A/N: Thank you MarinaNamaste for all your hard work beta'ing and your comments and help and encouragement.
Seriously, guys...check out her story: Red Robin She just updated.
"You can't take one Saturday morning off?" I asked smirking down at her. She looked up at me and I bent over to place my lips on hers. I couldn't help myself-she looked so damn good in her running clothes. I pushed her back against the bed and laid on top of her deepening the kiss and the moving down her neck. "It's…so…early" I said in between kisses.
"Like I'd get," she was panting and smiling, "any rest if I stayed here." She wasn't resisting, either. I loved the sigh that she always released when I kissed right under her ear. "Seth…" she exhaled as her hands ran down my bare back and dipped beneath the waistband of my boxer-briefs. No. She wasn't resisting too much. "I have to go. Come with me," she breathed as her hands squeezed and cupped my ass. I grunted and then chuckled at her invitation. I don't think she intended the double entendre.
"We can cum together of you want," I said mimicking the hip movement we seemed to have perfected in the past 12 hours. She smiled again and our kisses made loud, smacking noises.
"Seth, we can't. I really have to go run. Come and run with me, though." Her leg was wrapped around my hip again and she moved and flipped us over so she was sitting on top, straddling me. I liked this position, too. My fingers slid across her bare stomach (she was only wearing a sports bra) and around her back where they found the scar that made me a part of her. My blood still ran through her veins. She. Was. Mine.
I was curious about her running though.
"Why is running so important?" I asked. "Explain it to me." I really wanted to know why she was pushing the issue so much and I kept the tone in my voice inquisitive and not whiny so she'd understand my meaning.
"When I found out about everything yesterday all I wanted to do was eat. That's how I got fat in the first place. Food replaced you after you phased and couldn't be with me." I did not miss the difference in the way she spoke about those months I couldn't be with her. I was relieved she no longer blamed me. "When Mark told me about Gerry and…Mara," Raven decided last night she wasn't going to call her "mom" anymore, "I went into your kitchen and ate two moon pies before I even realized what was happening. I ate another sitting in front of all of you and then I went back and snuck another before we went to bed. Seth, that worries me so much. What if the moon pies were vodka, or weed? I'd be an addict. I have to run because it lets me vent my feelings in a way that's good for me. If I allow that to go on unchecked I'll be as big as a house before I know it."
I had noticed she ate the fourth moon pie, but I thought it was the novelty of having them in the house. It was weird that mom had bought them and put them there, she hadn't done it since Raven moved to Portland.
"You know I don't care about that, right?" I asked her. I wanted her to know that I loved her and always would. She didn't answer me verbally. Raven leaned over and ran her lips over my sternum and up my neck and whispered in my ear.
"If you'd let me," she nibbled my earlobe, "I could be a sex addict." Then she rocked her hips three times against my very hard dick while sucking on the hickey she gave me last night. Then, she got up.
"But you won't. So put on some pants and let's get going. We need to get back before Leslie gets up and Embry and Mark get back over here," she said in a perky voice that grated on my nerves. It meant she was done being sexy and ready to go for a run.
"Way to blue ball a guy," I muttered knowing she could hear me. She just smirked back at me and blew me a kiss.
"If you're very, very good," she teased, "later I may try my own oral skills since you wouldn't let me last night for whatever reason." I wouldn't let her go down on me because I didn't want her to feel obligated. If she chose to do that I wanted to make sure it was on her terms. "But only if you beat me to the turnaround rock."
"You want to run there again?" I asked truly surprised that she wanted to return to the place where she was held at gun point."
"I am not going to let Gerry affect my life any more than he already has. I'm done letting him dictate my life," she sounded determined, but now I knew I had to go just in-case that determination failed. I didn't bug her anymore about it. If she wanted to test her fortitude I would let her, but I was going with her. I found a pair of semi-clean shorts on the floor and slid them over my boxers. I adjusted myself so my boner wasn't so obvious. I never wore shoes on the res if I didn't have to.
"I'm ready," I said. She smiled at me with that brilliant, bright, optimistic grin that was the whole reason I fell in love with her. There was gratitude in her eyes for understanding what she needed and for complying so readily. "Being with you is all the incentive I need, baby…no oral skills required," I said as I opened the bedroom door.
Leslie was in the living room when we got out there and that surprised us both. It was only 6am. She was dressed in a pair of old shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers. "Can I go with you? You don't have to wait for me. I'll just walk on the beach." How did she know where we were going?
Raven smiled that smile again. "Sure!" Raven must have told her about her routine. Leslie and Mark were two very observant people who remembered details. That could be both good and bad. We all headed out to the beach, but Raven didn't go to her normal starting point. She drove to the turnaround rock and began there. We were going to do the run backwards. The ride over was filled with pleasant small talk as Leslie asked Raven why and how she started running. I could tell that Leslie wanted to try to start, too. Raven has such a positive impact on people I was just so proud that she was mine.
We got to the beach and Raven dumped her shoes and keys. Leslie followed suit and with many assurances that she would be just fine here at the rock walking by herself, Raven took off at a speed that I hadn't seen yet. She was getting faster. I was going to have to tell Dr. Cullen that the physical effects of the blood transfusion were not wearing off with time. I could keep up with her with ease, of course, and my breathing only increased to meet the physical demands of my body, but there was no fatigue. When we neared the point where she normally would have started, she looked over at me.
"If you want any other favors," she waggled her eyebrows, "you better beat me there." So I took off, passing her and creating quite a gap, turned at her normal shoe deposit and caught her in a heated embrace on my way back to her.
"You're an eager little puppy, aren't you?" she asked as we fell in the sand kissing and sucking and reaching and feeling. Her flavor was mixed with salty dew from her sweat and sea mist and her hands went directly to my erection and began sliding up and down making my breathing heavy with lust and anticipation. "We can't have you running back with a 'pup' tent can we?" she asked as her motion continued, increasing my desire with her speed. She bit my bottom lip which I pulled free and attacked her mouth plunging my tongue in to do battle with hers. It was a completely lust fueled interaction and it was amazing. She was getting good at her rhythm and it didn't take very long to send me over the edge a few grunts of satisfaction followed by a low growl. I wasn't holding back because I was nervous about being in such a public place which also added to the intensity. People rarely came to this part of the beach…but wolves did. If they saw me getting a hand job on the beach, I'd never live it down. I didn't need someone like Paul seeing and giving me shit. He wouldn't be discreet. But that didn't keep me from thinking about her.
"What about you?" I breathed nuzzling my favorite two companions. Raven was very blessed in the boob department and her weight loss had not diminished them at all. In fact, they were more prominent since her stomach was flat now. Even bound by her sports bra they came to life under the prodding of my fingers and lips. I loved that she ran without a t-shirt now; she was confident with how she looked and that was what was so damned attractive to me.
"I think we're even now. We're staying until tomorrow, remember? We have time later, but not now." I lay enjoying the haze of my first Raven-induced orgasm as she got up and tried to wipe the sand off her sweat soaked back. We both needed to clean up as well so we moved over to the water and rinsed our hands. I helped her with the sand, but not in brisk friendly swipes, but with long sensual strokes. After another long, tongue-charged kiss she moaned, "Come on. Leslie's waiting." Then, we raced back to the rock and she gave me a run for my money. I loved watching her enjoy her new physical ability. She had literally worked her butt of to be this good and this fast.
As we neared the rock we could see Mark and Embry had joined Leslie. We could hear that Embry was explaining how Gerry died. I guessed Mark wanted to see; I'd want to see if I were him. I looked over the Raven who looked a little concerned and she picked up the pace until we reached them.
"So this is the place," Mark stated and looked towards his sister. "How do you feel Leslie?" His look was filled with love and concern and a little bit of fear.
"Relieved," Leslie nodded. "He's gone and there is no reason to be scared anymore." She nodded at her brother whose face relaxed into a brilliant smile. I could see where girls might fawn over him. He called Leslie over to him and pulled her into a hug. I pulled Raven into my side.
"How do you feel?" I asked her in her ear.
"The same. This place reminds me how much I am loved and how protected I am, even without Mara," she said her eyes swimming in unshed tears.
"You should write that down Madame Historian," I said and kissed the end of her nose.
"Thank you, Embry for bringing me here," Mark said over Leslie's shoulder. He leaned down to whisper in her hear, but we could all hear it. "He's a good guy, Les. I'll make sure Bear and Steven don't give you too much trouble." Her face lit up like a Christmas tree and she hugged him tightly again.
"This might just be the most cathartic impromptu weekend we've ever had." Mark said as he rubbed his sister's back. "So can we go see Charlie?" he asked as he turned to me.
"Ummm, sure." We had two cars here and we really had to get Embry and Leslie alone so he could tell her about the imprint. "Em, why don't you take Leslie and Raven in my car back to my house so Raven can study and then you and Leslie can go on a date," I looked at Mark and grinned, "in public. Mark and I will go in his car over to Charlie's and I can shower and change there. I have some clothes there."
"Do you happen to have a shirt there?" Mark asked dryly. Leslie giggled and Raven turned red.
"He does that for me," Raven came to my defense running one hand up my back and the others over my abs.
"You like him running around half naked?" Mark asked in a teasing tone, but you could tell he really wanted an answer.
"Look at him." Raven directed. "Wouldn't you?" It was my turn to blush. My girl was feeding my ego. Her hand reminded me of what had happened about fifteen minutes earlier. I winked at her, but right then I wanted her to put her t-shirt back on. Mark didn't need to see this much of her.
"Ah, no. Not my cup of tea," Mark said.
"Mark, you douchebag, they just went for a run," Leslie said rolling her eyes.
"Good," Raven said, "I wouldn't want to have to compete with you." That did not help my ego.
"Hey! What does that say about me?" I asked and I slapped her butt. She shrieked happily.
"Nothing, baby. Not a damn thing," she crooned and kissed me under my jaw and her hand found my butt. Mark grunted his disapproval.
"Let's go get your stuff out of your car and put it in Mark's," Embry said to me. "I hope you brought a towel. You are covered in sand." He leaned down and kissed Leslie on the cheek. "Stay here as long as you need." She nodded at him gratefully.
When we were halfway to the car Embry finally let out a low chuckle. "You fucked her on the beach?" he asked.
"No! Why would I do think I'd do it for the first time on a public beach?" I asked him incredulously.
"Dude, you smell like sex. If you didn't fuck her, you fucked around because I can smell you and I can smell you on her," he laughed. "Nice hickey, by the way. I think Mark gets it."
"I think you're just a little too pre-occupied with my sex life and you need to get started on your own," I said.
"I'm trying. Thanks for giving me an out with the over-protective brother," he replied in a very grateful tone.
"You have to tell her about the pack today. I overheard Leslie and Raven talking last night and Raven told her about the imprint. She warned Leslie that you had much more to tell her and then basically cleared the day for you."
"Why did she do that?" Embry whispered. I could tell he was scared. No one had imprinted on a non-Quileute member since Emily and he was very worried about telling her.
"Leslie was very worried about how strong her feelings for you were and Raven assured her that it was normal because of the imprint. She wouldn't tell Leslie anything else." His face relaxed a little bit. We were at the cars and I turned to face him. "Embry, Leslie seems to follow Raven's lead given what they both have been through. Raven is doing what she can to ease her into this relationship." Embry gave me a grateful smile.
"I know she is. Raven is a good person for Leslie to look up to and I am grateful for all she has done…like introducing me to her," he grinned then. "I'm sorry, man. I'm just so nervous. It's just so new for me."
"Want me to get you drunk?" I asked. He punched my arm really hard and I yelped.
"I'm not fucking Raj!" he yelled.
"I hope not," Raven called as the three of them approached us, "that would make for an awkward date today if you were screwing a socially awkward Indian guy." She laughed at her own joke pointing at Embry. "You are a socially awkward Indian guy!" I rolled my eyes at her. She was so funny when she cracked herself up. Embry punched me in the arm again.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" I asked rubbing the spot he'd hit twice in thirty seconds.
"You take the punishment for your girlfriend's stupid jokes," he said. I grabbed the towels out of my car and handed one to Raven. I twisted the other one in the air and snapped it on Embry's leg. He yelped and took another swing at me, but I ducked.
"Knock it off you two!" Raven called laughing. I rubbed the majority of the sand off my body and threw the towel in my trunk and grabbed a pair of flip-flops. I knew Mark would wonder why I didn't wear shoes. I threw the keys to Embry and turned to give Raven a kiss.
"Study hard so we can go make stupid La Push girls jealous later," she grinned and kissed me back.
"Okay. Be nice to Mark and tell Sue and Charlie I say hello."
"Will do," I grabbed my phone out of the Volvo and then climbed inside of the Mark's older, but well maintained, Honda Civic. I pointed him to the highway that would take us to Forks and we rode in silence for a while. I could tell he wanted to say something because he kept clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry about last night," he finally said and made a quick glance over at me.
"What about last night?" I asked him
"When I assumed that you and Raven were…you know. Embry told me that you were kind of old fashioned."
"No, I don't know. What do you mean?" I was being a dick, but I wanted to make him a little uncomfortable.
"You know," he cleared his throat again, "I just assumed that you and Raven were sexually active when you said that you'd sleep together. I'm sorry I made that assumption. I'm trying to apologize here."
"Yeah, but what if we actually were? Would you be apologizing then?" I asked truly mystified that he didn't get it.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean that it's none of your business what Raven and I do in my bedroom or her bedroom or anywhere for that matter. We are both consenting adults over the age of 18. We may be young and inexperienced, but other than Leslie you have no connection to us what-so-ever. You should be sorry for overstepping some serious boundaries instead of just assuming we were sexually active. You can't be more than two years older than me," I finished.
"Again, I'm sorry. I was just worried that after what happened to Leslie that being in that situation may make her uncomfortable which may lead to a panic attack if you thought too much about why she was uncomfortable. Gerry really fucked her up, man. It was more out of concern for her than worrying about what you do with your girlfriend. I promise," he explained. I couldn't begrudge him that.
"Dammit!" I said. "Now I can't hate you. You have to stop that because I still think you're after my girlfriend."
"I think she's made it clear to me that I don't stand a chance," he pointed to the large bruise just above my collarbone.
"Oh," I smiled, "that's not for you. That's for the bitches at the diner where we're all going to have dinner. Raven placed it so it can be seen when I wear the shirt she got me for Christmas. She can be a little possessive." It was for him. It was totally for him. Girls in La Push knew better after last night.
"So can you," he replied. "I saw her matching one."
"Quit looking at my girl in a sports bra," I said in a light tone that didn't match my expression-I hoped. "Though, she has worked hard to look like that. Don't get any ideas."
We pulled into Charlie's driveway and parked next to his cruiser. I had texted mom earlier this morning to make sure that Charlie wasn't out fishing. They knew we were coming and I could smell bacon from the front lawn.
"My mom made us breakfast," I smiled. I inhaled deeply. I loved bacon.
"Does she know I'm coming?" he asked.
"Yeah. They know you're the brother of the girl Embry's interested in. She's big news around here because he's so shy. He really is a good guy." I bragged.
"I know," he admitted. "But she's still my sister." We walked in and were greeted by Charlie and my mom and we had a lovely breakfast. Turns out that Mark was a big Mariners fan since Portland doesn't have a major league baseball team. After breakfast I went up to take a shower and change and then we spent the afternoon watching a game. My mom waited on us in between her other errands. My mom really was a nurturer at heart and really enjoyed taking care of people.
"Mom, thanks for stocking the pantry at the other house," I said while helping her with the lunch dishes. "You put banana moon pies in there and that really helped Raven last night."
"Why is Raven in town anyway?" she asked. "And where is she?" I explained to her the text that was sent and how they showed up looking for me. Then I explained that she was studying so that they could stay another night. I bit the inside of my cheek hoping she wouldn't make me come here to stay the night.
"Charlie told me you came to talk with him last night. He wouldn't tell me what it was about, but he's very proud of you," she beamed. "The fact that he won't tell gives me an indication what it's about, but he's no longer worried about you staying at the other house alone," she mussed my hair like I was still five years old. I blushed.
"Thanks. Can we come by tomorrow morning for breakfast before they head out? I'm sure Embry will be by as well; he can't seem to leave Leslie for very long." My mom just smiled and nodded.
"I don't know why I bought those moon pies; it was on a whim. So why did Raven need the moon pies last night anyway? She really only ate them when her mother really upset her by dumping her at our house." I stopped wiping the dish I was drying and looked over at her. Cheers came from the other room as the Mariners scored a run.
"She just found out that her mom was having a relationship with Gerry, the boy who…" I trailed off and my mother sharp intake of breath startled me.
"She what?" My mother backed up to the chair at the kitchen table and sat down. "You're telling me that Mara? She was…well that explains her reaction when he was shot." She crossed her arm across her stomach like she was trying to keep herself together. She did that a lot right after my dad died. It was like emotional pain physically hurt her and she was bracing against the pain. Mara and my mom had been pretty good friends in high school even though mom was a few years older. My mom worried about her constantly.
"How's Raven doing?" she whispered still clutching her stomach.
"She's running and disassociating like she normally does. She's trying to make the best of everything. She quit calling her 'mom' and calls her Mara," I said shaking my head. "I'll call Alice once they leave to let her and Jasper know what happened so Jasper can keep track of her. Mom, with Jake and Leah gone, I don't have to run patrols. I'm going to have to go down there to check on her. Just for a few weekends...until she's done with her tests."
Her arm dropped from her stomach and she stood up and walked over to me. She only came up to my shoulders, but she reached her hand up and caressed my cheek. "How did you turn out so well?" she asked. "Your father died when you were so young and I was a mess. Leah is Leah, so I don't know. How did you turned out so sweet? I am so proud of you," she said. "Nayeli."
"You were great," I said. "I learned it from you. And with Leah around, I had to be sweet," I added as I pulled her in for a hug. "And you raised Raven too, and together we make each other better." She pulled back and cupped my cheeks in her hands.
"That you do. I think you've imprinted, son, and Billy agrees. It's the first time it's happened this way in our history. I have two anomalies in my line. Harry'd be so proud." And he would. My dad was all about being the exception to the rule.
"Well, do you think I can tear Charlie's new best friend away so I can go see my girl?" I asked with a smirk. More cheers came from the other room…it sounded like the Mariners had secured their lead.
"Promise me you'll quit doing this?" she pulled my shirt to the side revealing my hickey.
"No," I smiled. "That boy in there has the hots for Raven and this reminds him who gets her sweet lovin'." I bragged.
"Well thank you for being honest. Just," she pulled my shirt back into place, "keep making Charlie proud," she said through a smile.
"Okay. But expect a wedding in the near future." I said and she smiled at me. "I'm serious."
"Somehow I don't doubt it," she said.
Reviews=love. Some of you love me a lot...even if it's only one word you show it.
Don't make me beg. Wait. I just did.
A/N2: I made some minor changes and additions. I really like this chapter. I think we need some more bear, though.