Chapter 51 - Together

I couldn't stop laughing the whole trip home. What had started out as an innocent nudge to the shoulder had quickly turned into an all-out war. I had squealed and laughed as I had tried to dodge Paul, without much success. In a last ditch effort, I had thrown myself on his back, which had been followed by an exhilarating few minutes as he tried to shake me off.

Eventually, we had calmed down somewhat, but I was still clinging to Paul's back as he walked, my chin resting on his shoulder. I'd thought that our brief game of hide and seek had been fun, but this was better. It had been too long since I'd been for a piggy back ride, and I was enjoying it immensely. But it wasn't just because of how much fun I was having.

Being in such close contact with Paul was intoxicating. The skin to skin contact was enthralling, and my whole body was alive with sensation. His bare shoulder against my collarbone had my nerves tingling, the heat soaking through me along with pleasure. I was hyper aware of my legs wrapped around his back, his hands gripping me beneath my knees for balance.

By the time we reached my house, I was gasping for breath, my stomach cramped from too much laughing. My body had melted against him, every part of my torso pressed against his back. I hoped he wouldn't set me down on my feet too soon, because I no longer knew how to work my legs. I hoped he wouldn't let go of me, period. The electricity between us was startling, at a level of intensity it had never been before.

Despite the fact that I was almost alight from his enlivening touch, I couldn't seem to stop myself from giggling. The banter between us was effortless, and seemed to be never ending. I couldn't stop the surges of amusement that were rolling through me, and Paul's laugh was addicting, so much so that I couldn't stop myself from laughing with him.

I felt like I was about to burst, the joy within me filling me to the brim and consuming me. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as we trooped up the stairs, and even after Paul dumped me on my bed, the breath whooshing out of me as I hit the mattress, I grinned up at him. He plopped down next to me, the bed bouncing under his weight, and I snickered, earning myself a poke to the nose as punishment.

Despite the fact that he was just inches away from me, I was feeling the separation. Not touching was leaving me with a small feeling of emptiness, and with every second that passed, I felt it spreading through me, the incompleteness growing. It was ridiculous, the fact that we could feel so apart when we were so close, but it didn't change the fact that it was true.

At least I wasn't the only one. One glance at Paul told me everything I needed to know, his want burning deep in his eyes as he stared at me. He quickly pulled me closer, his arm snaking around my waist and tugging me forwards. The relief was instantaneous, and I smiled into his chest, breathing him in.

'I think I'm addicted to you.' I mumbled, savouring his incredible scent of soil, forest, and a third strange smell I could never identify, but inhaled like a drug. He laughed at my comment, and I felt his chest rumble, my splayed hands that were pressed against his chest feeling the movement. Not to be out done, Paul nosed his way into my hair, tickling my scalp as he smelled me. It had become a habit of his, and the feeling of his other hand combing through my curls was familiar and relaxing.

'I think I'm more obsessed than you are. I imprinted on you.' I smiled again, making a soft noise in agreement. I supposed he was right. While it was hard to imagine, I knew that what I to from the imprint bond was nothing compared to what he felt. And the more time we spent together, the more I began to pick up on things that proved it.

At first I had been amused and somewhat bewildered as to why he was so obsessed with breathing me in at any chance he got. I was pretty sure it was a wolf thing, with the imprint making some aspects of the wolf more dominant than they would have been otherwise. But if he thought I smelled as good as he smelled to me, I couldn't blame him. Now, most times he sniffed me, I just smiled, enjoying the closeness.

Our relationship was like that. There were so many strange events, so many unexplainable things that happened, that we'd both just given up on questioning it. Not much surprised us anymore, and when something weird occurred, we just took it in our stride. Explanations just weren't needed. There was just no point.

But tonight, I did actually want something explained.

'Paul, what are we?' I asked, starting to gently trace a pattern on his chest with my hand. His forehead crinkled in confusion, and I bit my lip as I tried to think of how to explain myself.

'With everything that's happened, we haven't exactly been traditional. Not that I mind. I like us, I like you. I'm just trying to… I don't know. Figure it out?'

'I mean, you've been sleeping in my bed for three weeks. Which I love. But before that, we couldn't stop fighting. We kind of skipped the middle step.' Paul laughed at the same time I did at my last comment.

'You mean the step when we made up and became friends?' He asked, and we laughed again.

'Yes.' I replied with a smile, before turning serious. 'So where does that leave us?'

Paul was quiet for a moment, before replying with a smile. 'In bed together.' I gave him an annoyed look, slapping him lightly on the chest.

'Paul,' I complained, which only made him grin wider. I frowned, squirming, trying to twist away from him. He relaxed his grip enough for me to roll away a few inches, and I gave him a stern look. I glared at him for a second, before he suddenly moved, his lightning fast hands grabbing my waist and pulling me before I could react. I let out a soft gasp of surprise, temporarily disoriented by the flurry of movement.

Just as quickly, the world settled back into place. I was now on top of Paul, my legs straddling his stomach. He sat upwards, one hand on the small of my back to stop me from falling over, and once again our faces were just inches away from one another. I opened my mouth to scold him, but he placed a finger over my lips before I could speak. I was distracted by the warmth, and as my eyes met his intense gaze, my protests died in my throat.

'It leaves us together.' With his eyes burning into me, emotion filling his stare, I knew that he didn't mean together like he had in his last comment. He meant together. We were a pair. We were a couple. Imprinted. Connected. Together.

My mind was a confusing whirlwind of terms, my delight and happiness muddling my thoughts so that nothing made sense. Paul's finger was now tracing the shape of my lips, and my eyes were wide as I gazed at him, my senses overwhelmed, my nerves on fire. I was hyper aware of everything; of Paul's bare chest beneath my hands, of my legs wrapped around him, of his hand on my back, the warmth burning through my shirt like I wasn't wearing one.

I loved these moments. Moments when Paul was just everywhere, overloading my senses, the only thing I could focus on. Moments when my body was blazing with desire, consumed by sensation. Moments when Paul and I were so incredibly in sync, we could be the same person.

We moved at the same time, his hand shifting from my mouth to run through my hair, my hand sliding up to the back of his neck and gripping it. Our lips met in a searing kiss, one that left my whole body thrumming with energy, his hot lips spreading heat that travelled right through me. The imprint bond, for lack of a better word, was pulsing, forcing me closer to Paul, enhancing everything tenfold, and sending waves of pleasure rolling through me.

Every part of me was revelling in this. In his hard body pressed against me. In his warm, strong arm around my waist.

In the indescribable pleasure that was his gentle lips against mine.


I wasn't sure how much time passed while Paul and I kissed. There was nothing but him, nothing else even remotely important when his lips were touching mine. My body had melted, the thrill of his touch leaving me numb with feeling. But eventually, as I curled into him, eyes fluttering sleepily, I slowly came back to reality.

I was half asleep already, Paul's warmth soaking into me and driving me to rest. My brain and all semblance of reason had long since abandoned me, and I knew I was just moments away from unconsciousness. But without me actually deciding to speak, I found my mouth forming words, words that didn't register with me at all. Yet they came, whispered and soft, of their own accord.

'You know I'll tell you one day.' Lost in the slowly consuming darkness, I didn't notice the sudden tensing of Paul's body. I didn't hear his hitched breath, or feel his arms tighten around me.

'I still don't know why you want to know.' My eyes were fully closed now, and I was breathing in Paul, loving the feeling of my cheek against his chest. 'But I'll tell you. If I can.'

I was still out of it, and didn't hear the growl that rumbled from Paul's throat. I was quiet then, and as I grew so close to sleep I was just seconds away from passing out, I felt sure that my rambling was over. But I was wrong, and once again the words bubbled to the surface, barely audible and quieter than a whisper.

'You're right, you know. About the memories.' Another growl, this one loud and dangerous. I was almost gone, and barely managed to whisper the final three words before I collapsed completely.

'They're killing me.'