Jacob Have I Loved

Chapter 9

The next morning, on the way to the market in the car with my mom, I decide not to tell Stephenie just yet about the previous night's make-out session with Jake. Letting her in on my love life might complicate things a little for Jake and I, and I'm not quite sure if he wants the whole world to know about our relationship right now.

Nevertheless, I can't keep my salivating lips from grinning throughout the entire car ride to the La Push market. The lasting memory of his beautiful lips pressed against mine sends shivers down my spine. I can't get over the fact that Jake has returned the feelings I have felt for him for over a year now. It fills my heart with utter excitement and exhilaration.

"Earth to Jessica!" My mom stirs me from my memories of last night, and my body responsively jumps. Unbeknownst to me, we have now arrived at the market. "Sorry, honey, but these boxes aren't going to move themselves!"

I roll my eyes at her and reluctantly exit the car. Helping her carry the boxes of hand-woven baskets and hats toward our rental booth, I can't help but wonder what Jake is doing right at this very moment. In some selfish, masochistic way, I hope he's thinking about me, of what might have transpired if my parents hadn't arrived home early from their date. My thoughtful mind almost bursts at the notion of feeling the warmth of his naked body against mine. The new, overwhelming sensation of making love to him on the countertop in the kitchen. The beautiful, sweet moment we become one body under the dim fluorescent light above. The tender touch of his kiss on my breasts. The feel of his hands against my brown skin as we give ourselves willingly to each other . . .

"Jessica, are you okay?" My mom's hands are on my forehead, then on my burning cheeks, searching possibly for the heat of a fever. "You feel warm. You're not coming down with something are you?"

"No, Mom." I forcibly shoo her hands away and tighten my grip on the box of hats, placing it gently on the table inside our booth. "I'm perfectly fine." Just a little distracted.

As I aid my mother in unpacking the hats and baskets, my mind begins to wander away from me again, and I find myself falling more and more irrevocably in love with Jacob Black . . .

The unusually warm day at the market goes fairly uneventful. After packing back up the boxes (we only managed to sell about three baskets total that day and they were all purchased by Sue Clearwater, Leah's mom), my mom and I turn to pace back toward our waiting sedan.

"Jess!" I'd recognize that husky voice anywhere. My lips form a wide grin, and I turn my body only to see Jake running toward us, his eyes dancing in the soft twilight. He stops abruptly when he reaches our car. "Hi, Mrs. Burnside—I mean, Melissa. Let me help you with that." He takes the heavy box from my mom's hands and places it in the trunk. "Um, Melissa, would you mind if Jess and I walk down to First Beach?"

Jake's gorgeous smile is about to make my thrumming heart leap out of my chest. He flirtingly winks at me and then fixes his eyes back on my mother, who is now wearing a bewildered expression.

"Sure, that's fine with me." She sighs as she slams the trunk closed. "But Jessica, please be home before seven. You've still got homework to do."

"I know, Mom. I promise." I'm about to jump up and down in anticipation of being with Jake alone once again. My mom plops down in the driver's seat and starts the ignition, kicking up the dirt in front of us as she heads toward home.

"Come on, Jess. Let's go." Jake places his warm palm into mine, and we begin to walk the few miles it takes to get down to First Beach from the market.

We mostly walk in silence as we did the night before. Jake swings my arm gently, and the ocean's breeze tickles the skin under my ears. I could get used to the feeling of his hand in mine, his eyes gazing adoringly at me. I could easily picture myself in a flowing, white wedding dress, his gold band on my left ring finger, my body plump with his child. I close my eyes to readily savor this moment of newfound love with Jake. I hope it will last forever.

As we reach the stretch of First Beach, the sun is almost setting beyond the horizon. I notice several fearless surfers are out in the water, and the tide is rolling in, gently kissing the gray sand with its cool waters.

"You wanna sit down." Jake points to a driftwood log about two yards away, and I immediately take a seat down on its right side. He positions himself beside me, draping his right arm about my shoulders. He sighs and seems almost restless. "Jess . . . I was wondering . . ."

"Yes?" I quizzically study his beautiful face. His expression is hard to read, and my heartbeat rapidly throbs. I hope he's not going to break it off with me. My throat exaggeratedly gulps.

"If you would, you know, be my . . . girlfriend." Now, I know why he appears nervous. YES! I grab his free hand and bring it slowly up to my lips, whispering, "Yes, Jake. I would like that." I kiss the tips of his fingers, fighting to control my gleeful delight at his proposition.

Catching his breath, Jake closes his eyes, and I bring his palm up to my face. He cups my cheek with his hand and leans his head toward me, never opening his eyes. Our lips meet, sweetly, tenderly, lovingly. I in turn cup my hands around his head and pull him closer, and he moves his hands to the base of my back, still pressing his lips to mine. After several minutes of lip lock, I grab his right hand and proceed to glide it up to my left breast under my jacket. When his hand finally reaches its destination, he firmly takes hold of it, and I break free from his lips, thrilling at the sensation of his touch. He caresses it gently, and then travels up under my shirt and my bra to press his hands against my bare skin.

My brown eyes roll back into my head, and I remove my hands from around his neck and unbutton and unzip his pants. Cautiously, I scan the beach for any onlookers, but not one single soul can be seen. Then, I gaze back into his beautiful eyes, which are now full of eagerness and longing, and shove my right hand down into his jeans. The freezing touch of my fingers makes him flinch slightly, but then he returns to fondling my breasts as I stroke him delicately against the backdrop of the setting sun.

"Jess?" Jake drops his hands from under my shirt, his mouth gasping for breath. "Let's take this somewhere a little more private."

"Ok." I instantaneously stand up, adjusting my bra. If that's what it takes; I want him with every fiber of my being. I don't care where we are. We could do it right here for all I care. "Where did you have in mind?"

"There's a small cave under that ledge over there." He gestures his arms over to the towering cliffs about a hundred yards away. Smiling, I anxiously nod my head in agreement as Jake buttons and zips back up his jeans. He then rises and takes hold of my hand, and we race toward the cave like two little school children on their way out to recess.

Ok, the next 2 chapters are very MATURE! They're the ones you've been waiting for! Stay tuned! RAWRRR!