AN: Hey there darling readers. It is so good to be back. I took a little break from writing for awhile and I realize not that that was selfish. A lot of things have been popping up in my social and personal life and so I let it get in the way of this story. Thank you to Flowerchild23, Clare Anderson, and Nightingale'sLullaby for their quick reviews. I can tell you guys really want me to continue with the story so here we go.

With much love,

Sierra

Chapter 9

The boardwalk was on fire with personality. People dancing and screaming at each other on every little corner. Nina smiled at the feeling of new found freedom as she clung closer to Paul. He had an arm around her shoulder as the crowd parted, letting the through the sea of people. He was so warm… Nina adored warmth. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that she had not had that often in her life.

The carousel was just in front of them now. People were staring at them as they neared the childish playground. Nina and the boys could care less what they thought of them. These people lived the normal cookie cutter lives.

They pitied them.

Nina raced through the crowd and jumped onto a tall black steed, straddling it while holding onto the golden pole. She laughed at the sheer feeling of innocence that this moment gave her. Moments like these were not common growing up. The innocence of the moment abruptly ended when Nina felt a warm arm wrap around her waist.

Looking up from the hardened plastic exterior of the animatronic horse, Nina found herself looking into the eyes of her Paul.

She smiled up at him and leaned her head onto his chest, sighing as she did so. His response was to wrap another arm around her and pull her even closer to him. Nina could not explain it but she just had to be close to him. She felt horrible and out of her skin when she was not with him. He made her feel safe and wanted…. Loved?

It was much to soon to be thinking of things like that, Nina knew that in her mind. But her heart was just not listening to her anymore. Happiness was something that flies over people like a shooting star, rarely ever offering the chance to make someone's life a little better. Nina was not going to let this shooting star fly by her, she was going to grasp it and keep it close. She deserved to be happy, to be loved.

Nuzzling her head into his chest, she murmured," I wish I could stay like this forever."

Paul stiffened underneath her touch and, for a moment, Nina thought that she had done something wrong. Reaching a hand up, she brushed her hand across his cheek, hoping to wake him from whatever stupor he had fallen into. Her plan worked and he instantly relaxed at her touch. His eyes softened and he leaned into her palm as their eyes met.

For a moment, the playful trickster exterior fell away and she was left with the side of him not many had seen before.

A human side.

His voice a whisper amongst the screams and laughs of the crowd, he said," We can, sweetheart. You just have to do something first."

Without even thinking about what she was saying, Nina blurted out," Anything."

PAUL POV

"Anything?"

Paul repeated her, looking into her eyes with a questioning glance to make sure that she understood the magnitude of this situation. Whether or not she realized it yet, Nina had just agreed to be with him. Without even knowing it, she had agreed to be his mate. The only obstacle in their way was her mortality, although, that wouldn't be that much of a problem. All it would take was a drop and then it was eternity.

She breathed out," Anything."

Paul gently lifted her off of the horse and pulled her to him, moving her through the crowd. He could feel the boys' questioning gazes on him as he and Nina walked toward the shore line. He didn't have enough time to go back to the cave and get the bottle. He truly did not want her to be changed through the bottle. He wanted his blood running through her veins.

Running his hands up and down her back, he walked them under the boardwalk. Nina was looking up at him now, a confused gleam in her eye. Smiling at her, he leaned her back onto the wooden frames that held the boardwalk afloat. Placing his hands on either side of her neck, he closed in on her, noting her quickening breath and her dilated pupils.

His lips brushed her cheek as he breathed," Do you really want forever?"

Her hands came up to play with his wild blonde hair, tangling in it as she did so. She tilted her head up to him and locked eyes with him.

"Yes."

Time seemed to stop in that moment. They were trapped in the others gaze, their breath quickening as each second passed. One hand cupped her cheek while the other dropped to the back of her neck and grasped tightly. As they neared each other, Paul murmured against her soft skin," Forever."

And he claimed her lips with his own and took them through a whirlwind of passion and fire. As he found himself falling even more under her spell, he thought only one thing.

Forever indeed.

AN: Hey there darlings! I know that I waited a little while to update. I enjoyed this chapter and I am currently working on the next one. Thank you for all the people who have been with the story since the start. It was the first story that I ever published so it is like my baby. Thank you all for everything. Please read and review with your thoughts.

Love, Sierra.