Jacob stood there. Well, not just standing; he was shaking. His big hands were balled up into tight fists at his sides. Terror filled me when I looked up his long body and met his eyes. The black in them were filled with hate. Not at me, but at the being who had just been sitting on my bed not ten seconds ago? I could see the effort it took him not to phase, not to jump out my window.

He was wearing the same thing he always does. Long, gray sweats sheathed his muscled legs. Jake's black hair was wild and all over. He was working his jaw and the audible scrape of his teeth was loud enough for me to hear. I shuddered.

I just about hit my head on the ceiling when Charlie's loud snore rang out.

Jacob took a shuddering step forward and swiftly closed the door behind him. He turned his attention on me.

Jake towered over me. His eyes burning with anger, "Why was that leech in your house, let alone your room?" He kept his voice low, but the tone was deeply frightening.

"I-I don't know. He just wanted to talk. . . ." I said quietly, my voice fading.

"If he takes one more step in this house, or if that thing decides to visit again, there will be a very big problem." His voice had a warning note in it.

"It's okay Jake. He won't hurt me."

He didn't say anything, but let the tension of the silence send his message. That made me mad.
"Jake! I can take care of myself. You're not my mom and you're not Charlie. You can't tell me what to do," I held my chin high.

The look he gave me made it hard to keep it that way. "Bella, have you gone nuts?"

"No, but you have, "I said defiantly. I vaguely realized I sounded childish.

"Why are you doing this?" he yelled. His whole frame was having tremors.
Charlie's snores sputtered, stopped for five long seconds, and then restarted thunderously. I let out a long breath. I hadn't even realized I'd been holding it. Turning my glare on Jake. "Just go."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Gosh dang it! Shut the heck up and go!" I yelled at him.

He gritted his teeth, "No," he retorted defiantly.

I pulled the covers over my head. "I hate you."

In a surprisingly gentle tone, he said, "I love you too."

I bit my cheeks to keep from screaming. Warmth pressed against my forehead. My eyes opened and I saw Jake walking over by my door. Instead of going out of it, he flipped the light switch off and turned back to me. In three big strides he rested beside me on the bed. His arms wrapped around me. His calmness made me relax. I sighed. With a small smile I cuddled into his chest.
In the back of my mind, I wondered what made Jake calm so fast. What his motive was. I decided not to linger on that, and rest.

I awoke due to being crushed. My eyes snapped open and I froze. Jacob was alert and tense. He was staring at the window. His facial expression told me he was expecting someone to break in and try to kidnap me. I wriggled loose of Jake's death grip.

He looked down at me and quietly muttered, "OH, sorry."

I nodded, still focused on the windblown window currents. Cold air filtered out and crawled over the bed. I t reached out and chilled my exposed skin. There was certain darkness in the night. Like it was expecting for an uninvited visitor. My hair whipped against my cheeks as an arctic breeze stirred. The shadows in the corners of my walls were darker. An unreasonable shiver of fear skittered down my spine and rose goose bumps apron my skin.

Jacob held me closer. I listened to his steady heartbeat. My own heart beat fluttered wildly in my chest.

"Rest. You're safe. I've got you," Jake murmured to me.

I shook my head. I was far too alert to sleep. A car passed by the house and sent lights sliding across the walls. They dimmed and the humming of the engine faded away.

"Jake, "I began," have you found any sign of her around."

"No."

He had said that too fast.

I decided to*** ignore it. Nestling up against his warm chest, I pulled the covers back over my head. I closed my eyes to attempt slumber. It was a wasted effort. Jake just wouldn't relax. He kept himself propped up on his elbows and looked around. I tugged on his shoulder. "Lay down."

"I'm fine Hun. Just sleep." He swept my hair from my face to behind my ear.

"I can't with you acting like a watch dog, "I murmured.

He chuckled quietly. "I am your watch dog."

"No, you're not."

"Just sleep Bells."

I blew out a short blast of air. Wrapping my arms around his torso, I yanked him down. He sighed. His warm lips pressed into my hair. Jake's long arms pulled me tighter against him. "I'm scared Jake, "I whispered.

"Don't be, you're safe," he said.

I shudder at the memory of James throwing me around like a rag doll at the dance studio. I remembered the searing fire in my hand and arm. How I'd wished that it would just stop. How Edward's voice had been so angelic; so much so, that I'd thought I had been in heaven. How Edward had been the one to release me form the torture.

Jake mistook my trembling for being cold. He held me firmer against his sweltering hot skin.