CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Oh, shit! I'm sorry!" Jacob's eyes widened and his hands flew to his mouth as he realised the chunk of car he had just thrown across the workshop had missed me by inches.

I stepped inside and closed the door after me. As I walked towards him I noticed the partially dried streaks of tears on his cheeks and pain stabbed through my chest. He lowered his hands and avoided looking at me.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I was going to ask you the same question."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked at the ground. The muscles in his arms bulged. He spoke again before I had chance to begin answering.

"If you're pissed at me over anything, you can just tell me. Or maybe you don't want to be with me any more; I don't know. One minute you say you love me and the next you bite my head off or barely even speak to me. Now I hear you left school..."

He looked so hurt and miserable, it crushed me. He had been crying, throwing things around the workshop because of me and I hated myself.

"Jacob, listen to me." I doubted he would want me to touch him right then, but I had to. I put my hands on his upper arms, which were solid. "I love you, I love being with you. You're my life. Nothing's ever going to make me leave you," I gushed.

"You can't know that," he said sadly, still not looking at me. A fresh tear escaped and he brushed it away quickly.

"I do know. Come here, sit down." I led him over to the couch and dropped onto it. After a moment he sat beside me, head hanging. He raised a hand to tuck his hair behind his ear and I grasped his hand, lacing my fingers with his. I took a deep breath. The hell with Sam's rule. I couldn't stand this another minute.

"There's a reason for Jared and Embry hanging around, for my erratic moods and stuff. I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

"Not even me?"

"No. But I will. I'm making you miserable and I can't stand it. It won't be long before Sam tells you what's going on anyway."

Jacob raised his head at last and met my eyes. He looked surprised and confused.

"I'm guessing you know the stories about where we descended from," I began. "The Quileutes, I mean."

"Yes. Wolves, right? What does that have to do with anything?" His look of puzzlement only increased.

"How much do you know about it?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"A fair bit, I guess. My Dad told me a lot of stuff. I always wondered if it was really only a legend. Dad has this book about the shape-shifters and it's not like a fairytale, it's like a history book. There's something about Ephraim Black in it. He's my great-grandfather."

"It's not just a legend," I said, relieved that he already knew most of it. I didn't feel like I was giving quite so much away.

Jacob's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. He didn't speak for a long moment.

"You're one of them, aren't you?" he whispered.

"Yes. How do you know?"

"Because the minute you said it's not just a legend, all these things came into my mind. Your wild temper, how you're hot all the time even when it's freezing, you jumped out the library window like it was two feet off the ground..." He paused and his face took on a look of sudden shock. "Right after I got beat up, you said you talked to Bobbie and then it was on the news that he was attacked by a wild animal - a wolf. Did you do that?"

"Yeah. I'm not proud of it, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to kill him for what he did to you. I didn't intend to actually hurt him, I just meant to scare him. I clawed his arm by accident."

Jacob stared at me for a moment and then much to my surprise he grinned suddenly. "I'd love to have seen his face."

I smiled briefly.

"So when did it first happen?" he asked.

"The night before you got hurt. I had a nightmare, woke up yelling your name and my Dad came in and hit me. I lost it, phased right there in my room. Then I dived out the window and ran to Sam's. I haven't seen my Dad since then. Sam kept me off school the next day, it was that Friday when you got detention. I was expecting that I would change pretty soon. After I jumped out the library window, do you remember Jared grabbing me and taking me away?"

"Yeah, you didn't come back to school. You said later you needed to go off and calm down."

"Yeah, well Jared took me to see Sam that afternoon. He was worried I'd get in another fight and phase at school. Jacob, you won't let on I told you about this, will you? Sam'll go mad. He's Alpha. He told me to keep my mouth shut. I hate breaking his trust, but I hated keeping the secret from you more."

Jacob shook his head. "I promise. So, who else is there? Jared and Embry?"

"Embry hasn't actually phased yet, but he will do soon."

"That makes sense. All of a sudden the four of you are hanging out together at Sam's. Sam and Embry never really had anything to do with each other before." He paused for a moment. "So what happened today?"

"I was pissed because I couldn't see you Saturday and everything went wrong from there. I've been mad a lot lately, because I haven't been able to tell you about this. I keep having to make shit up to explain myself. Anyway, this morning I was late up, forgot my stuff, I was mad with Embry. He hasn't even done anything except get close to shifting, but I resented him because I had to be home talking to him instead of with you. I completely lost it today. There was a wolf in the sports block for about ten minutes." I grinned sheepishly. "Jared told me go home and then when I told Sam what happened, he decided to keep me out of school in the future. He talked to the Head and I was going to be suspended anyway after what I did today."

"Wow," Jacob said. He stared at me in silence for a moment, then smiled a little. "That's kind of a relief. When you've been with me, mostly it's no different, but sometimes it's like you'd rather be somewhere else. I started wondering if maybe you regretted us being together; sleeping together."

"God, no," I groaned. "I love being with you. You know I said nothing will make me leave you?" I figured I might as well tell him the rest. Leave the details about the pack to Sam, but this part was way more important.

"Yeah," Jacob said.

"Do you know what Imprinting is?" I asked.

"Yes, I read about it. It's about finding your soul mate. I thought it weird though that you can't choose; that it's like fate or something."

"Yeah, but fate was obviously on my side. I Imprinted on you," I said. "After you got beaten up and I took you to Sam's, do you remember asking me what happened?"

"Yeah, but I didn't mean what happened to me, it was because of the way you were looking at me. It was like you froze and just zoned out somewhere, but your eyes were looking into mine... actually it seemed like you were looking right into me."

I grinned. "I knew what you meant when you asked what happened. Telling you that you passed out was the best thing I could come up with. So when I say I'll never leave you, it's the truth. You're my world. Only thing that's going to change that is one of us dying. Or you telling me to fuck off, which I would have to do if you wanted it, although it would just about kill me. When I'm not with you, even if it's just a few hours, it's like a physical pain."

"Wow," Jacob repeated. He smiled again and his hand gripped mine tighter. "So I guess I'm dating a wolf, then?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Why is this happening now?" he asked then, his smile disappearing. "I mean, from what I know, Ephraim and his pack were the last of them."

"Look, it's better I leave that stuff for Sam to tell you," I said.

"I thought he didn't want me to know. Wait...is this going to happen to me?"

He looked alarmed suddenly and I hesitated, not sure how to answer.

"I figured if my great-grandfather was one, then maybe..." Jacob prompted.

"You will," I told him. "Soon, I'm guessing. These just appeared out of nowhere." I let go of his hand and touched his arm, squeezing his bicep. "I told Sam there were signs; he wants to see you at the weekend."

"Shit." He just stared at me for a moment, then jumped to his feet, starting to pace around. "I don't want this!" he exclaimed. "I like my life the way it is; I don't want to have to worry about turning into a wolf at school or wherever! I'm happy - or I was happy. When have you ever known me get mad about anything? This is making me crazy; I just almost hit you with a fucking gearbox!"

I got up quickly and went to him.

"Sam says you learn to control it. Obviously I haven't managed it yet, but I will. So will you."

I rested my hands on his waist and drew him towards me. He was breathing fast, his pupils dilated, but he wasn't hot; not at all.

"Can't I do anything to stop it?" he groaned.

"No. It's in your genes; it's not something any of us can change, we just have to live with it."

I slid my arms around him and he leaned against me, turning his face into my neck. I could feel his heart hammering, his warm breath on my skin. His body was tense, his muscles hard, but he gradually began to relax as he held onto me. I brushed my lips against his ear and felt the softness of his hair on my cheek. I loved his hair, but I knew he would have to cut if off when he phased. I reached up and ran my hand through it.

He drew back a little and I loosened my hold on him, thinking he was going to move away from me, but suddenly he was crushing his lips onto mine, his hands gripping me tighter. Surprised and immediately excited, I plunged my tongue into his mouth and slid one hand down to his butt, pressing myself against him.

He groaned into my mouth and began to push me slowly backwards towards the couch, dragging his lips away from mine only to pull his sweatshirt off quickly. I took my t-shirt off and lost my balance as the back of my legs bumped into the couch. I sat down suddenly and a second later Jacob was on me, his knees resting either side of me as he began to kiss me again hungrily. My dick stiffened rapidly and I slid one hand between us to unfasten Jacob's jeans, finding him as aroused and eager as I was.

I tucked both hands under him, pushed myself up slightly and dumped him onto his back on the cushions. Kneeling between his thighs, I unfastened my pants to make things more comfortable, staring down at him as I did so. He looked amazing with well-defined pecs and abs as well as the muscles in his arms; his lips were parted and his eyes half closed.

I couldn't wait to see the rest of him and I lifted his legs up one at a time, took his boots and socks off and then began to pull his jeans and underwear down. His thighs were firm and muscular and his dick rigid, lying against his stomach. I backed off the couch to strip the rest of my own clothes off, then lowered myself onto him, rubbing myself against him. I had never wanted to have sex so much in my life, but I knew we would only be able to fool around for the moment.

Jacob wrapped both arms and one leg around me as I began to kiss him again and thrust his hips upwards beneath me, grinding himself harder against me. I tore my lips away from his with a groan. He took one hand off me and stretched his arm out over the edge of the couch. I didn't notice what he was doing until he pulled something out from beneath it - a bottle of lube.

"Fuck me," he panted. "Now! Please..." The last word was a moan of desperation.

I took the lube from him, not bothering to waste my breath asking where he got it. I pulled back from him, lathered some on myself and guided myself into him. I slid in smoothly and he writhed under me, his eyes meeting mine and staying locked onto them as he moved with me.

"Oh, God, Paul," he gasped after only a couple of minutes. "Harder, please. I'm gonna come."

I pulled back and rammed myself forward again vigorously. Two more thrusts and I erupted into him, just as I felt him spurting onto my stomach, both of us grunting and groaning loudly.

"Fuck," I gasped, dropping my head onto the cushion beside his, panting hard. My head was spinning and my dick twitching as Jacob's muscles squeezed the last few drops out of it.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Love you too." I raised my head again and looked down at him. He was beautiful, I thought. I had always thought so, but never more than at that moment with his face flushed, eyes sparkling with a look of almost adoration in them. I brushed my lips against his lightly, still too breathless to deepen it. I drew back then and slid off him, resting on my side. He turned towards me and we just lay there holding each other.

"Where did you get that lube from?" I murmured then, remembering it's unexpected and timely appearance.

Jacob chuckled. "I ordered it on the internet. It turned up a couple of days ago."

"You ordered it online? Don't you need a credit card for that?"

"I used my Dad's," he sniggered.

"Jesus, what's he going to say when he gets the statement and it's got some sex shop name on it?" I groaned.

"I'll intercept it, give him the money to pay for it and tell him I ordered him a gift. It's his birthday next week."

"Don't forget to actually buy him one, then." I slid away from him reluctantly and sat up. "I wish I could stay here all night, but I ought to go home and show my face," I sighed. "Emily was about to serve up dinner when I left. She said it was ok, but I don't want to piss them off after today."

"Ok," Jacob said.

"Why don't you come with me?" I added.

"Won't they want to talk to you alone?"

"They already did that. Jared and Embry turned up right before I left."

"Won't that be kind of awkward, though?"

"No. Jared and Embry won't be hanging around too long anyway, if they're even still there now."

"Sure, ok," Jacob said. He sat up and grabbed his shorts. "Can you give me ten minutes to dive in the shower? I probably smell of sex."

I grinned. "No more than me. Go on, I'll wait here."

He dragged the rest of his clothes on and went over to the house. I got dressed and wandered around the workshop, looking at the finished bike and the old Volkswagen Rabbit in the corner - the very car the gearbox had been removed from. I went to rescue the gearbox from where it lay by the door and was surprised at the weight of it. I dumped it with the heap of other parts beside the car. Minutes later Jacob was back, wearing cargo pants and his fleece jacket over a t-shirt, his hair wet.

"My Dad said the same as Sam - home by ten or call," he said. "Let's go."

He closed the workshop up and we walked over to Sam's. Much to my relief, Jared and Embry had already gone and there was still plenty of chicken left, although it was cold now. We ate some and spent half an hour in the lounge room talking to Sam and Emily. I noticed Sam's eyes on Jacob a number of times, obviously taking in his muscles which were completely unhidden by the tight and sleeveless t-shirt.

We went to my room after a while to watch a movie and the time flew by much too fast. Suddenly Sam was knocking on the door.

"Paul!"

I let go of Jacob who was lying in my arms and sat up, leaning against the wall. He did the same.

"Yeah, come in," I said.

Sam stuck his head around the door. "It's ten o'clock. Won't your Dad be wondering where you are, Jacob?"

"Oh, shit," Jacob muttered.

Sam stared at him for another moment, a slight frown on his face. Then he just grinned.

"Look, stay if you want. But call Billy, I don't want him coming after me tomorrow."

Jacob reddened and grinned.

"Thanks, Sam," I said.

He retreated from the room. Jacob pulled out his cellphone quickly and called his Dad and I went to take a quick shower. By ten-thirty, we were in my bed and I eventually fell asleep resting against Jacob's back, my arms wrapped around him the same way I had when he stayed over that other time. Finally things seemed to be going right for me again.