Well the chapters seem to be getting longer as Bella gets braver. Hope you are still enjoying it. I would love some feedback. Thanks to all those who have followed, favourited or reviewed. That's why I keep writing.
These lovely characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.
That night had been a new beginning. I had started mending fences with Jasper. I had started to have a different kind of relationship with Jake. He was no longer just the son of my father's close friend, he was a close friend of mine. He could listen as well as Jasper and always spoke honestly, without manipulating my thoughts and feelings. It was the start of my life as "New Bella". The strong one who didn't take any shit and who could go out and get what she wanted. It was the start of finding out what I wanted.
We had an entire week, just the three of us before Emmett would arrive with our other friends. A week to define ourselves and settle in to a routine of sorts. Each morning we gathered in the kitchen of the main house to drink coffee, listen to the radio news and plan the events of the day. Each of us had our own space - there was plenty of it and no need to double up the accommodations at this stage. I had been sleeping in the family homestead. It was, after all, my family property. The house could easily have slept all three of us and then some, but assuming that the boys would be grateful for some privacy, they had each been offered and accepted the use of one of the farm stay buildings. Ever the early riser, it was always Jake who came in first thing in the morning and started the coffee. I stumbled into the kitchen shortly after and cooked the breakfast, while Jasper showed up just in time to eat it, although to his credit he always cleared up after us.
On our second morning together, as the radio announced the news of the world (super flu has spread to Eastern Europe, China recovering from death toll in its wake, teams warming up for super bowl, no rain expected in the near future) I found myself clad only in light sleep shorts and a t-shirt, gazing out the window, wishing I had been sensible enough to either have gone to bed earlier the night before, or not gotten up quite so early this morning. As I contemplated the available store of groceries and what to make for my no doubt starving companions, I was greeted with a hearty laugh from Jake. "Now there's a sight I'd be happy to wake up to every morning." Blushing from head to toe, I quickly straightened up from my exploration of the fridge, promptly smoothing down my shorts over my partially exposed posterior. "Oh and there's another sight I wish I was responsible for!" My mouth was hanging open in confusion. What did he want to be responsible for? Were my boobs hanging out? Had I forgotten to dress? What is he on about? Taking in my bewilderment, Jake laughed again and decided to put me out of my misery. "You all red in the face with bed hair Bella! It's hot! I just wish I'd been the one to put you in that state. You didn't have Jasper up there with you last night did you?"
"NO! Of course I didn't!" There it was again, Defcon 1 in an instant. Outrage coursing through my veins. All Jasper did was hurt me - I wasn't going down that road again.
"Hmm struck a nerve I see," said Jake with his unyielding honesty. "Deep breaths Bella!"
I stood in the kitchen, shaking, trying to calm my nerves. I was so not used to anyone knowing what had happened between me and Jasper, let alone acknowledging it in the cold light of day and making jokes about it. Jake approached me carefully with his hands out, as if he were nearing a startled horse. I turned to stare out the window, trying to find anything to focus on that would end this conversation. Jacob came to stand behind me, casually throwing an arm around my shoulders and drawing me close. It was settling and disconcerting at the same time. "I don't care who you had up there last night or whether you took care of business yourself. I'm just messin' with you. You could have the President up there in your bed for all I care, the only time it becomes my business is when you finally let me make your face red and mess up your hair. I told you before. Get it where you can and damn the consequences. You're old enough to know what you want and ain't no-one should be able to make you think otherwise." I relaxed a little and nodded as I leaned back against him. He leant in and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before releasing me and swatting me playfully on the buttocks. "Now make my damn breakfast woman!" I laughed. A good, solid, belly laugh that I hadn't thought could come from me. I turned back to the refrigerator to get out what I needed, only to see that Jasper was there watching the whole exchange. All I could do was offer a shrug of the shoulders, and continue with my preparations.
We had decided that with the increasingly warm days, we would devote the mornings to chores and repairs and the afternoons would be our own. We made sure that the horses were fed and watered. Jake and Jasper began checking the roof of the barn for leaks and fixing or replacing whatever broken shingles they could find there. I had started the task of clearing some space behind the main house for a kitchen garden. Some of the herbs and vegetables I had planned on planting would do well with the little attention they would receive and not perish between visits unless they were attacked by the local wildlife. After a break for lunch, Jasper decided he would drive the truck into the small town site near the ranch and collect the supplies we needed for the next lot of repairs and would try to Skype Alice from the internet cafe there. Hopefully she would be able to join us out here soon. Jake decided it would be a good opportunity for my first riding lesson and that we would head out towards the tree line that was the northern property boundary. After issuing a list of supplies for Jasper to collect in town (more beer and a variety of junk food), we all agreed to meet back at the homestead by sunset for the evening meal.
As it turned out, I was hopeless at riding. I couldn't seem to make my horse understand that I was in charge and that she had to go where I directed her. I was able to mount the horse okay, though I wished I had not chosen to wear my skimpy denim shorts when I caught the lusty look Jake was giving off as I swung my leg over the saddle. I could move okay with her when she was walking along, but anything faster and I lost my timing, bucking against the horse when we should have been moving together. And co-ordinating holding and using the reins, while timing the use of my legs ... forget it! Jacob was a very patient teacher, though he could not help but laugh at my lack of skill. I knew I would get it eventually with practice. After all, I had four weeks to learn and it wasn't as if I had to ride the horse back home now was it? After an hour and a half of trying, but not quite reaching a level of mastery where Jake was happy to let me actually venture out of the paddock, I declared enough for one day.
" I was hoping to take you over to the falls for a swim this afternoon Bella, but I see that we'll either have to settle for the lake, or you'll have to double with me. Just as well you're a lightweight and Samson here will manage us both." I had forgotten about the falls. Emmett had discovered them on one of our exploratory missions earlier in the year. They were only about ten minutes on foot from the tree line bordering the property, but without either a horse or an off road vehicle to get there, the trek was hardly worth it. It was a lovely secluded water hole with a gentle waterfall cascading down. Ideal for a summer afternoon swim. I jumped at the chance to ride out with Jacob, pausing only long enough to close the gate, securing the stubborn Delilah in the paddock before clambering up in front of Jake. It felt a little awkward at first, and I tried to hold myself away from him, supporting myself without the aid of a saddle proved harder that Jacob made it look, and of course, his arms were around me to hold the reins, a quasi-embrace that I wasn't entirely comfortable with. After a few minutes of this Jacob leant forward and whispered in my ear, "Relax Bella, I'm not Jasper. I can touch you without it turning in to something else. Just go with the rhythm of the horse, make some conversation and we'll be there before you know it." He was right of course. It was possible to be in close proximity to someone without it turning into a sexual gesture. I couldn't think of anything to talk about so eventually I blurted out the question that had been on my mind since our first night here, the night of secret revelations.
"Jake, what's going on between Jasper and Alice? You know something don't you?"
"Yes Ma'am I do," he replied. It was clear that he was considering his next words carefully. "Look Bella, I'm not one to go exploring other people's problems too deeply or to share them around but, most of what I have observed happened around that time that you were kind of out of action, you would have seen it for yourself if you were in your right mind. Also, regardless of whatever kind of asshole moves he's been making on you lately, you guys have got something between you. I know you share lots of things, and I don't just mean a quickie in the barn. He's going to need your help with this sooner or later."
"Wow, I knew that something was up, that things weren't quite what he expected, but what on earth is going on, you've got me worried." What a poor friend I had been. So wrapped up in the stupidity with Tyler that I hadn't spared a thought for Jasper. He's said that things with Alice were 'strange', but I'd never taken the time to follow that up.
"Look, I don't know that it's all that earth shattering in the great scheme of things. I just know that Alice isn't quite as worldly as Jasper might like. I knew she was shy, it took her long enough to get together with him, but it seems like more than that to me and I don't know if he's handling it very well. "
"What are you talking about Jake? What do you mean worldly?"
"Oh God, how did I get myself into this. You know me Bella, I tell it like it is. Forgive me if I offend or if I am not politically correct in my choice of language, but this is how I see it. I know Jasper's been with a few girls and I've never heard any complaints on the gossip circuit. Besides, from what I observed in the barn that night, he's not entirely without skills when it comes to pleasing a woman .."
"Jesus Jake, can you move on from that already. If I'd known you were there ..."
"Yeah I know, I should have left but it was really fuckin' hot and I just couldn't turn away, but stay on topic here girlie. From my observations I can see that Jasper knows what he's about when it comes to the female anatomy, unlike your friend Tyler I believe, so that can't be the problem."
Holy shit, was there anything that got past him? Don't tell me he spent his time lurking around watching Tyler and I as well as opportune voyeur moments with Jasper!
"The problem is, I think, that while we all knew Alice was the shy and reserved type, she may actually have a problem with physical intimacy."
I was thinking back to the first time Alice joined us at the ranch. The night in the barn before she and Jasper hooked up. All the girls were talking sex and comparing notes around the fire, and Alice had made the comment that Jasper wouldn't want to do anything like that would he? I had thought it was just new relationship nerves. From a virgin's perspective, sex can be a scary thing, especially when you are just beginning to know your partner physically. But perhaps her reservations ran deeper than that.
"This is more than just a feeling you have isn't it Jake? What did you see?"
Jake had the good grace to blush (though far inferior to my own) before continuing with his tale. "You know me Bella, I like to watch ..." he said, lightly shrugging his shoulders. "A few times now I've seen them together. She stiffens every time he touches her. It takes a while for her to get used to having his hands on her. And I don't mean touching her, I mean like, just putting his hand on her arm or trying to hold hands. She loosens up eventually, and he's very patient, but he hasn't made much progress. He's kissed her a few times, sometimes she's in to it and sometimes she's not and pulls away. But the worst night was the night of the prom. I don't know where they stand with each other now, but I don't think they've broken up. After we'd gotten you home safe, a bunch of us went to the bonfire on First Beach. I honestly didn't think you were so messed up Bella, none of us did or one of us would have stayed with you, but we didn't get it and so went on with our plans. It was like an orgy out there. Emmett and Rosalie were practically getting it on in front of everyone and I think there were more than a few of our classmates who got lucky that night. Alice and Jasper had been kissing for a while. She'd been sitting in his lap and wiggling about trying to avoid the kissing I suppose, but the wiggling had the effect you would expect on a sex starved Jasper. I guess he thought that she doubted his feelings for her, and if he could just prove to her how attracted he was she'd get over herself."
"Oh No Jake! What happened? I know he'd never force himself on her, but something obviously happened."
"No he didn't force himself on her, he's not that type of guy. I guess he must have gotten hard from her wiggling about, I know I would have. I didn't hear it all but if I put the pieces together it think I know what happened. He said something like Oh God Alice, don't pull away, can't you see what you do to me? He must have taken her hand and pushed it into his crotch so she could cop of feel of his hard on. She totally freaked. It was like he'd handed her a live snake. She was screaming at him to get that thing away from her. That he was a disgusting low life with no respect for women and calling him names I've never heard without actually invoking a swear word. He was completely stunned and left standing there wondering what the fuck had happened. By the next day we were all kind of concerned about you and had forgotten about it. I don't know if they've even talked since. I don't think Jasper understands that there's a problem. I think he just feels rejected by Alice."
"When he came round that day I knew he wanted to talk about Alice, but I just wasn't in the right headspace."
"And nor did anyone expect you to be. It was just bad timing. I'm just giving you a heads up that he might want to talk about it sometime. I can't imagine that he'd talk about it with anyone but you."
"Thanks Jacob, I'll keep an eye on him."
We had arrived at last at the falls. Jacob helped me dismount from Samson and promptly threw me fully clothed into the pond at the bottom of the waterfall. Thank goodness it was a warm day and my clothes would dry out quickly. I stripped off my shorts, laying them on a rock to dry, content to swim in my t-shirt and panties. Jacob had a great time swimming. He kept diving under the water and surfacing directly in front of me. As close as he could get without making actual contact. It was fun trying to dodge and get away from him but I have to admit it was kind of arousing to have him so close. Poor Bella, no action for a couple of weeks and she starts imagining that every guy wants to touch her. As if! Eventually Jacob tired of the game and was laying on the rock near my shorts soaking up the sun. I went to stand under the small cascade of water from the falls, enjoying the water running through my hair and down between my breasts. Feeling the need to dry off before heading back, I too got out of the pond and lay out on a nearby rock. I wrung out my shirt as much as I could without removing it (I wasn't that comfortable with Jake!) and pulled it up a little, baring my belly to the warm air. I dozed languidly in the afternoon heat, slowly becoming aware of my body and how it felt. My nipples had stiffened from the afternoon breeze and I had lain on my back with the skin below my breasts to the waistband of my panties turning pink from the sunlight. I had inadvertently drawn my knees up so that my bare feet were flat against the rock below them, but my feet were slightly apart allowing a clear view of my most intimate self, covered only with the fabric of my underwear. I was beginning to hope fervently that the fabric was still dark enough when wet to hide my feminine treasures. As if reading my mind Jacob spoke up, "Darling, I can see everything you've got right now." The old Bella would have turned purple and run away screaming. But not the new Bella. The new Bella simply blushed a light shade of red, spread her legs further apart and retorted, "You can look, but you can't touch."
"You'll change your mind eventually you know," Jake chuckled, not offended in the slightest. "But while I surely am enjoying the view, it's time for us to make a move or we'll be riding back in the dark."
I rose slowly and put on my semi dry shorts as Jacob untied Samson and hauled me up in front of him. I didn't feel nearly so awkward this time and was comfortable when Jake's hand settled on my hip as we rode off.
"You know, you'll get the hang of riding sooner or later, your difficulties are all in the timing," he said. "Let's see if I can help you get the feel for it." I nodded in agreement, while I was comfortable leaning against Jake, I couldn't wait to be an independent horse woman.
"Sit up straighter for me, so that you're supporting yourself.; Make your back straighter and tip your hips forward a bit. That's it, put your hands forward, up towards his neck if you need to hold on. Now just feel Samson's rhythm and follow it." With that he nudged Samson into a faster pace and used his hand on my hip to help me move backwards and forwards in time to Samson's gait. A smile lit up my face as I began to get the hang of it. Jacob leaned closer to me so that his breath tickled my ear as he spoke. "Close your eyes and just feel it Bella," he whispered, his voice husky. His tone sent shivers down my spine, but I closed my eyes and gave in to the rhythm of the horse. It was exhilarating in an unexpected way. With each stride that Samson took, with each rock of my hips I felt my core rub against my shorts, which were damp now not only from the water but from my arousal. I was not so much riding the horse as I was grinding myself against it. I felt the pressure building fast and couldn't stop myself from leaning my head back and moaning.
"That's it Bella, just go with the flow. Feel the rhythm. Imagine the feel of skin against your skin . Feel the strength and power of the beast between your legs." That was it. I was done for and as Jacob leant in closer to trace his tongue over my ear, I came, silently, my thighs gripping the horses sides and my fingers wound in his mane. I felt like I was made of jelly as I relaxed back against Jacob who had slowed Samson to a walk as we neared the ranch.
"My you are a fiery one hot stuff. Doesn't take much to get you off!" Jake nuzzled my ear and my neck gently, helping me come back down to earth.
"What can I say, it's been a while. But you can't take credit for that, it was all Samson!" I laughed as I jumped energetically from his back, surprising myself by not falling on my ass from the dismount.
"I may have played my part," he said, smoothly and elegantly dismounting and standing directly in front of me. He took my hand and placed it on the front of his shorts, clearly outlining his very prominent erection. "But Samson can't take credit for that," his voice was low and he was looking at me closely gauging my reaction. I didn't move my hand. Jake's voice was softer and uncertain as he said "I'm not Jasper."
"And I'm not Alice," I replied. I stroked him twice through the tightly stretched fabric. "But I'm not ready for this." This time, it was my turn to walk away.