*A/N: My own disclaimer - safety first. I do not condone unprotected sex, but let's face it; characters only get sick, pregnant, or die if the author wants them to...and I'm not one of those authors. So enjoy, but be safe about it. :-)

Chapter Summary: Bella & Jacob's last few days in Florida turn eventful; Bella admits outloud what has been going on as she and Jacob dive into a new dimension of their relationship, immersing themselves deeper into each other than ever before. Boundaries continue to be crossed, but for once Bella is not ashamed of the steps she is taking to be closer to her wolf.

*Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and its nothing to be ashamed about; SM did an amazing job, but Jacob wasn't in enough chapters for me. He's addictive…hey, he's my personal brand of heroin.

Chapter XXV Title: 'Addicted,' by Saving Abel

(JPOV)

Don't think about it. Just don't think about it.

I looked over my shoulder as casually as I could trying not to get excited about Bella Swan, lying naked in the sheets without me there next to her. Isabella Marie Swan lying naked in bed sheets without me. Aaargghh! This was too much. How was I going to do this? How was I going to keep my thoughts from straying to her from the pack? I shook my head. This was too important. This had to be done. I had to check in with the rest of the wolves for updates and then I could spend the rest of the day with Bella. And the rest of the night with Bella, however long she would have me. My thoughts were interrupted as I felt my skin sting, my pulse accelerate, and a low growl force its way out from my chest to my mouth.

I knew the pack and I could communicate from a far distance, but I didn't know if cross-country counted. My short nails tapped against the cold linoleum floor of the guest room's balcony. It felt different from when Bella and I had been sprawled across it late last night and then again this morning. My long tongue lulled out of my mouth and my tail began to wag back and forth a little more. Even as a wolf I could still feel her under me, as a human, as a man, her man. She molded me and made me whole for her. I would bend to her will and do what she wanted, when she wanted. Even the morning's wind chill couldn't hold a candle to the feel of her breath across my chest as she sat on my lap. The way her skin felt under my lips as I kissed her shoulders and back. The way her hips moved against me, my hands unnecessary to guide her, but became more like simple props for a show that only the two of us would put on.

She felt so right. She felt so unreal. And she had given herself to me. She had asked it from me.

Jacob.

My thoughts were hushed. I heard Sam's voice ring through my head. If he was alone, I wouldn't have to fight so hard to keep the images of us together out of my mind. Sam would understand. He would know exactly how I feel.

I do, Jacob, and I congratulate you on your new experience with your imprint. Have you told her?

I shook my head and lowered my eyes. I didn't feel the need to answer the painful question with a snippy remark that could be misconstrued as a threat.

Sam understood again. She's not ready yet, is she? I am sorry. She will be one day.

When? I whimpered and then felt ashamed that I was asking my Alpha what to do about my relationship with Bella. It was so frighteningly new. I had never experienced anything like this with a girl, let alone a girl that I was so fond of. And I admitted that I loved her. I love her. I want to be everything for her and I know I can be.

She has to make that decision, Jacob. You cannot force it. You cannot change it or wield it to do what you want it to do, Sam continued. If she decides to only be your friend, then that is all you can be. If she chooses to keep you out of her life, then you will have to let her. If she chooses to go back to the bloodsuckers—

My shrill bark cut him off and I heard very light stirring come from Bella's sleeping form. She will NEVER go back to them! I will not let her. She is mine.

Sam thought in his quiet voice, She's supposed to be your equal. Not your property.

I won't lose her, I argued. And I won't go back to being her friend. I can't.

You just don't want to. When you deny the imprint then you deny yourself. Could you live without your soul?

No, I sulked.

I didn't phase to discuss this with you. We'll talk more about it when you get back. I have news to share.

My belly hovered over the floor as my legs lowered to a laying position. My warm body wouldn't heat up the surface of the hard rock used in formation of the balcony.

Seth, Harry Clearwater's son, has begun phasing. We think a threat of vampires is strong and evident. He is not the only one. Sam sighed. Colin and Brady have shown signs, but they have yet to phase completely yet. They are still too young. Maybe in another month or so if the parasitic threat looms closer still, they might.

I stayed quiet to take in all the new information. Three new wolves. Wow. This will be the biggest pack since our ancestors, Taha Aki.

Four.

What? I wondered if I had skipped much too school. Was my math off? I never was very good with my studies except for mechanics, but you needed some basic concept of math and graph design. Is my algebra that bad, Sam? Who did I miss?

I only mentioned three, but there are four. Sam sounded sad. It's Lee-Lee, Jake.

Leah? Seth's older sister? My chin dropped and my muzzle shook in protest with the wind. But she's a girl! Worse—one of us? How?

We do not know. When the elders found out, they researched and tried to pull everything they could on the subject and to no avail. We don't know what to make of it and Leah is making things…difficult for the pack. We didn't expect you to know since you haven't phased since you've been in Florida, but now you do know.

My mind reeled slowly at the new information before my paws hit the ground as if I were coming to a complete stop from a full out-fledge run. A new thought crossed me. Sam? Isn't Harry on the council?

Sam said nothing.

I had my answer. How did he take it?

Not so well. He had a heart attack. He's in the hospital and he's critical, but they do expect him to make it. Leah feels awful about it, but if he pulls through we can put it behind us and concentrate on finding out how and why the ancestors have turned so many of us at one time. Things are becoming interesting to manage.

I could see clear visions of a few of the pack members arguing, phasing on the spot, and fighting. It was mostly Paul who did the fighting. I snickered. I see that.

There's another problem. A leech might have slipped through and got into Bella and Charlie's house within the last few days. Don't worry, Sam interrupted me before I could start. Charlie wasn't home and we now keep a closer watch on the house.

What happened? Did they just drop by with a note? 'Missed you. Will be back,' sort of thing? I asked sarcastically.

I just wanted to let you know so that you wouldn't worry. It didn't look like they stayed long and it wasn't a scent that we had been tracking. It was a brand new leech. They didn't bother with much or with anything, like I said. You may tell her—

I cut him off, Thanks for your permission, Dad.

Sam allowed me to cut him off and didn't even sound upset as he made his next request. I will need your help to manage things when you get back. You are handling your responsibilities better since…since your imprint has become more accepting of you. I would like for you to run second. I would like for you to become Beta.

Paul might have something to say about that. My wolf grin reflected in the glass. I accept.

I reveled a little in the small glory of finally finding a place where I fitted in a little bit more clearly with everyone. After a few more minutes with Sam I began to get antsy and paced along the length of the balcony for a few seconds more before phasing back to my human form. The feelings I felt in my chest matched the longing I had in my lower loins for my imprint. She would never need anyone else. She would never feel incomplete or torn by two halves of herself again. There was the former life and then there was the life she would have with me. My breath turned husky as I inhaled her hair, smelling traces of yesterday's shampoo, her sweat, and my own scent. I would comb through every inch of her hair with my fingertips and tongue if I thought she would smell just like me forever.

I could no longer contain myself, instantly becoming more alert as I draped the edge of my pink along her belly and lower chest, pushing away the sheets that impeded my view from her beautiful pale body. I kissed her skin open mouthed as her eyes fluttered open, her mahogany hair still in her face. "Jake? You okay?"

She was still sleepy. I wanted her awake. My teeth flashed for her eyes and I let the lower half of my body collide with hers, allowing her to feel just how "okay" I really was. A slow smile spread on her lips as they reached for mine and I disappeared into her. I left no marks on her body nor did I destroy any more furniture in the room for that moment. I might have heard everything that had been going on in the house for the next few hours, but it never registered. I was the composer and my soliloquy was to concentrate on making Bella happy. Her sweet gasps and indistinct comments were the only notes of music I needed to hear and I vowed to not stop until we stained the sheets with our duet.

I would tell her about the leech visit later.

(BPOV)

"Bella, where are you and Jacob going for your last full day in Florida?" Renee turned to me at the same time she was making a sandwich for the boys in the living room. I could hear them both laughing, Jacob dominating the conversation with his constant chatter, and I too was trying hard not to laugh from the conceit I was feeling. Everything about Jacob surprised and warmed me. If Florida didn't already have the sun, then it would have for almost the whole week Jacob and I was here. Even my mother had a hard time not smiling at him when he did something as simple as a cartwheel off the diving board in the pool or helped himself to fixing a few other things around the house. His constant radiance kept her young and free from worry about me for the whole week. Jacob's magnetism continued to work in our favor, despite him being only sixteen.

"Beach party; Mike invited us yesterday when we went bowling. It's some public beach event or something." I popped a chip in my mouth out of the newly opened bag of potato chips before dumping more than half the bag into the bowl.

Renee's eyes widened. "Honestly, I still don't see how that boy can eat so much and still seem so fit. I know he leaves to go jogging in the late morning, but that doesn't seem enough with his constant appetite. How does he do it?"

I bit back a laugh. "Genes. It's a 'Jacob thing.'" And I left it at that.

Renee cut a third sandwich in half. She was still helping me make Jacob's plate. "Speaking of genes and passing them on…are you and Jacob still using…"

I almost choked on the 2nd chip I was eating. "Mom! Yes, we are. Could we not discuss this though? This is like ultra-embarrassing." I turned red.

Renee would not give in to my blush. "I think you two should have a back up. I don't mind you guys sharing your feelings and all, which I could see from the way you two were in the airport anyway," she proclaimed proudly before continuing, "But I think maybe you should consider birth control. The two of you are so young and the way you two go at it—"

"Okay, okay. Good Lord." I covered my face and I heard Jacob chortle. I knew it had nothing to do with what whatever Phil was saying. "Look, I'm on…I'm on birth control and I have been for almost two months. Okay?" My voice dropped. I felt my insides closing and my eyes teared from the awkwardness of where this conversation was headed.

Renee absorbed my disclosure and was content with it. "Whew. What a relief. I was not looking forward to being a grandmother anytime soon." She went back to happily cutting the rest of the sandwiches. "I am sure my grandchildren will come out gorgeous though. That hair is simply beautiful. It's so soft and thick. It goes perfect with his skin."

I tuned out my mother's rant about Jacob's assets with a smile and went back to thoughts of my own. Jacob still hadn't mentioned anything about me not being able to say that I loved him back when he had already freely admitted it to me. It didn't make our shared intimacy any harder, but at times I could feel him willing me to say it just once to make him feel better. Each time the words left his lips, I felt closer to saying them back. I could feel them in my throat. I could feel it emanate from the once broken pieces of my heart that he had taken the time to heal and repair. It was because of him that I was able to do what I was doing now and it was Edward who had abandoned and left me to fend for myself. Where was he? He left me with the other monsters and magic to feel better about himself. Edward had forgotten all about me. His immortal mind never had thoughts of me, never contacted me, and he had acted like he had never loved me. That last hurtful fact had made me think that if an immortal could be so sure and definite about loving me but truly did not, then what hopes did I have of Jacob being able to stay in love with me?

"Hungry. Still hungry." Jacob's stomach announced his arrival into the kitchen before he stepped in and put his arms around me. "Bells, feed me. I'm starving."

I fingered half a sandwich and started to lift it when his head swooped down and picked it almost whole from my hand. I shrieked playfully from feeling his teeth against one of my fingers. "My apologies, Jacob. Did my fingers get in the way of your sandwich?"

"I forgive you." He kissed my cheek in full view of my mother before grabbing another sandwich off the plate in front of me. He then grabbed a handful of potato chips and started popping them in the air and into his mouth, one by one. He caught every single chip in less than a minute.

I rolled my eyes. "Vacuum cleaner."

Smiling, he replied, "Love you too."

At the beach party later that afternoon, Jacob's back was hard as he shifted my weight from shoulder to shoulder in the ocean water during a game of beach volleyball. The poles to hold up the net had been placed (actually Jacob had inserted them into the actual rocks) not far from the shore so that everyone could play in the cool water instead of the hot sand. My feet had gotten tired and heavy as we served the ball in the water back and forth for a couple hours until Jacob had lifted me onto his back. Jessica looked at us and tried to climb onto Mike's back, but after a few minutes gave up when Mike couldn't swim in the water to hit the ball and carry her at the same time. Katie was actually splashing Jacob and me with water while laughing and Lauren overlooked from the beach bank. She hadn't spoken to or acknowledged me since we had arrived but she had nodded politely towards Jacob.

Jacob's blue baggy beach shorts clung to him even more so when wet. I even enjoyed looking at his faultless legs part the numerous waves in the water. He became an entity not to be reckoned with in my eyes suddenly. As my friend, he remained compassionate and patient. As a wolf, he became breathtaking and instinctual. As the man he was now, even with his actual age in my thoughts constantly, he was confident and masculine. My excitement rose as the daylight wore itself out to make room for the night and I could not feel cold with Jacob so close in proximity to me. Other women had been looking and watching us almost as soon as we stepped out onto the beach, but his eyes were not distracted from me. I was the path his intentions were taking and he refused to be dissuaded from his ambitions. My mind imagined all the things that we could do. All the things that I now needed to do with him.

I sat on my crossed legs in the water trying to at least slow down the growing tightness of my thighs and the water was doing little to sway the slickness inside of me. Jacob splashed me a little with his leg. And I imagined my leg being wrapped around him that precise moment. "Bells, are you tired? Want to go back?"

I shook my head with a small smile. "Nope. It's not that late. Want to walk on the beach?" Jacob nodded and picked me up by my hands. He grabbed my towel and our few extra clothes from the beach as I waved to Katie and Mike who were still kicking in the water. Most people had gone home when it turned twilight, but Lauren and Jessica were still there sitting on their towels as if they were still getting sun; however, they had each put on a hoodie to shield their arms some from the wind, but they left it open to accentuate their curves.

Jacob grabbed my hand again once we were out of sight and I bit my lip. I watched him from the corner of my eye and looked around. I lead him towards the nearby boardwalk and we took to walking under them to enjoy some of the conversations we could overhear through the planks. But we mostly tried to give people their privacy. I was going over and over again in my head exactly what I wanted to say when Jacob suddenly turned to me, "What, Bells? What's on your mind?"

I played innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You keep watching me from the corner of your eye. I can see you. Wolf, remember? Nice peripherals." He smiled. "What's going on? You're not worried about that leech going through your room, are you? I told you that you'll be fine with the pack protecting you."

I shook my head. It had worried me a little when Jacob had told me that the pack had sniffed a vampire in my room, but there was little I could do and no one had been hurt. Charlie wasn't even home. That was the most important thing. None of Jacob's pack had been hurt and he was safe, here with me in Florida. And we were about to be together again.

My smile was my only response to him as I forced my tongue into his mouth and his back hit one of the posts to the boardwalk. He seemed surprised and then quickly raced his fingers against my skin, which felt like burn marks through my thin shirt. We stood there for a few minutes kissing before I yanked my towel from around my neck, heard it hit the sand softly, and started to pull the top of his beach shorts. He pulled away unwillingly. "I think we should get back to your Mom's."

I teased him. "Why? Are you embarrassed to be seen making out with me?"

"No. Aren't you embarrassed to be seen making out with me?" he retorted.

His serious face annoyed me momentarily before I smiled at him again. I placed his face in my hands and kissed right underneath his mouth, standing on my tip toes to do so. I ignored his question and pulled on his shorts again. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to have all of him. I wanted to see every reaction and stomach all that I could bear from being with him. He had forced me shed my defenses and now I would make him glad that I was the one he had this experience with. I took a small step back and pulled my shirt over my head. My bikini straps were already untied and all I had to do was slide down the straps part of the way to display the tops of my cupped breasts. I covered them with my hands.

Jacob stared and grabbed me, unable to hold back any longer. He kissed my chin, my neck, and pulled my top away almost knocking me to the ground from his eagerness. I held his head in position and closed my eyes. I had only just begun to get wet again when he suddenly whispered, "Honey, I didn't expect us to do anything out here. I left the condoms back at your Mom's. Why don't we just stop by the store—?"

I hushed him with a kiss and slipped my hand into his pants. There was no way he nor would I wait to get to the store.

"Ssh. It's okay. I want you to…" I let my voice trail off suggestively and kissed his ear.

"Bells, I've never done it without…what if I—?" Blush crept into his face.

I pulled away from him and held his face eye level to mine. "It's okay." I kissed him. "Don't worry about it." I tugged on his pants a final time and succeeded in sliding them down.

Jacob gently pulled me to the sand with him on the towel and allowed me to straddle over him. He used one finger from each hand to take my shorts and bikini bottom down at the same time. I begun to crouch, in preparation to ride him, and had his tip at the base of my opening when he stopped me again.

"Bella, are you sure about this?" He suddenly looked more nervous than he did the first time we had spent the night together. It made me love his face all the more.

"I'm sure about you." And I balanced myself against his lower stomach as I slid down lower and lower slowly, still unable to take all of him into me at once.

His hands trembled against my back as he fell backwards into the sand from the intense connection of us having sex, feeling each other without holding back or any barriers for the first time. My mind blurred at how differently he felt inside of me. I could feel every moment. I could feel the sweltering heat from him throbbing and growing as I pushed myself against him. I felt like ice being melted; my hands caressing his chest as our thighs continued to meet, and my mouth moved with a fever, inaudible words falling from my lips. The burn from Jacob was almost too intense, tears trying to level out the pain that I was feeling with my yearning to just let him take over me. Finally a small noise echoed from my throat and Jacob placed his hands on my back to keep me moving, gently rubbing various areas with his fingertips; my body relaxed under his direction, the rest of my senses yielding to his reactions.

Jacob was barely talking. He was barely breathing and I enjoyed watching every second of his face as I continued to move and moan with him. I then felt calmer; this was the way Jacob and I were supposed to be with each other. This was why I was unafraid to be with him like this. My hair masked some of the light sheen that emitted off of my face as I brought my head closer to his, his neck propelling closer to the beach's night sky. I watched his face with a triumphant look on my own, happy that he was slowly struggling to swallow. I matched his gentle thrusts with my own harder ones, determined to make him feel the way he had made me feel every moment that I was with him, completed joy and satisfaction in being with someone that he cared so much for. It was me that I wanted him to truly love.

I felt myself close when he suddenly sat up and flipped me over putting me in missionary. He grabbed my legs and pulled my hips into his once my back hit the damp sand, sealing my orgasm's fate, making me come as soon as his head passed my clit. Jacob realized his hastiness and slowed down for a mere second, drawing himself back out; I could feel his restlessness to continue to feel my comforting grip around him, and I nodded as if giving him permission. He positioned himself over me and I immediately began to quiver from my prior climax when he pushed deeper into me again. I gasped against his body as he increased his thrusting. I felt myself losing air from my chest contractions, my breaths becoming lost, but more rapid as I felt him grow and felt my perspiration increase. I could not believe the control he had over me. My shoulders tingled from his heat in my front and reacted to the cold sand on my back. His steady motions were already working on my core, making it recommit to another powerful release when he began to speak.

"Bella, tell me you're mine." Jacob held fast as I tried to back across the sand in an effort to fight off my next peak. "Say it. Say you're mine and I'll let you come again. Now!" He growled.

I shook from the intensity of his voice. "I'm yours. I'm yours, Jake." My head leaned even further into the sand. He was controlling me again. He possessed my body. He owned my orgasms and I was in love with the feeling.

"Tell me what I want to hear," Jacob pressed as he whispered in my ear. I could feel him starting to get close as well. He suddenly began to swell inside of me and I felt him inch past my stomach. The sensation was beginning to dull all the other feelings of guilt, worry, and stress. I knew all of it would leave my body if I could just get that release. If Jacob would only let me come again.

I wanted to tell him anything he wanted to know. I wanted to tell him everything.

"God Jake, don't stop."

"Then tell me," he commanded in a whisper. "Tell me you love me. That's what I want to hear, Bella. Tell me, tell me, tell me." His speed increased slightly, but it was the way he was looking at me, the way he kept a hold of his emotions, the way his chest felt as it grazed my exposed wind-burn nipples. His deep voice and dark eyes as he watched every facial expression I made without judgment, disbelief, or worry. He was confident. He knew I wanted him. He knew I loved him.

And he was going to make me say it.

"I'll tell you. Oh God—I promise I'll tell you—" I couldn't hold on much longer. My legs started to shake around his hips and the beach noises were beginning to fade into silence. I was so close.

"Tell me now. Tell me what I want to hear, Bella."

I cracked. "Oh my—I love you! Jake, I love you!" I clutched his back, digging my nails into him. I felt his skin break as he and I both climaxed together. My fingers tingled and began to weaken as I felt Jacob's seed spill into me. I felt completely satisfied. Neither of us moved nor spoke for the next few minutes as the words and actions began to sink in from what we had both just done. What we had both just committed to.

I had been scared to admit to Jacob that I loved him and now I had just screamed it. There would be no denying or going back. And Jacob…Jacob, I realized might not yet know what he wanted to do with my declaration as of yet. My heart started to beat faster out of nervousness of what things could possibly mean for us when Jacob suddenly lifted himself from my side, touched my face, and gave me a long breathy kiss. When his lips left mine he gently wiped a few beads of sweat from my forehead and whispered smiling, "I knew you loved me too."

His cocky attitude made my heart soar and I sought to close my arms around him. Jacob felt completely calm while my heart was pacing so loudly that it reminded me of the first night we kissed in my room, the earth feeling as though it stopped and slowed at the same time. Everything else became less significant as we continued to lay there naked, partially covered, and apparently in love. Neither my ears nor his focused on what went on outside of us. We didn't hear a few footsteps approaching or the muffled giggles of the two girls walking not far from where Jacob and I laid. We were at peace with ourselves and could not be bothered by the idle chatter that came about or the envy that practically permeated out of the pretty blonde when she overheard a part of what had been said and all of what had been done.