Ness' Comet

Ch 83: Comet

We tracked for days. It felt like we were getting nowhere, but we couldn't give up. The winter started to get harsher and harsher the further north we ventured. Jacob's tracking was really put to the test, and he was concentrating harder than I'd ever seen him. He was in wolf form the majority of the time, which was probably a good thing given our situation. I couldn't very well be infatuated with him while he was a giant wolf.

I'd been learning to live on animals I caught as a source of blood if I began to crave it. I of course packed food rations with me, but I couldn't have packed with me containers of blood. It never would have stayed good and besides, it would have felt extremely weird. I accepted that I was a vampire but I wasn't about to let myself get that desperate.

I sat one night, lonely in the small tent we packed, feeling Jacob's pull but refusing to do anything about it. In the back of my mind, if I was being completely honest, every night I hoped he would come in and see me, but he was far too conscious of my boundaries to enter when he thought I didn't want him to. However, that night was so cold, even I could feel it. I mustered up the courage and meekly unzipped the tent enough to call out to him, "Jacob? Could you come in here for a minute please?"

I didn't know where he was but he was most likely curled up nearby in wolf form. Before long, the tent unzipped again, and his large shirtless form crawled its way inside, shaking snowflakes if his damp hair. He was going to need a haircut soon, his dark locks beginning to fall into his eyes.

"Everything okay?" His eyes were filled with concern.

"It's freezing in here." I answered. "Do you think you could stay and keep it warm? I'm sure your body heat will act like a furnace in this small space," I tried to joke.

The corner of his mouth tilted up. "Of course."

I let out a relived breath. I was feeling my stomach coiling. I was so nervous and I wasn't sure why. Part of me wondered if the cold was part of the problem, but I wasn't about to let myself be completely diluted. I wrapped the blanket I had with me tightly around my shoulders.

"Do you want...?" His voice trailed off as he brought his arms out, making clear what he meant.

I knew it was probably a bad idea, but for too many reasons I couldn't resist the offer. I relented, and scooted my way into his warm embrace. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you." I murmured.

"You're welcome." He replied with a grin, rubbing my back. A tingle went up my spin, hitching my breath. He could feel it too. I knew he did, but he wouldn't act on it unless I did first. He'd already done so in the past and I'd stopped him.

"We'll find him, Ness," he assured me, assuming that was the reason for my nervous behavior.

I nodded. "I hope so." A long pause lingered between us as we sat both comfortably and uncomfortably in each other's arms.
"I'm just sorry for Lizzie. This is all my fault she's injured before her wedding."

"Don't beat yourself up Ness. Lizzie is tough and she's marrying a werewolf. She'll be okay."

I sighed. "I know. I'm so glad she has Seth and that Seth has her. They both deserve it."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Everyone deserves that kind of loyalty to another person." I could sense the meaning behind his voice and it almost moved me to tears.

"Jake," I sat up. "Do you," I began, unable to finish but forcing it out. "Do you love me still?"

He seems surprised by my question. "Ness, I've always loved you."

I shook my head. "No, I mean, are you still IN Love with me?"

He breathed, his jaw clenched and his eyes bearing deeply into mine. "Forever."

That was my undoing. I started to realize, what was the point? Why had I been fighting what I wanted? Lizzie was imprinted on too, and it didn't change what a wonderful relationship her and Seth had. Why should this affect mine? Being with Aro kept us apart, and we've both changed, but our love for one another hadn't. I didn't care in that moment who either of us had become in each other's absence. I would love whoever Jacob Black was at any point in time, because he deserved it and quite frankly so did I!

I leaned forward, taking his face in mine and pressed my lips to his. What started soft soon grew hot and intense, the passion behind his kiss overcoming him. I could feel his need and I couldn't deny my own. He held me close, laying us both down on the tent ground, hovering above me, his warm body heat radiating onto me like my own sun. It was all a blur, but pieces of clothing were quickly shed, and before long, we were so close, it was like a comet crashing towards earth, growing hotter and hotter until an explosion erupted. In my thoughtless state, the only words I could muster, whispering desperately in his ear, were, "I love you too."