AN: This chapter started off sweet and ended up spicy. Enjoy!
Chapter Twelve
The sun dipped low, settling on the horizon and casting its red glow across the cloudy sky. A cold wind whipped through my hair and I breathed in the salt air. I stood at the railings of the Seattle ferry and watched the cold water churn angrily in the boat's wake. Shivering, I zipped my coat up high and pulled my beanie more snugly around my ears.
"Here, I brought you a hot chocolate. Not sure how good it is."
I turned to smile at Jacob, walking towards me with two steaming paper cups in his hands. I took mine with a word of thanks and instantly burnt my tongue. Turning back to gaze out of the railings, I watched the sun slip lower over the horizon until only a burned orange sliver was left, and then it was gone, the sky a brilliant blaze of fiery colours.
"So, Friday Harbour?" I blew gently on my drink, trying to cool it before risking another sip.
"I remember going there with my mom and dad and sisters when we were little. It's a great spot for a vacation and I think you could do with one." He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and we watched the small dot of land as it slowly grew larger the closer we got.
By the time we arrived, night had truly fallen and I needed to go inside and thaw out. Jacob carried our bags as we walked up the road from the ferry terminal. We arrived outside a small, quaint cottage. The sign out the front read, Martha's B&B.
The small cottage was painted white, with dark blue shutters and window boxes bursting with flowers. Vines crept up trellises along the walls and there was an old kissing arch preceding the pathway to the front door. I opened the gate and we crunched our way up the front path and up the steps to the old veranda. Warm light splashed from the windows and Jacob knocked before pushing open the front door. A small bell above us rang.
The entry was warm and cozy. A desk stood at the bottom of a staircase and a small lady with tightly curled grey hair looked up from her seat. She smiled at Jacob over her glasses.
"You must be Jacob," she exclaimed enthusiastically. "How was your trip? Did you take the ferry? I'm Mrs. Bird"
"Hi. Yes, I'm Jacob and this is Bella." I smiled warmly at her as she held out her hand and shook Jacob's then mine.
"We did take the ferry, and we're still defrosting," I joked.
"Oh you poor dears, go and warm yourself while I get the paperwork sorted."
A flicker of light caught my eye and I stepped through a large archway into what was clearly a library. Three out of four of the walls were lined with bookshelves, stacked neatly with books of all shapes and sizes. From a first glance I could see there was a great variety and very little order to the shelves. A dusty fat gardening manual sat next to a birdwatcher's copy of Eagles in the West which was propped against a shiny copy of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. The fireplace was blazing and I moved closer towards it, enjoying the warmth. A fat ginger cat was curled on the rug in front of the hearth and I leant down to scratch behind its ears. It sleepily opened one eye, chirped and kept sleeping.
"That's Charlie," the old lady had followed me in and was smiling. "And he's the laziest cat you'll ever meet." She held an old brass key in her hand. "I'll show you to your room now if you'd like to both follow me."
Jacob and I followed her up the creaking wooden stair case and along a long corridor until we arrived at a door with a large copper number 5 on it.
"Here you go," she said, putting the key in the lock and opening the door. I breathed a sigh of happiness and grinned at Jacob who was gazing at me apprehensively. The room was beautiful. A large fireplace crackled merrily. Two overstuffed armchairs sat comfortably in front of it and an overflowing bookcase stood against one wall. I turned to see a large four poster bed with dark hangings and piled high with pillows and cushions. A door led through to a bathroom and I could just spot a large claw-footed bath tub through the crack in the doorway.
Jacob placed our bags against the wall.
"Now, will you two be wanting some dinner?" Mrs. Bird asked. She held out a small stack of pamphlets and indicated a map. "If you take a left, you'll get to the main street along the water," she drew her finger along the map. "Keep going all the way to the end and you'll get to the lighthouse, but I suggest doing that tomorrow. This place here," she pointed half way along, "is a small French restaurant, and there's an Italian next door. The French is a bit pricey, but very good."
We thanked her and she left, closing the door with a sharp snap behind her. The breath caught in my throat. I was suddenly very aware of Jacob, standing only a few feet away from me. Here we were, staying in a very romantic bed and breakfast, a large queen sized bed the elephant in the corner. I swallowed. What was he expecting from this weekend?
"I'm starving," Jacob commented, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Shall we go for a walk and see what we can find?"
I nodded and we both pulled on another layer before heading back out into the chilly night.
We decided on the Italian restaurant, and were ushered inside to a small table at the back. A flickering candle sat on the white tablecloth. It illuminated Jacob's face and I felt my heart flutter. Had he always been this beautiful?
"How are you?" he asked quietly when I'd finally stripped off all my outer layers and sat down. "You must be feeling scared."
For a moment, I was confused, thinking he was talking about my apprehension about the very romantic four poster bed in the hotel room. How did he know I was scared? Had I been that obvious? Then I remembered my conversation with Edward earlier that evening and a wave of horror crashed over me, making my stomach clench.
"I'm terrified," I whispered. "Edward said we'll come up with a plan, but how can we possibly get out of this? The Volturi expect me to be a vampire, and clearly I'm not."
"We'll figure something out," Jacob said. "I've been thinking about that quite a bit since you've been back. We always knew the Volturi would come one day, and we just need to be one step ahead of them. With Alice, that will be easy."
I smiled gratefully at him and looked around at the beautiful cosy restaurant. "It seems so surreal, talking about the Volturi when we're sitting here, in this place. I feel like none of it can touch us here."
Jacob grinned, flashing white teeth. "Well good," he said. "That's kind of what I was going for with this weekend away. I thought you might need a break from real life."
I swallowed, thinking again of the romantic room at Martha's Bed and Breakfast and the large bed awaiting us when we returned. Why did the thought of that give me nearly as many nerves as the thought of vampires? Our appetizers came out and throughout dinner, Jacob chatted about work and Chris and his family. We laughed together and drank delicious wine and ate until we were filled to bursting.
By the time it came to pay the check, I was encompassed with such happiness and love that my eyes actually pricked with tears. I wiped them away quickly, feeling stupid.
Jacob took my hand in his large warm one as we walked slowly along the water front on our way back to the hotel. I tried to slow down my hammering heart but with little success. Why was I so nervous? I'd had sex before. Henry and a few others brought my total up to 5. But this felt different. What I had with Jacob was so much more. It felt so much more intimate. Like I would be letting him see my soul. But then again, it was Jacob, I wanted him to see my soul, right?
The gate squeaked as Jacob pushed it open and led me up the garden path. He pushed open the front door and let us into the silent house. Mrs Bird had gone to bed and the fire in the library was out. Quietly we made our way up the stairs, my fingers still intertwined with Jacob's. I wasn't sure if it was my hand that had started sweating or his.
I had the key in my pocket and I drew it out with shaky fingers. I unlocked the door and stepped into the warm room. The fire had died down, and Jacob strode over to it, prodding it with the poker and adding wood until the flames grew higher, crackling merrily. I stood next to the bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, my breath coming quickly.
Slowly Jacob stood to face me. His hands were buried deep into his jeans pockets, his shoulders hunched like he was cold. Or anxious. His gazed up at me through his dark fringe and his eyes burned into mine.
"Jacob," I murmured.
With two strides, he was in front of me, his hands on my hips. Roughly, he pulled me to him, my thighs, belly, breasts pressed against his hot, hard body. He wrapped one hand into my hair and drew my face to his, crushing my lips against his own. I grabbed his back with my fingertips, pressing him into me, kissing him with equal ferocity. His lips were so hot and hungry, his tongue flicked against mine.
Finally I had to draw breath, and turned my face away. He placed searing kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I gasped, knotting my fingers in his hair. Jacob's hands were exploring further, tracing up from my waist, grazing my ribs and then tracing a thumb under my breast. I stepped back.
"Jacob, wait," I pleaded.
His eyes were on fire, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, burying my face in my hands. What was wrong with me?
Gentle fingers wrapped around mine and Jacob tilted my chin up so I was facing him. "It's okay," he whispered, gently kissing my lips. "It's too fast. That's okay."
I gulped and took a shaky breath. "I don't know what's wrong," I said.
He shook his head. "You don't need to. It's fine Bella, honestly." He kissed the top of my head and slowly released my hands. "Come on, let's get ready for bed. It's late and you've had a really big day."
I grabbed my bag and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The tiles were heated, and they felt warm under my bare feet. I glared at myself in the mirror over the sink as I brushed my teeth. What was wrong with me? Everything had been so perfect, so sexy and yet I couldn't go through with it. I freaked out.
I spat in the sink and rinsed my mouth with icy cold water. I wanted him so badly. The longing ache in my abdomen was proof of that. And yet, I had stopped. I had rejected him. Was he angry with me? I shook my head, letting my curls fall free of the loose bun and cascade over my shoulders. Jacob wouldn't be angry with me, I knew he wouldn't. But I felt like I had to explain myself. Maybe he was right – maybe it was just all too fast.
I peeled off my clothes and pulled on my nightie. It was short and strappy. The lacy material plunged low and clung to my breasts. I regretted my choice. Long flannel pyjamas would have been more sensible. I ran a comb through my hair and moisturised my face before I opened the door and padded out. Jacob was under the blankets, propped up against the pillows and reading a book by the lamplight. He looked up when I entered the room, smiled and sighed.
"Oh Bella," he whispered.
I smiled shyly and pulled back the covers, crawling into the bed next to him. He carefully marked his place and put the book down on his nightstand. Then he turned the light off.
I wriggled under the blankets further and turned to face him.
"Are you afraid?" he whispered.
"Of what?"
"Me."
I gazed at him, making out his indistinct face in the darkness. I knew he wasn't talking about vampires and werewolves anymore.
"Yes," I whispered truthfully.
He leant towards me and kissed my lips, his warm hand resting lightly on my hip. Then he firmly ran his hand up along my waist, up my side and cupped my breast in his hand. I could feel the heat of his fingers through the thin material. He found my nipple and caressed it gently between his thumb and forefinger. His lips grew hungrier, his tongue tasting my mouth. I found it easier to reciprocate in the dark. In return, I ran my fingers up under his t-shirt, tracing the firm ridges of his muscles. I didn't dare let my hands dip lower, knowing what I would find.
Jacob's fingers slid higher and he pushed the strap of my nightie off my shoulder and down my arms. I felt the lacy fabric peel away from my skin, leaving my bare breast exposed. Jacob's soft hand returned, and this time I felt as though electricity jumped from my skin as he cupped me in his hand. In return, I pushed my fingers up higher and he sat, pulling his t-shirt off.
My eyes had adjusted to the dim light and I moaned audibly at the sight that met me. He may not have been a werewolf anymore, but his body hadn't suffered. I too sat up and reached out to touch his muscles.
His eyes were glued to me and I knew why. My nightie was not doing its job of covering much, and so I lifted the hem and pulled it over my head. Jacob's hands returned to my breasts, followed quickly by his mouth. He took a nipple between his hot lips and I hissed, tangling my fingers in his hair.
Gently, he lay me down on the bed and ran his hand over my stomach, his fingers skimming the waistband of my undies. He lifted his head and met my eyes.
"Is this okay?" he asked, indicating his fingers' path.
I nodded and he peeled off my undies. I drew another shaky breath and felt my body tense. Jacob lay down beside me and brushed his warm hand over my abdomen, traced his fingers through my hair and then slipped his finger between my lips. He could feel my wetness and his finger grazed my clit. My feet burned and my hips bucked against his hand. I couldn't stop the moan that escaped my lips. He ran his finger up and down through my wetness and I fisted my hands in the bed sheets trying not to call out, the feeling was so intense.
My hips continued to buck rhythmically as he moved his hand faster and faster, the friction making my toes curl. Then, on a downward stroke, he slid his finger inside me and I gasped.
"Jacob, please," I murmured.
His thumb found my clit and rubbed it in small circles, as he moved his long finger rhythmically inside me. I lost control, crying out and grabbing onto him. He didn't stop until the waves of pleasure had finished coursing through my body and I was finally able to breathe again.
He sat up and took off his underwear. I bit my lip in nervousness. He was very big, and very hard.
Gently, he pushed my legs apart and lowered himself between them. Then he hesitated.
"Bella, I forgot –" he began, clearly uncomfortable.
"I'm on the pill," I said quickly.
Without another word he lined himself up and pushed into me.
I cried out, I couldn't help it. Jacob stopped immediately, looking at me with concern.
"It's fine," I panted, "just go slowly, okay?"
Very slowly, he pushed his way inside of me, until he was buried all the way in. I wrapped my legs around him to stop him from moving, needing the time to get used to him. Gently he rocked into me and I gasped, digger my fingertips into his shoulders. I turned my head and kissed his neck, not wanting to cry out again. He began to move faster and I raised my hips to meet his.
Jacob had one hand under my head and he slid the other under my bum, lifting me into him as he thrust deeper. The new angle made me toss my head back and cry out.
"Bella," he moaned, his thrusts now coming faster and harder. "I'm going to come."
"Yes," I gasped, feeling the pressure inside me building and I bit into his shoulder as we exploded together, Jacob crying out in a deep guttural groan.
We lay together, our hearts pounding as we caught our breath. Jacob was kissing my face, my forehead, my cheeks, my nose, my lips. I couldn't help but smile as I cupped his face in my hand.
Gently, he pulled out of me and I quickly grabbed the box of tissues, not expecting the wet warmth that trickled out between my legs. We looked at each other and laughed.
"I've never done that before," he said.
I raised my eyebrows. "What?"
He laughed again. "I meant, that was my first time without using a…" he hesitated, not wanting to say the word. "I mean, I've never done that with nothing between us, before."
I shook my head. "Me neither."
"It was incredible."
I simply nodded. He lay down and lifted his arm and I curled into his chest, closing my eyes and sighing happily. I could feel his lips pressed into my hair.
"Hey Bella?"
"Mm?"
He cleared his throat. "I just…" he paused.
I looked up at him and his eyes were burning into mine.
He cleared his throat again and said, "I love you."
My heart leapt and I blinked in surprise.
This.
This was what I had been waiting for. This was what Dr. Kopner had talked about and my chest exploded with happiness.
"I love you too."
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