Disclaimer as it usually stands, SM owns all the good stuff I just get to play with them for a little bit :D

Ch8:Strategic Honesty

Leah must have tossed and turned the entire night after that scalding kiss with Jake. Her nipples seemed to be perpetually swollen. Her body remained piqued and ready to tumble over into bliss with just one touch of him. After she finally tumbled into a restless sleep, she found that it wasn't long before the alarm clock was waking her up. She dragged herself out of bed and managed to make herself look somewhat presentable, camouflaging the majority of the telltale sleep-deprivation signs with a little foundation. Needless, to say, she wasn't all that pleased when she opened her door to find a well-rested Jacob Black ready to take her on a tour.

Leah couldn't believe he appeared to be so unaffected by everything. She vividly remembered their brush with desire and the restless night of sleep it caused her. She was almost afraid to spend more time alone with him.

Yet he stood in her doorway, confident, strong, sexy and willful. He almost seemed to dare her with his very presence!

The daring nature of his stance must have jump started something in her. Her competitive streak refused to be stifled. She decided to take him up on his dare. How much harm could a little sight-seeing trip do, anyway?

She smiled at him and batted her eyelashes. "Good morning Jake." She poured on demure like it was a new perfume.

"Morning, Leah. Are you ready for your proper tour of Blake? I promise to do a better job of it this time. Today is all about you and showing you the best and brightest of Blake."

"Great, let me grab my bag and we can get started." Leah walked over to the bed and made a show of bending to pick up her purse. She heard a slightly strangled sound coming from Jake's throat and thought maybe he wasn't as unaffected as he appeared to be.

Good!

The first stop on their tour of the island was the crystal caves known as Blake's Diamond Cove. The subterranean caverns sparkled with what looked like chandeliers of icicles dripping from the ceilings. The effect of the crystallized stone and the water underneath made walking through the underground cave an almost magical experience.

It was so captivating that Leah found herself holding Jake's hand as they walked through.

"That was absolutely amazing." Leah exclaimed as they exited the cavern.

"If you thought that was amazing, wait until you see what's up next." Jake said as they made their way to his sports car.

She happily took in the sights as they drove in his sporty rental. Growing up in Washington, she had thought she was used to tropical beauty. But Blake was truly in a class all by itself. The palm trees, beautiful flowers and exotic looking birds made her feel like she was in some kind of fantasy. And, truth be told, the man driving her around and showing her the sights was playing a big part in the island fantasy. With the top down and the breeze blowing through her hair, she hardly had a care in the world until he pulled up in front of a sign that read, "The Reptile Farm."

He parked the car and got out, but she didn't move.

He must have lost his living mind.

That was the only reason she could think of to explain why he thought it was okay to bring her to a place with a bunch of snakes.

He walked over and opened her door. She remained in the car.

Chivalry be damned!

She was not going into a reptile farm.

"What's wrong? You don't want to see one of the main highlights of Blake? Tourists love to come here and hold the snakes, pet the iguanas. You don't want to come in? They serve the best grilled rattlesnake you've ever tasted. You have to cook it until it's well done or it's still poisonous, but it's really good. And it's so cool to be able to say you actually ate rattlesnake."

She just stared at him.

Yep. He's crazy. He has lost his ever loving mind. Poor thing.

He reached out his hand. "Come on, don't be scared. You'll like it. I promise I won't let any snakes get you."

"Jake, I'm not scared I turn into a scary creature myself. But I'm not going in there. No how. No way. Forget about it. It aint gonna happen." Leah crossed her arms over her breasts and smiled at him. "I hear there is a beautiful butterfly farm. We can certainly go and check that out."

"The butterfly farm? Seriously? That's so…" his face scrunched up as he shuddered. "girly. I don't think I've ever been to the butterfly farm." He frowned. "You'll love the reptile farm. I'm telling you—"

"Seriously." Leah cut him off with a smile. "I know I won't love it. I would be willing to put money on that fact. I don't like snakes. I don't even like to see them on TV or read about them in books. The only way you would get me in that place is to drag me in there, and I would dig my heels and claw the dirt with my bare hands to keep you from doing that. So… " she looked down for a second before bringing her eyes back up to innocently meet his, "butterflies?"

Jake shook his head and called her all kinds of girlie-girl names as he got back in the car and they drove off.

When they pulled up to the butterfly farm he grumbled as he opened the door. "And you better not tell a soul that I set foot in this place. Butterflies!" he scoffed. "Give me a freaking break."

Jake had to admit the butterfly farm wasn't so bad. Sure, he would have preferred the reptiles. He used to love visiting the reptile farm the couple of times he had gone there as a kid.

The entire place was like a miniature tropical rain forest enclosed in mesh. There were so many trees and flowers and all kinds of exotic butterflies flying all over the place. And the joy on Leah's face when she let one land on her finger was worth the chance that someone might have actually seen him there.

It was also very educational. They got to see the various stages of a butterfly's life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult butterflies. It was rather amazing to see, even if it wasn't as cool as holding a snake in your hands.

Jake had to admit that doing the tourist thing and seeing his island home through Leah's eyes made him value Blake even more. It really was a beautiful island. In his mind, Blake always represented the very best that the Caribbean had to offer, and it was great to see someone else appreciating it.

After the butterflies, they decided to change into their swim wear and take in one of Blake's many beaches. He took her to one that not many tourists visited because he wanted to be able to enjoy her by himself for a while. As crazy as it seemed, he was genuinely starting to like Leah Clearwater.

Her aversion to reptiles aside, she was actually pretty cool.

Waiting for her to come out of the ladies changing area, he contemplated what it meant that he was starting to let his guard down with her. It shouldn't have been that much of a risk.

He looked up and his mouth dropped open.

When she came out of the dressing room in her red bikini that gave a new meaning to itsy-bitsy, he knew how much of a risk he was taking. He was in big trouble and damn if he cared.

She was staring at his chest. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was partially open. He reckoned he wasn't the only in trouble. The only question was, what were they going to do about it?

He couldn't help it. He flexed a little. He let his pecs move and silently thanked the Gods with gifting him a body a lot of men almost died for. When he saw her swallow and gulp, he sent up another note of thanks to the Gods.

"You're really serious about this fling thing, huh? Because even if you weren't looking, I can promise you that you would find one wearing that bikini." He said his words slowly and deliberately, and her eyes moved from his chest to his face.

Her eyes narrowed, and smiled her devilish little smile. He braced himself, because he knew his Leah was up to no good when she smiled like that.

Oh no, not that again.

His Leah?

She put her hands on her hips, striking a pose. "This old thing? You think I can land me a willing man in this little old number?"

It was his turn to swallow and gulp when she did a spin and he got a look at that bikini from behind. She had a rather medium sized tatoo at the small of her back that he hadn't taken notice to before, but the intricate designs had to be from her tribe he was sure of it.

Thank God he'd had the foresight to take her to one of the more private beaches, because clearly this woman was trying to start a riot. He was torn between wrapping his towel around her, throwing her in the car, taking her home and making sweet love to her or finding a secluded spot on the beach and making sweet love to her.

The only thing he knew for certain was that if Leah Clearwater was serious about having a fling in Blake, she wasn't going to have it with anyone but him.

For some reason, submitting to the inevitable was a freeing thing. He realized that he could enjoy their time on the beach—indeed, enjoy the rest of the day—with Leah without even touching her. Because before it was all over, before she stepped onto the plane to Seattle, Leah Clearwater would be his.

He reached out his hand and she took it. He felt that shock of electricity that he always felt when he touched her, and this time it didn't throw him off at all. He welcomed it like a balm.

He smiled. "Yes, that little old thing. You're trying to cause riots."

He could have sworn he saw her blush.

"You know, Jacob Black, you're actually a pretty okay guy. I think I could almost like you." She stuck out her tongue.

He was pretty sure she did it to try and keep the confession that she liked him on a playful level. But he already knew the deal. Playtime was over. He just had to figure out when he was going to apprise her of that.

After spending the day seeing the island and hanging out with Jake, Leah knew she was treading into some pretty dangerous territory. As she sat in her hotel room waiting for him to come pick her up for a night of dinner and dancing, she knew that even if they had decided to put their past differences and that student government election behind them, she was still in trouble. Her heart still remembered what happened the last time she let her guard down around him.

He was the one guy who made her forget the childhood vow to never let any man get close enough to hurt her. And most of the guys she dated never really had a chance to get close.

She had picked them for that reason. Her "type" had never really been her type. They were just safety nets for her heart.

But there was something about Jake. From the first time she had met him in the student government office at SPU and they got into their first disagreement about how the student fees allocated to student government could be used most efficiently, she knew he had the ability to get under her skin and possibly into her heart. And she had made it her business—worked damned hard at it, even—to make sure they never agreed on anything. Except for that one kiss that nearly cost her the election and broke her heart, she had survived her college experience with Jake almost unscathed.

But now…now…she was very close to running through hell with a pair of gasoline thongs on and she was pretty sure she wouldn't come through this round with Jake unscathed.

Just thinking about how he looked in his purple and gold swim trunks almost had her breathless again.

That chest. Oh gosh, that chest!

The man had a washboard stomach and pectorals that gave new meaning to the words "perfectly sculpted." And when he had asked her to spread some sunscreen on his back?

Mercy.

She had to beg for mercy, because she didn't think she was going to be able to stop touching him, until he'd asked her if she wanted him to put some sunscreen on her back…

She would never really know or understand how she was able to make it off that beach and back to her hotel without making wild, passionate love to Jacob Black. All she could do was hope that whatever it was would get her through the rest of the night out with him.

The knock at the door startled her out of her reverie. She glanced down at her outfit and decided she didn't look bad. Her tangerine wrap style dress was formfitting and stopped just about mid-thigh. She had paired the dress with some copper colored leather strappy sandals, copper drop earrings and copper bangles. And she even oiled her legs. She had to admit the mid-thigh dress made it seem like her already long legs were even longer.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, and for the umpteenth time that day she found herself staring speechlessly at Jake. He must have gotten the same wardrobe memo, because he had on a deep rust, short sleeved silk shirt and some perfectly creased brown linen slacks. They looked very much like a couple about to have a sensuous night out on the town. And that was the problem…

They looked like a couple!

His eyes traveled down her legs and back up to her face. He gave a slow, easy, sexy grin. "So are you ready to get a taste of Blake's nightlife?"

She was nowhere near ready for whatever Jake had in mind with his hooded eyes and his deep make a girl weak voice. But she wasn't a punk either. Clearwaters were tough!

She tilted her head and gave him a half smile. "I'm ready. Are you?"

He held out his hand and she took it just to feel the warmth of that electric shock. She was starting to get used to it, welcome it even. And that was another problem.

They drove to the restaurant in silence. She didn't trust herself to talk because she was pretty sure she would have said something stupid like, Hey, Jake, I know I can't stand you and all but you wanna have a fling?

So she twiddled her thumbs and let the island breeze relax her. She had come to the realization that she wasn't going to have an island fling after all. Because Jacob Black was the only guy her wolf wanted to have a fling with.

And she couldn't have a fling with him. She just couldn't.

When they reached the restaurant, she could hardly believe her eyes. It had everything. It was beautiful, romantic and right on the beach. They sat at a table that allowed them to look out onto the beach and ocean. The soft candlelight flickered off of the white table cloths around the room. A steel drum band played in the corner, and there was even a small dance floor. The restaurant exemplified upscale island chic.

"This is nice, Jake." Leah finally trusted herself to say something.

"The food is good too. Not as good as my mom's but close." Jake smiled at her.

"Thanks for taking the time away from your family and friends to spend time showing me Blake. I really enjoyed today." She took a deep breath. "I think I can find my way around for the rest of the week. So you can spend time with your folks. And tell Sarah and Embry that I'll try my best to make it back to the rum shack before I leave."

It was for the best. She had to end this—whatever the hell was happening between her and Jake—before things got out of control.

His eyes narrowed, and he just looked at her. He seemed to be processing something in his head. She really hoped that he was thinking things through and that he would come to the same conclusion that she had. Whatever was going on between them was a train wreck waiting to happen, and they needed their combined strength and resolve to stop it.

He nodded and took a sip of his drink, but he didn't respond to what she said. "You should try the conch fritters. We can get them as an appetizer. You have to have curried coconut soup too. All of the entrees are good. It's been a while since I've come here. But I'm sure the food is still excellent."

The waiter came and took their order, and she somehow restrained herself from ordering one of everything on the menu. When her food came and she finished everything, she really regretted her restraint. Everything was delicious. But because it was more upscale fare, the portions weren't nearly as big as she had the night before at Sarah's Rum Shack.

"That was delicious. But you're right, your mom food is way better. And she had better portions."

Jake laughed. "Come and dance with me, Leah?" he stood and held out his hand.

She stood and took his hand.

The steel drums were playing so melodically. She was almost mesmerized by the beat and the man standing in front of her. He held her close as they swayed to the delicate island rhythm the steel drum band created. Every cell and membrane in her body seemed to be screaming, Him, you silly girl, it's all him.

But she blocked them out and told herself she would just enjoy this one last night dancing in his arms and she would be able to get away before she had even more to lose.

He held her tight. "Tell me something Leah."

She cleared her throat. "What do you want to know, Jake?"

"If you're so determined to have an island fling, why won't you consider having one with me?" His voice was firm and strong, and the sound of it alone made her heart sputter.

But what he'd said? That was enough to send her into cardiac arrest.

She laughed what she hoped was a playful, sexy little laugh and not the shrill, frightened sound she heard in her own ears. "Because—"

She couldn't think of one blasted reason.

She looked up into his sexy, daring eyes.

Big. Big Mistake.

He was looking at her like he wanted her, like he would give her an island fling she would never forget. And there was something else in his gaze. Something that she would never be brave enough to speculate about.

"Because…?" he repeated and waited for her to finish.

His arms felt so right, so incredibly right that it had to be wrong.

"Because you don't like me, Black. And I—" I could so easily fall in love with you. "I don't like you either. Why mess up a good thing?" She laughed again, and he just pulled her closer. She could feel his desire for her pressing against her and calling her a liar.

She swallowed.

"Is it because I'm not a guy you can wrap around your pretty little finger?" He leaned down and whispered his words against her ear. Leah fought the desire to shiver as his breath ghosted against her ear.

Yes, and so much more than that.

She knew what she had to do. She had to scare him off. Unfortunately, that meant showing a little bit of her vulnerability. But it would be worth it if it mean she could save herself from a broken heart.

Strategic honesty.

That was the way to go.

"It's because you're The Wolf, Jake, a bad boy… and you could probably break my heart and not miss a beat." She let out a deep breath as she realized the truth of her words.

"You seem to forget pretty girl, that you're a wolf too." He tilted his head as he smiled ruefully. "You really think your heart would be the only one at risk?" Leah didn't answer him so he sighed. "Fine Leah, I hope you find someone that you feel is 'safer' for you." he brushed his nose against hers gently as he continued talking. "I'm not going to pressure you about this. But I'm also not going to help you find some lucky son of a bitch so that you can give him what I want..." he paused before adding. "What I deserve."

She felt that electric current racing through her even as a piece of her heart was already breaking. The pain let her know she was doing the right thing. So she just nodded as she continued to dance the night away in his arms.

Glad you guys liked last chapter :D

And I felt like Leah and Jake needed the fluff before what's to come :)

Does anyone else have a fear of snakes?

I was fine until I saw that stupid Anaconda movie & then I haven't been the same...

Anyways Review :D