A Matter of the Heart

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. Nikki

Part Eight-Exhilaration

"The honeymoon suite is the only room we have, because of the book festival we are booked solid, as are the other cheaper hotels." The clerk gave Jake and Bella an apologetic smile. "Any other time and we would have been able to accommodate you."

Bella exhaled slowly. Typical! Every night for the past few days they had managed to book separate rooms in cheap motels, after the first uncomfortable night spent in the truck, they had decided to make sure and find a place they could rest before continuing on with the journey, even If it was a grotty motel room. But their last port of call had to be in a town which was holding some type of book festival. Tomorrow they would need to head back, it was impossible to stay away any longer, they had promised. "Are you sure there's no other place you could recommend?" She asked the clerk.

He shook his head. "Sorry, it's our honeymoon suite or nothing." He shrugged.

"We'll take it." Jake took Bella by surprise with his sudden decision. She stared at him for a moment before pulling him to one side.

"I haven't enough cash left for what they will charge. It would mean using the credit card." She whispered urgently.

"So use it." Jake yawned as he stretched his long limbs. "I'm tired, and we both need to freshen up and have a good night's sleep before we head back in the morning."

Bella frowned. "I thought you didn't want me to use the card in case Edward traced it."

"It hardly matters now." Jake turned away from her so she couldn't see his face. "We'll be heading back and you'll soon be reunited with the leech."

His words hurt and Bella flinched. Even though they had begun to open up to each other, and called a truce of sorts over the last two days, there was still the underlying tension of her engagement to Edward. She had been feeling increasingly worried about her fiancé, guilt was eating away at her for not contacting him. She felt it was cruel, but she had made that promise to Jake, and she intended to abide by it. She had already broken so many other promises she had made to him. Bella knew Edward would understand. "I'll book it." She agreed quietly and left him to make the arrangements with the clerk.

The room was decorated in an old fashioned style. The king size canopy bed had plaid curtains draped around it, matching ones hung at the windows, and the floor was carpeted in a deep rich red. Jake walked around the suite and examined the furniture. The wardrobes were made out of oak and so was the matching dresser, with its vanity mirror. He ran his fingers across the hard wood, thinking to himself he could have done a much better job furnishing the place. The furniture was poorly made, definitely not worth the money that the hotel had charged for one night's occupancy.

Bella went straight to the en-suite bathroom and began to unpack the few personal items she had bought on the road. She laid out the shampoo and soap. She noticed a little basket packed with odds and ends. She found a sachet of conditioner and smiled. At last she would have something to detangle her hair. She pulled out a comb and began to try and tame the beast on her head. The comb got stuck and she growled at her reflection in irritation as she tugged and pulled at the fine silky strands.

Jake sauntered into the bathroom when he heard her mutterings. He grimaced when he saw that the room was tiled all in pink. Way too girlie. Bella saw Jake pull a face, and guessed what he was thinking. "It's awful isn't it?"

"Totally." Jake agreed. "I bet they charged double for this room because of the festival."

"I was thinking we could check it out, if you feel up for a stroll later." Bella suggested tentatively. Books were her thing, but not his, but he seemed agreeable. He nodded absently. "You know I think I might have my hair cut while we're here." Bella said for something to say. "What do you think?" She tugged on the ends of her hair.

Jake studied her for a moment, his eyes raking her hair and body. His intense look made her feel uncomfortable, and her skin flushed a dull red. "You're perfect as you are, Bells." Jake said eventually. "But it's up to you."

Bella drew in a sharp breath once she realised she had been holding it. She tore her eyes from his and faced the mirror again. "I fancy a change. I'll go for it."

"Your choice." Jake shrugged and left the bathroom. Bella watched him go, for once having no idea what he was thinking.

The small town was crowded. The main high street was filled with independent book stores, and Bella was in her element. Her face glowed as she dragged Jake in one shop after another, literally diving into the many haphazard boxes that were piled around the place. She waxed lyrical about some of her discoveries, becoming especially excited when she found a first edition Harry Potter. "It's a pity it's not signed." Bella mused. "But still…" She jumped up and down for a moment before hurrying off to purchase it.

Jake had never seen her this way before. She was happy and excited. Each new find only intensified her enthusiasm, and before he knew it, he was caught up in it too. He helped her climb a ladder in one of the stores so she could investigate the top shelf, and had to laugh when Bella reached over too far for a particularly heavy volume and slipped. He caught her swiftly as she landed smack bang in his arms The shop was crowded and the other customers clapped and cheered him for his daring save, and he found himself grinning as Bella blushed profusely.

There were loads of little known authors who were giving talks, plugging their latest works. Among them were a smattering of well-known authors who had come to give talks and encourage more young people to take up a pen and write their own books. Bella was overcome when she came across one of her favourite romance novelists. She had just released the second in a trilogy of books about a time travelling historical figure called James Fisk. Jake recalled Bella mentioning it once or twice in the past when they worked on the motorbikes together, when life was much simpler. She had read to him aloud from the first book, and he had teased her about having a crush on the hero.

They managed to wangle their way into the private lecture the author, Miranda Richardson, was giving. They sat quietly in the back of the crowded store as a small woman with long blonde hair and a shy smile came centre stage and began to falteringly tell her captive audience about how she had come up with the plot for her books. Jake felt Bella's fingers curl round his as she became enraptured by Miranda's soft voice. There was a contemplative look on her face as if she was mulling over an idea of her own. When the lecture ended, he and Bella lined up and got a signed copy of the latest book.

They drifted out of the store, with Bella clutching the book to her chest. Her face was animated and alight with excitement as she walked by Jake's side in a bit of a daze. She had soon forgotten about getting her hair cut. "What are you thinking about so hard?" He asked her eventually.

Bella stopped walking and glanced at him, she sucked her lower lip into her mouth before a small smile spread across her face. "I know what I want to do, Jake. I know what I want to do."

Jake loved seeing how exhilarated she was. He didn't think he had ever seen her as beautiful as she looked right in that moment with her eager face gazing at him, alive with the prospect of whatever it was she was about to reveal. "Don't keep me in suspense." He grinned at her as she clutched his hand.

"I am going to write, Jake. You wait, ten years from now it will be my name on the cover of a book, a bestseller no less." Bella held Miranda's book in front of her, her fingers tracing the heroic figure of James Fisk on the front cover. "I know who the hero of my book is going to be." She continued.

"Who?" Jake felt love overwhelm him as he listened to her talk. She was so vital and alive. This was his Bella; this was the girl he remembered falling in love with on First beach, the girl who had captured his heart when they had built the motorbikes together and then ridden them, this was the girl who had told him that being a monster didn't matter, that she loved him anyway. This was the girl who had been consumed by a creature who should never have existed. Now she was re-emerging like a butterfly from its chrysalis, and he never wanted to let her go, ever.

"My Own Personal Sun." Bella's eyes became moist with tears as she looked him square in the face. "That's what I'm going to call it, and the hero is Jacob Black, the boy from the reservation who looked at a broken white girl and decided that he saw something inside her worth saving." A tear escaped from her eyes as she spoke, her voice trembled a little. "I love you, Jake. I'm sorry if it took so long for me to see it, and recognise what this growing feeling was inside. Today just made it clear to me, I can't put it into words why, but…"

Jake felt his own eyes welling up. Dammit it he was turning into a girl. He was glad Quil and Embry couldn't see him, they would have teased him for eternity. He knew what Bella was trying to say, even if she didn't. "You're alive; Bells, and today you revelled in living." He couldn't stop himself. He had to kiss her. Jake dropped the bag he had been holding full of Bella's other purchases and cupped her face in his hands. "I love you." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

Bella felt the electricity spark between them, she was almost certain she could touch the undercurrent as it thrummed to the beat of their hearts. As his mouth moved with hers, her whole skin was set on fire. The heat was all consuming and powerful. A mixture of adrenaline and desire swept through her, lifting her up, and making her whimper as his tongue parted her eager lips and explored her mouth. The kiss was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Bella could feel Jake's underlying strength, the passion that he was pouring into the kiss. It wasn't filled with desperation or despair like their others had been. She saw no vision's as she had the last time, instead it was red, everything warm and satisfying. All her fears and anxieties left her as she dropped her guard and let Jake inside.

A/N-thanks for reading!