Chapter 5: Installed

Disclaimer: All characters in this story are the property of S. Meyer.

Jacob woke up early with Bella nestled in his arms. So it wasn't a dream after all . . . There was something to be said about waking up with the love of your life lying beside you. From now on, it would be sheer torture to relegate himself to sleeping alone.

He pretty much had her cocooned inside his arms, but he was still tempted to snuggle up even closer. Jeez, he just couldn't seem to get close enough. Pulling her nearer, he could feel every beat of her heart; and listening to the sound of it was music to his ears. She was alive, she was his, and she was breathing beside him.

Jacob retracted his head back so he could gaze at her. She was even more beautiful—if that was possible—while she was peacefully sleeping. Blowing little puffs of air, he let his breath waft across her face. Her eyelashes began to flutter and those circles of melted chocolate peeped out at him.

Smiling in contented bliss, he said, "Good morning, Mrs. Black. Did you sleep all right?"

"Mmn," she murmured, stretching her arms out of his embrace. "You?"

"Best sleep in three and a half years," he touted.

She shook her head to get the cobwebs out. "What time is it, anyway?"

"Who cares," he retorted, as he assaulted her bottom lip." He broke away and exclaimed, "Ahhh. . . breakfast of champions."

Bella put her hand out, pushing against his chest. "No, really, what time is it?" She didn't oversleep, did she? It would be awful if Charlie was rounding up a posse to search for her. Holy cow, she hoped Leah checked her messages.

"You worry too much—it's only six AM. Besides, it's Saturday. We've got loads of time before we have to trek back to La Push.

"Oh, good," she sighed. "I have time to shower."

Bella started to climb out of bed, when Jacob pulled her back down again. "Can't we just lie here a while and be lazy?"

"Okay, just let me shower, and then I'll get back in bed with you, and we can be as lazy as you want."

Reaching over, she rumpled Jacob's hair, and looking at him inquired, "Don't you want a shower too?"

"Sure, sure, but being the gentleman that I am, the shower is yours. After all, ladies first."

Jacob groaned as she slipped out of the bed and into the bathroom. She was in the shower stall, with the water running, when she heard the door opening and a blast of cold air entered the small space. Quick as a wink a warm body was close behind her crammed into the stall.

The two of them were packed in like sardines in a tin can. "Jake, I can't move, it's too cramped in here. I can't clean up like this."

"My plan exactly, now hand me the soap."

Bella reached back and dropped the soap into Jacob's hands. He lathered them up and began rubbing them over her back and shoulders. His long arms reached around paying strict attention to his favorite body parts. He could see that this would soon become one of his favorite pastimes as well. He luxuriated in slathering the soapy solution over every inch of her perfect frame. Just the feel of her skin under his hands was about to send him into orbit once more. Who knew showering could be that much fun?

"Damn, this is one of my ultimate fantasies. You and me in the shower together, with nothing but a bunch of suds between us. Somehow, I pictured the shower stall being a lot roomier though. Hey, I just realized, this is literally your Bridal Shower."

"Oh, Jake," she moaned, "it's too early for corny jokes."

Jacob inched up to her, and leaning into her neck, quipped, "I'm insulted. That was not corny, that was wit, woman—pure wit."

"Okay, nit-wit, now get out and turn around, so I can do you."

"Whoa, Bells—I thought we were gonna wait a day or two," he chuckled.

Exasperated, she remarked. "There you go with the sexual innuendoes again. I thought they would stop once we got married."

"Hell, no. Now I can actually act on them."

"Ugh! Just get out, and turn around will you, so I can soap you up!"

"You're gonna soft soap me, huh? I knew it; you can't wait to get your hands on me again, can you?"

"Will you stop? Hurry up—get out—and jump back in before the hot water's all gone."

"Whew . . . you are in a hurry, honey. Don't worry, I'm yours forever. You can soap me up for the rest of your life."

He finally quit stalling and got out, as Bella turned herself around. He returned to the stall in a flash. It was now Bella's chance to gaze in awe at Jacob's musculature. No doubt about it—he was a stud, all right. Her little hands smoothed circles of soapy bubbles over all the hills and dales of his body. Jacob stood there, enjoying her toying with him, a smile playing across his face. When she finished, he pivoted them both around, rinsing off all the soap, and shutting off the tap.

The water was dripping off the threads of his black hair, giving him a fey appearance. He was so damn irresistible that she threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him with a passion that rivaled the hot water in steaming up the glass doors of the shower.

"Bells," he uttered, "jeez, don't get me started again. I promised to be good until you're all healed. And this isn't helping."

"You're right. I'm not being fair to you. But do you still wanna get back in bed and be lazy?"

"Sure, sure. We'll be lazy together, honey." He winked at her and added, "Hey, can I pat you dry?"

They lay in the bed, all snuggled up, trying to sort out their game plan, which right now, was nebulous at best.

Bella was lying with her head on Jacob's chest, her fingers absently stroking his shoulder. "What are we going to do about housing?" She asked. "We don't have enough money saved up yet."

"Don't remind me," he groaned. "I'm gonna go nuts if I have to live with my dad very much longer. Knowing you're lying in bed somewhere else is not exactly conducive to a good night's sleep for me. My brain will be whirring a mile a minute, strategically planning for our next game of cowgirls and Indians. I'll never get any sleep."

"I wonder if Charlie would let us live at my house for a while. We could pay him rent. We'd have to get a bigger bed too. No offense Jake, but you are freakishly tall. That would be tough going back and forth to school though.

"Do you think we could keep our marriage a secret for a couple of weeks? I mean except for Leah of course."

"That should be easy enough—unless I have to phase . . . and then the whole pack will know. I won't be able to keep you out of my head—or out of theirs either."

Suddenly, Bella gasped as she realized a horrible thought. "Oh, good grief, what am I going to tell my mom? She was living for this wedding. She's going to skin me alive when she finds out we eloped!"

"Why can't we just renew our vows? That should make everyone happy. I'm sure Old Quil would be glad to do the honors?"

"Does he have the authority to do that?"

Jacob leaned his head down kissing the top of Bella's hair. "What difference does it make? We're already officially married . . . Mrs. Black."

Bella laughed. "I keep forgetting that. I guess it's going to take some getting used to."

"We can still get Emily, and the girls involved. I'm sure they would be glad to put together a reception for us at First Beach."

Gosh, there was so much to think about—so much for their plan to be lazy . . .

The clock on the wall reminded the two newlyweds that all good things must come to an end. They reluctantly put on their clothes, and had some breakfast. Bella took a few photos of their honeymoon cabin, one with Jacob at the door. Then he took one of Bella sitting in a chair on the porch.

Jacob turned in the key and drove them back to La Push.

They arrived at the Clearwaters' but Leah wasn't in. Sue told Jacob that she was house sitting at the Uleys'.

They arrived at Sam's place and Leah greeted them with a suspicious look. "Okay, Tink, you're walkin' kinda funny there. And I distinctly get the scent of blood. You already had your period ten days ago, so that just means one thing."

She turned her head toward Jacob, narrowing her dark eyes. "Fess up, have you been poking fun at Tink, here?"

"It's not what you think . . . well, yeah, I guess it is what you think, but—"

Bella cut him off. "We got married." She pulled the marriage license out of her purse waving it in front of Leah's face.

"Well, Jacob Black, congratulations! You're braver than I thought."

Gritting her teeth, Bella put up both her hands in an attempt to stop Leah's next thought. "Wait, you can't tell anyone yet. I need to prepare them first, my mother especially. She's going to go ballistic. She wanted to see me walk down the aisle etc, etc. This is really going to disappoint her."

Leah backed up onto the porch, holding open the front door. "Well, come on in, and let's talk about this."

They were all sitting around Sam's table. "The worst of it is, we don't have any place to live," Bella complained.

"I can solve that problem, right now," Leah offered. "At least temporarily . . ."

Jacob's ears perked up, and he leaned forward expectantly." I'm listening, now spill."

"Geesh, you guys are so dense. You're looking at it. Sam and Emily are away for two weeks. You can stay here. I'll sneak back to my mom's every night and no one will be the wiser."

Bella stood up and rushed over to Leah, hugging her boldly. "Gosh, Leah, you're the best."

"Yeah, I know. I'll just tell mom that you're helping me house sit. And, Jake, you don't have to explain anything. Your ol' man is used to you disappearing for days. Perfect plan!

"I better go over to the house right now and pick up some of your clothes. That dress is ready to tattle on ya'."

Later that evening, Jacob and Bella had just finished washing up the dishes and were putting everything away. Jacob was behind Bella, with his chin in the crook of her neck, and playing with strands of her hair. Leah had already left for the night, leaving them to their own devices.

Bella reached up and placed the last glass in the cupboard. Jacob wound his arms around her waist, drawing her in more closely. He whispered in her ear, "Isn't it time to go to bed yet? I'm feeling awful tired. How 'bout you, honey?"

Cocking an eyebrow, she muttered, "That was real subtle."

"I'll give you subtle . . ." He whipped her around and placing one arm at her shoulders and the other under her legs, essentially swept her off her feet. He carried her into the bedroom and lay her down on the mattress. He was beside her in an instant, plying her with his charms—and I mean plying. At first it was nuzzling at her neck, then it was kissing at her shoulder. The tee shirt quickly came off; next—away went her blouse. Soon, there was a pile of their clothes strewn across the wooden floor.

Jacoob hesitated for a beat. "I know I said I wouldn't bother you until you were healed, but this is so hard. I just keep thinking about yesterday. It plays over and over again in my mind like a broken record. I know what I've been missing now and it's pure torture.

"Jeez, Bells, I'm the Black Stallion, and you're this delectable carrot dangling in front of my nose. I'll understand if you say no. I'll be dyin' inside, but I'll certainly understand."

Bella began to cry softly.

Leaning away from her, Jacob whispered, "I'm sorry, honey. I'll stop. I'll go into the living room, and let you sleep." He tenderly wiped away a tear that that had fallen on her cheek.

Her arm reached out to him, and she began threading her fingers through his thick hair. "No, that's not it. Don't leave . . . please; I want you too, Jake. Can't we at least try?"

Jacob's amorous attempts made her forget all about her previous worries. And this time, it wasn't anywhere near as painful as their first encounter, thank god. After it was over, they both were rewarded with another extremely good night of sleep.