…I wonder what she’s thinking right now about me being here with him…when we were down at the beach, she told me…-…I wonder if Charlie ever told her that he knew I really liked her…I mean…-

Ugh. He was almost as consumed with his love for Bella as…well, as I was. I didn’t like that. It was irritating. I focused. …thump-thump…thump-thump…

…this feels amazing…she’s cold, but I can feel her skin warming slowly…she’s so soft…her hair smells so good…

…thump-thump…thump-thump…

…like…almost like strawberries…

I sighed and cast a look at Bella. She was falling asleep. I couldn’t feel her warmth in the room yet, but I was sure it would return. Her scent would return as well, of course, much quicker if I killed Jacob now…but, well…you should probably find another consolation…

…so pretty…I wish I could see her face better…ha…although she is kind of glowing…if I didn’t know better I would think she was almost dead…still pretty, but dead…ah ha ha ha…

Idiot. I groaned inwardly. He was becoming impossible to tolerate. I had one other consolation and that was the knowledge that Seth Clearwater was due to arrive shortly. Perhaps I would not have to be confined to Jacob Black’s thoughts for the entirety of this dreadful night! Perhaps I would not have to kill him for the sake of my sanity…

Another gust of wind shook the tent violently and Jacob and I looked at each other, listening. Bella shuddered, but…with less intensity. I looked away from Jacob Black’s gaze. He could interpret the gesture as he wished. After all, I could ignore the smoldering thoughts, perhaps even the tension in his eyes, but the image of him – his body pressed so closely next to her, in such an intimate position – pushed my frustrations to the edges of their carefully maintained boundaries. Seven seconds…

I peered at him from the corner of my eye and he appeared as if he’d nearly forgotten my presence, although I was sure he could still smell me. Did he realize it would only take seven seconds? Did he truly trust my love for her so implicitly? Well, he should. I would never hurt her, but was he taking it for granted? Using it to his advantage? I wasn’t sure. Was he intentionally attempting to irritate me with these machinations, or was he so lost in the moment that he failed to realize I could hear everything he was thinking? I saw his arm shift slightly. He was holding her closer to him. My fists had a mind of their own, continually clenching and unclenching with a deliberate methodology. The clenching, the pressure, the controlled movement was helpful. Between the movement and her heartbeat, I could handle this –