Jacob's POV
Last night, I could barely sleep, tossing and turning restlessly. The need for my imprint was clawing at me. Tonight, I sleep like a baby.
I can feel Edward's presence.
From time to time, I even feel his hand on me. There is no doubt I'm having nightmares about Bella, and I know I'm hurting him.
I roll on my side. My head is resting on something hard, and my neck hurts a little.
As I fidget around, I realize I phased back to human during the night. The hard thing under my cheek in Edward's leg, and his hand is combing through my hair.
"Are you awake?" he whispers.
"Yeah," I croak out. Yawning, I nuzzle closer to him.
"Your dreams are fascinating."
Blood fills my cheeks. "Except the nightmares."
"They're part of you, Jacob. In sleep, your brain relives the most intense feelings you experience during daytime. But I was referring to the dream you had about…us."
I can't remember it! Bummer! I hope it was good.
"Oh, trust me. It was." He smirks, caressing my cheek with the back of his index finger.
Oh, really? "Tell me," I whisper, sitting up.
"I can show you," he says, dead-serious.
"Really?" I'm beyond excited.
My imprint wants me!
"Of course, I do, Jacob," he murmurs, tugging me closer until I'm straddling his hips. His fingers grasp my hair, bringing my face closer to his.
Liquid honey, golden eyes bore into mine as I lick my lips.
Holy fuck! I'm about to kiss a leech—not any leech at that, but Edward Cullen.
"Don't insult the person that's about to kiss you and pour everything he feels into that kiss," he reproaches me.
Sorry.
I cup his cheeks, tilting my head.
Our lips meet for the first time, and a violent shiver rips down my spine as warmth engulfs me, despite the coldness of Edward's lips. This feels so right. Keeping his face between my hands, I kiss him harder, probably bruising my lips on his hard ones. When I try to deepen the kiss, he pulls away, looking almost in pain.
I frown. "Don't do this! You can't hurt me!" I plead with my eyes.
"I don't want to take any chances."
"Edward, if you think I can survive for the rest of eternity with you only kissing my lips, you're sadly mistaken!" I shout, then push him to the floor.
He falls, or allows me to push him, whatever. But I'm on a mission.
Trapping his hands above his head, I fuse our mouths together again, sticking my tongue between his lips. Edward moans loudly, giving me access without even wanting to.
I high-five myself in my head.
Suddenly, he rips his mouth from mine—when it was getting better—only to burst into hysterical laughter.
Can vampires go mad?
He laughs harder, pointing to me.
Now my feeling are hurt. Am I horrible at kissing?
What the fuck is his problem?
You can hear me, can't you? What's your problem? I hiss, folding my arms across my chest.
"Jacob, you…" He chuckles, taking a huge, unnecessary breath. "You just high-fived yourself for gaining access inside my mouth. Please, allow me to take a moment and laugh. That was the most childish and adorable thing I've ever seen!"
I pout. Yeah, I'm immature. So what?
"I ruined the moment, didn't I?" Edward asks once he's calmed down.
"You can say that again."
We stare at each other, and just like that, the mood returns. I don't know who moves first, but we meet in the middle—our bodies crashing together, lips mashed, fingers exploring. I can't get enough of him.
Just as soon as the excitement started, it ends when Edward rips himself away from me, clenching his hands.
"What the hell do you want?" he hisses, angrily.
I stare, dumbstuck.
"Fuck off!" he shouts, staring at the wall behind me.
I'm beginning to think he's lost his mind.
His hand cups my cheek as his face contorts in what looks like pain. "Jasper is outside. He's come to bring me back to the house. Charlie is there, wanting answers."
"But you're supposed to be dead!" I scream, gripping his shirt.
"That's a given," he says amused. "Uh, Carlisle must have let it slip that I'm alive...if that's what I am."
"Come on, man! Charlie looks ready to murder everyone within a ten mile radius," Jasper urges him.
"Can I tag along?" I wonder aloud, not losing the grip I have on Edward's shirt.
"Okay." He takes my hand and leads the way out of the house.
"I'm sorry," Jasper apologizes. His eyes linger on our joined hands, before he walks ahead on us. He has some sort of discussion with Edward, to which he gets one-worded answers.
I'm starting to hate this mind-reading thing. It's cool and everything when it's directed at me, when I'm too lazy to talk, but hearing him answering stuff when I don't hear the question is annoying.
"Wait!" Edward suddenly halts us. His head cocks to the side, a frown appearing between his brows. "Carlisle is talking to Charlie. He's rectified the mistake, and told him both Alice and I died, as well. Where's Ally?" He turns to Jasper.
"Here!" A small voice whispers from behind the trees to my right. "I left as soon as Charlie appeared."
"Damn, this sucks! Telling people you're dead or hiding…" I mumble.
"Well, we need a good story every time we move away. Either Carlisle has a new job, or we head to college and they tag along. It's always different."
"And now, we needed this story."
"Esme is acting the part perfectly. She's been sobbing constantly in her handkerchief," Alice tells me quietly, sounding damn sad.
Jasper walks to her and hugs her tightly, kissing the top of her head. I lean closer to Edward and he wraps his arm around me, much like the couple in front of us.
Is that what we are? A couple?
"I'd like to think that, yes, we are. After what just happened back at the cottage..." he murmurs in my ear.
My face flushes. "So now you have to leave sooner than planned?"
"We already have everything planned out," Alice says, regaining some giddiness in her voice. "We just need another sit-down to decide where to go."
"What are the options?"
Edward groans at my stupid question. It launches a countless list of places I've never heard of before, said so fast that the words mingle.
"Alice, breathe!" Jasper chuckles.
She throws him a nasty look, continuing to talk.
I give Edward an apologetic look. I had no idea my question would start such a shit-storm.
He laughs, leaning down to kiss my cheek. "All the places are located in cloudy towns so we can actually go out at some point," he explains quietly.
I nod in understanding. "Are you taking me with you?" I know it's stupid, but I want to make sure.
"I can't leave one of my limbs behind," Edward says seriously, staring into my eyes with adoration.
My heart swells, along with something else. I wish we hadn't been interrupted earlier, but maybe it's for the best. We need to talk more. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but I know all I want is him.
"Me, too." He brings my face closer, our noses bump as our lips brush against each other.
"Christ, Edward! Stop, seriously," Jasper begs in a strained voice.
Alice smiles wickedly. "Thank you, Edward. That was a great wave of arousal you sent. Come on, Jazzy. I'm sure we can find something fun to do. Follow me!"
"Witch," he mutters under his breath, before taking off after his mate who has run off into the forest.
"What just happened?" I ask, confused.
"You know how he can manipulate emotions… Well, it gets the best of him if the people around him feel something strong."
"Oh. That's so not fair!"
"What's not fair?" Edward asks, stroking my hand.
"That they can do that, have fun… We can't."
"Of course, we can, Jacob! But that doesn't mean we're ready for that step. At least, I know I'm not." He tucks some of my hair behind my ear. "Maybe after we move to the new location…"
"I'd like that." Taking a handful of the hair at the back of his neck, I pull his head down and kiss him roughly. We can do this until then.
He replies by deepening the kiss.
A few hours later, after Charlie is long gone and the lovebirds have returned—Alice's hair sticking in every direction—we are ready to have the sit-down. She doesn't seem fazed by the reproachful looks she gets from Esme about her behavior.
I want to take the blame, but then I remember I'm mad at her, at them. I'm jealous.
I want that with Edward.
"All in due time," he whispers in my ear.
We're at the big table in their living room once again, but this time we're not discussing our relationship. They're all fighting about the next place they're going—we're going.
"No for Montana!" Emmett shouts, slapping his hand on the table.
"Okay, Montana is off the list." Carlisle crosses the state from the list in front of him. "What about North Carolina? We have a few houses there. It will work very well with the new member of our family." He smiles kindly at me.
"Aw, but what about our friends from Denali?" Rosalie moans loudly.
"I'm sure we're going to stay away from them until they understand what happened between our Edward and Jacob. Don't forget, Rose, that Irina lost her friend to the pack's claws."
"How do you know that?" I blurt out.
"Tanya, Irina's sister, called to ask if we were aware of what happened. They had no idea we were no longer in the area," Carlisle explains.
"Not like we'd have helped him," Edward mutters darkly. "I'd probably have helped the pack, or at least cheered them on. I can't believe Laurent came after Bella."
"And then Victoria, too," I remind him quietly.
"Lucky your pack took care of them."
I nod, agreeing wholeheartedly. It's been fun hunting the vamps.
"Do you remember that town in Virginia? We stayed there for several years in the seventies," Esme says softly, covering Carlisle's hand on the table.
"Lynchburg?" he asks.
"The one located in the foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains?" Edward almost shouts in excitement.
"Ah!" Emmett exclaims just as loudly. "That bear tasted so damn good!"
"There are universities, too. I think we need a break from high school." Jasper grins. "And malls for my crazy shopaholic wife."
Alice beams at him, taking his face in her hands and planting a loud kiss on his mouth.
"Does everyone agree on our new destination?" Carlisle checks, looking around the table.
Everyone nods eagerly.
Huh, I had no idea something as common as moving away could be so exciting.
"You'll see how fun this is!" Edward tells me, wearing a huge smile on his face.
"Alright!" Esme stands. "I want everyone to go to the basement and get boxes for packing their belongings. No fighting. No pushing on the stairs. There are plenty boxes for everyone."
As if telling them to start war, chaos erupts. Through a glare between Edward and Emmett, they dash out of the room. Jasper sprints after them.
"CHILDREN!"
I can't help but laugh.
"Oh, honey, you'll get used to them," she tells me in a motherly tone, then follows them. I hear her scolding the boys.
"As long as they don't corrupt you, too," Alice mumbles. "Maybe you can talk some sense into Edward, and keep him from picking fights with Emmett."
Edward appears in the doorway, a bunch of boxes in his arms. "I don't pick fights. I just stand up for myself when he's annoying me," he explains. "Come, help me pack, Jake."