Gabby's POV

We sat by a large lake on a small patch of soft emerald grass. Despite my last two almost catastrophic encounters with water, I loved water. And the feel of the lake lapping at my feet was brilliant, especially with Paul's arms wrapped around my waist.

His skin was warm against my stomach and his chest was smooth against my back. He had his chin rested on my left shoulder and he'd kiss my cheek every now and then, as if just to remind me that he was there. Not that I needed reminding.

There was a sensual spark running between us, stronger than it had ever been before. The tighter he held me the more powerful the spark got, and Paul held me very tight. It was like he was worried that I was going to leave him again.

A laughable idea at the moment.

I pushed back against him and he tightened his grip around my waist, his fingertips massaging the outside of my hips. Paul kissed my cheek with a smile and let out a content sigh. The feel of his hot breath on my face and shoulder sent a warm shiver down my spine.

He moved his left arm from my waist to bring his thumb up to my face and stroke my right cheek. I would have leant into his touch but I couldn't move my head in that direction because of the exposed flesh on my lower neck.

I could feel the beat of his strong heart between my shoulder blades and it made my skin prickle. The rise and fall of his chest as he breathed in long deep breaths was rhythmic and comforting. I could have fallen asleep, if it weren't for my own fear that I would never get another chance quite like this one.

Everything around us was so serene that I could have lived in this one moment, forever.

Frogs were calling in the early morning, one close by sounded like a creaking door; which was one of the coolest frog calls I'd ever heard. There was an owl not too far away, but out of sight, that hooted into the early morning. The wind through the trees and the reeds and low tree branches drifting through the water; even the callings of insects was like listening to a symphonic masterpiece.

The moon was still high and it cast a silver glow over everything. The water turned slate gray and streaked with hoary lines by the light. The deep green trees waved in the subtle breeze that stirred the water and wafted the scents of the forest towards us.

But the best bit was that I was here with Paul.

He stopped the gentle rubbing of my cheek and rested his hand gingerly on my shoulder. Sighing louder this time as he looked out over the water.

"What are you so upset about?" I murmured, not wanting to speak too loud in case it ruined the moment.

"I'm far from upset." he kissed my jaw, "I'm just thinking."

I dropped my head back to rest it on his shoulder, forgetting that I had two bites; both of which came in contact with his warm flesh. I gasped and jerked away from him, as much as I loved the feel of his skin, my flesh wasn't as impressed with it as my own skin was.

Of course, he noticed.

"Lean forward a little." he whispered and I did as I was told, too content with the moment to be bothered arguing.

He brushed my hair into a bundle and placed it gently over my left shoulder. His fingers grazed my sensitive skin as he picked single strands out of the mess that was the lower bite. I could hear his breath catching in his throat and imagined the pained look on his face.

"Oh, God." he exhaled heavily as he ran his fingers swiftly around the splayed edges of skin.

He kissed my right shoulder, away from the gaping wound, and his right arm gripped my waist firmly. His lips grazed around the skin of my shoulder and then jumped to the middle of my neck. The feel was strangely intoxicating and I closed my eyes as he started to suck and mouth at my soft skin.

I wanted to turn my and kiss him properly but I couldn't turn my neck enough in either direction. His right arm released my waist and inched down my hip to my outer thigh. His mouth browsed along my skin up to my ear, taking the lobe into his mouth.

Before I could do anything Paul pulled away.

"I shouldn't." he breathed.

"You should." I pressed my hips back into his.

"You're injured."

"I need healing. And I know you can help with that."

Paul laughed as he kissed between my shoulder blades. The feel of his warm lips had butterflies stirring in the stomach and I moaned so he'd know how I felt. He just smiled as he kissed up and along my left shoulder.

"I don't want to hurt you. I just want to enjoy this moment, with you." he whispered between soft kisses.

"I get it. But I want to enjoy you."

The sound of Paul's laughter was worse than his hand on my thigh and I felt my own wanton desire building. If I didn't love him so much, I'd strangle him for teasing me like that.

"Let's just watch the sun rise. When we get home, we can enjoy each other."

"You run a hard bargain, Paul Lahote." I groaned as his fingertips ran from my thigh back to my waist.

"I think you should see Sue first." Paul rested his chin on my left shoulder.

"I hate doctors."

"Sue's not a doctor. She's a nurse. And if we're not careful it could get infected."

"I'm a shifter, Paul. My body is a little too hot for ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent of germs."

"And knowing my luck recently there will be part of that point-oh-one percent in my bed." he kissed my jaw.

"Then we'll avoid the bed." I said with a smirk.

Paul let out a heavy breath, I knew that sound. I was just happy that I could make him feel the way he'd been making me feel. And I could feel his feeling against my lower back.

"You're evil, my little Gala. Evil, I say."

The sound of that name made my stomach clench. I knew he was just trying to be nice but I really didn't like that name. I turned my head to my left; stretching the skin around the larger bite and making myself grimace.

"Please, don't call me that."

Paul looked a little startled but he didn't question me, "Okay. I just... that's okay."

I kissed him, forcefully, and he kissed back. I twisted and jostled so that I was facing him and Paul wrapped his arms around my waist again. I crawled up the grassy bank to straddle Paul's hips as he pulled against my lower back and pushed our stomachs together.

I moved to kiss along Paul's jaw and realised it was a mistake the second that it started moving, "After we've seen Sue."

I closed my eyes tight and sighed, "I hate you, sometimes."