Blood Moon

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Distraction

Bella had reached the moment between wakefulness and sleep. The feeling of her brain shifting gears was so sweet. She stretched her whole body, enjoying the softness of the blankets covering her, the quiet, the sense of peace. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so rested.

It took her longer than it should have to realize that the bed she was sleeping in wasn't her bed. The double bed took up all the space in the room but for a few inches around the edges. The thick blankets so lovingly tucked around her body were a uniform grey, while hers were an off shade of white.

Sitting up abruptly in surprise, her long, brunette hair falling like a tangled halo around her head, Bella looked about her in confusion, trying to get her addled mind to work. She had no memory of the night before, everything was hazy, as if it was slightly out of focus.

Eventually her eyes settled on the large figure blocking the doorway to the tiny closet of a room. Jacob – still wearing the same black cut-off sweats he'd worn the night before – was stretched diagonally in the entrance. Even on a slant, with his long legs sticking out in the hallway, his back resting against the hard wood of the doorframe, he didn't seem to fit. Even though he looked supremely uncomfortable, he had still managed to sleep. He was snoring lightly with his mouth hanging open. The sound of her movement hadn't even made him twitch.

A tender expression crossed her face the longer she looked at him. His own face was peaceful with deep sleep, all the worry lines smoothed out. There were circles under his eyes that she hadn't noticed before. Despite his ridiculous size, he looked very young now, and very weary.

With rising awareness, she now realized where she was. This was Jacob's room. She had been sleeping in Jacob's bed. But the knowledge of the how and why she had ended up there continued to elude her. The only way to find out would be to ask him, but she was reluctant to disturb him. Still, he looked so uncomfortable slumped in the doorway like that….

"Jake! Jake!" She called out in a loud whisper. "Wake up!"

Jacob woke abruptly, his mind seemingly on autopilot, he automatically scanned the room quickly. He breathed through his nose, smelling for any sign of danger.

His dark eyes lit up when he saw she was awake. "Hi, Bells." He said huskily, wearing a warm smile.

"Jake, what are you doing wedged in the doorway like that?" Bella asked curiously.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight." Jacob's face turned serious when he said that, the happiness in his eyes dimming as he spoke. "I didn't mean to fall asleep." He castigated himself.

Bella still had no idea why she was in his room, and in his bed, but she couldn't leave him sleeping on the floor like that. It wasn't fair.

"Jacob, I can't sleep in your bed and leave you on the floor." She complained.

Jacob shrugged, his hand rubbing absently at a painful crick in his neck. "If you sleep on the couch, I'll stay in there on the floor. Then we'll both be uncomfortable."

Bella knew she couldn't leave him sitting in the hallway. There was enough room that they could both be comfortable in his bed. "Jake, there's room for both of us."

"You sure?" Jacob asked, slowly rising to his feet. "I mean after everything that happened; I didn't want to presume…"

Bella looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"You don't remember?" Jacob regarded her thoughtfully.

"No." Bella gazed back at him with troubled eyes. What was she missing here? "I don't seem to remember much of anything about yesterday. I don't even remember how I ended up here." Her voice tailed off and she looked at him nervously. "What happened? Did I hit my head when we were out riding the bikes or something?"

"It wasn't the bikes." Jacob settled down beside her on the bed, the mattress dipping alarmingly under his weight. "Look, don't worry about it now. You're fine. I'm fine. We're all good."

"But…?"

Jacob pressed a forefinger to her lips to quieten her. "No buts, honey. Dawn hasn't broken yet and I'd like to get a few more Z's in before we have to start another day. We'll talk more then."

Bella caved in quickly. She knew how obstinate Jacob could be. He clearly wasn't ready to share what was on his mind, so she would just have to be patient. As he said, they were both fine.

Decision made; Bella scooted to one side to give Jacob as much room as possible. He settled down, curling in behind her, spooning against her. He smelled like the forest after a rainstorm – clean and fresh. Natural. With his arms wrapped securely around her, Bella instantly felt warm and safe. Closing her eyes again, she felt herself slowly drift back into a dreamless sleep.

Jacob – and his bare chest – were waiting for her in the living room when Bella stumbled out of his bedroom at dawn the next morning. He was on the couch, idly leafing threw a newspaper, checking out the wanted ads.

At the sound of her approach he looked up, setting the newspaper aside.

"Morning beautiful." He smiled at her; a bit shy – which was a bit ridiculous given how they'd spent the last few hours wrapped in each other's arms. Bella had been so comfortable and deeply asleep; she hadn't even stirred when he'd gotten up early to check in with his brothers.

"What time is it?" Bella asked.

"Its just after six." Jacob stood and walked over to her, placing his hands on either side of her waist. Or, more accurately, in the vicinity of her waist. She was wrapped from chest to toe in one of the blankets she'd pulled off the bed. "You look all cute and snuggly." He teased.

Bella snorted. "How can you say that when I'm sporting the most ridiculous bedhead?" She gingerly touched the tangled halo on her head. "Do you have a comb I can borrow? Its going to take me forever to detangle this bird's nest."

Jacob laughed quietly, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You look perfect to me."

"You're biased." Bella complained.

Jacob inclined his head and kissed her then, chaste and tender. Bella placed a hand on chest and leaned in, enjoying the soft brush of his lips against hers. She traced his warm skin, marveling at the silky-smooth feel of it.

"Keep doing that and I really will never wear a shirt again." Jacob said against her lips.

Bella huffed a surprised laugh. "What? I think Charlie might have something to say about that."

"Forget Charlie for a minute. You like it when I don't wear a shirt." Jacob continued in the same teasing tone. His dark eyes had a playful light in them. "You like it a lot, in fact. I like doing things that please you."

Bella blushed furiously as she felt her body's immediate reaction to that bold statement. She hadn't exactly been very good at hiding how into his body she was. He was so physically attractive; it was hard not to ogle. However, the way he had phrased it, made her wonder something.

"Can you tell that I like it when you don't wear a shirt?" She ran a hand down his fabulous chest unthinkingly, eliciting a small moan from him.

Jacob looked suddenly bashful. "Your scent changes subtly, but unmistakably, when you are aroused."

Bella felt her face heat up even further. That was something she had never considered before. Were there no secrets she could keep from his super-wolfy senses?

"Oh, god this is mortifying." She groaned.

Jacob's smile turned impish as he leaned in and pressed his lips to her ear. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Bella, honey. I love knowing you're into me."

Gooseflesh erupted on her arms at the husky tone in his voice. Even though the thought weirded her out, the idea that her scent changed when she was turned on and that Jacob could sense it- she reminded herself it was just Jacob. She trusted him more than anyone.

His warm hands rubbed her sides reassuringly, his lips pressing softly against the sensitive skin of her neck. She slipped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shoulder.

"You okay?" Jacob checked.

"Yeah." Bella whispered, and she was. "I suppose I better hit the bathroom."

Jacob pulled away with a resigned sigh. "I guess so. I must help get the old man ready for the day anyways. You know where everything is?"

"Uh huh."

Just before she turned to go, Jacob pulled her back into the cradle of his arms. "Don't take too long. And I hope that later you are not going to be averse to picking up where we left off just now."

Bella slapped his chest lightly, before standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. Because no – she was not averse at all.

In the Black's small bathroom, Bella stood under the showerhead, the water coming down as perfect rain, warm and steady, awakening her skin all the right ways. She felt like she was floating on a cloud, her mind and heart consumed with the remembered feel of Jacob's kisses.

Placing a blob of conditioner on the palm of her hand, she combed her fingers through her tangled tresses, letting the scented liquid slide through the silken strands, feeling them separate until eventually her hair ran like a ripple of mahogany down her back. Using a comb she had found in the bathroom cabinet, she ran it through her hair several times, getting rid of the last snarls, before letting the water do the rest.

It was when she was soaping herself down that Bella finally noticed the scar was gone. She did a double take, staring down at the smooth, creamy skin on her right wrist in perplexity. She thought at first it wasn't showing up because of the muted light in the bathroom, but when she stepped out of the shower, examining it under the natural light shining through the small window, it showed the same unbroken surface. She twisted her wrist this way and that, confused and bewildered as to why the silvery outlines of James' bite mark had suddenly disappeared.

Grabbing one of the thick, fluffy towels, she cinched it closed around her body, a feeling of uneasiness beginning to take hold. It made her wonder again why her memories of the previous day were so hazy. She strained to remember, to recall something, anything of what had happened to bring her to La Push the night before. Jacob had been a little evasive when she had asked him earlier, putting off answering until later. Then her worries had been pushed to the back of her mind by his intoxicating kisses, which had left her floating to the bathroom without a care in the world.

Well, he was going to give her some answers now, she thought, with a determined set of her mouth.

Hiking the towel up further under her arms, Bella rushed out of the bathroom, not really looking where she was going. Her exclamation of surprise was muffled by Jacob's broad chest as she collided with him. He had just been coming out of his room. Bella breathed in, deep and reflexively, and then immediately she wished she hadn't because, God, he smelled so good.

Beyond good.

And now suddenly she couldn't remember what she had been so agitated about. She had no idea if it was some sort of wolf pheromone – or just something unique to Jacob himself. All she knew was that the scent of him made her want to throw herself into his arms and stay there forever.

"Bella?" Jacob's voice was low and husky as he spoke. "Are…are you okay?"

He sounded concerned but made no move to disentangle himself from her. Not that he could have, he didn't have the will or the self-control. He slowly slid his hands from where they rested on Bella's shoulders down to the small of her back, enveloping her in his arms in the process.

He pulled her closer.

"You're safe, honey. I've got you." He murmured, his breath fanning warm and toasty across the top of her head.

The soothing tone of his voice reminded Bella of why she had been in such a hurry in the first place. She shivered, tucking herself closer to him. His body felt so delicious against hers. She felt his supernatural heat suffusing her, excitement running down her spine as he pulled her even closer and rested his cheek on top of her head.

It was a few minutes before Bella felt composed enough to speak again.

"Jacob." She began slowly, reluctant to break the silence. "Something weird has happened."

Jacob pulled away just enough so he could look at her face. Her eyes were strained, the perfect serenity of her countenance marred by a worried frown. "What's going on, Bella?"

Despite the warmth he radiated, Bella suddenly felt chilled. "My scar." She explained, raising her right arm until it was almost level with his eyes. She turned it palm upward. "It's gone, Jacob. Just like that. Like it disappeared overnight."

Jacob didn't appear as shocked as she expected him to be. His eyes tightened at the corners. "You really don't remember anything about last night, do you?"

Bella shook her head wordlessly. Her throat tightened. Her whole body going taut as if bracing itself for impact. "What happened last night?"

Jacob took her shaking hands and enfolded them in his. His expression became pained as the distressing events of the previous night began to unfurl in his mind. He didn't think he would ever get over the trauma of almost losing Bella. It wasn't something he cared to revisit, but right now he had little choice.

"Come with me." He said, tugging her toward his room. "You need to be sitting down when I tell you this."

By the time Jacob came to the end of his horrific tale Bella's face was ghostly pale. She was in complete shock. "I think I'm glad that I can't remember anything." She admitted shakily. She felt moments away from coming apart at the seams. The enormity of what this meant was only just beginning to sink in.

Jacob's hand was steady against her cheek. "I'll never be able to repay Old Quil." He said quietly.

Bella registered the pain in his voice, realizing that as difficult and traumatizing as it was for her to hear, he was the one who had lived through it. She was thankful to the elder, too.

"Oh, God, Jake, Edward couldn't have sucked all the venom out like he thought. To think it's been slowly poisoning me this whole time. No wonder I've felt so low, so weak and fatigued the whole time – "She lost her train of thought and fell silent.

Jacob was standing so close to her and now his words were hot puffs of air on her skin. She could hear the repressed anger behind them. "I don't believe that, Bella. Nor do any of the others. Edward knew what he was doing."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked tremulously. "You make it sound like it was a deliberate act, that he knew that he had left some of James' venom behind."

"Not James' – his." Jacob ground the words out, his fury rising.

Bella shook her head in denial. "No – I can't believe that. I won't. You're mistaken. Edward always wanted me to remain human, he was insistent of it."

"He's a proven liar. You know that, Bella. Deep down inside. How often has he lied right to your face?"

Bella shivered, moisture welling in her eyes. She stared up at Jacob, the need for him to move even closer nearly overwhelming. She wanted him to erase every trace of Edward Cullen completely from her mind.

Jacob seemed to sense her need. His mouth was suddenly on hers, the gentle pressure of his lips stealing the breath from her lungs. His hand slid down to her chin, gently tilting it up to give him better access.

Bella parted her lips for him with a soft sigh. He tasted divine. She wanted to lose herself in the sensations – in the way he slid his tongue along hers, coaxing a whimper from her throat, in his strong arms, as they encircled her and pulled her closer. A thrilling pulsation of heat shot through her, a visceral reminder of just how much she wanted him before she got lost in the kiss again.

"Bella. My Bella." Jacob breathed, pulling away. He looked so dazed, as if he wasn't even aware of what he was saying.

He didn't wait for her to respond, only quickly maneuvered her away from his bed until she felt the bedroom wall pressed firmly against her back. He loomed closer, leaning forward against the wall himself until his forearms bracketed her head. His dark eyes were all pupils, wide with the same desire that Bella could feel coursing through her own bloodstream. His mouth was less than an inch from hers.

"Bella." He breathed. "I – "

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by a series of very loud knocks on the bedroom door.

Jacob jumped back from Bella as if she had scalded him.

"Jake." Billy's voice called from the other side of the door. "Old Quil and the others are here. We're ready to get started. Are you coming?"

"Just a minute." He yelled, trying to keep his voice steady. "We're almost done."

Bella was trying to quieten her own breathing. She was still wrapped in only a towel. Jeez, she had never been so thankful for a closed door. "I'm going to get dressed." She whispered to Jacob, quickly scooting around him in the limited space.

"Yeah." Jacob raised an eyebrow at her. "That was one close call."

"You said it, mister." Bella agreed ruefully as she yanked on her jeans.

A/N-thanks for reading!