Chapter 15: Quil'sComplaint
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Ten A.M. couldn't come fast enough for the two lovebirds. Jacob was already there at the driftwood bench, alerted to the sound of her truck's thundering engine. Bella practically flew out of the driver's seat and made a beeline to her waiting sweetheart. This time there was no hesitation on her part. She ran toward him breathlessly, flinging herself into his outstretched arms.
Jacob felt as if his heart would burst out of his chest. This was how it was supposed to be—no space separating them. He had his Bella safe and sound wrapped within his strong arms. Sure, there were storm clouds hanging over their heads, but it hadn't started raining yet. There was sunshine in his soul here and now and that was all that mattered. He and Bella would worry another day. Right now they would bathe in a bubble of joy, keeping the impending adversity at bay for the time being.
He maneuvered them around until they were both seated on the bench, then clasped her tightly to his side to keep her warm. They both sighed simultaneously, and looked at each other. In fact, they couldn't look away. Sitting there in silence, their hearts alone did the talking, then their hands, followed by anxious lips.
Jacob couldn't will his hands to stay out of her hair, and his mouth developed a mind of its own too. Bella peered up at him—once he allowed her to take a breath—from underneath her lashes, her chocolate eyes alight with unspoken intention.
"Has the mail man come yet?" she asked innocently enough.
Laughing, Jacob shot back, "Oh hell, don't tell me you've sent me another scary letter."
Suddenly coy, she replied, "No, I just wondered if you picked up the mail over at the Ateara's yet."
The light finally dawned, and spread over his face in realization. There was no mistaking it; Bella Swan wanted him—badly. "Did you want to go with me?"
"Sure, sure. Lead the way, wolf boy!"
Damn, just in the nick of time too, 'cuz that nosey lady was walking along the beach again.
Taking her hand, he ran with her, clear to the back of Quil's house. "Wait here," he said.
He went around to the front. The mailbox was empty.
"C'mon, Bells, let's go, the mailman hasn't been here yet." He stretched out his hand to Bella.
Her expression registered disappointment. Had her ruse failed? How could he be so obtuse?
Jacob burst out laughing. "You should see the look on your face, you little minx. You think I don't know what's on your mind? Damn, girl, if you wanna jump my bones, just say so. You don't have to beat around the bush. I'm more than happy to oblige."
Bella looked at the roof of the house, down at the ground, at the bushes, anywhere but his amused brown eyes.
"You look a little flushed," he teased. "Here, let me kiss it all better."
His mouth traipsed all over her rosy-red cheeks, finally landing at her parted lips. Then he lifted her bridal style, as she shrieked, unlocked the door and swiftly carried her inside.
He gently sat her on the edge of the bed. Jacob watched her unbutton her blouse, but as she began tugging at the snap on his jeans, he grasped Bella'shands, and knelt down in front of her. She gazed up at him in wonder. Did she do something wrong? Had he changed his mind?
He held her hands and gazed at her; his warm brown eyes shining with intensity. "Wait a minute, Bells. Before we go any further, I need to talk to you. And no, it's not about the baby, it's about—god, how can I put this ... Jeez ... This is so hard ... Okay, here goes. I love you, Bella. You know that, right? And you love me.
"I can't stand the thought that you're embarrassed to let me know how much you want me. I want you too—every minute of every day. It's all I can think about—being with you. I mean ... sex is a part of life. It's a need just like being hungry for food.
"You don't seem embarrassed when I get all hot for you, so why should it be so different when you feel that way? You have hormones the same as me—you're supposed to. It's normal and natural. When you react the same way to me, it makes me happy—more than happy. Yesterday when you yelled out my name, I thought I would explode with all these emotions. Yeah, I'm a guy, but I have all these tender feelings too, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
"So, I guess what I'm trying to say is—don't hold back those feelings. That's who you are. They're a part of you. I waited so long for you to love me, and now that you do, let me know it loud and clear."
Bella bit down on her lip. "Would it be all right, if I just showed you how much I want you?"
"Sure, sure, but it's still nice to hear it once in a while."
"But for right now ..." She grabbed a handful of his hair, and pulled his beloved face up closer. His Cupid's bow was upturned into a smile. She moaned as she pressed her lips to his, and he responded instantly.
Damn him. He was so irresistible, even when he was being serious. As she kissed his warm, full mouth, she thought about what he said, and from now on, she would let her emotions freely be seen at least as far as Jacob was concerned.
They woke up in each other's arms again, got dressed and checked the mail. Jacob laid the envelopes on the kitchen table and they headed back to First Beach to pick up the vehicles.
They drove to Jacob's house, and went out to the Taj so he could work on their motorcycles. It was getting toward dinner time, and Bella was standing up to leave. All at once, her face went pale, and she was nearly on the floor before Jacob caught her.
"Bells ... Bells," he yelled in a panic. He reached over and grabbed his automotive manual from the work bench, fanning her with it. Her eyelashes began to flutter, and her limp form became animated once more.
His grip on her hadn't loosened, for fear of her sliding to the cement. "You all right?"
Pursing her lips, she blew out a stream of air, and shook her head. "I feel fine now. I just got so dizzy all of a sudden."
"Jeez, Bells, you scared the crap outta me. You want me to take you to the ER."
"No, I'll be fine, just let me sit down for a minute."
Jacob sat down on his trusty old crate, and pulling her with him, settled Bella on his lap. He was still reluctant to let go of her.
She bowed her head and took long, deep breaths. Finally she reached up and snaked her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his chest.
He whispered into her hair. "You're sure you're all right."
"It's nothing that another seven and a half months won't cure," she groaned.
She drew her head back to look up at him. "Oh god, Jake, what would I have done if this happened at home right in front of Charlie. I'm not ready to tell him yet. This is going to kill him." She started to cry.
"Hey, hey, hey," he murmured as he stroked her hair. "None of that—we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Charlie loves you. He won't stay upset for long.
"Anyway, maybe I should man up, and be the one to break the news to him."
Bella suddenly sat up straight. "Jacob, no! I don't want him to be mad at you."
Jacob rolled his eyes. "I've got news for you, honey. It's a given. He's gonna be mad at me. I was there when you got pregnant, remember? This was not exactly an immaculate conception. I've got it comin' to me."
He glanced at her still concerned, changing the subject. "Do you feel like you can drive home? I can take you."
She patted his cheek. "I'm sure I'm okay to drive. I better go now."
Jacob hugged her one last time and kissed her goodbye. Winking at her, he commented, "See you tonight."
The next day, and the day after, Bella met Jacob at the beach again and made their last two rendezvous at the Ateara's.
Jacob had given the motorbikes a couple of tune ups and made plans for them. He would cart a sleeping bag to an old trapper's cabin in the woods. If the weather was fair, they would ride to the cabin for their meeting. If not, Jacob would see her in her bedroom at night. Bella didn't care for that part. It seemed awful risky. But Jacob was willing to take that risk. He had to see her.
The last time they were together at Quil's place, Bella helped Jacob strip the bed and wash the sheets. They loaded them in a laundry basket and hung them up to dry in the Taj. Jacob would take them back to Quil's early in the morning and place them back on the bed. No one would be the wiser—until the first time he patrolled with Quil, that is.
Late Sunday night. Quil came home along with his parents. He noticed a light fragrance in the air, but he was so beat, he ignored it. Maybe it was some flowering plant outside his bedroom.
Several nights passed, and it was finally the night that Quil was on patrol duty along with Paul, Embry and Jacob. Nothing out of the ordinary happened except—the guys were all teasing Jacob about his amorous adventures with Bella.
All of a sudden, Quil stopped, his nails digging into the soft earth, bringing him to a screeching halt. There was something awfully familiar about the scenes that were being transmitted straight from Jacob's brain. The bed frame, the sheets, the curtains—whoa ... wait a damn minute! They were in his room, in his bed, naked? There could only be one explanation.
His teasing stopped. He was furious. He lunged at Jacob, baring his fangs. Jacob wasn't ready for him, and both tumbled around on the forested carpet.
What the hell is goin on? Embry shouted in his head.
Paul responded, Damned, if I know. But we better break it up before they kill each other.
He and Embry jumped into the pile of flying fur and managed to drag Jacob off of his cousin. Quil was getting trounced royally. He should have been smarter than to tangle with Jacob. Being humiliated, he took off running. He phased back and sat up in a tree, quietly seething.
Patrol duty ended, and Jacob told the other two to go on home, then he set out to track down Quil. His scent was so familiar, that it was a cinch for Jacob to find him. As soon as he spotted Quil in that tree, he phased, and stood there on the ground staring at his best friend.
With a smirk on his face, Jacob asked, "What are you doin' up there? And what was that all about anyway? You took a couple of chunks outta me. Didn't you have any dinner tonight?"
Quil narrowed his eyes. Jeez, this was serious business. He wasn't playing after all.
"What the hell were you thinking, Jake? You had Bella in my bed. Were you trying to rub it in? I've got a two year old baby and you've got a babe, huh?Well, screw you! How do you think that makes me feel? I'm already the laughing stock of the goddamn pack.
"The mighty Quil Ateara has got no use for his bed, so Jacob Black feels it's his duty to baptize it by seducing his woman in it."
Jacob was stunned. Didn't Quil know him better than that? "No, it wasn't like that. I was desperate to be with her; your house just happened to be available. I'm sorry. I never would have done it if I had known it would upset you like this."
His pack brother gestured for Jacob to leave. "Just go away; I want to be left alone. Go have your laugh with the rest of the guys."
"Do you see me laughing? Look, you're not the only one with problems."
Quil folded his arms across his chest and looked away from Jacob. "Oh, right, Mr. Sunshine has a boatload of them—name one."
Jacob sighed, thinking it over whether or not to tell Quil, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. "Bella's pregnant."
Quil nearly fell out of the tree, his mouth forming a perfect 'o'.
"That's right—so now you know. Don't go spreading it around. Charlie and my dad don't have a clue yet. Well, maybe you can tell Embry, but that's all.
"That's why we were so emotional; that's why I had to show her that I still loved and wanted her. I was in a rush to get her alone somewhere—anywhere. Your house happened to be the answer to our prayers. I couldn't let her think that I didn't want this baby."
Quil climbed down from the tree. "I would have gladly lent you my bedroom if I had only known. I went ballistic because I thought you were trying to embarrass me in front of the guys."
Jacob patted him on the back. "I would never do that to you, Quil. You're like a brother to me."
Smiling sheepishly, Quil asked, "So, is it a girl or a boy?"
"We don't know yet. She hasn't seen a doctor."
They walked side by side, back to the rez, playfully shoving each other all the way.