"Can we take a break now, Jake?" Leah plopped down on the second-hand couch, her face spotted with Benjamin Moore Creamy Satin paint. The couch was well worn, but the feature that had made it absolutely irresistible was its length. It was longer than Jake. They had picked it up at a yard sale, and it was covered with drop cloths while they finished painting the small living room/kitchen of their future apartment.
"Sure. We can't move in for another month anyway, so we have plenty of time to get it done." He tapped the lid onto the paint can with a hammer, then sat next to her, pulling her onto his lap. "I know it's small, but I love this place."
Leah grinned at him. "You love it because it smells like fresh paint, pizza, and sex - an overpowering combination." She looked around the tiny room and admitted to herself that she loved it too. So far they had a small table with two chairs, the couch, and an ancient bureau. The bathroom was sufficient to their needs - no tub, but it had a stall shower.
He bent down and kissed her, then straightened, his arms around her waist. "I talked to Sam today. I went by to pick up our patrol assignments, and he told me he had something to discuss. It's the Alpha thing," he added, as if that would make perfect sense to her. His hand slowly crept up under her old Seahawks sweatshirt.
Leah frowned and grabbed both hand and shirt, halting his progress toward her right breast and refusing to be distracted from the conversation. "What Alpha thing?"
"Sam says I'm the rightful Alpha," he murmured against her throat. "I told him I'm not interested. All I want to do is work in my shop for eight hours, sleep for eight hours, and spend the other eight making love to my beautiful girlfriend."
"Whoa whoa whoa!" She stared at him. "Can the flattery for a minute. What does he mean by that?"
"Awww, it was some mumbo jumbo about my lineage making me the rightful Alpha and the chief of the whole tribe. Seriously? Do I look like an Indian chief to you?"
Leah combed his hair back with her fingers and examined his face. "Sort of. Your body is imposing. But your nose is too pretty. It should have a big old hook in it." She giggled.
Jacob freed his hand and tickled her ribs. "Leah Clearwater! Of all people to stereotype Native Americans!" His face lit up. "Damn! You don't have a bra on, do you?"
"Dammit, Jacob, don't change the subject!" But she grinned, and the hand crept back under her sweatshirt unimpeded this time. She drew in a sharp breath as it found its target, and the conversation was forgotten for an hour or so.
Somehow they ended up on the floor, long legs tangled together, naked bodies damp with perspiration. Leah lazily traced his lips with her fingertip and spoke softly. "So how did Sam end up being the Alpha, if the job was your birthright?"
"I guess just because he phased first - and he's older. I don't know, but I like things just as they are. And the title Chief doesn't mean much these days. We'll have to talk to your dad about it. He's still head of the tribal council, isn't he?" He ran his fingers through her short hair unconsciously as he spoke.
"I love when you do that," she purred. "And yeah, he is - but only because your dad's in that wheelchair. We've gotta get a bed next. This floor is hard as a rock! Maybe we could get a carpet remnant too. It'd be warmer. Did you talk to your dad yet about our plans?"
Jake chuckled. "You're making me dizzy with your subject changes! Yes, I agree, and no, not yet."
"Leah must think we're pretty naive," Harry commented to Sue as she got ready for bed. "Does she think we really don't know that she's sleeping with Jake?"
She paused brushing her hair and shook her head. "I'm surprised Seth hasn't told us in a weak moment. You know how hard it is for that boy to keep a secret," Sue replied with a chuckle.
"Probably getting paid, is my bet." He turned the covers down on Sue's side of the bed. "You almost finished with that hairbrush?"
Sue smiled and put the hairbrush down, then slid under the covers and snuggled up to her husband. "Well, she is 18, and he's not going anywhere. The imprint is reassuring as to his intentions. I just hope he's planning to finish school."
Harry wrapped his arm around her. "I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't, Sue. We all know he's a good mechanic, and he's just itching to open that shop. Hell, he already repairs half the cars on the reservation. No, I think they'll be talking marriage - or at least living together - before much longer. We should probably act surprised." He chuckled softly and kissed her. "I just hope they'll be as happy as we are."
Sue patted his stomach. "I'm a lot happier now that you lost those extra pounds, Harry Clearwater! I was worried about you. And I'm proud of you for sticking to your diet and getting some exercise every day."
"You know what my favorite exercise is?"
Sue chuckled and turned out the light. "I think I can make an educated guess."
