"It's all couples going to the tide pools" I commented. He nodded. "I guess we should stay here then?" I asked
Sam looked just as confused as I did. I know we both felt something for the other person. Yet, nothing had been said about it.
"Third option" Sam said.
"Third option? I'm listening"
"Do you want to come over to my place?"
Chapter 6: Testing Trust
I started walking with Sam up the beach.
"Hey, hold up" Seth came running with beer in hand.
"Hi Seth" I smiled
"Hello baby sister" Seth smiled wide "What is going on here?"
He looked between Sam and I. He held us both with an amused glance.
"I am going to go talk with Sam" I used what I hoped was a convincing smile.
"What is wrong with talking here?" Seth raised an eyebrow.
I had no words. Truthfully I had never been in this situation. It wasn't like I had time for a crush back home. I definitely did not have a family member that would actually give a shit if I did. I felt the convincing smile falter on my lips. It felt like it was a lie.
"Seth. What are you truly asking" Sam asked. I looked at his confident relaxed smile. I relaxed seeing his smile. Trusting Sam to deal with this unknown situation. He knew Seth longer.
"I am asking what your intent is with my sister, Sam" Seth took a swig of his beer.
I also wanted to know what Sam's intentions were. My body could almost sense that Sam was having an issue coming up with an answer.
"Seth. I will tell you about our intentions right after we figure that out" I said, winking at my brother.
"Well Bella. As your brother, I need to do this. Sam, you hurt her. I will kick your ass" Seth smiled the entire time he threatened Sam.
"Seth, if I hurt your sister, I would want you to do way worse than kick my ass" Sam's voice was serious.
"Well, good thing I am tough" I smiled at both the men.
"What do you want me to tell our parents?"
"I don't know"
"I have used all my excuses too recently. What do you use on your mom?"
"I don't."
"Why don't you just tell them that she is with me. No excuse needed" Sam held my hand. I needed that physical comfort.
Seth pulled me into a hug. I did not let go of Sam's hand. He whispered in my ear "have fun."
Seth let me go. The smile on his face was radiant. He turned away to go back to the group. Walking hand in hand with Sam up the beach. It started getting more crowded as we got closer to the parking lot.
"Tourist season. They don't typically travel as far down as the last volleyball court. It makes it more of a local hangout" Sam explained my unasked question.
"Is tourist season annoying?"
"Not annoying. It does bring a lot of money into the community. It just is different when the tourists are not here. In the winter I surf and see no one on the beach for hours"
"Surfing in the winter. That sounds cold. If I am ever down for the winter, would you show me the ropes?"
"When you are down for the winter I will" Sam spoke confidently.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach. Maybe this was not just a two week fling. Maybe he would be okay with the long distance. When I graduate I could move up here. Renee could - I stopped that thought. She would never move up here again. I felt like a prisoner with a chain attached to my ankle.
"This is us." Sam stopped in front of a motorcycle. Popping open the seat he pulled out two helmets. Handing me one, I slipped it on my head. Trying to figure out the strap and failing.
"Can I help?"
I nodded to Sam. He reached slowly for the strap. I felt his skin brush mine. It left a row of sparks in its wake. I swallowed hard when he moved his hands back.
"Have you ever ridden on one of these before?" Sam asked.
"Yes I have. One of my neighbors has a few that he fixes up and sells. Whenever I really needed to get somewhere he would let me borrow one."
"Did he teach you how to drive it?" Sam's face was a mask of concern.
"Well, not like lessons. But after a few falls I got the hang of it"
I watched Sam's face as he tried to mask his emotions. I had not yet known him long enough to read his face. Yet, somehow I understood that he was worried about me.
"Did you not wear a helmet?" Sam's eyebrows knit together.
I was hoping he would ignore the struggling I had with the helmet.
"None in his shop fit me so I just stuck to the backroads. There was a pretty consistent police rotation. Easy to slip around if you knew it."
Sam's entire body changed. Like he was warring internally.
"Your mom didn't have an issue with you not wearing a helmet?"
"She never saw. But I'm okay. Still standing. Look" I knocked on the helmet on my head "wearing one now."
Sam held both of my hands in his. I was taken aback by the size of his hands. They made mine look like they belonged to a child. I squeezed into his tightly, sensing that was what he needed.
"Bella. Can you promise me something?"
Looking up at him I nodded. Not trusting my voice. To promise something means that the person will be thinking about you for a long time. Renee never asked or promised me anything.
"Please wear a helmet when on motorcycles" Sam's voice shook with worry.
"I can do that Sam." Smiling, I tried to break the tension.
He got on the bike and kicked it to life. I froze for a moment. Was I actually doing this? Getting on the back of a boy's bike to go to his house. The boy I thought I could trust. He seemed like a prominent member of the community. Seth obviously knew where his house was. I took a deep breath and straddled the back of the bike. I wrapped my arms across his body. I tried to wrap my arms around him, my fingers found themselves feeling his muscles. Sam adjusted my hands. Guiding me to the loops on his jeans. I held on to each loop at the front of his jeans. I wiggled my torso forward, wanting no space between our bodies.
I could feel him and the power of the bike under me. I was in awe of the beauty of the path he drove. Not paying attention to the directions. Each turn gave me a different view of the ocean. I squeezed Sam tight as I saw things that made me wonder. When I go back home I knew I would be dreaming of this. Being just another teenage girl riding on the back of a crushes bike.
When Sam stopped the bike I was in awe of the view. It was even better than the one at Charlie's. It looked like a private beach. Two tall cliffs lined either side of the inlet. Getting off the bike, I stood in awe.
"What do you think?"
"Sam. This is, wow. Is this where you go cliff jumping?"
Sam helped me undo my helmet. The same electrifying current followed his touch. When I looked up at his face he looked concerned.
"What?" I asked
"Who told you about cliff jumping?" He smiled amused.
"Embry invited me to go out. It sounds like fun"
"It is fun. When you do go, would you like me to come?"
I thought about it. Embry and Seth seem responsible, but also like they are kids. It would be nice to have someone there making sure we don't get carried away.
"I would love that. I'm not sure I even have a swimsuit here though. So that might not happen" I smiled at him.
"If you want to do it we can find a suit."
Sam stored the helmets away. I still couldn't take my eyes off the beach and the cliffs. The mixture of them looked almost unreal. I wonder how much use this beach got, would it be good for skinny dipping?
"What are you thinking about?" Sam appeared to be enjoying my reaction to the view.
I could feel my cheeks burning. How was I about to tell this God of a man that I was thinking about skinny dipping. Obviously my vision of doing it had him involved. Who would not sign up for that with Sam? He seemed like the perfect person to let yourself be adventurous with.
"Is this beach busy?"
"Not typically. We do get the occasional local during tourist season. Also, like you said, our crazy friends cliff jump here."
I thought that over. Trying and failing to not get excited at the idea of swimming nude next to Sam.
"I don't see how that would get you to blush though." Happiness glowed in Sam's eyes. He had an absolutely loving reaction.
"Well, if there are not many people that come here, then this is the perfect place for a skinny dip." I kept eye contact as I spoke.
I watched him swallow hard. I swore under his russet skin tone he was blushing.
"I think we should go inside the house today. When it's warmer I will take you up on that activity"
"Would you?" I teased. I couldn't help myself. Sam made me feel so safe. It was like I knew I could get away with things so I pushed my luck.
Sam closed the distance between us, but did not touch me. I felt the heat radiating off of him.
"Bella Swan, I would love nothing more then to do whatever you want"
I couldn't stop myself. Closing the distance between us I hugged the man. It probably made our height difference very apparent. When Sam hugged me back my body exploded with happiness. I had never had someone who was willing to be my person. My person to go and do crazy things. My person to worry about my safety. My person to love. In that moment, the boy I had just met yesterday solidified to the centre of my universe.
"Thank you" I whispered into his chest.
Sam picked me up so that I could wrap my arms around his neck. I locked my legs around his waist. Not wanting this to ever break. I knew my body would never feel 100% okay unless he was touching me.
"Want to go inside?" Sam asked after a long time. We had both just been enjoying the embrace. I could spend the rest of my life attached to this man.
When my feet touched the ground I felt a shock between our bodies. The distance between us became electrified. We reached out to each other at the same time. Holding hands made the distance between our bodies become manageable with the small contact.
I saw his house for the first time. It was a gorgeous A-frame cabin. It had a huge deck that went all the way around. My mind was blown. I had just seen two in the past two days.
The house was rustic wood with huge windows. Walking in, it entered into a spacious mudroom with lockers that had names above them. Each of the men I had met had names above the lockers. Including some men I had not met yet. Even Leah had one with her name.
"You have a locker for all your friends?"
"Something like that." Sam smiled.
"If I become your friend, would I get a locker?" I teased.
"I have other things you could have. Better than a locker" Sam winked.
I think we both realized that we would be more than just friends.
The house opened up to a huge main room. The kitchen was to die for. I could bake a pie and cook dinner at the same time.
"Do you like the kitchen?" Sam smiled.
"Sam. It's huge. I would love to create meals using your kitchen."
He squeezed my hand. "You can use it whenever you want".
Sam walked into the kitchen showing me around. The pots all hung beside the stove. They all had nice copper bottoms, which fit the aesthetic of his house. He opened the cupboards and my mind spun. I had never seen that much food in a house in my life. Even Charlie's pantry had nothing on Sam's.
"If you want to make something, and need an ingredient, just let me know. I stock this with the requests of the guys. I know it's a lot of easy ingredients. Truthfully, I am one of the few that will cook from scratch." Sam noticed my face. "Is something wrong?"
"Do you actually eat all of this before it expires?" Living off expired food for the past nine months gave me a new appreciation for fresh food.
"We do. You saw Embry and Seth yesterday. Most of the guys are bottomless pits." Sam closed the cupboard.
"It will be fun tripling the recipes I know. I assume that the guys come over often, with them having lockers in the front entry."
"Yes. This is an odd moment for us to have the house to ourselves"
"What do you want to do with this gift?" My body felt such a pull to him. I would take whatever he would be willing to give me.
I watch Sam hold his breath for a moment. Like he was gaining control of himself. I bit my lip, did I cause him the same need he caused me?
He walked over to the couch. Sitting down first. In a bold moment of courage I sat straddling his lap, looking at him. He wrapped his arms around my hips.
"Tell me about you." I whispered when I realized my body would never get enough of him. It would be content to spend the rest of my life in his arms.
"What do you want to know?" He asked. He was drawing patterns down my back. Each one felt like an electric current. I shivered into his touch.
I tried to narrow my need to know him down to one question and failed. "Can we start with everything?" I leaned my body into his. Resting my head on his shoulder. We fit together like a puzzle.
Sam laughed, "Yes we can."
"How old are you?"
"21. You?"
"18" I answered. Suddenly worried that he thought I was older. Knowing I am 18, would that break the magic between us?
"Comfort food?" Sam asked. It was almost like he could sense my mind spinning.
"Fresh croissants. At work every morning the owner of the bakery makes me a sandwich on a fresh croissant. What about you?"
"Mine is a soup my mom used to make me. I have tried and failed to make it so many times. I have the recipe card and still it never comes out like she used to make."
"Maybe we could try to make that together"
I pulled away from Sam's body to look at his face. He looked like he had won a prize.
"You okay?" I asked. Bringing my hand up to his face. He leaned into the touch.
"More than okay. You are the best thing that could have possibly happened to me." Sam's face was open and honest.
"You just met me, how could you know that?" I asked out of curiosity. I wanted to see if it was the same way I knew he was the one.
"Let's go out back." Sam suggested. He helped me up off his lap. Walking into the backyard I was surprised by how many seating options he had. From daybeds, swings, benches, lawn chairs, to well worn logs.
I made a beeline to the daybed. Almost like the pillows called to me.
Sam looked happy enough sitting cross legged across from me. The backyard space was huge. Yet the canopy over the daybed made it feel more intimate. The second I noticed this, a charge lit within me. I could feel that charge going all the way to Sam.
"Do you remember the stories the other night?" Sam asked.
"How could I not? They are the most wonderful stories I have ever heard."
"Do you remember what I told you on the beach?"
"Yeah. That the wolf protectors are real."
"You left out that you are definitely one of the people they will protect." Sam smiled at me.
"I love that idea." I let the scared child in me shine out a bit with those words. If Sam asked, I probably would tell him about Renee too.
"What if I told you I was one of the protectors?"
I mulled it over for a minute. Looking at Sam I could see why he would be considered that. I would want him on my side in a fight.
"I would say that I am lucky to have met you"
"Bella. What if I told you I could turn into a wolf?"
My mind spun for a moment. Is this like a sex thing? He is like, I will protect you, then howl at completion? Maybe. This was the Pacific Northwest.
"Like actually turning into a wolf. Or something else?"
"Would you like to see?" Sam asked.
If Sam could turn into a wolf that would be so cool. If it is the weird sex thing, that would be kinda cool I guess. I would take being close to Sam anyway I could get it.
"Do you want me to call someone?"
"Why?"
"Well it will be a lot to take in. Most people who find out like having someone else in the know around. Do you want me to text Seth?"
I nodded. Trusting Sam. If he said I would want someone here I knew he was probably right.
"Sam" panic filled me after he sent the text.
"What is it?" It was like he could sense my panic.
"Can we do something before you show me your wolf?" I tried to say those words without thinking I was crazy.
"Anything"
"Can we… Can. Um." I could not ask for it. I wanted to kiss him so bad. Fuck. If I had just had a boyfriend before this, I might be able to ask for this. Assuming that Sam would even want me in that way. Shit.
"Bella, you can ask me anything" he leaned in. His face was inches away from mine. I could tell he was just trying to read my face.
I know I couldn't voice it. If I just leaned in I would find his lips with my own.
Swallowing my fear I leaned into him. I could almost sense his surprise. Sam caught on fast, cupping my face as our lips met. It was like my body had not been alive before this moment. I deepened the kiss. Sam smiled against my lips. Before he broke our kiss.
I made a protesting noise.
"I don't think Seth wants to see that. Though I am excited about your eagerness" Sam winked.
Sam looked over my shoulder. Seth and Embry started walking into the back yard.
"You ready?" Sam asked.
"I just have to stand there, you are the one doing all the work" I smiled.
Sam helped me off the daybed. We walked over to meet Seth and Embry on the deck stairs.
"Wow, you told my sister you could turn into a wolf in bed?" Seth tisked playfully.
I simply smiled at my little brother. He was so funny. I couldn't wait to tease him back when he finds whatever it is that Sam and I have.
"You both knew?" I asked Seth and Embry
"Not only did we know we also can turn into wolves" Seth flexed his muscles as he spoke.
"You are completely safe with us. Sam will transform and we will be here to make sure you are safe" Embry smiled.
This must have been why he came. They both knew Seth. He was a carefree jokester. If this did go sideways, I would need someone calm and serious like Embry to be here.
"Thanks Embry and Seth. I am not too worried. I don't think Sam could hurt me." I watched both the boys try and fail to give reassuring looks.
"I am going to phase in the forest and walk out" Sam informed us all. He kissed the side of my head, breathing me in once more.
He started walking towards the woods. It felt like each step he took, an elastic band stretched between us. It almost hurt as he walked farther away. I rubbed my chest, trying to massage out the feeling.
"That will happen every time you are separating from Sam. It will feel like a rope connecting the both of you together. Sorry to say that most imprints find it harder to separate after they meet the wolf" Seth sounded the most serious I had ever heard him.
I didn't take my eyes off Sam as he disappeared into the trees.
Authors Note: Thank you for all the love. Honestly your reviews are making me write these so much faster! I have two questions for you: 1. What did you think of this chapter. 2. How smutty/lemons should chapters go in the future? (if you have read my other story, do you want that many lemons?) Thanks in advance for your feedback my Friends. Talk more tomorrow!