Just Relax
Bella took a deep breath before she continued. With Sam still drawing her a warm bath, she hoped that he wouldn't hear her.
"What's going on Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"It's Victoria," Bella replied, her voice low.
"What's happened?" Carlisle asked, concern lacing his voice.
"She's back. She showed up at my café on the res," Bella sighed.
"Are you alright?" Carlisle asked.
"Just some bruises..." Bella's voice trailed off as the water stopped running.
Bella panicked and quickly ended the call. She opened up her text to send Carlisle a quick text message.
We need help. She keeps getting away and I don't want anyone else to get hurt.
Bella pressed 'send' quickly, and put her phone on silent before placing it face down on the night stand. Sam walked in wearing only a towel.
"Alright babe," Sam smirked, as he casually dropped the towel to the floor. "I'll join you and help get you clean." He winked at her.
"Hmm, I like the sound of that," Bella replied, wincing in pain a little as she sat up.
Sam helped her out of her clothes and stepped into the tub to lift Bella up carefully. As Sam moved to sit first, Bella slipped. She waited for the very ungraceful fall, but it never came. Sam's hands were firmly placed on her hips.
"Ahem," Bella coughed, clearing her throat.
Sam quickly helped Bella sit across from him. "Sorry," Sam chuckled, his cheeks turning pink.
"Don't get shy on me now, Mr. Uley," Bella smiled splashing at him.
"Uh, you have nothing to worry about, baby," Sam grinned.
Bella bit her bottom lip and let her foot slowly guide its way up Sam's thigh.
"Babe, your concussion," Sam warned gently, chuckling slightly.
"Fine," Bella pouted falsely, a smile growing on her face.
"Here, let me help you," Sam said, trying to change the subject.
Bella pressed her lips together trying to hide a smile. Sam grabbed a bath sponge and lathered it up with the lavender scented body wash. He slowly began washing Bella's arm's before reaching forward to wash her back.
Suddenly their faces were merely inches away, Bella's breathing hitched at the closeness. She wanted to lick every inch of this man before her. Sam licked his bottom lip as he let his hand slowly glide down past her hips, slowly across her thigh. She noticed, looking as his mouth. Bella reached up and gripped his shoulders as his fingers found her center. He started with a slow rhythm, as his fingers began to speed up, Bella's breathing began to hitch rapidly. She could feel the heat coiling as she began to reach ecstasy. Bella's mouth opened in a silent moan, just as the heat hit her center. Sam captured her lips as she finally let go.
"That was-" she began.
"Yeah," Sam whispered, his forehead pressed against hers. "Let's get your hair washed," he whispered in a sultry tone.
Bella kissed his cheek as she turned around. Sam lathered his hands and ran the shampoo through her hair gently. Bella began to relax as he ran his fingertips throughout her roots.
"Hmmm, that feels amazing," Bella moaned.
"Is that the only thing that feels amazing, baby?" Sam asked, whispering in her ear.
"The other thing too," Bella sighed in content.
Sam chuckled at that. He reached over for the cup and rinsed her hair. Bella quite enjoyed having her washed for her, at the salon, and when her late husband did it for her as well. Sam felt it when her mood suddenly changed.
"How about a deep conditioning to finish you off," Sam suggested.
"Use the hose extension to rinse this time?" Bella asked.
"You got it," Sam grinned.
Sam conditioned her hair and used the hose extension as requested. Once done he stepped out of the tub first and wrapped a towel around his waist. Bella pulled the plug as she watched Sam walk to the linen closet to grab the towels. She loved watching his butt as he walked in the opposite direction. So smooth and firm. She bit her lip as she watched him wrap the towel around his waist, and headed towards her another towel opened in waiting.
He bent to place the towel on her shoulders and lifted her up cradling her to his chest. He placed her on her feet and gently dried her off, offering her one of his t-shirts to wear.
"Do you want to tell me everything that happened, baby?" Sam asked, not sure how to approach the subject. He'd heard her on the phone earlier but didn't want to say anything about it. He didn't hear who or what it was about though.
"She showed up out of nowhere," Bella replied. "Said that that was just a taste, right before she sent me flying across the café like a rag doll," Bella lowered her voice to barely an audible whisper.
"You don't have to worry anymore, Bella. From now on I don't want you to be alone okay," Sam replied, his hands on either side of her face.
Bella was beginning to really feel herself breaking. She had broken her number one rule and let herself feel something for him already, what's wrong with breaking a few more, right? Maybe she could allow herself to trust him even. She so badly wanted to tell him everything, but knew he wasn't ready to know exactly what she was capable of. She was a beautiful woman indeed and a force to be reckoned with, but she knew things that even the pack didn't know.
"I'll be fine," Bella sighed. "I'm exhausted. We should really get some sleep."
Sam bit his tongue. He knew exactly what she was feeling and knew that she was hiding things from him and the rest of the pack. She had changed the subject because he knew she didn't want to be followed, and felt like she needed a babysitter, especially by the pack.
"Tell me what you want me to do, babe," he sighed in resignation.
"Just relax. Look, we both clearly need sleep. Can we just talk about this tomorrow or something?" Bella whined.
Sam took a deep breath trying to think of another way to approach the subject. He just wanted to know what happened and for her to open up and trust him. Everything would go so much better if she would just let him in.
"Okay baby," he replied kissing her forehead.
He tucked her in and kissed her before turning to the door.
"You're not staying?" She asked.
"I'll be right outside. Just going to phase in and check in with the pack. Don't fall asleep baby," Sam replied a small smile playing on his lips.
He didn't want her to see him like this, not just yet. They had only been officially a couple for a few days.
"Okay... I love you..." she whispered.
"I love you more," he replied turning out the lights and heading to his backyard.
"I love you most," Bella whispered to herself.
She meant it too, and that scared her. He was another target for Victoria when she finds out about their connection.
Sam heard her last words before stepping outside. "No baby, I love you more," he whispered, mostly to himself. She was the center of his universe now, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her, especially this vengeful leech. He dropped the towel before phasing.
Sam- What's going on?
Jake- She ran back to the ocean!
Leah- She keeps getting away.
Seth- Wh-what do we do?
Paul- We kill her, duh!
Leah- We protect Bella!
Paul- That too!
Sam- We need to come up with a plan and fast!
Sam let the pack feel Bella's feeling of doubt and a peculiar sense of fear.
Jared- Dude! You fingered her while she's got a concussion? Bold!
Paul- Nothing wrong with that. But dude, don't let her fall asleep.
Sam- Trust me she's not sleeping, I'd know.
Leah- Will you guys focus and get your head out of the gutter for once! Look we'll keep her safe! I can stick close to her.
Sam- She'd know Lee.
Paul- Yeah kind of obvious Leah.
Leah- What do you suggest we do then, dick?
Sam- Enough! We need to catch this leech before she hurts Bella again.
Seth- We could patrol the café, and her house, and just follow her without her knowing...
Paul- You're smart Sethy.
Seth- Don't call me that, or I'll have to call you Pauly.
Paul- Don't!
Jake- Will you shut up Paul! He's got a point.
Jake replayed the memory of earlier that morning. Sam had stormed in to Paul's house just before he had. That familiar scent that was all over the broken rag hidden in Bella's dresser, was faint but definitely there. As if the bag was meant to keep that scent inside. Clearly it had something to do with Embry and Paul. What ever it was she was hiding, a part of it definitely involved them, and could possibly effect the rest of the pack.
Brady- What are we supposed to do with this information?
Seth- We wait for her to open up and tell us everything, right?
Jake- Obviously not, Seth!
Sam- He's right Jake!
Embry- You can't be serious?
Paul- This is bigger than you and your imprint Sam. She knows something that we clearly don't know!
Quil- *Sighs* Shut up already! Look we'll wait for a while, but in the meantime we need this tick gone!
Sam- Paul?
Paul- Yeah, yeah! I'll get with Jared and we'll devise a strategy plan of attack.
Sam- Good! Now if you'll excuse me, I have an imprint to take care of.
Sam phased out and headed back inside, picking up his towel on the way in. The rest of the pack watched as he disappeared into his dark cabin.
Paul- We're not letting this go, are we?
Jake- Nope!
Embry- Good. So what now?
Jake- We do some digging!
Leah- I'll check around mom and Charlie's house, see what I can find?
Jake- We'll check everything.