Gotta Love Those Animal Instincts (Jacob Black Fan Fiction)

Chapter 23 - Forgive Me?

     Jacob, I had said. His name felt right to say. Just saying it made me feel good. After it was out, it hung in the air. It was his move. The ball was in his court. I wasn't disappointed by the decision. In a matter of seconds, Jacob was right in front of me. It took me a minute to fully take him in. I found my eyes straying to look over his shirtless figure. His muscles flexed and were toned to the max. I had to stop myself to break from the trance his prescence put me in. Once I snapped out of it, I took a deep breath and focused on his face. He looked tired and stressed, but that didn't take away from his appearance.

     "Jake, I-" I try to begin but Jake cuts me off by holding up his hand. He reaches out to touch me but hesitates. He probably didn't know how I would react. He has no idea how much I want him to hold me, if only he'd just touch my arm. However, he pulls back and sticks his hands into his sweatpant's pockets. Then he did something I didn't think he needed to. He began to apologize! "Hayley, I'm sorry. The fight got way out of hand. I should have never grabbed your arm and I don't blame you for the slap," he said. When he mentioned the slap, I cringed. "I know I've been acting off and you're right, I've been overprotective. I just...I just want to be able to protect you from whatever life throws at us and I could never forgive myself if something happened to you and I couldn't do anything. I love you so much but if you're mad I'll understand. If you want me to leave you alone, then I'll honor your wishes. Just know that I love you more then life itself," he finished looking down at me. My head was starting to spin. He shouldn't be the one apologizing, I should. Emotions were overwhelming me. I could feel my knees start to go weak and sway.

      I lose my balance and almost fall but Jacob reacts to what he sees. He reaches his hands out to me. I grabbed them to stable myself. It takes me a second until I begin to clear my mind. His warm touch immediately filled my body to my very core. "Are you ok?" Jacob asks moving his hands up along my arms to my shoulder only warming me more. He tried to make eye contact with me but I just can't yet. "Yeah I'm ok. I just got overwhelmed," I say taking a deep breath. "Do you want me to go?" he asks, clearly taking what I said the wrong way. "No! No, I...I didn't think you needed to apologize. I should be apologizing," I begin touching his hands on my shoulders, holding them in place. Jake takes a step closer to me to where we are only a couple millimeters apart now. He doesn't say anything so I continue.

     "I shouldn't have been picking a fight with you. It was my fault because I totally overacted. I love that you want to protect me and be there for me and I want you too. I had no right to call you overprotective," I exclaim looking up into his eyes. His deep, brown eyes were full of warmth and love as they gazed back at me. Everything that I was feeling was duplicated in them. "And then, when I slapped you..." I say beginning to tear up. I look down at my feet, feeling the shame wash over me all over again. Jacob puts a finger under my chin to lift my eyes back to his. "I'm sorry that I slapped you. It was a horrible thing to do and you should hate me right now. I'm the worst girlfriend and imprint and I--" I drone on until I'm cut off by Jacob's warm lips crashing onto mine. It felt like the warmth that had come from his touch was now exploding through my veins. The kiss took me by surprise,but I quickly caught on. I slid my hands up his bare chest which I knew drove him crazy because he began to kiss me more urgently. I felt Jacob's hands drop to just below my butt, picking me up with ease. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist and snaked my arms around his neck, playing with his hair. I missed this. This closeness, openness, heat that I loved. The cold surface of the long forgotten car was suddenly pressed against my back, a great contrast from the heat radiatingfrom Jacob.

      After several minutes, we pulled apart both breathing heavily. Jacob quickly placed kisses along my cheek down to my neck, making it hard to focus. "So, am I forgiven?" I ask with sharp, quick breaths, trying to slow my racing heart. "Isn't it obvious?" Jacob mumbled against my skin, still leaving kisses and sending a shiver up my spine. I smiled to myself before forcing to Jacob to look me in the eyes. I kissed him sweetly on the lips before he reluctantly let me back down on my own feet. "I love you Hayley Uley, with all my being. I never want you to doubt it," Jacob said looking into my eyes and gently squeezing my hands. I smile up at him. I was so glad we had put this behind us. I am more sure then ever that our love is strong and can survive anything after the several tests these past weeks. "And I love you Jacob Black, forever and always," I replied hugging him around the waist, laying my head against his chest.

     His heartbeat became calm as he wrapped his arms around me. This is how I wanted things...this is where I wanted to be. "Come on," Jake exclaimed after a couple of seconds of silence. He took my hand and started to lead us back toward his house. "Where are we going?" I asked looking up at him. "To make up some more," he replied wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and sending a smirk my way. I laughed as I follow him up the steps and into the house.