Chapter 8

Paul let himself back into his house around 2AM. Jacob hadn't been thrilled with the situation, but when Paul said she needed sleep and he would be on the couch, Jacob relented. In the end it was Embry who came over and "guarded" her. Which really meant that he was sound asleep on the couch when Paul walked in.

"Dude, wake up!" Paul said, slapping Embry's feet that were hanging over the edge.

Embry snorted awake, "I'm up! I'm up!"

"Some protection you are. What if I'd been a vamp?" Paul hissed.

"You don't smell like a vamp," Embry shrugged.

Paul shook his head, "Everything okay here?"

"Yeah. She was quiet. No nightmares or anything. I guess it's my turn to patrol?" Embry looked exhausted, but accepting of the situation.

"Yep. Thanks for coming, man."

"No problem. That couch is pretty great for sleeping. I'll babysit Bella anytime if I get to nap like that," Embry joked.

"Get outta here," Paul grumped, but not unkindly.

"See ya, man."

"Yeah, later."

Once Embry was well away from the house, Paul took a very fast shower. He was always filthy after patrolling. With the towel wrapped around him he went quietly into the bedroom to get a pair of basketball shorts to sleep in. His room was doused in Bella's scent and his wolf was doing a happy dance at the sight and smell of her in his territory.

He had just slipped the shorts up over his hips when she rolled over. And then rolled again. Agitated. Cursing his lack of attention, Paul realized the blankets were kicked off and the window wide open letting in the cool, damp air from outside.

"No," Bella moaned. "NOOO! Don't hurt them! Let go of me, Edward! We have to help them!"

Bella sat up in the bed crying. She was disoriented and couldn't remember where she was for a moment. Until suddenly Paul was there next to her. His warmth everywhere. "You came back," she breathed into his chest. "Thank you for coming back."

"Of course I came back. I live here," he quietly chuckled. "Do you want to tell me about the nightmare? I still don't have wine. But I have darkness and warmth."

In that moment, Bella knew she loved Paul. She'd known for a long time that she loved him, but she realized she was falling IN love with him. And there were so many reasons that wasn't a great idea. But right now, it felt very, very good.

They laid down, Paul pulling the sheet over her and then wrapping around her. Bella asked him to close his eyes. When he did, she began describing what happened in Italy. She had told them all earlier about some of the special powers of the Cullens and Volturi. But now she told Paul how they'd tortured Edward, then tried to torture her. Then killed all of those people. All those poor tourists. She still pictured their frightened faces. She still heard screams. Still felt Edward's freezing arms wrapped around her. She shivered again and Paul pulled her closer.

"You feel so good. I'm always cold."

"Emily and Kim are the same way. You should ask Emily her theory about it," Paul said. And then thought about what he'd just said. Shit. "Bella, when did you start feeling so cold?"

She chuckled. "When I moved here from Arizona. Humidity's a killer." He was quiet for a moment until she added, "But it's gotten worse this year. This winter has been really bad."

Things were clicking, but didn't add up. Shit shit shit.

Bella burrowed into him even more, "You've been around this year, though, and that helps. The other wolves helped, too. But I see you most."

Paul could hardly breathe. It was too much to hope for. And he shouldn't want it anyway. He was a damn sight better than her blood sucker boyfriend, but he didn't know how to be in a relationship. He started thinking about it. He hadn't had sex since...oh, no. Since he went into the Swan's house that day for brownies and milk. He hadn't ripped her clothes off earlier even though he'd wanted her and she'd wanted him in return. And not just him. His wolf did, too. They both wanted this small woman pressed against his body. He hadn't done that because he knew it wasn't right for her yet. He knew. Felt it.

Holy Hell!

Paul was pretty sure he had an imprint. But it wasn't like what he'd seen from Sam and Jared or Quil. It was less compulsory. He didn't Need to be with her all the time. He just really wanted to be. He felt her breathing deepen as she fell asleep again in his arms.

He really wanted...

Bella awoke early the next morning feeling amazing. She looked down at the heavy arm laying across her belly and followed it up to a beautiful shoulder. She wanted so badly to bite that shoulder. She felt herself blushing at her wants. Where had THAT thought come from? Before she could think any more about it, Paul was stirring.

She settled for kissing the beautiful shoulder and whispering, "Go back to sleep, Paul. Shhhh. Sleep now." Bella was delighted to see that he did indeed sleep - that he felt safe enough with her to be that relaxed. He was so beautiful. Bella sometimes felt like a troll next to all the supernatural beings in her life. They were almost too pretty to be allowed. But where the Cullens were uncomfortably, yet captivatingly perfect, the wolves were a powerful and earthly beauty. They were the best of what was real. Like the most glorious sunset, or the most majestic mountain range.

Was she crazy thinking that she belonged with this man?

"Quit freaking out, Bella," Paul mumbled, not even opening his eyes.

She gasped as he pulled her into his arms more tightly. How did he know?

"Want you," he sighed and buried his nose in her hair before once again sleeping.

She wanted to overanalyze. But it was early. And this sexy man wanted to sleep with her. She might as well enjoy it while it lasted, so she smiled at snuggled back into his arms.

Paul woke up later to the smells of pancakes and coffee, but no Bella in his bed. There was a clinking of glassware and pouring sounds and her moving down the hall towards him. He smiled.

"Morning!" she said as she walked into the bedroom with a plate and mug. Paul was feeling emotional. Nobody had ever taken care of him like this before.

"C'mere," he said, and gently pulled her onto his lap to hug her. "Thank you, B." He wanted to say so much more. 'Thank you' didn't seem deep enough. Instead he nuzzled into her neck and just held her.

She kissed him softly after a few moments. "It's going to get cold if you don't eat now." Bella handed him the mug and started to climb off his lap, but he held her there. She looked at him in question, but saw something in his eyes. He needed contact. So Bella tore off a piece of syrupy pancake and fed it to him. He took it from her and licked the maple stickiness off her fingers.

Her eyes went wide, and Paul could scent her again. He smiled at the next bite and was pretty sure that breakfast was his new favorite meal. His wolf was friggin' loving this! Paul growled a little but took the time to feed her, too.

She was dying inside. A happy death. How did pancakes get to be so sexy? Ohhhh, but the feel of Paul's fingers in her mouth and on her lips was so amazingly sensual. She was tingly all over. They fed each other until the food was gone. Obviously, the lion's share went to Paul. That crazy wolf metabolism was no joke.

"Bella. There's something I need to talk to you about. And I don't know how you're going to take it." Paul decided he had to tell her. Her heard her heart rate accelerate and he felt himself almost lose his breath with his own nerves. "It's about imprinting," he added, shifting her on his lap so they were facing one another.

Bella nodded. She knew it was a conversation they needed to have. Paul hated the look on her face right now. She was closing in on herself. And then she seemed to get mad. "Look. I want you in every way," Bella said, blushing, "But I understand. You can't fight it. So, when and if it happens for you, I'll step away quietly. I won't make a scene. I'll keep in touch with the pack. But...probably not you for a while. And I might need to stay away from here. Not forever. Just until I'm used to it."

All of a sudden she blushed furiously as she realized what she'd said, "I mean -uh- this can just be whatever. I know you don't really do relationships. I shouldn't have assumed."

"What? No! That's not what I was going to say at al-" and then Paul realized what she'd just said. "Let me get this straight. The last time a guy suddenly left you, you ended up lost in the woods with hypothermia and took months to recover. But you'd be willing to chance that again? With me?"

Bella gulped, as if a little nervous just at the thought. "Well...yes. Although, to be fair, I'd like to think I wouldn't be a disaster like that again. It would hurt. Badly. But I have supernatural friends who would understand, too. I think that would help. And for the record, if you leave me alone in the woods, I'll have the rest of the pack kill you slowly while I watch."

Paul laughed, "They would do it, too."

"Damn straight, they would!" Bella huffed.

Paul just looked at her for a moment. He decided to just say it. "I think you're mine," he blurted.

Bella blinked. "Your what?"

"I think you might be my...something like an imprint," Paul said quickly.

This time was Bella's turn to jump off the bed and across the room. "What the actual hell?"

Paul's wolf was miffed by her reaction, but Paul had expected this as a possibility.

"Look. You like logic, right? Let me lay out the facts as I see them."

And so he did. The temperature change, the wanting to be together. The anticipations of one another's wants and needs. The strong physical attraction.

Bella nodded and countered. "But isn't there supposed to be this crazy loss of autonomy? You're still a pain in the ass with me."

"That's just how I come, baby," Paul chuckled. Bella did, too.

"Jake told me it feels like gravity shifts. Like your imprint is the only thing holding you to the earth. Is that how you feel with me?" Bella asked suspiciously.

Paul frowned. "No. Which to be totally honest, is pretty awesome."

Bella scowled at him, but with a hint of a smile. "How do you know it isn't just the regular sort of lo- really liking someone?" she asked, barely catching herself before implying the big "L" word.

"I've never been in a relationship, so you're right. I don't know how that feels," Paul conceded, "but my wolf has never been happy before. And, baby, he's firmly Team Bella!"

She chuckled, but the wrinkle between her eyes quickly returned, "Maybe...but...I'm not sure we should tell anyone else just yet. Let's just think about it for a while. We can be our own experiment."

Paul looked at her. Was she rejecting him? But before he could keep thinking that further, she climbed into his lap again and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I have only dated one guy and it turned out he was a vampire who really wanted to drink my blood. So I'm not great at relationships either. Can we figure out how to do it? Which each other, I mean?" Bella asked. "Because I really, really want this with you, Paul."

Paul's heart warmed like someone one was squeezing it. Hells yeah, he wanted to do this with her! He set her down on the bed, stood up, and got down on one knee.

Bella got a terrified look in her eyes and scrambled back on the bed. "Paul! What do you think you're doing?"

"Isabella Marie Swan, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" Paul asked as sincerely as possible. Finally the look of relief on her face was too much and he busted out laughing.

"You jerk!" Bella yelled as she jumped up and tried to punch him in the arm.

Paul caught her fist, pulled her close and whispered, "Please go out with me, Bella." He felt her melt in his arms.

She pulled back with a smirk, "So it's big, huh?"

Paul was confused until he remembered the line and said Weevil's bit, "Legendary".

Bella grinned, "'Cause if it's as big as you say, I'll be your girlfriend! We could go to prom together!"

The two of them dissolved into giggles at their own silliness and spent the rest of the morning kissing and cuddling. Of course there were deadly creatures coming. And a meeting tonight with vampires. But for now, Bella and Paul were just teenagers in love. Everything else could wait a few hours.