Jacob Have I Loved

Chapter 14

Over the next few days, Jake and I find ourselves barely able to keep our hands off each other. We have been mating like wild rabbits, taking part in three additional lovemaking sessions during the course of the week. Twice in Jake's bed after Billy went to sleep, and once in the backseat of Harry Clearwater's Ford. During our little backseat romp, I forcefully gripped the handle on the passenger side door so hard that I broke off. Oops! You should have seen the look on Jake's face as he tried to explain the situation to Billy—his cheeks were all flushed and he spoke in broken words. But I think Billy bought the little white lie that Quil was the one responsible for the damage. Anything to get him back for asking me to give him "riding lessons" earlier in the week.

Also, I have realized that Jake is getting bigger—Quil, Embry, and Jared, too. Weird. They must have recently hit a growth spurt or something; Jake used to be at eye level with me. Now, he towers over me at just over six feet. It baffles me, but I guess that's just part of becoming a man. And that's not the only thing growing . . .

It is now Friday evening. The boys—Jake, Quil, Embry, and Jared—are having a bonfire on First Beach tonight. I can't wait to spend those romantic moments with Jake under the twinkling stars. And maybe, just maybe, we can steal away to our cave and share another blissful moment together.

"Hey, Jess, get in!" Stephenie cheerfully exclaims from the opened driver's side window as she pulls her mother's Toyota to the curb outside my house.

"Thanks, Steph, for picking me up." I enter the car, greeting her with a quick peck on the right cheek. "Billy found out Jake was driving without an adult in the car, so he's on restriction from driving."

"Aw, that sucks." Steph pulls the car onto the road and makes a disgusted face. "Well, at least he's not grounded. You'd be on your own tonight!"

"I highly doubt that—Quil would try to get fresh with me all night!" I lightly chuckle, almost feeling the nausea begin in my stomach, and check my makeup in the mirror on the sun visor. "Now that he knows I put out!"

"Well, actually, he's bringing a date!" Steph confesses, almost swerving the car off the road.

"What? He actually found someone to take his sorry ass out? Poor girl." I flip the sun visor up and shoot a shocked glare at Steph.

"Yep! Maybe we should pull her aside when we get there and warn her. I'm not sure she knows how 'hands-on' Quil can be." Steph jokingly retorts, and we share a fleeting moment of amusement. Then, Steph's face becomes serious, "Um . . . Jess, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything, babe." I tenderly peer over at my best friend, wondering what she could possibly want to know.

"Well, I think I might go all the way with Embry tonight." Steph shyly looks ahead, never taking her eyes off the road in front of us. "Can you like give me some suggestions or . . ."

"Like what to do?" I can't believe it! Steph is asking me for sex advice. I thought I would never see the day.

"Yeah, you know . . ." She gives me a fading smile as if she is embarrassed, and her cheeks immediately turn a severe shade of red.

I clear my throat and take a deep breath, searching my brain for just the right words to say to her. Steph is my best friend; I want her first time to be just as beautiful as mine. "Just relax, and do what comes naturally. Let him do the work and just enjoy it. Then, it should get better the next time."

"Thanks, Jess." Steph places her right hand on my left knee and pats it softly in gratitude. "I'm so nervous—I might throw up!"

"Well, don't do that. It might be a turn off!" I say in jest, placing my hand on top of hers.

We drive the rest of the way to the beach in silence. As we near the mile-long stretch of beach, Steph parks the car, and I now see the rising smoke from the bonfire off in the distance. The sun is just coming to rest over the horizon, and the sky is painted with purple and orange hues that blend together perfectly. The sight is quite exquisite. The air is unseasonably warm, and I remove my green army jacket, relishing in the cool, crisp twilight breeze as we exit the car. Nearing the bonfire, I can discern the darkened shapes of five figures huddled around the fire. Another familiar figure is hurriedly pacing its way toward Steph and me. It is Jake.

I smile and joyfully run to meet him halfway. When I reach him, he scoops me up into his arms, spinning me around in utter jubilation. I notice that his biceps are angrily bulging from beneath the sleeves of his T-shirt, and it takes all I have within me not to rip the shirt from his body at that moment.

"I missed you." Jake's words are like water to my soul. He kisses me sweetly on the lips and then returns my feet to the sand.

"Me, too, Jake." Every minute I am away from him feels like an eternity. Jake takes my hand in his as we walk toward the bonfire.

"You two are nauseating!" Steph rolls her eyes at us, hurrying over to meet Embry, who is now coming toward our trio.

"Jealous much?" Jake smiles at me and winks, the warmth of his palm in mine overpowering me.

As we near the bonfire, Quil immediately leaps to his feet. "Hiya, Jess, this is my date, Lindz." He is obviously proud of his recent conquest, pointing to a girl seated on the sand beside him. She is so breathtakingly beautiful; her long, brown hair cascades down her back, and her figure is thin, but flawless. I am in complete awe of her beauty and her porcelain, white skin. "Lindz, this is Jessica."

"It's nice to meet you, Lindz." I offer her my right hand, and she shakes it, never leaving the sandy carpet at my feet. I can't believe Quil could get a girl like this; she is way too good for him.

"You, too, Jessica." Lindz timidly replies and then turns to the girl seated beside her. "This is my friend, Julie." This new girl is just as stunning as Lindz. I assume she is supposed to be Jared's date, but I don't press the issue. I have other things on my mind besides making friends.

"Nice to meet you both." I focus my attention now on Jake, who is now helping Jared poke the bonfire to keep it burning. "Hey, Jake, you wanna go for a walk?"

Jake instantly drops his wooden poker and heads over to me, taking my hand.

"OOO-OOO-OOO." Embry and Jared call after us as we begin our stroll northward on the beach, cackling with laughter.

"Have fun on your 'walk'!" Embry adds, forming quotation marks with his hands to emphasize the last word.

"Those guys are my best friends, but they can be such a pain sometimes." Jake exasperatedly runs his hands through his black hair, looking passed me to James Island off in the distance.

"Well, I'm not the one who told him about our little tryst in the cave, now am I?" I smile at him, elbowing him in the ribs with the arm attached to his. "You jerk!"

"I guess I deserved that one." He returns my smile, grasping my hand even tighter. We casually walk along the beach, swinging arms and enjoying the gentle breeze for a few silent minutes. And then, Jake asks, "Hey, have you heard about Bella?"

DAMN! Why does he always bring her up? What is with this little obsession he has with her? I need to seriously choke the life out of that bitch! "Um, no, what happened? Is she okay?" Like I care.

"She supposedly ran away back to Arizona. Dad said she fell down some stairs at a hotel there and broke her leg or something like that." He huffs, looking down at the sand. "Dad seems to think Edward Cullen was involved somehow. He was with her when it happened."

"Oh, that's awful!" SERVES HER RIGHT! I wish she had broken more than her leg—like maybe her neck. Then, Jake would forget about her. Maybe, she'll stay down there in that hellhole and never come back!

"Yeah, her dad's royally pissed." Jake abruptly stops, grabbing my face with both palms and looking longingly into my eyes. His brown eyes are twinkling in the light from the setting sun, and butterflies are beginning to flutter in my stomach. "But forget about her."

I already have, Jake.

Jake takes me into his arms, grasping my body firmly to his own. I fiercely press my lips to his, feeling the overpowering rush of desire flow throughout my entire being. Jake then slips his tongue into my mouth, and without thinking, I begin to suck it gently. My sudden action makes Jake moan in response, causing his mouth to vibrate against mine. He breaks away from my lips and confesses, shaking his head. "Jess, the things I want to do to you right now . . ."

"What's stopping you?" I flirtingly peer up at him, batting my eyes. Before he can even answer, I reach down and begin to pet my favorite part of him on top of his jeans.

"Let me think." He speaks among his gasps for air as I stroke him under the stars. "Um . . . nothing."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I remove my hand from the bulge in his pants and clasp them lovingly around his neck. He doesn't even need to respond; his satisfied smirk tells his reaction all too clearly. We know each other so well now—inside and out. Jake takes my arms from around his shoulders, and we begin to pace the sand toward our secret hideaway.

Attn: The phrase "mating like rabbits" is very fitting for these two. LOL Please review!