I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek, showing him how I felt when I saw him, how attracted I was to him, how I could smell him. Then, after I saw his face, how I felt so much more for him but didn't understand it, how I felt so completed by him, how I, too, stopped the inner fight and let my heart win.

"I love it when you do that," he said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile back. My gift freaked even some vampires out - I was surprised he actually liked it.

"I wish you could do it. I'd love to see inside your mind." I'm sure Dad would, too. I kept that thought to myself. The last thing I needed was my family crawling down my back about dating someone besides Warren. I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.

"Words will have to do, I guess. What do you want to know?"

I shrugged, unsure of what to ask. I thought about it for a moment while running my nails across his smooth, well muscled stomach. God, I just want to taste it. "We can do this later if you want." He raised one eyebrow and gave me the sexiest grin. I guess he heard my thoughts.

"Calm down, tiger. I'm still recovering from earlier. Your cock is the size of a damn flag pole." Maybe not exactly, but it was easily twice as big as Warren's in both length and breadth.

We both laughed. Jacob's face turned a bit more serious. "I never want to be away from you. I never want today to end."

"Do you think you'd feel that way if you hadn't imprinted on me?" I couldn't help but wonder about that. I mean, I was supposed to be the enemy, not the one he loved.

"I know we're still getting to know each other, but I truly believe that if I hadn't imprinted on you and we met, I would have wanted to know you. There's no way I wouldn't have fallen for you. You seem like such an awesome person. My people put a lot of faith in fate, and now I do as well. If you're the person I'm meant to be with, then that's all I need to know. The rest will work itself out, just like it already has for us. I don't want to think about the 'what ifs'. I know that we're here together for a reason. I feel like I'd be yours either way. I hope you don't think I'm lying to you."

"No;of course not." I could feel it in every part of me that he was telling the truth. "I really don't care, Jacob. All I know is I've never felt this way about anyone in my entire life and I wouldn't have it any other way. My heart belongs to you."

He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my lips. It was enough to make my heart flutter even faster. We stayed up the rest of the night talking about everything under the sun…music, movies, my eating habits, our likes and dislikes, school, places we wanted to go, things we wanted to do in the future, everything. We must have talked for at least six hours straight because the sun was creeping in through my small window when we finally fell asleep in each other's arms.

The questions, the reasons, the consequences…none of it mattered. Jacob Black had changed something inside me forever…and I loved him with every breath of my existence.

The sound of the door opening woke me and Jacob at the exact same moment. I quickly sat up praying Warren hadn't decided to come back, only to see my roommate dragging her bags in behind her.

"It's okay, it's my roommate," I whispered to Jacob. He nodded and burrowed himself back into the pillows.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" she whispered. "I'm going to get breakfast so I'll see you later."

"No, no, no, it's okay, really. We're clothed and sleeping with no intentions of doing anything else anytime soon. Stay."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Don't try to be quiet for us, either. Watch TV or do whatever. I'm going back to sleep."

I curled back against Jacob and he nuzzled his face into my neck and hair. I noticed when he breathed in my scent. We slept for a couple of hours before another knock on the door woke me. I was so nervous that Warren would come back that my brain was on high alert. Whoever it was had a heartbeat, so I tried my hardest to drift back to sleep.

Ella answered the door and I couldn't help but eavesdrop. "Hey, come on in," she said to the visitor in a whisper. I smelled the air, it was Kimber.

"I was wondering where those two were all night," she whispered to Ella. "Man, I've never seen Jake make that face before."

"Yeah, he's been kissing her in his sleep every once in a while and keeps mumbling her name and shit."

Kimber laughed, but it didn't do much to mask the tinge of jealousy in her voice. "Beer flavored nipples, I guess."

"Maybe it's more than that," Ella whispered in response.

Kimber snickered. "Jacob's anti-commitment. That's why we work so well. He'll be back in my bed tonight."

Over my dead body.

I couldn't deal with anymore. I already wanted to kill one of the very few girls I considered an almost-friend on campus. If she kept spewing garbage, I just might act on my impulses.

I began to stretch and grumble, pretending to wake up. Jacob followed suit, but instead of stretching he just pulled me closer to him and trailed tender kisses along my neck and jaw line. From one barely open eye I saw Kimber watching. I felt victorious. Little did he know, he was saying everything I wanted to say without either of us actually speaking.

"Put fifty bucks on it," Ella whispered as softly as she could.

"You're on," Kimber replied.

Two could play that game. I was just about to tell Jacob to stop because there were other people in the room, but instead I decided to let him continue. His hand began to caress my face lovingly while his lips made their way from my neck, across my cheek, and to my mouth. His kisses were so soft and sweet and said nothing but I love you. I sent my thoughts to him through my hand on his bare back. I've dealt with Warren, you need to deal with Kimber.

"Who?" he whispered against my mouth.

The girl standing across the room boiling with jealousy.

He kissed me lightly a few more times just so I wouldn't think he was stopping because of her. I figured he was being polite. After all, it was considered rude to make out in front of others…unless you're at a frat party.

We both turned to face our audience and pretended to be surprised. "Mornin' ladies. Sorry, I didn't know anyone was in the room," he said smoothly.

"Don't let us disturb you," Ella said jokingly. Kimber huffed.

Jacob stood from the bed and stretched. Thankfully he'd put his shorts on before falling asleep. Kimber and Ella gawked as he pulled and stretched, waking his tired muscles. I didn't mind. He was fucking hot…ripped and hot and mine. They could admire all they wanted. I knew where his heart was – with me.

I stood beside him and ran my fingers over his abs lightly. He growled and gave me this look that made me want to knock him to the floor and fuck him right then and there in front of anyone who happened to be witness. His long arms came around my body and pulled me against him. His long fingers went up the back and side of my shirt and caressed the skin there, making me shiver in pleasure.

"Whaddya say to breakfast? I'm starving," he said, staring at me with those gorgeous brown eyes.

"Yeah, I need to get decent first though. I'll come down to your room when I'm ready."

His lips pressed against mine and my heart melted. "You're fucking gorgeous the way you are, but if you insist on getting all girly then I'll wait," he murmured against my lips. He squeezed my ass and kissed me one more time before heading for the door.

I went straight to my dresser and rifled through for something cute to wear.

"What did you do to him?" Kimber asked playfully. "Did you guys take X or something? I've never seen him like that before."

I wanted to say something smart and witty, something that would make Emmett proud, but I was still half asleep and definitely too blissful to be bitchy. "No drugs. I know we're friends and all, so I'm sorry about this, but we're sort of…I guess you could say exclusive."

There were so many better words to describe what we were, but Kimber and Ella would think I'd lost it or something if I told them the truth.

"No way. Jacob is anti-commitment. Don't get your hopes up, Ness. He'll only break your heart." I could hear Kimber's irritation and envy seeping through her façade.

"I have spent the majority of the weekend with him. We were up until dawn just talking. Where were you all weekend? Because I know exactly where you weren't."

"Burn," Ella said jokingly.

Kimber huffed and left the room. I grabbed my robe and shower caddy and left to get ready for my breakfast date with the most amazing man I'd ever met.

I was ready in record time. I smelled Kimber in his hall and knew exactly where she would be. I stood outside his door and could hear every word of what was going on inside.

"Kim, stop. It can't be like this between us anymore." I heard the distinct sound of her kissing him. "Seriously, stop. I don't want you," Jacob said firmly.

"Yes you do, Jacob. Look at me. How can you say you don't want me? You know me. You love fucking me."

"Maybe at one time, but it's not like that anymore and it won't be ever again." I heard the kissing sound again and what could only have been a zipper being tugged on. "God Dammit, get the fuck off me! You're being pathetic. I'm with Ness now. I will never want you. She's going to be here soon and I don't want to smell like you, so get up before I move you myself."

"How could you do this to me? We've been together for like a year now," she pouted.

"We've been hooking up for that long, but we've never been 'together'."

I didn't even bother knocking, I just went in. Kimber was straddling Jacob's lap wearing nothing but her panties. Jacob was holding her by her forearms. He looked at me and knew I'd heard the whole conversation. He didn't have anything to worry about. The bitch on his lap was a different story.

"You sure you want him, Ness? You've only been apart for a half hour and he's already trying to fuck me."

"Bullshit. Like I've already told you, get the fuck off of me," Jacob said forcefully.

"Kimber, I heard everything through the door. I'm not fucking stupid. Now get off him before I make you."

She stood and started putting her clothes on. "Whatever. I see how it is," she hissed.

I shrugged. "I would have shared him with you if you hadn't been such a bitch."

She slammed the door on her way out, not speaking to either of us. I watched while Jacob changed clothes. Apparently he smelled too much like Kimber for his liking. He excused himself and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face again.

When he came back, he lifted me into his arms and sat me on his lap on the bed. "You know I don't want her, right? You did hear what happened, right?"

I nodded. "I know. She's just mad. I'm not worried about her."

"I could never even so much as look at her in a sexual way. I'm yours." Our faces were so close together. The heat between our bodies felt so thick. My breathing became labored and for the umpteenth time this weekend I felt like I was detached from reality. My head was swimming in everything Jacob. I felt woozy and tingly and euphoric.

Then his hot mouth pressed to mine. It was as if I could feel the love from him through our kiss. Everything was still so new, but there was no doubt in my mind that my heart and soul would forevermore belong to him.

Our lips moved together in the most beautiful way. His huge hands were so gentle and light against my skin, touching my face and the small of my back while we shared a long, heart stopping kiss. It surprised me how he could be so rough and aggressive sometimes then so tender at others.

"Heaven," he mumbled against my lips. Yes, this was definitely heaven. We sat there staring at each other with our foreheads pressed together for a moment, catching our breath. His stomach interrupted our trance with a loud growl.

"Let's get you fed," I said, though I really wanted to stay locked in his room and drown myself in this incredible feeling. I wanted him, yes, but I also wanted to do nothing more than hold each other and talk for hours like we had previously.

I'd never been around anyone who had such an effect on me.

A/N: Okay, I totally love this chapter. I'd really like to hear what you think about it. The reviews from the last chapter helped me finish out the chapter I was working on with ease. Keep 'em coming!