Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or these characters.

Warning: contains strong language and sexual content.

"Fuck," Jake muttered, running his fingers roughly through his hair as he sat slumped down and sprawled out on the couch in his apartment. He was distractedly flipping through channels, his eyes darting to his phone every five seconds. Why hasn't she called? Why am I being such a fucking girl?

A part of Jake ached for her. He was constantly thinking about her laugh: her smile, her tiny hands enclosed in his, and how on earth he could prove to her that he could be the man she wanted and needed him to be. Another part of him was so fucking hard it hurt, and vivid memories of her soft lips, her hard nipples, and her wet folds assaulted him. He could still practically taste her on his tongue, smell her sweet perfume.

"Fuck," he cursed again, shoving his hand down his jeans and gripping himself under his cotton boxers. He hadn't had sex—or anything even close to it—since that day in Sam's office with Bella. That was a week ago. He'd seen Bella, talked to Bella, but nothing more than a few ardent kisses had been exchanged before she pulled away. Her guard was up, firmly in place, and he had no idea how to break through.

And god how he wanted to break through.

The thought of her soft lips and warm breath wrapped around his cock had him tilting his head back and shallowly pumping his hard, thick length. He could imagine her pink tongue applying light pressure to the underside, lapping around the head as she moved her mouth up and down and sucked hard. His hand moved faster as images assaulted him: her pushing her hair out of her face, his hips bucking up, maybe he'd tangle his fingers in her wavy locks as he fucked her warm, wet mouth, maybe she'd take him so deep his dick would hit the back of her throat, maybe she'd hum around him—

"Fuuuuck," he groaned. He was so lost in his fantasy of Bella—her lips, her mouth, kissing and sucking, her tongue dragging around the tip of his dick, the vibrations from her swallowing and humming—he didn't hear the knock on the door.

A few minutes later, Audrey, his leggy, blonde-bombshell neighbor poked her head in.

He really needed to get new locks.

She crept silently across the wood floor, her eyes mischievous and a smirk playing on her full lips. She stood behind the couch watching him moan. Her lips were at his ear, and just as Bella's name fell from lips, she whispered, "Need a hand?"

Jake jumped at the sound of her voice, stuffing himself back in his jeans.

"Christ, Audrey! What the fuck? Can't you knock?" he growled angrily, his face heating up in embarrassment. She smirked, leaning forward over the couch. Jake's eyes momentarily drifted to her chest; her shirt was so low and her breasts pushed together just right—

Fuck. No. Bella, Bella, Bella, he chanted, scolding himself and snapping his eyes up to her face.

"What's wrong, Jakey?" she practically purred as she rounded the couch, sauntering towards him, her smirk wicked and her eyes twinkling. She looked like a lioness stalking her prey, ready to pounce, with her wild blonde curls fluffed out around her face. Jake immediately tried to back up, falling and stumbling over the coffee table, but she didn't relent until she had him backed up against the wall, her blood red fingernail poking him in the chest.

He knocked her hand away.

"I'm sort of seeing someone," he confessed, his harshness gone as he sighed heavily. It wasn't like she knew how he felt about Bella anyway. He'd been pretty much down for whatever up until recently.

"Uh, okay. Would that be why you were moaning Bella?" she asked, stepping back only slightly. He smiled sheepishly and nodded, running his rough hands through his hair. Audrey plopped down on the sofa. "And I'm guessing things are a little—" she unashamedly roamed her eyes down to his crotch and back up to his face, smirking widely as she continued, "—hard?"

He rolled his eyes and tried to adjust himself, sitting on the opposite end of the couch and sighing heavily.

"I don't know when things got so complicated," he admitted.

"Well, Jake, what did you expect? You had to fall in love eventually with as many women as you're always 'seeing,'" she commented with exaggerated air quotes.

Jake sputtered, choking on the gulp of water he had just sipped from the bottle on the coffee table. Not like he didn't know it—fuck, he felt it so deep it was impossible to ignore it or deny it anymore—but hearing it out loud was another matter entirely. He had said it the other night to her, but maybe that wasn't enough.

Audrey chuckled, "Oh, yeah. You're in love."

Fortunately, Jake was saved by the chirping of his cell phone. A picture of Bella flashed on the screen and made everything else disappear, his heart race, and his hands sweat. What am I, a fucking teenager?

Jake glanced at Audrey once before answering. She just nodded, rising to her feet and waving bye before exiting his apartment.

"Bella," Jake breathed into the receiver, his voice cracking and strained.

"Hey. You okay, Jake?" Bella asked.

"No. I miss you," he answered her honestly as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and raking his hand through his hair again.

Bella's sharp intake of breath told him she needed to hear that, but she didn't say anything, and he felt the fight for her bubbling up in his gut.

"Can I come see you?" he asked, his voice almost pleading. How am I so fucking twisted over her?

She pressed her lips together. She couldn't deny that his words sent her heart fluttering and a jolt of heat to ricocheting through her entire body, gathering in a pooling warmth between her legs. She did want to see him, to touch him. God, how I want him to touch me.

"Bella? Baby? How can I prove anything to you if you keep shutting me out?" He was frustrated at her lack of response. He felt like he was up against a wall. Unintentionally, images of having her up against a wall flooded his mind, and he cursed under his breath.

"Pick me up at eight," came her whispered reply. His heart jumped for joy, but before he could answer or confirm, the line clicked.

~000~

Bella sat on the edge of her bed, her phone still clutched in her hand, worrying her bottom lip. The buzzing in her hand made her jump, her voice squeaking in surprise.

"Hello?" she managed.

"Bella? What's wrong?" Leah asked, and it all came out in a jumbled rush.

"I don't know, Leah. Jake called and wants to see me. And I said okay, but I don't know... is it okay? When I'm with him lately... especially now that he's actively pursuing me... I just, I can't... fuck, I just want to give into him so fucking bad," she sobbed, angry tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to wipe them away.

"Whoa. Calm down, Bells. Take a deep breath," Leah soothed, her usual abrasiveness gone and replaced by a rare, soft warmth. "I think it's natural for you to have some reservations about this, about him. I just have one question for you, not that I'm taking his side, but what do you need from him to start letting him in?"

Bella took in a deep breath. She wasn't sure she knew the answer to that. He'd told her he'd prove it to her. She knew he hadn't been talking to any other girls. He'd even said he loved her—was falling in love with her—the other night.

Wasn't that enough?

~000~

As soon as she opened the door, he framed her face with his large, rough hands and kissed her passionately. His lips moved hard and fast against hers, stealing the breath from her lungs as he backed her up into the house.

"Is the Chief here?" he asked on a ragged breath, his lips still pressed to hers. Bella's mind had turned to mush in a matter of seconds with his zealous kisses tingling on her lips. She shook her head once; the look in his dark eyes had her drowning.

His lips went back to hers instantly, his tongue swiping along her lower lip and demanding entrance as he scooped her up and bounded up the stairs in three long strides.

She broke her mouth away from his and sucked in a greedy breath. His lips landed on her cheek as he continued to kiss her jaw and neck.

"Where are you—"

Her words were cut off when he lowered her to her bed and settled himself in between her legs. His eyes locked on hers, one hand coming up to cup her cheek, fingertips tangling in her hair and his thumb stroking over her flushed skin, and his other hand rested on her hip.

"Please, Bella. Let me touch you. It's all—" he cleared his throat, his voice cracked and strained under the desperation of his request as he continued, "—all I can fucking think about. Just...please..."

She couldn't have denied him even if a part of her brain was screaming at her to. She quickly dismissed that voice, placing her palm flat against the back of his neck and pulling his lips back to hers.

His lips had slowed their desperate pace as he kissed her slow and deep, but his hands were frenzied as they unbuttoned her jeans and practically tore them from her legs. His long fingers smoothed up her naked legs. The feeling of her soft, silky skin had him completely drunk. He reached the dampened edge of her panties, teasingly fingering the edge.

He almost lost it completely when she whimpered.

He quickly pushed the offending cotton aside, stroking over her wet folds and marveling at just how wet she was, and just how velvety that sensitive, moist flesh felt beneath his hand.

He had to taste her. His lips tingled at the thought, his mouth salivating to have her sweet juices on his tongue again. He sat back on his heels, momentarily drinking in the sight of her.

"So fucking beautiful," he breathed as he lowered himself between her legs, kissing just below her navel, ever so softly. He hooked his fingers in her panties and ripped them from her body. She gasped, and he smirked against her skin as he reached her glistening center and lapped at the wetness he had created.

She twitched and moaned, fisting her hands in the sheets and biting her lip. He held her bucking hips in place with one hand while his other slipped up under her shirt, shoving her bra up and wrapping his hand around her soft breast.

"Oh, god, oh, oh, god, oh, god," she chanted breathlessly, arching her back as he dragged his tongue around her sensitive bundle before closing his lips around it and sucking. She practically leapt off the mattress when his tongue fucked her, his fingers from the hand on her hip spreading her wider. She hooked her leg over his shoulder, her fingers raked through his hair, and she exploded, trembling and bursting at the seams.

But he didn't stop.

He continued to lick and lap at her folds, tasting her, until she came down from her high. He lifted his head to see her, her hair completely wild, her eyes closed, and her breathing so deep he wondered if she'd fallen asleep.

"Bella?" he asked, and she opened her eyes, locking on his.

Please, fuck me now. The words were practically burning on the edge of her tongue, and she had to press her lips together tightly to keep them from spilling out. She wanted him so bad, though. The ache he had satisfied just moments before was now blossoming into renewed desire.

He swallowed thickly at the tempestuous look in her dark eyes. He wanted to just push himself inside her so fucking bad and make love to her like he should have been doing all these years. But that one word kept repeating in his head—virgin—and he knew he shouldn't push her. He knew she was still uncertain, cautious, and slightly afraid.

It took every ounce of inner strength and willpower he had to just softly kiss her lips and then step away from her tempting body. He took a heavy breath, smiling a little sheepishly at her.

Bella watched him for a moment. Some of the uncertainty faded just a bit when she realized he was willing to sacrifice his own release. She quickly righted herself, walking over to grab another pair of panties from her drawer. She pulled out the drawer, and suddenly, he was right in front of her, pushing it closed. His warm breath caressed her skin as he leaned in to whisper huskily, "No. Don't wear any."

If she wasn't wet before, she sure as hell was now, and it took her a full minute of arguing with herself before she just pulled back on her jeans and shoes and grabbed her purse.

"Ready?" he asked, taking her hand in his. She nodded and softly snorted. He had no idea.

~000~

"Hey," Jake said softly as he came to a stop and tugged on Bella's hand. She stopped and turned to face him with a quirked eyebrow. He motioned to the boardwalk with his head. "Let's go for a walk."

She followed his lead down to the boardwalk. They had driven back up to Port Angeles for dinner, and it was now getting kind of late. Bella tried to will away thoughts of just staying with him. It would be so nice to just curl up in his bed, his strong, warm arms wrapped around her—

But it was only a moment that those innocent thoughts stayed. She knew they'd be doing little sleeping if she went back to his apartment with him. She was sure she wouldn't be able to resist any longer—her resolve, and her guard, was crumbling at an alarming speed.

Jake dropped her hand and flung his arm over her shoulder, tucking her into his side. The sun had long since left. The moon was full and bright, its glow romantic and enticing. They walked together, each wrapped up in their own thoughts, in this moment.

"Jake?" a low, gruff voice asked, breaking the comfortable silence. Jake turned to his side as a large burly guy with curly black hair and a huge grin came jogging over to them.

"Hey, Emmett! What are you doing in town?" Jake asked, slapping hands with his friend. Emmett and Jake had met in college and had a few classes together before he'd moved back to California.

"Nothing, really, just visiting some friends." Emmett's bright blue eyes moved from Jake to Bella, and he stuck out his hand. "Hey, I'm Emmett."

"Oh, man. Sorry. This is my best friend, Bella," Jake offered when he realized he hadn't introduced them. The title seemed to just roll off his tongue. He'd said it a million times before. He didn't even notice. But Bella did. She noticed, and she flinched, her heat deflating and sinking a little lower in her gut.

She swallowed hard, trying to not give away her hurt, and clasped Emmett's hand, plastering a smile on her face. "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

She didn't think Jake noticed.

But as he glanced over at her, he saw the flash of hurt, the way her jaw tensed, the fake smile, and he knew he had fucked up. Again.

A/N: Thank you to jkane180 for your awesome beta skills and ideas! Thanks to wordslinger, kissa_621, and russettdiamond86 for all you pre-reading and encouragement and brainstorming with me. Love ya!