~So I spent a lot of time thinking about how this one would go. I know something about the marking ritual stirs wolf girls up like nothing else. I wanted this to convey just how much these two love each other. It's a little short by my standards, but the other chapter is complete. All you have to do is ask nicely for the next one and I'll oblige. Thanks so much for sticking with me.

Chapter 6: One

"Jacob Black, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying we're imprinted."

"I've been making googly eyes at you since you woke me up this morning and I didn't notice any sort of change. I still love you, same as always. It's always been intense; maybe I don't understand what an imprint is."

He reminded her about another day. He insisted she wasn't thinking back far enough in time. "How about feeling a shift the day you agreed to come home with me? Remember when you admitted to being in love with me? We made slow and luscious love for the first time. How about then? Was that different?"

"Yes, that was other worldly. I finally stopped being an asshole to you. I'd never been more certain of my feelings since I'd known you."

"Bingo...we imprinted."

"But, I was..."

"You were you, my imprint...nothing else mattered. When you were ready...it happened."

She couldn't believe that was possible, but he insisted that's precisely how it occurred.

"Why not tell me?"

He simply shrugged. "I don't know. I always pictured telling you eventually, but it was all so new and we were figuring things out. Would it have changed anything? You never would've believed it was possible for our unique pairing. I kept it to myself except, I finally explained it all to my father."

She wondered if those council members might have eased up if they knew but Jacob said it was too personal to him. "So I really am who you're supposed to be with?"

"I think that was obvious already." She thought back to Taha Aki. He knew and that's why he gave them another chance. She wished there was a way for them to see him again. It still was unclear whether he was only a spirit or if it was possible to physically locate him. She suggested leaving the bath, since the water was cooling off.

Bella brushed her hair out and slipped on a silky robe, only loosely tying it around her waist. Jacob had gone in their room and turned down the bed. He turned on the electronic candles she had on the dresser. The table lamp on her side was still on. He had a seat at the edge of the bed and took her hands to pull her towards him.

"If it's too much, we could wait. I've already put this new body to the test," his wicked grin was way too inviting. She knew what answer he was hoping for. Although, it'd been a slight shock what happened in the beginning; it made sense. She'd lost that original body to vampirism. There was no way to reclaim it or heal it. The spirits granted her a new vessel. As best as she could remember, it was an exact copy of the original. She'd already found the flaws that use to bug her as a teenager, but he didn't care. Jake still looked at her the same, like she was some sort of goddess when clearly she wasn't. There was one unique difference, it would only belong to him. She'd never be touched by another and that was a special gift for both of them.

"I'm perfectly fine, that's what the soak was for." She pulled one hand free to trace his features. He stopped her at his full lips and kissed each knuckle. She leaned in to feel his warm mouth on her own while large, adept fingers pulled her knot apart. Her robe fell off her shoulders. She leaned over to switch off the lamp and he hoisted her up in one swift movement, so that the two of them ended up in the middle of their large bed.

He brushed her hair out of her face, "Don't ever doubt yourself. You're still my equal, you always will be. I don't need you to have superior strength, speed or senses. You're a strong woman, Bells. I know it and you need to accept that truth. I might display dominance to the pack, but I'm your partner, just a man that loves his wife."

"But sometimes, the wolf needs to be present...I know that and I'm not afraid. He chose me. I love him too. Don't restrain him, Jake, now that I'm weaker. I want to wear your mark like this," her fingers rubbed his skin where she'd bit and scarred him. He trembled under her touch and she rose to her knees to planted soft, moist kisses over it again and again.

An investigation soon was initiated by both parties. It was a study in one another. He was seeking out how her new life form reacted to some of her prior favorites. She discovered what was still similar and what had changed. She again told herself, there was something extra that made it better. How was that even possible? Time stood still for those next few moments. Jacob was all that there was when he covered her with his affections. His touch, his mouth, his body: she physically ached for all of it. She memorized his new taste, since the dull in her senses changed it all. Her mouth was hungry for only what his could quench. The passion built until she begged for attention between her thighs. He took her to new heights: first from his touch, then at the mercy of his warm mouth until she begged for him to push inside of her.

Voices of love, pleasured whispers filled their room which eventually led her to say how she was ready. "Make me yours in every way. Please, Jacob." He slowed his pace, held her face in his hands and tipped his head in acceptance.

His firm grasp maneuvered her petite body in another direction. She grabbed on to the geometrical patterns that formed their wall-mounted headboard. A caress ghosted over her back, followed by warm lips which followed the line of her spine until she felt his form completely blanket her own. She leaned her head to the side giving him her silent permission again. She braced herself, but instead he had a much more control. He coated himself in their essence from their lengthy lovemaking session. More or less teasing her, making her desire his flesh within her even more. As soon as his dominant hand crossed under her ribcage, he fulfilled all her desires. She was both physically and spiritually filled with all that he was: her husband, lover, friend and mate. Jacob's mouth traveled to the spot. He kissed, coated her skin with his tongue and sucked at her flesh. She knew he was temporarily marking her. He murmured against her neck as his strokes came quicker, harder and deeper. "You're mine forever and I'm yours. We are one." She was so overcome by the connection, the pleasure and the magnitude of his words; pain was hardly recognized when his elongated teeth broke the skin on her shoulder. He held tight and didn't release. She felt as if he was giving her a piece of himself much more than the tangible parts of his body and his release. They already shared the imprint, the same beat of their hearts and now she felt his energy run throughout her making her shiver and burn all at once. Even after their spasms subsided, he stayed within her. She couldn't will her body to move even if she wanted to. He continued his support even after he released his bite. Sooner than she wanted, he shifted and pulled them both down in a heap of sweat slicked skin. Jacob still loomed over her as he monitored her wound. He cleaned it with his very own hot mouth until he was satisfied she was fine.

They faced one another again. He didn't even need to ask. Her eyes told him the story. She was fine and she loved him more than ever. Their lips met one final time before both pairs of eyes ceased staring and closed to give them the rest they needed after such an intense experience for both of them.

Jacob was snoozing soundly, but Bella was hard at work on her laptop. She was going to have to adopt an entire new work ethic. She was use to sitting up in the office while he slept, but now she also slept along with him. For that, she was grateful, but she was going to have to manage her time a little differently during the day. She hadn't even thought about going on the blog yet. Would she still be able to make that unique? She was sorta afraid that it wouldn't be the same.

She was so caught up in one of her projects, she didn't realize he'd woken up until she felt gentle rubbing over her thigh. Her attention left her screen to focus on his smiling face. "Morning...what the hell are you doing? I figured you'd be sleeping still."

"I woke up and thought I should work, but it was too warm and cozy in our bed so I brought my work in here. Sorry, did my clicking fingers wake you?"

"No, I was dreaming about you and wanted to see you for real, so I woke myself up."

"Awe, baby...I love you." She leaned over to give him a morning kiss. "The coffee's done and there's a breakfast casserole on the stove."

"Wow, I wasn't expecting anything like that today. Are you sure you feel fine?"

She hadn't put much thought into it, but when he asked the question, she did a quick assessment and realized that she felt great. "Actually, I feel glorious."

He looked at her slightly puzzled. "Let me see." She slipped her arm out of her tee and he pulled up the shirt she'd slipped on when she got up that morning. His fingers touched her mark and she was overcome by sensations.

"Oh, it so sensitive."

"It's healed."

"What? How?"

"I don't know, but it's scarred over like it's been there for years or something and I know for a fact I punctured the skin. You were bleeding. I figured you'd need a bandage for a few days. Hey, give me your arm."

She shut her laptop and set it on the bedside table. She wasn't sure what he was looking for so she displayed both arms in front of him. "The burn's disappeared...totally healed, no trace of it. Your skin was red and irritated when we were in the bath."

"What does this mean?"

"No idea. Maybe it's temporary, but I gave you a little wolfy magic."

She blushed and giggled, "I think you gave me a lot of wolfy magic. That was...well, you know, you were there."

He pulled her down with him. "Yeah, I can't even describe it with words."

"What if I got pregnant?"

"Bells...I thought we decided, no stressing about that."

"I'm not, but I was just thinking what if's."

He soon started undressing her to match his attire which was nothing. "I was thinking what if we stay in bed most of the day again."

She kissed his fiery lips until she needed to catch a breath. "Compromise...I'll give you an hour, but then I have things I have to get done. I don't stay up all night, gotta take advantage of the daylight now."

He made his pouty face, but said he understood. She flung a leg over his torso and sat up over him. Maybe she had a little more than hour to spare.

~Thanks for reading.

Chapter 7 preview: pack time, Charlie and the council.

Chapter 8 preview: where is Edward and what is he thinking? Time to revisit that conversation he was having in his head at the end of Animals and then some.