Chapter 2 – Weird Feelings
Sedona was standing on the beach and her feet were buried in the sand all the way to her ankles. She was inhaling the ocean scent as the waves continued to roll up to the shoreline. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she couldn't help but let her eyes stare at the beautiful blue water.
"Hey Sedi…" A deep voice shouted from behind Sedona. She turned around and saw Seth standing there as she pulled her feet from the sand and jogged over to him and jumped into his arms. Seth chuckled as he caught her. "Oh my god Sedona! I can't believe how much you've changed." He swung her in a circle and then placed her on her feet in front of him as he hugged her tightly.
"I missed you too Seth." Sedona laughed as she returned his hug.
Seth chuckled. "I know you haven't seen Paul yet because he left the job site late; why aren't you back at the house? You know he's gonna go crazy if he doesn't see you."
Sedona giggled. "My claustrophobia kicked in with all those damn warm bodied wolves in the house. I had to get some fresh air; otherwise it was about to be panic attack city for me. And blacking out on my first official day home from college would just be all bad."
Seth shook his head. "Well either way let's get you back to the house. I'm sure Paul is about to climb the walls trying to wait for you." When Sedona nodded Seth sighed, he knew Paul would panic if he didn't see her soon. He had been talking about trying to explain he'd imprinted on her and just knew she was going to be upset that he hadn't told her sooner. Sedona filled Seth's ears with her college life and her college studies. He didn't realize just how friggen smart Sedona was.
By the time they got back to the Uley's Sedona's usual smile was in place as they walked up the steps and into the house. It was packed with people from the pack and Sedona felt her anxiety kick in. She immediately found her mother and leaned her head on her shoulder.
Emily giggled as she kissed Sedona's temple again. "Paul's in the back yard sweetie. Your father gave him a beer to relax him." Her eldest daughter's giggles filled the kitchen as she watched her turn and walked out the back door towards the circle of lawn chairs where Paul was perched and relaxing.
Sedona had to breathe deeply when she saw Paul. He was slouching in the lawn chair in a pair of black cargo shorts, flip flops and a white beater that showed off his insane muscle mass in his biceps. It hugged his well defined chest and she knew his wash board abs were also hiding under the shirt. His tan skin was a dark contrast to the white material and she actually caught herself exhaling slowly. She raked her fingers through her hair as she walked closer.
Paul was sitting sipping his beer and waiting for Sedona to make it back from her walk, he already knew Seth ran into her at the beach, because Seth sent him a text letting him know she was okay. All the guys in the pack always kept dibs on the imprints. He couldn't wait to physically see her and hug her. He'd missed her so much. She'd send random photos to him with her cell during parties she went to while at college, but he knew it was NOTHING like actually physically seeing her. Then there was the whole imprint he HAD to tell her about and SOON. It had killed him not to tell her. Honestly he wanted to tell her before she left for college, but Sam and his damn alpha order just KILLED him.
Suddenly his vision was taken from him when a pair of soft hands covered his eyes. A familiar scent infiltrated his nose and he heard a slight giggle behind him. "Sedona that had better be you."
"No it's Seth he was just trying to bring a little mystery to your life." Sedona giggled out.
Paul chuckled as he tried to pry her hands from his eyes but when she wouldn't budge he didn't use his wolf strength. "I have enough mystery in my life. I haven't seen you in five years woman. Stop messing with me."
Paul tilted his head up and Sedona flipped her hands up. "Peek-A-Boo." Then closed her hands around his eyes again as she laughed.
Paul took in her giggles and loved every second of it. She finally released him and he reached back and grabbed her hand before it fell completely to her side and pulled her around and down onto his lap, some place she had been many times; but in nothing more than a friendship capacity. Paul eyes locked with hers and he wrapped her into his embrace and when she returned it they sat there for a good ten minutes. Her face was buried in his neck taking in his own scent. Her soft breath brushed against the skin of his neck and he had to literally will his body to not respond. Yes because hugging his so called best friend and then suddenly getting an enormous erection wouldn't scare her at all. Paul pulled back and brushed his lips across her forehead. "I can't believe how beautiful you look Sedona." He watched her tan cheeks pink up slightly.
They both stood and excused themselves as they walked off. They just enjoyed the silence until they got to the beach. Paul smiled down at her. "So when do you start your new job?"
Sedona smiled. "Oh gosh I'm really excited. I don't start for a couple of weeks; so I've got some relaxation time before I have to start."
Paul smirked. "Oh good then that means we can get some cliff time in, because I owe you after the last time you shoved me off the cliff."
Sedona laughed. "I completely forgot about that. I don't suppose you'd give me a pass for a bad memory?"
Paul's smirk went from sexy to evil as he suddenly wrapped one arm around her waist and he lifted her off the ground and spun her around in circles. Her squeals were music to his ears. When he stopped her back was pressed against chest and he leaned down so his mouth was level with her ear. "Fat chance beautiful; there is no such thing as a pass."
Her breath caught in the back of her throat when his husky voice spoke in her ear. "Yea but it was worth a shot."
What the hell was wrong with her?
Why was someone who she considered a friend suddenly having this sort of effect on her? His hands gripping her hips, made the lower half of her body tingle with anticipation of what he would do next. Her skin broke out with goose bumps all over and she couldn't stop the shiver that followed.
Paul felt her shiver and saw the goose bumps. "Are you cold Sedi?"
Sedona had suddenly lost her tongue. "I – Ummm – a little yea. Maybe we should head back to the house. The weather feels like it's kind of changing out here."
Paul nodded as he put his hand in the middle of her back and guided her back towards the house.
The heat from Paul's hand had seeped through her t-shirt and felt as if it was kissing her skin with a soft warm burn. She could feel her knees getting weak with every step she took. Once they got back to the house she excused herself from Paul's side and jogged upstairs to her room.
Sedona could feel her anxiety starting up. She was trying to figure out why her body was responding to Paul the way it was. She sat on her bed and leaned her head down against her knees as she tried to breathe slowly and get her anxiety under control. Something was wrong with her. Paul was almost ten years older than her.
Paul would feel her anxiety becomes a nuisance as he searched out and finally found Emily. "Em something is wrong with Sedona. I can anxiety just rolling off of her in uncontrollable waves. She went to her room and she looked a little pale."
Emily nodded. "I'll go check on her. Go relax outside with the boys." Emily headed upstairs after she watched Paul nod and head out the back door. Emily came to a stop at Sedona's room and knocked softly. Once she heard the 'come in' she opened the door and stepped in. Emily walked over and ran her hand softly over her eldest daughter's hair. "What's wrong sweetie? Paul said you looked a little pale. Are you feeling sick?"
Sedona looked up at her mother. "I don't know what's wrong with me mom. I keep getting this weird feeling that comes over me every time Paul talks to me or touches me. I don't understand. He's my best friend; what the hell is wrong with me? He's almost ten years older than me."
Emily smiled softly as her daughter moved her head from her own knees to her mother's lap. Emily continued to run her fingers softly through her daughter's hair. "I'm sure I don't know sweetie. You're older now. You're an adult. You're feelings and thoughts change towards different people in your life as you get older. Maybe this is just one of those changes. Maybe you guys will get closer; maybe you'll grow apart because of the age difference. The possibilities are endless at this point. But don't let it ruin your party honey."
Sedona sat up as she nodded. "Yea I guess."
Emily smiled softly. "And go let Paul know you're okay; he's worried about you." Emily watched as she disappeared out of the room. If Paul was going to tell her about the imprint; she could only hope he did it soon. It seemed Sedona was finally feeling the pull and couldn't make heads or tails of it. She would let Paul know what was going on; hoping to guilt him into telling her faster.
