Hey everyone…just want to say a big thanks again to everyone who is still reviewing and letting me know their thoughts…I would like to remind you that I have been nominated at the Indie Twific awards for most original story line and that voting closes at midnight tonight I think…so if you're a fan of Wolves Moon please stop by and vote for me it would make my day to be short listed ;) Anyway here's the latest installment, hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. Much Love. Tink. XX
The house was silent and still as I let myself in many hours later, I'd spent the rest of the day down in La Push with the guys and we celebrated Anai's arrival with a bonfire. Now at nearly two in the morning I was wiped out, feeling exhausted, physically and emotionally. Being around all those happy, perfect fit imprints had taken it's toll on me and it was all I could do to remain civil and in control of my beast. Deep down I knew it wasn't their fault their imprints had worked out well and that mine hadn't, but dealing with their emotions and my own was so draining.
I winced as the door swung shut, sounding loud in the silence of the house but then I remembered. Creeping around on silent feet was a waste of time given the vampires I lived with possessed enhanced senses similar to my own and no matter how quiet I thought I was being I knew they would hear me, if not smell me. My lips curled in a sardonic sneer at the thought, they didn't smell too good too me either if truth be told, only my Ness, her scent so provocative it could bring me to my knees, literally.
Lost in my thoughts, I came to a stop at the sight of Edward and the cute pixie like one sat on the couch, both watching, obviously waiting for me. I hid a sigh and crossed my arms across my chest, knowing I was about to face the Spanish inquisition. Ignoring their presence as best I could I came into the room and yawning unapologetically, threw myself down on a chair wearily.
"Edward I'm really not up to this tonight...I know you don't have to sleep but I'm still human," I pre-empted pointedly, knowing I was doing it only to rile him. If he wanted to do this then I wasn't about to make it easy for him.
After what happened in the bathroom this morning with Ness and I, there could only be one thing he wanted to talk to me about. My ass was grass and I was bout to pay for my lapse in judgment where Ness was concerned.
"Don't think we don't know that dog… but I don't want to talk about Nessie, I want to speak with you about your nightmares…Alice and I have been talking and we think we may have some answers"
All thoughts of rest and sleep were suddenly erased from my mind and I sat up a little straighter "And?"
They shared a grim look for a second, it was quick but not at normal vampire speed, which told me they meant for me to see it, probably to prepare me for what they were about to say.
"Edward told me today that it was the Volturi who had you…when you were missing and I tried to look for you I couldn't see you because of who you are…but after Edward told me he thought it was the Volturi who captured you…well I have been trying to see them…spent most of the day trying to see them actually and I don't mind telling you Jake, you've given me a bitch of a headache" she said with a grin.
"Pixie is this leading anywhere?" I said barely disguising my irritation, desperate for answers, desperate for something anything which would give me the green light to make things right with Ness, to tell her everything.
"You were right Edward, he is a foul mood," she muttered again at human level, annoying me even further. She could easily have communicated through her thoughts, it seemed she was determined to have fun at my expense.
I glowered at her but waited in silence for her to go as slight tremors moved through me. Breathing deeply I concentrated on something else to calm me. I searched for Nessie's scent but could only detect a faint lingering trace of the evocative smell that was my Nessie. Worry stirred uneasily inside me, where the hell was she?
"Jasper took her hunting with Bella and everyone else…I didn't think she would want to see you just yet and to be honest this is easier when you give it your full attention and you're not thinking about my daughter" he said dryly answering my unspoken question.
"I'm always thinking about your daughter Edward" I grinned wickedly; two could play at this game. He wanted to rile me then I could rile right back, I was just in the mood for this tonight, maybe he would give me the ass kicking I deserved and I could take out all my anger and frustration on him, show him who the alpha of this house was.
"Animal" he murmured but he said it with a faint smile.
"If you two have quite finished measuring yourselves" she smirked rolling her eyes "I think I should tell him what I found out"
"Go ahead…there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it anyway"
"I've been watching the Volturi all day and for the most part it was pretty normal, all consuming power, dealing with the daily business, meal times, weather checks yadda yadda…but then something caught my attention…it was Aro and I had a vision…he was asking if Gianna was prepared for her trip yet…that she has to do what he asked of her, since her last attempt failed… he's very angry with her…She's coming here…to Forks and bringing Demetri, Felix and Jane with her…she's coming for you… she is not allowed to fail, if she does she will die"
Chills broke out along my spine and my heart rate increased with fear. Not fear for my own life, but fear for Nessie's and for my pack. I had to go. I had to leave now, while it was safe to do so, to lead them away from Nessie. I would not put her in danger, this had been a mistake to stay here, I had placed her in grave danger because I was too selfish to be away from her. Leaving was now my only option.
"No" Edward snarled, "Don't think just because you leave they would ignore the rest of us…you leaving will slow them down but not for long…you stay"
I shook my head and crossed my arms across my chest again "No fucking way… if you think for one minute I am going to put Nessie in danger by hanging around and waiting for the Volturi to pitch up then you're even more stupid than I thought" I snarled, needing to vent the anger and fear swirling inside me. Edward being immortal and pretty much unbreakable seemed the logical choice.
"It won't work dog…if you leave now think what it will do to Nessie"
I grimaced, gritting my teeth I knew he would play this card, the guilt trip "I know it would hurt her but she would be safe, that's all that matters"
Alice rolled her eyes and made a sound of exasperation "Did you not hear what he said Jake, they won't care that you're not here…they'll hurt her anyway, maybe even take her in your place" she said.
I flinched and could not stop the low growl, which rumbled from inside me at the thought they would harm Nessie and that I would fail to protect her again.
"I'm not subjecting her to them…to Jane…you and I both know what she can do"
"Jane's not the one you need to worry about" Edward and Alice spoke together, making me jump a little.
I looked at Edward, had he forgotten the agony she could inflict? Had he forgotten what I had seen them do to Nessie?
"No Jake I have not… but with Bella here there isn't a problem…we are not concerned about Jane…it's Gianna…she's the one" Edward explained as though he were talking to a five year old.
"What the fuck is so bad about a secretary?"
There was a long silence as Edward and Alice appeared to be communicating, their beautiful features perfectly composed, not showing any emotion. After a few seconds I cleared my throat to remind them I was still here.
"Gianna has been changed"
"So she's a leech, you've dealt with them before, we kicked their asses then and we will do it again and it's not even the whole guard…no biggie" I started to feel more confident, perhaps I wouldn't need to leave after all. Perhaps I could stay and this would finally be resolved. This would be a walk in the fucking park.
"No Jake, she's more, so much more than that, she's part of the Volturi now and the Volturi only keep people around if their gift is useful to them…Gianna has a gift" Edward said gravely.
"I still don't see the problem"
"Exactly" Alice put in with a rueful grin. I stared at her, clenching my jaw against the growl inside me, still not understanding, why the fuck couldn't she just come out with it?
"Alice can't see what Gianna's gift is… we only know the Volturi is relying on her to eradicate you, your pack and …us" Edward said slowly, almost as though he did not want to speak the words out loud.
"We'll turn their biggest ally into their greatest enemy…neutralize the threat of the Cullens and the shifters" she said her voice sounding as though it was coming from far away.
I shivered again, it was the pixie's voice but at the same time it was deeper, more mature, deeper, no trace of the bell like sound I associated with her, it was almost male. It sounded eerie and once again I worried for Nessie and my pack, the rest of the Cullen's could take care of themselves.
"How long?" I ground out between my teeth, a stronger tremor moving through me now, my wolf prowling under the surface of my skin, demanding to be let out.
Alice shrugged delicately and I could see she wasn't happy about what she was about to say, her delicately elfin features pulled into a frown "I don't know exactly…weeks maybe a month…they are still so unclear…I can't be sure… they are waiting for something"
"Well try to be fucking sure," I growled, feeling my fangs descend a little in anger, my primal instincts coming to the fore with the urge to protect my imprint. In that moment I felt more animal than man and I knew they sensed it too. Their body language changed minutely from relaxed to defensive in a split second.
She hissed at me in response "As soon as I know…you'll know"
"I have to go…I can't be here…I can't put her through this…Ness has to be my priority"
"How many times can I say this Black before you understand…that is exactly why you can't leave…if you want to protect her then you need to face this head on, make a stand with us…you can't run away"
I growled deep in my throat and bared my now prominent fangs in anger, as I jumped to my feet "I am not running away leech…I am trying to protect Nessie, can't you see that?"
"And can't you see that won't change anything" Alice said calmly "They are coming for you… for all of us…they don't expect to fail"
"So what do we do?" I was pleased my voice did not betray the panic and turmoil that was beginning to spread through me, just the white-hot anger as I thought about Nessie being in danger.
"We wait…until we know more and then we deal with it" Edward said with calm equal to my own anger.
"That's it? We wait? That's the master plan? What about Nessie? Can't we send her away…get her away from here?"
Alice shook her head "They want her too…they would only come after her"
"So we sit and do nothing…Unfuckingbelieveable…" I snarled punching the wall, leaving a large angry tear on the back of my hand and a dent in the wall. I stared it and made a mental note to apologize to Esme later.
Edward watched me still exuding calm and more than anything I wanted to punch him, to fracture his facade, make him feel the pain I felt when I thought about someone harming Nessie, I wanted to pound him.
"I wouldn't advise you try it dog," he said dryly.
"How can you be so fucking calm? Do you know what they did to me, what they'll do to her? You do remember my nightmares Cullen... the ones where they rape and torture her before I end up killing her" I yelled.
I watched a look of pain cross Alice's features and I realized he must have kept some of the finer details of my dream from her.
"They won't get the chance… but there is nothing we can do until their plan is more concrete…until they decide we can't know anything…we don't know what they want but if I know Aro there will be something" Edward spat bitterly his voice as venomous as his blood.
"What about the others, Bella and my pack, do you plan on telling them?" I asked as I paced, running my fingers through my hair, trying to think, to take in everything the pixie was telling me and all that it implied. I had to make sure Ness was safe, she was my priority now, maybe I could get the pack to smuggle her out, to get her to safety while I stayed her to deal with the Volturi.
He shook his head with a low hiss " Forget it dog Ness stays here…as for the others they should know what's coming, what they are dealing with"
"And Nessie?" I whispered coming to a standstill before him.
He shook his head vehemently "I don't want her to worry…she is still very young, she isn't mature enough to deal with this-"
"Bullshit! You can't keep this from her, she's a grown woman Edward" I protested, she had to know, had to be part of this.
As much as I wanted to carry her off and protect her if that wasn't an option then she deserved as much as a chance as anyone at seeing off this threat. I'd had enough of lying to her, hiding my feelings, hiding our reality from her, she was a grown woman now whether he liked it or not.
" But she's still a child, my child" he snapped his calm exterior slipping to reveal his own fear, his own worries. Gone was Mr. Cool, Mr. Rational, Mr. in Control and in his place stood a father, a worried, tormented father.
"She has a right to know what's going on…we can't keep her in the dark about this Edward…you can expect her to be able to protect herself if she doesn't know what's coming for her, she's old enough" I argued back.
Surely he could see I was right. I loved Nessie as much as him, maybe even more so and the thought of putting her in danger made me feel physically sick but at the same time, her best defense was knowledge of what she was dealing with.
"He's right Edward…Nessie will be okay with this …I've seen it…she's more grown up than you realize…she can handle this Edward," the pixie rejoined, coming to stand at my side in a show of solidarity
"No!" he snarled, hissing the word "Not yet…not until we know more"
"By then it could be too late Edward…you have to tell her" she said more gently.
"She's still too young Alice" his voice was a little desperate, almost a plea, his face a bitter twisted mask and for a second I got a glimpse of the predator within him. It was then I knew, he would do anything to protect his child just as I would do anything to protect my mate but he was scared.
" The Pixie is right Edward…we don't have to tell her everything but we should tell her enough so that she is aware" I said prepared to compromise and offered Alice a genuine smile.
It felt good to have someone on my side. She beamed back, almost blinding me with the brightness of her pearly white teeth. He sighed and nodded briefly at human speed. I was surprised by how quickly he had conceded; where Nessie was concerned he was apt to be a stubborn ass. He glanced at me with a grimace.
"I heard that"
I smiled "I meant you to…tonight?"
He shook his head "She'll be tired after her hunt, and it's getting late… we'll call a meeting in the morning, invite the wolves and everyone can be told together"
I nodded in agreement, almost glad that something was going to happen which would take the focus away the kiss Nessie and I had shared. Nessie.
Pain curled itself around my heart as I remembered what had gone between us. It felt like forever since this morning, since I had seen her beautiful smile, touched her lips against mine. I missed her desperately, the pull of my imprint now stronger than ever since I had not seen her in almost twenty-four hours. I hoped she wasn't still upset, that she wasn't blaming herself, that she wasn't hurting as badly as I was.
"You did the right thing" Edward said answering my unspoken thoughts "She will be okay…she'll forgive you"
I only hoped he was right but there was something else troubling me now, niggling at the back of my mind, a question I did not dare think to ask, for fear of reprisals. A question I shouldn't ask but it burned inside me anyway.
"Just ask Jake…I already know what you want," he said with a small yet slightly irritated smile on his face.
"Then why should I even bother asking assward?" this mind reading trick of his really pissed me off sometimes.
"He just likes to make you sweat…. kind of a revenge thing I think" Bella laughed as she appeared in the room with us and was drawn immediately to Edwards side where they shared a lingering kiss, their arms wrapping around each other in perfect synchronization.
My eyes searched for Nessie and disappointment rampaged through me when I couldn't even locate her scent.
"What's got Jake looking so anxious?" she asked Edward, sighing as she leant against him. Sometimes watching those two was sickening. It reminded me of everything I wanted yet hovered just out of reach.
"He wants to know if he can tell Nessie how he really feels"
The smile vanished instantly from Bella's face "Why? Edward what's happened, why would he need to tell her now?"
Edward touched her cheek in a reassuring gesture "Bella love…nothing has happened yet but I believe we are expecting company in the coming weeks"
"And he aint talking about the Denali's" I growled, thinking of that sick twisted little bitch Jane and then what would happen if she got within two feet of me again.
"The Volturi" it wasn't a question.
"Not all of them, just Jane, Felix, Demetri and Gianna…they don't want her to fail again"
"Again?" a look of bewilderment crossed her delicate features and I realized he hadn't shared what had happened in my nightmares with her. I was grateful, the last thing Bella needed was the mental images of that happening to her daughter.
"They are coming for Jake…for all of us…we don't know how and we don't know when but…soon we think" Alice chimed in sounding so calm I wondered how she did it, maybe being with the zombie like one had rubbed off on her.
"Jake wants to tell Nessie how he feels now, tell her about the imprint, in case he doesn't get the chance later" Edward explained to Bella, his eyes on her, as mine were, gauging her reaction.
She looked at me and a frown tugged at her mouth "I'm sorry Jake but I'm not sure that's a good idea…the way you keep blowing hot and cold, though we understand it, she doesn't and it's confusing her…to tell her how you feel now will only make that confusion worse and you'll end up hurting her even more"
I nodded, expecting that kind of response, feeling guilty for hurting her, making her this tormented. I understood where Bella was coming from but that didn't mean I had to like it.
"Let me guess…give her time right?" I muttered sardonically and Bella looked at me with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry Jake, I know this is tough on you-"
"Actually Bella, no you don't, nobody can understand the pain of not being with their imprint unless you are a wolf" I was a little irritated with everyone's condescension, assuming they knew how we felt, when only wolves could truly understand the pain, the desolation, the pain of knowing you were hurting your mate.
"Jake" Edward said cuttingly "We love Nessie and like you, she is our priority… only want what is best for her and this thing between you needs time to right itself"
I nodded not really listening I had heard it all before, time, wait, not ready to deal, not ready to understand, too young. It all passed over my head and once again I found myself exhausted. I glanced at the clock, it was the early hours of the morning and if the pack were coming for a visit I would need to be ready and waiting. I'd enough for one night, like I'd said when I came in, I am only human and exhaustion was creeping up on me again. I made my choice and without saying anything else I headed toward the stairs.
"Nessie has gone to bed, please don't disturb her Jake" Edward's voice came from behind me. I could not see the point in staying to argue with Edward and Bella, they were her parents and would do what they thought right no matter how much it hurt her or me.
I wondered if Nessie was okay, if the hunt had done her good, had distracted her from the pain of our brief but amazing kisses. Her scent grew stronger as I climbed the stairs and I felt it calling out to me, wrapping itself around me, seducing me.
I stopped outside her door and listened intently to the sound of her heart racing, was she awake I wondered? Her breathing was not even and I realized she probably was awake, maybe even reading, as she liked to do in the evenings.
It took all my self-control not to push open the door and peek inside. Having my mate, my imprint so close and yet further away than ever tormented me, burned me like nothing else and I pressed my hand to the door, my arm flexing ready to push should my brain give the command. I stood there my hand against the wood, my head bowed, eyes closed, resting against the door, wishing it were her skin, my fingers splayed and slightly bent. I jumped back startled, as the door was yanked open from the inside.
Nessie stood proudly in the open doorway, illuminated by the moonlight as it shone through her window. My heart kicked up a notch and my guts clenched as I took in the gentle curves of her body, highlighted by the light shining behind her.
My eyes traveled up her body slowly, from the minute perfection of her feet and toes, to the graceful length of her bare legs. I felt my eyes caress the dip and curve of her hips hinted at under her red silk nightdress, they drifted across her beautiful breasts which peeked though the lace covering and slid up the slender column of her neck to meet her stunning face… her mouth twisted in the most furious scowl she could muster.
It was like my body had suddenly been doused in cold water, all lustful thoughts leaving me at the sight of her anger. She braced a hand on her hip and tilted her head to glare at me. Nessie wasn't just mad at me she was furious.
"What do you want Jake?" she sniped, her eyes spitting fire at me, her bronze curls shimmering like satin down her shoulders.
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish; she was so magnificent even furious and ready to kill, she was so beautiful that she stopped my breath.
"I, I, I" I gaped like a fuckin idiot.
The little minx had the audacity to look pleased with herself, a smug grin tugging at her full lips, as she crossed her arms under her chest and tapped her foot impatiently. I tried desperately not look at the way her arms pushed the creamy globes of her breasts up and together, so that they jostled for space and almost called my name, begging me to reach out and touch them. Fighting to keep my eyes on her face I tried for coherence again, and failed miserably, all that came from my mouth was strangled moan.
"Well spit it out, I'm tired" she snapped as my eyes dipped below her collarbone again and I felt all the blood in my body begin to head south. Damn it.
"Hey Dog! I'm up here" she bit out though I could see her eyes were amused as she struggled for composure, her cheeks began to color a delicate pink. I realized she was embarrassed by my blatant staring and was instantly chagrined.
"I'm sorry," I blurted feeling like a small boy, caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"You always are" she was unmoved by my impassioned words, all two of em, shit.
"Ness" I whined, though still trying to sound manly and not like a twelve year old "Please don't be like that…if there is anything I can do to you, I mean for you... to make it up to you" I said stumbling over the words, feeling heat building inside me.
My wolf wasn't far under my skin; I could sense it prowling, demanding to be unleashed, to be free to mate as I took in her mouthwatering scent, heard the increase in her heart, watched as her eyes warmed.
Her face softened for a fraction of a second and I thought she was actually going to laugh but then the light left her eyes and she looked sad, so unbearably sad that I took an instinctive step towards her to comfort her.
Quickly she held her hand palm up to keep me away but it connected with my bare chest as she attempted to push me back.
"Hold it right there buster" she snarled and I swallowed at the feel of her tiny fragile, delicate hand against my bare, heated skin. It stopped me dead, all the air ripped from my lungs.
Inside me, my heart beat a little faster and more blood pooled, altering the fit of my sweats rapidly. I watched fascinated, unable to look away, as her pupils dilated and her breathing altered, become more rapid. The action doing amazing things to her breasts, as they quivered and shuddered beneath the lace of the nightgown. I hid a grin of my own. She was as affected by my nearness as I was by hers.
Despite the fact we were going around in circles, as I had sworn to keep my hands to myself, my body and Nessie's for that matter had other ideas it seemed. Slowly so as not to alarm her I reached up and covered her hand with my own, pressing her palm flat against my chest, feeling hers tremble against my heart. She looked down where our hands touched and then back up to me, a look of confusion in her eyes.
"Jake? Why do you keep doing this? You push me away and then reel me back again…why Jake, why?" she whispered and I could hear her uncertainty, her confusion, her pain. I couldn't bare the thought that this would never happen between us.
"Nessie…I'm so sorry, more sorry than you'll ever know about this morning"
A look of hurt flashed across her face and she tugged at her hand mutinously. I gripped harder knowing I wouldn't hurt her but refusing to let her go. I enjoyed her touch too much. This was what I needed, what I wanted, what I couldn't have.
"Let me finish" I chided softly, steadfastly holding on.
She glared at me again and I wanted to laugh, except I knew this would hurt her and I'd done that enough times since my return.
"I'm sorry I hurt you…I'm sorry that I made you cry… I'm sorry that I keep hurting you, confusing you… I'm sorry that things aren't simple the way they used to be between us and most of all I'm sorry that I have to keep doing this… but I'm not sorry for kissing you, for holding you"
She stared up at me mute, the sheen of tears sparkling in them like diamonds "I don't understand Jake," she breathed, frustrated but I could see the hope flare briefly in her eyes, making them glow.
I nodded, my eyes closing once against the beauty of hers before they opened again quickly "I know and I'm sorry Nessie but for now this is the way it has to be…there is so much I want to tell you, so much you need to know, so much I want to share with you…but not now, not yet"
"Then when?" she cried plaintively, her fingers biting into the skin of my chest and heat curled inside me in response. I loved the feel of her touching me, so did my animal. Mine. I stamped down on the possessive thoughts as they appeared.
"Soon Ness, I promise soon…I know I don't have the right to ask after everything I have done but I want you to do something for me"
"Anything" she vowed immediately and I knew in that instant she had forgiven me. I don't think she ever really had a choice, the imprint was designed to keep us together forever and maybe part of that meant never staying mad at the other for long. It was too physically and emotionally painful to stand for too long.
"I want you, no, I need you to stop doing this," I said as gently as possible, knowing if this wasn't handled right I could hurt her all over again.
Her eyes widened innocently as she stared up at me, looking suddenly so young despite the provocative nightgown she wore. I made a mental note to thank pixie vamp one day, no doubt she was the one responsible for Nessie even having this in her closet. I'd never been in one but I didn't doubt this delectable scrap of material came from some very exclusive and high-end boutique.
"Doing what?" she asked flexing her fingers once more, her nails biting into me. I barely suppressed a shudder in response as desire took over me. My wolf howled and demanded to be free, to sink it's fangs into her neck, to bite down on her and make her his own, to claim her as his mate. I tempered the thought, knowing somewhere Edward was most probably listening; though why he hadn't come charging up the stairs ready to kill, was beyond me.
"Doing this…tempting me" I gritted out, as she pressed a little closer, a small grin tugging at her lips, her scent enveloping me, making me light headed. My body was rigid in reaction to the proximity of hers, every single inch of me was…rigid and I prayed Nessie was not close enough to notice.
"I…tempt you?" she looked absurdly pleased by this notion and a radiant smile broke out across her face warming me even more, as I nodded tersely.
"More than you know" I got out harshly, my hand cupping hers, learning its shape, feeling the increase in her trembles as I tangled our fingers, entwining them. My body responded instantly and my breathing grew heavier. Her mere presence, her scent was like a drug calling to me, affecting me like nothing else ever had or ever would. She had been made for me and me for her, nothing could ever be more right than this.
Bending down to her I pressed my forehead against hers, breathing raggedly, both of us taking greedy gulps of the air we shared. My other hand cupped the back of her head, feeling her hair run like silk though my fingers.
"Please Ness, please…don't do this to me…I can't give you what you want…and that isn't fair on either of us…your parents they will send me back to La Push and I can't be away from you...not now.... not again when I have just found you…please Ness" I begged, knowing my voice was an octave deeper, and shook a little with the depth of emotion I felt.
Her other hand moved to touch my face; it was shaking as badly as mine. I found myself seeing images of us entwined on her bed, our bodies heaving together, our limbs curled tightly around each other, our hearts and mouths joined as we moved as one. I knew what she wanted but I also knew she didn't understand what she was inviting and how hard it would be for us to stop.
The erotic images crowded my brain and sent more blood to my throbbing hardness. Before I could do something that would land us both in hot water, I pulled back and pressed a searing kiss to her forehead, my lips feeling singed where they touched her skin. I released her hand and stepped away abruptly, jerkily. She gazed up at me; eyes wide and slightly dazed but made no further move to touch me.
"You should get some rest," I chided, looking pointedly over her shoulder at the bed. Shit! Nessie. Bed. Laid out. Calling for me. Wearing nothing but a smile. Oh holy fuck. I was so dead.
"Black!" I heard a warning growl from the floor below me and knew that Edward was listening.
A grin pulled at my mouth and despite the impending battle I knew was coming, I felt settled and happy in myself once more. Nessie and I had made up as best we could for now. I had kept my word but also managed to confess some of my feelings. At the same time I hadn't hurt Nessie by denying what was between us. Maybe I was getting the hang of this imprint stuff again, if what I'm told is true, I had always made such a good job of it in the past. But that was then and this was now, Nessie was no longer a child to be placated. She was a young woman with a woman's needs, problem was she didn't understand what that meant.
She dimpled, seeming happier too, now that things were only slightly clearer than mud between us.
I yawned stepped further back from her doorway, determinedly trying to ignore the way her nipples were now pebbled against the lace of her nightgown. "You better get some rest Ness, and I'm beat…I'll see you for breakfast?"
I knew if I was forgiven, she would cook me something.
She graced me with a smile and nodded just once; stepping back from the door "Night Jake" she said softly and turned going back into her room, closing the door behind her.
"G'Night Ness" I said into the dark and turned to my own room, exhaustion claming within minutes and I slept, deeply and peacefully, no nightmares to disturb my slumber.