Do you ever feel like a slingshot? Because I feel like one a lot lately. The thing about slingshots is they're useful, right up until they're not. But the thing I identify with most is the potential of a slingshot. Its inherent use is obvious whether it's being pulled taut, loaded with something to launch, or sitting empty somewhere. But lately, I feel like the latter version. I feel empty, but built with so much potential and care that it seems like such a waste. How do I shake this feeling? How do I reclaim the version of myself that feels most useful? Ready to launch and exceed my own expectation of how far I can make things go. Pulled tight, and overstretched but so fantastically full with purpose and determination. I don't know, I suppose that might sound a little weird, but it makes sense to me. I'm a slingshot, I've just got to find that missing piece of me.


Maya made it through her last final by the skin of her teeth. The last few weeks of the semester had been a blur after her scare in the infirmary and if she was being honest with herself, she'd never really been able to shake it off. She had successfully been able to quell Paul's concerns when she lied and said she thought she had strep, brought on by the unrelenting stress of finals. He had conceded and the next day, a care package had shown up at her dorm filled with vitamin C packets, a heated blanket, weighted neck pillow, her favorite snacks, and a carefully carved wolf figurine. That one had made her smile. And then the smile had faltered and Maya had felt nauseous all over again.

Something still hadn't sat right with Maya over lying to Paul about the pregnancy scare, but she knew she didn't want to tell him over the phone where she wouldn't be able to read his face. If she was being honest, she'd even say she was a little embarrassed by all of this, but couldn't fully pinpoint the reason why. She's sure it had to do with the fact that this was entirely ironic. What if she had gotten a positive test result back? What then? She knew Becks would never say a word against her, but still, Maya felt a little ashamed with how she had reacted to Becks' pregnancy and she had almost been put in the line of fire herself. And then there was…a confusing air of disappointment.

Maya had pushed that feeling so far down so as not to have to deal with its confusing effects during her finals, but now, as she packed her suitcases and filled some boxes with the bits she'd gathered during her semester, it began to bubble up again.

Why in the world should she feel disappointment? The thought raged in her head as she tried to focus on folding and pressing her t-shirts into her suitcase. It's not like she wanted to be pregnant—far from it. Maya knew she wasn't ready for that and she still had dreams and things she wanted to do first. They were on the same page about that. But still..it left a tiny dime sized hole in the pit of her stomach, and the ache that usually pulsed as a reminder of her imprint squeezed around that empty feeling until her head would start to ache.

Maya brought a hand to her forehead and checked for a fever. Maybe she was just getting sick and this feeling was merely a delusion of that. She felt relatively cool, but how she was to know. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket and Maya slipped it out and quickly opened the email notification from Paul with her flight details. She smiled at the short note in the email from him:

Can't wait to have you back with me.

She sent a quick reply of "Can't wait to be back with you," before adding the notification of her early morning flight to her calendar and packing in earnest now. This feeling would ebb and she would feel whole again once she was back home and with Paul, she knew it. Beez was already out ferrying her stuff to the mailroom to ship back home, so when Maya heard a quick succession of knocks on her dorm room door, she raised an eyebrow in confusion.

When she pulled it open, she had no time to react before a bright, warm body was hurtling into her arms with a squeal.

"KEYE?!" Maya yelled as she inhaled the familiar scent of her friend's shampoo and wrapped her arms around her. "What the fuck are you doing here?!" Keye was laughing and swinging Maya from side to side. When she pulled back to look at her, her eyes were bright with excitement and Maya immediately felt that empty hole shrink. Keye was a bit of home.

"Surprise! I thought I'd come celebrate the end of your laborious finals with you!" she replied with a sound of delight as she clapped her hands together.

"But what..how did you? But you have school!" Maya nearly scolded. She was so happy Keye was here and her own excitement was plain on her face as she held onto her friend's hand. Keye shrugged.

"UW let out a few days ago and I was just putzing around the rez, so! HERE I AM! In the big apple and ready to party, bitch!" Keye walked deeper into Maya's dorm scanning the contents of the room with a discerning eye. Her eyes landed on the stack of boxes in the corner and she shook her head.

"But how did you get here?" Maya continued, coming to stand beside her friend.

"Psh, what do you think?" She replied, hands on her hips and mirroring Maya's posture just moments before. "Paul." She said simply. "He texted me a couple of days ago and asked if I wanted to go out and see you, help bring you back. Said you had been so stressed with finals that you'd nearly made yourself sick," at this she wagged her finger at Maya disapprovingly before continuing, "And thought I'd be a great little treat for you. So sweet," she concluded with a knowing grin. Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't help the rush of warmth that filled her now. It's like he'd known she was missing a piece and he'd tried to fill it the best way he could.

Maya smiled and nodded. "Very sweet," she confirmed as she looked at her boxes.

"What the fuck are we supposed to do with all of this then?" Keye blurted out. Maya laughed, thoroughly glad for the company.


"That's the last one," Keye said as she huffed and heaved another box up onto the mailroom counter. It had taken them two trips with the dolly to get all of Maya's things here and both girls were completely out of breath at this point. Yeah, next semester, she was not bringing this much stuff. Which wouldn't be too hard to do, she thought, because she had the option of living off campus or in the sophomore suites next year. Maya hadn't quite decided what she wanted yet. Paul was obviously keen on the idea of her living off campus where he could come and stay with her whenever he liked, but Maya still thought being close to her cohort would be the best while she was out here on her own.

She shrugged off the thought for now, not needing to dwell on it for the next couple of months at least and smiled at the student attendants behind the counter.

"Where to?" A befreckled boy asked, as he poised his pen over the clipboard.

"La Push, Washington," Maya said, her voice drenched in contentment.

After filling out the postage for each box and sliding her black card to pay for the exorbitant shipping fee, Maya and Keye walked arm and arm into the fresh spring air that was mingling with the teasing warmth of summer. They were all smiles, giggling at nothing and everything as they talked, making their way across campus.

Maya could almost feel the weight of this semester roll off her shoulders under the pleasing May sun and as they sauntered across the quad, Keye asked, "So, what do we do for our last night as free women in this big ole city? Because I think—"

"HEY! MAYA!" Maya's head shot up and she watched with a smile as Noah jogged toward them with an equally pleased smile.

"Oh…my," Keye said with a hungry edge to her voice.

"What?" Maya asked, confused, but it was too late to confer as Noah was already in front of them, all smiles and giving off a sweet musk mixed with an earthier cologne that made Maya raise an eyebrow.

"Hey, you all packed?" He asked between breaths. Keye was definitely staring. Maya had never thought Noah was exceedingly handsome, not like Paul, but she could see the appeal now with Keye giving him an appreciative look.

"Uh, yeah, just dropped it off at the mailroom. This is Keye, she's my best friend from La Push," Maya motioned to Keye who had already unthreaded her arm and was running a hand through her chopped hair and putting on her megawatt smile. Noah turned to Keye as if noticing her for the first time and beamed back holding out his hand.

"Noah," he said confidently. When Keye took his hand he said, "Wow, the genetics running around La Push are gorgeous. Someone should really do a study." Keye laughed at this as she continued to shake his hand. Maya bit her lip and had to stifle a laugh. Was Keye really interested in him? Well, Keye was interested in everyone to be fair. "So, when do you head out?" Noah said, finally letting Keye's hand fall and turning his interest back to Maya.

"Early," Maya sighed, "Tomorrow morning."

"So you have one last night of debauched fun, then," He said with almost a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Keye whooped and turned to Maya with an eager smile. Maya groaned but she realized she was smiling.

"I guess," she bemoaned sarcastically as her smile stretched wider across her face.

"YES! But first, I was promised the most delicious deli sandwich ever." Keye fist pumped the air and slotted her hand into Noah's tugging him toward the quad and he followed her eagerly.


Maya, Keye, and Beez were chatting loudly as they ascended the stairs from the subway station into the warm night air. They were greeted at the top by some other friends from Maya's cohort, as well as Noah, who gave her a warm smile and tugged her into a quick hug. Keye looked bemused at them before they all quickly conferred on their first stop that evening and headed down the sidewalk. A pack of engineering and math students now free of the shackles of the semester were ready to welcome summer with open arms. Maya couldn't remember the last time she could breathe this easy.

With most of her outfit choices packed away and sent home, Maya had opted for her tightest pair of jeans that hugged her ass perfectly and a cropped black top that dipped so low in the front that the top of her black lace bralette was easily on display. She'd taken some extra time to do her hair that evening and it shimmered under the lamplights in soft, silky waves down her back. She'd even let Keye line and fill in her lips so that they looked more pouted than usual, finishing it off with an expert, delicate winged eyeliner and a touch of mascara.

The night held promise—the promise of summer, the promise of a good time, and even the promise of a neat end, tied up into a bow and ready to blow Maya back to the west coast. She was ready to lose herself in the laughter and chat of her friends tonight, letting the first year of college sink into her completely and color her into something new and experienced before heading back to the undoubtedly drama-filled summer that La Push would certainly deliver.

But for now, the night was new and the lights and sounds of this city that Maya had come to love and claim as her own settled and hummed against her skin. As they poured through the doors of their first bar that evening, the music shaking the walls and the lights strobing off the center of a dance floor, she was greeted with the vibrant voices of her friends yelling:

"Shots! Shots!"

Keye squealed with delight and tugged Maya toward the bar before everything dimmed deliciously around her and almost faded completely into black.


Maya slowly opened her eyes to the sound of rough grinding construction ringing out of the cracked window to her left. The room was swathed in bright light around her as she put a hand to her throbbing forehead, letting out a long breath trying to quell the pounding ache that was building around her temples.

Birds chirped animatedly between the hammering and clanging of the construction outside and Maya opened her mouth as if to call out to Paul and tell him to keep it down. It was way too early for him to be carrying on like that and she wasn't even entirely sure how he could make that much noise in his small workshop. The sound of concrete drill rattled to life against some pavement and Maya's eyes sprang open, focusing on the ceiling above her.

Not home. Her mind confirmed quickly.

Suddenly, Maya felt the shift of an arm underneath the pillow she laid on and she turned her head to see Noah asleep a couple feet from her on his back, one arm slung over his eyes and the other tucked under the pillow beneath her head. Maya's breathing picked up. She was at Noah's. Why was she at Noah's? She lifted her head to look down at herself expecting the worst but she was fully clothed and upon second glance, so was Noah.

Maya lifted her head to see Keye tucked between her and Noah, her head at the foot of the bed and her mouth gently parted in sleep. Her eyes shot around the room as she sat up, trying to recall the night that had led to her and Keye ending up here.

Somewhere between their third and fourth bar is when she lost track of the evening. She recalled at one point hopping onto Noah's back after stumbling so much that he insisted he carry her. As she clung to him piggyback style down the streets of New York, he had planted his hands firmly beneath her thighs as she leaned her head back and drank in the cool night air as their friends ping ponged around them. But when had they come back here? The sharp shrill of birds chirping made Maya's eyes go wide as realization dawned on her.

What time is it?! Maya scrambled for her phone in the bed to the groggy groans of Keye and Noah. She found it on the nightstand next to her, but when she attempted to turn it on, it was , of course, dead. Maya sprang from the bed against the protesting of her head and searched for Noah's phone charger frantically as Keye moaned painfully.

"Keye, get up!" Maya snapped. She found the end to Noah's charger plugged in on his side of the bed and shoved it hastily into her phone waiting for it to boot up.

"Fi' more mins," Keye groaned as she tried to cover her head. Noah was rubbing his face and yawning nonchalantly.

"Please, please, please," Maya whispered as she waited for her phone to finally open.

9:02 a.m.

"Fuck," she whispered. They'd missed their flight back to La Push that had been slated to leave at 7 a.m. that morning. Just as her brain was starting to switch into overdrive, a volley of delayed text notifications, voicemails, and missed calls popped up. Maya gave an exasperated groan.

Before she even opened the missed texts, mostly from Paul she assumed, she quickly opened a new text to Michael to get him working on booking her and Keye the next flight home. But just as she began typing, her phone sprang to life with Paul's face.

"Fuck," Maya squeaked louder this time. She looked at his face for a solid two seconds before hastily answering the phone. "Paul I'm—"

He cut her off: "My!? Jesus, where are you?" There was a tinge of irritation in his voice but mostly he sounded concerned. That was promising.

"I—I'm so sorry, babe. I was just texting Michael to get our flights changed. We…we overslept," she admitted, holding onto her head and looking up at Noah who was watching her carefully.

"You overslept?" He asked, confusion coloring his voice. Maya held her breath and shut her eyes tight. She felt so many things right now: embarrassment, annoyance, hung over, and a tinge of sadness. If she hadn't missed her flight, she'd be almost halfway to him by now.

"Yes," she said simply trying to hide the tremble in her voice as she fought back tears. "My phone died and we overslept," Maya realized she was still kneeling next to Noah's bed and she stood up suddenly with her hand on her hip.

"What the fuck, Maya?" Paul said, his voice slightly raised and the anger ebbing out. Maya let out a huff of breath and turned to see Keye with her hands over her eyes.

"I know, I… I just messed up, I'm sorry. We all went out last night and my phone died and—"

"What the fuck is going on?" Paul asked, anger coloring his tone.

"Nothing, Paul," Maya said, her annoyance creeping out, "We just overslept. It's not a big deal. I'll get Michael to book us on the next flight out of here. Calm down, please."

What was his deal? She thought this reaction was a little over the top for her accidentally missing her flight home but there was an edge of desperation and worry in his tone and she suddenly felt guilty for a simple mistake.

"I said I was sorry," she said, getting upset now.

"Oh, you will be," he said ominously. Maya's eyes widened momentarily and then she shook her head. He was upset, she understood that but this was almost too much. "Just get home." He said in a quipped tone.

"Whatever," Maya replied dismissively before hanging up and grabbing Keye's arm, shaking it roughly. "Get up! We gotta go!" She scrolled to Michael's name and pressed the call button before looking over at Noah.

"Maya," he said slowly, apologetically. Maya held up her hand to him as Michael answered on the other line.

"Michael, hey, it's Maya. Look, me and Keye missed our flights. Can you book us on the next one out ASAP? Paul nearly had a coronary."

"Of course. I'll send you an updated itinerary as soon as it's booked," he said.

"Thanks Michael," Maya said, holding her hand to her forehead.

"Anytime." Maya hung up the phone and started looking for her things.

"Keye! Let's go! Airport! Now!" she barked in response to Keye's continued groaning.

Two and half hours later, Keye and Maya were tucked onto their flight back to Washington.

Maya had only forwarded her flight details to Paul via text, but he hadn't responded. She knew she had clearly upset him but at the end of the day, she hadn't done it on purpose. Which was why his reaction had seemed so off base. Was he really that upset with her? Or was it something else? Knowing Paul it had to be something else. Maya had clearly looked lost in thought as she gazed across Keye out the plane window because she abruptly asked:

"Are you gonna tell him?" Maya snapped from her reverie, smoothing the worried look that hand scrunched across her brow a moment earlier.

"Huh?" She replied.

"Paul," Keye said expectantly.

"What about him?" Maya asked, confused still. Keye raised her eyebrows in surprise at Maya.

"Are you gonna tell him about us sleeping at Noah's?" That thought honestly hadn't even crossed Maya's mind but now that Keye had said it…

"Uuuuhh," she stalled.

"Oh damn," Keye breathed out with an amused laugh at the end.

"What?!" Maya asked with a lick of accusation in her voice. Keye shook her head, the incredulous look not quite wiped from her features yet.

"Nothing just…Damn, Maya. Didn't realize you were a cold player," she was clearly joking but Maya stung a little at that.

"What are you talking about? We passed out at Noah's, so what?" Maya looked down at her hands and started fiddling with the zipper on the front of her sweatshirt.

"Noah is into you," Keye quipped. Maya scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"So, I've heard."

"Yeah, and uh, I've never had a massively possessive—"

"Paul's not—" Maya tried to interject.

"Fine, 'protective'. I've never had as crazy of a protective boyfriend as you have, but I'm pretty sure he would not be super siked to hear that you passed out in Noah's bed, next to him, after letting him get buddy buddy all night." Keye wasn't accusing her, nor was her tone hurtful. She just stated it matter of factly and Maya faltered.

"Buddy buddy?" she clarified with an edge to her voice, glancing at Keye.

"Don't look at me like that," Keye pushed back, "My, you know what you do to dudes. Paul included."

"I do not," Maya said, truly at a loss. Keye was the one to roll her eyes this time.

"Don't do that. Don't play that oblivious pretty girl bit," Keye said, her tone sharp, but sincere.

"I don't know what the hell that means but if I tell Paul I slept in a bed with Noah, he might very well lose his mind. So, no. I'm not going to tell him. But I do not encourage Noah, Keye. You've got that wrong," Maya shot back. Keye shrugged her shoulders and started pulling out her headphones.

"Okay, just want to get our story straight."

"There's nothing to get straight. Nothing happened. We partied too late last night and I slept through my alarm like an idiot. And that just happened to royally piss my boyfriend off. Case closed," Maya folded her arms across her chest and glanced out the window again. "Keye?" she tried to confirm. Keye poised her headphones over her ears and shook her head.

"My, it's not a big deal. You know I don't care what you do. All I'm saying is, if Paul was there last night, you would have not done the things you did," Keye slotted her earphones in and finished with, "Just be careful."

Maya tried to determine what could have happened the night before to make Keye think that she had been 'buddy buddy' with Noah. But nothing came to mind. She hadn't held his hand or hung on him. She was never the kind of girl to do that, in fact she was considered the rez prude for most of her life before dating Paul. She had accepted a piggy back ride from Noah to their last bar of the night. That wasn't leading him on though, was it?

She thought about what Keye said—about how if Paul had been around last night, she wouldn't have done half the things she did. But what had she done? Hung out with friends? Joked? Accepted a drink from Noah or Ben? But if Keye had seen something she hadn't then maybe she was saying or doing things without realizing. Maya shook her head, trying to banish the thought. Whatever it was she had or hadn't done last night didn't matter.

She was going home for the summer, resuming her life with Paul and being present for her best friend who was about to have her baby. And she wasn't going to tell Paul because it wasn't information he needed to know. Not when he was already pissed at her.

It would be fine.

"Fine," Maya breathed out.


Paul leaned his head back beneath the shower head and let the water rush down over his face and neck. Showers were never the same after he had phased, not as warm, not as relaxing, but today… Paul let out a low groan as water ran rivulets down his hard chest to his legs. He looked down at the girl on her knees taking him deep into her throat and bobbing her head expertly. He threaded his fingers through her hair at the back of her head and gave a harsh huff as he held her face to him for just a few brief seconds, her lips pressed against his hilt.

"My, fuck!" he shuddered as he released her and she continued to take him in earnest now, edging him closer. She gazed up at him around her lashes and smiled around his length, nearly sending him. She knew what she was doing to him.

He had been so mad at her this morning when she had called and nonchalantly admitted on the other end that she had missed her flight. The worry and ache that had been his constant companion since April had exploded in that instant and he had gripped his phone so tightly it had almost cracked in two. But the second she had walked over the threshold of that front door, dropped her bags, and gave him that warm, all encompassing smile, he felt the tension and anger ebb from his shoulders and he soaked up that radiating pleasure she gave off.

The imprint would never let him stay mad at her for long, nor would Maya. That's how she had ended up on her knees in the shower, her mouth stuffed full of him, eagerly swallowing him down. Paul braced his forearm against the shower wall and leaned his head forward, letting the water hit his back and blocking it from raining down on Maya's face. She braced her hands on his broad thighs now, taking long, sweet pulls on him before dipping him down and to the back of her throat making him groan. She had him.

"My, I'm gonna–" he grunted and in response Maya quickly pushed him down to the back of her throat, letting him settle there. Paul's eyes went wide and he held onto her head as he pumped forward into her mouth, fucking her face gently a few times before spilling down her throat. His breathing came in fast, powerful huffs as he slowly pulled her off of him and she swallowed what was left in her mouth before smiling serenely up at him.

"Jesus, My," he said with a huff of laughter. She stayed on her knees for a moment, smiling up at him and he brought his hand to her face, cupping her cheek and running his thumb across her full lower lip.

As she stood and leaned against his chest, the top of her head not quite meeting his shoulder line, she hummed her appreciation. Maya gazed up at him with that heart-squeezing smile and Paul felt that tug that urged her closer. He wrapped an arm down around her back, resting on her ass as he brought his lips to her forehead. Maya wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into it, letting the relief of the imprint pulse between them.

"Am I forgiven yet?" Maya asked, pressing her lips across his throat as the water poured down and over his shoulders. Paul chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Almost," he teased. "But I want to show you something." Maya looked up at him curiously and he couldn't help but laugh. "It's a good thing."


Paul shut the door to his forerunner and came around the front of the car where Maya stood, slotting her hand into his. The clearing that had once been blank space backed with evergreens that led deeper into the forest was now filled with a prominent two-story, sleek, dark navy home with modern white trim. The graveled drive was still being curved in and dotted with low garden lights, and the ground was freshly tilled and waiting for landscaping, but the house looked nearly done.

Maya let her eyes wander across the damp concrete of the freshly poured porch that wrapped around the right side of the house. The large white paned windows shone in the easy afternoon light and Paul felt Maya squeeze his hand and tug him forward.

"Paul," she said, nearly breathless. Paul had to admit it, the work they had accomplished in just five short months was pretty impressive. The outside of the house was almost completed and only needed a few finishing touches (lights installed, porch railing sealed, and numbers affixed to the door). Inside would take a little bit longer, but Jacob had asked to wait for Becks so that she could decide the things she wanted like paint color, floor stain, light fixtures, and even window trim. He was going all out for his imprint, but Paul understood why. This family and this life meant everything to him. It was what he had been seeking when he first met Bella and what he fruitlessly tried to achieve when he followed her. Now, not even a year after mysteriously returning—a reason he still hadn't shared with his brothers—he had an imprint and a baby on the way. It made sense why he pushed all the way down on the gas to jumpstart his new life.

And Paul had jumped at the chance to help.

"Has she seen it yet?" Maya asked, turning to look at him as she ascended the porch steps, her eyes bright and wide and eager. Paul's heart stuttered in his chest and he let go of her hand to grip her ribcage and hold her in place before him. She was just a little taller than him standing on the second porch step and he stepped forward to close the small gap between them to kiss her. She responded instantly, arching her back and pressing into him, her arms coming up to rest over his shoulders. Paul felt that sensation of being grounded firmly to the earth, that swell and release of joy as he pressed her just a little closer and gently squeezed her ribcage beneath his large hands. He felt invigorated and clear, like the brightness was turned up on his entire world. When he released her, she steadied herself against his chest, laying her palms flat against his pecks.

He gave her an awry smile, "Not quite yet," he said. "But Jacob wanted to get as much done as possible before the big reveal. We're way ahead of schedule. But I—," he paused, watching her carefully, not sure how to proceed, "I wanted to tell you something."

She raised her eyebrow and looked at him curiously, humor etched plainly across her face. "Oh?" she offered and he couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"Yeah, uh," he began looking away and then feeling the need to stare at her again. "I took some time off from completing commissions this spring. Kind of like a hiatus, so I could help Jacob do this. I haven't been working at all," he admitted. For some reason, Paul had felt too nervous to tell Maya this at the beginning of her semester. Her eyes were wide again, but Paul couldn't place the emotion. Was she disappointed? He hurriedly carried on, "It's not a big deal really. It gave me more time to work on some side projects in town, make the council happy without having to impregnate my girlfriend," Maya laughed at that, a tinge of annoyance on the end of that sparkling sound, "It doesn't really cut into us at all though, if that's what you're worried about."

"Paul," Maya said again, bringing her hand to his cheek. There was that look he loved so much from her. Pure adoration. If it was the work of the imprint, he didn't care. He just wanted Maya to keep looking at him like that for the rest of his life. "This is amazing. You are amazing. For doing all of this?" she gestured around her as she stood still, held firmly in place by Paul's hands. "Of course it's okay. It's more than okay. And I don't care about it cutting into us, whatever that means." She leaned forward and kissed him again, soft and sweet this time. "This is absolutely incredible and so are you."

He beamed at her and then pressed his forehead against hers—something he couldn't do typically when she was standing next to him.

"I just want to make sure I'm telling you these things," he said, gently tucking some hair behind her ear. Maya's face dropped momentarily and her eyes shot through with something unspoken. His interest piqued at that but he let it go when her face changed into one of pleased softness, "You're a part of all these things and a part of me." Something inside him thrummed with content. She slotted so easily against him, a perfect fit, molded to him and he ached for more. Later, he told himself. "Let me show you the rest," he said as he took a step back and placed his hand around hers before pulling her up the rest of the short porch steps and to the front door.


Hungry. That's how Paul felt. Hungry to start this summer with Maya and spend as much time with her as possible. He was constantly surprised by the fact that their imprint was over a year old, and the length of their relationship almost the same. Paul was hungry to take the next step with Maya, but he was never sure what that next step was. He was worried about putting too much pressure on her.

Their relationship was so different from those of the other imprints. His brother's imprints were eager, overjoyed even to get married, settle down, and start their lives on the rez. Maya though…was a wild card. No imprint had ever traveled so far off the rez without their partner before Maya and Becks. But Becks was more tethered now with the baby due in just two short months.

His Maya was determined to chase what she wanted and he loved that, admired it. Still, he wanted to make things even more solid, even if just to satiate that itch. She had been adamant that she wanted the same things as him—kids, marriage, their life together, she wanted it all. But the answer of when still hung in the air. He could be patient for all of those things, but he wanted to take at least one step toward that endgame this summer. When and what he did toward that goal was key though.

Once they had returned from the walkthrough of Becks and Jacob's new house, Maya had said she was going upstairs to take a nap, citing some residual jet lag and the late night she and Keye had had before that caused them to miss their flight. Paul had settled at the kitchen table with his laptop, touching base with Michael about re-establishing his project timelines in July and answering some emails in the meantime. But his eyes continued to stray to the darkened stairs.

Hungry.

Would he ever not feel that predestined pull toward her? The one that begged him to cover every inch of her in every inch of him? She'd been resting for a little over an hour at this point, but Paul's hands were beginning to itch to touch her. Just to be near her. He'd felt a version of this feeling from the first moment he'd laid eyes on her at that bonfire. A tug, a sharp pull that cinched around his heart and squeezed and that kept his gaze focused on her at all times. It was terrifying if not a little exhausting at times. But when he'd relinquish his control and give into the pull, he was always rewarded by the imprint.

From the moment he had imprinted on Maya, he would listen to every change in her breathing, watch enraptured as the goosebumps sprouted on her arm when he touched her, and finally, when she had let him, he would watch her face devolve into pure bliss the first time he pressed into her. Nothing could top that sight.

He glanced back to the half finished email and swallowed thickly. He could be patient. The rumbling of thunder sounded just off the beach and if Paul trained his ears, he could hear the soft patter of rainfall beginning down on the water. In just a few minutes, the rain began to fall in earnest, creating a soft thrum of noise within the house as it darkened outside. Paul ran a hand down his face and tried to refocus on the email in front of him. Something about refurbishing a mantel in an historic building in Chicago. But his mind was elsewhere.

The time away from her this semester had almost been too much. He'd delayed getting a place in New York once Jacob had hurried his plans along on the house, and the time away from Maya had been nearly unbearable.

Now, as he sat in the kitchen, listening to the rain, with her asleep just upstairs from him, he realized how ridiculous it was that he was anywhere other than beside her at this moment. He'd spent nearly four months without his imprint, he wasn't going to waste any more time just sitting here when she was just upstairs. That was all he needed to convince himself to close his laptop and take the stairs two at a time before opening the door quietly and peering in. She was there, stretched out on his side of the bed with his t-shirt and some black sleep shorts on with just a knitted throw slung over her lower half. Her breathing came slow and easy. He entered the room, leaving the door barely cracked behind him before pulling off his shirt and sliding silently out of his jeans.

He didn't wake her as he climbed into bed beside her, pressing his chest up against her back and wrapping his arm around her stomach to gently tug and slot her against him. She breathed out a sweet sigh and Paul leaned down to kiss gently against her neck and shoulder for a moment. He'd let her sleep, but he wanted a moment to breathe in that heady soft aroma that was so distinctly her.

He placed his lips at the crook of her neck and took some slow deep breaths, absently kissing and gently nipping at that delicate spot to revel in her. Maya made a soft sound, mingled with a sleepy groan that made him ache. Paul told himself he'd let her be after just a few more inhales, one more trail of soft kisses from her shoulder to behind her ear. But his control always slipped with Maya, especially when she began to roll her hips back against him. He let out a low groan in her ear when she pressed back against him and felt himself harden. Paul slipped his hand under the shirt that she wore and squeezed her waist.

"You miss me?" she said barely above a whisper in that sleepy, sweet tone. Paul nipped at her shoulder in response and smiled against her ear. She hummed her appreciation and placed her hand over his as he stroked back and forth over her stomach. "I was napping you know," she teased gently.

"You've been napping for awhile," he said, rolling her gently onto her back, "Plus, I have a better idea." She was beaming up at him and that heart squeezing feeling pulsed through him again. She brought her hands up to cup either side of his face and he leaned down between them to kiss her softly, letting his hands knead the soft flesh on her hips as he slid his knee up between her thighs. She gifted him with a giggle that sent his heart racing and with a wide grin he dipped his head down to her neck again before swiftly pulling the shirt up and over her head.

"Aaah," he let out a satisfied sigh at the sight of her. Paul could hear her heart quicken and tried to slow his pace so that he could enjoy every moment with her before devouring her. He dove down to her breasts, pulling one tight nipple between his lips and teasing it with his tongue. The breathy moans he pulled from her were enough to send him, but he held tight to her, relishing in the stiff peaks her tits formed when he let each nipple go from his mouth with a pop. With one hand on her waist, he used his other hand to pull the sleep shorts down her legs and flung them off the bed. He knew she'd be wet before he even dipped his index finger inside her and swiped along her seam, causing her to whimper. Internally, he growled. Whenever she made that sweet, simple whimper his mind darkened and he clutched onto the edge of his control.

Paul kissed along the line of her hips as she tangled her hands in his hair, begging him to go lower. But Paul was determined to take his time. With his hands grasped firmly on her waist and his lips pressing a line across the top of her delicate V, he propped himself up on his forearms to let his eyes cascade up and down her body.

Maya's chest heaved in anticipation, her eyes trained to his waiting for him to dive in, to pull her under, and press her into the mattress. But instead, Paul let his eyes trace across each line and soft curve of her body, over the swell of her breasts, to the dip at her collarbone, ending in a rich well at the base of her throat. Her mouth hung slack as she watched him, her finger tracing the line of his brow.

This frustrating, sweet, eager, pliant, stubborn woman was his. His perfect little imprint splayed out just for him and still, Paul couldn't help but be amazed each time she opened herself to him. The bond that tied them together tightened in his stomach and she squirmed in response. The things he would do to her, for her, were unending. He dipped his head to breathe in her scent again—it was intoxicating, making his brain fuzzy and loosening his control just enough.

"Paul?" she breathed out. That wanton stare, her face flush with lust made him snap.

In one sharp move, he wrenched her off the bed and flipped their positions so he was on his back and Maya was sitting straddled across his abs. Paul held tightly to her ass as he yanked her up and with a yelp, Maya settled over his face as she braced herself on the headboard.

"Paul! What—" but her protest dissolved into a solid moan as Paul pulled her down firmly on his face and began to suck at her core, letting his tongue dart in and out of her opening before swiping up between her swollen petals and pressing on the bead of her clit. "Paul, I-I…" she stuttered and stopped, trying to lift her frame off of his face but he held her tightly. She whined in response to his continued assault between her legs and when she threw her head back to let the sound flow freely from her throat now, he knew he had her. With the flat of his palm, Paul gave a swift slap to her left ass cheek and she yelped in delight. After a few more flurried spanks, Maya took her cue and started to grind her hips over his face, deliciously riding him. Paul let out a groan of appreciation that vibrated through her and made her respond in kind.

With another quick slap, Maya picked up her pace, her eyes closing as she clutched onto the bed frame. Paul let one hand travel up her torso and expertly pinched and pulled at one nipple. She was grinding faster, her breathing coming erratically and when she careened, her voice pitched high and her core tightened around his darting tongue, he felt a soft warmth flood over him as he sucked at all she gave him.

She was still twitching and making soft, gasping moans as he lapped at her, but before she could deflate completely, he pulled her off of him and came down on top of her. Her eyes were half opened in slits of bliss as she smiled up at him. This was his favorite part.

Paul pulled his briefs down enough to pull himself out and pressed into her opening. Maya's mouth fell open in a silent moan as her eyes opened a little more to stare into his as he entered her.

"Fuck," he groaned as he slid neatly between her legs and pressed to his hilt in one fast snap of his hips. Maya sucked in a sharp breath at the sudden intrusion but stayed open and pliant. He watched the quick tension relax into eagerness. Paul started to pump easily, her channel slick from his workings earlier, and closed his eyes to let the sound of her stuttering small moans wash over him as he stretched her.

Caught up in moments like this with Maya always seemed to bring Paul to a better version of himself. He felt the most like himself just like this with Maya. She had been right all those months ago when they had fought—they were very good at this. But it was more than just the physical bond between them. The imprint lit up every sensation, every heartstring and every deep stirring desire and he wanted it all with her.

He was rocking into her faster now and leaned his head forward to press his forehead to hers. She held onto the back of his neck, her legs wrapped up around his hips as he rubbed his hand up and down her thigh, slamming into her.

"N-nee-need you d-deeper," she huffed. Oh, she knew what she was doing to him. Paul let that mischievous grin stretch across his face and the little smirk she returned did him in.

"Uh huh, I just bet baby. You're taking me so good like this though, you sure you want more?" he said. Paul knew when he took her from behind that it felt almost too intense for her. Still, she nodded sweetly, toying with a look of feigned innocence that had him leaning down to bite her bottom lip that she puckered out at him. "If you insist," he growled before quickly pulling out to her startled gasp, and turning her onto her stomach quickly.

He fully removed his briefs now and sat up on his knees behind her. He laid another harsh slap to her ass before grabbing her hips and snapping them up to meet his.

"Spread wide for me, baby," he coaxed her as he rubbed his hand over the red print he left on her cheek. Maya let out a quick breath before letting her knees slide wide on the bed. Paul rubbed the globes of her ass before firmly planting his hands on her hips. He stroked along her slit with the head of his cock, pulling it up between her ass and then back down to her weeping opening. Maya's breathing picked up in anticipation and when Paul slipped back inside of her, he couldn't help himself from groaning, "Good girl," as she let out a low whine and clutched the sheets.

So much for taking his time. Paul sank into her and let out a sharp breath when he bottomed out. Maya was breathing fast now, but her stillness as she adjusted to him turned into an eager rocking of her hips as she moved over him. Paul let his hands rest lightly on her hips and watched as she took all of him in. The feeling of her clenching around him was beginning to be too much already and when he was this deep, all he could think about was making a mess inside of her. Still, he held onto his control for as long as he could, letting her bob up and down on his length. When his resolve finally snapped, he gripped her hips tightly to still her before he began to snap his hips roughly against hers. Maya's small moans ballooned into wails as she cinched and shuddered around him. She was spiraling and he wasn't far behind. With a few more quick slaps against her hips Paul buried himself as deep as he could and spilled inside of her. His entire body sagged with relief and bliss as she sank down onto the bed. His cock sprang free of her and he watched with satisfaction as he dripped out of her.

Wanting to savor this moment, he lowered himself over her back, making sure to prop himself up on his elbows so as not to put too much of his weight on her, before pressing himself back into her. She groaned in what he could only ascertain as weak protest but with a peppering of kisses across her shoulders she quieted.

She wiggled a little beneath him, overstimulated and feeling his cock twitch in her, but she knew to let him stay inside. Paul would absently thrust into her every so often to coax one of her sweet moans from her, but mostly he just reveled in the sensation of keeping her stuffed full, of her soft body beneath his.

A little while later, they were wrapped in each other, the low light of the afternoon filtering around the storm clouds that continued to gently rain outside. Paul was just beginning to drift off when he heard her:

"I want to tell you things too," She murmured in the deepening dark.

"Mmm?" he responded sleepily. Paul could hear Maya's heart beat faster in her chest now. She rolled onto her stomach next to him, placing a hand on his chest.

"That night when I was at the infirmary and said I had strep?" Maya began. Paul looked at her confused, not entirely sure where this was going. When he didn't respond she continued, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I thought I was pregnant. So I went to the campus infirmary to get a test." Paul breathed in deeply, keeping his eyes focused on her. Why didn't she say anything? As if answering his silent question, Maya said, "At first, I thought it was nothing and then I really wanted it to be nothing. And if I told you before I knew for certain, I know there would be nothing in the world that would stop you from getting to me."

For a moment, the image of Maya being pregnant washed over Paul and he got lost in the quiet joy that flooded his chest. She would look so beautiful—round belly and warm cheeks as she smiled at him with that overwhelming look of happiness that he knew only he made her feel, that the bond made her feel. He itched to see her that way, full with his child and ready to take on their future together and start a family. He could see it so clearly, how the ring he'd bought her would glitter on her left hand as she placed it on the top of her swollen stomach and hummed sweetly hoping their baby could hear her.

But he knew she wasn't ready. Not yet. And he could wait because that future held so much promise for them. It would still be there when they were ready. So, he let that image of Maya slip from him as his eyes refocused on the beautiful, naked, young woman propped up on his side.

"What?" She smoothed her hand over his chest and he let his look morph into one of light amusement.

"Nothing. Strep, huh?" he teased. Maya rolled her eyes and leaned down to kiss his chest. A nervousness overtook her now and Paul stroked her arm as he waited for her to speak.

"And I was late and overslept because Keye and I went out. I just felt like I needed to…feel like me and not quite so…well," she ducked her head and looked back up at him. He was watching her carefully, a measured look of calmness on his face and Maya felt the need to tread softly. "We slept over at Noah's."

His jaw ticked dangerously and Maya hurriedly continued, "Nothing happened. Nothing will ever, ever happen…. But—"

Paul sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes darkening with that visceral anger she only saw once before right before he phased in front of her for the first time. Still, she was in it now and she pressed on because she had to tell him. Maya laid her hand flat on his chest and pressed against the rising heartbeat.

"We all fell asleep in bed together. Totally innocent, we just passed out, but I just wanted to tell you so—"

"So it didn't come up later? Or slip out when Keye is just having a good time and pokes fun at my girlfriend sleeping in bed with another guy in front of everyone?" He was getting mad, and could feel the heat rising in his chest.

"Paul, this isn't a big deal," Maya breathed. Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. His nostrils flared and he sat up in bed quickly bucking her back and causing her to sit up on her knees facing him, still naked. She hastily grabbed a pillow and held it against her.

"No, Maya, it's not a big fucking deal to you. But it is to me," he ran a hand through his tangled hair and shook his head trying to clear it. "He's into you."

"So?" Maya said.

"You're mine!" Paul snapped. Maya jumped at the sound but then her eyes narrowed, slowly simmering with anger.

"It's not like anything would ever happen Paul, it was an accident, we fell asleep! You're being crazy about this," Maya's voice was raising now too. Paul was grateful that Jacob and Becks weren't here for once because he was fuming.

"Maya, I need you to operate with a little more common fucking sense, especially when I'm not around. Because—"

"Nothing. Fucking. Happened!"

"Listen to me," he said through gritted teeth. Maya rolled her eyes and placed her hand to her forehead. "You need to be more careful and more fucking respectful—"

"Respectful?!" Maya interrupted, a look of amused shock on her face. Paul kept going though.

"Yes, respectful of this imprint, of this bond, of our fucking relationship! We are in a relationship, Maya, unless you forgot." He held up his hand to display the ring on his finger that she had given him at Christmas.

"I know we are! For fuck's sake, Paul. It was an accident, it wasn't like I was begging to get into bed with him just to piss you off. We were drunk, we were tired, we passed out, that's it. What was I supposed to do? Sleep on the floor?"

"You were supposed to go home. To your dorm. Anywhere but a guy's bed who is very much into you and makes it known, Maya." Paul was furious.

"You're overreacting. How am I supposed to tell you stuff if you react like this?" Maya accused.

"God. Grow up, Maya." He said, shaking his head and getting out of bed to pull on some sweats. Maya made a strangled noise in her throat and stood up on her knees letting the pillow drop from her body.

"Grow up!? Me!? Fuck you, Paul! You grow up!" she shouted. Paul was looking at her sideways by the door as he pulled on a shirt. Even now, he felt distracted by the curve of her body, the shape of her mouth. The hold she had on him was equal parts wonderful and terrifying. He chuckled, annoyed and shook his head.

"Jesus, maybe I should have gotten you pregnant. Might have tempered whatever rebellious teenage bullshit this is," he motioned to her with a vague wave of his hand and even as the words came out of his mouth, he knew they were wrong. They tasted bitter and made him swallow thickly.

Maya's face was crestfallen, temporarily suspended in disbelief before it switched to one of sweeping anger. Paul set his mouth in a hard line and when she let out a shout that sounded like a growl and chucked the pillow across the room at him, he ignored it and stomped down the stairs.

One more minute and he was out the door and into the cool night air. Paul didn't want to phase and let his thoughts that were currently running rampant flood his brothers' minds. So instead, he hurried over to his forerunner and piled inside before slamming the door with more force than was necessary.

As he drove away from their home, his hands tightened on the steering wheel and regret poured over him.

"Fuck me!" he yelled to no one as he coasted toward the highway in the dark.