Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer has always owned Twilight.

So, I feel if you've made it this far in the story, you've already read some of the mature adult content. Nevertheless, in case you decided to jump on board at the final chapter only, please be aware, this is rated M for a reason, i.e. there's sexual content in this chapter. It's after the bold black line towards the end of the chapter should you desire to skip that part. It's not integral to the plotline, but come on, you had to know they were going to get around to that sooner or later, am I right? : )

*** Chapter 7 – Together ***

Early morning light streamed in through the window running across the back of the cabin and further warmed the russet skin of the sleeping male who was a tangle of limbs and crisp white cotton sheets. Eyes started to move beneath lids still closed as he took in a deep breath. Pulling his arm out from underneath the pillow his head was resting on, Mat stretched it out fully to the right and realized it took longer to reach the edge of the queen-sized mattress than his usual resting place at Quil's house.

Opening his eyes to take in the rest of his surroundings, Mat had a brief stutter in the wires connecting his thoughts before remembering that he was in Bella's cabin. He searched the living area before realizing she occupied a chair next to the dresser in the sleeping area of the open floor plan.

Sitting in a singular ray of light, her eyes closed, Mat took in the subtle crimson halo that shone in her hair. Fair skin that appeared to be satin in texture in the early light of day contrasted starkly with long dark eyelashes and red tinted lips. The Brothers Grimm must have had a vision of the future when they wrote "Snow White," for Bella was indeed the beauty described in the tale.

It was difficult to reconcile cold and unfeeling with the soft womanly features on her face, but not once as he gazed at her in the early morning light did she move. She was a living statue…that wasn't alive…but after last night, he knew to be very much a caring, emotional person capable of sorrow and pain.

Mat's head often got caught in a circular path when it came to comparing what he thought he knew of vampires with what he knew of Bella. It was exhausting trying to push against the pull he felt towards her, just because of some engrained myth he had adopted as to why she was a monster that needed to be put down.

He rubbed his hands down his face, sighing as he came to the decision that this had to stop.

He was finished.

Bella had showed herself to be a friend and a companion to his loneliness in the pack, and he didn't want to lose that. He had no interest in imprinting on anyone, but until the ugly hand of fate dealt her cards to him, he would make good on his promise to be there for her. The idea of turning his back on the girl caused his still beating heart to seize in his chest.

"You know, while you were sleeping, your heart rate was right around 70 beats per minute, but then it picked up speed when you started to wake up. And just now, it almost sounded like it skipped a beat," Bella's words tumbled from quickly moving lips, but her eyes still remained closed and she otherwise remained unmoving.

"One, that's kind of creepy. You may want to go with 'Good Morning' or some other pleasant greeting next time. And two, what are you doing? I didn't think you slept, but I'm not exactly sure what the point is in playing a solo game of statue," Mat responded while he sat up and stretched his arms over his head, "Which, you'd totally win by the way. You are scary still and silent sitting there….again, slightly creepy."

Bella opened her eyes and smiled, turning her face towards his voice and Mat was taken aback by the golden caramel color of her irises. She'd been a crazed demon the night before, ebony pupils making it appear as if she had lost all hold on humanity and was simply a snarling "thing."

"When you have endless amounts of time on your hands, you find that you grow weary of always filling the minutes with 'doing stuff.' I may not be able to sleep, but I can essentially rest. And, to be honest, after the past few days I needed to shut down for a bit. Listening to the steady rhythm of your heart helped soothe me into stillness," Bella grinned, "But, I apologize for being creepy. Thank goodness you didn't wake up earlier when I was sitting next to you, counting the number of eyelashes you possess."

With a worried expression, Mat reached a hand up to touch his eyes, "Seriously?"

Bella started to laugh, and her whole body relaxed into a state of movement as her giggles picked up pace, "Oh my, your face. That is just precious. You believe me!"

Mat grumbled, "Funny, funny vampire in the morning, just what I needed."

He started to stand up and realized he wasn't wearing any clothes, nor did he have any to change into here in the cabin. Grabbing the sheet that was starting to slide over his hip bones, he wrapped it around himself. Bella just arched one eyebrow as she watched his movements.

"Someone feeling modest this morning?" she snarked.

"Just because you've seen me naked before doesn't mean you get a free peep show pass all the time."

"Ooohhh, peep show, did you have a little dance routine you could put on for me? Maybe I could find you a cowboy hat or something in black leather that you could take off."

Mat passed Bella's still laughing form and flipped his middle finger in the air as he made his way into the bathroom. The recipient broke down into another fit of giggles in response to the gesture.

Seeing as there was zero food to be found in the cabin, Bella followed Mat's pace as he loped back towards the reservation.

Honestly, he wasn't in a hurry to get back, and Bella still seemed a little unsteady at having to face Jacob and the inevitable future again. But, if they were going to hang out in her space for an extended period of time, they would need clothes and he would need food. Bella had plugged the refrigeration unit back in before they left to allow the appliance to start running before placing food back on the shelves.

The plan was to stop in ,say hello to the group to let them know Bella was okay, and to make the trek back later that day.

Stopping at Quil's house, Mat didn't waste any time changing into jeans and worn navy blue t-shirt. He threw various articles of clothing into a duffel that he wouldn't miss if he left them at their forest hideaway.

Abandoning the idea of running the distance to Sam's house, the pair opted for taking Mat's bike.

Climbing on and bending forward to place the key in the ignition, he jumped slightly when two arms slid around his middle. Sitting up and glancing over his shoulder, he could barely make out the top of Bella's head, hair pulled back into a pony tail as she rubbed her cheek against his shirt while wrapping herself around the broad muscles of his back. He placed a hand over the two that were clasped around his middle and Bella gently hugged him in response.

Making quick work of the drive, Bella refused to take the lead when they got to Sam's but hid behind Mat's larger form as he entered the back door of the kitchen. Six sets of wolf eyes turned sharply to see who the intruder was. When they took in his appearance, Jake merely lifted his chin before returning to his food. Mat cleared his throat to get the pack leader's attention as Bella stepped out from behind him. Jake dropped the fork he was holding and it clattered noisily against his plate.

"Bells…"

She lifted a hand and waved slightly while Seth and Leah leapt to her side to embrace her in a hug.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Leah spat.

"I just needed to take a little vacation."

The girl shoved a hand into Bella's shoulder, knocking her back a bit, "A vacation? You just run off in the middle of the cookout for a fucking vacation? What the hell, Bella?"

Bella stared at the floor and adopted the very human nervous gesture of running the toe of her shoe back and forth across the floor, "I'm sorry, Leah. I don't know what to say, but I needed a break."

Mat and Jake were staring at each other, some sort of wordless conversation going on between the two men.

Leah looked to her pack brother standing at Bella's side, "Did you go find her?"

Mat simply shrugged in response, but Bella grabbed his hand and linked her fingers with his. Seth, Leah, Jacob and the rest of the group noticed the gesture and looked between the two.

"He sort of talked me into coming back, made me see the stupidity of my decision, running off like I did."

Seth started to grin, "Man, you and Bella! Damn, why can't it ever be me?"

Immediately Mat stepped in front of Bella and glared at Seth while growling.

Jacob watched the exchange in wonder while Paul rolled his eyes and muttered, "Moron" under his breath.

The younger cub backed down, "Sorry, man, no harm intended."

Jacob slowly got up from his chair and crossed the room, pushing Mat over a little with a look that said, go ahead, challenge me. Looking at his best friend, he was saddened to see she would meet his eyes for just a moment before looking elsewhere.

"You okay, Bells?"

She nodded her head in silent response.

"We good?"
Her words were barely above a whisper, "Always, Jake, always."

He stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, noting that she had refused to break the grasp she had on Mat's hand, but he took what she could give him at the moment.

Stepping back, Jacob looked and Mat and spoke quietly, "Thanks, man."

Mat seemed uncomfortable with his leader's attention, "No problem."

Shooing the people surrounding her back, Bella took up residence leaning against a counter while Matt took the chair that allowed him to keep her in his line of sight while he ate. He was no longer watching her every move for threats, no, now he just needed to see her, to make sure she didn't disappear again. He made quick work of his breakfast, taking his plate to the sink before returning to her side. Fingers glided, skin against skin, and wove together once more.

"So, Embry is out with Tad and Aidan right now. They should be coming in soon, but I figured I'd send you, Seth and Quil out for the day. Maybe while you guys are out, you can make note of any of the homes or buildings that look like they could use some attention, especially if it belongs to one of the older tribe members," Jake continued, "Sam and I are going to help Emily and Cali at the food kitchen, and the girls wanted to give Mia a chance to see the work that goes on there, see if she wanted to help out."

Mat looked down at Bella, who focused on Jacob, "Jake, it's just been a rough couple of days, and…I think it best if I just take a little more time."

Jacob's eyes bore the weight of her words, even when his features tried to hide that it bothered him that Bella seemed so uncomfortable to be home, "I understand. Just check in and let us know you're okay."

"Of course, but…"

Jacob looked questioningly for the rest of the sentence and noticed Bella rubbing her thumb back and forth nervously over Mat's knuckle.

"I'd like it if Mat came with me. I realize it's a sacrifice to the pack, to not have him here, but I'm asking this as a favor…to me," Bella pleaded.

Jacob looked next to him at his wife who offered a small smile and took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently before answering, "Yeah, sure, sure, take whatever time you need. We'll manage."

"Thank you."

Bella said her quick goodbyes and Mat didn't say much of anything while Leah openly gaped at their retreating forms as they exited the house.

Paul was the first to speak after the sound of the motorcycle's engine faded away, "So…what do we think of that? I mean, I know, I can't exactly claim innocence when it comes to Bella, but that is not just fun and games."

Jacob worriedly scratched at his chin, mulling over the morning's events.

"She's happy with him," Cali interrupted his thoughts and Emily nodded.

Leah's patience had run thin, "She's happy? Are you serious? Did you see her? She barely said more than two words to us, and she's been gone without a trace for days. How does that equal happy?"

Emily smiled at the brash female, "She's not smiling from ear to ear, no, but, did you see how she leans into him, how her hand is always searching for his, how she waits for him to move? Our bold, strong girl who has always had an edge is breaking down around him. She isn't looking for just a silly playmate, she's intertwining herself with him. And, I don't think I've seen Mat interested in anything before today. He was quick to jump to her defense when Seth made that off-handed remark. There is something they find in each other that we haven't seen them posses before."

Sam looked at Jacob, tone serious, "What will happen if he imprints? What's that going to do to the two of them?"

Jacob sighed, "Fuck…I don't know. Are we okay with this? I mean, yeah, we all turned a blind eye to Paul and Bella. Not much we could do to stop that. But, this? They're seriously getting involved with each other, and man, I love that girl, I'd do anything for Bella, but…."
"She's still a vampire," Sam finished.

"Yeah."

Leah spoke up, "Well maybe it isn't always so cookie cutter perfect! Did you think of that? Maybe we're not all meant to find a mate, shack up and have 10 kids living happily ever after. Who made the rules that we have to follow the same formula every time? Is there some law that says we have to do a, b, and c in order? Can't any of us have a different future?"

She finished her tirade, cheeks flushed, slamming her hands down on the breakfast table. Leah was prone to emotional reactions, Jake knew, but this was different, this reaction was personal, Leah meant every word she spoke.

"I don't know," the Alpha admitted honestly, "We've just always seemed to follow the same path. But, I suppose if anyone's going to break away and take off into the woods in a different direction, it'd be you or Bella. Hell, even Mat's different, having grown up in a different place. Maybe we're meant to evolve further into something different."

Cali laughed, "Babe, I love you, but this isn't genetic science. This is love, and it's all about the unknown, the emotions and the falling for someone that your heart wants above all others, regardless of the specifics."

"Who said anything about love?" Jacob questioned, his face shocked at the mention of the word.

Cali and Emily just laughed and got up from the table, "You'll see…"

Jacob just sat there, stunned into silence, trying to make sense of what the hell was going on around him.

Stopping to get some needed supplies, Bella and Mat packed the bikes in the back of her truck and then traveled by road to a lot that was a several miles away from the cabin. From there, they could take the bikes down a path that wasn't accessible by car or pick-up.

Between Bella's vampire speed and Mat's trait of not needing words to fill every moment of the day, the two had quickly stowed their supplies and Bella had given Mat a drawer he could tuck his clothes into.

He turned around to find himself alone in the space once more. He grunted his frustration over not having heard her leave. She was like a damn ghost, sliding through the shadows, devoid of heartbeat, cloaked in her shield. He stepped out onto the small porch and wandered around the back of the property before spotting a slash of color off to the right. Heading in that direction, he found Bella lying in a bright red hammock.

She had chucked her jeans, so slender legs were on display leading up to a pair of cut off black sweat shorts. A small sliver of stomach was exposed between the shorts and the edge of her stone grey Henley. She had earphones in and was swaying in her resting spot to the beat of music he couldn't hear. Fingers danced in the air above her face as she seemed to be manipulating something unseen, and her face was relaxed and carefree. Hearing his approach, she looked over at him and smiled, crooking a finger in her direction.

He caved without resistance to her beckoning and made his way over to the woman summoning him. Scooting over to give him space, Bella waited for him to join her. Mat crossed his arms across his chest.

"Seriously, we can't both fit in that thing," He said incredulously looking at the hammock and examining where it was attached to the trees.

Bella huffed, "I hung this myself. Do you doubt my ability to judge whether it can contain your massive hulking frame?"

"If it snaps and you end up on the ground, don't say I didn't warn you."

Bella rolled her eyes, "Just get in the damn thing already, chicken."

She started making clucking sounds as he stepped out of his shoes and placed one leg over the edge, leery of allowing the rest of his body to follow suit. Bella amped up the volume of her taunting chicken noises until he snapped and moved quickly to join her. The swing swayed back and forth violently in response to the sudden movement, and Mat closed his eyes till the movement slowed down and Bella stopped laughing.

"I think it's safe to open your eyes now," she cooed, sliding a finger down the side of his face.

"You're a pain in the ass," he grumped in return.

With his weight added to the hammock, Mat found that their bodies had rolled down to the center so that every inch of Bella was pressed against him. She snuggled into his side and offered one of her earphones. Mat placed the device into his ear and wrapped his arm around her body so she wasn't laying awkwardly on top of it, trapping it to his side.

Closing his eyes, the first rhythmic beats of a song started to pulse in his ear before a shredded guitar was added to the mix and Mat recognized King of Leon's "Closer" beginning. Bella started running her fingers up and down the plain of his stomach, tracing unknown patterns on the material. His dick twitched in response to the movement and the sultry notes hitting his eardrums.

"She took my heart, I think she took my soul…"

There seemed to be truth in the lyrics they listened to as Mat tried not to concentrate on Bella's movements and how it made his blood race faster, choosing to drift into slumber.

Waking up to find that the sky had started to turn pink with the tell tale signs of evening, Mat could still feel Bella's presence beside him, but there was something off.

"Stop shielding yourself."
Bella looked up him, "Hmm?"

"You're shielding. I can feel you, but I can't smell you. Your shield is up, and there's no point in doing that when it's just me."

Bella caught his gaze and with the next inhale, Mat breathed in the scent of the woman by his side. It completed the picture of her, like a piece clicking into place, and it was comforting to have all of her and not just the visual image.

She grinned wickedly, "Please share, what do I smell like?"

Mat thought for a moment, "Cinnamon or some other spice? I don't know, there's a distinct edge there, something strong, but it's mixed in with vanilla. It's very warm, like what you'd expect to find in a bakery or a kitchen."

Bella teased and nodded sagely, "Very descriptive. Are you trying to say I smell good enough to eat?"

Mat couldn't stop the heat in his face and tried to hide behind his hands, "You're going to be the death of me."

"Nah, I kind of like having you around, so I think we'll keep you alive a little longer," Bella flipped out of the hammock gracefully, leaving Mat to grab the fabric for stability, "Come on, then, let's feed you before you decide to take a bite out of me."

She saucily looked over her shoulder at him and sashayed her hips dramatically making her way back to the cabin. He groaned at her retreating form and the images that came to play with her words before following.

Following dinner, Mat started a fire in the fireplace while Bella grabbed a book from the bookshelf and situated herself in the recliner, letting her legs dangle over the side. Mat browsed the shelves until he found something that sparked his interest and stretched out across the couch, choosing to place his head on the end where he would be facing Bella. She idly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger as she read. He focused his eyes on the page in front of him.

They read silently for an hour or so before Mat rubbed at his eyes and breathed in deeply. His pupils constricted and flared out as he turned his gaze over to the woman sitting in the chair. Bella traced her bottom lip, back and forth with the tip of her finger. Turning the page she was reading, she kept on with the slow slide across her mouth and shifted her legs. He risked taking in a shaky breath as her scent poured into his lungs and he held it there.

"What are you reading?"

Bella was so focused on her reading that he'd actually caught her off guard. Looking up at him with hungry eyes, her finger dropped to the opening in the neck of her Henley, tracing the line between the buttons up and down. He was captivated by the movement.

"What?"

With a voice that crossed the space between them and scratched across her skin he answered, "I asked what you're reading."

"Just some fiction book, a bit of romance," She replied innocently.

"And sex I take it?"

Bella's gaze sharpened, "Why do you say that?"

"Because you're turned on, and that scent is killing me," he explained.

Emboldened by the response she had drawn out from him, Bella dropped one leg down and let her thighs part. Keeping her eyes locked on him, she let her hand slide under her shorts and ran a finger between her folds, bringing it up to her lips and let her tongue slide out to taste the moisture there.

"Hhmm, seems you're right. I am a bit wet."

He growled and shifted to adjust the growing length between his legs, "Let me see, show yourself to me, Bella."

Turning in the chair, Bella propped one leg up on each arm of the recliner and tore the shorts she was wearing off her body to expose her pussy to him. She returned her fingers to their earlier exploration, letting them slide in and out of her heat. Moaning, she felt the wetness pool as his erection grew in response to her actions. The heat in his gaze sent flames through her body.

"Your turn," Bella whispered, "Show me what watching me touch myself does to you."

Mat stood up and stripped away his shirt. He took time undoing his belt and pulling the zipper down before he pushed the denim down his hips revealing his hardened cock for her perusal. She continued to push her fingers deep inside in a slow rhythm, and she added her other hand to brush against her clit, gasping at the sensation. Mat moved to step towards her, but Bella held her finger up to stop his progress.

"Ah, ah, ah," she taunted, "I didn't say you could come over here."

Her shield pushed outwards, forcing him back and he sprawled across the couch, naked and aching as he watched her finger fuck herself.

"MMmmm, I'm so wet and you're so hard," she continued the teasing.

He took himself in his hand and gripped his aching flesh, groaning at the attention and the pleasure that the action brought.

"Does it feel good to do that?" She asked.

He could only answer in single syllables, "Yes."

"So beautiful, watching you stroke your cock. Do you like watching me fuck myself, Mat?"

"Yes…"

"But?"
"I want to touch you, I want to taste you."

In response she spread herself even wider, pushing in deeply before bringing her fingers out and licking the fluid off. He groaned and pushed his cock up into his grasp.

"Say please…"
"Please, Bella, let me touch you."

Getting up from her seat, she crossed the room and stood by the couch, "Sit up."

He obeyed immediately and felt her shield clamp down on him. He couldn't move. Tearing her shirt away, she stood before him naked and proceeded to run her hand back down the front of her body, taking care to pinch her nipples along the way.

"Open your mouth"

He did and she placed her fingers gently on his tongue, "Suck."

His lips closed around the offering and swirled around the skin, eyes closing as he tasted her juices on his tongue. Removing her fingers, she looked deep into his eyes.

He pleaded, "Please, Bella, more. Don't stop now."

She questioned him, "Do you want more, Mat? There's no turning back from this point. Is this what you want?"

He breathed deeply, feeling his heart race in chest, and met her intent gaze, "Bella, I'm yours, you must know that."

She straddled his lap and brought her face to his. He could feel her cool breath before her lips met his in a gentle kiss. She pulled back and looked at his face of surrender, eyes closed.

"Mat, open your eyes."

When he did, she immediately slid down his length, letting every inch of his fevered flesh fill her, opening her thighs wider so she could take in more until her clit was nestled against his skin. She moved her hips and let his fur rub against her swollen nub. He hissed from the cool envelopment of her wet pussy around his cock. She began to rock against him, placing her hand on the back of the couch, feeling the head of his dick rub back and forth across that spot inside her again and again with her movements. Her head fell back as she moaned her pleasure and he leaned forward to take her tightened nipple into his mouth. She still hadn't granted him use of his hands, but she pushed her breast into his mouth, allowing him to suck and nip at the tightened bud.

Picking up speed, he murmured against her skin, "Fuck, Bella, so good. Yes, harder, baby, ride me harder."

She looked down at him and grinned, letting go of her shield and he immediately dug his fingers into her hips, encouraging her thrusts up and down. Her thighs started to tremble and a high pitched keen tumbled from her lips.

"Ooohhh, yes."

He felt her body tighten down on his as her pussy started to milk him. He placed a tight hold on his control so he could concentrate on watching and feeling her lose control as she rode him through her orgasm.

When she started to slow down, he encouraged, "Just a little more, baby."

Leaning forward to kiss his lips, Bella continued the movement that was almost painful to her tender flesh. She moaned as her wetness allowed her to glide against him. He thrust a tongue in her mouth and tasted that mix of spice that matched her scent as he felt cum start to spill into her body in heavy pulses. He growled as it continued to flow out of him and Bella started to spasm in response. The room filled with the sounds of their release.

Panting, Bella placed her forehead against his while Mat let his hands slip up her side and pulled her into him. Placing gentle licks and kisses along her collarbone and up her neck, he nuzzled against her as she ran soothing fingers through his hair. She met his lips again and sealed the night with a gentle kiss that promised more as the stars crossed the sky.

A/N: Shew, that was an adventure. I've had their first sex scene in my head for awhile now, waiting for the right moment, and it was quite the exhaustive effort to get it down on page. Hope it was worth the wait, and you enjoyed it. ; )

Thanks for the follows and the feedback. I could always use a little love to brighten my day!

Xoxo- Ginja