Sorry if you all got a notification for a new chapter, but I realized my upload was missing a bit at the end so I have reposted it correctly. Ch 15 is in the works. RL is kicking my butt at the moment with too much happening and not enough hours. I'll be back soon, I promise.

We had not long finished the morning chores, falling comfortably into our routine with a tentative truce formed between Jasper and Jake when the cloud of dust and blaring car horns alerted us to the imminent arrival of our friends. It was a bittersweet feeling. I was looking forward to seeing them all, and so very glad to have them here at my place, yet I felt that things had started evolving between the three of us in the Saint Jude's Lost Causes Wilderness Fireside Chapter and that more time alone would have sorted it out somewhat.

My pondering was soon interrupted with noise, hugs and the other general greeting rituals that accompany a long absence. (Four or five days is a long time to be apart from your besties!) We helped Emmett, Rosalie and the others to unload the gear from their vehicles and let them sort out who was bunking in with who and in what building. There was a definite girls dorm with Lauren, Angela and Jess all voting to have a slumber party together, leaving Ben and Eric to fend for themselves in the newly appointed boys dorm. Emmett and Rosalie had one of the smaller outbuildings to themselves, and had wisely chosen the one farthest away from the main homestead. The noise created from their amorous activities was legendary and none of us wanted to get too close to that. Jacob and Jasper were able to keep the cottages they had chosen without sharing with a newcomer and there were still two holiday style cottages vacant if anyone else decided to turn up, or room to share in the boys and girls dorms.

While we were settling everyone in and helping to make up beds and store supplies, Rosalie kept giving me sideways glances. She continued this throughout the afternoon.

Almost as soon as the dust had settled, Jasper became glued to his phone, checking it every five to ten minutes as if willing it to ring or receive a message. To me it was obvious that he was waiting on some contact from Alice as she hadn't arrived with everyone else. After he had done it for the hundredth time, I couldn't help myself. I walked over to him and pulled him in to my side. "She'll come."

"How can you be so sure?"

"She wouldn't miss spending time with us all together before college, you know that Jasper. You two have some unfinished business, but she won't let that stand in the way of our last hurrah. You know her better than that."

"I just hope you're right," he muttered, leaning closer in to me and enjoying the comfort. When he had collected himself, replaced his phone in his pocket and moved on, I turned to see Rosalie scowling at me, before she too turned and walked away.

When we all sat down to eat (we had decided to use the old staff quarters for this purpose as it had long tables and benches and none of us were happy to be separated just yet) I found myself again the centre of Rose's attention. The girls had cut up heaps of fresh produce and taking advantage of the supply of newly baked bread bought in with our new arrivals, we had set up a make your own sandwich bar. I made my selection and sat at an empty table, basking in the fellowship so apparent in the room. Why couldn't we live like this always? What was with the generations old ritual of leaving behind family and friends in the best years of our lives to get a college degree? I think I must have secretly yearned for a simpler time. Before long Jasper seated himself opposite me.

"Anything yet?" I said, referring to his recent phone obsession.

"I haven't heard from her, but Emmett says she will be here for the weekend. Along with Charlie, Billy and Jasper's parents apparently."

I reached over and squeezed his hands while silently making a list of things that may need to be tidied up before the adult invasion. I had just about completed my mental checklist when an agonized shriek escaped me, followed by loud guffaws from both Jasper and Jake. Ever the thoughtful friend, Jake had bought me an ice cold soda to wash down my lunch, but the Peter Pan part of him had won out and the freezing metal was being pushed against the sensitive skin on my bare neck, much to everyone's amusement. He put the offending beverage on the table and pulled me closer to him, stroking up and down my neck as if to warm me up. Perfectly innocent right? Except that he pulled me closer and whispered seductively in my ear, "I love to make you shiver Bells." Only two people in the whole room noticed. Rosalie, of course, who sat there wide eyed. I could almost see the cartoon image of a light bulb flashing over her head. And Jasper who's tone was slightly sour when he asked. "Are you sure you two are ready for such a public display?" Jake just chuckled and tore in to his lunch like it was the last food on earth.

Rosalie was like the Mona Lisa. It didn't matter where on the ranch I ventured, her eyes seemed to follow me. When Alice finally called Jasper and he confessed that he thought it was over, but that she wanted to talk when she got here. When I held him tight placing gentle friendly kisses on his hair and rubbed his sagging shoulders, she was watching. When Jake thought no-one was looking and squeezed my butt, whispering that he didn't want to stop touching me, Rosalie was looking. When the boys decided on a bonfire and were shirtless chopping wood, when I couldn't keep my eyes off Jake's well defined abs, or the memory of how they had felt in the darkness of my room, Rosalie was looking. When Ben and Eric joked about making one of the vacant cottages into the 'love shack' for the poor couples that had ended up in separate rooms resulting in both Jake and I immediately seeking the other's eyes, and then of course when I turned beet red, knowing he was thinking what I was thinking, Rosalie was still looking.

And towards the early evening when everyone had some time to themselves, Rosalie was still looking. We'd gone our separate ways for a while to freshen up, unpack or begin the dinner preparations. Everyone was looking out for themselves this evening and we would take some time tomorrow to set up a roster for the next two weeks. I was alone for once in the kitchen of the main house. The kitchen attached to the staff quarters would see all the main action while there was more than a handful of us to cook for. I was leaning lazily against the counter daydreaming and gazing at the late afternoon sky when I realized that I wasn't really alone. I felt Jacob's warmth close to me at the same time I became aware of another presence in the room. He placed his hand hesitantly against the small of my back as if unsure of the reception he would get. His touch was electric and I had been trying to act normally around him all day, denying the urge to touch him in a thousand small ways. I was not of a mind to ignore him while we had this unplanned opportunity for alone time. I turned to face him and he stepped in closer to me. His arms went around behind me to rest on the counter while I brushed my hands against his forearms. He bent his head down til we stood brow to brow, eyes closed and relaxed at last. Jake was the first to speak. "It was harder than I thought it would be to keep my distance today."

"I know what you mean. There were so many times I just wanted to touch you, or to say something cheeky or to just be with you and then I felt like everyone was watching us and waiting for the next move," I admitted.

"There's no-one here now ...," Jake whispered leaning his head down and kissing my cheek and then my ear lobe and neck before finally settling on my lips. He brushed his lips gently to mine, questioning, seeking permission, and I kissed him back with all the strength I could muster. I had missed this today, I had missed this all my life. This simple feeling of passion shared equally with another. Jake kissed back, sweeping his tongue over my bottom lip before it battled with my own for dominance. I quickened again, past the point of no return groaning into his mouth. Jake's eye's flew open and he stared at me as if I were something to eat, his chest heaving and his heart racing as was mine. "Fuck Bella, what have you done to me?" He bent his head to me again wiping out any chance of a coherent answer with his heated, wanting kisses. His hands stroked languidly down my back, resting momentarily on my buttocks before gripping my thighs and hauling me on to the counter. A gasp huffed out of me, partly from the impact, and partly from the contact I now felt. Jake had forced my legs apart enough to slip his body between them. As his lips travelled again the well worn path from my ear to my throat, his hands gripped me tightly, pulling my hips forward to greet his. I could feel his warmth, feel my own burning heat and felt how incredibly hard he was already. I bucked my hips against him, desperate to feel him where I needed him. Gone was bashful Bella and in her place was a wanton woman, driven insane with lust. I found myself holding on to him in a death grip, trying to pull him closer and closer, rubbing against him as if I could magically get him inside of me without first removing our clothing. When Jake pulled back a little and thrust against me, I cried out. I could feel myself on the verge of orgasm and he'd barely touched me. Denial is a strong aphrodisiac.

"Fuck Bella! I want you so bad right now. I'm going to take you upstairs and fuck you, but maybe I'll make you cum right here first no matter who can look in and see you."

Oh My God! That is the hottest thing I've ever heard. I really think I'm gonna ...

"Don't let me stop you."

What the fuck! Rosalie!

Moment gone! Impending orgasm draining away and ice in my veins like a bucket of cold water on my soul. When did she get there? How much had she seen? What had she heard?

Rosalie was standing in the kitchen doorway with a grin like the Cheshire Cat, arms folded and eyes sparkling with mischief. We were so caught in the act. No plausible deniability available now. Was the cat out of the bag?

"You two need to cool it before anyone walks in here. You've been dancing around each other all day, it's not going to take much for people to work out you're together and that seems to be a fact you've been trying to hide from the others. Now buzz off Jakey and give me a minute with my girl here. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

Jake was as red faced as I was, but decidedly more sure of himself than my current state of mind. "Actually Rosalie, it's you who needs to buzz off and give us a minute," he replied, gazing unabashedly downward toward the very prominent bulge in his shorts. "Bells will come find you shortly."

Rosalie just laughed and turned to leave. "Don't leave me hanging Bella. We need to talk." And she was gone.

I was frozen in place, my legs still curled around Jake, my fingers still gripping him tightly to me. And then the world came crashing in and I turned to jelly. We'd just been caught in the act. Jake had been saying deliciously dirty things in my ear and I had been bucking and grinding against an obvious erection. How would I explain my way out of this one?

"Where'd you go Bells?" Jake was tender again. Still holding me, but not burning me alive with the passion we'd felt moments before.

"Just trying to work out what I'm going to say to Rosalie. I know what she's going to ask."

"If she wants to know if we're together, just tell her the truth. We haven't worked it out yet and we're having a bit of fun in the mean time. I told you already that I'm happy with that if you are." Jake never put any pressure on me to make decisions I wasn't ready to face. "So what if she caught us making out? The only thing I'm sorry about is that I have to stop."

"Not stop Jake, just hold that thought til later."

"How much later?"

"Will you come to me tonight, like you did last night?"

"I will come to you whenever you want me."

I just smiled, kissed him again, and went off to face the wrath of Rosalie.

Rosalie was sitting alone down by the lake. I knew she'd be there, it's one of her favourite spots when she visits this place. I was glad she had chosen somewhere that allowed us some privacy for the upcoming discussion. I don't know how honest I would have been with her if there were other ears trying to get details.

"So, Bellaaaa," she said drawing out my name as I approached her. "Got something to share?"

"Well, seeing as your eyes have been following me all day, I would have think you'd have worked out that I wasn't ready for sharing just yet."

She just laughed good naturedly. "Look honey, I'm sorry I walked in on your afternoon delight, but last time I saw you, you were pining after a very unavailable Jasper. And in the space of a week you've got Jacob dirty talking in your ear while you try to crawl into his skin. Jasper looks to be an emotional wreck and is giving up on Alice and meanwhile neither guy can keep his eyes off you. They follow every move you make. What's been going on up here? What's between you and Jake and why are you keeping it from everyone?"

"It's a long story Rose. Are you sure you're up for it?"

"Give me all the gory details. I don't care if we're still sitting here this time tomorrow, don't leave anything out. "

So I gave her most of the story. Some of the details were not to be shared, they belonged just to me. I told her how I felt about Jasper, about being confused and fooling around with him, but it always came back to him and Alice. I told her how Jacob knew about the fooling around and encouraged me to experiment all I wanted with whoever I wanted, but to find happiness and not be used. I did not tell Rosalie that Jacob had watched us fooling around in the barn and had found it a singularly erotic experience resulting in long discussions about sex. I told her that Jasper had wanted me to tell him how I felt, but that I had refused while he was still sorting out his relationship. I told her that Jacob had encouraged me to be myself for a while and to work out what I wanted before committing to someone again. That we had gotten closer lately.

"I'll say- you couldn't have gotten much closer to him than you were back there in the kitchen! So by closer do you mean physically or emotionally? Are you with him or not Bella?"

"Depends what you mean by 'with'. We've fooled around a bit, talked a lot, shared some secrets. I like the way he is with me. He's not pushing me to make choices or decisions I'm not ready for. He says he's happy to see where it goes. I'm not ready for all the snide looks and judgements just yet so we're keeping whatever this is to ourselves."

"And by fooled around a bit you mean ..."

I could always rely on my blushes to give away the truth. "Ummm ... well ..."

"Have you slept with him or not?" Rosalie was anxiously awaiting the details I had left out.

"Once. Last night."

"And ...?"

"And what?"

"Jesus Bella, you're killing me here! How was it?"

This time it was my ear to ear grin that gave me away. " Oh my god Rosalie! It was so good. I didn't know it could be like that. I didn't know he could be like that. Sweet and tender and so incredibly hot. All I can think about is doing it again!"

"Oh honey, I'm so glad. I know that area of things hadn't been so good for you before. I'm glad you finally got to experience that. I'm glad you're giving him a chance and you aren't focussed on Jasper still. Does Jasper know about Jake?"

"You've been watching the two of them all day, what do you think?"

"Well it would certainly explain the daggers Jasper keeps sending in Jake's direction and the wistful looks he sends in yours," she replied thoughtfully. "But does Jacob know how you feel about Jasper?"

"I think he worked it out before I did. He says he's been watching us interact for a while now and it was obvious to him that there is unfinished business there. But he's adamant that I don't have to choose between them, that I can just take the bits I want for now."

"Do you think he loves you?"

"No, I don't think so. It's all kind of new and more about being together physically than emotionally. Why?"

"No reason."

"Come on Rosalie - why?"

She chewed on her lip for a moment, pensive, then finally answered. "Because if he loved you, he wouldn't share. Neither of them would."

We were quiet for a while, digesting the things I had disclosed and what Rosalie had made of them. It had seemed quite simple in my head. Support Jasper through his troubles with Alice, have some fun with Jake and learn a few things along the way. But after speaking with Rosalie, it seemed far more complicated. Did I have feelings for Jake? I clearly still had feelings for Jasper. Did Jake have feelings for me? And what would Jasper do if things didn't work out with Alice? My head was in turmoil again. It was too early on to start sorting any of this out. I had just decided to go with it and Rosalie had come along and pointed out all the holes in my plan. I was feeling anxious bordering on exasperated when I finally became aware of her gaze on me. She had something else to say before the interrogation was over.

"Look Bella, I'm not here to judge. You deserve to have fun, you deserve to feel good and I'm not about to stop you doing that. But it seems you have quite a little love triangle in the making here. It's hard enough dealing with one jealous guy, let alone two. Just be careful you don't get hurt, and try not to hurt anyone else."

"And how do you suggest I do that Rosalie," I snapped. I had already hurt Jasper and he had hurt me.

"Don't shoot the messenger honey. I know you need to explore things with Jacob and he seems to be very open and accepting of where you're at right now. Just be honest. Be honest with yourself about what you really want and be honest with them about how you feel. For both of them. Who knows how it will end up. Just as long as you don't get broken in the process. And if you really do love them both and end up with them both, then more power to you sister! I don't know if I could handle two guys!"

"Ewww Rose! It won't come down to that," I assured her.

"Stranger things have happened Bella," she smirked. And then pranced off in search of Emmett, very pleased with herself for having the last word.

The rest of the evening progressed quite smoothly. We were all glad to touch base with each other again and become reacquainted with each other's company in the absence of adult supervision. We struck up a roster for future cooking, shopping and meal oriented work. I was pleased when we all decided to suit ourselves for breakfast, which meant the original members of Saint Jude's Lost Causes could keep the routine we had already established. We made a list of work to be completed around the ranch, while still allowing us ample time to kick back and enjoy our solitude and then the newcomers shared what little gossip there was from home. Not much had happened in the week we had been away on the local front, but the global news which warned of the spreading flu virus was disconcerting. It made me even more grateful for the sanctuary offered by this place, and even less inclined to rejoin the human race when it was time for college. We made plans to look and act like responsible young adults when the parental units descended on us the day after tomorrow, ate whatever we could find for dinner, and then settled in to the night around the fireside.

I sat with Jasper for a while and tried to get him to talk about Alice and what he might say when she arrived. He acknowledged that he couldn't continue in a relationship with her if she was so scared of him physically. It wasn't just sex, he literally couldn't touch her without fearing for the reaction. But he'd loved her for so long, even if from afar, that he wasn't quite sure who he'd be without her. I resolved to talk to her if the opportunity arose, to see if I could gain any insight in to what her problem was. I ultimately wanted Jasper to be happy, even if it wasn't with me. If he sorted things out one way or another with her, then I might have a clearer idea of the options open to me. Besides, I couldn't stand to see him as dejected as he was right now.

Emmett and Rosalie were the first to retire for the night. They could barely keep their hands off each other, and it was somewhat of a relief when they decided to take things to a less public venue. The rest of the girls followed soon after, declaring it was 'girls time', which I believe involved nail polish and inane chatter. I quickly declined the invitation to join them. It wasn't really my thing and I really wanted to shower and be prepared when Jake came to me as he had promised. I made my excuses and went off alone to get ready with a blush in Jake's direction. Jasper wandered off to be on his own with his misery and left Jake, Ben and Eric by the fireside. I hoped it wouldn't be long until Jake decided to join me. We had been very rudely interrupted this afternoon and I was still wanting. Needing to finish what had been started.

I showered, and spent some time debating with myself as to what to wear. There was no lingerie in my wardrobe, nothing beyond cotton panties and a few lacy bras, none of which seemed appropriate at this stage of our relationship. I didn't want to seem silly or over eager and was just too self conscious to wait naked beneath the covers for him. In the end I settled on an oversized shirt buttoning only the last few buttons, and nothing beneath. I was decently covered, but showing a hint of flesh and promise. I sat on the window seat listening to the samples of conversation that drifted up from below. It seems Eric and Ben had settled in for a long haul and Jasper would have to find an excuse to leave without seeming obvious, and then get from his cottage to my room unnoticed. I might be in for a bit of a wait.

At some point I had dozed off, and I now awoke disoriented leaning against the window with muscles protesting against their irregular placement. I peered at my watch trying to fathom the time in the moonlit room and was amazed to see it was around 1 am. And I was still alone. Jake hadn't come. Of course not. I knew it would be a onetime thing - too good to be true. I never was worth the effort. Besides, I knew so little, how could I have been enough to entertain the likes of Jacob? Silent tears tumbled down my cheeks as I face the reality of being alone again. I left my futile post by the window and slid beneath the covers, curling in to a ball, the tears flowing freely. I had lost track of how long I cried. It had been a while and I was winding down when I realised there was someone in the doorway. I sniffed and pulled the covers tighter around me.

"Bells are you crying?"

"No." Yep, it's not obvious at all, let's pretend it's not happening.

In two giant strides, Jacob crossed the room. He lay on the bed, enveloping me in his arms and turning my face towards him.

"Are those tears for me?"

"No" Nothing but petulance from me at this point.

"Honey I'm sorry I took so long to get here. I thought the boys would never go to bed, and even once I left them, I couldn't get here without them seeing, and I didn't think you would want our midnight meeting to be tomorrow's breakfast gossip. I got here as soon as I could."

No response from me. Just silence. I was starting to feel a little foolish. I didn't really have anything to be upset about it seemed.

"Bells, did you think I wasn't coming?"

I nodded.

"And if I hadn't have gotten here, what would you have thought?"

"That you'd had enough of me. That I wasn't worth the effort."

"Dammit Bella! I would have walked across hot coals and made you cum in front of a hundred people if that was what it took to get into this bed with you tonight. I promised you I would come to you and I don't go back on my promises. It just took a lot longer than I expected."

"Really Jake? You're not just trying to make me feel better?"

He took my hand then, sliding it down his body until I could feel the very prominent erection straining to be released. "I've had this little beauty on and off since this afternoon in the kitchen. Every time I get it under control, you look at me or walk past and there it is again. I have been very uncomfortable for hours, praying someone didn't notice. All I can think about is you. Nothing could have kept me out of here tonight."

My breathing faltered as I felt him pushing against my hand, the same way that I had thrust my hips against him earlier. I began to claw at his clothing, wanting nothing more than to feel his burning skin against mine. He was just as eager and was soon naked, holding me too him, with my legs again pulling him closer to me. He pulled off my shirt, humming to himself when he found me naked beneath, his fingers finding my nipples to tweak and tease into aching peaks.

"Did you think about me too Bells?" he whispered as his lips found my ear and his tongue began to trace its contours. I could not speak. So instead I took one of his hands from my breast and pushed it down my stomach and between my legs, unable to keep from grinding against it as his fingers slipped between my folds to rub circles against my swollen clit.

"Fuck Bella, you are so wet," he said dropping his forehead against mine. Panting and barely holding himself in restraint as I felt the familiar heated coil build in my stomach.

"I need you Jake," I whispered.

That was all it took. Quickly he pushed himself inside of me, his moan cancelling out my own in the silence of the early morning.

"Don't stop!" He felt so good. Filling me, winding the spring inside. Thrusting erratically.

"Can't stop Bells," he puffed. "Can't hold on either," he panted, barely containing himself.

"Don't wait. Cum with me." I couldn't keep it together any more, the spring snapping, The dam bursting and my insides gripping down on to Jake in a wave of pleasure I thought would drown me.

He pulled out a little and pushed back in as far as he could, thrusting twice before spilling himself inside of me. We clung to each other as our breathing returned to normal, reassuring each other with gentle touches and stolen kisses.

"I'm sorry Bells, I wanted to take it slow and be good to you. But I waited so long to get here I couldn't help myself. I just wanted to be inside you."

"It's okay Jake. It was good. It was different to before, but I liked it very much. There'll be time for slow later." We dozed together then, enjoying the warmth and comfort of each other in a different way. When I woke an hour or so before sunrise, I found Jake sitting up, searching the dim light for his discarded clothing. I put one hand on his chest, over his beating heart. When he looked at me and smiled, I had only one word to say.

"Stay."