Where was the car? Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Suze was stumbling blindly through the streets, searching for Jesse, but he was nowhere to be found. Where the fuck was she? She was getting pissed off now.

She had the feeling somebody was following her, and she didn't think it was the little girl. She stopped suddenly, and somebody crashed into her from behind. "Ah HA!" She swung around with her finger pointed out, and it accidently went into Paul's eye.

"SHIT." He cried, grabbing his eye.

She grabbed his collar. "Why are you following me? I said to leave me alone."

He laughed through his pain. "I thought you said you knew were Jesse was. Why are you wandering around the street like some homeless person calling his name? You look like crap."

"Gee, thanks." She muttered, taking her hands off of him. She didn't want to touch him at all. Even though he smelled nice.

He took away the hand from his eye, revealing bright red.

She brought her own hands to her mouth. "Whoops.. sorry." Wait a second… "Wait, NO. I'm not sorry. I said to leave me alone. You're just stalking me."

He ignored her. "Who was the girl you were talking to?"

Suze folder her arms across her chest. "That is none of my business."

He cocked his head. "She was a ghost. It's entirely my business."

She put her finger in his face, carefull not to poke him again, and shook it. "Hey, I'm a mediator-"

"Shifter."

"I'm a shifter, too. So back off. This is MY business."

He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. "You're so cute when you're mad."

She stamped her foot. She was acting childish, but she had a headache. So sue her. "HOW many times now have you said that? LEAVE ME ALONE."

He shrugged. "You're mad a lot." He wiggled his eyebrow. "And cute."

She couldn't help smiling, but a scowl took it's place. "Well, you make me mad."

Paul grabbed her wrists and pulled her backwards into the shadows. Suze began to scream, but he covered his large hand over her.. well, large mouth. Keeping his hand over her mouth, he brought her close to his face and looked into her eyes. "Suze." He growled. "I can't help it. I haven't seen you in so long. Alright- I'm following you, but you.." He looked down at her outfit. She was wearing her motorcycle jacket and some low-rise jeans. Her hair was a bit messy, but he liked it that way. "You.. are so damn hot." He said, almost to himself. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively bit his hand.

He yanked it away, but kept a firm grip on her wrists. "God, Suze. I pay you a compliment—"

"You're a slimeball," she barked. They were hidden behind the bushes of some department store. She wondered if she should yell, but she didn't have much time, and she didn't need any police to waste it when she needed to fine Jesse. Besides, she knew how to kick butt on her own. She took the heel of her sneaker and dug it into Paul's foot. It usually worked better with heels, but this would have to do.

Paul looked down at her pathetic attempt to hurt him. "What is this?" He smirked.

While his attention was on his foot, she smashed her elbow into his neck. He immediately released her wrists and grabbed his throat, gargling. She paused, wondering if she hurt him badly, but then decided he deserved it. Her hesitation was too long, however, and when she turned to flee, he grabbed the back of her jacket.

Suze struggled to clamber out of it, but he already had her back in his arms, and he began kissing her violently on the neck. She struggled to get out, but he had her back pinned against the bushes, and her front and her arms were squeezed against the force of his chest. She thought of collapsing back into the bushes, which were poking her really hard, but she realized she would only be trapped even more. She also was very distracted by what he was doing…

Paul now was running his lips up against her jawbone and her ear… he invaded her hair and back down to her eyes. She closed her eyes briefly as his hungry mouth came over them, but then she couldn't seem to get them to open back up. She was being swept into the moment, and his kisses felt so good.

Paul wanted to run his hands along her body, but he knew if he did, she could escape. He couldn't let her escape. Not ever again. She was what he needed. As he ran his lips along her cheeks, he felt a salty wetness, and he realized she was crying. He opened his own eyes and looked at her beautiful face. Her dark hair was caught in the bushes, some leaves trapped among the luscious mess, and single tears were running along her soft skin. Her eyes were shut, but they squeezed through. He didn't know how to react. What was he doing? Was this love? Did he actually care for more than her body? He loved how she thought, but he didn't know if he loved her. The California sun beat down on everybody but them. The two of them were in their own world, in this secluded shade. Nobody could see them, and he had her trapped. He had all the power in the world. He loved it.

But she was crying? Why was she crying? He never knew she was like this. He always thought she was as solid as rock. A part of him was disgusted in her, but another felt sympathy, and utmost love. Should he stop? What if she was faking? No- she couldn't be. She would never stoop so low and cry to get out of trouble. But did he actually know Suze?

Paul decided to risk it, and he gently let go of her wrists. He brought his finger up to her cheek and gently wiped a tear away. Her eyelashes were wet and bunched in triangles. They fluttered open, and she looked up at him. He didn't know what to say. Neither did he. Suddenly her lips were on his, and they were kissing more deeply than she had ever kissed Jesse. She brought her hands up onto Paul's chest and explored his mouth. He was confused, but happiness exploded throughout his veins. He never realized his feelings for her until now. Did he really want the power? Or did he just want her?

Suze didn't realized what had happened. One minute she had been wanting escape. To find Jesse and tell him she loved him. Underneath Paul's grip, she wondered if Jesse really loved her. What was Paul doing to her? What was love? Did she even know? Suze decided she didn't. And if she didn't know, how could she love Jesse? She had felt something between her and Paul a year ago, and maybe it was lust, but she was willing to explore the possibility. The possibility that he held love deep within his exterior of danger and ruthlessness. And the possibility that Jesse loved her would not satisfy her. She couldn't be with someone who refused to be with her- who ran away when the going got tough. She thought Jesse would always be there to protect her, but he wasn't there now, and he wasn't helping her break away from Paul. This was when the tears flowed. She realized what was actually happening. Paul was practically raping her in the bushes, and Jesse didn't even care. Paul cared for her. He was willing to go all the way, and she accepted him in return. She would find out the man he really was now that she knew Jesse was not more than a boy.