A/N: Well hello lovelies. Just got back from vacation and sat down to knock this out. It still amazes me how I can sit and have nothing to write then the words just seem to flow right out of me. Hopefully, you enjoy it. Till next time ;)
The drive back to our house was silent. Paul was sulking. I let him. I had no desire to pander to his bruised ego over something as unmovable as my nature. I didn't balk at his wolf and he shouldn't be acting like a giant man-child because I'm a shaman. So I let him stew. Finally, as we parked in front of our house, Paul turned to me.
"I'm sorry…" well that was unexpected. "I know I was out of line and I shouldn't have blown up at you. This is all so new to me. The imprint makes it feel like we've been together for years. I forget that we met not so long ago. I've never been good at relationships and I'll fuck up like I did today. But please baby, don't ever think that for a minute I resent your nature." So he heard that huh? I should have known he'd hear my thoughts on his behavior. Paul's hand had found its way to my nape and he was gently running his finger back and forth over the skin there. "Forgive me?" He asked almost purring as his eyes narrowed infinitesimally. Oh god! Bed rest was going to suck!
"Paul!" The admonition was harsh, my voice raspy. I was so turned on! "You do know bed rest means no sex right?" Paul's face fell.
"What? Nobody said anything about no sex." Paul looked absolutely pained. I almost felt bad for the man.
"It's just until my checkup. I need to take it easy. Orgasms can cause contractions. Some women even use them to try and induce labor." Paul's face dropped to his hands. I decided to throw him a bone. "Hey just because we can't have sex doesn't mean we can do other things." I let the insinuation sink in a little before I leaned over and licked the shell of his ear. I loved it when he did that to me. Paul shuddered and looked at me wickedly.
"Oh, now you've done it. You just wait until everyone is gone."
"What do you mean everyone?" I asked as he got out of the car to come and help me from my side.
"The pack decided to move our engagement party to the house since you're on bed rest," he said as he leads me around the house and through the back door. "Everyone is waiting in the living room. Go get cleaned up then come in and act surprised."
"I am supposed to be taking it easy," I said through clenched teeth. I wasn't great at social situations and Paul had to know this would stress me out.
"Listen, babe, this is your pack now. They wanted to do something nice. You are our Shaman, by default they have to take care of you. I mean if they don't you could always voodoo their ass." He snorted at his own joke. I just frowned.
"Fine," I said. I had to concede that he had a point.
After a very soothing shower, I dressed in a comfy but not-so-casual dress. Then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before entering the living room. I instantly heard a loud chorus of "Suprise!" and "Welcome home!" I didn't have to fake a smile. Everyone was beaming and the feeling was infectious. I blushed as people came forward to introduce themselves. Mostly the pack. My dad pushed through the wall of shifters and said
"Let the girl sit down. She just got out of the hospital." I could tell he wasn't too happy about this impromptu party. It made my heart twinge. We were too alike sometimes.
"Sorry about them Bella," I smiled up at Sam as he stepped over with a beautiful native woman at his side. I didn't see the scars. All I saw was her radiating aura. My smile brightened. "This is my Emily." He said as he squeezed her tighter. Emily's aura was pulsing white and yellow, and green. I felt suddenly comforted and my soul felt nurtured. I stood and pulled her into a hug. Emily and I hugged for what seemed to the others as an unusually long time. But we were soul-sisters finding each other. The feeling was overwhelming as it was comforting.
"Sister," I said pulling back from her. "I'm sorry it's taken so long for us to meet. But we have so much time and I have so much to teach you." Emily flashed a brilliant smile.
"Its really okay, I understand completely. Old Quil stopped by on his way home. He told Sam about your spirit walk and what it meant for us imprints. I have to say, I'm thrilled. I've felt like my relationship with Sam was one-sided. I mean that I was weak where he was strong. But now I see that we have different strengths." I nodded.
"The spirits couldn't have chosen a better Alpha female. Your kind and nurturing spirit set you apart. Just what a bunch of adolescent shifters needs." We both chuckled as she stepped back into Sam's arms.
"Damn, here I thought we were gonna get a show." A picture frame flew at Quil's head. He caught it easily.
"Quil you are such a perv!" I yelled at him trying to hide my smile. I did kind of find it funny.
"Ignore him, Bella, the rest of us do."
"Hey, Embry." This wolf wasn't as big as the others, but his spirit was strong. His colors were very close to Sam's. Don't say anything to him. Paul's voice rang loud an clear through our link. Well, that was new, apparently, it was a two-way street now. Embry doesn't know who his father is. When he finds out its Joshua he won't be happy. I'll tell Sam and he can break it to Embry at a better time. I nodded to let him know that I got his message.
"Jared's over there sulking in the corner. Apparently, he pissed Kim off and now she won't talk to him." At his name being said Jared's head snapped up and he stalked over to Embry.
"You got something to say, kid, you say it to my face." I knew I had to diffuse this quickly. So I placed a hand on Jared's chest. He stilled and looked down at me. The tears started then. I grabbed his hand and lead him back to the kitchen Paul tried to follow me but I just shook my head at him. As I passed Emily I jerked my head signaling for her to follow. She did.
I sat Jared down in a chair and got him a water from the fridge. Handing it to him I said,
"Spill." Taking a long drink Jared seemed to settle down a bit. Then he began,
"Kim is leaving. She's been offered a place in a program in South America for language immersion. She wants to be a teacher and she needs it for the degree she's going for. She doesn't understand what this is going to do to my wolf." I could tell Jared was really trying to hold the tears at bay. Emily had sat next to Jared and was rubbing his back soothing him. Well, at least this was something I could fix.
"Where is Kim tonight?" I asked.
"She's working. She is a student teacher at the elementary school for half a day twice a week. Tonight she is with her teacher working on their lesson plans."
"What if I told you she didn't need to leave for her language immersion."
"I'd say you walk on water," he replied.
"Not quite," I chuckled. "As it happens I speak fluent Quileute. Part of my purpose is to bring back the language. If Kim wants to teach this will work out perfectly. I am almost certain we can impress upon her college the importance of preserving her native language and with agree to grant her the credits. We'll work out the details once I have a chance to speak to Kim." Jared looked hopeful as he nodded Emily got up and cut him a slice of cake and handed it to him.
"Here," she said, "You need this. Chocolate makes everything better." Jared and I laughed.
The rest of the party was lively and filled with laughter. I fell into bed that night sated by the energy that was in my house. Paul pressed his entire body against mine as he got into bed and hugged me close to him.
"I love you," he whispered to me. "Are you mad about the party?" I sighed.
"No, I'm not mad," I said turning to face him. "I actually had a wonderful time. It was just what I never knew I needed." I said smiling
"I'm glad. I know how you are about surprises, but Emily is a force all of her own." I smiled as I leaned up to kiss him. As our lips touched I felt a change in the air. I also felt a rather large, hard, and hot object pressing in between my thighs. I smiled against Paul's lips. Then I slowly lowered my body as I asked,
"Hmm…what's this?" My hand reached into Paul's boxers and fisted his cock. He groaned as I made a smooth stroke up and down his length. "I think there is something I can do about this situation that seems to have arisen." Paul groaned again. Then I let my tongue flick out to take the bud of liquid that had leaked from his tip. "Hmmm." I moaned in pleasure at the taste.
"Bella, baby don't tease me," Paul growled as I stroked him again.
"Oh, I don't plan to," I said. Then I took him into my mouth and began to give him the best blow-job I could. It wasn't long before Paul was panting and coming down from his orgasm.
"Somehow this doesn't seem fair." He said as he stroked my hair as I lay across his chest.
"Tell me about it." I mused. "Really babe, don't worry about it. I like pleasuring you. And believe me when I say, I look forward to you paying me back when this bed rest is over." Paul chuckled and we fell into a blissful sleep. Everything was falling into place.