I felt so warm and at peace. Opening my eyes, I squinted groggily at the site before me. I looked around and was confused for a second. This was not my room. What happened last night escaped my brain in its tired state. Then I looked down and saw that I still had my arms around Leah.

Last night wasn't a dream.

My heart began pounding uncontrollably within my chest once it remembered where I was and what had happened. I never wanted to move from this spot. Leah looked so peaceful when she slept; her features were relaxed and smooth. I took one of my hands that was around her waist and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. She stirred a bit.

"Good morning, sunshine," I whispered in delight as her eyes opened to look up at me. She looked really dazed at first but then she sighed and gave me a light smile. A warm, wonderful sensation enveloped my heart at this sight. I wanted to wake up like this every morning.

She stretched her arms over her head and then put them back around my neck. Making a contented sigh, she looked into my eyes again. However, her good mood changed at an alarming rate as her smile fell and she said, "I'm sorry I did that to you."

I gave her a confused expression as I cupped her cheek and made her look into my eyes after she had averted them. "Sorry you did what, Leah?" I said in an unbelieving tone.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, "after all I put you through, the name calling and physical abuse, I still made you take care of me. It was unfair to you…."

I stopped her rambling by placing my thumb gently over her lips. I smiled at her, "you didn't make me do anything. I wanted to help. I would never leave you in your time of need no matter how awful you were to me." She still looked unconvinced as I noticed the concerned expression glued on her features. I tried to persuade again but getting up the courage to say, "I really care about…"

This time she stopped me by grabbing my hand away from her face and saying, "don't tell me that. Don't. Say. That." She squeezed my hand with each word. Her eyes were sad and concerned. Then my gaze moved towards our clasped hands: I was mesmerized with her warm, soft hand covering mine in an intimate gesture. She brought my focus back to her as she continued, "it'll just make it that much harder when this doesn't work out." With that, she turned her head and began to get out of the bed to my right. I just lay there, wondering whether or not I should let her go. She definitely made me question myself but then I gathered my resolve.

She got so much as one foot on the floor before I yanked her back. I sat up a bit, grabbed her left arm gently with my right then took my left arm and snaked it around her waist. I turned her around and was able to pull her up on top of me. I bound her there, looking at her with a rigid determination in my stare.

She pushed her hands to my chest and tired to lift herself off as I held firmly to her waist.

"Embry! Stop!" she said evenly but harshly. Her legs had naturally slid on the outside of mine and her knees landed parallel to my hips. Her breathing hitched and I suppressed a groan as her crotch involuntarily grazed my arousal. That was not part of my plan. I had closed my eyes in embarrassment but when I opened them again I saw her hooded eyes staring back at me. Her long hair made a perfect curtain around both of our faces and she looked stunning within it.

I don't see how she thought this wouldn't work out; I mean, the attraction was DEFINITELY there. We couldn't deny our physical chemistry; she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

She shook her head and her eyes went determined again as she tried to lift herself off me again, "Let me go, Call" she spit out.

I glared at her and said, "no," right before rolling over and pinning her beneath me with each arm keeping me up on either side of her face.

Wow, déjà vu?

My breath was quickening as I leaned in because I knew I could not let this opportunity pass me by again. Of course, she made sure that it almost did.

"Wait, Embry!" she said as she lightly pressed her hands to my chest in protest. I looked at her questioningly. She said, "I have morning breath." I scoffed at her. That was one lame excuse. I leaned in again but she kept her hands firm.

I made an aggravated huff and shook my head. "Can you tell me the real reason?" I asked. I certainly wasn't going to force myself on her but I wasn't going to move until she talked to me. I looked at her expectedly and she sighed while running her hands through hair in thought.

"We CAN NOT be together," she stated plainly without looking into my eyes.

"Why not?" I asked, a little deflated.

"I'm damaged goods and I could break your heart," she said softly and looked up at me sheepishly while she hesitantly placed her hands on my arms.

I couldn't believe that Sam was able to turn a beautiful, confident woman into such a jaded girl. She still possessed her wonderful core qualities, but she got in her own way because she had been hurt before.

I scoffed, "you are not damaged. You are strong and independent and fierce along with so many other spectacular qualities." She huffed with irritation but I kept going, "you've been hurt before, I understand, therefore you shouldn't be concerned about me. Can you really not find it in your heart to let me in and trust me? I know it's a lot to ask but I thought I've proven myself."

She looked scared as she gazed into my eyes, "Embry, you have been more than I could have ever hoped for but…"

I cut her off, "you don't find me attractive?"

She stammered, "I-I do, b-but…"

"So you don't have feelings for me?" I interjected again.

She didn't answer as quickly this time. Her eyes went wide, she closed them shut, and she finally said in a small voice, "I do…against my better judgment."

My heart soared because she finally admitted her feelings; hearing it out loud felt absolutely amazing. It fell just as fast, though, when I saw the pained expression on her face as she opened her eyes and looked up at me.

I caressed her face and she winced. I could tell she was having trouble trusting me and letting me care for her. Words were not going to convince her. I had told her all I could.

My eyes studied her features for a second. I was trying to gauge her reaction before I did anything. Behind her eyes, I could see she was rebuilding her resolve and I only had a few moments before kissing her would become a death sentence. I leaned in and this time I didn't hesitate. My lips connected with hers gently while my heart hammered within my chest.

I closed my eyes in pure ecstasy. I figured out why I had never dreamt of this moment: no dream could ever do this justice, never in a million years. Fire coursed through my whole body from the touch of her lips and not just because of her high temperature. I could tell her I caught her by surprise when she stiffened and her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably.

I held my lips there.

God, it's been a while since I've done this, I thought as I stroked her cheek gently with my thumb, trying to elicit a response from her. I wanted this to be as magical an experience for her as it was for me. I planted a few more small kisses on her lips until I was about to pull away and give up. Right as I was going to, she slowly snaked her hand up my arm, across my shoulder, and at the nape of my neck. To my utter surprise, she pulled me to her and mashed our lips together.

I immediately responded with passion. I took the hand that was at the side of her face and brought it to her neck so I could get my fingers into her hair. We were both grasping at each other in order to stay fused. She finally opened her mouth slightly to take in a sharp breath and I took that as an opportunity to explore her mouth. My tongue found hers and she sighed while I moaned at the sensation. She tasted like honey. I was terribly aroused by this point, not to say I wasn't before.

After a very hot make out session, not taking any other physical steps, I pulled back slightly to catch some air. She took this opportunity to mischievously bite my bottom lip lightly. I groaned loud and guttural, that was so sexy I could barely contain myself. Once she let go, I placed my forehead against hers.

Before I said anything, I tried to catch my breath and maybe calm down my heart. Noticing that wasn't going to happen, I spoke up anyways, "so…do you believe me now?"

She bit her lip and said, "yeah, I guess I do."

I smiled brightly at her and leaned in for another kiss. She reacted a lot better than the first go-round.

This time, we explored a bit more. Every act was hesitant, especially on my part.

Her unoccupied hand went in between us as it grazed my abs, chest, and biceps. I hissed at the sensation and kissed down her neck. Slowly and ever so cautiously, I opened the top button of her shirt. I took this opportunity to bring myself back up to see her reaction. I gave her a bewildered expression that I hope conveyed, 'is it ok to do this?' She used the hand that was at the back of my head to mash her lips with mine again for a forceful kiss. With that, I teased my finger along her collarbone until she let me go. I slowly worked my way back down her neck and the exposed skin from slightly unbuttoning her shirt. Our breathing was getting erratic and she was guiding my ministrations with her grip at my neck. I got so far as the beginning of the valley between her breasts before I stopped. I had observed that she wasn't wearing a bra and I almost choked in aroused anticipation. I wanted to do more and I'm guessing she wanted me to. Her grip on my neck became almost painful while she tried to bring me lower, but I wasn't going to push my luck. I brought my face back up to her and breathlessly kissed her. She gave up trying to guide my movements.

She brought the hand that had been teasing my chest up around my back and pushed me closer to her. The arm that was keeping me up bent and now my elbow was on the pillow by her head. This gave that hand the opportunity to stroke her hair.

I was now flush up against her and I had noticed that my boner was perfectly between her thighs. I stopped kissing her for a moment and moved my head to rest within her raven hair. This was getting intense. I tried to slow down our breathing and reel in my hormones a bit before Leah got impatient.

She was going to kill me if she kept acting this way. I really didn't expect her to react this well. It was one thing to want to bang her when I saw her naked in the river but a whole different story when I was in the perfect position to actually do so. I was coming undone.

I was thankful in a way that she seemed as horny as me because I wouldn't feel like I was pushing her. On the other hand, she was driving me nuts in the process and making it hard for me to say no.

My horny brain kept reminding me 'she's only wearing two articles of clothing! You know you want to run your hand up her bare thigh' right when I was able to get a grip. I was at war with myself.

She lifted me by the nape of my neck and attacked me with another kiss. This time, I couldn't help it; I took the free hand that was not holding me up and ran it down her side. My horny brain began to win the war.

I let my thumb graze the side of her breast which elicited a deep moan to escape her lips as I continued kissing her. I kept trailing down, past her rib cage, her toned stomach, and then I reached her hips.

At this point I had no idea what to do next. This was moving so fast.

Luckily, I was saved when we heard a knock on the door. I removed my hand immediately from her waist and used it to lift myself off of her a bit.

We were so wrapped up in each other, literally, that we didn't even hear anyone come up the steps. I grunted softly but didn't dare say anything just in case they might hear me.

Leah sighed heavily and yelled, "yeah?"

"Leah, breakfast!" we heard Seth call from the other side of the door.

After the rumbling in both of our stomachs subsided at the mention of food, I thought; Shit, little brother alert!

We heard him rattle the door knob to try to open it and my heart nearly tore itself out of my chest. My first instinct was to jump off of Leah and run but luckily the door had been locked since I had tried to get into her room the night before.

"Why is your door locked, Leah? You never lock your door," Seth asked confusedly.

I started to disentangle myself but Leah grabbed on to my arms and shook her head at me. I turned to look at the clock on her bed-side table. It read 7 am and I wondered how I was able to sleep that long.

"What? Your sister can't have some privacy?" Leah yelled back at him. She ran her hand down in her face in aggravation. She looked so delicious at that moment, if Seth wasn't on the other side of that door with wolfy hearing, I would have ravaged his sister some more. Despite my terrible animal instincts, I refrained .

Seth finally gave up, "ok, Leah. But come down soon, mom made pancakes."

"Yeah, yeah, Seth, don't worry. I'll see you in a bit" she finished and then waited until we heard him walk down the stairs.

Before Seth had interrupted us, leaving was the last thing on my mind. However, since I was no longer making out with Leah, I was able to think strait. I still didn't want to leave, but I had a feeling mom was going to be freaking out and wondering where I was since I told her I'd be home last night. I quickly checked for my phone that was in my pants but I couldn't find it. I figured it must have fallen out while I ran here last night. If I had it, it wouldn't have certainly woken us up if my mother called, which I'm guessing she tried. I put my hand back to the side of her head and looked at her.

"Well, I think that's my cue to go," I told Leah as I lifted myself off of her. She just lay there as I got up and made it to her window. She gazed at her ceiling with a blank stare, I had a feeling she was regretting what just happened but I hoped she was just in a pleasure haze.

"Hey," I got her attention as she turned her head to look at me, "I'll see you later, ok?"

She nodded her head, looking like she was in a fog. I gripped the top of the window and started to put my first foot through.

"Wait!" she called as she abruptly shot out of her bed and made her way to me. I stood up and looked down at her.

"What?" I asked while peering down at her face. She looked up at me in confusion and thought as she folded her arms across her chest. Her hair was a mess and her lips were kiss swollen. My heart would never get used to the sight of her.

She began to speak, "Embry, I don't know what just happened….but it can't…" I stopped her as I got close to her and lifted her chin. I smiled and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed without her permission and they shot back open when I detached myself from her.

She took a long deep breath and slowly unfolded her arms to drape them over my shoulders. Looking up in defeat, she laid her body against mine and our foreheads touched. She brought her face closer and kissed me back. This time, we both lingered there and let it last. We were in no rush at all.

My hormones wanted to overpower her and possess her. However, she meant more to me than that and if I wanted this to go anywhere, I had to be patient.

I pulled away and licked my lips. We were breathing heavily and I tried to slow down my heart beat. Trying to get my hormones out of a no win situation, I gave the only excuse she would buy, "I should go before Seth get's suspicious."

She licked her lips in such a sexy way that almost melted my whole resolve. She bit her lip and nodded. Slowly and painfully, she unhooked her arms from my neck and took a step back. I sighed in disappointment.

Her face fell and she shook her head, "you are going to be the death of me."

I chuckled and cupped her face in my hands so she would look at my face, "it would be one good death, though. Wouldn't it be?"

She moved her head out of my grasp and I saw a ghost of a smile grace her lips as she slap my shoulder in playful punishment. I quickly found her lips again, giving her a small peck before I grabbed the window sill and leapt out of her window.

I landed with a soft thud amongst the leaves and pine needles. With a giddy spring in my step, I headed towards my house.

During the walk home I was absolutely euphoric. Sure, I was completely aroused and had basically blue-balled myself, but I couldn't care less. This was going down as one of the best days of my life…ever!

I felt like such a geek but I gloated anyways; she kissed me, she kissed me!

Not only was I tremendously happy, I was also extremely awestruck. I had made out with Leah Clearwater… wow…

I was so wrapped up in thought that I didn't even realize my mother standing on the porch. Once I made it to the front of my house, I looked at her and my smile was replaced with a look of shame. She had her arms crossed over her chest and she looked down at me in irritation. She wanted an explanation, one I did not have. I stopped at the bottom of the steps and she spoke up, "so, young man…where are God's green earth have you been this whole time?"

I swallowed hard. I was going to have to think of something on the fly, and I wasn't very good at that.

Right as I was about to say sorry, she interrupted, "bup bup bup! No, I want you to understand how worried I was before you give me some silly excuse." I hung my head in disgrace as she continued, "I was up practically all night waiting for you! I called your cell phone a million times with no answer! I was worried sick!" She then made a long, heavy sigh and her look of anger turned to one of loving concern. Continuing, she said, "Sweetie," and I winced at the pet name I didn't deserve, "it's ok if you don't come home, you are twenty years old, but I would at least like you to call just to warn me." She let out another distraught sigh.

I lifted my head a bit to look up at her; she stared back at me lovingly. I immediately walked up the stairs and engulfed her in a big hug. I even lifted her off the ground unintentionally. She giggled at my childish antic. I was still a kid at heart who's best way to convey gratitude and apology was through a hug.

"I'm so sorry, mom," I whispered into her hair as I let her down. Her scent had as much an effect on me as Leah's did. Leah's scent was woodsy and primal where my mother's was soft and reminded me of baby's breath. Where Leah's made my heart jump, mom's made my heart calm.

She separated us so she could get a good look at me. Lifting her hand gently to my face, she said, "oh, hun, it's ok. I would just like a little more communication from you. I feel like you're growing so fast and I'm losing you." She patted my cheek lightly.

I found her last comment a little odd. I had turned into a wolf almost four years back and I had been over 18 for two years. Why was she worried NOW that she would lose me?

As I looked into her eyes, I finally figured it out. It was because of Leah. Mom, even though she didn't know what happened with Leah or that anything had, could sense that there was another woman in my life.

I gave her another hug, she knew me better than anyone ever could. I looked at her again, "I'm so sorry, mom. It's just that I…"

She stopped me by closing her hand over my mouth, "it's ok, sweetheart. You don't have to explain anything." I looked at her with pure confusion although I was thankful she stopped me, I had no plan on what I was going to say next. "I don't know where you are but I have a hunch. I don't need to know, all that matters is that you're here with me now," she took her hand from my mouth, grabbing my ear playfully, "and knowing that you'll never do that to me again! Ok?"

I grimaced in fake pain and nodded.

She let go of my ear and went into the house.

"Want some breakfast?" She shouted over her shoulder as I followed her.

I smiled. Today was going to be a good day.

My mother and I had a nice conversation and she never once mentioned why I had been M.I.A. It was almost as if we had an unspoken agreement. I had a feeling she knew more than she let on. However, the only thing she brought up was my haircut: she was "very pleased."

After being stuffed to the rim with sausage, bacon, eggs, pancakes, and biscuits, I hauled my fat ass to my room and decided to take another shower. I was a little sweaty from the day before and I wanted to be clean if I was going to see Leah later today.

I was as light as a feather once I thought of Leah again. When I had undressed and entered the shower, I decided to go for cold water. Today proved to be a little too stimulating so I thought a cold shower would keep the naughty thoughts at bay….but it didn't.

I braced my hands against the wall and let the cold water pour over my warm skin. My mind was swimming with images of Leah pinned beneath me, kissing me. This wasn't any different from what I usually thought of, but it had an even bigger effect on me because I was drawing from memory instead of fantasy. It was absolutely amazing. I kept telling myself that it had to have been a dream, the whole thing.

I got out of the shower and threw a towel around my waist. Once I opened the door to get back in my room, I was sure that I hadn't dreamt anything.

Lying on her stomach on the side of the bed farthest from me and facing the head board of my bed, was Leah. She had her legs kicking lightly, in a steady rhythm. I noticed she was listening to my iPod as she held the headphones to her ears and propped herself up on her elbows. She was no longer wearing that sexy shirt but she was in the normal tank top and shorts. She was still absolutely mesmerizing to look at.

I took a timid step towards her and the old floor boards of my room creaked. Her head popped up from staring at the device's screen. She swiftly pulled the ear buds out and placed the iPod on my dresser. She sat up on her knees, putting her hands in her lap, and was about to say something until she looked up at me. Taking in my obvious state of undress, she coughed nervously, averted her eyes to the wall, and actually blushed.

Wow, I made Leah Clearwater blush….

I also reverted to a nervous habit, stretching my neck out and rubbing the back of it, trying to think of something to say. I cleared my throat, "uhhh…what you doing here Leah? I-I mean I w-wanted to see you later but…."

She stopped me by cutting off what I was about to say, "uhh, no, its fine. I had just finished breakfast and I was sitting in my room uh…" she took a quick glance at me then turned her eyes away again, "thinking about you." She took a deep breath, "we need to talk." Looking up at me, she didn't get embarrassed as she looked into my eyes.

I nodded and said, "yeah, sure. Just….ummm…let me get dressed?"

Her eyes had wandered a bit to my torso when I brought my limited clothing to mind again. Her eyes languidly passed over every contour of my body. I felt like a piece of meat, but in a good way. Finally, after her appraisal, she absent mindedly said, "yeah, you should go do that." With that, she tore her eyes away from me, brought her legs over the edge of the bed and looked out my window.

With inhuman speed I grabbed a pair of boxers and sweat pants out of my dresser. I put them on just as fast as I found them and sat next to her on my bed.

I put my hand gently on her leg, "ok, I'm decent."

She had been playing with her hands in boredom while I was occupied and she finally stopped to look up at me. Her face was emotionless but somehow calculating.

"Embry," she began with a long, arduous sigh, "about this morning…"

I squeezed her thigh lightly in assurance, "was not a mistake, stop second guessing this." I looked into her eyes in support as I leaned in for a kiss. She seemed like a deer in the head lights, staring at my lips as they came closer but right at I was about to kiss her, she backed away and took my hand off her thigh.

"God, Embry! I can't think when you're that close!" she yelled at me. Standing up in frustration, she stomped to my window and crossed her arms over her chest. I just sat there in utter shock. Old Leah was definitely back.

I placed my elbows on my knees, covered my face with my hands, and ran them through my hair. I spoke up to break the awkward silence, "and you don't think you have the same affect on me, Leah? Just your smell puts my head in a fog."

Once I said this, she turned her head to face me and gave me a confused glare. "I would normally think that's really….really creepy" and she turned her back on me again.

I was a bit humiliated when she said that, I couldn't believe I had divulged that sort of information. However, I then noticed the context of her comment and gaped at her, "but…" I tried to finish for her.

She kept staring out the window, refusing to look back over at me, "but…I shouldn't be one to talk." I finally got up from my seat and walked over to where she stood. I saw her take a deep breath and close her eyes. "It reminds me of camp fires as a kid and…" she paused to open her eyes and look at me, "and pine."

My stomach knotted and my heart rose. I had no idea she felt the same way. I turned my body towards her and cupped her face with my hands. I forced her to look at me and I smiled. She rolled her eyes at me. I laughed and gave her a small peck on the lips. She had closed her eyes and let out a slight groan. I could almost see her battling herself behind her eyelids. I just kept my gaze on her, hoping to melt her resolve.

For some stupid reason this is the moment my mouth decided to run off without my permission. I think it was just because I let my mind wander to last night and her heartbreaking, depressing mood.

"Leah, if you don't mind me asking: what did Emily tell you? What had you so torn up yesterday?" I asked.

Her eyes immediately shot open and she looked at me in horror. Her eyes went glossy and she turned away from me in pain. I heard her breathing become shallow. Good going, Call, you made her cry, I thought to myself.

I gently put my hand on her shoulder in comfort but she shrugged it off. I tried again and this time she walked away from me and sat on the end of my bed, pivoted away from me.

I immediately went to her side but I didn't touch her. She hung her head, holding it in her hands, and I could tell she was crying even though she was trying her hardest not to show it. I stayed there a while, just looking at her. I didn't know if using the same strategy I did yesterday would work. I finally decided the best course of action.

I got up from my seat and went to the front of where she was facing. I crouched in front of her and pulled her hands from her face. She was so broken that she just stared at me with tears streaming from her eyes, not even bothering to hide them. I let go of one of her hands and brushed away the tears from her eyes.

I peered into her eyes and tried something I thought might work, "when you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all." I sang to her.

She glared at me and took a long, deep breath. Taking my hand from her face, she turned her gaze from me. I kept singing, though, "I'm on your side when times get rough and friends just can't be found like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down."

I brought my hand to her face again, making her look at me. Fresh tears were slowly trickling down her face. She shook her head and said, "Embry, really, stop. You don't have to do this."

I rolled my eyes at her and then recaptured her gaze. Looking into her eyes, I said, "now why is that?"

She lowered her head and whispered, "I told you, I'm damaged."

I shook my head and formed my hands lovingly around her face, "you're not. Whatever Emily told you has gotten you distraught and that's ok. Do you want to talk about it?"

Fresh tears formed in her eyes but they didn't spill yet. She finally blurted out, "Emily's pregnant."

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

This is my Christmas gift to all of you!!!!!!!!!

Ugh, this chapter was a pain in my ass! lol

Out of all the chapters, this one was revised and switched around more than any other. I really, really wanted to get it absolutely PERFECT! I hope I achieved even half of my goal.

Keep the reviews, comments, and questions coming. Trust me, I listen to everything you say and I LOVE every bit of it! Really, if there is anything you feel particularly strong about, tell me. Also, the longer the review…the better!

Reviews are love!

Tell your friends!!!!!