The next day at school, Paul sauntered up to me, greeting me with a grin. Oh boy.
"So, as one friend to another, would you like me to take you to the Port Angeles bookstore? The library here sucks major butt, you must admit." Paul said as he took my books from my hand and walked me to my next class.
His offer momentarily surprises me in its thoughtfulness, and I think about it.
"Hidden agenda?" I raised my eyebrow at him, and he grinned back.
"Not one you don't know about."
I roll my eyes. Operation: 'Get Dae to Fall in Love with Me' is no secret to me or anyone else on the rez.
"Okay, when?"
"Thursday afternoon?" He suggests, handing me my planner from the top of my stack so I can check if I'm free. I pulled the pencil from behind my ear, poking my lip with the eraser as I glanced over my schedule.
"That should work, right after school?"
"Sure, we can just head out right away and find some crappy diner to get food at along the way."
"Paul Lahote, that sounds like a second date." I smirk, my smile betraying my answer. He grins at me as he thrusts my books back at me to go to his own class before he's late.
"Call it whatever you want to, darling." He winks and walks away. I bite my lip as I take my seat. His plan might just work on me.
XxxxX
"What's up, beautiful?" I looked over at the dark-lined eyes of the guy standing next to me and frowned.
I turned back, hoping he understood that I'm not interested. He let out a low whistle as he looked me up and down.
"Whenever you want to have a good time..." he took my hand and pressed a slip of paper into my palm. "This is me." I rolled my eyes before turning back around to face him. I looked him in the eyes as I ripped up the paper without so much as a glance at the number, putting the shreds back into his hand before walking over to Paul. His face was red from suppressed laughter. We watched the dude flip me off as he walked away.
"Wow. You shut him down faster than you shut me down."
"I hate bad boys."
"And this-" He gestured to himself, "doesn't scream bad boy?" I shrug. He was clothed for a change, wearing dark jeans, black sneakers and a long sleeve black tshirt that hugged him in all the right places. I licked my lips before responding.
"It's hard to resist a bad boy who's a good man. Could you get that book for me please?" He seems to appreciate my comment as he looks up to where I was pointing.
"What? You seriously want to read THAT? Dae, you're such a nerd!" He snorted looking at me mockingly.
I'm not known for keeping my temper, and I have no regrets for shoving him backwards onto the table. He was so surprised that he just lay there, flat on the wood surface piled high with my books.
"What did you call me?" I hissed.
He swallowed visibly as I got right up to his face, looking at him as menacingly as I could manage without feeling ridiculous.
"I-I... Dae..." He stammered and I realized after a second that it was more proximity than anything else that had him speechless. I decided on a fitting punishment. Although he would probably like it which means he wouldn't stop... But I can't resist the opportunity.
"That wasn't a very nice thing to say, Paul." I told him as smoothly as I was able without busting out laughing at the heady cadence my voice took on. His breathing became shallow and caught in his throat as I rested one hand on his waist, letting my fingers sit on his skin just under the hemline of his tshirt. I brought my lips to his ear, murmuring, "You should apologize." My thumb slipped just inside the waistband of his underwear, and I tugged on it lightly. His pupils dilated and I smiled at my success, knowing he would be very hot and bothered when I step back.
"I'm waiting, Paul."
He half-spoke, half-groaned out an "I'm sorry, Dae." I gave his hair one last comb through and pulled away, going to find a stool to get the book myself. I heard his grunt of frustration and when I came back to put the book with the rest of mine, he was still laying on the table, eyes shut, brow furrowed. I chuckled.
"You're too easy, Paul."
"Be quiet, sexy woman, I'm busy thinking of old band aids and crocs." I laugh and his eyes find mine as he growled, "You're an awful person."
I smiled angelically. "I know."
I paid for my books and we left the store, heading to that crappy diner he promised me.
"So, you read the Warrior Cats stories?" He began to tease me as we sat down across from each other. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, if you must know, my mom's best friend's little daughter from Michigan reads them, and whenever she's lonely, she facetimes me and we talk about the stories together. She doesn't know I hate them, and she never will. She's 11." I tell him, and he smiles.
"Awwwww, that's so cute!"
I roll my eyes. Then a thought occurs to me.
"Wait, how do you know what the books are about unless you've researched, or worse, read them yourself?" I prod, my grin widening. Paul won't meet my eyes now. I start laughing. "Paul Lahote! You've read them, haven't you!"
"Okay, okay. I've read them." He tells me, but doesn't elaborate, so I continue to pester him.
"And hold on, if I'm remembering correctly, you'd read that garbage from the library too, what was it? Shadows of the Moon?" I teased, grinning up at his blank face. He sighed, and the mood of our conversation shifted, I felt myself grow serious.
"I don't really want to talk about it." He told me, softly. I looked into his eyes right as a tear leaked out. I frowned. Paul crying? This behavior doesn't fit into what I know about him. What's happening?
"Okay, that's fine. We don't have to talk about it." I told him, thinking back to the only other time I've seen him this serious, back when he mentioned his friend that had died.
We sat in silence until our food arrived, me messing with my fingernails and Paul fiddling with his straw wrapper.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to like... totally kill the banter," he smiled weakly, pouring corn syrup over his Styrofoam pancakes, glancing up at me for a second. I smiled.
"No, it's okay, we don't have to talk about that anymore. I promise I won't bring it up again." I say, raising my right hand for a scout's salute. He rolls his eyes, smiling for real now. "But we do have to talk about what we're doing when you come over to my house tomorrow after school." I say, my heart beating a little faster as I invite him on a date for a change.
Paul's eyes lit up and his smile got wider.
"Yeah that's a good question. I'm thinking we do some bondage, maybe a little rope play..." He winked at me. I rolled my eyes, but felt myself blush hotly.
xXx
{PAUL'S POV}
I opened my eyes when my phone buzzed, jolting me from my pleasant dreamless sleep. I catch a few hours whenever I can, since patrol keeps me out late often. I had crashed right after Dae and I had gotten back from the bookstore, falling asleep to the memory of her hands touching my skin. I squinted at the screen as my eyes adjusted to the light. My phone clock read 8pm, which meant I had a few hours before I had to head back out to patrol. I opened the new text.
Unknown number: Hey, this is dae, got your # from Jay.
Well how about that, saves me the trouble of convincing her why she should give it to me, I guess. I shudder deliciously as I remember her hands on me – inside my pants – and in my hair. I had needed to take several minutes to get my breathing normal again after that, and even then, my pants felt too tight. I rolled over, groaning as I imagine her hands continuing closer to where I wanted them. I felt my hips thrust against my mattress without my permission. The imprint has left me even more hot and bothered than I would be normally, so it's safe to say that I'm hornier than I've been in awhile. That plus the fact that I've been celibate since I imprinted on her, which is already longer than I'd gone without sex since my balls dropped.
Fuck, this is bad…
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number: what color are my eyes
Unknown number: ?
Me: ummm...
Dae: u embarrassed because you don't know ?
I can just see her smirk.
Me: no. Embarrassed because I do know
Dae: how is that embarrassing
Me. Reasons
Dae: fine.
Dae: what color are they
Me: dark blue
Dae: how is that embarrassing
Dae: i'm kinda ur gf
I won't lie, her calling herself my kinda girlfriend, kinda gave me a little thrill.
Me: dark blue w copper dots on the inner ring; the outer ring is streaked with inigdo
Me: *indigo
Me: they look blue green in firelight
Me: I can and have drawn them from memory
Me: remember
Me: jerk
Dae: ;)
Dae: dont me, i will steal ur dae shrine again
Dae: show it off at school
Me: its not a shrine!
Dae: mhm sure
Dae: tell that to Seth n Embry
I rolled my eyes, but I had a big grin plastered on my face.
I fought hard. I tried every way. But I wasn't strong enough. This clever sarcastic pain in the butt has trapped me.