Just Stay With Me

by cantobycomeoutandplay

AU/AH. Sometimes when we least expect it, the one thing we never knew we needed walks right in the door. Reposted. Posted chapters currently being beta'd. Will be finished

18. Taking Care Of It

A loud banging jerked Bella awake.

She squinted her eyes, still very heavy with sleep, lifted her head and took in her surroundings.

She saw a large room with dark carpeting, a desk with scattered papers everywhere and a beige phone that somehow transported there from the 80s with large buttons, cord and all. There were two office chairs in front of the desk...

She heard heavy breathing in her left ear.

She glanced down to find Jake asleep, curled into her with his large body.

Her arms were still wrapped around him as they had been when he had been crying and she had been comforting him, lending him what strength she could.

She had wanted to hold him, really hold him, so she had laid down and coaxed him to lay next to her.

He had sobbed into her neck and his fingers had gripped her back tightly but eventually he began to calm down and relax beside her.

She had kept her fingers in his hair, touching him, soothing him in the way she knew only she could.

She had tenderly kissed his dark head repeatedly, holding him as he cried.

Eventually, his sobs lessened in succession and began to die down. Bella remembered the way he had held her only a couple of days ago, getting her to breathe with him by taking deep breaths himself. She held him tighter and made sure her chest was up against his.

She began to breathe deep, in and out, slowly, trying to get him to mimic her without vocalizing it.

And sure enough, he had. And just like she was hoping, he had calmed down. Calmed down so much that he had drowsed off, pulling her with him into sleep.

Now she stared down at his face as he slept. He was so beautiful. None of the pain was present. He just looked so...peaceful. So serene. So...beautiful.

She slowly removed her right arm from around him and lifted her hand to his face. She gently trailed her finger down his jaw.

She stared at him in awe. She had been with him so many times but she had never seen him asleep before.

She traced the outline of the bridge of his nose down to his mouth. His lips were parted slightly and she felt his warm breath coat her fingertip as she ran it along his bottom lip.

She heard an almost inaudible sad whimper escape him.

His hold around her tightened and she wondered if her feather light touches weren't as light as she thought.

After a few seconds, she could see he was still very much asleep.

She brushed his cheek with the pad of her thumb ever so gently.

She saw the dried tear track there, making her heart wrench painfully.

She leaned forward slowly and softly kissed the middle of the pathway his tears had made.

She wanted nothing more than to take away his pain.

She then moved upward and placed the tenderest kiss on his closed eyelid.

She saw it twitch in response but he didn't stir.

She then kissed his forehead delicately and pulled back to look at him.

She placed her hand into his hair and slowly pulled her fingers through it, making sure not to wake him.

She stared down at him and whispered so softly she herself almost couldn't hear it.

"I love you."

She leaned forward once more and placed another gentle kiss to his forehead, closing her eyes and letting her lips linger there.

Then she pulled back and lowered her head back down to watch him sleep.

She pulled her fingers through his hair in exaggerated motions.

She loved him.

She knew she did.

She felt it right now. It weighed heavy in her heart, making it light and yet swell, all at the same time. It took her breath away. Literally.

She saw his chest move in and out as he breathed. She wished she could lay her head against it and hear his heart. But she knew it would wake him up and she wanted nothing more than to let him sleep a little longer.

She smiled.

He loved her.

She knew he did.

And then her smile slowly fell and she felt the heaviness in her chest increase.

Why couldn't she just forget everyone and everything else?

Why couldn't she just forget them and be with Jake, never looking back?

Why?

The banging sounded again, this time louder.

Bella swiveled her head back.

The banging was a pounding.

Someone was pounding on the door.

"Jake! Man, open up!"

Bella turned back to Jake.

He didn't stir.

She smirked.

Seth's banging and yelling was enough to wake the dead.

But not her Jake.

She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but he only tightened his arms further around her, making it impossible for her to escape.

She narrowed her eyes at him, certain he must be awake by now.

Nope.

She tried once again to move and break free and again he held her fast, pulling her into him more.

She shook her head.

How the hell could he not hear Seth and wake up? Yet he could hold onto her with a vise grip and still be asleep?

How?

She took a deep breath and leaned back with all her might, prying his arms off of her for a few successful seconds. He went to tighten again and she somehow miraculously dodged him, carefully sat up and climbed off the other side of the couch without moving him.

She heard him grunt and roll into the spot she had been in seconds earlier, reaching, finding nothing to grab hold of and then turning onto his stomach, his arms settling underneath the pillow his head was on.

Bella shook her head once more in astonishment but smiled warmly at him.

Seth pounded on the door once more.

"Jake! Come on, man! Open the damn door already!"

Bella glanced once back at Jake who hadn't moved and then made her way quietly to the door.

She unlocked it and opened it to reveal an exasperated Seth.

She held a finger to her lips and stepped out, closing it behind her.

Seth's eyes widened and he moved in closer to her, practically hovering over her, making her just a tad uncomfortable at his encroaching on her personal space.

"H-He's asleep."

Seth nodded.

"Yeah, I figured."

She glared at him, crossing her arms, and was about to say something when he cut her off.

"That's not what I meant, Bella. I know he's exhausted. He didn't get much sleep last night and this morning must've taken a lot out of him."

Bella nodded and looked down, still a little uncomfortable with his close proximity to her.

Seth began to scratch his head.

"I, uh, I wasn't trying to bother you guys or anything. I just-well-you said you had to go to work earlier and I didn't know when that was so..."

Bella glanced up, seeing Seth staring off to the side, just as uncomfortable as she was.

"What time is it?"

Seth dropped his hand and looked down, clearing his throat. "About 9:30."

Bella's eyes widened. Shit, had they been asleep that long?

Thank God, she didn't have to be at the shop until 11.

Damn.

Bella swallowed and nodded again.

"Okay. I'm gonna go wake him up."

Seth nodded, still not looking up at her.

Bella turned around to open the door but then spun around quickly and kissed Seth on the cheek, making him stare at her in shock.

She smiled warmly at him.

"Thank you, Seth. For everything. You're really a good friend to him."

Seth blushed and lowered his eyes to the ground.

"Umm...no biggie."

Bella smiled wider and then turned to open the door.

She went in and closed the door behind her.

She padded over to the couch and knelt down next to Jake.

He was still in the same position she had left him in.

She shook her head and smiled.

She leaned down and softly kissed his back on the spot right in between his shoulder blades.

"Baby, wake up."

She said it quietly but with enough volume that it should have made him stir.

He didn't.

She trailed kisses up to the back of his neck and then to the left side of his face.

She whispered into his ear.

"Baby. It's time to get up. Come on."

She heard Jake groan and saw him bury his face a few inches further into the pillow.

She rolled her eyes.

She placed her chest against his back and wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder, next to his ear.

"Baby, you need to wake up. I have to leave."

Jake rolled over then and grabbed her, making her shriek in surprise and rolled her back into the couch with his arms around her, holding her tightly to him, his head buried in her neck.

"No. Stay here. With me. You can't leave. I'm too comfortable." She felt him whisper it against her skin and it made her shiver.

Bella smiled and kissed his temple.

"Baby, I have to go. I have to close up everything with the shop."

Jake groaned again and pulled her closer.

Bella sighed and laid her head down on top of his.

She stroked his hair and lifted her head, placing a quick kiss to his cheek before laying back down.

They laid like that for a few minutes, Jake breathing into her neck, sending goose bumps throughout her skin repeatedly.

She lifted up, turned to him and kissed his cheek once more.

"Okay, baby, I've gotta go."

She started to sit up when Jake pulled her back down to face him.

"Jake..."

"Spend the day with me."

Bella looked at him sadly.

"Baby, I can't. I've gotta go to work. And so do you."

Jake lowered his eyes and Bella felt bad.

"Baby, we're gonna get to spend the rest of the week together. Let's just close up everything today and get it done and then we'll have all the time in the world. Okay?"

Jake bit his lip and nodded. Bella leaned forward and kissed his nose.

Jake gave her a tight-lipped smile.

"I'll walk you out."

He got up, grabbed her hands and helped her to her feet.

He lifted a hand and started to stroke her hair and she leaned into his touch.

"Maybe you should put your hair up."

Bella narrowed her eyes at him. What?

He gave her that small smile again and inclined his head towards the bathroom.

She frowned at him and walked into the smaller room, glancing in the mirror and gasping.

Her hair was all over the place! How the hell did that happen?

She tried smoothing it down with her hands but that didn't work.

She gasped again as realization hit her. No wonder Seth had been standing so close to her and looking away, clearly uncomfortable. He was trying to block the other guys' view from seeing what looked to be very bad sex hair. Shit. Nothing sexy about the state her hair was now in, that was for sure.

She sighed and pulled a hair band from the pocket in her sweats and put her hair up into a loose and very messy ponytail.

Sweats. Shit. She still had to go home and change. Dammit!

It was close to 10 so no big deal. And she was the owner. But she still had to shower and take care of a few other things. Damn.

She tried to smooth the snarling bumps with some water from the sink but to no avail.

Eventually, she gave up. She had lost that battle.

She noticed the bruise still on her neck that Jake had given her the other night.

The guys would definitely see it.

She shrugged to herself. Oh well. At least it wasn't anyone she had to worry about.

She turned and left the bathroom to find Jake sitting on the couch, waiting for her. When he saw her, he stood up.

He gave her that empty smile again and it made her heart drop. Was he mad at her for not staying?

"Better."

She chuckled.

"Thanks."

He nodded, looking down.

Bella sighed.

"Jake, I-"

"Ready to go?"

Her mouth dropped open.

He was mad at her. Why? It's not like she didn't want to spend time with him. She did. Isn't that why she was going away with him for the next four days?

She went to ask him how he could possibly be mad at her when he held out his hand to her.

She narrowed her eyes at him but took it.

He turned and led them to the door, interlocking their fingers. Once at the door, he pulled her in closer behind him and then turned the knob.

They stepped out into the shop. Music was blaring from the radio and there were two cars on the lifts. Seth was outside near the entrance of the bay, talking to a customer, explaining something it looked like. Paul and Jared were under the cars. Colin was walking around somewhere in the back.

Jake began to lead them down the steps when Bella heard a wolf whistle.

"Damn. A full two hours, huh? I think that might be the longest meeting you've ever had in there, Jake."

Jake stiffened and stopped. He turned and glared at Paul.

"Do your fucking work."

Bella winced.

Jake's tone was deadly, full of menace and seriousness.

Paul laughed and went back to what he was doing.

"Yep."

Jake began leading them down the steps again, scowling at Paul all the while.

He then walked them out to where Seth was.

Seth nodded at them as they passed, Jake nodding in return and smiling at the customer who gave them a polite nod. Bella smiled in response.

Jake walked her to her car, not saying a word and never looking at her, but always keeping her hand in his.

Bella pulled her keys out of her pocket with her other hand and hit the unlock button.

She turned and looked at Jake.

He just stared at her silently.

Bella began to untangle her fingers from his in an attempt to get her hand back. He let her do it.

She gazed up at him in confusion.

What was going on here? Was he really this mad at her?

He gave her that tight smile again.

"I'll talk to you later."

Her jaw dropped to the ground.

Was he serious?

"Jake-"

"I'll call you, okay?"

She stepped back as if she had been burned.

And then she got angry. She had tried to be here for him, holding him, loving him, trying to give him what he needed. And this was how he was going to treat her? All because they both had to work like adults and prepare their businesses to be handled while they went away together? Because she wasn't willing to play hooky when they had the next four days to do so? Because she couldn't stay when he asked her to? Fuck that. She wanted nothing more than to yell at him in her frustration but she figured he'd had enough for one day. No, enough for a whole damn week.

"Yep."

She turned and walked to her door. She opened it roughly and was about to get in when she heard his voice in her ear.

"Bella."

The pain in that voice splashed ice cold water on her anger, dousing the flames.

She spun around to face him.

"Thank you. For...today. That...meant a lot to me."

She mashed her brows together.

"Of course, Jake. You don't have to thank me. That's not-"

He silenced her by leaning in and kissing her.

As his lips moved with hers, she forgot why she had been so angry with him in the first place.

She brought her arms up around his neck and melted into the kiss.

His hands grasped her back more firmly and he pulled her closer.

And just as quickly as it happened, it ended.

Jake pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes.

"I love you, Bells. I'm sorry about what you heard earlier. I didn't-"

"Why are you sorry? Jake, you didn't do anything wrong."

He sighed and leaned against her more.

"Yeah, I did. I let her kiss me and I didn't push her away."

He opened his eyes and stared at her worriedly.

Even though that stung a little, like someone was pricking her finger with a needle, Bella couldn't deny that she had no reason or right to feel any jealousy or anger or hurt about it.

Not only was it his wife, she knew Jake didn't love Ness anymore. And especially after the crazy woman's display earlier, Bella was certain there was nothing left between them. After all, Jake had made the choice to leave Ness. Not the other way around.

"Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for."

His eyes tightened.

She continued.

"Baby, I get it. She's still your wife. Legally, anyway. You just made one of the toughest decisions you've had to make last night. And then she comes here, begging for you to take her back. That can't be easy."

She leaned in to kiss his nose but he pulled back sharply.

He stared at her incredulously.

"Just how much did you hear?"

Bella cringed. Shit. He sounded pissed. Maybe Seth had been right.

"Bella?"

She winced at the increase in volume and bit her lip, looking down.

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to listen in on your conversation or anything. It's just..." She sighed and stepped back from him, dropping her arms. He moved with her, unwilling to let her go.

She looked up, glaring at him. Why was she suddenly the bad guy in all this? She hadn't planned on all of this happening this morning. She had only planned on seeing him, kissing him, telling him she loved him and maybe torturing him a little like he had done to her last night.

"Look, I only came here this morning because I missed you. I felt bad that you slept on that fucking couch all night, which you were right, it definitely sucks. I left after he did and picked up some coffee on the way in so I could come here and see you. That's it. I wasn't trying to spy or invade your privacy in any way but when I was talking to Seth, I heard some woman telling you she loved you. And then I heard you guys kissing and a little bit of moaning action and I freaked out, okay? I wasn't trying to fucking eavesdrop. When I heard it was Ness, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. That's all! So don't get fucking pissed at me for it."

She hadn't meant to let that all out but she had. She saw his eyes narrow. Shit.

"You heard Ness telling me she loved me and she would do anything to keep me around? That's what you heard? That's what made your ears perk up?"

Bella crossed her arms and glared more.

"Yes. But then I heard the rest. And I didn't mean to, okay? So just-I didn't do it to stalk you or anything, alright?"

She turned her head and stared towards the garage, unwilling to look at him anymore.

God, he could be so thick sometimes. How could he be mad at her?

She watched Seth use hand gestures in his very lengthy explanation with the customer they had passed before. Paul and Jared were watching her and Jake intently, a sneering smile on Paul's face.

She glared at him. What the fuck was his problem?

But she didn't get too much time to think about it. Next thing she knew, Jake was kissing her.

He placed kisses from her mouth to her cheek to her ear, hugging her close to him. Each time his lips touched her skin he whispered "I'm sorry," to her.

She sighed and relaxed into him.

"Bells, I'm not mad at you. And I certainly would never think you were doing that. I'm sorry, baby. I'm just so on edge right now, with this morning and Paul and his bullshit...I'm sorry. I just wanna be with you, Bells. That's all. I'm so much better when I'm with you than when I'm without you."

Bella looked up at him.

"I know. I feel the same way, Jake. But you were the one who told me that we have to take care of business first. That's all I'm trying to do."

He chuckled and stroked her cheek.

"Out of all the things I've told you this past weekend, that's the one thing you remember? You're too much, Bells."

She smiled and raised her hand to his against her cheek, rubbing it.

She leaned forward and brought her lips very nearly close to his.

"I love you."

He leaned in further.

"I love you, too, baby."

He took her lips in his in a very sweet kiss.

When he pulled away, he placed his forehead against hers once more, looking straight into her eyes.

"Have lunch with me."

Bella laughed.

"You're relentless."

He smiled wide.

"You got that right. Have lunch with me, baby."

Bella chuckled, shaking her head, sighing.

"I can't go until around 2 or so. Is that okay? Will you be able to around then?"

He smirked at her.

"Of course, Bells. In case you missed it the last twenty times you've been here, I'm the boss. What I say, goes."

Bella laughed, pulling away and turning back to her car.

"Uh huh. Right."

He turned her around and kissed her again, her still laughing against his lips.

"Always laughing at me. Man, I am definitely gonna have to give you a time out or something."

She pouted. "A time out? That's it? What happened to spankings?"

His mouth popped open in shock and she took advantage of the moment to rub up against him and lick from his ear all the way down his jawline, nipping at his chin and moaning as she did.

"You know, teasing me like that last night. I wish I had been here with you last night. I would've broken the rule, no questions asked. I was so tempted..." She moaned the words into his ear for good measure. "Talking about splitting me open and riding me. It made me so hot and think about all the things I wanna do to you." She heard him gulp and she knew she had him. "The way you said you'd make me scream and beg you to give it to me harder. God, baby, I was so turned on and missing you. Almost makes me want to break the rule right here." She licked the lobe of his ear and she heard him gasp. She saw him shudder as she pulled away. She smiled sexily, leaning in to whisper to his mouth.

"Now that's a fucking cocktease. Your move, Mr. Black."

She got into her car, grinning wickedly, as he stared at her wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

She chuckled and closed the door, turning the car on and lowering her window down.

Jake leaned down into the window, resting his arms on the door, looking a little pained.

"You're fucking cruel, Bells. I'm gonna get you for that. Just you wait. Four days is a long time. I know we said we'd wait 'till we went away but you better believe, I'm gonna make you fucking work for it."

Bella smirked.

"Is that a challenge, Mr. Black?"

He smirked in return.

"Sure as hell is, Swan."

She shook her head and buckled her seatbelt.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Teasing me like that where there's no shower. Now what the fuck am I supposed to do?"

He gestured down to his now very obvious erection.

Bella drew in a sharp breath. "Oh, that reminds me."

She leaned into the passenger seat and lifted a CVS bag into her lap.

She smiled up at him.

"Here you go."

She thrust the bag at him and he took it, pulling out a huge bottle of lotion and looking down at it with bugging eyes.

She smiled sweetly at him.

"That ought to take care of things. And there's more where that came from."

She winked at him and put the car into drive, leaning over to kiss him once she did.

He tried to deepen the kiss but she pulled away.

"Uh uh, buddy. Be a good boy and go get some work done. I'll see you at 2."

Jake glowered at her.

"Fine. But I'm bringing this." He thrust his hand up with the bottle in it.

She laughed.

"And I'll bring mine. Though, I think it's a slightly different word starting with an 'L'."

She winked again at him and his mouth dropped for the umpteenth time that day.

She pecked his lips quickly.

"See you in a few hours. Go get 'em, Black."

He stood up and she pulled out of the parking lot, driving back to her house, leaving a very shocked looking and very aroused Jake standing there.

Bella couldn't help but giggle as she noticed in the rear view mirror that neither his mouth had closed nor his eyes had gone back into his head yet.

Well, he had asked for it.

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

Bella went over the numbers again.

She shook her head.

They just weren't making what they used to, a ripple effect of the current economy no doubt.

Sometimes she really hated running a business, this particular moment being one of them.

Bella laid down her pen, sat back in her chair, and rubbed her eyes tiredly.

Why, oh why, did she not just push herself to become an editor like she had originally wanted?

Why?

She sighed and placed her hands on her head, interlocking her fingers as she leaned back.

The answer rung deep in her head.

Because you love books and you love this place no matter how insane it makes you at times.

Bella rolled her eyes.

Yeah, yeah. Damn voice of reason.

Her phone vibrated on the desk, reverberating throughout the office.

She leaned forward, reaching for the offending device, yet grateful for the distraction it was providing.

She flipped it open and stared at the screen.

U good 2 go?

Bella immediately glanced at the clock on the wall.

2:13

Crap. Where had the time gone?

She quickly texted him back.

Give me 15 more min & then ill b good 2 meet u.

Before she had a chance to close the phone, it vibrated again.

Man, he was fast.

15?

Yes, 15.

Ur gonna make me wait 15 min xtra?

Bella rolled her eyes again and shook her head.

Yes. Y? Is that a problem, Mr. Black?

Yes. U said ud meet me 2. Its already 2:15. Now Ive gotta wait 15 min more?

Bella frowned. Maybe he wasn't able to meet her. Maybe, in closing up the garage and taking care of everything before he went away, he had to stay close with as little distraction as possible. Maybe he only had that half hour and now she'd wasted it. Fuck.

Sry. I didnt mean 2 take so long. Just going over the #s. If u cant go, I understand.

Relax, Bells. Just teasing u. 15 min is fine. Just txt when ur ready, ok?

Bella shook her head.

Of course, he had just been teasing her. Way to jump to conclusions, Bella. Stressed much?

Ok sry. Will do.

K.

She stared at the screen. Crap, had she pissed him off? Fuck.

She closed the phone and placed it on the desk, sighing. She rubbed her eyes one more time before poring over the sheets in front of her once again.

A few minutes later, the bell sounded in the back, making her jump like it did every time she was lost in thought.

She glanced up at the clock again.

2:21

She laid her pen down and began to get up.

This was driving her nuts. Fuck this.

These reports would still be here when she got back.

She gathered up her bag and keys, sticking her sunglasses on her head. She stopped in the bathroom to give herself a quick once over. When she was satisfied, she left the back and made her way to the front of the store.

The first thing she noticed was Lauren was nowhere in sight.

What the hell?

The register was completely abandoned.

Not that anyone could get into it that didn't have a key but still. If you go to help a customer, always make sure you have the register in sight. That was the number one rule. They all knew that.

For a book shop, it was quite large. And Bella had filled it with rows and rows of books, almost reaching to the ceiling. When people had commented on it, they had always said it reminded them of a mini-library. That was good because that's exactly how Bella had wanted it to look.

But at times like these, her design backfired. She couldn't see where anyone was unless she checked the cameras. As Edward had pointed out to her often, not a great idea for security reasons and loss prevention. She sighed. Just another fact proving why she shouldn't run a business.

She made her way behind the counter and checked the screen. There was Lauren, her back to the camera, talking to the back of some guy's head. Bella rolled her eyes. Another guy Lauren was trying to hit on no doubt. The only time she really went out of her way to help a customer.

She quickly walked to the spot she had seen them in, coming up behind Lauren and the guy who she couldn't really see because the girl was practically all over him and he was facing the shelf. Bella maintained her distance but cleared her throat loudly.

Lauren jumped and turned around, that bittersweet Barbie smile on her pretty face.

"Bella! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I was just helping this gentleman to find the book he was looking for."

Bella smirked. Uh huh.

"It's no big deal, Lauren. I'm just gonna head out for a bit but I'll be back. I have my phone on me if you need me. Just-uh-" She leaned in a little and lowered her voice so as not to embarrass her employee in front of this stranger. "Just keep an eye on the front, okay? Tyler should be here in the next twenty minutes and then you can take your break."

Lauren's eyes went wide and she nodded. "Of course. You got it. I'll see you when you get back."

Bella smiled and looked at the stranger who hadn't turned around, still skimming the rows of books. Bella found that a tad odd. He was an average looking guy, lean but not built, in dark jeans, a dark jacket and a dark baseball cap on his head. Bella assessed him and then quickly backtracked.

"Actually, Lauren, I'll just wait until you're done. It's not a big deal. I'm in no hurry."

Lauren shook her head.

"That's okay. You don't have to. I was about to head up there anyway."

The guy still hadn't turned around. So strange. It seemed like he was just staring at the bookcase, not searching, keeping his profile purposely hidden from Bella. She shook her own head.

"No, that's okay. I'm staying. Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

Lauren narrowed her eyes at Bella but she could care less right now. Something was wrong here and Bella did not feel good about it.

And then the man spoke.

"Yes, actually, Mrs. Cullen, you can. I'm looking for 'The Scarlet Letter'. You wouldn't happen to have a copy, would you? Or has someone else already bought it?"

Bella's heart stopped. She knew that voice.

The man turned around to face her and sure enough, she was right.

He gave her that eerie smile that she hated and sent shock waves of chills throughout her soul.

Lauren looked back and forth between Bella and the man, confused at the recognition playing out on Bella's face and annoyed because Bella had the man's attention.

Bella gulped quietly before giving a timid smile.

"Hello, Mike."

He smiled wider and it made her stomach clench.

Lauren cleared her throat.

"You two know each other?"

Bella turned towards Lauren, giving her a sweet smile.

"Yes. Mike works with my husband over at the advertising firm I was telling you about. Isn't that right, Mike?"

She turned back to Mike and gave him the same smile.

Mike chuckled and shook his head.

"Yep. I work with Edward." And then the smile dropped and he stared at her in earnest. "Actually, Bella, I came here to talk to you about that very thing."

Bella's smile dropped.

"Work, I mean." He laughed and turned to Lauren whose smile was so wide it was anything but alluring as she was trying to make it. "Bella always assumes the worst."

Bella glared at him. He made it sound like he knew her and that was the farthest fucking thing from the truth.

"Actually, Mike. I would love to stay here and chat with you. You know, catch up. But, I'm afraid I'm on my way out. I have an appointment."

Bella heard the door open behind her as another customer walked in. Lauren turned to look and her eyes widened a bit. She smiled and began to move towards Bella. "I'll take care of this one. You two catch up."

She passed Bella whose eyes still hadn't moved off of Mike.

Mike smirked at her as he moved closer.

"So, Bella, it seems we have a lot to talk about."

Bella never stopped glaring.

"Actually, Mike. We don't have anything to talk about. Like I said, I'm on my way out."

Mike shook his head.

"No, Bella. Something tells me you're going to make time for me. You're going to want to talk to me."

Bella scoffed.

"Oh really? What makes you so sure? In fact, what makes you so sure I won't just call up Edward right now and tell him how you're harassing me at this very moment?"

She just didn't have the patience for this today. All she really wanted to do was leave and go see Jake. Run into his arms where it was safe and let him protect her.

Mike laughed and it sent more chills down her spine.

"I highly doubt Edward's gonna come to your rescue if that's what you're inferring. Not now. And harassment's a bit of a stretch, wouldn't you say?"

Bella gritted her teeth. "Not really."

Inside her head, though, she was losing it. What the hell did he mean Edward wouldn't come to her rescue? And what was it he said? 'Not now'? What the hell did that mean?

Mike smiled at her and moved closer. She took a step back and he laughed again.

"Oh, come on, Bella. You shouldn't be so mean to me. Then I won't tell you what it is I came here to tell you."

Bella frowned. "I don't want to know what it is you came here to tell me."

Mike's smile grew bigger as did the twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, you do."

Bella scoffed again and was about to tell him to leave when he spoke up again, taking another step towards her.

"Trust me, Bella. You really want to hear what I have to say. Especially with what I now know."

Bella's eyes widened a bit. What the hell did he mean? And then it came back to her. The bite mark that was still marring her neck as they spoke. Shiiiiit.

That meant Edward had confronted him even though she had asked him not to. That meant Mike had told him he hadn't been the one to give her the mark. That meant Edward knew she and Emmett had lied to him. That meant, in addition with Ness knowing her number...oh shit.

Bella felt herself struggling for air. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.

She fought to maintain her composure in front of Mike.

"W-What exactly do you mean, Mike?"

He smiled wickedly, knowing he had won.

"Well-"

Bella held her breath.

"Excuse me, Bella."

They both turned towards the voice that had always grated Bella's nerves with its irritating syrupy sweetness but she was now grateful for.

Lauren looked beyond annoyed now.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but there's another customer asking specifically for you."

Lauren pouted, clearly unhappy that attention was drawn away from her again and diverted towards Bella.

If Bella wasn't in such a situation, she would have laughed. But as it was, the last thing she felt like doing right now was laughing.

She turned back to Mike's sickening smile.

"Go on, Bella. I'll wait. We have a lot to talk about. I wouldn't want to keep a customer of yours waiting that long."

He winked at her and it made her sick.

She glared at him.

"I'll be right back. We do have a lot to talk about."

He smiled wider and she scoffed disgustedly before turning around to follow Lauren towards her awaiting customer. She couldn't imagine who it could be. Sure, she had her regulars, some whom she had had lengthy discussions with about certain classics, but she hoped fervently it wasn't one of them. Not right now. She didn't want to deal with Mike but she knew she would have to. She would have to find out exactly what was said, what Mike had deduced on his own and what she was going to have to face when she went home. She shivered at the thought.

Lauren led her around a bookcase, leading her down the aisle and turning to the left into another aisle.

She practically wept when she saw who was waiting for her.

There was Jake with that mischievous smirk he always gave her whenever he was up to something.

Lauren turned to her. "This gentleman was looking for the classics section. I tried to recommend a few but he said the owner would know best and he'd like to get your personal opinion."

Lauren sounded purely put out that her charms hadn't worked on this one.

Jake smirked wider.

Bella swallowed and turned towards Lauren.

"Okay, I'll take care of it. Thank you." Lauren turned to leave but Bella stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. "Lauren, do me a favor. Please go help our other customer and inform them I'll be with them shortly. And just keep an eye on the front, okay?"

Lauren nodded sulkily. "Sure, Bella. Anything for you." And then she walked off, more like stomped.

Bella turned back to Jake who had picked up a book, looking through it and still smirking.

"So. Got Wuthering Heights around here anywhere? Someone told me it was one of the best stories ever written but I highly disagree. I don't see what there is to love about a guy not getting the girl and then going all psycho. It sounds a little...emo to me or something. I don't know. What do you think? Would you recommend it?"

Bella didn't answer. She was breathing fast, torn between crying at the sight of him and grabbing him and kissing him, never letting him go.

Jake's smile wiped away and he looked up at her, his eyes narrowed in concern when she didn't play along.

"Bella?"

She chose the latter. She'd correct his extremely messed up assessment of the classic Bronte story later.

She surged forward, snatched the book out of his hand and tossed it on the shelf, grabbed his hand ignoring his shocked face, and pulled him with her to the end of the aisle and turned, stopping right behind the bookcase, a place where the cameras couldn't see them.

"Bells?"

She grabbed him and kissed him like it was the last time she would ever get to, letting him feel everything she felt for him and everything she was feeling in this moment.

Eventually, he pulled away breathless.

"B-Bells, w-what's going on?"

She didn't answer him, just leaned up and clung to him, hugging him close, her arms around his neck, her face buried into that middle juncture where neck met shoulder.

He whispered into her ear.

"B-Bells? You're not upset, are you? You seemed like y-you had a lot going on so I figured it'd just be easier if I-I came here to pick you up. That's all."

She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter. "If I was upset, do you think I would greet you like that?"

"Good point. Then, baby, what's wrong?"

She felt him start to rub her back soothingly.

God, how she loved him.

"Look, if this is about the numbers, honey, relax. All businesses go through their ups and downs. We're struggling, too. You shouldn't let them worry you so much. It's only gonna stress you out if you let it. Things always have a way of working out."

She felt him dip and start to kiss her neck softly. She wanted nothing more than to melt into his embrace and never leave.

She felt him move her hair away and tenderly kiss that spot, making her wince a little, but not because of the pressure his lips were applying to her skin. She sighed and pulled back to look at him.

He leaned down and kissed her once more before placing his forehead against hers.

"It'll be okay, baby."

He kissed her nose and smiled down at her.

"You never did tell me. Do you recommend Wuthering Heights or no?"

She sighed again. "Jake, look-"

"Babe, you're stressing too much. Come with me and I'll give you a nice back massage to help you relax. We both know I'm good with my hands." He winked at her and it made her smile a little.

"I'd love to go with you, Jake. I would but I kind of have...a problem."

His smile dropped and he pulled back, looking at her seriously.

"What kind of problem?"

Bella grimaced. As relieved as she was that Jake was here, she knew he wasn't going to react well.

"Bella?"

She swallowed and looked up at him pleadingly.

"Mike's here."

She was right.

His eyes widened and then narrowed into slits.

"What the fuck is that piece of shit doing here?"

Bella winced. He was beyond pissed.

"He says he wants to talk to me."

Jake clenched his jaw and dropped his arms from her and stepped away.

"What the fuck would he have to talk to you about?"

Bella frowned when she felt the cold creeping into her body from the absence of his touch.

"Jake, I didn't ask him to come here. I don't want anything to do with him. You know that."

His jaw unclenched and then clenched again as he turned away from her.

"I do know that. I'm not pissed at you, Bella. I just don't understand what the fuck he's doing here. From what I understand, Emmett made it pretty clear that he was supposed to stay away from you."

That's when Bella saw the shaking. His hands were balled up in fists at his sides and he was glaring out into the aisle. He looked downright frightening, someone that a very smart person would not want to piss off. Too bad for Mike that he didn't seem to be in that category.

She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Hey. Baby, don't worry. I'll handle it. I'll tell him to leave, okay?"

Jake let out a deep breath and turned to her, his eyes still tight with anger.

"No. I'll tell him to leave. Where is he?"

Bella moved herself in front of him, looking up at him.

He didn't look at her but instead stared off down the aisle.

She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned in, whispering.

"Baby, listen to me. It's not worth it. Now-look at me."

Jake's eyes reluctantly dropped to hers.

"Now I think Edward said something to him and that's why he's here. You know, about," Bella pointed to her neck. "This. But let me just see what he has to say and if I need you, I promise I'll call you."

He glared at her.

"I'm not leaving, Bella. No fucking way. The guy is always all over you and you just expect-"

Bella placed her fingers on his lips silencing him.

"I wasn't saying you should leave. Just to let me talk to him, that's all."

She removed her hand and he sighed angrily, dropping his head.

"Bella, I really would rather you not. Look, even if he told Edward he never touched you, Edward's gonna believe Emmett over him any day. You know that. So even if he's here to talk to you about it, what point does it serve?"

He looked up at her with still angry but now pleading eyes.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back behind the bookcase. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head down on his chest.

"I understand what you're saying, Jake. But if that's the case, then what is it gonna hurt if I do talk to him and just hear what was said between him and Edward then?"

His hand came up and lifted her chin so he could look at her.

"Is that all you're worried about? Edward?"

Bella frowned at him.

"Of course not, Jake. But I do have a right to know what was said. I'm the one that has to go home later and deal with it. Not you."

She scoffed and pulled away from him but he stopped by grasping her arms gently.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay? I'm not-" He sighed again. "I'm not trying to turn this into another argument between us, alright? I just don't want Mike around you, that's all. He's nothing but a sniveling weaselly little shit and all he does is eye fuck you all day long. And I'm sorry if you get pissed at me for saying it, but I don't feel comfortable with you and him going off somewhere private, even for a fucking second. And besides, if it is about your neck or me, then I should be there with you. I didn't haul off and punch Edward like he fucking deserved yesterday when he was poking the shit out of you and hurting you, making you cry. I let you stand there and I let Emmett handle it. But you can't ask me to do that again, Bella. I'm not doing it. Not again."

Bella sighed and pulled her arms out of his grasp, letting them drop at her sides.

She stared at him for a minute and he stared right back.

"Jake, I'm gonna talk to him. I have to. Like I said, I'm the one that's gotta deal with Edward later. Not you. And-"

"You wouldn't have to deal with him at all if you would just let me fucking handle it!"

Bella's eyes widened. He was furious and he practically spit it at her. His eyes flashed and then he stepped back, taking a long deep breath and dropping his eyes to the floor.

He took another breath before pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"Look, I don't want to fight. I just-" He dropped his hand and sighed, looking at her. "We've been through so fucking much already in the past forty eight hours alone, we don't need this extra shit on top of it. You and I both know he's gonna say something, some stupid shit that doesn't really matter, but it's gonna make you upset and then you're gonna start thinking about how much you can't lose Edward and that you're taking a huge risk with me and it's gonna build and build until finally you break it off with me and I'm right back to where I started, without you. And Bella, I'm telling you, I can't go through that fucking shit again. I can't. Not after everything and this morning..." He sighed angrily one more time and leaned back gently against the case. "Bells, just don't. Okay? Let's just get the fuck out of here and enjoy our lunch and fuck him. He's only another asshole trying to keep us apart."

Bella narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms.

"'Keep us apart?' How? He doesn't even know we're together as far as I know. And on top of that, what the fuck are you talking about, that I would break it off with you again?"

He looked at her pointedly.

"Don't even, Jake. We agreed to move forward from here, with no more back and forth, so don't even fucking try it. Let's call this for what it is. This is nothing more than you being jealous."

Jake's mouth dropped open.

She arched her brows at him, daring him to deny it.

He closed his mouth and shook his head, crossing his own arms.

"Not at all. I have nothing to be jealous of. I'm a thousand times better than him. At everything."

Bella scoffed and looked away.

She could hear Lauren laughing that fake little laugh on the other side of the store. At least, she was keeping Mike distracted like Bella had asked.

She then felt two warms hands on her arms, trying to get them to loosen. She resisted but the hands grasped tighter, loosened her arms and wound them around a very muscled back. And then she felt two strong arms wrap around her as well, pushing her up against a solid wall of chest. She felt two warm lips kissing her neck through her hair softly.

"I'm sorry."

She closed her eyes and laid her head against his shoulder.

"I'm being an ass. I'm sorry, honey. I just-when are we going to catch a fucking break?"

She laughed. She couldn't agree more.

She hugged him tighter.

"Tomorrow, we will. Promise."

He chuckled into her neck.

"Thank God."

She pulled back to look at him and he kissed her before leaning his forehead against hers.

"I love you, babe."

She smiled.

"I love you, too."

He sighed and stepped away from her.

"Alright, I'll make you a deal."

Bella raised an eyebrow at him.

"Go talk to him, find out what he's got to say and I'll let you handle it."

Really? That was the deal? That's it?

Jake looked seriously at her.

"But,"

Bella shook her head. Of course. The catch.

"You stay out here, in the shelves somewhere if you don't want the cheerleader to overhear, alright? You can call it jealousy if you like, but I don't want you going anywhere with him alone. Or I will handle it. Got me?"

Bella narrowed her eyes at him.

"What are you, my father?"

"Tell me, Bella. Would a father touch you like this?"

He grasped her ass and pulled her to him, making her gasp.

"N-No."

"Would a father kiss you like this?"

He forced his lips to hers, his tongue roughly thrusting into her mouth before she even had a chance to open it. He kissed her deeply, making her moan into his mouth and he grabbed her right leg and hitched it up around his waist. He pushed her up against the case lightly and began to rub himself against her, making her moan yet again. He broke away, staring down at her, both of them breathless.

He swallowed.

"S-Still think I'm your father?"

Bella shook her head slowly.

"So, you gonna stay out here?"

Bella didn't answer, just stared at his lips, wishing he could take her somewhere alone and talk.

"Out here or it's no deal."

Bella, gasping for breath, nodded her assent.

Jake grinned impishly.

"Good. Now, go take care of business and hurry back." His right hand reached down and cupped her mound roughly through her pants. "It seems to me that our quotas for non-sexual activity have been reset for the day. And I don't know about you, but I'm looking to fill mine again." He rubbed her as he spoke, making her head lean back and her eyes close.

She felt him lean in and whisper into her ear.

"I always said I wanted to fuck you in a library." He rubbed her harder making her bite her lip, and stare at him through half-lidded eyes. "I'll definitely settle for a store that looks like one." She launched herself at him, jumping up into his arms, kissing him. He backed into the opposite bookcase, making it shake a little. She could still hear Lauren's laugh so she knew she was in the clear, cameras and all.

She began to grind against him, practically riding him. He kissed her back with equal ferocity and his hands cupped her ass, helping her to move. Bella moaned into his mouth when he began thrusting up into her, thankful that Tyler had suggested they play some sort of music throughout the store. Jake turned her around and placed her back against the case. Her hands grabbed his hair tightly and pulled as he moved against her a little harder. His movements became more rhythmic, more insistent. The case was shaking way too much. She pulled away, gasping.

"C-Case. W-Wall."

Jake nodded quickly and then moved her over to the wall instead. They did a quick scan around them to make sure they were in the clear. Jake covered her mouth with his and then began thrusting into her fast and hard.

Bella scratched across his back. He was hitting all the right spots. Why the fuck did she have this no-sex rule again?

She broke the kiss and pulled away, struggling to breathe.

Jake tried to take her lips again but she leaned back. He frowned at her but didn't stop moving, only slowed down.

"J-Jake?"

He leaned in again.

"Ahh-y-yes baby?"

"T-T-Take me in the back and f-fuck me."

He opened his eyes fully and looked at her.

"N-No more r-rule?"

She shook her head.

"A-Are you su-re?"

Bella nodded. "Y-Yes."

Jake grinned.

But instead of moving them to the back along the wall where they wouldn't be seen, he took her lips in his again and moved against her rapidly again. And this time, he made sure to get both of them there fast.

Bella grabbed everywhere she could, trying not to cry out against him. She opened her eyes quickly and saw they were still in the clear as Jake jackhammered away at her. She was about to beg him just to put it inside her, right here and now, not caring in the least if they got caught. She needed to feel him, all of him.

She broke away, staring down at him.

"J-Jake, pl-ease. I n-need to f-feel you."

He put his face up against hers, panting at her lips.

"W-We can d-do this with-hout breaking the r-rule."

She shook her head.

"B-Baby, I l-love you. I sh-houldn't have m-made that st-upid rule. I'm sor-ry. I m-miss you."

"I m-miss y-you, too."

He kissed her again and began to snake his right hand down into her pants.

She kissed him back harder.

God, she was right there.

"Bella?"

They stopped moving and both of their eyes popped open. Shit.

"Bella, where did you go?"

Jake dropped her to her feet as quietly as he could and they moved into the next aisle. Bella fixed her clothes quickly and smoothed down her hair, biting her lip while Jake ran a hand through his own hair. He grabbed a book off the shelf and leaned against the bookcase facing Bella.

By the time Lauren made it around the corner, they looked like two people in the middle of a polite yet uninvolved conversation.

"Bella, I'm sorry. But Mike is asking for you, saying he has to leave soon. Something about having a meeting with your husband at their job."

Bella narrowed her eyes. "Okay. Tell him I'll be right there. I'm just finishing up here. Thanks."

Lauren inclined her head in agreement, gave Jake that fucking smile and disappeared around the corner.

Bella waited until she could hear Lauren's laugh again far away and then closed her eyes, leaning back against the case.

She felt Jake's hand on her back, rubbing.

To say Bella was feeling more than a little irritated was an understatement. She was fucking furious! Not only had she been on the brink of an incredible orgasm that she got fucking cheated out of, now she had to go and deal with some little shit who was threatening her subtly in passed messages through one of her employees that was openly flirting with the man who was trying to give her that orgasm. She. Was. Livid.

"You okay, baby?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was staring down at her, concerned.

She gave him a small smile, took his hand and led him back to the end of the aisle.

She then put her arms around him and held him to her.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. Sorry. I got...a little carried away there."

He chuckled in her ear.

"I think we both did."

She laughed.

"Yeah."

He kissed the side of her head and rubbed her back again.

She sighed.

"So I guess I should go and get this over with. Wait for me?"

He snorted. "Like you have to ask. I'm not going anywhere."

She looked up at him, smirking.

"Of course not."

He arched a brow and then leaned down to kiss her.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

He smiled and then let her go.

"Alright, go take care of business."

She nodded and began to walk away.

"Be right back."

He nodded.

She hadn't gone a few steps before he grabbed her hand and pulled her back into him.

He covered her mouth with his hand and whispered into her ear.

"You didn't really think I was going to let you go off all hot and bothered, did you?"

He dragged her to the edge of the aisle, making sure they were alone, and stuck his hand down her pants, past her panties and into her, making her cry out against his other hand.

"Shh."

And then he began to finger fuck her, with two fingers at first, but then he stuck in a third and moved hard against her, while thrusting into her back.

"You're so fucking wet, Bella. I love how you get wet for me. It's like when I get hard for you." He thrust against her ass at the word 'hard'. "It's only for you. Just you."

She pushed against his hand, riding his fingers. She clutched at the bookcase he was pressing her up against and her other hand clutched back at his head, finding his hair and pulling.

Shit.

His thumb pressed against her clit, making her dig her nails into his scalp and the wood in front of her.

"That's it, baby. Let go. I want you to come for me. You gonna come for me?"

Bella nodded once as her head was laid back against him, thrashing about, his hand never losing its grip on her mouth.

"Fuck, you're getting tighter. You have no idea how much I wish my cock could be inside you right now, feeling you getting tighter around me. Shit."

She gasped for air as she rode him faster.

"Fucking come. Come right now all over my fucking fingers. Right now. I want to be able to taste you on them. Let's go."

The fire was spreading throughout her body, making way for the big explosion that was coming, like someone laying gasoline down before lighting the match.

She felt him move behind her so his head was at her left shoulder.

"I want your fucking cum all over my fingers, Bella. You're fucking mine."

And then he bit down on her neck, not caring that her hair was in the way.

And sure enough, she exploded.

His hand clamped down tighter as she began to cry out, unable to control it.

She strained, shaking, and then she went limp against him, breathing hard, not moving.

He lifted his head, removing his hand from her mouth and his other hand from inside her simultaneously. Bella released his hair and lowered her arm from the case but didn't move.

She couldn't even turn to look at him, she was nothing but mush.

"Kiss me, baby."

With very little energy, Bella turned slightly to the side and let him take her lips in a wet kiss.

She could taste herself on him. He wasn't kidding when he said he wanted to taste her. Damn.

He stopped kissing her and smiled.

"See how good you taste?"

And then he stuck his fingers into her mouth.

"Clean 'em off for me."

And she did, keeping eye contact with him the whole time. She made sure to lick and suck, making his eyes darker and darker.

Eventually, he pulled his fingers out and kissed her once more.

He fixed her clothes as he did and leaned her off of him.

"Okay."

He gave her a playful swat on the ass.

"Now, go. Before the asshole and the cheerleader get a show for free that they should really be paying for."

Bella glared back at him and he grinned.

"I'll be in the bathroom...taking care of things."

Her glare melted into a sad face.

"Baby, that's not fair. I shouldn't be able to feel good if you can't."

He grinned wider and kissed her forehead.

"Nonsense, Bells. You already give me more than enough. Now, go get this thing done so we can get going, alright?"

She nodded, still pouting.

He laughed and shook his head, giving her another slap on her ass, making her jerk.

He kissed her forehead again.

"Go, get 'em, babe. Love you."

He took off down towards the restroom.

Bella watched after him helplessly. She sighed and smoothed down her hair, biting her lip. She made sure her clothes were okay and then she moved down the aisle, making her way towards the one thing she really didn't feel like facing right now.

She turned around a corner and she practically crashed into Lauren.

"Sorry, Bella. He's just really insistent to see you before he leaves."

Bella gave the girl a smile, feeling much calmer and friendlier than before.

"No, that's okay. I just got done with the other gentleman."

"Really? Do you need me to help him while you go talk with that Mike guy?"

Lauren craned her neck to where she had last seen Jake.

Bella narrowed her eyes at the unsuspecting girl.

She gently grabbed Lauren's arm and led her away.

"No. If he needs help, he'll ask for it. But you know what would really be great? If you could stay up front while I talk to Mike. I left my bag there next to the register and I don't want someone possibly grabbing it."

Lauren turned and looked at her in disgust.

"Who could possibly take it? It's just you, me, Mike and that other guy in here."

Bella stepped ahead of her for a minute and rolled her eyes before turning back to the girl.

"I know. But you never know. I would really appreciate it if you could do that for me."

Lauren rolled her eyes, not caring that Bella saw her. "Sure, Bella. I'll take care of it."

Bella smiled at the girl until the back of the girl's head disappeared around the aisle. Then she glared after her.

If Bella could find another hard worker who she could pay that kind of money to, possibly another guy like Tyler, she would.

She sighed and closed her eyes. Then she opened them and strode forwards.

She made her way around the aisle, into the middle of the store and into the next sets of aisles until she found what she was looking for.

"Mike, I'm sorry. I had to take care of that."

He gave her that creepy smile as he put the book he had been looking at back on the shelf.

Bella wanted nothing more than to wipe that smile off his face but she held her hands together in front of her and cleared her throat.

"So what is it you wanted to talk about? As you can see, I have a business to run."

Mike shook his head, chuckling.

"Bella, you should be nicer to me. Especially with what I know."

Bella crossed her arms and glared at him.

"And what is that exactly?"

He stepped closer but Bella didn't budge an inch.

"About you."

Bella stared at him in disbelief.

"What about me?"

Mike smiled wider.

"About the affair you've been having."

Bella's heart dropped.

Shit.

He knew.

This was so much worse than she thought.

Jake had been right.

She should have let him handle it.

She was almost tempted to call him but she had left her phone in her bag stupidly.

She silently cursed herself.

Mike shook his head and turned back to the bookshelf.

"Tsk. Tsk. I'm so disappointed in you, Bella."

Bella froze, the lump stuck in her throat.

Mike turned back to her.

"You know, all this time, I've been here, waiting for you to see the light, give me a chance. You were always turning me down. And then when the time comes for me to finally have that chance, you give it to someone else. I mean, what the hell, Bella?"

Bella swallowed but she maintained her scowl at him, not saying a word.

"I didn't see it right away. You're good about covering up your tracks. I'll give you that."

Bella's jaw clenched.

"You know, at the party, when I came over to talk to you, I should have seen it. But you were looking so damn sexy, I couldn't think straight."

She glowered at him.

He smiled and shook his head.

"When Jake came to get you for that dance, I should have seen it then. Them being good friends and what not. And then seeing his reaction. But, I didn't put two and two together. And then Emmett threatening me later on, that was fun."

Mike snorted.

"Practically put me into a wall, saying he'd beat the crap out of me if I even looked at you again. I gotta tell you, Bella. The guy's got an anger problem. Not cool."

Bella shook her head and lowered her eyes.

She didn't know why he was dragging this out. He should just drop the bomb already, put her out of her misery. She should've known with how she and Jake couldn't keep their hands off each other this past weekend, with everything that had happened, something was going to come back and bite her in the ass. Well, not the ass, anyway.

"But you know what the real kicker was?"

Bella's eyes flickered back up to him.

"When Edward came to me this morning and asked me what right I thought I had putting my hands on a married woman, his wife, to be precise. I had to laugh at that one. But when he pushed me into a wall, yep another guy, another wall, and threatened to knock my teeth out of my head for kissing you while you were drunk, taking advantage of you and leaving a mark on your neck. Well, that piqued my interest."

Bella felt her heart begin to accelerate but she tried to keep calm on the outside for Mike's sake. She wouldn't let him see her like that. He was already sensing weakness and pouncing. She didn't dare imagine what he'd do if she lost it in front of him.

"Don't worry, Bella. I took the bullet for you. I told him you were so drunk you had no idea it was even me. That I had even kissed you. I told him I had been drinking as well and I was just so attracted to you, I couldn't help myself. That I would never bother you again."

He smiled, obviously happy with himself.

Bella sneered at him. "So, then what are you doing here?"

Mike scowled at her. Shit, Bella. Keep your mouth shut.

"Well, after that and after Edward requested I take the rest of the day off and not come back in until tomorrow when he was gone, I did some thinking and then it hit me. The party, Emmett's threatening me, and Edward's being very pissed off about a hickey he found on your neck. You were having an affair. And I can't believe I didn't see it until now."

Bella swallowed quietly.

"And I know who you're having it with."

He stepped even closer to her and stopped a few inches away from her.

"I've always been attracted to you, Bella. You're so beautiful, so sexy and with someone who is so totally wrong for you. He can't make you happy."

He reached up to touch her hair and she pulled back, snorting in disgust.

"And you think you can?"

Mike glared at her angrily.

"I know I can. I think it's only fair you give me a chance to since it seems you're giving others a turn, too."

Bella's mouth dropped open.

She was about to slap him when he spoke up again.

"If not, I'll tell Edward what I know. And something tells me you really don't want me to do that."

This time, she did slap him.

His face jerked to the side with the force. He came back, rubbing his cheek.

"Wrong answer, Bella. I'm giving you one last chance. Give me what I want or I'm going straight to Edward right now and telling him."

She lurched forward, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt and yanking him up. She would never have been able to do that with Edward or even Jake, but this guy was such a scrawny little shit she was able to.

"You do that, Mike. But something tells me that once I get done talking to Edward, you'll be the one who won't live to see the end of the day."

She then dropped him, making him stumble for his balance.

She turned to leave when he spoke urgently.

"Bella. I'll do it. I'm not kidding. I'll tell him about Emmett."

Bella turned, clearly shocked.

"Tell him what about Emmett, Mike?"

Mike sneered. He knew he had her.

"You know."

She turned to face him completely.

"No. I don't know. What about Emmett?"

Mike scoffed.

"Oh, please, Bella. Like you don't know. His reaction at the party when Jake led you away to dance. The hickey on your neck and Emmett telling Edward it was me. Emmett threatening me? Come on, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put it all together."

Bella arched her brows questioningly.

"You're having an affair with him. Come on."

Bella almost burst out laughing. That's what Mike thought. Was he fucking kidding?

Bella shook her head, about to protest when she heard someone behind her.

"Hey, baby."

She turned to see Paul come up to her and put his arm around her, kissing her cheek as he pulled her into him.

She was so stunned she didn't even think to pull away from him.

Mike was clearly just as stunned as she. He gaped at them, focusing on Paul's arm that was tightly gripping her shoulders.

"Bella, baby, I've been missing you like you wouldn't believe. Jake said he was coming to pick up that gift for his wife for her birthday, that classic she likes, some Heights thing. Whatever, she's a bitch and he's pussy-whipped. But I just had to come along so I could see you. How've you been, baby? I haven't seen you in a few days."

Bella stared up at him mystified and he grinned down at her. He then turned to Mike and smiled wider.

"Hey man. What's up? How you doing?"

He extended a hand and Mike reluctantly took it and shook it.

"Good, man. You know Bella?"

Paul laughed. "Know her? This woman has me ass backwards for her. She's completely twisted me around and turned me inside out, you know what I mean?" He gave Mike a wink.

Mike just stared at them, clearly disbelieving the sight he was seeing.

Bella blinked. That made for two of them.

Paul turned to her. "Listen, baby, Jake's waiting up at the counter for you. That blonde girl has no idea what the hell he's talking about and even though I told him I'd like some quality time with you," He pinched her ass, making her yelp. "He asked if you could just help him quick so he can head down to the diner and give us some time alone."

Bella was too shocked to form a coherent thought.

"O-Okay."

He smirked, gave her a wink and then kissed her quickly.

He then let her go, turned her around and gave her a playful slap on her ass.

"Mmm, love that ass. Get to it and hurry back. It's been way too long since I've had that ass all over me."

Bella gulped and turned around and headed to the counter. She only noticed Jared and Colin at the end of the aisle when she passed them, giving her wicked grins. She turned and proceeded towards the counter, not seeing them move into the aisle once she was gone.

She saw Jake's back to her when she got to the counter. Lauren was standing in front of him, smiling and laughing, clearly flirting with him. Bella saw red.

She made her way around the counter quickly.

"Bella. I was just telling Lauren here that you convinced me. My wife would definitely like Wuthering Heights. So I'm buying it. A decent gift for her birthday for once."

He gave her a smile and it calmed her a little. She smiled in return.

"Good. I'm glad. You should have that wrapped. You said it was a birthday gift, right?"

Jake nodded.

"Lauren, we have some of that wrap in the back, don't we? Would you mind grabbing it real quick?"

Lauren pouted yet again. What a shocker.

"Sure. I'll be right back." She gave Jake a meaningful look before disappearing into the back. Bella gritted her teeth.

She turned to Jake who smiled at her. He spoke to her in a low voice.

"Relax, baby. She's not my type. I like little petite brunettes that drive me up a wall with their no-sex rules and hand me lotion as a buffer after teasing the crap out of me."

He winked at her.

She grinned.

"Which reminds me. You might have to get me another bottle soon. Half of that one is already gone."

Bella's mouth dropped.

"Gone? Already?"

He smirked wider.

"It was...a productive morning."

He winked at her again making her shake her head, chuckling.

"Perv."

"Tease."

She smiled warmly at him.

And then she heard the bell and looked to see Mike being led out of the store under Paul's arm with Jared and Colin right behind them.

She stared at Jake worriedly.

"What's going on?"

A satisfied and smug smile took place of the adoring one he had been giving her from moments before.

"I'm taking care of things like I should have the first time."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Taking care of things?"

He stood at the counter and stretched a little.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Just make sure to get your stuff and meet me out back in five."

She sighed.

"Jake..."

"Bella," he cut her off sternly. "I gave you your chance. It didn't work. Now I'm handling it. Relax and just trust me."

She glared at him and was about to retort when Lauren appeared from the back.

"Here you go."

Jake took it from her, smiling widely.

"Thanks. And thanks, Bella, for all your help. If this gets me out of the doghouse, I'll be back soon, buying an armful."

He laughed as did Lauren.

Bella smiled at him but kept her eyes narrowed.

"Sure. Anytime. Hope she likes it."

He chuckled.

"I have a feeling she will. Thanks again. Have a nice day, ladies."

Lauren leaned over the counter as he walked away.

"Thanks, you too. Come back anytime. I'll be here."

Bella had the strangest urge to slam the blonde's head into the counter but she resisted.

Jake chuckled, giving them one last look while nodding and then headed out of the store.

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

Bella did as he said and was out back in five minutes.

What she saw surprised her though.

A car full of the guys minus Jake.

They smiled at her and Colin got out of the back and gestured for her to get in, holding the door open.

She hesitated.

"Where's Jake?"

Paul grinned at her from the front.

"He's taking care of something. He'll be done in a bit. Come on, get in, Bella. Before somebody sees you."

She took a deep breath, hesitated for another minute and then got in. Colin then sat down next to her and shut the door.

Jared then pulled the car away and began to drive.

"Wait, isn't Jake meeting us there?"

Paul laughed.

"Relax. We're taking you to him. We're gonna pick him up from where he's at."

Bella frowned but kept quiet.

Jared pulled the car into another parking lot and stopped, waiting behind a building.

A couple of long minutes later, Jake came charging out of an alleyway next to the building.

He walked swiftly to the car, opened the door on Bella's side and got in, moving her over.

"Alright, let's go."

Jared nodded and pulled the car out, driving down the street.

Bella turned and saw Jake's lip bleeding.

She grabbed his face and looked at it.

"God, Jake, you're bleeding."

He grimaced and pulled out of her grip.

"Relax, Bells. It's nothing."

She frowned at him.

"Jake, what did you do?"

He turned to glare at her.

"Exactly what I said I was going to do. I handled it."

She glared right back at him.

"Did you leave him alive?"

The rest of the car laughed, pissing Bella off even more.

Jake smirked at her, wincing when the pain hit him.

"Just barely."

She shook her head and sat back, refusing to look at him.

He laughed and put his hand on her leg.

"Oh relax, Bells. What do you think I am? Some kind of monster? Of course I left him alive. Look, I didn't go to beat the hell out of him if that's what you're thinking. He took a swing first, busted my lip, so I threw a punch of my own and he hit the ground. That's it."

She turned to glower at him.

"Oh really? Then what was the deal with your little mafia taking him outside before?"

Everyone laughed again, including Jake.

She sighed and sat back, her head resting on the seat.

He leaned in to whisper to her.

"Come on, baby, don't be mad at me. I had to do some quick thinking here. I heard the shit he was saying to you and it took everything I had not to fucking charge him and kill him right there in front of you. The guys came in to lead him out so we wouldn't make a scene. They didn't touch him. I met them outside and made them leave to come pick you up while I dealt with him. That's all."

She turned to look at him.

"What did you tell him? You know, he thinks I'm having an affair with Emmett. But that's probably all shot to hell now because of you going all caveman back there."

Jake shook his head.

"I talked to Emmett. He's gonna handle things from his end. I told Mike I was merely acting as his spokesperson if you will and Emmett's gonna make sure to reiterate that. After Mike's whole take on the party scenario, it's not that hard to believe."

Bella stared at him in exasperation.

"But, Emmett will kill-"

"No, he won't. And whatever Emmett dishes out, Mike deserves, after the way he fucking spoke to you. He tried to fucking blackmail you, Bella. He's a piece of shit and needs to be put back in his fucking place. That's it."

Jake sat up straight again, removing his hand and staring out the window, clearly pissed.

Bella stared down at her legs for a minute. She then glanced over to Jake's right hand where the cuts from yesterday were still healing. She was angry with herself. She had been pissed when she thought Jake hadn't stepped up to help her deal with Edward. And now she was pissed that he had stepped up to help her deal with Mike and in effect, Edward as well? Sometimes she wished she could just kick her own ass.

She sighed again and put her hand over his. She lifted it up to her lips and kissed it.

She whispered to his knuckles.

"I'm sorry."

He took a deep breath and turned to her. He began to stroke her hair with his other hand.

"You need to trust me."

"I do trust you."

He gave her a look of disbelief.

"I do, Jake. I promise. I do. I'm sorry. Thank you for taking care of it. For taking care of me."

She smiled and leaned in, kissing him gently, making sure to avoid the cut so she wouldn't hurt him.

He kissed her back and then leaned his forehead against hers.

"I love you, baby."

Bella smiled wider.

"I love you, too."

He smiled faintly.

"Man, what did I tell you? Pussy. Whipped!"

In a flash, Jake leaned forward and smacked Paul in the back of the head.

"What the fuck, Jake?"

"Don't use that word in front of my girl."

Bella giggled. He used that word all the time with her.

He placed his forehead against hers again.

"And for her? Absofuckinglutely."

Bella kissed him again, grinning.

She kissed him all the way up to his ear.

"My poor baby. That looks like it hurts. You want me to kiss it and make it all better?"

She continued to kiss his neck.

"Jared, pull over."

Jared did as he was told, earning a honk or two.

"What's up, boss?"

"Colin, get in the front with them."

Paul groaned.

"Come on, man. No! It's ten minutes 'till we get back to the shop. Can't you wait until then?"

"Colin, you have a problem sitting up front?"

Colin shook his head.

"Alright then."

Paul sighed loudly.

"What if a fucking cop sees us, Jake? They're gonna pull us right the fuck over, you know that."

"Jared, you care?"

Jared shrugged.

"That settles it. Colin, get up front."

"You got it, Jake."

Colin got out of the back and moved up front, pushing Paul into the middle.

"Oh man, this fucking sucks!"

Jake smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ow! What, I can't say fuck now?"

"Don't ever touch my girl's ass again unless she invites you to. And even then, don't do it."

"Dude, I had to sell it. And you have to admit, it worked. Like a charm."

He smirked at them and Jake smacked him again.

"Yeah. Don't. Just don't. Got me?"

Paul groaned as Jared drove off.

"Yeah, whatever."

Jake smiled in satisfaction and turned back to Bella who was watching them in amusement.

"Now, I believe you said something about kissing it and making it all better?"

Bella arched her brow at him and smiled wider.

"Did I, Mr. Black?"

"I believe you did. I'd like to take you up on that offer."

"You would, huh?"

"Absofuckinglutely."

Bella giggled as he leaned forward and kissed her.

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

Bella was never more embarrassed in her life.

They had made out in the back of the car like a couple of teenagers.

Bella had blushed pretty much throughout the entire thing.

Jake would chuckle and whisper into her ear.

"Relax, baby. It's not like we're having sex back here. And it's not like I haven't been up there when one of them's been in the back doing much, much worse."

She had looked at him disgustedly and he had rolled his eyes.

"Not that I had an option at the time, Bella. Sheesh. I'm just saying, don't worry about them. Okay? They don't care."

And then he had kissed her, making all other thoughts melt away.

His hands never went anywhere inappropriate and for that small miracle, she was thankful.

She just couldn't say the same for herself.

She couldn't help it. She had been extremely turned on since the store.

She only grabbed him a couple of times, though.

The most she had done was rub him through his pants.

And each time, he would pull away, gasping.

"Baby, don't do that. I still need these jeans."

She would hear Paul groan, see Jake turn to glare up at him, giggle and then pull him back down for another kiss.

Needless to say, when they got to the shop, everyone was glad to pile out of the car in a hurry.

Bella and Jake stayed in the back for a couple of minutes. Once the guys were out of sight, Bella took the opportunity to move over and straddle him. She began to grind against him, kissing him. He broke away and pushed her off.

"Bells, stop. We'll have plenty of time for that later."

She pouted.

"I just wanted you to feel good, too. Sorry."

He laughed and kissed her.

"I'm fine. But thank you. Man, I'm gonna enroll you in Sex Anon soon. You're becoming quite the addict."

She stared at him in mock resentment.

"If I recall correctly, it was your fingers that were fucking me a little while ago, not mine."

He smirked at her.

"Yeah, but if I recall correctly, that falls under the category of hand jobs which 'are in the family but not really considered sex'. Am I right?"

Bella glared at him.

He laughed again and pulled her into him.

"Besides, I want to talk to you, anyway."

Bella laid her head on his chest, hearing that familiar thumping, making her smile and close her eyes.

"And do not fall asleep on me."

She opened her eyes and scowled up at him, making him smile even wider.

"Come on, get up here."

She sat on his lap and leaned her forehead against his cheek.

"What time do you have to be back at work?"

Bella shrugged.

"Whenever, I guess."

Jake began to rub her back.

"Is it something the cheerleader can handle?"

"She's going home. Tyler's taking the next shift."

Jake nodded.

"Okay. Well, can he take care of it then? Do you really need to go back there?"

"Well..."

"Well what?"

"It's just, I don't know, I have the numbers to go over and everything. And even though Lauren and Tyler both have keys to the store and know what to do, I just want to make sure everything's gonna be okay while I'm gone, I guess."

Jake turned and kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger there.

"You worry too much, Bells. Everything's gonna be fine. You'll see."

Bella took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Yeah, I hope so."

He kissed her head again. "No, it will be. Trust me. Like I said, things always have a way of working out. And the numbers crunch? Not necessary before you go away. They'll be there when you get back."

Bella nodded.

"I know. It just worries me. I'm really not one of the best people to be running a business and the numbers reflect that."

Jake pulled back and looked at her.

"Numbers reflect all different kinds of things. How long have you been open now?"

"About a year and two months or so."

"Yeah. Exactly. You'll be fine."

He was grinning at her and she smiled in return.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Bells, if you worry about everything crashing and burning all the time, it will. But if you remain relaxed, knowing everything's gonna work out one way or another, then it will. Common sense, Bells."

She leaned forward and kissed his nose.

"Uh huh."

He smiled wider.

"So what did you have to talk to me about?"

He cleared his throat.

"A few things. One, I'm gonna be staying at Emmett's tonight."

Bella's brows rose.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So you and Rose can continue your affair?" She smirked at him.

He laughed. "Yeah, exactly. Blondie's practically salivating knowing I'm coming over."

Bella giggled and he kissed her forehead.

"Seriously, when I talked to Em before, he asked me where I was staying and I told him the shop for now. So he asked me to stay at their place tonight. So that's where I'll be. Secondly, I told him everything. From Mike to this morning and all that fun shit to our plans for the next four days."

Bella glared at him.

"You told him but you won't tell me?"

He chuckled.

"Yep."

"What happened to you being pussywhipped?"

"Kind of hard to be when you're not getting any, wouldn't you say?"

He quirked his brow at her.

She smacked him in the chest, making him laugh.

"Kidding. Kidding, Bells. I was wrong. You're right. Always right." He wriggled his brow and she smirked.

"Doesn't mean you're getting any now."

She crossed her arms and he leaned in and kissed her, smiling.

"Yeah, I will. You're addicted to my body. Admit it. That's why you're always jumping me lately."

"Oh please. You're the one always kissing me, always touching me. I just react."

"Yeah. Like a horndog."

She slapped his chest again.

He chuckled and pulled her closer.

"Sorry, baby. Don't get me wrong. I love that you're hot for me."

"Uh huh."

He kissed her again.

Bella smiled up at him.

"So, you told Em everything?"

He nodded. "He is gonna take care of Mike. Not in the way you're thinking but he is going to deal with it. He didn't tell me everything, though, because he thinks I'm gonna tell you. And he's right. There. See? Pussywhipped."

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"So you don't need to worry about all of that stuff. It's taken care of. So you don't have to deal with anything when you go home later, okay?"

Bella nodded, laying her head against his chest.

"Thank you."

He kissed her head. "I told you I'd take care of it, baby."

Bella smiled. "Yes. And you did. Thank you."

He rubbed her back, nuzzling his cheek on top of her head.

"Hey, did you call the guys when you were in the bathroom?"

"Yeah. They were already in the area so they hopped on over."

"Already in the area?"

"Yep. I caught a ride with them, they were going to grab lunch, a late lunch, I had them working through noon, trying to get as many cars done as possible so I'd be free and clear to leave tomorrow. Without leaving Seth with any back log. But I had them drop me off at your place, figuring maybe you could give me a ride back if you didn't mind."

She lifted her head up and glared at him.

"Like I would have minded."

"Well, Bells, I didn't want to assume. Anyways, that doesn't matter now. Bottom line is they were around and came when I called Paul."

She laid her head back down. "Speaking of Paul, what was with the whole 'baby' act? If Mike thought I was having an affair with Emmett, then what was the point of making him think it was actually Paul?"

Jake sighed. "There wasn't one. The only thing that needed to get across to that dipshit is that he's not to fuck with you. At all. And I think he got that message pretty clearly today. Like I said, baby, the guys didn't touch him, but having three big guys like that escort you outside, clearly not your friends, that scares little shits like him. I wasn't kidding when I said I almost fucking lost it back at the store. The only thing that stopped me was Paul."

Bella looked up at him questioningly.

"Paul?"

"Yeah. He held me back, talked some sense into me. Told me how it wouldn't be good for you if I flew off the handle and confronted the asshole like I wanted to. That I should think first. That you seemed to be handling things well enough on your own at the moment. And then we came up quickly with that little scenario. Jared kept the cheerleader at bay while Paul and I talked. We were in the next aisle. I'm surprised you didn't hear us."

Bella shook her head.

"Honestly, I didn't. I didn't even hear the door when they came in."

Jake nodded, then kissed her again.

"The shit he said to you, Bells. That's just fucking unforgivable. I don't think I've ever been so angry. Even when I've seen you with Edward. At least he wouldn't fucking talk to you like that. I may not like him because he has you, but that's one thing I'll give him. The fucker's got class compared to that piece of shit."

Bella closed her eyes. She didn't want to talk about Edward right now.

"So, what did you say to Mike? I mean, when you confronted him?"

Jake shrugged.

"Just told him to stay the fuck away from you if he knows what's good for him. That's all."

"But why did he punch you?"

She fingered the cut on his lip gently, making him wince.

"Ah, he said some stupid shit to me and I lost it, was about to put him through a wall and he took a swing. Can't say I blame the guy. I was about to kill him and he knew it. So it was more self-defense than anything really."

Bella cupped his cheek gently.

"What did he say?"

He shrugged again. "Nothing. Just stupid shit about Ness and her stuff. I don't really know. I just saw red. So he punched me and then I punched him in the stomach and he fell to the ground."

He turned and stared out the window.

Bella could see he didn't really want to talk about it. She didn't want to press him further and make him hurt, like he did that previous morning.

"So, everything's okay now then?"

He turned and gave her a smile.

"Yes, baby. Everything's okay."

She leaned in and kissed him.

"So, Paul? Really?"

He laughed. "Babe, I told you. He's a pain in the ass but when I need him, he's there."

She smiled and hugged him tight.

"I'm glad. Seth's like that, too. You have some really good people around you, Jake. I'm really happy you do."

He kissed her head. "Me, too."

She pulled back, smirking wide.

"So, where are we going?"

He groaned. "Bells. I'm not telling you. And you're not getting it out of me, even if you break the no-sex rule here and now, so don't try it."

She pouted at him. "But you said you'd tell me what to pack at least. Come on, Jake. Please."

He shook his head and chuckled.

"Okay, fine. A jacket, toothbrush and absolutely nothing else. Got it?"

Her jaw dropped.

"What? I told you if I could have you walk around naked all the time, I would. And you did say we could break the no-sex rule while we're away. I'm sorry; did you think that was only happening one time once you gave me the go ahead?"

"And I'm the one that belongs in Sex A.?"

"Yes. You're the one who's constantly tempting me to break the no-sex rule while I've clearly been maintaining my proper boundaries and trying to keep the rule intact."

"Uh huh. So when your hand was in my pants or when you were dry fucking me up against the wall, that was maintaining your proper boundaries?"

"Yep. Because we were nowhere near actual sex according to your logistics so I was absolutely in the clear."

Bella narrowed her eyes at him.

"Uh huh."

He laughed.

"Okay, seriously. Pack normal clothes but make sure to bring some layers. Where we're going, it gets cold kind of fast."

"You're taking me somewhere it gets cold?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you expecting Aruba or someplace? Uh uh. I told you, this trip is more for me than you. But it's important to me that you're there. So quit your whining, Princess."

Bella frowned.

"No, I wasn't expecting Aruba. I just hate the cold, that's all."

"Uh huh. Well, you've got me to keep you warm so what are you complaining about?"

She snorted.

"God, you're corny at times."

"Yeah, but you love me."

She rolled her eyes and laid her head back against him, smiling.

"So warmer clothes? That's it?"

Jake nodded.

"Um-hmm. Oh, and a bathing suit. Something really skimpy, I'd like that." He winked at her and she shook her head.

"And I'm the horndog. Unbelievable."

"Yep. So, shall we go to lunch, otherwise, really an early dinner, now?"

Bella nodded and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Alright, let's go."

He grabbed her hand, opened the door, got out and helped her to step out of the car.

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

Jake dropped her off at the back of the store a couple of hours later.

He had kissed her, making it near impossible for her to get out of the car.

"Jake, I've got to go. And so do you."

He whined.

"One more minute, Bells. Geez. I'm not gonna get to see you until tomorrow."

She had laughed and continued kissing him.

"Babe, promise me. You're gonna get your stuff, get out of here and head home. You said that Tyler guy's got the store. I really don't want you sticking around here without me nearby. Promise me, Bells."

She grinned. "I promise. I've got some packing to do, anyways."

He smiled back. "That you do. Although I prefer the first option so much more." He wriggled his eyebrow at her, making her shake her head.

"Sure, sure."

He smiled wider and kissed her hand and then her.

"Alright, baby. Head inside. Get out of here, go home, pack and call me later. Okay?"

"Okay."

He kissed her one more time, this time tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

After a minute, he pulled away.

"Okay, see, this is where I'm maintaining the boundaries rather than giving in to temptation. Get out."

Bella laughed and stepped out, closing the door.

"Oh, Bells. Wait."

She turned back to him.

He leaned over the backseat, grabbing something in a black plastic bag and thrusting it at her.

"I got this for you. Since you were so nice to think of me this morning. I figured maybe this would help you with your problem."

Bella stared at him quizzically.

"Don't open it until you call me tonight."

He winked at her.

"Love you, babe."

He then pulled away. She could hear him laughing.

She waited until she saw his car pull out of the parking lot and head down the street. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her reaction to whatever this gift was.

She slowly opened the bag and pulled the object out.

She gasped and then thrust it into the bag, muttering to herself about how she was going to get him back for this as she stomped into the store.

It was a fucking vibrator!

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

Bella got home in the next hour just like she had promised.

She began to go through her clothes, sorting what she would take and wouldn't. She chose many things at random and put them into the suitcase which she then put near her closet. She'd pack her toiletries later.

She sat on the bed and thought.

Bella wasn't one to wear lingerie. Night slips were the sexiest things she'd ever worn. But suddenly, she had the strongest urge to have some things on hand, if only to tease the shit out of Jake.

Of course, Alice had given her a few items when she was marrying Edward (not that she'd ever used them) but bringing those things just seemed...wrong on so many levels. Wrong towards Edward and wrong towards Jake.

No. She wouldn't do that. That would be the ultimate wrong. It was bad enough she was going on a trip where she would make love to someone else the entire time.

She glanced up at the scantily clad items hanging in her closet.

Yeah, wrong didn't even begin to cover it.

Her phone rang just then, breaking into her thoughts.

She checked the screen before opening it.

Edward.

"Hello?"

"Hey, love. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Edward. How are you?"

"Good. Long, long day here at the office. How about you? How was your day at the shop?"

She winced when she thought of everything that had gone on there. She wondered if Edward would mention his conversation with Mike to her.

"Good. Good. Not too busy. Got everything set up so I can go away tomorrow."

"That's good, love. I'm glad to hear it. That reminds me. What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

She grasped for something quickly.

"I think Angela is picking me up around noon or so. So, I'm getting my packing done now."

"Good idea, love. Listen, I was thinking. I have to work late tonight, probably won't be home until around 10:30 or 11:00. And I feel bad I'm not really gonna get to see you. Since we have to leave so early tomorrow. So I was thinking of taking a later flight. They don't need me there right away and I okayed it with Ness."

Bella began to panic. Dammit, why couldn't she think quick like Jake?

"You don't have to do that, Edward. I appreciate the gesture but I understand how important this whole thing is. Don't change your flight. It's fine."

"It's already done."

Bella pulled the phone away from her and gulped. Shit.

She put the phone back to her ear.

"Oh. What time is your new flight then?"

"1:45."

Crap.

Jake was gonna fucking kill her.

~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~

After Bella got off the phone with Edward, still unable to persuade him to switch flights, she texted Jake.

When u get time, plz call me.

Her phone rang a minute later.

She picked up, waiting for him to talk first which she now always did, just like she told him she would.

"Bells?"

She swallowed loudly, certain he heard it.

"Hey."

"Hey, babe. What's up? Like my present?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Uh huh. Can't wait to use it. You know, since I'm insatiable and all."

He laughed.

"Well, you'll get to use it a little later. Besides, that's for the both of us, not just you. So, don't you dare go using it without me."

She smiled and shook her head.

"Jacob Black, what am I going to do with you?"

"Whatever you want for the next four days, honey. I'm all yours."

She sighed and laid back on the bed.

"Um, yeah. That's why I'm calling."

She heard silence on the other end.

"Jake? You there?"

"Yeah, hold on a sec."

She winced. He was pissed. Just like she knew he would be.

"Seth, I gotta take this inside. Can you finish up these brake pads for me?"

"Sure, man. No problem."

"Thanks."

She heard him moving throughout the shop, heading up the steps, and closing the door.

Well, more like slamming it shut.

She heard him sit down in his chair which always creaked.

"Alright, Bells. What's the deal this time?"

She frowned.

"It's not me, Jake. So, don't even fucking go there."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I was talking to Edward earlier. He called me and he was asking when I was leaving."

"Yeah."

"And I told him that Angela was picking me up around noon or so."

"Right."

"Well, he told me he has to work late tonight and won't be home until 10:30 or later."

Jake snorted. "Uh huh."

Bella bit her tongue from saying anything. She knew he was angry and she couldn't really blame him. She was quite irritated herself.

"Well, he said he felt bad that he was leaving so early the next day and wouldn't get to see me."

She took a deep breath when all she heard was silence.

"So he switched flights."

She waited for it but instead she heard him take a deep breath himself.

"What time is his new flight?"

"1:45."

She cringed.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me."

She winced into the phone.

"I wish I was. He said it had already been done, that they didn't need him that early, that it was okayed by...her." She refrained from using Ness' name, thinking maybe it might not be something he'd want to hear since this morning, even though he'd used it that once in the car.

"Unfuckingbelievable. Our check-in time is at 3 and it's gonna take us a few hours to get there, what the fuck are-" He sighed heavily. "Bells, let me call you back in a minute, okay?"

"Jake, I'm-"

"Bells. I'll call you back in a minute."

"Okay."

Then she heard the line click.

Shit.

What the hell had Edward been thinking?

And then she felt horrible.

Simple.

He had been thinking of her.

And here she was, cursing him for ruining her plans with Jake.

Plans to go off on a romantic trip with someone else.

Nice.

Bella wondered why she just didn't jump off a cliff sometimes and spare the two men she loved so much misery.

Tears made their way down her cheeks and she angrily wiped them away.

Her phone rang, interrupting the self-hating thought track she was on.

She flipped the phone open and waited.

"Bells."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Honey, don't be upset. This has nothing to do with you. I'm not mad at you. So don't go thinking that, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'm sorry. I just...needed a...minute. But I'm good now."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't talk him out of it. I tried-"

"Bells. Honey, this isn't your fault. It's just something that happened...beyond our control. So don't worry. Listen, I'll take care of it, okay? If I have to rearrange a few things, then so be it. As long as we get to go away together, then that's all that matters. Right?"

She rubbed her right eye.

"Y-Yeah."

"Sweetheart, why don't you come over to Emmett's tonight?"

Bella sat up.

"Em's?"

"Yeah. I'll be there in a couple of hours. And you said he's not gonna be home 'till late, right? So, it sounds like you're available. Come see me."

"Um, well. Should I call Emmett or something? I mean, won't it be weird if I just show up?"

"Nah. Em loves you, Bella. He's not gonna care if you come over unannounced. Besides, obviously he and Rose already know about us and if you couldn't tell, they're clearly Team Jake."

He snickered into the phone.

She rolled her eyes.

"You just think the world of yourself, don't you?"

"Hard not to. Have you seen me lately? I do make a pretty amazing boyfriend, if I do say so myself."

Bella chuckled.

"Boyfriend?"

"Yes, honey. Boyfriend. That's what I am."

"It sounds so...wrong. I mean, I feel like the title doesn't fit you. Like you're so much more than that."

"Babe, I don't like the term any more than you do. But that's technically what I am. This is a full-blown relationship now. And don't you dare go denying it, either. You know it's true."

"True. But it just sounds so...I don't know. Like you're about to ask me to prom or something. Or come home with me over Thanksgiving break to meet my parents. That's all."

He laughed.

"Well, Bells, you've totally blown all my plans to shit. Thanks. Guess I won't be asking you to prom now."

She smiled.

"My bad."

"Mmmm, yes. You are very bad. I'm gonna have such fun punishing you over our break. You don't even know."

"Man, it sounds like you've got quite the vacation planned. Maybe I shouldn't pack clothes. I might as well save the twenty five bucks at check-in."

"That's what I'm saying."

She snickered.

"Not happening."

"Damn. Well, that's okay. I'll just make sure to hide your suitcase. That way you can't get dressed."

"Hey! You most certainly will not!"

"Yeah. Okay. We'll see. Listen, Bells, I gotta run. I want to wrap all this stuff up before I leave and the guys are waiting on me, so I'll see you at Em's, say, around 7:30 or so? Is that good?"

"Yeah. 7:30 sounds good."

And then an idea formed in her head.

"Wait. Maybe 8:00 is better."

"What? Why?"

"I have some shopping to do. Get some toiletries, things like that."

"And you can't get that done in the next hour?"

She frowned.

"No, Jacob Black. I can't. You are so impatient. You're telling me you can't wait another half hour?"

"When it comes to you, baby, I'm never fucking patient. I always wanna see you. Besides, I got my shopping done this morning, so I'm all set."

"Aww, how nice for you. Get everything you needed?" She rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Yep. Everything indeed."

She knew that tone of voice.

"Jacob, what did you go and buy?"

He snorted.

"Just necessities. Nothing for you to worry about. Plus, I'm sure you'll see it all on our trip."

"Wait, did you-"

"I gotta go, Bells. The guys are calling me. I love you. See you at eight at Em's. You need me, call me. Bye."

She stared at the phone in shock.

She was right.

Jake was gonna fucking kill her.

Just not in the way she originally thought.

He didn't actually buy other...sex toys?

Did he?

Fuck.

She blushed from head to toe.

No, he wouldn't dare. He knew it'd make her uncomfortable.

Didn't he?

She refused to think about it and scrolled through her phone.

She wasn't entirely sure if this was an okay thing.

But she was told 'anything' and this could be thrown under that category, could it not?

She hit the number and listened to it ringing.

"Hi, Rose? It's me, Bella. Listen, I don't mean to bother you or anything but I was kind of wondering, if you weren't busy, if maybe you could help me..."