Chapter 5
Emily and Kim knew what that howl usually meant. Every wolf was needed, usually to take down a vampire that had made the mistake of wandering too close to their little corner of the world. It may have been traumatic for Quil, but the girls were relieved. Well, not Bella. She still sat on the couch, staring at nothing while her mind tried to catch up. Emily wanted to help ease Bella's way into the life of a wolfpack groupie, but Kim beat her to the punch.
"So you and Jake are like just friends now? Is it just because of the imprint? I thought you slept together?"
"Kim! Shut up!" Emily admonished her friend's less than gentle approach to the subject. "I'm sorry, Bella, the lack of privacy is a really unfortunate aspect of being part of the pack. But it's essentially the only downside."
Bella instantly liked Emily. She was clearly the matron of the pack and Bella just knew she could trust her. She just had one of those genuine faces, despite the scars down her cheek. Kim had some growing up to do, but she was just a teenager. Bella wouldn't hold it against her.
"Umm yeah, I guess they told you," Bella watched her hands fiddle with the hem of Jake's sweatshirt. "We tried to date, but we were both kind of forcing the issue. We've always gotten along great, I've never had a better friend. I thought a relationship was the next obvious step, but it was so weird."
Kim already forgot Emily's warning to be gentle, "And the sex? How was the sex? He wasn't a wolf yet though so it probably wasn-"
"Kimberly!" Emily cut her off before she could embarrass Bella further.
Bella was bright red but she mumbled, "I mean, he was a virgin too so my expectations were pretty low.." Bella trailed off.
"That bad, huh?" Kim continued, ignoring Emily's glare.
"Oh god, don't tell the guys. Jake would be so embarrassed." Bella hid her face behind her hands. She was unprepared for how easy it was to open up to these girls, but she didn't have to think long to know why. For the first time she had no secrets. They knew about the supernatural world that Bella had been left alone in since the Cullens disappeared. These girls had firsthand experience of what it was like to be part of the pack and intimately involved with one of the wolves. This was her opportunity to get the inside scoop.
"What's it like being an imprint?" Bella asked, clearing her voice to push past her own insecurities. Both girls' eyes glazed over in an instant.
"It's wonderful," Kim said wistfully. "I've been in love with Jared since kindergarten, so when he imprinted on me I was over the moon."
Emily didn't want Bella getting swept away by the fairy tale mumbo jumbo that was Jared and Kim's imprint story.
"My imprint wasn't so magical at first," Emily explained. She told the whole story. Sam phasing alone, trying to make it work with Leah once he could phase back, proposing, imprinting on Leah's cousin when she came to town to plan the wedding, the fight that led to her scars, and finally, accepting the imprint.
"Sam still feels the guilt, but I forgave him the day I accepted the imprint. We're happy now, but it was a long road to get there," she said with a gesture to her face.
"How do you accept the imprint?" Bella thought maybe there was a tribal ceremony or a prayer to the spirits. She was not expecting Kim's enthusiastic answer.
"Sex, girl! Delicious, mind-blowing, magical lovin'!"
"Bella, I'm sorry for Kim's lack of brain-to-mouth filter, but she's not wrong. The first time you sleep together the connection solidifies. You can feel each other's emotions if they're strong enough and I'd never be as crass as Kim but it is pretty.."
"Fucking earth-shattering," Kim supplied with a smile.
Bella was going to be permanently flushed after today. She just slept with Jake yesterday and she was already daydreaming about all the things she could do with Paul. And if he was half the man-whore everyone said he was, he probably knew some pretty inventive ways to do it.
"Aren't you skeeved out by all the girls Paul has been with before?" Kim asked, suddenly serious.
Bella thought about it for a minute to really contemplate how she felt on the subject. She didn't know Paul very well yet but she trusted the spirits. He was supposedly her other half, so apparently she needed Paul and Paul needed her. She was ready to jump in with both feet.
"Ya know, not really. I've only dated a manipulative, eternal prick and then I had a mediocre one night stand with my best friend. Paul's never really dated anyone. If he can look past me dating a vampire and sleeping with his pack brother, I can look past his questionable choices as well. Maybe we're going to teach each other how to have a functional relationship? And I know nothing about sex, so who better to learn from than an expert?" Bella shrugged unashamedly, despite the blush on her cheeks.
"That's some female empowerment shit right there, girl. I hope Paul appreciates you," Kim nodded. Bella was filled with pride to be a 'wolf girl'. She got to keep her best friend without any more secrets, but most of all, she was getting a whole new community. A family.
Emily was very impressed with Bella Swan. The spirits knew what they were doing picking this girl for Paul because he needed a woman that would keep him in line. The whole pack could already see how finding his imprint had cooled his temper. None of them were expecting Jacob Black to survive the night after they saw his memories when he first phased, but Paul surprised them all by reacting with logic and reason. Bella needed her best friend and neither of them knew of the imprint when they slept together. So Paul let him live. He tore up about an acre of trees and broke nearly all of his knuckles destroying a boulder, but he didn't lay a finger on the pup. If that's not maturity, what is?
Quil had no practice controlling his thoughts. Every passing idea and emotion was on full broadcast. With time, the wolves could learn to hide the things they wanted to keep to themselves by not putting the thoughts into actual words. It was harder to pick up specifics from just emotions and instinct.
The pain of being rejected by his grandfather had been pushed to the back of his mind momentarily by the sheer magnitude of what it meant to be a wolf, learning all the legends were true, and finding his soulmate in his best friend in less than a half hour period. He was overwhelmed with relief that his secret crush was reciprocated. And that's why it was so hard to be phased in right now. The pack mind was a non-stop monologue in max volume.
OH MY SPIRITS, EMBRY IS HERE. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW. HOLY SHIT HE GOT SO SEXY A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IT'S BECAUSE HE BECAME A WEREWOLF. I'M A WOLF NOW TOO! I HOPE I GET RIPPED LIKE THAT. WILL EMBRY LIKE MY NEW BODY?
If Embry could blush in this form he would. He definitely had liked Quil's body before and he was trying not to think about what phasing would do to his physique. Embry thought he was going to be downright lickable.
Shit, don't think about that now. Quil! Quil, please calm down. Everyone can hear your thoughts and it's making it really hard to control my own. Try to focus, babe.
BABE! EMBRY CALLED ME BABE. THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING. I'VE MISSED HIM SO MUCH AND NOW WE'RE BOTH FUCKING WEREWOLVES AND HE CALLED ME BABE.
Paul chuckled into the pack mind, I love that he's more freaked out about Embry actually liking him back than becoming a giant furball.
Paul took the new imprint best. He was quite comfortable with his sexuality and wasn't bothered by it in the slightest. He could have sworn Embry had checked his ass out and now he was going to rub it in the little punk's face. Paul knew he had a great ass.
Jake didn't know how to feel. These two were his best friends since they were in diapers. He had suspicions about Quil, but Embry being gay had come out of left field. Why hadn't they told him? Didn't they trust him? He wanted to be happy for them, he really did, but his conflicting emotions weren't about their homosexuality. They had an imprint and once again, the jealousy resonated deep through his being. He wanted that kind of love, but for now he had to push his selfish thoughts to the background. Jake wanted to be happy for his best friends and support them however he could.
Jared was painfully failing to hide his distaste for the couple. His parents were very religious and vocally against "the gays" as they called them. Jared didn't carry the same religious reasons, but it was hard to fight the reflex reaction that had been pounded in his head for years. It just made him uncomfortable. Embry could feel Jared's internal struggle and sent him a mental thank you for trying to overcome his learned prejudices.
Sam was worried. He knew it would be hard for a homosexual couple in such a small, conservative community and Jared's poorly veiled train of thought only confirmed that. He was also suddenly very aware of how often he was in the buff around the other wolves. For a big scary werewolf, he was very shy.
He needed to get this situation under control before it spiraled any further. The Alpha hoped all of these overlapping thoughts swarming in the pack mind were too muddled and chaotic for the new pup to understand. He deserved some peace and quiet with his mate and the pack did not need to stay tuned into the love fest that was blasting over pack radio.
Sam offered to run patrols for the day because he could block out Quil's uncontrolled monologue the best. Sharing headspace with the newly imprinted pair was going to be draining for whoever had to listen. He directed the rest of the pack to head back to the girls. Sam was worried about the human members of his pack as well.
Paul and Jared were happy to get back to their imprints. Jake didn't want to acknowledge his jealousy, so he peeled off from the group to go check on his dad. He felt guilty that he hadn't been there to help him like he usually was.
Bella was disappointed that Paul's cutoffs were buttoned up when he sauntered in the back door. Her face must have plainly displayed her disappointment because Paul smirked and gestured up to his face.
"My eyes are up here, y'know."
Bella expected a blush to take over her face, but a rush of newfound confidence from her conversation with the girls allowed her to quip back, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Paul gave her a wink and sunk into the couch beside her, draping a casual arm over her shoulders.
Emily peaked out the backdoor, scanning the treeline for Sam. Jared was busy trying to suck Kim's lips off her face so Paul explained, "he's running patrol while Quil and Embry finish giving each other a tongue bath."
That caught Kim's attention. She pushed Jared off of her, "Wait, what?"
Paul explained the disastrous first phase, the imprint, and how they've both been harbouring crushes for years. The girls chorused an "aww" before Emily and Kim began plotting how to get Old Quil to see the light. His outdated thinking was only going to permanently damage his relationship with his grandson and the rest of the wolves. Maybe if they explained the imprint, Old Quil would come around. He couldn't argue with the wisdom of the spirits. If the legends were to be believed wholeheartedly then Quil and Embry were made for each other and chosen by the spirits themselves. Paul left the Old Quil enlightenment campaign to those two and focused on the girl under his arm.
"Hey there, Princess. You doin' okay?" He brushed her hair behind her ears and was once again taken aback by how beautiful she was.
"Better. I'm sorry I freaked out like that. So much has happened and I just got overwhelmed. Emily and Kim told me about their experiences with the imprint and it sounds pretty awesome once you get over the pack mind part."
"You don't have to apologize," he led her out of the living room and with a wave to the others they walked out the front door. "I should be the one telling you all this. I want us to get to know each other for ourselves, not just what we hear from everyone else. I'm sure Jake had some choice words about me. I don't exactly have a great reputation around these parts and I was a bit of an ass to the younger guys in school."
"I know to take anything Jake says about you with a grain of salt. I'd like to get to know you myself. Apparently we were made for each other," she quipped, looking up at him with a bright smile that reached her eyes.
"It's not all sunshine and fucking roses from here, Princess. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that you are on board so quickly, but it's not instant happiness." Paul was taking her down the road towards his house that was only a few doors down. The rez was a tiny place so everyone pretty much lived within walking distance. He had no idea where this conversation was going but he was hoping she'd let him cook her dinner and stay for a while.
"It sounds like you know a lot about imprinting. Is that why you were so okay with the idea? They must have made it sound really awesome for you to change your mind the first time you hear the 'i' word."
She immediately began to panic again, "Ohhh no, I must seem so fickle! I was just with Jake and now I - I'm not usually like this. It just seemed like such a romantic notion. Soulmates, I mean actual soulmates. It seems too good to be true but the whole wolves and vampires thing is real so why can't the concept of soulmates be-"
He pulled her to a stop just in front of his house. "Hey. Princess. Deep breath." His hand gently held her face tipped up to him. Touch was a powerful grounding force for wolves. Bella leaned into his rough palm without a thought.
"I know you aren't fickle. I've spent the last week harassing Billy for any tidbit of information about you that he could think of. I know you've got a good head on your shoulders. Billy had nothing but amazing things to say about you, he was just sad you weren't meant for Jacob. I'm not, that's for damn sure." She could see in his face that he meant every word he said. His strong brow was furrowed in a serious look like he was urging her to believe him.
He continued, "I am the last person to judge you for what you did with Black. Especially since you two were so close, it makes complete sense that he would be who you trusted that to. You don't have to worry about me judging you. If anything, I think it makes you a strong woman for asking for what you wanted. I'm all about strong females," Paul grinned, sliding his hand from her face down to caress the side of her neck. Wherever his brain trailed off to, his face looked downright lecherous. Paul's mind involuntarily flashed to the second-hand memories he wished he could scrub from his brain. His face fell in shame before he spoke again.
"I just hate that the pack saw you like that. That was a personal moment that should have stayed between you two. I'll be sure to kick his ass for that the next chance I get." He dropped his hand back to his side and took a small step back. The usually confident wolf looked down at his feet and seemed uncharacteristically shy about whatever he had to say next.
"I should be the one worried about what you think," he continued, "I'm not proud of my history with women. I've never actually dated anyone and it took imprinting for me to realize how shitty I treated women. Just thinking about some asshole using you the way I used to-" He clenched his jaw, fighting to contain the cagey tension in his muscles. Bella quickly closed the gap between them, reaching out to run her hands up and down his deliciously bulky arms. She needed to comfort him like she needed her next breath.
With one side of her mouth hitched up in a smile, she tried to catch his eye, "I was just telling Emily that the spirits knew we could learn together how to have a healthy relationship." Her touch melted the stress from his body.
"You're really smart, Princess, and that's fucking sexy," he said wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a gentle squeeze.
She wasn't done talking about romantic histories. She was more worried about what he thought concerning another aspect of her past.
"You're not bothered that I dated Edward?" Bella stepped back again, feeling inappropriate even speaking that name in Paul's embrace. It was her turn to look at her feet, too nervous about his reaction to make eye contact. She didn't want to see the disgust or disappointment at the reminder that she was dumb enough to fall for a vampire.
Instead, Bella was startled by the immediate anger that burst out of Paul in the form of an inhuman growl. She remembered every story and warning she had been given about this hot-head since she asked Jake about him at the bonfire. But even then, she wasn't afraid for her own safety for even a second. She trusted Paul in a way that scared her more than the growling shapeshifter trying to contain himself mere feet away from her.
Paul took a deep breath to keep himself in this skin. Bella was not ready to meet the wolf, especially in a moment of anger. He composed himself before turning back to her with deliberate slowness.
He attempted to temper his voice, "That sparkly fucking asshole manipulated you with thrall from day one. I know you see that now. I will rip that dickless leech to shreds for the games he played by leaving that vampire-stank soaked shit in your room. I haven't forgotten about that and I won't anytime soon. Or the fact that he put you in harm's way with those rogue bloodsuckers. His poor decisions are still out there haunting you. Hunting you."
Bella was stunned silent. Paul stepped into her space again, tipping her chin up to make sure she saw how sincerely he meant it.
"No, I am not bothered that you dated a vampire. You can't help who you fall in love with."
She still didn't know what to say to that, so Paul was just going to let her think. He took her hand and gently pulled her feet into action, directing her up the gravel driveway.
"This is my place. I was planning on making you dinner if you wanted to stay and talk some more?"
Paul did not relish this new feeling of anxiety and self-doubt. It's like the swagger in his step was stumbling now that he actually cared what happened with this girl. She won't just be a forgotten face in the morning and Paul wasn't ready to admit how much that scared him. She could still reject him and he wouldn't just bounce back to find the next pretty girl in a bar.
He ushered her into the modest house, letting her pause to take it all in.
Bella was pleasantly surprised at how neat it was for a bachelor pad. The living room and kitchen were essentially one large room with a dining table breaking up the space. A door off of the living area must lead to the bedrooms. Paul took a seat on the couch and watched her take in the space from her spot frozen by the door. She looked like she was trying to figure out how to say something so he waited patiently, not trying to spook her. She seemed like any small thing could set her off again and he understood. It had been a crazy day for her and their conversation so far had been pretty heavy. She must have found the words for her question because she finally spoke up, taking a step into the room towards Paul.
"So you live here alone? Where are your.. Um.."
"Parents?" He provided for her. Patting the seat next to him on the couch, he gave her his whole backstory. Drug addict mom, deadbeat dad, abuse as long as he could remember, leaving Tacoma and his mother behind, and getting left the house when his father drove into a tree drunk as a skunk. He didn't like talking about it but he got the facts out and figured they had the rest of their lives to rehash stories of the past. She gave him the bullet points of her history too. Forks, Renee leaving with her, visiting for holidays, Jacob, Forks again, Edward, and now she was here. They both grew up with no examples of a happy marriage at home so it made sense that they romanticized the concept of soulmates.
"So you imprinted at the bonfire? Wait, but that wasn't the first time I saw you." She remembered being astounded at the instant attraction she felt towards him at just a glance in the refrigerated aisle of Ateara General.
"Yeah uhh..," it was his turn to be embarrassed. "I didn't actually catch your eye at the store. Imprinting happens with eye contact and mine were a little busy with your uhhh.."
She burst out laughing and scooted a little closer to him on the couch. Putting her hand on his arm, taking any excuse to touch him, she reassured, "Paul you really don't have to feel bad. My eyes were just as preoccupied."
Him and his wolf preened under her admission. They liked that she was checking him out. With his reputation he had caught the eye of many women from the coast to Port Angeles but he'd never felt less like a piece of meat and more like he won a prize than right now. His imprint liked how he looked.
"I gotta say, I was really worried when I first imprinted. I thought you and Jake had a more serious relationship and I would be doomed to watch my future Alpha date my imprint. But you guys weren't really together? Is that why you two took it so well?"
She wanted to be as honest as possible. "It was honestly a relief because the imprint confirmed what I think we both already knew. Jake and I were best friends trying to force a relationship. I thought he'd be a safe choice. I felt sad for him that he couldn't find that kind of connection and I wanted to try and be that for him. I know now that it was foolish. I even feel a little guilty being happy I was imprinted on." Bella had intended to be honest, but that last admission was more information than she thought Paul would be ready for.
"You don't have to feel guilty," Paul crooned, sliding closer to her. "Everyone wants to be loved."
She inched even closer to him on the couch and placed her other hand on his knee. He was dying to touch her but he didn't want to startle her.
Now that they were alone and the overwhelm of the whole pack was gone, she was completely relaxing into him. He erred on the side of caution and draped his arm over the back of the couch around her, keeping his touches innocent. She felt a hum of electricity where his arm barely grazed her. This must be the pull Kim and Emily talked about. She just wanted to touch him and even just her hand on his knee and his arm around her shoulders had taken away any residual panic or fears from earlier.
"I don't see how Baby Chief missed it but you weren't just relieved." He leaned into her and took a long drag, inhaling from her collarbone and up her neck to behind her ear. "You were excited."
Bella felt the blush crawl up her neck to her cheeks, remembering all the dirty thoughts she'd had starring Paul for the past week. Had it really only been a week?
Suddenly feeling very flustered at his proximity she stuttered, "I uhh...I knew…that imprinting uhh. From what Billy said those relationships tend to be uhhh.. They're...uhh romantic?" It came out more like a question because she wasn't sure how to tell him what aspect of their potential relationship specifically got her hot and bothered. Paul could tell, and smell, what kind of thoughts she was having. He was trying not to get his hopes up about this evening, but other parts of his body were definitely up from the idea of his imprint fantasizing about him.
"Did you mean sexual, Princess?" He leered at her, loving the way she was practically panting just thinking about it. "You just met me. We've only seen each other a few times around the rez." He couldn't stand to be so far away from her when she smelled that edible. He reached over, grabbing her thigh and brought her up over his lap, straddling him. Her hands landed on his chest and his were right at home on her hips.
"Have you seen yourself? A few times around the rez was all it took. I've been thinking about you ever since I drooled at the sight of you in the store." She couldn't believe she just admitted that to him but it just came out. The surprised look on her face must have given her away.
"No secrets in an imprint, sorry Princess." He wanted to pull her closer so she could feel all of him. The shorts he was wearing didn't do a great job of hiding his arousal.
"Well that's just embarrassing. At least I can still keep secrets from Jake so I don't have to tell him how sexy I think you are." Her hand flew over her traitorous mouth as soon as the words came out, but Paul could only laugh. She was so cute when she was flustered. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and got lost in her eyes.
It was time to get serious, they had important things to discuss about the logistics of an imprint. Like how he couldn't be away from her for too long or how any dumbass who looked at her the wrong way would lose an eye. He wanted to explain the claiming aspect to her and reassure her that everything would happen at her own pace. His voice dropped an octave, "Bella, I can be whatever you ne-"
He abruptly stopped at the equally sudden change in her scent. She had been gradually warming up to him but what got her so riled up so suddenly?
The voice.
She should feel embarrassed. That's what her mind screamed at her. She had a hard time admitting to even herself that she loved the way he made her feel. Desired. Beautiful. Safe.
"You like the deep voice, don't you?" She could only nod and try to squeeze her thighs together but she was spread out over him. A tingling in her lower abdomen made her squirm over his lap, incidentally pressing down on his throbbing length.
Talking could wait. They had talked enough. Clearly she wanted him and Paul may have a soft heart buried somewhere deep down, he had a very hard cock that had plans of its own.
He crashed his lips to hers before either of them could overthink it. This was their first kiss and it was all passion. Bella had wanted fireworks when she was with Jake but this was a fucking atom bomb going off and rippling out across her nerves.
She moaned into his mouth and he loved hearing her make that noise. His new mission was to determine what else he could do to make that noise come out of her pretty pink lips again.
His hands roamed up her back and sides. He wasn't going to rush her into anything so he desperately tried to keep his hands in check and stay in safe areas. She opened her lips just enough for him to take the opportunity to introduce his tongue. They licked and bit at each other's mouths until they were both panting. Paul's hands took the opportunity of his brain's distraction to go against orders and took a firm grip of each globe of her butt. He was correct in his earlier assessment: this ass was made for his hands.
She ground down into him while his hands encouraged the movement from their new permanent residence on her ass. He couldn't help but buck up into her, desperate for friction his cock was begging for. She pulled back just enough to speak between panting breaths.
"Paul, I uhh.."
"I already told you I don't think you're a slut for taking what you want and I know you want something right now. It doesn't have to be all the way but I'm dying to make you cum, Princess."
"Oh god, Paul," she groaned as he trailed kisses down her throat. He licked back up to her ear and gently nibbled on the lobe. His needs could wait. Having her open across his lap felt amazing but his priorities were on one thing and one thing only.
He needed his mouth on her pussy. Right now. He needed to get any and all traces of Jacob fucking Black off of his imprint. His wolf demanded it.
"Bella, I don't want to intimidate you or push you but I gotta be honest. I need to taste you."
She paused at his request.
"Taste me?" She had a pretty good idea what he meant, but she was a little nervous about something so intimate happening so quickly. It's a pretty vulnerable position to have someone else somewhere so...personal. She felt like a hussy for wanting exactly what he was offering, but she believed him when he said he wasn't judging her.
He was worried she wouldn't let him and he didn't want to gross her out with his wolf's real motives. A human just doesn't understand the possessive nature of the animal. He could still smell someone else on her. He stood up from the couch still holding her to him like she weighed nothing. He turned around and dropped to his knees, setting her back down on the very edge of the couch with his body still between her thighs. She still seemed unsure so he decided to be straight with her. He leaned forward, pushing her back to recline against the cushions with his chest and whispered against her lips.
"I can smell him on you and my wolf is going a little ballistic, Princess. I need nothing from you in return. I just want to make you feel good and it's a real added bonus to get the smell of Jacob Black off of what's mine." He leaned back and his eyes flicked down to her crotch to emphasize what exactly he was referring to. Her arousal permeated the air around him and he let out a low growl of appreciation. She loved that sound and it turned her on even more. She rolled her hips up and dug her fingers into his shoulders.
"Don't think about what you think you should do, think about what you want to do, little girl." He maintained eye contact while leaning down and kissing her hip bone where her sweatshirt had ridden up to expose an expanse of skin above her jeans.
She was convinced. Her hands had found their way into his dark silky hair and she gasped out the only word she could manage.
"Please."
That was the green light he needed. Paul wasted no time with the button of her jeans. He pulled the zipper down and each click of the zipper's teeth opening sounded like the winning lottery bells of a slot machine. Jackpot, indeed.
His strong hands pulled her jeans and underwear off together in one smooth movement, exposing inch after inch of snow white skin. They got stuck until she could toe off her shoes in a much less graceful movement. Paul didn't think she was awkward. If anything, he thought it was endearing that she was a little clumsy. She smiled sheepishly at him before resuming her position with her shoulders against the back of the couch. Paul smoothed his hands up her thighs and over her hips, pushing her sweatshirt up past her belly button. With a firm grip on her sides he yanked her body down until her ass was hanging over the edge and her head was propped up at the perfect angle to watch him work.
She thought she'd feel nervous or shy with a man she barely knew between her thighs and staring at her vagina with reverence, but she felt empowered. This caramel demi-god wanted her. And he had appreciated her body before the wolfy magic kicked in. She remembered how weak Edward had made her feel, but not Paul. She felt powerful. She had brought this man to his knees. Literally.
He paused to appreciate the view, slowly settling her legs over his shoulders one at a time. Every vagina was different and this one was beautiful because he could see that it was soaked. She glistened with her arousal, nearly dripping. Paul was going to permanently brand this image into his memory.
He gave gentle kisses up her thigh and she squirmed underneath him. She was either ticklish or impatient and he liked both. He was done being tentative. Paul gave her a firm lick along the entire length of her slit, ass to clit. She jolted at the sudden contact and moaned appreciatively when he did it again.
The taste of female and her unique flavor sent his mind into overdrive. She was his mate. His.
Paul brought one hand up around the outside of her thigh and gently rubbed her clit with his thumb while his tongue explored her folds. He knew starting small was better until she was more worked up but he could be patient. The strokes of his tongue became more pointed as he teased her entrance.
Bella groaned in frustration when he pulled back to look at her, his thumb still making circles with a featherlight touch she didn't think his powerful hands were capable of.
"Do you touch yourself, Princess?"
She loved hearing his voice but she did not want him to stop. She nodded and bit down on her bottom lip.
"Yes, why?" she asked, frustrated when he didn't continue.
"I'm just enjoying the mental image," he said with a smirk before licking the length of her slit once again. Her eyes rolled back and she let out a moan, feeding his ego.
He stretched out his tongue and entered her as far as he could, pinching down on her nub at the same time. "Fuck!" He did it again and again, enjoying the litany of exclamations pouring out of her. Replacing his tongue with two meaty fingers made Bella invoke a higher power.
"Oh god, Paul!"
"That's it, baby," he crooned before sucking her swollen clit between his lips. His flicked the end with his tongue repeatedly and she felt like a ball of heat was accumulating behind her belly button. Paul was fanning the flames with every plunge of his fingers. He flattened his tongue and pressed down on her clit hard while curling his fingers up, extracting her first orgasm with a come hither motion.
Bella pushed her hips harder into his face and screamed out his name. He didn't relent, refusing to let her come down from her high. Resuming the quick pointed licks to her nub, he felt her cum around his fingers again. She pulled at his hair when her clit became too sensitive and he took the hint, wiping his face on the back of his hand but never stopping the slow repetitive intrusion of his fingers.
"Have you ever cum like that before, Princess?" He asked with a smile.
"Never, Paul. Not even close," she admitted closing her eyes and dropping her head back on the couch.
"I'll make sure to tell Black next time I see him," Paul smiled devilishly. He continued pumping his fingers in and out of her with the occasional pass of his thumb over her clit sending aftershocks over her nerves.
"New rule: no talking about my best friend while you're inside me. How's that sound?"
"Deal. I should hope he doesn't come up in conversation in bed too often. Now that you've caught your breath, can I make you cum again?"
"Again?!"
Approximately forty five minutes later, Paul drove Bella's truck back to Forks. He had put on a shirt even after protests and a pout from the young woman. It was a damn shame to cover that up. It's a good thing he did because Charlie would not have appreciated the view quite as much as his daughter.
Paul pulled into her driveway next to Chief Swan's cruiser. He was planning on a quick goodbye and running back to the rez but those plans were dashed when Charlie stepped out onto the porch as Paul opened the passenger door for Bella to climb out.
"I was wondering what was keeping you so late, Bells. I called over to Billy's and he said you left ages ago. I was about to send out a search party." Charlie crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.
"I guess you get to meet Charlie," Bella shrugged and climbed the porch steps.
"Oh I am well acquainted with Chief Swan," Paul mumbled to himself, not looking forward to this interaction but he might as well get it over with.
"Paul Lahote. Decided just to come to me so I don't have to bother tracking you down first? Saves us both a lot of time," he chided before getting deadly serious. "Just what the hell are you doing with my daughter?"
Paul had quite a history with the Forks Police Department. Charlie had come out to the Lahote home on quite a few noise complaints and domestic violence calls nearly a decade ago. Alexander Lahote liked to get real loud and break things when he got drunk enough. Every once in a while Paul was what he broke. Any time the Forks Police Department saw bruises on the boy, they'd go to the tribal council and suggest taking Paul into the foster system. The tribal council insisted on taking care of their own and without approval, Charlie couldn't do anything.
The council failed Paul. They didn't see a broken child that was desperately asking for help the only way he knew how. They only saw a boy who picked fights at school, disrespected his teachers, and got "proper" discipline at home for his actions.
Charlie would visit Paul as often as he could without drawing attention from his father and causing the kid more problems. He made sure there was food in the house, Paul had clothes that fit him and that he had a coat in the winter. As Paul got older he didn't like being a charity case and he lashed out at Charlie too. He's always had quite a temper.
Charlie still had a soft spot for the boy even when he started getting called down to the rez regarding the younger Lahote troublemaker. Vandalism, fighting, and even a few accusations from fathers saying that Paul manipulated their innocent little daughters. Those girls knew what they were asking for but that wasn't an argument Paul wanted to have again. Especially meeting the Chief for the first time as Bella's ...boyfriend? He didn't know what to call it yet but he definitely wasn't going to introduce himself as Bella's soulmate, even if it was true.
Bella looked like she didn't know where to start so Paul started for her, "Chief Swan, it's been years since I've been trouble." Actually, about a year and a half since he phased but now wasn't the time to get into specifics. "I've cleaned up my act and I work security for the tribe now."
Bella thought that was a clever way to put it and it certainly wasn't a lie. He just wasn't protecting from the kind of things Charlie was thinking of.
Charlie was going to give him a hard time even though he always rooted for the boy.
"Bells? This hooligan is who you're spending time with? What about Jacob? You should date a nice boy like him."
"Cha- Dad," she corrected herself, "Paul is a great guy. You can't blame someone for their teenaged mistakes forever. Do I need to remind you how old you were when I was born?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, low blow there, Bells." Charlie was shocked she went there but she must really care about this boy to be pulling out the big guns right out of the starting gate. "I'm just giving him a hard time. I've always thought Paul was an okay kid. I hoped he'd pull his head out of his ass and get his act together." He gave Paul a stern look and pointed an aggressive finger straight between his eyes. "Fine, but the first wrong move and I'm getting my shotgun."
"All I'm asking for is a chance, Chief," Paul held his hand out with a grin. Charlie looked skeptically between the two before he shook the younger man's hand. Charlie looked concerned at Bella's glazed over eyes watching Paul. He didn't want a repeat of the Cullen disaster.
Bella was proud of Paul for how he handled her crazy father and got lost admiring his smile. She couldn't help but remember where those lips had been less than an hour ago. Bella was not surprised to find her mind in the gutter once again. It seemed that was where her mind lived now that Paul was in the picture. She expected to feel dirty or guilty after what they did on his couch but those feelings never came. Oh boy, she sure did though.
Paul could tell where her mind was based off the blush in her cheeks and the way she stood clenching her thighs together. The smell of her arousal was practically always on her whenever he was around and he couldn't be more content. His wolf preened and the man hardened. He needed to be anywhere but in front of Charlie Swan with an erection this painful.
"I need to get headed back for my next shift," Paul broke the awkward silence, snapping Bella out of her daydreams. "I'll see you soon, Princess." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and bolted down the driveway before she could even respond.
Charlie looked back at Bella, "Princess? And was he not wearing shoes? Where's his car?"
Bella shrugged and walked past him into the house. That did not go well but at least nobody got shot. Today.
Paul phased back with a leap into the trees as soon as his shorts and t-shirt were tied to his ankle. He'd have to have a stash of more substantial clothes around the Swan's house or Charlie was going to be mighty suspicious if he wasn't already.
The first thing Paul heard through the pack mind was Quil's frustration. He was still wearing fur and desperate not to be. He was hungry and he wanted to explain things to his mother, but most of all, he wanted to hold Embry.
He could see where the other wolves were. Jared was patrolling and using all of his mental strength to only focus on the sights and sounds along the border of the rez where he ran.
Paul found them in a clearing and saw Embry in cutoffs standing between a wolfy Quil and Sam.
"Quil, I would love to talk to you about this without other people literally in our heads, but you have to phase back. C'mon, babe," Embry pleaded.
Sam phased onto two legs as Paul sat back on his haunches next to him, towering over his Alpha in this form.
"Embry, maybe having you here is more of a distraction?" Sam suggested. Quil let out a high pitched whine to make it clear how he felt about that idea. Paul could hear Quil's thoughts now that he was calm enough to think in coherent sentences.
No! Please let Emb stay. Please Emb, don't go. Don't leave me.
Paul wasn't surprised to feel the flavor of panic in the new wolf's thoughts. He did what he could to help.
Embry isn't going anywhere, dude. He's yours forever.
Quil gave a mental eye roll. What do you know about how Embry feels, asshole?
Paul brushed it off, gee, thanks dude.
Sorry, Paul. I forget you can hear what I think. It's not easy to control your thoughts and we weren't exactly friends before this.
Paul didn't blame him, he knew the younger guys thought he was a douche bag, he just never cared before. But now they were brothers and they needed to be able to rely on each other. And even as an experienced wolf he struggled to control his thoughts sometimes. Like right then he was trying his hardest to keep a tight lid on his memories of Bella because the other guys have seen enough of her for a lifetime. Oh, Bella.
That gave him an idea on how to get Quil to phase back. He nudged Sam with a yip to get him to phase wolf again.
What, Paul? Sam asked, the exhaustion leaking through his tone.
I've got an idea.
Go ahead, I've tried everything I can think of. Sam huffed a mental sigh that came out as a pant in wolf form.
Paul turned back towards Embry and nudged him with his nose until he stood in front of Quil, eye to giant, yellow eye. He addressed Quil through the pack mind.
Quil, you can't kiss Embry as a wolf.
Quil proved him wrong by licking his man from collarbone to temple with a playful yip. Embry was smiling ear to ear from the wolfy affection. They'd been at this all day, but the joy of just being around Quil was enough.
Paul was glad Embry couldn't hear him right now because he knew the boy would be painfully embarrassed at what he was about to do, Embry's hands were locked in the chocolate fur of Quil's neck and everyone could practically feel the vibrations from Quil's purr of satisfaction.
Paul amended his statement. You can't kiss Embry properly as a wolf. Picture being human. Imagine walking on two legs towards Embry and intertwining your human fingers with his.
Paul could feel love radiating off of Quil's mental image of two dark hands locked together.
Now picture how your human fingers would feel in his hair. Imagine all the things your human hands could feel.
Quil had no problem coming up with a list of Embry's body parts he'd like to get his hands on. Sam shuffled from paw to paw uncomfortably even if he was incredibly impressed with how Paul was handling this delicate situation. Embry had no idea what was going on, but he helped unknowingly by continuing to stroke the fur along Quil's powerful brow and the side of his muzzle.
Paul continued before Quil could get too off track with his X-rated imagination.
Quil, focus. Imagine grabbing your man with human arms and planting a wet one on him with human lips.
The mental first-person image of kissing Embry cut out from the pack mind just in time for Quil to step forward on two feet and give the wolves a show for real. He wrapped his arms around Embry's waist and pulled him flush against his body. Thankfully concealing just how happy he was to finally express how he's always felt about the other boy.
Embry's arms wrapped around his neck, enthusiastically returning the kiss. Quil used to be almost a half foot shorter than Embry, but now they were almost the same height, Quil still just a hair shorter. Embry's hands were frantically pulling on shoulders and hair trying to get impossibly closer. Both shifters moaned into the kiss when Quil grabbed Embry's ass and grinded into him.
Paul and Sam turned away, seeing far more than either of them wanted to witness.
Sam bumped his shoulder against Paul's in the lupine equivalent of a high five. That was amazing how you handled that. You've got a lot of leadership potential if you can get these boys to look past your asshole tendencies. Maybe you can make a run for Second when Jake takes over.
Hey!
They both had forgotten Jared was running patrols. Paul just chuckled, brushing off Sam's suggestion.
Sam hoped it was safe to look back to his younger pack brothers when the moans and wet kissing sounds were replaced with whispers.
Clearing his voice first, Embry called out to his Alpha, "Hey Sam, we're gonna umm...catch up. I'll keep an eye on Quil and make sure he doesn't phase again or hurt someone."
Sam turned back around to see a very naked Quil using Embry as a human shield, peering over his imprint's shoulder at the two giant wolves. The Alpha gave him a confirming yip and nodded his giant head towards the rez, encouraging them to go home.
Sam and Paul took off running back towards home, both reflecting on the events of today before Paul quipped,
Well that's gonna be a shit show, but they sure are cute together.