Lost and Found
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. I really appreciate it.
Part Sixty Nine-Intrusion
Bella woke up the next morning to the bright sunlight shining in eyes through the opened window. She squinted and yawned before turning her head around to gaze upon the beautiful man lying spooning her. And he was a man now. Last night had proved that. Her cheeks turned pink as she recalled how close they had come to consummating their relationship. She remembered the way his amazing hands had touched and caressed her body, working her up into a fever pitch of excitement until she was begging for some kind of release. Jacob had been just as worked up, but some rationality in the back of their minds stopped them at the last moment. Neither of them had prepared for this properly. They had no protection and the last thing either of them needed was the pressure of an unplanned pregnancy. And even though their surroundings were magical and ideal for their first time, Bella didn't want it to happen here. She wanted it to be somewhere familiar, someplace that meant a lot to both of them. But it didn't mean they couldn't still enjoy each other.
"Hey, sleepyhead." Bella rolled over so she was facing Jacob and kissed him lightly on his parted lips. She smiled as his eyelids fluttered open and he gazed at her sleepily from under those gorgeously long eyelashes of his.
"It's true." Jacob said dreamily.
"What's true?" Bella ran her fingers through his hair, making it stand up in spikes.
"I've been sleeping next to an angel." Jacob gave her the sweetest smile and her heart melted.
"You are such a romantic." Bella teased as she pushed him back down into the pillows and straddled him. She rested her hands on his muscular chest and just gazed down at him for a while. She watched as his smile widened and he reached up to tug on a lock of hair that fell across her naked shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking I want to do this forever." The merriment left Jacob's dark eyes and he tugged on the lock of her hair again to gently draw her head closer to his.
Bella's mouth hovered over his as she felt his warm hands begin to caress her back. She sighed in bliss as he massaged her sensitive skin. "You are so good at that." She said breathlessly as she cupped his face in her hands and pressed her mouth onto his.
Jacob smiled into the kiss as he felt her breasts press against his bare chest. Tendrils of her long hair tickled his face as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth and tangling it with hers. Bella was still crouched over him. His fingers sent heat trails along her spine until they reached the curve of her ass. He gripped it tightly making her topple on him completely. Bella giggled as her mouth left his and she rolled to the side. Jacob rolled with her so he was on top. He grinned as he crawled down her lithe body until he reached her breasts. He latched onto one nipple, pulling it taut in his mouth. Bella gasped at the pleasant sensation and fisted her hand in his hair as he continued to lave her breast with his tongue.
Bella's cell went off interrupting their fun. She heard Jacob growl as she reluctantly tugged on his hair so he released her breast. It left his mouth with a slight pop. "What?" Bella snapped as she answered the call.
"Bells, what's the matter?" It was Charlie.
Bella motioned for Jacob to stop what he was doing as his lips travelled further down her body, sucking and licking her skin as he did so. He was driving her crazy. There was no way she could answer her dad in a coherent manner if he kept doing that. She gave him a warning look and he sighed heavily as he rolled onto his back, putting one arm over his face as he tried to calm himself down.
"What's wrong, dad?" Bella asked breathlessly.
"You sound weird, kiddo. Have you been running or something?" Charlie enquired anxiously.
"No. Why are you calling?" Bella didn't mean to sound so blunt but she was having trouble regaining control of her emotions.
"I'm worried about Sam. Has he been in contact with you? I haven't been able to get a hold of him. He's not answering his cell and none of the others seem to know where he is." Charlie replied worriedly.
Bella glanced at Jacob. He had tensed up at the mention of Sam. Bella put a calming hand on his chest. She hadn't heard from Sam since they had arrived. She had assumed he had been taking his turn on patrol like the other members of the pack when they weren't checking in with Jacob. "I haven't spoken to him."
"I'm really concerned. The last time I saw him was just before you left to stay at the Cullen place. He seemed really upset and angry about something. What happened between Sam and Jake when I asked Jake to go and stop Seth? I've asked Seth but he won't tell me anything. He's too busy trying to act as mediator between Leah and her parents." Charlie sighed heavily. "I think hearing about her miscarriage has really affected him. I know he hides his feelings a lot but it does no good to bottle them up."
Bella ran a hand through her hair and shook it out to get rid of the tangles. She slid off the bed and and fumbled around for her clothes one handed while she continued to hold her cell in the other. Jacob stayed sprawled on the bed, his eyes staring fixedly at the canopy above. Bella was in the dark about what had gone down between Jacob and Sam, and had been too afraid to ask. By the angry expression on Jacob's face it was obviously not good.
"Dad, I'm sure Sam will turn up when he's ready. He's a man now not a little kid." Bella tugged on her jeans while she rested the cell in the crook of her neck.
"Maybe so, but he's like a son to me, Bells." Charlie confessed quietly.
"I know." Bella softened her tone. "He's like you when in crisis. He wants to be by himself to lick his wounds. He'll show himself when he's ready."
"I suppose so." Charlie conceded. "But I would feel better if you could try calling him. I know he could do with a friendly ear right now. I know he'll respond if he sees it's you. He always does."
Bella watched as Jacob shot up from the bed and strode off angrily toward the en-suite. She heard the door slam and sighed. He was pissed. But she couldn't ignore a direct request from her father. She owed him to at least try. "Alright."
"Thanks, kiddo." Charlie said in relief. "I'm heading over to the Clearwater's now. I want to check in on Harry. He's not been coping with this whole Leah situation very well, and Sue isn't helping very much."
"Poor Leah." Bella shook her head in disbelief that Harry and especially Sue were still being so hard hearted against their daughter. They should at least try and hear Leah's side of the story. It seemed that only Seth was on her side. "You take care of yourself, dad."
"I will." Charlie paused for a moment. "I know that Jake is under a lot of strain with Sarah and everything, but do you think he could send someone to check on Billy. Maybe Embry if he can't himself. I haven't heard from him either. He's been sleeping on people's floors since Tiffani threw him out. I would have let him stay at ours but with you and Sam here it would have made things awkward."
"You're too good to him." Bella pointed out. "I'll ask Jake but don't hold your breath that he'll be interested."
"I know." Charlie replied wearily. "I just thought I'd ask. Keep me updated on Sarah and everything. I'll see you later."
"Bye, dad." Bella ended the call and perched on the edge of the bed. She could hear the shower running. Despite the noise of the running water she knew that Jacob would have heard the whole conversation. Once again real life had intruded on their peaceful interlude and she was thrust in the middle of it.
Rebecca looked like the cat that had got the cream as she sat opposite Bella at the kitchen table. She poured herself a glass of fresh orange juice and took a huge gulp, smacking her lips together at the fruity taste. Jacob was spending time with his mother while Jared had gone to check on his brothers and take his turn on patrol. "I could get used to this."
"To what." Bella was barely listening. Her head was aching with worry, about upsetting Jacob because of Charlie's call, about whether Sam was really alright and concern over Sarah's wellbeing. Rosalie had done an amazing job of tending to the older woman. She was off hunting now with Esme and Edward, but had promised after she had refuelled she would watch Sarah again to continue to give them all respite. Bella was intensely grateful to her for this generous offer.
"To this opulence." Rebecca gestured around the state of the art kitchen. "Wouldn't it be great to live somewhere like this permanently? We'd never have to worry about money, we could afford expensive holidays. We could take my mom somewhere peaceful to recuperate. Just imagine if we were as wealthy as the Cullen's."
"Money doesn't buy happiness." Bella said, frowning.
"But it helps." Rebecca poured some cereal into a bowl. "I am sick of having to worry about where the next lot of money is coming from. My part time job at the store doesn't bring in much. Jared will never be able to get the career he wanted because he's tied to the land like Jacob. All our opportunities are so limited."
"Our opportunities are not limited, Becks. They're there. We've just got to find them. And I tell you something. I bet the Cullen's would trade all their money in a heartbeat if they could have their lives back. None of them are ever going to have a family of their own, think about that before you go lusting after their wealth. You've got something much more precious." Bella said heatedly. She hoped that Jacob wasn't listening to this conversation; it would upset him hearing Rebecca talking like this.
"What's bit you on the ass?" Rebecca questioned in annoyance. "I was just saying."
"Just remember the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Just count yourself lucky that you're alive, healthy and surrounded by people that love you." Bella reminded her.
"Alright." Rebecca rolled her eyes, getting bored with Bella's preachy attitude. The two girls continued eating the rest of their breakfast in silence.
While Rebecca went to join her brother for a while to keep watch over Sarah, Bella took the opportunity to call Sam. She stepped outside to get some privacy and made the call. It rang a few times before going straight through to voice mail.
"Hey, it's me." Bella said as she left a message. "Um…dad's been trying to call you. He's worried…um…I'm worried. Just call dad okay. Bye."
Bella shoved her cell in the back pocket of her jeans and breathed deeply. A fresh breeze was blowing and it lifted her hair away from her hot skin. She decided to sit on the porch steps for a while and enjoy the fresh air. It gave her time to think. She hoped that they would hear from Carlisle soon. He had promised them an answer after forty eight hours and that time would soon be up. Bella rested her elbows on her knees as she propped her chin in her hands. She gazed at the encroaching forest. Birds wheeled above the tall trees, cawing as they swooped gracefully in the air. The branches of the trees swayed in the stiff breeze. Above her the clouds scooted across the horizon. It would rain soon; Bella was used to the signs.
Her cell buzzed in her pocket, making her jerk in surprise. Someone had sent a message. Bella pulled out her phone to check who it was from. Her eyes widened when she saw Sam's name pop up. That was quick. I'm here was all it said. "What the hell does that mean?" She said aloud as she stared down at the puzzling message.
"It means I'm right here." Sam's deep voice startled Bella making her drop her cell. It clattered down the stone steps. Sam caught it as it reached the bottom. He jogged up the steps and passed it to her as he sat down close beside her.
"Why haven't you answered my dad's calls?" Bella snapped as she tried to recover her composure.
"I needed space." Sam looked at her so intently she was forced to avert her gaze.
"That's not good enough." Bella distracted herself by shoving her cell back in her pocket.
"I will call him soon." Sam was quiet for a moment as he continued to look at her with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Did Jake tell you what went down between us?" He asked eventually.
"No." Bella said thickly.
A bitter smile crossed Sam's face at this admission. "He threatened to banish me from the pack and La Push. What kind of person does that?"
Bella's brow furrowed as she finally met Sam's hurt gaze. "Jake wouldn't have done that lightly. You must have provoked him."
Sam kept his eyes trained on hers until he saw her skin flush red. "You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better." Sam stood up again and stretched. "I need you to do something for me."
"What?" Bella said sullenly.
"I need you to set up a meeting with Leah."
"Why?" He had taken her completely by surprise with this request.
"There are things I never got the chance to say." Sam shrugged. "I am tired of being painted as the bad guy when I'm not."
"No one said you were." Bella stood up too. "But you hurt Leah badly."
"Will you set up the meeting or not? I've tried to contact her but it's impossible with her brother acting like a guard dog. I don't want to cause trouble, Bella." Sam's face showed his hurt and Bella could hear the underlying angish in his voice. He never hid his true emotions in front of her.
"I'll ask but that's all I can do. If she says no, you're gonna have to accept it." Bella saw the tension leave his body and he smiled tenderly at her.
"Thank you."
"You should go. I need to get back inside." Bella was worried about Jacob coming out and catching them, even though their meeting was entirely innocent. She didn't want them fighting again.
Sam nodded as he looked at her longingly for a few seconds before he reluctantly left.
A/N-thanks for reading!