AN: thanks for the reviews, and thanks to my beta Jazzys-Confederate1861, mauralee88 and Stealth Liberal for betaing this chapter.
Suggested story: The Wolf and His Girl, by twifantasyfan a very well written Jared/Bella, while you are over there, have a look at my new story imPerfect love a Dark Jared/Bella.
11. Bella
Bella woke up on Sunday with a huge smile on her face. She had dreamed about Paul again, but she felt happy this time. Somehow the guy had managed to get to her. Paul made her feel alive again. She liked that he made her playful side come out, and she really appreciated that he was a strong man.
She went down and started making breakfast for herself and her father. Bella was humming happily and cooking when she heard her father entering the kitchen.
Bella finished cooking and put everything on the table; she sat there and started eating. She was ravenous, she didn't remember having been hungry; so it was with surprise and appreciation that she was eating her pancakes.
She looked up when she felt her father watching her. Bella caught his questioningly gaze; she smiled and said, "I'm hungry. Why are you looking at me that way?"
He father replied, "It's been a while since I saw you eating that much, has this anything to do with your date yesterday?"
Bella eyed him quizzically, and then it hit her. "Sue?"
Her father nodded. "Care to give you old dad some info on the guy?"
Bella blushed. "His name is Paul. I met him through a school's project." Her father was still watching her expectantly. She sighed. "And I like him."
Her father's smile grew. "Really?"
She smiled back. "Yes really. He's stubborn like a mule, sometimes moody and rough but these things are what I find myself liking most. He's different from anyone I have ever met and I feel at ease with him. Are you happy now?"
Her father smiled softly. "I am happy if you are. I know that neither of us are keen on talking, so I'll say this now and then I won't mention it again. I know that Edward broke your heart, and sometimes I feared that you would never get over him but now I can see in your attitude that Paul is doing you some real good. So I will accept him as long as he makes you happy."
Bella felt tears in her eyes; she stood up and gave her father a brief hug. "Thanks dad. I know that eventually you'll like him too. He offers to the world an angry and impolite version of himself, but he is a good guy. Just not the typical sweet smiley type. I think I got enough of that."
Her father laughed. "I got enough of that too."
She left her father to go in her room, she picked up the phone and called Jake.
"Hello" said Billy's tense voice.
"Billy, hi. This is Bella, is Jake there?" she asked.
"He is here but he isn't feeling well. I'll tell him that you called." said Billy.
"Can I do something? I could come there and cook?" Bella said apprehensively. Jake has never been sick before and she worried about him.
"No thank you Bella. Everything is under control here. As soon as he gets better I'll have him call you. I need to go now." said Billy and the line went dead.
Bella thought that Billy's behavior was a little bit strange. She wanted to call him again when the phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello, this is Bella."
"Oh, sorry I was looking for a kitten. I must have the wrong number." said a husky recognizable voice.
Bella shivered with desire, she really wanted the guy. "Cut the crap Paul. This is kitten talking, what do you want?" she said playfully.
His gruff response made her heartbeat increase. "I don't think you can handle what I want from you, baby. At least not yet."
She laughed. "You are a .... a perverted pig!"
Paul laughed too. "Oh, you finally found out, but guess what? You are still talking to me. You must be into perverted pigs then."
She laughed even more. "Please Paul, I can't take it anymore. Stop it!"
She could almost see his smirk when he whispered. "You keep that phrase in mind baby, soon you can say it to me in an entirely different situation."
Bella felt the warmth spread through her body. Damn! He was good. She cleared her voice.
He laughed again. "I left you speechless kitten? That's a first! Anyway, I was just calling to make sure that you were still up for the date this afternoon."
Bella smiled. "Yes, I'll see you at three."
"Ok baby, take care and try not to fall at anyone else's feet." said Paul's voice and before she could reply, he had hung up.
Oh, he was so going to pay for that! She laughed again and her heart felt good. Not whole, not yet, but definitely better.
.................................
The morning went by quickly; she finished her homework and a few chores. After lunch she had a shower, and she was ready at three when the bell rang.
She went to open the door with a huge smile. Paul was smiling back at her, after a moment of hesitation she went to him and gave him a peck on his lips. Before she could retreat she felt his hands catch her hips and bring her closer to him again. She looked up in time to see his lips touching hers.
Warmth, need, want, heat. She felt as if she were on fire when his mouth molded to hers. When she opened her mouth he gently slid his tongue between her parted lips. Their tongues battled for dominance for a while. In that moment she lost herself in Paul. Nothing mattered but him, his body, his rough hot hands on her.
She opened her eyes when he released her mouth. His eyes were dark and dangerous. They showed her how much he wanted to make her his. She gulped and managed to rasp. "Hi, wolf boy."
He looked at her so shocked that she started to laugh. "What? You call me kitten; I just thought you needed a nice nickname yourself. Seeing as you descended from the wolves I thought it apt to call you that."
He asked her seriously. "What do you know about my ancestors?"
She shrugged. "Jake once mentioned a few of Quileute's legends. So it stuck with me that you descended from the wolves. Now that I look at you, you would make a nice wolf."
He grinned. "So who is afraid of the big bad wolf?"
She laughed. "Not this kitten for sure!"
He raised an eyebrow, and then smirked. Before she realized he had tossed her on his shoulder. "You should be afraid kitten, but seeing as you have no sense of self preservation, I'll need to teach you."
She was laughing even more. "Paul put me down! You big oaf!" She hit his back with her fists.
He laughed too. "Why should I? I'm perfectly happy this way. " Slowly he took them to his car.
Bella was shocked when she heard a voice saying, "Excuse me, but what the hell are you doing with my daughter on your shoulder?"
Uh, oh. If she could have opened a hole in the ground and disappeared, she would have. Her father caught her in an embarrassing position, and it was his first time meeting the guy she liked.
She blushed and said, "Sorry dad we were just joking around. Herr... this is Paul by the way."
Her father remained silent for a moment, he was studying Paul intently. Then she saw him shrug his shoulders and walk to meet him, his hand outstretched. "Nice to meet you Paul."
Paul took her father's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Chief."
"The name is Charlie, use it. From what Bella told me you will be hanging around here a lot in the near future." said her dad.
She blushed more deeply; then she glanced at Paul and saw his big smile. She was stunned at his reply.
"Thank you Charlie, you are right; I plan to hang around often. I'm here to stay if she will have me." said a very polite Paul.
She smiled softly. "I'll think about it." Then she winked at him to let him know that she was joking.
"However, I'm warning you Paul." said her father. "You hurt her and I'll be on you before you can blink. Am I clear?"
Bella saw Paul looking directly in her father's eyes and say. "Crystal. I am not planning to hurt her Charlie."
Her father nodded. "Make good on your promise kid and we'll get along well."
Bella smiled, her father was a good man and Paul was a good guy. She was sure they would really hit it off.
Paul took her hand, and she felt her heart flutter. "Ready to go Bella?"
She stifled a giggled. He didn't dare call her kitten in her father's face. "Sure sure. See you later dad,"
She managed to get into his car before dissolving into laughter. "Oh God! I've never been so embarrassed in my life! Let's hope he didn't hear our conversation."
Paul joined her laugh. "Let's hope, kitten."
