Chapter 3: Black Diamond
Disclaimer: All characters are the property of S. Meyer.
A huge smile erupted onto his face as he picked her up in his arms and sprinted at breakneck speed to his Rabbit. He sat her down in the front seat, grinned at her like a fool and drove off in the direction of Beaver.
He stopped off at the nearest drugstore on the way to get a few first time essentials. Then they were off like a shot.
They arrived at the courthouse in ten minutes. The last time he had entered this place did not hold a pleasant memory in his mind. This occasion would wipe that memory clean and replace it with one of absolute joy. They filled out the paperwork, and came to the part about the blood tests.
Bella peered at his concerned face and mouthed, "Don't worry, I've got it."
Jacob ran out to the car's glove compartment and got his test results that Carlisle had sent him last week. Luckily, it was dated nine days ago. It had every test imaginable inked on the page. Maybe that run-in with the newborn had a silver lining after all—well two actually. Thank you Carlisle!
Crap, he almost forgot—he had a small bouquet of flowers in the bag of essentials that he bought for her. He snatched it up and ran to the marriage license bureau.
When he got back, Bella had already put her test results back in her purse. He gave her a questioning look. "Tell you later," she answered to his unasked question.
They finished all the necessary forms and with papers in hand, they giddily trotted to the Justice of the Peace only two doors down. Jacob handed the flowers to Bella and realized that he didn't have a wedding ring.
"Uh, Bells . . . we forgot something very important." His eyes darted around the room. "I don't have a ring."
Bella removed her engagement ring and handed it to Jacob. "Indian giver—you can borrow it, but only for a few minutes. I want this right back," she scolded, jokingly."
There was one couple ahead of them. Jacob sat there with his knee nervously bouncing up and down. Bella quietly placed her hand on his thigh to calm him. The door opened and the other couple walked out. The officiator beckoned to Jacob. Bella pushed her hair behind her ear, stood up and took Jacob's proffered hand, squeezing it.
The justice was a quiet-spoken man with graying hair. He gave them the lecture about cleaving to each other and no one else, and not going to bed angry etc. It was really sweet. But when he finally got to the words that would bind them together as man and wife, the tears started. They could barely repeat their vows as they gazed at each other. Jacob placed the ring back on Bella's finger and drew her hand up to his mouth, kissing it gently. He held his breath until the justice spoke the words, "I now pronounce you man and wife."
He let out the air he'd been holding onto and the brightest sunniest Jacob smile lit up his face. Bella was still sniffling, but she lifted up those chocolate brown eyes and looked at him with such utter love and adoration that he nearly melted on the spot.
"You may now kiss—" The justice never got the rest of the sentence out. He chuckled softly as Jacob pulled Bella into one of his bear hugs and swung her in a circle. He put her down on her feet and they kissed unashamedly in front of the official.
"I see you've got that part memorized," he chortled. "Now memorize how you both feel at this moment, and renew that feeling every day of your married lives. Never forget it. Never forget your love for each other. Good luck to both of you."
"Oh, wait!" Bella exclaimed. She got her cell out of her purse. "Could you please take a picture of us?'
The justice snapped the photo of the happy couple.
Jacob shook the man's hand and steered Bella back to the Rabbit.
They were outside of town, when they noticed a cluster of cabins for nightly rentals. The sign read Black Diamond Cabins. Bella and Jacob looked at each other in amazement—what a perfect place for their honeymoon.
Jacob pulled up to the office and helped Bella out of the vehicle. The clerk raised one eyebrow at the way they were dressed. "Just married," Jacob said with a grin.
"I tell you what, since this is the off season, I'll let you two have the large cabin out by the lake. It's pretty secluded, so no one will be able to . . . ahem . . . bother you."
"Hey, thanks." Jacob signed the guest book, and was elated to write on the line, "Mr. and Mrs. Jacob E. Black." He couldn't stop smiling, even though Bella was standing awkwardly at his side, feeling like the proverbial blushing bride. She was painfully aware of the clerk's eyes on her. She averted her own eyes and tried to focus on Jacob, who still stood there smiling like the cat that ate the canary.
They drove to the cabin while Bella called Leah and left a message asking her to cover for them, letting her know that they'd be home in the morning. She'd explain everything then.
Jacob scooped Bella up in his arms to carry her over the threshold. His hands were shaking so badly that he dropped the key—twice—and had to balance his new bride on one knee while he retrieved it. She shrugged her shoulders and laughed quietly.
"I can walk, Jake."
"No, no, no, Mrs. Black. I want to do this up right—if I ever get the damn door unlocked," he muttered. "I'm gonna carry you over the threshold if it's the last thing I do. Hopefully, I'll get to do a lot more than that tonight."
Bella stretched her neck to plant a kiss on Jacob's cheek. "For luck," she explained while her face began changing to a shade of crimson.
The door finally opened, and Jacob ceremoniously deposited Bella in the middle of the queen-sized bed. "Now don't move," he chided. "Wait right here while I go get something out of the car." He hesitated a second, just staring at her. Then he walked out the door.
Running like the wind, Jacob took off his dress jacket on the way to the Rabbit. He threw it on the back seat and grabbed the supplies. He returned quickly with the grocery bag in one hand and her flowers in the other, placing them both on the dresser.
With that done, he turned to his new bride. "Uh, Bells, do you need to use the bathroom first?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Crap, I wish I had a toothbrush with me."
Jacob dipped his hand in the bag and pulled out a couple of toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste. He handed them over to Bella smiling all the while. "I'll be sitting here waiting patiently." That was a big fat lie and they both knew it, as evidenced by his knee bouncing up and down again.
Bella was out of the bathroom in a few minutes, and Jacob turned to her before entering it. He reiterated, as she sat on the edge of the bed, "Stay right there—don't move a muscle." Then he winked at her mischievously.
She sat on the mattress attempting to control her breathing. She looked around at her rustic surroundings—the forest scene framed in tree branches—the twisted willow chair. It did have a somewhat calming effect.
Bella was curling a strand of hair around her finger when she finally heard the door to the bathroom open. She startled at the sound.
When Jacob returned to her side, he kneeled down in front of her and began to unbuckle the straps of her shiny black high heels. He looked up into her eyes as he lovingly removed each one from her feet. He took each tiny foot in his hands and kissed them delicately; then he stroked his fingers lightly over the calves of her legs, savoring the feel of her silky stockings. He let out a contented sigh.
Jacob pushed Bella's high heels aside and quickly removed his own shoes and socks. He pulled Bella upright and stood back a little as he nervously attempted to open the small buttons at her neck. His fingers were trembling and Bella placed her hands over his, helping him in his endeavor. He closed his eyes as he slowly unzipped the back of her dress, but opened them again to help her remove her arms and pull it down past her hips. He stood back and gazed at her, mesmerized, as she stepped out of the garment.
"Bells . . ." he whispered. "My God, Bells . . . you are so beautiful. I can't take my eyes off you."
Next to silkily slip down her long legs, were her pantyhose. Jacob was again on his knees smoothing his hands over her velvet skin as he helped her wiggle out of them.
She walked a little closer to him and removed his tie, leaving a mini kiss at his throat. He swallowed thickly as she began unbuttoning his vest, then his shirt. She pulled them both away, dropping them on a nearby chair along with her dress and hose. She placed her hands on his now bare chest, and then reaching up, left moist kisses along his shoulder and the side of his neck to encourage him further.
The sight of his naked torso made her writhe in anticipation. It's not like she hadn't seen him shirtless before, but this time it filled her with a whole new connotation. He was now hers, and hers alone!
Jacob began to tremble. He picked Bella up into his arms and lay her down on the bed, nestling her head on one of the pillows. He gazed at her, with an intense desire burning within his heart.
She was unexpectedly surprised when he stood up and grabbed the bag from the dresser, placing it on the nightstand beside the bed.
"I hate to break this romantic moment, but what is in that bag?" she asked.
He reached over and removed a washcloth, a towel, spermicide, a packet of condoms, and a bottle of lubricant.
Cocking an eyebrow, Bella announced, "You can put the spermicide and the condoms back in the bag."
With his face falling down to his feet, Jacob groaned, "Please say you're not changing your mind, Bells, unless you want to see me suddenly die of frustration."
She stroked his cheek. "No, Jake, I want this; I love you. I'm just saying we don't need them. I told you I'd explain later—I've had so much stress lately that my periods were becoming erratic. I didn't want to chance having it on our honeymoon, so I decided to see a gynecologist. I've been on the pill for the past two months."
Hesitating to see his reaction, she gazed into his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He placed his hand on top of hers holding it to his cheek.
I didn't want to tell you because I knew you wanted to wait till our wedding. I didn't want to make it any harder for you. So that's how I came to have the blood test in my purse."
"Did you take your pill this morning?"
"Sure, sure."
"Good," he laughed. "That's a relief."
A/N: Now don't all stone me for stopping here. I have to get you to keep reading, don't I?