Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. of Twilight are the property of Stephenie Meyer. I am in no way associated with Stephenie Meyer, any creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.
Some descriptions of characters that previously existed have been altered to fit the vision of this story. If you are interested in viewing the character reference photos, please view my Pinterest Board (/clairebear_04/like-breathing-but-harder/).
Chapter 6: Claire
"Are you sure?" my eyebrows furrowed, trying to make sense of what he told me. "Why?"
Quil's eyes darted back and forth. "Uh, I just figured, you know, since you don't have a car, and I need the truck during the day, I could take you to and from the center."
I chuckled, "Oh as if that old hunk of junk could outrun your four legs," I expected him to laugh at my joke but instead he looked like he was struggling with something. "Quil, are you ok?"
His eyes met mine. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a long day- I'm sure you must be beat," he smirked, looking over his shoulder at the pile of boxes and bags.
"I promise I didn't go overboard, Em kept grabbing things insisting they were graduation gifts," the smile lingered on my lips. Emily and Sam doted on me over the years. It was never in a 'we're sorry your mom died,' kind of way, but more that I may have been the only child they will ever get to raise. With Sam phasing for so many years it would be a problem, but Emily had always indicated that things may not be as easy for her.
"Of course she did," Quil nodded. "Well, let's get started putting some of this together, I'll order pizza."
Over the next few days, Quil's tiny, run-down house became our home. I had finally gotten around to unpacking my college boxes, distributing pictures and decorations evenly throughout the house. When the dining table I ordered in town was delivered with matching chairs, Quil reluctantly retired his card table to the back storage room. I had picked out a few rugs, attempting to hide the brown, matted carpet underneath. It wasn't fancy, but it was cozy.
"Look at you," Quil murmured as he hugged me from behind, his hulking arms swallowing me. "I can't believe this is the same house," I felt his lips press against the top of my head.
I shrugged as best I could under the weight of his arms. "It's not much, but it's a start," I leaned my weight back into him.
He sighed softly, resting his cheek against my hair. "Well I like where it's going," he said under his breath.
"I like where this is going," I whispered back, my head lulling to the side gently as my muscles relaxed.
"C'mere, you," he swooped me off my feet, cradling me in his arms. It never got old. No matter how bloated I felt or how uncomfortable I was, every time he lifted me I felt weightless, light, the warm feeling growing in my chest.
Resting my head against his chest, I inhaled deeply, his intoxicating scent filling my nose and clogging my brain. I felt his warm skin on my cheek and nuzzled against him.
He nudged the door to his bedroom open with his shoulder, side-stepping through the door frame to ensure he didn't bump me against the aging wood. As we neared the bed, his head dipped low to plant a kiss on my lips. His tongue grazed my lower lip, goosebumps forming down the back of my neck. I felt my weight lower down to the bed and my arms wrapped around his neck to pull him over me. Our lips remained locked, my hands running through his hair, and I laid back onto the pillows.
"Mm, I promised I would try," he murmured softly, working his way down my jawline to where my throat met my ear. Air forced its way out of my chest in a soft moan, my insides swirling under his body. I nodded, unable to verbally respond to him.
His hand pushed my hair behind my ear as he moved down to my neck. I felt his teeth graze against my skin and my back arched in response, prompting him for more. His other hand wrapped under my ribs as my back lifted, encasing me in his grip. The sensations in my stomach intensified as his lips made their way down my neck and stopped at my collar bone.
I hadn't even noticed that my eyes were closed until they flashed open, glancing down to see why he paused. "What?" Please, don't stop now, my mind begged.
His eyes locked on mine, registering the concern in my voice. "You're so intoxicating," he whispered, his free hand caressing the side of my face. "It's hard for me to stay in control..." he trailed.
"Please, don't stop," I pleaded.
I could see a glimmer of conflict in his eyes as he read my face. His thumb ran over my cheekbone, he paused for another moment, contemplating. I took his face in my hands, grasping for his attention. "I trust you, you won't hurt me," I stared deep into his warm eyes.
He sighed softly and leaned forward, capturing my mouth with his lips again. This time there was something different, something I'd never felt before. It was deeper as if all the air in my lungs was being sucked out of me. I felt my head become light, my heart racing in my chest. I moaned into his mouth, feeling his hands cup my jaw.
The electricity buzzed over my skin, my fingers aching to feel every inch of him. As his tongue wrapped around mine, my hands pressed against his chest, following the shape of his body down to grasp the hem of his shirt. I tugged on it lightly, testing the waters. When he didn't stop, I pulled harder, the fabric riding up his back to his shoulders. At this, he pulled away from my lips and gazed at me.
That was it, my mind huffed. You crossed the line.
He surprised me by raising up on his knees, pulling his shirt up and over his head, and discarding it onto the floor. I felt my mouth gape slightly, my eyes roaming over his frame.
The world stopped turning. Air halted in my lungs, my heart skipping a beat in my chest as my eyes wandered from his collarbone, over his pecs, down his sternum...
Don't get me wrong, I've seen Quil shirtless before. Hell, he's taken me swimming at the beach multiple times every summer, and never once was he bashful. But that wasn't exactly this setting...and he wasn't looking at me that way.
My limbs quivered as the electric current coursed through my body and pooled between my legs.
"Claire," he began, cupping the side of my face. "I-" He froze midsentence, his eyes locked on me but it was as if his mind was elsewhere.
I waited a moment, almost able to hear my pounding in my chest. "Quil?"
He blinked back into consciousness and as he groaned a howl pierced the night air deep in the woods behind the house.
"Fuck," he grumbled. "I have to go," he whispered, disappointment washing over his face. "I am so sorry, Claire."
Everything in my body felt cold and still. My heartbeat disappeared into my chest, the electricity sensation evaporated, and the lump in my throat made me aware that I could cry at any second.
I chomped on my inner lip. "I know, it's ok," I forced a smile but I could tell he wasn't convinced.
His eyes clamped shut and he kissed my forehead. "I will make this up to you, I promise," pressing his forehead against mine he gazed deeply into my eyes. "I'll be back later."
I wrapped my arms around my legs as I watched him jog through the house and out the back door. My cheek rested on my knee, my eyes lazily fixed out the window. Quil paused at the treeline to look back at me, our eyes meeting before he vanished into the brush.
I've never questioned or felt any resentment about what Quil is. It had its perks: private space heater, personal bodyguard, loving soulmate. But for the first time, I felt bitterness infect my chest, replacing the warmth that usually resided there.