Chapter 8: Combustion

Renesmee found that when she and Jacob stopped teasing and taking shots at each other, they actually got along very well. Beneath his hard exterior, Jacob was actually a bit of a softie; he spoke of his dad and grandfather like they were his idols, and he had nothing but reverence for his deceased mother. He thought the world of Charlie, and looked up to him quite a bit both personally and professionally, which she found endearing and only slightly annoying.

After playing checkers and taking jabs at each other all day, things had settled down when night fell. He had quietly and somewhat bashfully offered to sleep upstairs with her again; she had awkwardly agreed. They settled onto their opposite sides of the bed, careful not to touch, and sleep had found them both almost immediately. They had exchanged slightly shy "good mornings," before spending almost the entire day on the couch again, talking. It was now almost nightfall, and the snow had yet to cease.

"I didn't mean to make Charlie sound like a chump when we first met," she admitted quietly, leaning against the side of the couch.

He nodded, giving her a soft expression. "When you get used to seeing someone a certain way for years and years, I guess it would be hard to see them as someone you'd really respect. But I really do respect Charlie. Everyone down at the precinct does. We're always going to him for answers to our questions and to give his two cents…"

Renesmee thought a moment as Jacob reverently spoke about her grandfather, her stomach turning over. Was Jacob only there to repay a debt to Charlie? Was he there because he felt he owed it to her grandfather?

"Sometimes, just listening to him talk is kinda humbling. He's done so many things, worked on so many cases. That city is really lucky to have him."

"Right," she agreed, only half paying attention. Now that the thought had entered her mind, she was finding it hard to shake off.

"What is it?" he asked, scanning her features.

"Nothing. I mean…would you be here if it wasn't for Charlie?"

Jacob balked, clearly a little insulted. "Of course I would! I mean…my duty is to protect—"

"So you'd do this for just anyone?" she interjected. "Coming up here, going into hiding…you'd do that for any random person you met?"

Jacob's jaw dropped slightly, his brown eyes going a little wide.

"I'm not here to serve a debt to Charlie, if that's what your thinking."

"It crossed my mind."

"Well then uncross it. That's not what this is about."

"Then what's it about if that isn't it? You said you owe everything you know to Charlie, so is this your version of paying him back? Babysitting his granddaughter?"

"N-No, that's not what I said. I…I would do anything to protect and serve an innocent person. I mean…that's what I took an oath to do—"

"So I'm just another bystander on the street to you?"

She was toying with him now, and she knew it. She wanted him to admit that there was something between them – that he wouldn't be up there for just anyone. The looks, the flirting, the fighting…she could feel the sparks flying between them, but she wasn't about to put herself out there like that. Call her old fashioned, but she wanted him to admit it first.

"Of course not! You're special; you're Charlie's – I mean…can't you just be happy I'm here with you, risking my life?"

Renesmee grinned, leaning forward to pat his shoulder.

"Guess it helps to know people in all the right places, eh?"

Jacob growled, shaking his head at her.

They were silent for a moment, Renesmee smirking to herself and Jacob fuming.

"I'd do anything to protect an innocent person who is being hunted like an animal," he said softly. "But it also helps that you're related to the Chief."

"Does it?"

"I told you I would do anything to help Charlie out. I mean…I do owe him. But not like a debt…it's more…it's more like gratitude. You get the difference?"

"Of course I do."

"He really took me under his wing and taught me how to be a good, fair cop. Not corrupt like some of the others. He runs a clean show, which doesn't always happen. Isn't that worth something?"

Jacob gazed at her, his chocolate eyes making her stomach do a slight flip. He held her eyes for a moment longer, before blushing slightly and looking down at his lap.

"It is. And…I don't mean to put him down. I mean, to me, he's just Grandpa, you know? He likes to drink Vitamin R and go fishing. That's just Charlie. I don't picture him catching the bad guys and jumping in front of bullets."

She paused, wondering if she should have brought up Charlie taking a bullet for Jacob when he was a rookie. He didn't seem too pleased to talk about it – not that she could blame him.

Jacob nodded, looking away suddenly. He fidgeted slightly, avoiding her gaze.

"Jacob, that's not your fault. He would have done it for anyone."

"I know," he said quietly, turning his eyes to the fire. "But what if he hadn't? Where would the bullet have hit me? Would I still be sitting here?"

Renesmee swallowed the lump in her throat. "I certainly hope so."

He glanced over at her hopefully, his cheeks growing a little pink.

She laughed, shaking her head at him. "Are you blushing, Jacob Black?"

He looked away, clearly trying to brush off her flirtations. "Maybe. I mean…would you want it to be someone else sitting here?"

She felt her cheeks heat up as his hand reached up and softly touched her foot, which was still resting in his lap. It felt odd, but strangely comforting to be this close to someone she barely knew, but there was something about Jacob that made her feel comfortable. He had a face that was handsome and youthful and made him appear kind and approachable. Even though he acted like an ass at times, she could tell he was only out to help others. His profession clearly stated that. Renesmee swallowed hard, struggling to maintain eye contact with his soft, brown-eyed gaze.

"No," she admitted finally. "I really wouldn't."

He smiled softly, the corner of his lips turning upward only a little bit. They gazed at each other, both blushing slightly.

"I'm glad you're here," she said finally. "I feel safe with you. I want to smack you sometimes, but…I like it."

He nodded, looking away. "I've never spent so much time with prissy girls…but you're all right. I mean…you make me kinda crazy, but I…I kinda like it."

"Really?"

"Really," he replied.

Renesmee bit her lip, noticing how Jake's eyes went straight to her mouth. She fought an internal battle with her heart and her mind, each one screaming at her to do the opposite. Her heart told her lean forward and kiss him like she meant it. Her mind told her to be logical and not mess things up with a silly gamble.

Jacob sighed, inching his body forward slightly.

Or did he? Is it only my imagination? Did I picture him moving forward because I want to? she asked herself. Screw it, she thought. If I go my entire life without kissing a guy as hot as Jacob, I'll want to shoot myself.

A split second later, it happened.

Renesmee pulled her feet off his lap, lunging forward on the couch. Jacob leaned forward at the same moment, the two of them meeting in the middle. Her eyes fell closed, just before their lips touched. They crashed together in a haphazardly perfect way that made her insides tingle and a jolt of pleasure roll over her skin. His mouth was warm and soft and just as inviting as she had imagined. He moved his lips against hers as she realized that she was actually kissing Jacob. How many times had she imagined kissing him in the past few days?

Oh my God oh my God oh my God…

She stayed as still as possible as their mouths connected, not wanting to spoil the feeling of Jacob's lips against hers. She briefly imagined sparks flying between them, wondering if he felt that, too. A tiny squeak slipped as she felt his palm against her cheek, sliding into her hair. Renesmee felt herself lean into his touch as her body sang with relief and joy that they were finally getting somewhere. All the hours of pining after him had finally paid off, and she was getting what she wanted – him. He was her protector, and it was stupid and wrong for her to want him, but she couldn't help herself. Renesmee had vowed to herself before leaving Seattle that she wouldn't do anything stupid with Jacob, and yet, there she was. Giving in.

But it felt good.

Jacob was the dirty little pleasure she would have never even bothered to pine for before Jessica's death. But if anything, she felt like this was right; it was a now or never moment, and she had taken it.

Feeling a renewed sense of power, she let her tongue slide forward and caress his lower lip.

Fuck, he tastes good, she thought.

Jacob shuddered slightly, opening his mouth to mimic her. He deepened the kiss as their tongues met, tasting each other with vigor. She felt herself shiver as he gently pulled her bottom lip with his teeth, sucking it for a moment, before kissing her again. Renesmee leaned forward instinctively, wanting more.

This is wrong, but so, so good…

She was about to straddle his lap, when he suddenly pulled away. Renesmee's eyes flew open, and her chest heaved as she fought to keep the room from spinning.

Jacob stared back at her, his own eyes wide.

"What?" she squeaked, leaning away. Her hand flew to her lips, as a look of sheer terror crossed his features.

"Um…ah…we shouldn't," he replied awkwardly, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. He looked away, his tan cheeks flushed with color.

"You mean we shouldn't do this…here?" she asked hopefully. Perhaps he wanted to continue their activities somewhere else. Like the bedroom, she thought hopefully. Her body felt like a coiled up spring, ready to explode.

"Well…well, no, I mean…we shouldn't be doing this, Ness."

Renesmee felt her stomach fall to the floor as her hopes were shattered. His response hadn't been one that meant he wanted to take what they had been doing somewhere else. It mean he didn't want to be doing it period.

Her mouth fell open as she felt an entirely different emotion take the place of her lust-ridden passion from only moments ago. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she felt the humiliation of rejection sink in.

"Excuse me?"

He stared at her, her cheeks growing darker by the moment. He was shooting her down.

He doesn't want to be doing this with me, she thought.

Slowly, she stood up from the couch and tried to get herself together as Jacob watched.

"Ness?"

"I think I need to go to bed," she replied shortly, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her ears were ringing so loudly, she could barely hear her own voice as she made her way over to the steps. Her hand that gripped the wooden handrail shook as a sick feeling settled into her stomach.

"What's wrong?" he asked, jumping up and rushing to stand in front of the steps where she stood. "Hey, I just said that we shouldn't…well…you don't have to leave."

She gaped at him for a moment, before pushing past him to climb the stairs.

"I…I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry," she snapped, embarrassment still stinging her pride. She had just thrown herself at Jacob, and he had blatantly turned her down. Even if guys weren't that into a girl, weren't they at least physically programmed to indulge her anyway? Renesmee felt repulsive in her own skin as she ignored his calls and walked upstairs.

"Ness?"

"I'm going to bed."

"Do you want me to come up there with you?" he called timidly.

"I think I'll sleep just fine alone, thanks!"

Once she was up in the loft, she cursed the fact that there wasn't a door or something she could slam for good measure. How stupid was she? She felt like a fool for just throwing herself at him like that.

But…it didn't feel stupid at the time. It felt…it felt like he wanted the same thing! she thought to herself. It just didn't make any sense. What had just happened?

After changing, she pulled back the covers of the bed she had been innocently sharing with Jacob and stared at his side. Down below, she could hear him adding logs to the fireplace and settling in on the too-small couch.

Good. I hope he wakes up with the crick in his neck from hell.

Huffing to herself, she pulled up the covers and fumed at the ceiling. Jacob sounded as if he was doing the same downstairs, but she couldn't have cared less about what he was feeling. He had turned her down. After everything! The flirting, the talking, the lingering gazes…

Her mind tortured her after she fell asleep, her dreams filled with nothing but Jacob. Kissing him, touching him, rolling around in a bed with him…and there might have been a dream about him chopping wood shirtless, as well. Needless to say, she awoke even more pissed than she had been the night before.

Renesmee got dressed and marched downstairs with a clenched jaw. Determination had set in, and she knew she couldn't let him see her wounded pride. No, Renesmee Cullen did not pine after guys who didn't want her, even if there was such a thing – which there had never been before. Guys had been falling all over themselves for her since she was fourteen! Who the hell was he to turn me down? she asked herself. It was his loss, and she would make him pay for it. She could hear Jacob up and moving around downstairs, so she was prepared. That is, until she saw him.

Jacob was shirtless, dressed in an ragged pair of gray sweatpants and socks. He was in front of the fireplace, doing pushups as she walked down the steps. When he saw her, he jumped up and gave her an apologetic look that was so mournful, it almost made her stop in her tracks.

No, she chided herself. Be strong. Don't give him the satisfaction.

"Good morning," she said sharply, brushing past him.

Jacob heaved a sigh behind her, following her into the kitchen as she poured herself a cup of coffee. With her back turned to him, she sipped it as she gazed out the window and ignored him.

"Ness, look—"

"Renesmee," she corrected him, turning around to face him. "My name is Renesmee."

She could practically hear him grinding his teeth.

"Renesmee," he started over, stepping into the kitchen. "Look, I'm sorry about last night—"

"Nothing to be sorry about," she snapped, feeling her cheeks grow hot. "I threw myself at you, and you…well, whatever. Can we just forget about it?"

"Well, I kinda wanted to talk about it—"

"There's nothing to talk about. We're stuck up here in this stupid cabin and…and we're bound to get a little stir crazy or whatever. It didn't mean anything. We shouldn't look too much into it, okay?"

He stared at her, looking somewhat hurt. Satisfaction sizzled through her veins as she realized he actually did want to talk about it with her. But too bad! He had humiliated her, and she wasn't going to listen to anything he had to say. She knew she was being immature, but her pride had been momentously wounded, and she just didn't care what he felt at the moment. He can go to hell, she thought.

"Sure, fine," he agreed slowly, jamming his hands into the pockets of his sweats. "I'm gonna…go get dressed."

"Yes, you should," she replied coldly, brushing past him into the living room. She plopped down on the couch and stared out the window at the snow. It was deep and drifting from all the wind whipping around the corners of the cabin. There was no telling how long they would be trapped up there.

She felt sick.

She knew this was no way to handle Jacob, but she didn't know what else to do. No guy had ever had the nerve to turn her down before. Guys were usually thrilled to have her attention.

So why did he think this was such a bad idea?

There you have it! A sample of some J/N action ; ) Much more to come!

I apologize - was being screwy this week, so I was unable to respond to all of your lovely reviews. I still read and loved each and every one though, and you all really inspired me to get this chapter out there sooner than planned. Also, my lovely beta JenRar did her part by whipping it back to me in a few short hours, so she really rocks.

If I get some review love on this one, I'd definitely consider posting the next chapter (which is completed) in the next day or soooo….. ; ) So review! I'd love to hear what you think of my bratty Renesmee or my thickheaded Jake.