Chapter 16: Negotiations

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.

Two days hadn't even gone by, and Jacob couldn't shut out what he was missing from his mind. Just the thought that she was unapproachable made his ache for her even worse. So that night, he tried to stay out as late as possible, patrolling. He got into bed exhausted, but as soon as he felt her near him, he was done for. The poor guy hopped out of bed and lay down on the couch to put as much distance as possible between him and that soft, sweet, luscious temptation. If his brain would just stop already. He had to get some sleep. This was torture. He pulled the covers up to his chin and shut his eyes.

Bella padded out to the living room in her bare feet. She drew back the blanket and sat beside him, shaking his shoulder. "Come back to bed, Jake. What are you doing out here anyway?"

"You tell me. This was your idea, you know. I'm just trying to keep my side of the bargain."

She laughed and tousled his hair. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty about denying you your husbandly rights?"

His lips began to curl upward. "I don't know. Is it working?"

"No—c'mon Jake. You did it before, I know you can do it now."

"That was before a got a taste. Now I always crave more. You want to renegotiate? 'Cuz, I sure as hell want to."

"We've only got a week more to go. It's not going to kill you."

"Yeah, well it feels like it." He stuck out his lips in a pout.

"Okay, so I guess you're spending the night on the couch then. Sweet dreams."

Bella leaned over and pressed her lips to his, but when she tried to break away, he held her tighter. He pleaded with her, his voice dripping with suggestive overtones.

"Aww, Bells, c'mon; I'm dyin' here. Negotiate, negotiate—please, you know you want me just as much as I want you—I can sense it."

Holy crow, he was making this so difficult. He wasn't the only one dyin'. Jacob was right; she was holding on by her fingernails. She backed off before she caved in. "Seven more days," she whispered, as she tiptoed back to the bedroom.

She overheard his lament of despair as she slid under the comforter. "Meanie."

The next day, Jacob kept his distance, and busied himself working and studying. That evening, he went patrolling again.

Embry was flabbergasted. Is she crazy? Why does she want to stay away from you?

Jacob stopped in his tracks. Bella says it would make our wedding night more exciting. Apparently I'm no longer exciting enough.

Ha! I find that hard to believe. You're Mr. Irresistible. I'll bet you anything, she surrenders in the next twenty-four hours. Embry bumped shoulders with his friend.

Well, I wouldn't bet on it. You have no idea what a stubborn woman she is. Even if she was ready to explode, she wouldn't dare admit it.

Twenty-four hours, man. I'm tellin' ya. Hey Quil, you wanna put some money on this wager?

Quil trotted alongside the two of them and nodded his furry head. I'm in. Five bucks says she holds out another twenty-four.

Jacob's big wolf eyes rolled in his head. Great— you're all cashing in on whether or not I score tonight.

His two friends barked out a laugh. Embry took off again, and Jacob followed in his wake, with Quil taking up the rear.

The patrol was uneventful; it was fruitless to continue any longer. Besides, it was really late and as luck would have it, the clouds broke and the rain began to fall—in sheets—pelting him unmercifully. Jacob slogged through the blinding deluge, finally making it home. He came through the back door so he wouldn't get the living room carpet wet. Bella heard him and greeted him with towels in her hands. Wrong move . . . One look at that Adonis with the water trickling down his body and her resolve melted away like a snowflake in the sun. Good grief, she had all she could do to refrain from licking every trickle of water off his hardened pecs and abs. God, he was beautiful.

Bella peered up into that beloved face. The beads of rain water dripped gracefully off the strands of black hair onto his forehead, some of them resting on the tips of his long, dark eyelashes. Her breath caught in her lungs, and her heart lurched involuntarily.

Lightning suddenly flashed, illuminating every plane and angle of his finely chiseled features. It was followed by thunder. She jumped in surprise at the sound, and sliding on the slick floor, careened forward, nearly knocking him against the door. Jacob instinctively caught her in his arms, stealing this opportunity to ply her with his charms. His touch and those red hot kisses sent her into a tailspin. There was no way she could resist him—not tonight. That was the end of their unrealistic plan. Hell, they'd draw up a new one tomorrow.

At the breakfast table the next morning, Bella started the conversation with the dreaded, "I've been thinking . . ."

Jacob dropped his head, deliberately banging it on the tabletop. He lifted it slowly, "Bells . . . please, no. Every time, I hear those words, my heart starts to palpitate."

She took a bite of her bagel, and swallowed. "Honestly, you always exaggerate. Anyway, I thought you wanted to renegotiate the terms of our agreement."

Straightening up in his chair, Jacob answered, "Now you're talkin'"

"I hate to admit it, but I can't stay away from you for a week. It's just too hard to resist those seductive charms of yours." She sipped at her juice.

Looked like Embry would have five extra bucks in his pocket today.

"So how about four days?" She looked over at her husband. There was that Jacob smile threatening to erupt into a triumphant grin.

He drew Bella's chair closer and hooked his arm around her shoulder, snuggling her to his side. Even after just a few hours, his touch still made her pulse race. "Let's make that three," she gasped, as his mouth softly grazed her throat.

Bella was busy cleaning the house and getting the spare bedroom ready for Renee. She would be picking her up this evening at 7:30 P.M. from the airport.

She had a lot to tell her mother, but especially that everything was under control. The wedding arrangements were all made. The chairs and buffet tables would be borrowed from the community center. Bella's friends from Edible Fruit arrangements were furnishing the refreshments. Emily and Sue were making the main cake and two other sheet cakes to go with it. And Leah and Rachel had the flowers, a metal archway and ribbons all done and ready to go. They would even be making boutonnières for all the pack members, and corsages for the women. Embry was in charge of the music, and the rest of the wolf boys would be setting up a wooden dance floor for the guests.

Charlie, along with Billy, was put in charge of getting Jacob to the site. Renee and Kim would put the finishing touches on Bella, and hopefully, keep Jacob's eyeballs away from the bride in her never-before-seen wedding gown—at least not by him.

Renee was squealing like a little girl. "This bungalow is just darling. It'll really be nice when you get it all fixed up."

Jacob's eyes moved sideways to gauge Bella's reaction; then shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, you're on your own, Bells. She's your mother.

Biting her tongue, Bella answered, "Yeah, it'll really be nice."

He transferred his mother in law's luggage to the bedroom with ease. It did not escape her notice how easily he carted them off.

Renee winked at her daughter. "Well, I can certainly see why you chose to run off with Mr. Universe here." As he came out of the bedroom, she remarked. "You turned into quite a hunk, Jacob."

Then turning back to Bella, she commented, "You know, I never did understand what you saw in that Edward guy. He was so pale and puny; it looked like he would never live to see another day. He could really have used some sunshine and gotten a good tan, like Jacob, here—that or a blood transfusion. Did he have some rare blood disease? And those dark circles under his eyes, you'd think he never slept."

Choking back his laughter, Jacob excused himself and went outside the house to avoid Renee overhearing his loud guffaws. The poor woman unknowingly hit every nail on the head. It was going to be an interesting few days that was for sure.

They were all seated on the couch, finishing up some pie that Bella made earlier when she finally looked at the clock. "Well, Mom, I guess you're probably pretty tired from your trip. We won't feel slighted if you want to turn in."

"Oh, Bella. That was so subtle. It's okay kids, I was a newlywed once—wait—twice actually." Cocking an eyebrow at Jacob, she whispered, "Go get 'er, tiger."

"Mother!" Bella exclaimed.

"I may be a little crazy, but I'm not a dummy. I have eyes. I see the way he looks at you. Now run along the two of you and have fun. I'll see myself to bed. Go on, I'll be fine."

Jacob grinned as all the capillaries in Bella's face raced to the surface in a quick spreading crimson tidal wave. He lifted her bodily from the couch, walking to the bedroom. He waved at Renee, and said, "Thanks Renee. Good night—see you in the morning."