*DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to the Twilight Saga and it's characters. This is purely artistic fiction drawn in inspiration from Stephenie Meyer's words.

*WARNING: Sexual content ahead! Readers proceed at your own discretion.

*Things are heating up! ; ) Have this little spicy jalapeño pepper on the scale of 1-100! Enjoyyy, folks~

Morning came entirely too soon; pale rays of sunlight cascaded through the tall window, slowly rousing Bella from her brief slumber. Jake's alarm clock went off minutes later—7AM on the dot. The abrupt, deafening noise shattered the silence of the room. To her chagrin, he hardly moved, sluggishly removing his toasty, heavy arm from around her middle. He lifted his hand, tapped the snooze button and snuggled closer against her tiny body. The alarm sounded yet again, annoyance staining the tranquility of being close to him.

"Don't you dare touch that snooze button. Turn it off." She urged. Jake grumbled in retaliation, his voice heavy with sleep still. He pressed it anyway.

"I can't help it. I'm tired, honey," he mumbled. "I'm debating letting Embry run the shop again today." She didn't know he stayed up all night to watch over her. Jake was worried about Bella getting sick in her sleep, and it overrode everything else.

"Jake. You have responsibilities." She murmured. "Don't let me interrupt your life."

"I know, I know. Two days off isn't the end of the world. The guys understand." He paused. "Bells, you are my life now." His voice was raspy and low. It sent tingles down her spine.

Bella turned her head to look at him and gazed into his deep sable eyes. A sleepy smile was shared between them before Jake broke the connection. He nuzzled his face into her neck, taking in her comforting scent. She rolled over and pressed into his arms, feeling his steady heartbeat thrum under her fingertips. Bella couldn't believe yesterday happened. All of it was real. He was real. She had never allowed herself to unwind like that before, on all accounts, but with Jake, Bella felt safe. She trusted him.

As the alarm went off again, Bella reluctantly disentangled herself from Jake's embrace, and turned it off. She stretched her arms above her head, knowing they had to get up and start their day, but wanting to stay in bed with him. Forever. With a sigh, Bella swung her legs over the edge of the mattress and stood up, feeling a residual, painful grogginess from her drunken stint. She glanced down at his tall, prone form. He was still half-asleep, sprawled across most of the mattress, soft snores escaping him intermittently. It wouldn't hurt to let him rest a few minutes longer.

She slipped out of the room without so much as a sound, tiptoeing carefully downstairs to the kitchen to make some coffee. As she waited for it to brew, Bella gazed out of the window that overlooked the spacious backyard, watching the red sun rise higher in the sky. She felt a sense of peace and contentment, believing she had found her rightful place. Beside Jake, in this cozy house, starting a new chapter in her life. She could finally go to college and get her degree, see a therapist in Seattle; Bella wanted to get a part-time job to pay for things. It would help ground her. Maybe since Mike was running the Outfitters store now, she could ask for her position as a part-time cashier back.

A shuffling sound followed by a groan startled her. The voice didn't sound like Jake. She hadn't heard him lumber down the stairs. Were Quil and Embry still here? Bella turned around, clumsily setting her old mug from the cupboard onto the countertop. The ceramic clacked on the marble, hot coffee spilling over the side. She recoiled and instinctively hissed, drawing the tips of her burnt fingers into her mouth.

"G'morning, trouble. How's the hangover?" Quil said in a sing-song tone. He was followed into the kitchen by a refreshed looking Embry. Neither of them wore a shirt, just their shorts from last night.

"Don't have one." She mumbled flippantly, removing her fingertips to examine the angry red spot on her pale skin.

Quil turned to Embry and frowned. "Huh. Guess I owe you five bucks, Bry."

"Pay up." Embry cracked a smile, patted Quil's back, and faced Bella. "Is Jake still sleeping?"

"Yeah. I thought I'd let him sleep in." Bella crossed her arms over her chest, realizing she was in just a tee shirt and underwear. The material was long enough, but unforgiving in the support department. If a breeze happened, everyone would know she wasn't wearing a bra. Stellar.

Bella continued, deflecting, "when does the shop open?"

"Not for another two hours. Jake always gets there early for inventory and to do a last check on cars before they go back to their owners." Embry added, a sudden quietness enveloping him.

"Are you guys hungry? I was gonna make breakfast. There are eggs, bacon and hash-browns. You'll have to make your own toast, though."

"What? You're offering to cook us food?" Quil looked to Embry. His jaw hung open in dubiety.

"Uh, yeah. I'm pretty sure that's what I just said. I thought the pack was supposed to have supernatural hearing." Bella stifled a laugh and gathered up the egg carton and bacon package from the fridge. "I actually like cooking. It's one of the few things I'm good at."

"Don't kid yourself, babe. You're pretty damn good at fluent sarcasm and you're fun to be around, too." Quil tutted. He and Embry took their places at the bar stools to the island.

Around the same time she finished cooking the bacon, a disheveled Jake wandered into the kitchen. Two eggplant colored half circles stood out under his dark eyes. He was visibly exhausted. His five o'clock shadow was also much more prevalent today, blooming across not only his cheeks but also his jaw and chin. He pulled his messy raven hair into a low bun, stretching his arms across his chest from left to right. Positively dreamy.

Bella nearly dropped a few strips of bacon on the floor when she caught a glimpse of how far down his grey basketball shorts were. The waist-band barely clung to the sharp angle of his hips, perfectly encompassing the deep 'v' shape of his lower stomach muscles. She straightened and averted her eyes. It wasn't fair that they all had six-packs. Although, if memory served her correctly, Jake and Paul were the most athletic looking of the entire pack. Quil was stocky, like Sam and still had baby fat in his face and midsection. Embry was more lean, like Seth in that regard. She couldn't complain too much. Half-naked men parading around her was a welcome change from boring neutrals, sweaters, and expensive clothes imported from Milan. No more passive aggressive judgment, either.

"Somethin' sure smells good." Jake murmured, rubbing residual sleep from his eyes. He was surprised by Quil who playfully punched him in the ribs.

"Nice of you to join us, sleeping beauty." Quil joked. "Are you finished with your primping routine?"

"Shut up Ateara, some of us didn't sleep last night."

"I thought you said you weren't gonna do anything last night 'cuz she was drunk. Did her starry bedroom eyes change your mind?" Quil waggled his eyebrows.

"We didn't—I didn't," Jake growled. "I was making sure she would be okay, asshole." He glared down at Quil, his nostrils flaring slightly.

"Bella, is that true? Was he a perfect gentleman?" Quil asked in a teasing tone. He and Jake both looked at her.

Bella's face instantly flushed at the bold insinuation. She finished plating the bacon and turned off the burner to the stove.

"No, nothing happened, but I didn't know you stayed up all night, Jake." She drew her arms over her center. It was her fault he didn't get any sleep. Good job, she scoffed at her poor choices.

"Where are your manners? She just cooked you breakfast. Say thank you." Jake slapped the back of Quil's head, whose grin faded slightly.

"I am grateful. She offered. I didn't hold her at gunpoint, Black." Quil shoved away from the island, standing up and walking around it. He clutched two of the three plates from the stack Bella laid on the counter earlier.

"Honestly, with all the bickering, someone might think you two were a couple." Bella chuckled, munching on the corner of a piece of lightly golden toast. Quil made a gag, and Jake grimaced at the thought.

"Nope. Nuh-uh. That's just what going to the same school since kindergarten and being five minutes away from each other's houses does to you. He's a jackass, and he likes to argue, but he's our best friend. Jake's lucky he's alpha and we have to obey his commands. Right, Bry?"

"Yeah. If you say so." Embry tried to contain his laughter. "The jury's still out on that one."

"Thanks for making breakfast, Bells. You really didn't have to." Jake hugged her from behind, gifting a pensive kiss to the top of her head. She forced a dry bite of toast down, the blush deepening along her cheeks.

"It's not a big deal. I wanted to." Bella shrugged. "You better grab a plate. It's not gonna stay hot. Or last if they get to it first." She shooed Jake with her free hand. He flashed his knee-weakening smile, all pearly white teeth, and did as he was told.

Ten minutes and the hash-browns, egg carton and complete package of bacon was gone. Jake and Quil had both went for seconds while Embry remained seated and slowly picked at the scrambled eggs on his plate.

"What's wrong, Embry?" Jake asked between a full mouth of hash browns.

"Huh? Oh! Nothing, I promise." Embry replied, a nervous smile painted on his narrow face.

"Is it Tiff?" Jake knew better.

"Yeah. I hope she's okay. I really don't want to clean her up again." Embry set his fork down.

"I'm sure she's okay. Don't worry yourself, Bry. She's a grown ass woman." Quil rubbed his shoulder.

"Yeah, you're right." Embry nodded complacently. He stole the remaining piece of bacon from Quil's plate and finished the food from his own plate.

"Can I ask a favor?" Jake began—

—"Before you ask, the answer's yes. Yes, I'll watch the shop again today." Embry agreed, standing up from his seat. He set his plate into the sink, rinsed it, opened the dishwasher and placed it between empty prongs on the bottom drying rack.

"How'd you know?" Jake was dumbfounded.

"I took a week off school when I imprinted. I know how strong the pull is..." Embry remained facing forward, "that and you're pretty damn obvious, man."

"It's just today. I'm tired is all." Jake shook his head, taking a swig of orange juice.

"Yeah. Get some sleep. You're on patrol duty tonight, remember?" Embry turned around and smiled wistfully. "I'll take care of the invoices and calls before we open."

Jake stood from the kitchen table and swept Embry into a powerful hug. They patted each others back and did a strange half hand shake afterward. Brotherhood stuff? Or pack stuff? Bella wasn't sure which.

"Thanks, bro. You're a lifesaver." Jake grinned and eyed Quil who was diligently washing his plate off to go into the dishwasher, too. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. We know, dad." Quil put his hand on Jake's shoulder. "'When the Shepard is away, the wolves will play,' or whatever that one guy said."

The boys exchanged looks and erupted into a fit of laughter.

"Seriously, get some shut-eye. I don't wanna hear you bitch later about falling off a cliff because you were too tired, Jake." Quil said matter-of-factly, heading toward the back door, Embry in tow. "See ya, Bella."

"Yeah, I'm gonna take a nap in a minute." Jake's head bobbled. "Thanks again, Embry."

"No prob, dude. Later." Embry waved on his way out, "bye, Bella."

Bella waved her hand awkwardly and then retracted it. The back door swung shut with a soft click. Jake immediately made a B-Line for her, scooping her into his arms and mercilessly kissing down the slope of her bare shoulder. The baggy T-shirt she wore betrayed her.

"And you—" he crooned, "you need to eat something else than toast."

"Ja-ake." Bella protested. "I'm really not hungry."

"Please? Just one more piece of toast, then?" He pouted, flexing his ability to get away with anything. Irony aside, Jake showed his cute puppy dog side.

"Agh. Fine." Bella threw her hands up in submission. "One more piece, but after, you go straight to bed."

A mischievous spark twinkled in Jake's eyes. "Is that so? Are you gonna join me?" He cooed with a wide grin.

Bella's mouth popped open in shock. Really? Ass. She closed it and her lips formed into a thin line. Mild irritation bubbled to the surface.

"N-no. You're a grown adult," she stuttered, "and so am I. Which means I don't need you to police my eating habits."

"I'm sorry, honey. I'm just trying to help you." Jake softened, tenderly cupping her jaw. "You won't get better if you don't accept my help."

"I am trying." Bella said in a small voice.

"I know..." Jake kissed her forehead and released her.

Bella grabbed another piece of bread, popped it into the toaster, and when it was done, she apathetically forced it down between generous gulps of orange juice.

"Okay. Bed." She demanded, pointing to the stairs.

"Yes, ma'am." Jake fake saluted.

The mischievous glint in his sable eyes was back, and he sported an even fuller, wicked grin on his lips. She was going to be ambushed, wasn't she? It took mere seconds before he lifted her into his arms, carrying her bridal style up the stairs in three long strides. Bella had no time to think. They were already in his room.

"But the dishes!" She cried out, quickly followed by a snort giggle, swatting at him.

"Later. Cuddles now." He commanded in a deep, sultry voice that elicited a shiver down her spine.

Bella remained quiet and stilled. Jake carefully set her down on the mattress, flopping down beside her. They resumed the comfortable spooning position they had been in an hour ago. Bella didn't feel tired initially, but the longer she laid there, she fell back into the arms of sleep without prompting this time. Her dreams were filled with normal things: a simple life worth living with Jake, busy holidays, a packed table on the weekend at Billy's, two black-haired little children running around Charlie's yard...

When Bella woke, it was a little past noon. Her eyes cracked open slowly, her mind processing how much time had gone by while they slept. She sat up a little, noting the time on the clock before she shrugged out of his sleepy hold without disturbing him. A yawn escaped her soft lips. She lifted her arms over her head in a relaxing stretch to her cramped muscles. When she looked back down at him, he hooked his arm around her center and ushered her back into his heated embrace. Bella complied with a mild bout of hesitancy. He brushed a few of the wavy curls around her neck to the side, gifting a flight of tender kisses to the area. Goosebumps coated her pale skin, and she shivered from the delightful contact.

"Good morning, honey." Jake whispered, the tip of his tongue tracing over the outer rim of her right ear.

Bella's heart took off like a rocket from within her ribs, zipping across the room like a shooting star. Any semblance of rationality disintegrated. Instead of speaking, she fought back a groan of pleasure at his delicate touch. Her breath hitched in her throat. This had never happened before. No neck kisses. None of it. Bella was hopeless, happily lost in this new onslaught of divine torture.

"B-but it's not morning anymore." She finally responded, grasping at his massive hand on her exposed midriff. Not a chance in hell. There was no budging that.

"Sorry, forgot what time it was." Jake purred. His tongue lathed across the sensitive spot under her ear, nibbling it afterward.

"Jacob," she gasped, "where is this coming from?" Bella was barely functioning, her brain short-circuiting. It was too much! Oh, but not enough...

"It's always been there. Right under the surface." He murmured. "I've had dreams about this. About you. You're always gone when I wake up. Had to make sure it was real this time."

Bella's eyes snapped open wide, and she came to her senses.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jake." She said with a wistful tone.

Her hand rose and stroked his stubble, eyes locking with his temporarily. He growled in return, nestling his chin into her nape and pressing her hips flush against his. Not even the top sheet lay between them. Bella tried to keep herself sane and not think about the fact she felt absolutely everything. She was only in her thin cotton underwear and his shirt. He was wearing his shorts and Heaven help her... She might not have much experience, but she knew. Simply knew. Bella felt the shape of his erection—and size, dear God—pressed against her rear and lower back. Judging by how far up it touched, he had to be anatomically correct for his height. Easily. Bella blushed deeper at the thought. Edward was less than average in that department. His gravely voice drew her from the confides of her wandering mind.

"I don't want to wake from this dream. You're all I've ever wanted, Bella." He whispered.

Jake cupped her jaw and their lips brushed. That little of contact sent intense sparks into the base of his skull. Every single touch, every kiss with her was like holding a direct conduit to an industrial power line. The physical pull was stronger than anything he'd ever felt before—he wanted her so very badly. In every sense of the word. The allure of her scent, how she felt in his hands. It was all pleasure with a heaping side of fresh agony. She tasted like pure honey to him, and a subtle note of vanilla. Cookies. Sugar cookies. That's what her kisses reminded him of. Her skin was mouthwatering. The strawberry shampoo and freesia body wash was a double whammy to his senses.

Jake hungered for more, tilting her chin up to angle for a deeper kiss. The tip of his tongue traced tentatively along her lower lip, begging entrance. She complied, opening her mouth further until their tongues met. He overpowered hers with a robust softness, dipping into her mouth with slow permission. Bella moaned into his mouth on instinct, the hand that once rested along his jawline threaded into his silky hair. She was pulling him closer to her, as close as he could be right then.

Their hearts beat in tandem, drumming out any hint of uncertainty. The exact moment he heard her mewl of satisfaction, a switch flipped inside his soul. Heaven was a beautiful place on Earth, and its name was Isabella Marie Swan. More. Every cell inside his body was screaming, crying out for her. His wolf howled in pained bliss.

Touch her, kiss her, love her. She's your mate, your imprint. You need her… now!

Wait. No. Not yet. Jake pulled himself back. He had to wait. Bella felt him withdraw and visibly pouted, her eyes fluttering open to figure out why. His forehead came to rest on her shoulder, and he exhaled slowly.

"Why'd you stop?" She asked. A rosy glow illuminated her face. Petal-pink lips rubbed raw from his stubble.

"I'm not sure if we should keep going." Jake forced himself to admit it.

"Is that what you want?" Bella murmured, a familiar feeling of rejection lurking deep within her. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothings wrong. It's the opposite. I want more... but I keep pushing myself on you." He sighed.

"Jacob, if I didn't want it I would have made that clear." Bella was beyond touch starved. He made her feel wanted for once in her life. Like she wasn't worthless or pathetic for having human desires. "I'm not a ceramic bowl. You're not going to break me."

"I'm jumping the gun. It's hard because you're here now—" he huffed, "all I wanna do is kiss you. All over. Nonstop. I keep forgetting you might not be ready for stuff like that." An image of Edward baring down over Bella flashed behind his eyes and he tensed.

"Stuff like what?" Bella smiled softly.

"Stuff like… like," Jake couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Like sex?" Bella continued, twirling a loose strand of his hair.

"Y-yeah. That kinda stuff."

Everything seemed like it was going really fast, maybe to someone else, but to Bella, who was married to a vampire for four years and had one too many close calls with other vampires before she even turned eighteen… it was perfect. The timing was right. She knew now that she was meant to find Jake again and come to terms with her unsolved feelings for him. Shapeshifter or not. He respected and loved her from the beginning. It was Jake who healed her with his sunny warmth.

"I think I'm learning to decipher what's good for me. I don't have all the answers, but I know you're important. We'll figure it out together." Her voice wavered. "I love you."

His heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

"You do?" Jake asked, struggling to believe he heard her correctly. He had been waiting patiently to hear those words, daydreaming about it for weeks, months, literal years of his life. He lifted his head and stared deeply into her chestnut brown eyes.

"I do. I love you, Jacob." Bella repeated.

"I love you—I love you so much, Bells. You're my whole world."

The air between them electrified, and their faces clumsily mashed together. Words couldn't even describe the fervent, emotional kiss they shared. Bella pulled away this time, a funny thought popping into the forefront of her mind.

"Don't you think you should ask me out?" She fought back a grin, turning to face him a little better.

"Is that you giving permission?" He murmured, stroking the back of his fingers against her fiery cheek.

"Yeah. I figure that with all the weird stuff in my life, dating a man who turns into a wolf occasionally after divorcing a vampire isn't really that crazy in the grand scheme of things."

"Well, count me in. Bella, would you like to go out sometime?" Jake beamed down at her. If he could smile any brighter, he'd blind her.

"I'd love to. Since you're playing hooky from work, would today suffice as a good time for a first date?"

"Sure. What'd you have in mind, honey?"

"Is it too cliche to want to re-do our the whole movies thing? Like go sit in a theater again?" Bella shrugged.

"I don't think so. I promise not to disappear for weeks after." He said with utmost seriousness.

"Perfect. It's settled then. Let's get dressed." She went to stand up and got pulled back down by Jake.

"Boyfriend tax." He painted her face with dozens of little kisses, holding it in his large hands before he pressed a poignant kiss to her lips. Jake released her and remained laying down. "Your clothes should be dry now. We can also stop by Charlie's for new ones on the way into Forks. You're gonna need to grab some extras to keep here for when you spend the night, anyway."

Bella openly gawked, "I forgot. We have to tell our dads."

"Mine will be thrilled. I can hear him now. 'About goddamn time, son.' Charlie, on the other hand…"

"I'll hide the shotgun he keeps under his bed." Bella winced.

"Good thing I can heal from one of those… I think." He paled.

"It might not be so bad." Bella nodded. "C'mon."

"I gotta take a quick shower. I'm not dirty, but I'm not exactly clean…" Thankfully, Bella didn't fully understand what he meant by that comment.

"Okay. Should we tell Charlie at dinner? I was thinking about making lasagna tonight."

"Better to rip the bandaid off now." Jake agreed. "I'll call my dad after my shower. I hope Chief Swan is less inclined to pump me full of lead with his best friend there."

They shared a quaint kiss and Bella left to go downstairs and put her clothes from yesterday back on. Jake scrubbed a hand down his face and lifted the sheet he discreetly covered his lower half with when she wasn't looking earlier. He'd need to wash it with his shorts. For now, he stripped, balled both up and threw them in the bathroom's corner. A shower would help him decompress. He was too tightly wound… He wanted her. Bad.

*What ya'll think? c; Can you wait for the lemon(s)? It's closer than you know… be patient~

*Comment and tell me what ya'll are feeling! :D I wanna know if you liked this ch.

*Working on writing the next three chapters. Lightning struck my house yesterday evening and fried my damn internet modem so I've been dealing with that. / The good news is everybody's okay!