Little bit of Larke and a tad of Jake in this chapter hope you enjoy. Thank you so much for the reviews makes me happy knowing your reading and approving of my crazy mind's drivilings.
Larke's POV
Waking up beside a half naked werewolf should be awkward, right especially after I acted so out of character last night. I guess I wanted him to because his conversation scared me a bit. You know I want to have some say in what happens between us, I want to be able to control something, and if he snaps before I am ready to have sex with him at least I was able to control this step, this activity. Awkward right, that hasn't come yet because he is still sound asleep, as I lie here in his arms, the warmth not overwhelming this morning, I blush remembering that I took my clothes off—just like a bikini I remind myself.
I relish in the warmth surrounding me, one of his large hands firmly on my belly, fingers splayed outward pressing me firmly against his midsection. Just his very touch I find draws me into myself, his fingers slightly curled as my body rises and falls with each breath. The constant rhythm of his breathing, creating a soothing melody in my head as I imagine that this is how I could spend the rest of my mornings, cradled against my very own wolfy man.
His throaty groan stirs me from my daydream, as I feel his body stretch and tense behind me.
"How long have you been awake, you could have said something." He says as I look hesitantly up at him my thoughts wondering to not so pure moments we shared last night.
I say nothing still not sure what to say to the man beside me. Is it even something to mention, do I pretend it never happened, or do I tell I liked it. At moments like these I just want to curl up and die, hide from his gaze, seclusion that is the key, nothing like curling up in a ball and hiding to make him and me feel better, huh. Stop, I reprimand myself for thinking such things, she would be able to find me, didn't he tell me once he had and uncanny sense of smell. Smell, I wonder what things he likes to smell, I mean I know dogs like stinky shoes and other dogs' butts; I hope he doesn't want to smell my feet. I don't know if I could live his him having a stinky foot fetish. I try and smother the giggle I feel coming to my lips at the thought of Embry and stinky shoes, I fail dreadfully.
"What's so funny?" He says rolling me over onto my back so he can see my expressions.
"I was just thinking about something, rather unimportant." I say but his gaze doesn't waver at my answer, he keeps looking trying to force me to crack as if he knows it is something more.
"Really, if it makes you giggle it surely must be worthy of my ears."
"Fine I was thinking about your nose." I say poking him on the tip of it.
"Come on you can tell me, you don't have to make things up." He says seriously, what he didn't believe me.
"I am serious I was thinking about your sense of smell, wondering if it was anything like a dogs." I say quietly trying to think of other things less offensive that dogs find to smell. My brain shocks me as images of other things dogs can smell pop into my head—Oh no he could most certainly smell that, I mean some dogs just can't leave it alone. Horrified at my thought, knowing I am blushing, Embry staring intently at me, and all I want to do is disappear again. I do the next best thing; I place my forearm over my eyes blocking his face from my view.
"What has you so bothered?" Playful voice rings through the air, I can only imagine that he has a cocky smirk on his face savoring my discomfort and embarrassment.
"I just realized that you can smell more than the average human, for obvious reasons that is a little disconcerting. There are just certain things that aren't meant to be smelled." I say timidly still hiding from him.
"Everything I have ever smelled that comes from you is intoxicating, don't worry you don't smell bad." He says trying to be reassuring but making matters that much worse inside my head.
"Intoxicating huh more like toxic." I scoff at him.
"What smells do you think I would find toxic?" He says now all serious again as if concerned that he offended me somehow.
"I am not answering that, I hope you lose your sense of smell." I say not wanting to continue this sinful conversation. A girl is not supposed to discuss her bodily smells with men, let alone a man who is convinced he likes them.
"Okay, okay glad this morning has gotten off to a great start wouldn't want you mad at me or anything."
"I'm not mad, just annoyed that you have a nose…why can you just stuff it full of Vaseline." I huff straining to sit up against the headboard.
"Why on earth would anyone put Vaseline up their nose?" Embry laughs looking a bit confused.
"They do it to stud horses so they can't smell certain things." I say in an almost inaudible voice not cursing myself internally for allowing my mouth to speak unrestrained again.
I watch as the puzzle pieces are put together in his head, watching everything fall into place as it hits him, it dawns on him what we are talking about, and I think I almost see him blush, but I doubt it. With that awkward, unwanted conversation dropped, I struggle to get out of bed, feeling the chill on my bare skin and head out of the room needed to be away from him. In my hast I forget that I am only in my undergarments, not wanting to go back I ignore it and head to the front room, praying he doesn't follow me too soon.
After about 20 minutes, I am drawn out of my mental tattering when something hits me abruptly in the face. "Hey!" I shout grabbing the offensive object, and find my perpetrator standing there with his arms crossed looking at me sheepishly.
"Put that on, you didn't get dressed yet." He says eyes noticeably trailing along my exposed body.
"Am I getting dressed for my benefit or yours?" I ask as I pull the t-shirt quickly over my head.
"Definitely yours." He chokes out as he starts making some coffee.
After that crazy conversation that morning, followed by the silent coffee drinking, Embry decided that he should walk me home, since it was nearly lunchtime and we were hungry. We walk into the house into a complete yelling match between several members of the pack, including Leah.
"It is my life don't tell me who I can and can not have in it!" She yells her voice booming from the kitchen.
"Leah your life weather you like it or not affects all of us, I will not stand by and watch you or Jake fall apart when one of you imprints." Sam's smooth voice echoes towards us as we make our appearance in the dining room where the rest of the pack that are present are frazzled silently watching.
"It isn't like that Sam, we both understand, we both know what could happen…we are just friends." Leah defends looking a little nervously at Jacob.
Jacob is not looking at Sam or Leah, his head is low and he looks a bit distraught.
"What happens when it becomes more than 'just friends' do you think you could handle being second again if Jake imprints someday?" Sam says pain stricken grossly over his features.
"Yes, If it means that I have my sanity now, Sam don't tell me how to live my life, I don't hassle you, we are both adults…just let us be."
"If this goes sour I don't want to hear it from either one of you, I will not let you two tear this pack apart again, I mean it." Sam shouts exiting through the back door swiftly and confidently.
Leah looks at me, exiting to room, and ascends the stairs. Jake looks a bit pale, but stays firmly planted to his chair at the dining room table. Everyone else continues eating their now cold plates of food in silence. I have the distinct feel that we missed most of it; it is unlike Jake not to say a word. And I thought my morning was bad, poor Jake. I frown as I walk by everyone making my way to the kitchen to find some food for me and Embry. Inside my head, I feel sick at the fact that I am happy that I am no longer the most current pack scandal, even if I don't fully understand why everyone is so mad.
The pack starts to scatter as their plates empty, Jake stays stoic unmoving from his perch. Embry watches him intently and I excuse myself from the room leaving Embry alone with his friend. I head upstairs intent on doing anything but being a third wheel in a conversation that is no business of mine. Lost to the confusion of the day I plant myself securely on my bed, trying to clear my mind. Visions of Jake and Leah together dance through my head before I can focus on anything else, why was Sam so mad? Why does Jake and Leah having sex have to be a group decision? Is it against the rules for two werewolves to have sex with each other? What do imprints have to do with it all? It isn't like they both don't understand the concept.
I crawl out of bed slowly, not wanting my legs to precariously be asleep and for me to fall on my face. I stagger in my sleepy haze to the bathroom shower, wanting nothing more than to wake my feeble body up. I notice it is still dark outside, must just be early as I yawn fighting the dreariness that wants to overtake me.
My shower luckily woke me up, but to my disappointment, the clock in my room reads 5 a.m. I haven't been up this early since my first week here, the whole time change thing threw me for a loop for a while. I sigh and head downstairs in search of something yummy to make for breakfast. I find something I didn't expect, Embry, Jake and Quil sound asleep in the living room. I wonder how long they have been asleep, as my eyes take in the sight before my eyes.
Embry is on his stomach taking up most of the floor, his head slightly on one of the beanbag chairs. Quil has the recliner, mouth open wide, one leg hanging over the armrest looking rather uncomfortable. Jake has the best stop, the couch, he is on his back, one arm hanging slightly off the couch, one knee bent upward as he snores slightly. Quietly I leave to room, heading to the kitchen to find some wonderful ingredients to bring life to the three monsters in the other room. They will be able to follow their noses like on the fruit loops commercials.
I whip up some French toast, when I noticed that we had way too much bread in the house. The smells of cinnamon and egg start to circulate among the other household smells making my own mouth water at the thought of devouring at least 3 piece high stack of the stuff. Just as I finish turning the third loaf of bread into French toast, the three seem to come to life in an instant. The three walk into the kitchen looking for the food only to be disappointed, I don't keep them wondering long as I pull the massive amounts of food from the oven and place pan on the counter.
"Thanks, that was great." Quil compliments and the other two just simply nod their agreement.
"What was with the slumber party?" I ask curiously.
"Oh, we all had to patrol last night and we crashed here around 2." Jake says his voice still a little dry, not his usual self yet I note.
I nod taking their plates and depositing them in the sink, not up to doing the dishes quite yet.
"Do you know if Leah is up yet?" Jake asks suddenly standing up.
"I don't know, go see."
He doesn't hesitate, to do just that. His feet hardly making any noise as he makes his way to her bedroom. I sure hope that they aren't mad at each other, they are both great friends I wouldn't want to have to choose. The silence in the room is deafening as I sit on the counter in the kitchen watching Quil and Embry fling paper wads at each other for entertainment. I roll my eyes at how easily it is to amuse them, taking note for the future.
I feel out of the loop, I don't understand what is going on and yet I am snugly in the center of it all. It isn't suppose to be like this, I thought everything was going to be wonderful, you know happily ever after kind of crap, but no of course I can't have that. No one would ever allow me to be happy, it must be against the rules. Life among wolfy people is complicated, so many things I don't get.
"C'mon, I don't think they are coming down anytime soon," Embry says trailing his hand down my arm securely grabbing my wrist intent on leading me somewhere.
"Where are we going?" I ask hoping off the counter.
"It is nice outside I thought we would go to the beach, haven't been there in a while." He says forcing a slight smile on his face.
"Okay," I say as we head to the front door.
Jake's POV
Do I knock? Do I just walk in, if she is awake she knows I am coming. I will knock, I mean I can't just barge in on her what is she doesn't want to see me? Life couldn't get more unreal, she let them all find out, not even considering what would happen. I bring my fist up to the wooden door, the spurs and spikes of anxiety pound within me, no turning back now as I make contact with the door, once, twice, and a third. No sound for about 20 seconds, "Come in." I hear her call out in a uneven voice, the pain still evident on her lips.
"Leah." I say easing the door slightly open peering inside more like a timid feline than an over grown canine.
She is on her bed, back facing me as I enter, nothing indicating that she wants me here, nothing screaming out to me that I should be the one to comfort her. Is that what she wants from me, someone to be there for her, someone to confide in, who knows, I surely don't. Maybe I am just some crazy guy that took more meaning away from the other night, but I have to know. I need to know where this leaves us, our friendship.
She stirs moving so slowly it seems as I am watching time relapse into a hazy fog, her eyes are not clear, but clouded with sadness as she takes in my presence.
"Hey Jakey boy." She says forcing a smile to spread across her tear streaked face.
"Are you okay?" I say taking a seat on her bed, wanting so much to wrap my arm around her, not knowing if I can, weather I should.
"Yeah, I was just thinking, you know about what Sam said I know he had to say some pretty awful things to you before he dragged your ass over here yesterday." She says leaning into my shoulder.
"Yeah, he did, but nothing that wasn't the truth…as much as you don't want to hear it he still cares for you Leah, that much is obvious. I care for you Leah just as the rest of the pack does, that's all it was about."
"Cut the crap Jake I want you here not the second it command of the Damn pack." Leah spits out angrily.
"Sorry, I don't regret what we did?" I say once again lost as to what I should say.
"Good, cause regardless of what they say, I can't stop wanting you Jake. I have tried, but I just can't anymore, you don't know how long I have wanted you."
"Okay,"
"You know as commanding as you are around your pack brothers, I would expect you to have a little more confident when it comes to girls, especially a girl you know as well as me. " Leah says wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Yeah, I'll work on that." I say rubbing the back of my neck nervous and slightly humiliated.
