Enthralled

Chapter 10: For Keeps

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I reached her in record time, putting my arm around her. "Hey, hey, hey, I didn't mean to make you cry, just to think a little."

Snifflin', she choked out, "Everything you said in there is true. I just don't feel like I'm ready to change our relationship—not yet."

"It's okay, take it slow. I'm a patient kinda guy." Oh, crap, she started cryin' again, so I scooped her up and took her back inside the Taj. I placed her on the lumpy couch that stood against the far wall, and held her while she cried her eyes out. Geez, I swear her tears coulda filled up about a couple of buckets full.

After a few minutes, she finally shut off the waterworks, and hangin' her head, whimpered, "I don't deserve you, Jake. You're so forgiving—an absolute saint. And I'm an absolute fool."

I tipped her chin up so she could meet my eyes. "You're not a fool, Bells. You were just dazzled. I mean, let's face it, he's rich, good-lookin' in a pasty sorta way, and can live forever. I'll bet he could spout poetry too, huh?"

Bella nodded, and she looked so damn cute, I couldn't resist. I leaned in, wetting my lips, only this time, her lips met mine. Holey ... I was in heaven.

Holdin' on tighter, the first kiss became two, then three. I think my heart exploded to twice its size. I didn't want this moment to stop. I wished that time would freeze over while we were locked together like this.

Gently pushin' me away, she whispered, "You won't ever leave me, will you?"

"Not on your life."

She snuggled into me once more, and I let her. I wasn't that dumb. Why would I let her go?

You coulda heard a pin drop in the Taj. Actually, I could hear a pin drop—wolf hearin', remember?"

Just the glorious sound of her breathin' and the beatin' of her heart filled the silence. How I loved hearin' those sounds.

My girl fell asleep in my arms, clingin' to me like my own personal strip of Velcro, and that was alright with me.

An hour passed, and Bella was still sleepin' like a curled-up kitten. She probably woulda slept longer if my two best buds hadn't happened along.

Quil grinned at the sight, and brayed, "Hey—what's goin' on here, Jake?"

"Yeah, are you that boring?" Embry added.

Bella's head reared up at their voices. "Oh, gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No problem."

Embry snickered. "We can see that."

She shifted her weight, separating her sweet self from me. "I better go. I still have to do laundry today."

"You don't havta leave on our account," Quil chimed.

Sitting up straight, she said, "No, really. I promised Charlie I'd get all the clothes washed."

Damn those two. I glared at them as I helped her up from the couch. "Alright, c'mon, Bells, I'll walk you to the truck."

~~~~~

I suddenly felt awkward standing there beside the metal monstrosity. "You're not gonna—you know—go back to the way things were, are you? 'Cuz I'll die if you do."

I held my breath, waitin' for her answer.

"I don't plan on it. My mind is functioning clearly for the first time in months."

The air whooshed outta my chest in relief. "Great. See you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah." She stepped forward shyly and kissed me goodbye.

She climbed into the ol' clunker, and backed up onto the road. Once there, she beeped three times and waved.

Sighin' again, I thought, What a long haul that was. Finally, she was mine.

*****

If anyone had told her she would end up with Jacob, she would've said they were crazy. But there it was. It was so easy, as easy as breathing. He was, and forever would be, her best friend. They knew each other inside and out. She felt like this was always meant to be, the natural path her heart should follow.

Now that her mind had cleared, she was sure she had made the right choice, the sensible choice, the only choice.

*****

She was a vision in her white sundress and bare feet. There was a feather ornament in her hair, and it billowed in the breeze as Charlie walked her toward me. He released his hold on her, placing her hand in mine. My heart overflowed with love and contentment.

It'd been three years since I rescued her from that filthy bloodsucker—well, two of them if I wanted to be honest about it. And here we were, committin' ourselves to each other in front of our friends, family and Old Quil.

She gazed at me with those chocolate eyes while the vows were being spoken. I wasn't a mind-reader like Eddie boy, but my heart told me all I needed to know. Bella loved me, and I would cherish every minute I had with her.

At one time, I had nothin' but contempt for the fate I'd been gifted with. If that hadn't happened tho', Bella might've been killed at the hands of that nomad, or undead as the case may be. I guess what I was tryin' to say was, thanks, Eddie, for trippin' that gene, and double thanks for leavin' my sweetheart behind. I made a promise to myself then and there, to love, honor, and protect my Bella 'til my last dyin' breath. And I swear on my mother's grave, I will make good on that promise.

The End