Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I watched as the battle played out before me. Vampires going against vampires and wolves. The sight was horrendous. I could hear the tears of metal as body parts were removed from the stone cold creatures. There was a howl of pain from one of the wolves as a red-eyes vampire shattered their leg. The snarls and growls surrounded me completely and, yet, none of it touched me.
I looked across the field at the only other being that wasn't a part of the fighting. The Volturi's Omega stared back at me, unblinking. He was older, much older than myself. His hair wasn't quite grey, but neither was it the vibrant black it must have been in his younger years. His cool blue eyes told tales of the horrors he had witnessed and, possibly, participated in.
"You need to be ready for this," the Omega said.
"I'm trying," I told him, slightly frustrated.
"This will be happening before you know it," he responded cryptically.
"When?" I asked, eager for a set time.
"Soon. Be ready."
A blood curdling scream sounded through the air. I was shaking from the obvious pain of the scream and could hear someone calling my name.
"Bella! Bella, wake up!"
I blinked and realized the scream from my dream had been my own. I immediately stopped and blinked up at Charlie. He was frowning down at me, obviously concerned.
"Are you alright? Should I call for Jacob or Sam?" Charlie asked, unsure of what to do in this situation.
"No. No, I'm fine. It was just a bad dream," I assured him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Charlie offered awkwardly.
I gave him a small smile and patted his hand on my knee.
"I'm alright, Dad. It was just another dream about the Volturi. I'll be sure to tell Sam later," I promised him.
Charlie grunted and nodded his head. I'd woken him up screaming before. It wasn't anything new, but this time, the dreams were premonitions. I knew I was being warned that the battle was coming.
"I'm leaving to go fishing with Billy and Harry in about an hour. Are you going to be alright here until Alice and the girls come?" Charlie asked.
"Sure, sure. Go have fun," I waved him off, flopping against my pillow.
"I'll have my phone on me. You call if anything happens, you hear?" Charlie ordered.
"Sure, sure," I repeated, smiling slightly.
He shook his head at me as he walked out the door, a small smile on his face. The door clicked softly as he closed it and I let out a sigh.
The dreams were becoming more vivid and this past one was the first time I'd ever heard someone talk. I wondered vaguely if the Volturi's Omega was communicating to me intentionally or if this was all just some trick. Maybe it was the Spirits attempting to reach me through my dreams.
I sighed and rubbed my hand over my face, much like Sam did when he was tired or stressed. I figured I'd have to talk to Billy or one of the other Elders about the dreams. They would be able to tell me if they were truly warnings or just some trick being played on me by my mind or the Volturi.
I glanced over at the clock and saw that it was just a little after five in the morning. I wouldn't be able to talk to Billy or Harry this weekend, since they would be fishing with Charlie, and I didn't really feel comfortable enough to talk to Quil Sr. about my dreams. My best bet would be to wait until Billy got back and talk to him. I'd probably have to fill in Sam as well. He'd likely want to be there for the meeting. That also meant that the rest of the pack would find out and I wasn't sure I wanted that just yet.
I didn't know how to handle the situation and it was stressing me out. I knew I'd never be able to get back to sleep, so I swung my legs out of bed and headed for the shower. The warm water helped to relax my muscles and tired mind, allowing me to let go over the anxiety that came with the job of protecting my pack.
After half an hour, I was able to step out, completely at ease. The steam billowing around my feet made the floor slippery, but I hadn't fallen in since becoming Omega. I walked into my room, rifling through my clothes for something Alice-approved. I came out with dark washed jeans and a fairly decent green v-neck sweater. I was fairly certain it was something Alice had picked out on one of our previous shopping trips, so I was sure she wouldn't complain.
I walked downstairs and starting looking for something to fix for breakfast. We had a full carton of eggs and a package of sausage in the fridge. Taking them both out and setting them beside the stove, I pulled out the frying pan and settled on scrambled eggs with sausage.
I wondered who was on Bella Watch last night since Jake had to meet with Sam last night and patrol La Push. I ducked out the back door, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the early morning chill. Reaching through to the pack mind, I discovered it was Embry patrolling around my house.
"Embry. Come in and get something to eat. I know you're starving," I called quietly.
I walked back inside to escape the cold and began cooking breakfast for the two of us. About five minutes later, Embry came striding through the back door looking exhausted. He plopped down into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, groaning as he did so.
"Long night, Em?" I asked softly.
"God, you have no idea. Sam's going over board on the whole patrol schedule and Jake was patrolling La Push at the same time I was here. Needless to say, he was not thrilled with the arrangement," Embry groaned.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I'll talk to Sam and see what I can do about that. He shouldn't work you boys so hard. You have enough to do with getting ready for this upcoming battle," I frowned.
"Don't worry about it, Bella. We all want to make sure you're safe. We just don't like doing that while you're temperamental boyfriend is phased at the same time," Embry chuckled.
"I'll talk to him, too. He needs to calm down and stop worrying about me so much," I grumbled good-naturedly.
"It comes with the imprint," Embry shrugged.
"I know," I sighed.
The sizzling of the sausage was the only sound for a while as he contemplated the floor and I paid attention to the food. I could sense his discomfort in the way he continued to shift in his chair and clean his throat. It didn't hurt that I was also his Omega and you can't hide your feelings from an Omega.
"What's on your mind, Em?" I asked, smiling softly.
He didn't respond right away and I turned slightly to look at him. He was frowning at the floor between his feet, bending over with his elbows resting on his knees.
"Embry?" I called quietly.
He glanced up at me and grimaced.
"Bella, what were you dreaming about last night?" Embry asked.
I stopped, my eyes wide as I tried to come up with something to tell him. Hoping to buy myself some time, I sidestepped with a question of my own.
"Why do you ask?"
"You were moaning a lot and calling out for the pack. You kept saying 'be ready'. Jake heard it through my mind and said you'd been having dreams like that a lot lately. He's starting to get worried," Embry explained.
I leaned against the counter, biting my lip in concentration. I didn't ever want to lie to my pack, but I didn't see the point in worrying them until I was certain these dreams meant something.
"It's nothing, Embry. Just a reoccurring nightmare. You guys shouldn't worry so much. You're all going to go prematurely grey," I teased.
The tension in the room dropped slightly as he grinned at me.
"I see what you're trying to do and I'll let it slide this time. Just be forewarned, Jake and Sam will probably be coming for explanations sooner rather than later," Embry informed me.
"Thanks for the heads up," I grinned, turning back to breakfast.
"Anytime," Embry smirked.
I shook my head and started dishing out the breakfast onto two plates, one considerably fuller than the other. Embry dove into the food with a vengeance, inhaling half of it within the first ten minutes.
"Jeeze, Em. Where you hungry or something?" I asked with a chuckle.
Embry just nodded, his face too stuffed to actually speak without spraying food everywhere. I shook my head at him and enjoyed my own plate. He finished well before me, sitting back in his chair and patting his stomach.
"That was good, Bella. Thanks," Embry sighed contently.
"No problem," I assured him.
"I'd probably better head out. My replacement will be here soon," Embry told me.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Leah. She's going shopping with you, so it just made sense for her to come by after my shift was over," Embry shrugged.
"Good point," I nodded, picking up the dirty plates.
"Do you want help?" Embry offered.
"No, I got it. You go on home and get some rest. Wouldn't want you falling asleep later," I smiled.
"Ugh. Don't remind me. I don't know why Sam is so insistent on us fighting with the leeches. We already know everything we need to know," Embry grumbled.
"It never helps to keep things fresh," I pointed out.
Embry continued to complain under his breath about have to deal with the stench and not getting enough time to sleep with all the work Sam was giving them. I made a decision to go see Sam after the shopping trip to discuss letting the guys have a day off or something. They deserved it after everything they'd been doing.
A few minutes after Embry left, the back door opened again.
"Knock, knock. Anybody home?" Leah called, coming inside.
"Hey, Leah. I'm in the kitchen," I answered, elbow deep in soapy water.
"Why wasn't Embry at his post earlier? Were you feeding him again? Those boys are going to get fat with you and Emily shoving so much food down their throats," Leah smirked.
"You're just jealous I didn't make you breakfast," I taunted.
"Damn straight! Where's my food?" Leah mock glared.
"In the fridge. Fix it yourself," I laughed.
"Not cool, Bella. Us girls are supposed to stick together. I'm supposed to be your favorite! Not Embry," Leah pouted.
"Aw, I'm sorry, Leah. How bout I make you some yummy toast?" I offered, grinning.
"I'll give you toast," Leah threatened, shaking her fist at me.
I laughed and shook my head at her.
"Leah, that doesn't even make any sense," I told her.
Leah let out a huff and crossed her arms, turning away from me. She couldn't hide the smile that was turning up the corners of her mouth, so I knew she wasn't really angry.
"Oh, come on, Leah. You don't really think I'd make breakfast for Embry and not save you some, do you? It's in the pan, keeping warm," I said.
Leah instantly perked up and walked over to prepare her own plate. I smiled as she dug into the food with just a little less enthusiasm as Embry had. The perks of dining with a female werewolf instead of the males continued to pile up.
"So, Leah, are you excited about going to Prom with Tyler?" I asked slyly.
She blushed and looked down at her plate, pushing the food around with her fork.
"I still can't believe Alice convinced him to ask me," Leah mumbled.
"Alice only encouraged him to ask you. He's wanted to for a while. You're just a little intimidating. Especially with all those guys running around with you," I chuckled.
"Still," Leah murmured, staring at her plate.
"What's on your mind, Leah?" I asked, sitting across from her.
She pursed her lips before looking up at me from behind her hair.
"I'm worried about imprinting. What if Tyler and I get really close and then I go and imprint. I don't want to do that to anyone, Bella. It nearly killed me when it happened to Sam. How could I do that to someone else?" Leah sobbed.
I moved my chair over to her and wrapped my arms around her. She clung to me, burying her face into my chest. I stroked her hair and gently shushed her.
"Oh, Leah, I wish you'd come to me with these worries sooner," I sighed.
"Why? What can you do?" Leah sniffled.
"I could've told you. You won't imprint any time soon, sweetheart. You're still too torn up about what happened to Sam. I know you're moving on, but you've still got a long ways to go. Tyler's going to help you get there. I promise, it won't end badly. You'll both come out of it happy and remain really good friends," I informed her.
"How do you know?" Leah asked quietly.
"I saw it. You know how I have those prophetic dreams? I had one about you shortly after you jumped," I answered just as quietly.
"You aren't just saying this to make me feel better, are you?" Leah accused, leaning back to glare at me.
"Of course not, Leah. I know how much it hurts you. I would never do that," I frowned.
She pursed her lips again, looking for any sign of a lie. She suddenly smiled and threw her arms around me in a hug.
"Thank you, Bella. You're been a great friend to me. I don't know what I would've done without you," Leah said.
"You don't have to thank me, Leah. I have been happy to do it," I assured her.
We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Leah sat up and glanced around in a panic. I gave her a small smile as I stood up.
"The bathroom is the door right at the top of the stairs. Go clean up. It's just Angela. Alice won't be here for a little while longer," I instructed.
Leah nodded her thanks and scurried up the stairs as I went to answer the door.
"Good morning, Bella!" Angela greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Ang. Come on in. Leah's upstairs, but she'll be right back down. We're just waiting for Alice at this point," I smiled, giving her the run down.
"Sounds good. I'm really excited for this year to be over. Can you believe we're going to be graduating in less than three weeks?" Angela squealed.
"I know," I nodded.
I heard Leah coming down the stairs and turned to see her smiling at Angela and myself. She came to stand beside us.
"Why are we standing by the door when we could be sitting down?" Leah asked.
Angela and I looked at each and then at Leah.
"I really don't know. I guess it's because we figured Alice would be here soon anyway and we'd just have to get back up again," I shrugged.
The sound of gravel crunching interrupted whatever Leah was about to say and I smirked at her.
"Speak of the devil," I murmured.
I opened the door to see Alice climbing out of Carlisle's Mercedes. She waved at us enthusiastically.
"Good morning, girls. Are you ready for a day of shopping?" Alice asked.
"Not all day, Alice. We'll be home by dinner," I informed her strictly.
She pouted and gave me her puppy-dog eyes. I laughed and climbed into the front seat.
"Alice, you should know better than to use puppy-dog eyes on me," I teased.
She snorted and rolled her eyes, backing out of the driveway. Leah laughed, getting the joke, while Angela gave me a confused smile. I shook my head, indicating not to worry about it.
"I am so excited for this shopping trip! We are all going to be the best dressed girls at this prom!" Alice claimed, bouncing in her seat.
"How could we not be with you there to tell us exactly what to wear?" I asked sarcastically.
"Well, I am a fashion expert," Alice agreed haughtily.
"Just remember, Alice, I don't do pink," Leah insisted.
Alice let out a laugh as she accelerated down the highway towards Port Angeles.
Jake's POV
After patrolling La Push all of last night, I wasn't exactly thrilled about Bella going to Port Angeles all day today. I hadn't seen her since dropping her off at home the night before. She had warned me that with the pixie shopping, she wouldn't be back until late.
I mentally cursed Sam as I hopped out of the shower. I didn't like the fact that I wasn't around last night when Bella was having her nightmare. Instead, I had to listen through Embry's mind as she screamed and called out for the pack. It was similar to dreams she'd been having before and I was worried they were more than just dreams. After all, she'd seen Leah diving off the cliff. She could be having more prophetic dreams.
I rubbed my hand over my face as I walked to my bedroom. The house was quiet seeing as Billy had left to go fishing with Charlie shortly after I had returned from patrols. I was looking forward to a weekend spent with my Bella without any adult interruptions. I was hoping we could finally be together tonight. I knew she was finally ready and I'd been ready since the moment I first saw her after countless summers of being apart.
The phone in the kitchen started ringing and I hurried to answer it, my towel wrapped firmly around my waist.
"Hello?" I answered, my voice a little gruffer than usual.
"Jake, I need you to come by as soon as you're dressed. I want to have a pack meeting while the girls are in Port Angeles," Sam informed me.
"Why? Has something happened?" I asked.
If Bella was in any form of danger, I wasn't going to waste time on a pack meeting. I'd be heading straight for Port Angeles.
"No. Not really. It'd be better to talk in person and with the whole pack. You don't have to worry about Bella, though. She's perfectly fine," Sam assured me, sensing my distress even through the phone.
"Alright. I'll be right there," I agreed, hanging up the phone.
I hurried into my room and grabbed a pair of shorts, throwing them on as I walked out the door. I could make it to Sam's faster as a wolf, but I'd get there fast enough as a human.
I walked through the front door to find everyone sitting around the living room in their usual spots. No one was talking and there was an undercurrent of tension in the room. Slowly, I walked over to the love seat I usually shared with Bella and sat down.
"What's going on?" I asked, focused on Sam.
"We need to talk about what's been happening with Bella," Sam started.
My hand flew to the seat beside me, where Bella would have been sitting if she was here. My breathing came a little shorter and I started shaking.
"You told me she was fine, Sam," I reminded him, trying to keep my voice level.
"She is fine, Jacob. Right now, Bella is perfectly safe and healthy," Sam told me forcefully.
I took a deep breath and released it, relaxing my shoulders. The shaking stopped and I was able to focus on Sam's words.
"I'm concerned about all these new developments. None of our legends told us of the abilities of the Omega. Or, rather, they gave us very limited information. Now, I talked to the Elders earlier this week to discuss the changes Bella is going through. They will meet with her tomorrow night and talk to her about the differences she's experiencing," Sam informed us.
"What are they going to do?" Seth asked, frowning in concern.
"They won't hurt her. They know that we wouldn't be able to just sit by and let it happen if they even tried. I will be in the meeting with her. The rest of you will be positioned around La Push," Sam instructed.
"Sam, I can't," I murmured.
"I know, Jake. I'm going to have you as close as possible, but the Elders were very specific that only I be allowed in the meeting with her. I'm sure she'll be able to keep herself open to you, though," Sam placated me.
I nodded, knowing that would be the best I'd get out of the arrangement.
"What are we going to do about her dreams?" Embry asked, leaning forward.
"They're getting worse. Do you think they could be like what happened with Leah?" I added.
"Possibly. It's another thing we'll have to talk to the Elders about. Bella hasn't said anything about them, correct?" Sam confirmed.
We all nodded.
"Maybe she's been waiting for a chance to meet with the Elders. She hasn't had much time to herself lately," Sam frowned.
"Speaking of that, are we done hanging around the bloodsuckers? The stench is really starting to get to me," Quil complained.
"I doubt it. Bella is determined to 'bring us all together'. She's not going to let us just back away," I smirked.
"Damn it, it's wrong. They're our enemies. How the hell does she expect us to be chill with them?" Paul grumbled.
"Try telling her that, Paul. See what she does to you," Jared warned.
Paul glared at him, but didn't comment. We all knew what Bella would do if any of us brought up the subject with her around. We were all quite fond of our balls, thank you very much!
"Look, man, we just gotta stick it out for a little while longer. Once this whole battle thing with the Volturi is over, everything will go back to normal," Embry said, smoothing things over.
"We have one last order of business to discuss and then I want you all out of my house," Sam demanded.
The mood changed back to serious and we all listened for what he had to say. He looked directly at me and started to speak.
"I realize that you and Bella will be taking your relationship to the next step this weekend. You need to be warned about what might happen when you do."
"Aw, hell, Sam! Jake knows the whole birds and bees bit! We don't all need to hear this!" Quil whined, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yes, you do. This involves all of you, especially those with imprints. Now, Jared and I have already gone through this, but the rest of you will need to know for the future. If this isn't done right, you could end up hurting your imprint," Sam warned us.
"Well, duh, Sam. Shit, the girl's a virgin. It's supposed to hurt," Embry snorted, laughing slightly.
I reached over and slapped the idiot in the back of the head.
"Ow! Damn it, Jake!" Embry shouted, rubbing his head.
"Shut up and let Sam talk," I growled.
I turned to see Sam shaking his head at us.
"How will I hurt Bella?" I asked, nervous all of a sudden.
"When a wolf consummates the imprint, he has to mark her, claim her as his," Sam started.
"Dude, I don't think Bella will just sit there and let you piss on her," Quil laughed.
"Shut up, Quil! This is important!" Paul snapped.
Quil stopped laughing, but was still grinning like an idiot.
"The way a wolf marks his mate is by biting down on her neck during sex," Sam finished, glaring at Quil and Embry.
"Like a fucking leech!" Embry screeched.
I groaned and buried my head in my hands. My friends were a couple of grade A idiots. I wasn't sure why I had put up with them for so long.
"No, Embry. Damn it, will you two just shut up and listen? Shit, it's like dealing with five year olds!" Sam yelled, throwing up his hands in exasperation.
"So, what, Sam? I just bite her? Why?" I asked, frowning at the floor.
"It's the way of the wolf. Emily and Kim both have the marks. Both are in different places. It all depends on the wolf and his imprint on where and how the bite is given. It shows the commitment between the two," Sam explained.
"So, it's like marriage?" I tried to clarify.
"In a way, yes. Once your imprint has been marked, the bond can never be broken. So, I guess it's a little more permanent than marriage," Sam smiled.
"What if Bella doesn't want me to mark her?" I asked.
"Trust me, Jake. She'll want it," Jared assured me with a smirk.
"You won't be able to stop yourself, Jacob. I'm going to assume that while you've been with her, you've started paying more attention to her neck. You find yourself drawn to a certain area when you're being physical with her. And when you're focused on that area, her reaction is stronger," Sam rattled off.
Quil and Embry were snickering in the corner, but I ignored them, thinking back on the past few time Bella and I had come close to being physical. I had been paying more attention to her neck, to a spot just above her collar bone. I had tried not to linger on the area, though, because it was difficult for me not to bite her there.
Sam gave me a satisfied grin when he realized he was right.
"Are you sure she's going to be okay with this?" I asked.
"She's our Omega. Her reactions will probably be stronger because of her connection to the pack," Sam shrugged.
"Dude! You are one lucky son of a bitch!" Jared laughed.
I gave him a confused look as he slapped Paul on the back.
"When Jared bit Kim… let's just say I could hear it at my house," Paul grinned.
I'm sure my eyes were ready to fall out of my head they were so far open. Paul lived on the other side of the reservation than Jared. Granted Paul had his wolf hearing, but it was still impressive.
"Damn! And Bella's gonna be even better," Quil groaned, falling against his seat.
I growled at him, knowing exactly where his thoughts were.
"Okay, well, this has been one of the more awkward conversations of my life and I really hope to never have to hear about Jake marking Bella ever again. Can I go, now?" Seth pleaded.
In all honesty, I'd kind of forgotten the kid was even here. He was way too young to be hearing about this sort of stuff. I cursed Sam for the abuse I was going to get from Bella if it ever got back to her that Seth had been sitting in on this conversation.
"Go ahead, Seth. If you hear from Leah, let us know," Sam requested.
"Sure thing, Sam," Seth agreed, already halfway out the door.
"The rest of you, get out. Emily's not cooking today and I have no intention of feeding your sorry asses," Sam smirked.
I watched as the pack filed out to a chorus of complaints and grumbles. Sam grinned at me as soon as the door slammed shut behind them.
"You have any more questions?" Sam asked.
"Not really, but I'm not looking forward to going home. All I'll do is sit and worry about Bella," I admitted, slumping down in my seat.
"I know what you mean. When Em and I first started, I'd have trouble letting her go the grocery store alone. And Em didn't have a royal vampire army after her or attract danger everywhere she went," Sam chuckled.
"You don't think anything will happen to her, do you?" I asked in a soft voice, looking at my hands.
I looked up to see Sam giving me a hard, thorough look. I shifted under his intense gaze and he grinned.
"No, Jacob. I don't think Leah would let anything happen to your girl. Right now, they're at some restaurant getting lunch. Leah's been running interference all morning to keep the pixie from going overboard," Sam informed me.
"How do you know that?" I questioned.
"Bella has been checking in all morning. She doesn't want anyone to worry. She was told not to speak with you until they had arrived back," Sam answered, grinning like a fool.
"What the hell? That demented pixie needs to learn not to make demands on imprints," I grumbled.
"Really, Jake, I think you'll be glad she wants you to wait. It'll be worth it," Sam assured me.
I glared at him, trying to decipher how he meant that.
"You checking out my girl, Uley? Cause if you are, I won't have any problem taking your Alpha ass out," I threatened casually.
"I'd like to see you try, Black. But, no, I was not checking out your girl. I simply saw a few of her purchases," Sam smirked.
I seriously debated tackling him, but figured Emily would tell Bella who would have my ass if I ruined any of the furniture.
"You're lucky Bella and Emily are so close," I told him.
Sam stood up and gave me a look.
"Sure, Jacob. It's okay to admit you're afraid to go up against the Alpha," Sam grinned, walking out of the room.
I rolled my eyes, not interested in having a pissing match over the Alpha position. We both knew I would take it one day. For right now, Sam was doing a good job at running the pack. I wouldn't mind letting him keep control for a few more years.
I knew it would still be awhile before Bella got back, so I kicked up my feet and settled in to watch some TV while I waited.
Bella's POV
"Oh my, God! I seriously think she was trying to kill us," I groaned as I stumbled into the house.
"Demented little pixie," Leah grumbled, following me into the house.
"Hey, Bella? Next time you decide to invite me to go shopping with all of you, don't," Angela requested, flopping onto the sofa.
It had taken all three of us to convince Alice to let up and allow us to come back home after hours of shopping. I knew my feet were killing me, so I can only imagine how much Angela must be hurting right now. Neither one of us was used to so much physical exercise. Leah didn't seem to be bothered too much, except for the fact that she had spent all day with a vampire.
"No worries, Ang. I don't think I'll be going shopping again for a long time," I assured her, sitting down next to her.
"Thank God!" Leah shouted, falling to the floor.
Angela groaned and looked at her watch.
"Crap. I have to head home. My parents are going out tonight and I have to watch the twins," Angela complained.
"No big, Ang. Me and Bella are about to head to La Push, anyway. She hasn't seen her Jakey-boy in almost twenty-four hours," Leah snickered.
"Shut up, Leah," I mumbled, kicking at her.
Leah just laughed and rolled away from my foot. Angela shook her head at us and stood up, stretching as she did so.
"I'll see you Monday, Bella. And I'll see you… at some later date, Leah," Angela decided.
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it," Leah agreed sarcastically.
Angela laughed and waved on her way out the door. As soon as we heard her car pull out of the driveway, Leah was standing and pulling me to my feet.
"Come on, wolf-girl. I was given direct orders to have you at Jake's house as soon as I was able. Let's get a move on," Leah instructed, ushering me out the door.
I let her lead me to the truck and climbed inside. She closed the door and smiled.
"Now, drive straight to Jake's. I'll be running along beside you. I've got to check in with Sam and the others. Have fun, tonight," Leah grinned, heading to the trees.
I rolled my eyes at her retreating figure before firing up the engine and backing out of the driveway.
True to her word, Leah ran right beside the truck the whole way to La Push. As soon as we crossed the border, I heard her howl and knew she was heading home. I waved out the window and continued on to Jake's.
The lights were on when I pulled into the driveway. As soon as I put the truck in park, Jake was there, opening my door.
"Bella," Jake murmured, pulling me into his arms.
I wrapped myself around him, clinging to his shirt and inhaling his scent. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him while gone.
"I missed you," I sighed, snuggling into his embrace further.
"I missed you, too. It's been too long," Jake groaned, burying his face into my hair.
We stood there for a long time, just breathing each other in and allowing ourselves to relax. Jake was the one who pulled away first, giving me a smile that did funny things to my insides.
"Come on. I've had dinner waiting for you," Jake said.
He reached into the truck and pulled out my overnight bag before leading me to the house.
"You cooked?" I asked, surprised.
"God, no! I don't want to kill you," Jake laughed.
"Then what are we having for dinner?" I asked, smiling up at him.
"I ordered pizza. I figured you wouldn't want to cook after being tortured all day by the demon pixie, so pizza was the best bet," Jake shrugged.
"I love you," I hummed.
"I know," Jake chuckled, kissing my forehead.
He opened the door for me, ushering me inside. I stopped and looked around the living room in surprise.
There was a bed of blankets and pillows on the floor in front of the TV. The coffee table had been moved against the far wall, away from the couch, leaving more room for the "bed". There were candles set up around the room, making the entire place feel warm and sensual. The place smelled like flowers and fresh rain.
I looked up at Jake, wondering why the living room was set up like this, only to find him gone.
"Jake?" I called.
"Bedroom. I'll be right back," Jake answered.
I sighed and shifted my feet, wondering what was going on. I knew that Jake was excited about being alone with me, but this was a little much for a night of movies and pizza. What was going through his head?
"Dinner is served, mi'lady," Jake murmured, right behind me.
I jumped and spun around to see him balancing two boxes of pizza and a bottle of soda. I giggled and took the soda from him.
"You've really gone over the top with this whole 'date' thing haven't you?" I asked, settling down on the blankets.
"Yeah, well, I want tonight to be special," Jake shrugged, taking his place beside me.
"Jake. I've told you. Just being with you is special enough for me," I smiled, leaning over to kiss him.
When I pulled away, his eyes were still closed and he had a small smile on his face. I giggled and he opened his eyes, grinning at me.
"So, dinner," I stated, sitting up and grabbing a box.
"And a movie," Jake grinned, reaching for the remote.
"Oh? What movie is it?" I asked, moving to lean against the couch.
"Um… I'm not entirely sure. Emily suggested it when I told her about tonight," Jake admitted.
I gave him a curious smile.
"Push play, then, and let's see," I urged.
Jake pointed the remote at the VCR and pressed play. We sped through the previews for new movies and movies coming into theaters. Jake pushed play as we saw railroad tracks appear on screen. The beginnings of "This Will Be" came on and I started to smile. Jake noticed and wrapped an arm around me. The title popped up on screen and I actually laughed.
"Jake. Do you realize that this is kinda a chick flick?" I asked, still laughing.
"Well, yeah. This is a date, Bells. I figured that's what we're supposed to watch," Jake frowned.
"Jake! This is you and me. Why would we watch While You Were Sleeping? We're more of a Dawn of the Dead or The Exorcist kinda date people," I reminded him.
"You told me that wasn't a date. We were with Newton. Besides, dates are supposed to be romantic," Jake argued.
"Not all dates are romantic. Some are fun," I pointed out.
"So, you don't want me to be romantic?" Jake asked.
I was prepared to come back with another comment, but stopped when I saw his face. He wasn't looking at me, but I could still tell he was upset by my easy brush off of him being romantic. I bit my lip and moved to straddle his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He was still watching the TV, his arms at his side.
I leaned in a kissed his cheekbone, then the other.
"I love that you want to be romantic," I started.
I moved my lips to his neck, nipping at the sensitive skin. His head fell back just a little, encouraging me.
"I just want you to know, it's not necessary," I continued.
His hands ghosted over my ankles to my calves, working their way up to my hips.
"I've always thought of you as romantic. It's in the little things you do for me," I breathed.
My lips were at his ear, now, and I took the lobe between my teeth, giving it a gentle tug. He groaned and bucked against me. I gasped as I felt his erection rubbing against my heated center.
"It's in the way you stopped us from going to far our first night," I murmured.
I began going back down to just above his collarbone. I sucked the skin into my mouth, attempting to leave a mark. I felt a pool of wetness gather in my underwear at his growl. He moved me against him again and I bit down on his skin.
"It's in the way you always pull me close in front of the guys," I whispered.
I placed a trail of bites and kisses to just under his jaw. His head was completely against the couch at this point. His breathing was irregular, coming in short gasps. I licked the underside of his jaw, moaning as the salty taste of his skin.
"It's in the way you protect me with you own body when you think I'm in danger," I purred.
"Bella, please," Jake begged, his voice husky.
"Please what?" I asked, moving to the opposite ear.
"Stop talking and kiss me," Jake groaned.
I smiled and brought my lips to his, barely touching.
"But I like tasting your skin," I told him.
Our lips brushed as I spoke and I felt him twitch between my legs. The feeling caused another rush of desire to go through me. I moved my hips against his, seeking some form of release from the pressure building inside of me.
"Bella," Jake panted, his face a mix of pleasure and pain.
"God, Jake. You make me crazy. Please, don't say no tonight. I need you," I pleaded, dragging my fingers through his hair.
Before I knew it, Jake had me pinned beneath him on the floor.
"I have to kiss you," Jake growled before slamming his lips to mine.
I moaned, fisting my fingers in his hair. His tongue shoved past the barrier of my lips, straight in my mouth, seeking my tongue. One of his hands was gripping my hip as our lower halves continued to move against each other. The other was slipping beneath my shirt, skimming across my overheated skin.
Jake broke the kiss when we both needed to breath, but didn't take his lips off me. He returned the same treatment I had given him, going down to suck on my neck. His tongue pressed against the skin between his teeth and I struggled to hold back a scream at the incredible feel of it.
"Oh, God, Jake. Please," I panted, tugging at his hair.
All I got in response was a feral growl as his grip tightened on me. I cried out as his hand cupped my breast, squeezing the nipple between his fingers. My hands moved from his hair to the bottom of my shirt, pulling it up. Jake's other hand left my hip and eagerly helped me.
"So beautiful," Jake murmured when the shirt was off and thrown across the room.
"Mmm. So gorgeous," I hummed, running my hands across his chest.
I'd never loved the fact that he didn't wear a shirt more than I did in that moment. His perfectly muscles body actually made my mouth water. I wanted to lick every inch of that russet colored skin.
I moved my mouth close to his chest and did just that. He hissed as my tongue raked across his pectoral muscles and circled his right nipple. I fastened my mouth around the small bud and sucked.
I was so caught up in tasting Jake that I didn't notice that he had pulled my jeans off until his hands slipped inside my underwear.
"Damn, Bella. So wet," Jake groaned.
I released his skin and fell back against the blankets as Jake's fingers played me like a violin. I could feel the pressure increasing and knew I was close. My breathing picked up as Jake ripped my bra off. His mouth fastened on one of my nipples. I screamed as he bit down on the bud, causing me to clench around his fingers and see spots behind my eyes.
Jake slowly brought me down from the high, gently kissing his way back to my lips, as I struggled to regain my breathing.
"You are so beautiful, Bella. I need you, honey. No holding back tonight," Jake whispered.
"Yes," I gasped, attacking his lips.
Jake moaned as I sucked his tongue into my mouth. His hands moved to pull my underwear off as mine flew to his shorts. Finally, we were skin on skin.
"Please tell me you have something," I pleaded, kissing my way to his shoulder.
"Of course. I've been waiting for this. You think I'd come unprepared?" Jake teased.
"Hurry," I breathed, biting his ear.
He growled in response, reaching for his shorts pocket. I sighed when I heard the ripping of wrapper, knowing we were almost there.
"Bella, honey, look at me," Jake ordered.
I did and I saw his dark brown eyes staring back into mine. We were both panting as he positioned himself over my entrance.
"You have to tell me if I hurt you," Jake insisted.
I nodded, keeping my eyes on his. It finally came home what we were about to do. I was about to lose my virginity to this man. He would have every part of me. No one would ever know me the same way he would. The thought sent a little thrill through me.
He lowered his lips to mine, maintaining eye contact as he brought me close to the edge again. His hands returned to my lower lips, dipping inside of me, preparing me for him. I moved against his hand, nipping at his bottom lip as his thumb rubbed against my clit.
"Please, Jake. Oh, God. Please," I panted.
Jake pulled his fingers out, placing himself at my entrance. He lowered his lips to my neck, his hot breath sending shivers throughout my body.
"I love you," Jake whispered, kissing just above my collarbone.
Before I could repeat the words, he plunged inside of me, biting down on my neck. I screamed out as I felt his teeth break skin and his entire length filled me completely. Jake growled and began moving his hips against mine. I immediately fell into rhythm with him, gasping at the pleasure shooting through my limbs.
"Oh, God, Jake. Oh. Please, Jake. Oh, God."
I didn't know what I was saying. All I knew was that I needed more. Jake's teeth dug further into my skin as his hands grabbed my butt and lifted me, plunging in at a whole new angle. He was reaching so much further and I could feel myself coming closer to the edge.
Jake was growling against my skin, sucking on the wound he had created. When I felt his tongue press against the opening, I exploded, screaming out his name. Jake threw back his head and howled as he followed right after me.
Jake fell on top of me, both of us breathing heavily.
"Holy shit," Jake gasped.
"Yeah, no kidding," I huffed, smiling.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Jake asked, pushing himself up on his elbows to look at me.
His fingers brushed over the place where he had bit me. A possessive look came over his face and I realized what had happened.
"You marked me," I stated.
Jake's eyes darkened and his chest rumbled.
"You're mine," Jake growled.
"I always have been," I murmured, kissing his neck.
"That wasn't what I was talking about, though," Jake said, bringing us back on topic.
I frowned a little, trying to think about what he was saying.
"You were a virgin, honey. Did I hurt you?" Jake asked, explaining it.
My eyes widened as I realized it hadn't hurt at all. There hadn't even been a slight twinge of pain. But then, he was made for me. And I was made for him. It made sense that we would fit together so easily.
"No. I didn't feel anything but pleasure," I breathed, looking into his eyes.
His face broke out into a cocky smile and he lowered his lips to mine. I bit his lower lip and tugged gently, causing him to groan. I smiled when I felt him hardening inside of me again.
"Up for round two?" Jake asked, nipping at my mark.
I shivered and threaded my fingers through his hair.
"That depends. How many condoms do you have?"
Okay, you guys. This chapter was really hard to write. I'm not used to writing sex scenes in the first person. So, go easy on me? But tell me what worked and what didn't. That way I'll be able to do better next time.
I hope you enjoyed it!! Now, I'm going to eat some chocolate, because, let's face it, my mind has been picturing Jacob Black naked for the past hour!! I need something!! Hahaha!
See you guys next chapter!!