A/N: Thanks to my beta plainjanedee and my sister SimplyJaded 4 for working me through my slight roadblock. :)

10. Heartbeat Song

This is my heartbeat song and I'm gonna play it,

Been so long I forgot how to turn it up up up up all night long,

Oh up up all night long

You, where the hell did you come from?

You're a different, different kind of fun,

And I'm so used to feeling numb,

Now, I got pins and needles on my tongue,

Anticipating what's to come,

Like a finger on a loaded gun,

I can feel it rising,

Temperature inside me,

Haven't felt it for a lifetime,

This is my heartbeat song and I'm gonna play it,

Been so long I forgot how to turn it up up up up all night long,

Oh up up all night long,

This is my heartbeat song and I'm gonna play it,

Turned it on,

But I know you can take it up up up up all night long,

Oh up up all night long,

I, I wasn't even gonna go out,

But I never would have had a doubt,

If I'd have known where I'd be now,

Your hands on my hips,

And my kiss on your lips,

Oh, I could do this for a lifetime,

Until tonight I only dreamed about you,

I can't believe I ever breathed without you,

Baby, you make me feel alive and brand new,

Bring it one more time, one more time.

Heartbeat Song ~ Kelly Clarkson

BPOV

"What are you humming?" Jake asked later, as he picked at some left over bread and I puttered around his kitchen, searching for the ingredients to bake a cake.

Pulling the eggs and milk from the fridge, I replied, "My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion."

He stopped what he was doing and glanced up at me, raising a curious brow. "That's the theme song for that Dicaprio movie, right?"

Chuckling, I nodded and measured out the required amount of flour and cocoa powder. "It is, and I have to say, I'm very surprised that you know that."

Looking up at me through his lashes with heated eyes, he murmured, "You'd be very surprised at all the things I know, beautiful." The smoky undertones to his voice almost brought me to my knees. Why did he have to have such a sexy voice?

Flustered, I cleared my throat and spun around so he wouldn't see the telltale blush colouring my cheeks. I poured the batter into a greased cake tin before placing it in the pre-heated oven. Straightening myself, I brushed my hands on the sweats I'd borrowed from Jake and took a moment to gather the strength to turn back around. Pasting on my game face, I turned to find the sexiest man alive staring intently back at me. God, I loved it when he looked at me like that.

Swallowing the enormous lump in my throat, I said in croaky voice, "C'mon then. Dazzle me."

Cocking his head to the side, Jake sat back in his chair and gave me that badass, panty-soaking grin, "You starting something here, Swan?"

Feeling brave and loving it when we bantered like this, I bit my lip and retorted challengingly, "What if I am?"

While keeping his eyes firmly trained on mine, he threw the last piece of bread in his mouth and moved his plate away, before pushing away from the island. Slowly, he stood to his feet, using the counter as leverage and my eyes were instantly drawn to the way the muscles on his golden biceps contorted as he moved. So freaking sexy. Making sure to maintain eye contact with me, he stalked toward me with purpose and determination. Rounding the corner of the counter, he pinned me with those dangerous and unrelenting chocolate orbs that I loved so much. "Then I guess I'd better do something about it," he whispered in a husky voice.

My entire body was on fire. I couldn't breathe and I was positively certain that my heart was going to beat out of my chest. How did he always have this effect on me? Reaching back, I gripped the edge of the surface as hard as I could. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

Now opposite me, with our bodies barely a hair's breadth apart, he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. With his hot mouth at my ear and his fingers flirting with the edge of my top, he breathed, "Like tell you how fucking stunning you look wearing my clothes." His hands gradually made their way under the too-big top and onto my naked flesh. Sucking in a shaky breath, I closed my eyes and narrowly held onto the gasp that begged for release. I'd dreamt of feeling his hands on my skin but I never imagined it would feel this good.

"Is that right? What else?" How in the hell I managed to ask that question when I could hardly find my voice, I'd never know.

A lopsided smile tugged at his lips as his brought one hand to my mouth. " I can't get enough of this sassy mouth." He slowly traced his thumb over my lips.

With my heart now hammering away in my chest, I somehow found the remnants of my voice. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. I like who I am when I'm around you and I don't want the feeling to stop. Ever." Ever? As in forever ever?

Finding my courage, I released the lip of the counter and reached for his shirt, needing to feel him closer...if that were physically possible. "Ever, huh? That's a long time. What if I made you watch films like Titanic, would you still want to be around me then?"

A heart-stopping smile blossomed across his lips, "I think I'd do just about anything for you."

I matched his smile with equal enthusiasm and raised a brow, "Even if I made you listen to Justin Bieber?"

"Um… I'm thinking I might have to retract my last statement," he laughed, nervously. "If you put that shit on while I'm around you, I'm gonna have you committed."

A laugh bubbled up over my lips and I buried my head in his chest. "Duly noted. Not that I'd ever put either of our ears through that torture. Nothing's worth that."

"Glad we're on the same page," he chuckled, rubbing the skin on my lower back affectionately.

Pressing a kiss onto his shirt-covered pectoral, I said, "Now, you mentioned something about watching Titanic..."

A deep groan rumbled through his body and reverberated into mine, and I couldn't help but laugh. Kissing the top of my head, he answered, "You're lucky I'm into you, woman. Go see if it's on Netflix. If not, I think Becca might've left it here when she watched Ethan last week."

Excitement swelled in my chest at the thought of spending the rest of the night cuddled up on the sofa with him, watching a romantic movie. A perfect end to a rather crappy day. Pulling back, I shot him my best 'mmmhmm' look before responding cheekily, "Still going with that explanation, huh? She just conveniently left it here?"

Before I could say anything else, Jake's hands stop their sensual ministrations on my back and began to tickle me mercilessly. In an unladylike manner, I exploded with laughter and began to writhe uncontrollably within his arms. "O-Okay! S-Stop!" I spluttered between my laughter and attempted to catch my breath. "I give! I'll-I'll behave!"

Halting his movements, Jake chuckled and held me close as I recovered. Resting his chin on my head, I could feel him smiling triumphantly. Cocky ass. "You won't win, beautiful, so don't bother trying."

Grinning and fighting for air, I leaned back against the counter and replied, "Oh, I already won. I'm getting you to watch Titanic, aren't I? That's a victory in itself."

Growling, he stepped back and gave my butt a gentle swat. "That sassy mouth of yours is gonna get you into trouble one day, Bells."

Making my way into the living room, I called back over my shoulder, "As long as you're the one giving the punishment, I think I'm okay with that."

The agonized groan that I received in return made me laugh even louder. I loved playing with him.

~UH~

"Want a beer?" Jake called from the kitchen as I set up the DVD.

"Sure, that would be good," I replied as settled in on the couch, remote in hand, waiting for him. "Oh, would you mind bringing in the leftover cake batter?"

"Sure, sure," I heard him chuckle.

Just as the DVD menu popped up, Jake came into the living room with two beers clutched in one hand and the bowl of unused batter in the other. He walked over and handed me my beer and set his along with the bowl on the table and went to turn the lights out. On his way back to the couch, he grabbed a warm looking blanket from the recliner next to us and plopped down beside to me, throwing the fuzzy comforter over us. "Comfy?" He asked as he leaned forward to pick up his beer.

With a contented smile on my face, I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. "I am now."

Chuckling, he wrapped a warm hand around me and pulled me further into him, before motioning toward the TV. "Ready to do this?"

"Born ready," I replied with an impish wink that caused him to chuckle further, as I pressed play on the remote and waited for the movie to begin.

For the next few hours, we sat snuggled together, blissfully happy. We drank our beers and ate cake batter until we'd both had enough. There were several times while watching the movie when he'd groan as I licked the batter from my finger or off the spatula, and I couldn't stop the laughter. I think he saw it as some kind of beautiful torture, and as much as I'd love to sit here and say that wasn't my intention, we all know I'd be lying my ass off.

Numerous times during the movie Jake would kiss my hair or forehead, ask if I was tired, or he'd change positions to have me sitting closer to him. At one point, I think I ended up lying between his legs, while he massaged my shoulders and played with my hair. Regardless, both of us were completely entranced in the film. Sure, I'd seen it a few times before, and I knew this wouldn't exactly be his first pick of movies, but the fact that I was sitting in the arms of the man I was pretty sure I loved, and that he agreed to watch it without argument because it's what I wanted, made it a thousand times better.

~UH~

The next morning all four of us-myself, Jake, Ethan and Jaymie-were making our way toward the entrance of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, for an extended birthday gift for Jaymie. Jake and I held hands (a new, but oh-so-welcome development), while he pushed Ethan's stroller along and Jaymie skipped animatedly in front of us.

As we approached the gate to pay our admission fee, Jaymie spotted a stone sculpture of two polar bears (adult and child) huddled together in a protective and nurturing manner, and naturally, my little goddaughter, being the rambunctious six-year-old that she was, ran on ahead to take a closer look.

"Bella! Mr. Jake! Look at the polar bears!" She squealed in delight, climbing on the adults hind legs and up onto its back.

"We see it, honey, just stay close and be careful." Acting completely oblivious to what I'd just said, she sat on its back and played with its ears and snout. Chuckling, I shook my head in amusement and reached into my purse to grab my debit card.

"Yeah, that's not how this is going down," Jake remarked in a stern but gentle voice as we reached the ticket booth. "I may not be much, but my mom raised me right. The guy pays. Always. I have enough trouble stomaching the fact that you shelled out for our first date, I'm not about to let you do any more. And besides," he added, handing over his credit card, "It's an ego thing."

Stopping and staring at him in complete disbelief, I shot back, "That's completely sexist."

Looking at me over his shoulder with dark and dangerous eyes, he replied, "That's where you're wrong, beautiful. It's a man's duty to take care of what's his. And the way I see it, this is my family. End of story. Now," he gave my ass a little swat, "Let's go get our little explorer and take your fine ass to see some penguins."

Smiling giddily as specks of hope blossomed in my chest, I fell into place beside him and felt my heart hum joyously at both his words and the fact that his hand was now resting just below my hip line in a possessive manner. Snaking my hand around his waist, I craned my neck up and whispered in his ear, "So you still see that first night as a date, huh?" I couldn't keep the smile from my face if I tried.

A crooked grin pulled at his lips. "Yep. And every time after." Looking down at me he asked, "That a problem for you?"

Biting my lip, I shook my head and replied, "Nope. None whatsoever."

~UH~

"You okay?" I asked Jake, in a considerate whisper as we wandered leisurely along the wide cobblestone paths that branched out in various different directions around the zoo. He'd been oddly quiet and noticeably distant since I'd come back from taking Jaymie to the restroom.

Looking all kinds of distracted and a little tense, Jake gave an uncharacteristically stern nod. Why did I feel like he wasn't being honest with me right now? "Wanna go grab a bite or a coffee first?" he asked offhandedly, nodding his head toward the plaza cafe.

Thrown off guard by his obvious brush off, I shook my head and shrunk into myself. I'd never seen this side of him and I wasn't sure what to do with it. "No. I want you to tell me what's wrong."

Expelling a loud breath, Jake continued pushing the stroller toward the polar bear exhibit, and turned to look at me. "Nothings wrong, Bella. I'm fine."

Yeah. I wasn't buying that. Didn't he know 'I'm fine' was code word for 'I'm not fine, I just don't want to talk about it.' Stopping, I put my hand over his causing him to halt, and used my other to cup his cheek and guide his face toward me. "I'm not buying it, Jake. You think I don't know when somethings bothering you or when you're scared or nervous? You have tells, honey."

Sighing tiredly, he took my hand and led me toward a vacant bench positioned opposite the giant viewing glass showcasing the polar bears playing happily in the tank, and pushed down on the strollers safety brake before taking a seat. Running his hands through his hair, Jake peered up at me with anguished eyes. "I had a call from my sister while you were in the restroom."

"Okay..." I was more than a little baffled as I took a pew next to him. "What did she want?"

With his head hanging defeatedly between his shoulders, he wrung his hands together anxiously. "She called to warn me."

Edging closer and with my heart starting to pound in my chest, I rested my hand on his knee and asked, "Warn you about what?"

Laughing bitterly, he grasped my hand and interlaced our fingers. Apparently even in this angry state he needed reassurance that I wasn't going anywhere. "According to her, my psycho of an ex has been going around La Push hounding everyone I know for info on my whereabouts." Jake glanced down to our joined hands and gazed at them almost...longingly.

Trying to process what he'd just told me, I closed the minuscule distance between us and brought our linked hands to my lap. He wasn't the only one needing reassurance. "Do you think anyone's told her?" I almost didn't want to hear the answer, petrified someone already had.

Shrugging dejectedly, he kept his eyes glued to the ground."No, but she's persistent, Bells. It's only a matter of time. Even if nobody tells her, she'll find a way." The sadness and fear that clung to his words broke my heart. Looking up at me with tormented eyes, he said in strangled whisper, "What if she wants Ethan?" God, I couldn't even comprehend that thought. It just wasn't an option. I loved that little boy as if he was my own and couldn't stomach the idea of someone hurting him or trying to take him away. It would destroy Jake; it would destroy me.

Moving off of the bench, I knelt down between his legs and framed his beautiful yet agonized face. Looking him dead in the eye, I vowed vehemently, "We won't let her take him away from you, Jake. I don't know much about her, but I'm guessing that she wasn't exactly a great role model for Ethan to be around. I promise you, I'll do anything and everything in my power to make sure he stays with you."

An unconvinced smile hinted at his lips. "You sound pretty certain."

Rising up on my knees, I pressed a soft kiss to his nose. "That's because I am."

A floored expression washed over his face. "You'd do that for me?"

Smiling softly, I whispered, "I'd do anything for you and that little boy."

Pulling me from my position between his legs and up onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around me and held me close. A fleeting moment of quietness and peace passed between us, before he pulled back and tucked several loose strands of hair behind my ear. Gazing adoringly into my eyes, he whispered passionately, "You have no idea how fucking amazing you are, do you?"

Shaking my head in protest, I licked my lips and averted my eyes to the barely there space between our bodies. Timidly, I played with the hem of his top. "I'm not amazing, Jake. I'm doing what I have to do to protect my family. You said to me earlier that you take care of what's yours...well, this is me doing the same."

Embracing me tighter, he delicately trailed a single finger down the side of my face stopping at my chin, before lowering his eyes to my lips. "Nah, baby, you do so much more. You go above and beyond," he breathed, his voice sending shivers of desire rocketing through my body. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but like hell am I ever letting you go."

We gazed at each other unblinkingly for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was mere seconds. Blood rushed through my veins and my skin tingled at the realization that this moment between us could hopefully lead to another world-altering kiss. The air surrounding us was with thick with awareness, hunger, longing and another emotion that I'm sure he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge, but the look in his eyes was somehow...different today. Something...more. My heart thudded wildly against my rib cage, and the only sound that could be heard was our harsh breaths.

Lifting a shaky hand to my cheek, he caressed the sensitive skin with the coarse pad of his thumb, before he murmured in a low and desperate voice, "I wanna kiss you so badly right now."

Leaning in until my lips hovered just shy of his mouth, I curled my fingers around his short locks and tugged him closer. Not having his lips on mine wasn't an option. "Then kiss me," I whispered, imploringly.

His eyes darted from mine to my lips, as if making sure I was sure before sucking in a tortured breath and sliding his hand around the back of my neck, bringing my mouth to his. The second his tongue swept across my lips, I was done for. The rest of the world ceased to exist. Kids laughed and screamed in the background as the polar bears entertained the gathering crowd, but we were both utterly oblivious as we ventured further into the kiss.

"I want to feed the polar bears!" Jaymie yelled enthusiastically behind us, breaking us from our kiss.

Giggling against his lips, I pulled away and burrowed my head in his shirt. Where my sudden shyness came from I do not know. Maybe it was the fact that I'd almost been caught making out with Jake in a public place by my goddaughter...or maybe it was because kissing him like that made me feel young and reckless and I loved every glorious minute of it. Either way, right now, despite my need to run and hide, I was an overwhelmingly happy woman.

Chuckling at her exuberance, I glanced over my shoulder to a beaming little girl waving her arms animatedly at the mammals and running along with them as they swam past the windows. "I don't think we're allowed to do that, honey, but maybe we can look around for some other animals to feed?" I suggested, climbing from Jake's lap and walking over to her. "How'd you feel about grabbing some ice cream and going to see the sea otters?"

Watching her eyes grow wide with excitement, she nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Yeah! Can we, pretty please?!"

Smiling, I kissed her nose. "Sure, baby girl. Why don't you go grab your backpack and we'll get going."

"Okay!" She yelled, scampering over to the bench Jake and I had been sitting on.

While pushing Ethan's stroller, Jake strolled over to me and held out his hand, offering me a heart-warming smile. "C'mon, beautiful," he said closing his fingers around mine and dropping a kiss onto my temple. "Let me feed my girls."

Swoon.

~UH~

"Never thought I'd be jealous of my kid," Jake's deep voice rasped against my ear as I stood adjacent to the protective glass displaying the sea otters, while holding a curious Ethan in my arms.

Smiling, I bit my lip and peered down at the grinning little boy whose eyes were wide with wonderment and hands were flailing wildly as the sea otters swam past the glass. Grasping his tiny fist in my hand, I brought it to my lips and kissed it. "Jealous of what?"

Snaking an arm around my waist, he discreetly-conscious to the fact that we were surrounded by children and families-dipped down and skimmed his lips along the slope of my neck before he rasped, "The one-on-one attention he's getting from the smokin' hot woman in my arms," he pressed a long and lingering kiss to my jaw. "He's a lucky kid. Though he's making his old man feel kinda lonely."

My eyes fluttered to a soft close and a faint sigh floated past my lips as I leaned back into his touch and arched my neck giving him unrestricted access. "Kinda lonely, you say?"

Kissing my neck further, he nodded and nestled his head into my hair. "Bordering on unwanted, Bells. It doesn't feel good."

Biting my lip to suppress a moan, my eyes remained shut and my body continued to meld into his. My brain clouded with desire and all I could think about was his warm and succulent lips flirting with my body. Everything else? Gone. "Unwanted, huh? That's not good," I breathed, thoroughly entranced by his sensual touch. "And what can I do to make up for that?"

Running his curious and exploratory hands along my waist and resting them on my hips, Jake murmured against my trembling skin, "Spend Thanksgiving with me at my sister's."

My entire body stilled and my eyes flew open in shock. Turning to face him, I replied in amazement, "You-You want me to spend Thanksgiving with you and your sister?"

A slow, sly smirk worked it's way across his face as he brought his hand to mine and ran a gentle finger down my cheek. "Yeah, I do," he answered in a raw and coarse tone; his infectious smile growing broader with every word. "I want you with me, Bells. I need you with me," Jake paused for a second, gazing at me imploringly, as if he was silently begging me, before carrying on. "Spend the day with me. Please, Bells."

I couldn't contain the excitement I was feeling even if I tried. The man I'd fallen head over heels in love with wanted to spend a holiday with me. With me! Holy crap. And he wanted me to meet his sister? What did this mean for us? Were we an actual couple now or still working on the exploring part of our relationship? Either way, I didn't care. He'd asked me to spend the day with him...I'd be a fool to turn that down.

Smiling, I reached up on my tiptoes and pressed a loving kiss on either side of his mouth. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be," I told him in an intimate and truthful whisper.

Beaming, Jake held me close and rested his forehead on mine, before lowering his lips and claiming mine in a delicate yet possessive kiss.

"Bahhh!" Ethan yelled suddenly, scaring the crap out of me and ultimately causing me to break our kiss.

My goddaughter also joined in on the squealing party as she watched the mammal known as Nellie, intently as she began practicing her special cup stacking routine, before she swam off to play with a ball. "Look at the sea otters, baby Ethan! They're playing together!"

Ethan's marvelled face turned slightly at the sound of Jaymie calling his name and a wide toothless grin spread across his face. "Who's that, huh?" I asked in a excited and high pitched voice. "Is that your Jaymie?"

Moving his head back toward Jake and I, the adorable baby bouncing in my arms let out a loud, boisterous laugh. Dribble fell from his lips and onto his baby blue bib that comically read, "These fools put my cape on backwards."

His father let out an audible, pained groan and lowered his gaze down to his son and playfully tugged at his nose. "I love you, you little cockblocker, but you're killing your old man."

Chuckling, I placed Ethan back in his stroller and kissed his baby-soft head. Strong arms wound around my waist from behind and a pair of warm lips fell to my shoulder. Pulling me back against him, Jake rasped, "Stay with me again tonight."

"Two nights in a row? But Jake, what will your neighbour's think?" I quipped. "They don't know you have me sleeping on the sofa."

Jake raised an eyebrow as he grinned, "Firstly, screw the neighbours. If they've seen you, then they're probably jealous that you're in my house instead of theirs. And secondly, who said you'd be on the sofa?"

I felt a blush rising, but I ignored it. "Well, I suppose since Jaymie goes back to her parent's home tonight, I could take the spare bedroom." I don't know why, but I needed him to affirm that he wanted me in his bed. I was feeling a little insecure about his ex looking for him, and I wanted to get some definition about what kind of relationship we're having.

He frowned at me, "No, Bells, I-fuck. I-I suppose if you'd feel more comfortable you could take the spare bedroom...but I was kinda hoping we could...y'know...that is, I thought you might...I mean, if it's okay, maybe we, fuck..." he let out a frustrated sigh and I almost put him out of his misery. Almost.

"Jake, what are you trying to say?" I quietly asked him, without making eye contact.

Jake put his face into the back of my hair at my neck and mumbled, "I want you to spend the night with me, in my bed. We don't have to do anything, but I really want to hold you tonight. Please."

My smile could not have been wider! I just nodded my head slightly and whispered, "Ok. I can stay over tonight."

He let out a huge, shuddering breath and tightened his arm around me before his fingers crept over the swell of my ass and found their way into the back pocket on my denim shorts. I squeezed my eyes shut and sent a silent thank you to whichever God was looking over us. Hallelujah!

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