Chapter 14: Painting and panting
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
With Leah and Embry in the close confines of the car, Bella's scent began to homogenize with theirs. Jacob was breathing a sigh of relief. His wolf had been threatening to take her right there in the car. He was now as you might say—a little less randy.
The classes were okay, as far as classes went, but Jacob was raring to go home. The furniture should have arrived, and he was anxious to finally get things arranged in his home. Didn't that have a nice ring to it? His home . . . sigh.
Leah dropped them off along with Embry. No sense wasting an available set of muscles. Quil arrived fifteen minutes later. Jacob and Embry had already moved the couch and chairs into position. Quil looked puzzled. "Hey, guys, I thought we were gonna paint first."
"Sh**! Oops, sorry, Bells. You're right. Damn, it's always somethin'. Let's put the furniture back in the middle."
Pounding his fist on the top of an upholstered chair, Embry snickered, "And I thought only chicks made you move the furniture from place to place."
Quil let out a hoot, and gave Embry a high five. "All right—let's get crackin' then. I haven't got all day. Get out them paint rollers."
"What's your hurry?" Jacob asked.
"I gotta get home by 6:30. I'm working on a history project—and I got lucky enough to be paired with the hottest babe in the school. I'm planning on making a little history myself." Quil puffed out his chest and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Well you know history often repeats itself. And don't forget—the last time you tried to write it, you crashed mid chapter." Embry jabbed Quil in the shoulder as a reminder.
Quil's eyes narrowed into slits. "Screw you, Embry, you're just jealous 'cause you haven't gotten any action from any of those college girls, yet."
"That, my man, is going to change this year." Embry polished his fingernails on the front of his tee.
"Word of advice—don't be yourself."
Embry answered through clenched teeth. "Thanks for the tip, Quil!"
"Guys—do you know what tip means? It's short for to insure promptness. So here's a tip for both of you from me—quit flappin your jaws. We need to get a move on."
Bella pulled the plastic sheeting out from under a table and pressed it against the wall to use as a drop cloth. She walked to the corner of the room and returned to the trio handing out the painter's tape and rollers.
Jacob whispered to the guys so that Bella couldn't hear. "I want to make this fast, guys. I'm looking forward to a little action myself."
Quil frowned, staring at the roller in his hand. He was muttering under his breath. "Yeah, just rub it in, you sadist."
They had the living room done and were ready to paint the bedroom when Rachel and Paul drove up. Rachel ooh'd and ah'd, looking about the place.
She handed Bella a pot of chili and some cornbread. "I figured you wouldn't mind someone else cooking tonight. I can see you guys have been hard at it."
"That's for damn sure," Quil offered suggestively.
Jacob slapped him up the side of his head. "Can it, Quil."
"Thanks, Rachel, I—" Bella's thoughts were interrupted as Paul swaggered into the house sporting a big grin and a black eye.
He practically sang out his grand entrance. "Never fear, Paul is here."
Embry let loose with a wolf whistle. "What a shiner! Man, that's a beaute. I guess Sam really laid down the law, huh? You should know better than get into it with him. My bet would always be on Sam—except maybe for Jake, here."
"You guys got it all wrong. This decoration is a present from my sweetheart. Chelle threw a rolling pin at me." He glanced over at her brother. "Jake, your sister is somethin' else."
Jacob congratulated her. "Good for you, Rach."
Rachel shook an index finger at her bad boy. "He deserved it. Sam gave him a chewing out about his little prank last night. I agreed, and stupid, here told me to butt out—that it was none of my business. Well, he's always bragging about how fast his reflexes are; I thought he would catch it in time."
"And I would have, too, if I wasn't so distracted by those coochie cutters you had on." He turned to his buddies. "I'm telling you guys . . . whew . . . the make up sex was well worth it."
"Paul!" Rachel cautioned. Then she added, "Hey, Bella do you have a rolling pin handy."
He started puckering his lips, making kissing noises. "Anytime, doll—like I said the make up sex was enough to curl my hair. I wouldn't mind another go'round."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I'd like to stay, but I've gotta go grocery shopping, since you've eaten everything in sight." She slapped his arm in annoyance.
He justified himself quickly, his grin growing wider. "I'm a growing boy. Besides, I've gotta keep up my strength so I can please you, woman. Now give me some sugar, baby, and keep the sheets turned down for later."
Bella stood with her mouth hanging open; she couldn't believe her ears. How did Rachel put up with him?
He grabbed her neck, pulling her close and practically sucked her face off. Rachel was so embarrassed to be kissed like that in front of everyone. In retaliation, she stomped on one of his feet as hard as she could. Paul pretended he didn't feel a thing, but the guys noticed that he walked with a limp for a couple of hours or so.
Jacob had to hold back a laugh. He was sure that the sheets to Rachel's bed would not be turned down tonight. In fact Paul would probably be sleeping—alone—in Jacob's old bed. Served the jerk right. Rachel certainly had her work cut out for her.
The rest of the rooms got their paint jobs done in the next two hours. Paul and Embry were still moving furniture in the living room and Bella was unpacking the rest of the kitchen essentials. Jacob and Quil were in the main bedroom, putting clothes in the drawers and closet. Jacob made a big mistake with that decision, since Quil was eyeing Bella's lingerie.
He pulled out her black lace demi bra and bikini, practically drooling on it. "You lucky dog, you. How many times have you peeled this off of her? Hey, wait a minute—how can you hide this from us when we're patrolling?"
Jacob looked up from the box he was unpacking to notice what Quil had in his hands. He reached out, grabbing it from him ."Give me that! Grow up, will you? And for your information, I haven't hidden anything from the pack. I've never seen her in it yet. She's saving it for our—and I quote—official wedding night."
"Man, I wish I was a fly on the wall to sneak a peek at her in that getup."
"You'd be smashed flat if your were. Now, let's trade boxes. You can have the privilege of sorting my socks." Thanks to Quil, now all he could think about was Bella in that scanty attire.
The guys finished up and left—Quil to his hot chick, Embry to his homework and Paul to face the fallout with his ladylove. Jacob and Bella ate their chili, and did homework. They were both dead beat when they hit the sack, well, maybe not that beat . . .
The next Saturday, Paul dropped by again to lay down the carpeting. He gave Jacob a quick tutorial on installing carpet, and they were off to the races. Needless to say, a lot of furniture moving had to take place again, and both Paul and Jacob were grumbling about it.
The rooms looked great when they were done. Just that little touch made the house so much warmer too.
Jacob had to admit it—Paul did an excellent job. He could be a big help when he wasn't acting the jerk.
Meanwhile, Quil and Embry worked in the garage putting together a wheelchair ramp so that Billy could visit more easily, and erected it over the stairs to the back door.
Now that the house was in order, Bella moved on to the planning of her wedding.
On Sunday, she had Leah, Emily and Rachel going over colors, invitations and seating arrangements. Jake tried to stay out of it. Anything they did was all right with him, as long as they didn't switch brides on him. He liked the one he had—thank you very much. He stayed in the living room, reading a school assignment for Monday.
Bella was tapping a pen on the kitchen table. She had the names of people who would be attending written down. "This shouldn't be too time-consuming, I hope. My dad only has one brother and a sister. I hardly know them. They never visited when I lived in phoenix. My mom was an only child, and grandma isn't in the best of health. I don't think there'll be more than fifty people there, do you?"
Leah looked up from her list and snorted. "Bella . . . This is a big deal. We're not just talking about your relatives here. This Is Billy Black's only son being married. Most, if not all of the tribe will be in attendance. Then there are the relatives over at the Makah Rez. It would be sign of disrespect to decline the invitation."
Bella's face went a lighter shade of pale. She began to hyperventilate. "Holy crow, I never even thought of that. How many guests do you think will be coming then?"
"Three hundred, three fifty, maybe." Leah saw the signs of shock on Bella's face. "Oh, gawd, put your head between your legs, Tink. Ya look like you're about to faint." She yelled into the living room. "Jake, ya better get in here; your wife is ready to pass out."
Her head lowered to the table top, her arms folded underneath her brow.
Jacob ran into the kitchen, looking panicked. Rachel walked to the sink and soaked a paper towel with cold water, handing it to him. He knelt beside his very still and pale wife, holding the wet towel to her forehead. "Slow down, honey, you're breathing too fast. Look at me. Blow out the air like this."
She turned her head toward Jacob and watched as he pursed his lips and blew the air out slowly. Bella followed his instructions.
Nodding his head, he affirmed. "That's right, nice and slow. Let it out 'til there's no more left inside." He placed his hand at her back rubbing it gently.
Her coloring began to return again with her steady breathing. Jacob smiled and caressed her cheek. "Feeling better now?"
Peering up at the kneeling figure beside her, she answered weakly. "Yeah, I guess the thought of all those people staring at us kinda scared me."
"Pretend you're at a rock concert. They're just people, Bells. Look, I'll be right beside you. I'll hold you up if I need to. The only one you need to be scared of is your mom."
Bella suddenly went chalk-white again and put her head back down on the table.
Jacob patted her cheek. "Bells . . . Bells . . ."