Hey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, mine was pretty good. Thank you all very much for your reviews and ads. I think I'm very blessed to have such great readers and everytime I open my inbox and find a flury of reviews it makes my day. I've tried something new in this chapter, but it won't be a regular thing. The first part is written in the third person for another prospective. If you all like it, I'm might give it another shot in a future chapter. Thanks for reading and I'll do my best to update again soon. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the Twilight series.

Chapter 9

Third Person POV

"I can't believe you just did that," Jared said through the mental bond he shared with Paul after the second man transformed back into his wolf form and raced back to the reservation.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Paul said back as he ran. He was doing his best to keep his thoughts about the previous ten minutes hidden, but failed miserably. Even in his wolf form he could feel her cool hands on his chest and her soft lips against his. Hell, he could even still smell her soft floral scent all round him.

"You're terrible at hiding your thoughts, Paul," Jared said dryly before he mentally chuckled. "Obviously, Harper's sleeping attire was to your liking."

"Shut up," Paul snapped, growing agitated with Jared. His good mood was slipping away as he drew closer to his home.

"So, Paul, you imprinted," came Quil's voice and Paul cringed when he heard the slightly younger man's voice. He'd forgotten that it was Jared's night to patrol along with Embry and Quil from Jacob's pack. Even though it had been quiet in the La Push/Forks area for a long while now they still patrolled just to make sure. "Nice."

"Yeah; she's pretty, man, congrats," came Embry's voice and Paul huffed in relief once he reached his house and slowed to a trot.

"Whatever," Paul said in response. "I'll see you all on Sunday." His words caused his friends' mental laughter to flood his head because his thoughts about the following day with Harper came to mind. However, Jared wasn't laughing.

"Guys, phase out for a minute," Jared said quickly and the two of them did so without asking anything. The tone in Jared's voice was enough to know that what was about to be said was private. Jared was much better at hiding his thoughts than Paul. "Be careful, Paul," Jared said quietly. "Remember what Jason told Sam."

"I know," Paul said before he quickly phased back into human form and untied his jean cut offs from around his left leg. He tugged on the pants before he broke the tree line and walked to his house. His home was basically a glorified shack with electricity, running water, and a furnace that didn't want to always work, but the furnace working didn't matter to him. Since his 'change' as he called it, he didn't get cold easily.

Once he was inside, he turned on a light and flopped down on the tattered sofa before he ran his right hand through his hair and then down his face. He knew he had to be careful with Harper because Jason had told Sam that Harper had been through a lot, but he couldn't help himself that night. After he had left her house all he thought about was her. He couldn't stop thinking about her and when he couldn't take it anymore, he had found himself sprinting to her house. He had been thankful to see that Jason's truck was gone and that he wasn't home. He knew that Jason wouldn't have let him see her that night since Jason was still upset with him and he had already spent the day with her.

He had debated the entire run to her house about what he was going to do when he got there, but when he saw her standing there wide eyed and confused as to why he was there and in those short shorts of hers that showed off her long legs he knew what he had to do. What he wanted to do more than anything else in the world. His entire body felt like it was on fire the second his lips touched hers and he never wanted to stop, but he had to. That kiss was going to have to tide him over until Harper was ready, and he would wait. She was worth it. He didn't know what had happened to her, but he would make damn sure nothing ever happened to her again.

Harper POV

I had heard Jason come home around two in the morning, but that was only because he had bumped into the small table that rested in the living room near the entrance to the hallway that led to our bedrooms and the bathroom. The picture frames had fallen with a loud clatter and Jason's loud curse wasn't helping him be any quieter. I had let him think he didn't wake me because I remained tucked in bed and I had drifted off back to sleep shortly after I heard him go into the bathroom.

I didn't have any dreams again that night and I had slept better than I had in ages. I woke up at eight that morning, showered, and fixed my hair so that I could wear it down without it frizzing and so that it fell around my shoulders in gentle curls. Paul seemed to like it down, so, that's how I planned on wearing it. However, I did have a hair tie settled around my wrist just in case. I had checked the weather on the early morning news and they said that the sun would be out in the morning before the clouds moved back in, which meant that I would be bringing a zip up hoodie with me.

While I dressed in my dark jeans and three-quarter length dark green shirt my nerves were on high. During the course of readying myself for the day, I realized that I just wasn't going to be hanging out with him like I did yesterday. Today could easily have been considered a date, and I couldn't help but wonder if that's what Paul thought today was going to be. After last night, it was pretty clear that he probably did and if I was honest with myself, I thought the same thing. Once I pulled on my tennis shoes I gave myself the once over in the mirror. There was definitely room for improvement, but Paul liked me as I was, so, I couldn't have been too bad to look at.

It was a quarter to ten and Jason was still sound asleep in his bed. Rather than wake him up and have him settle into protective 'big brother' mode, I left him a note telling him that I would be home later, but I left out the fact that I was going with Paul. When I got home I planned on talking to him about going to Sam's party, but I had my cell phone with me and I figured he would call as soon as he got up anyway, so, I'd talk to him about it then. I grabbed my keys from the counter and my hoodie from where I had draped it over the back of on the kitchen chairs before I walked through the living room and to the front door.

I went outside and locked the door behind me before I settled myself onto the porch stairs. The sun was bright and once again felt wonderful on my face as I sat in its rays and waited for Paul. I knew it probably was a little much to be sitting outside waiting for Paul to show up, but I didn't want to chance Jason waking up when Paul knocked. Jason still wasn't completely on board with the whole Paul thing even though I was happy when I was around Paul.

I was staring at the ground at the bottom of the stairs when I heard the sound of a car pulling up the gravel driveway. I looked up and smiled when I saw a rusted and weathered navy blue truck pull up with a familiar face behind the wheel. I stood up and adjusted my grip on my hoodie as I did so. Paul parked his truck and smiled at me as he climbed out, closed the door and met me half way.

"Hey," he said with a smile and I blushed for some reason. "Excited or what?" he asked and I relaxed as I laughed and shrugged.

"Yes and no," I said and he raised an eyebrow. "Jason's still asleep. I didn't want him to wake up when you knocked. He might not have let me go."

"You didn't tell him you were spending the day with me?" he asked and I shook my head negatively.

"I left him a note and he'll probably call my phone and I'll tell him then if he asks," I said and he grinned.

"Who knew you had a little rebel in you?" he asked rhetorically and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not that big of a rebel," I said and his grin morphed into a small smile. "Paul, about last night . . .," I said, trailing off not exactly knowing how to say what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him what that kiss had meant to me; how it made me feel like I was worth more than I thought, but he shook his head as he continued to smile at me.

"It's okay. I meant what I said," he said as he reached out and took my right hand into his left. "I'm not going to expect anything from you, Harper. When you're ready, I'll be waiting," he said while he squeezed my hand and I found myself smiling slightly as I looked up at him. "Now, don't think about it; just go with the flow . . . for once," he added with a smile and I laughed as I nodded.

"Okay," I said softly. "So, where are we going?" I asked and it was his turn to laugh before he turned and tugged on my hand to walk me to his truck.

"I can't tell you, but I'm glad you listened to me and wore tennis shoes," he said. He opened the passenger door of his truck and let go of my hand so I could climb into the truck. Once I was settled into the seat he smiled at me before he closed the door and started around the truck. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding as I pulled on my seatbelt and waited for him to get in the truck. He climbed in and smiled at me before he started the truck up and we were on our way.

We rode in silence, but it wasn't an awkward or uncomfortable silence. The radio was playing a classic rock song I had heard Jason play before, but I didn't know the name of it. Country was more my genre because of the stories the songs usually told, but I listened to all sorts of music and I started liking the song that was playing. Especially when I noticed Paul absently drum the beat of the song on the steering wheel as he drove.

I smiled to myself and looked out the window and at the passing scenery when I felt Paul's eyes on me. It was easy for me to know when he was looking at me and several times as we rode along in the comfortable silence I could feel his eyes settle on me. I didn't know why I could feel it when he watched me, but I'd gotten used to it since he liked to stare at me often. We drove for about fifteen minutes before Paul parked his truck and I looked at him expectantly when I noticed we were surrounded by nothing but trees and cliffs.

"You know, I didn't tell you how beautiful you look today," he said and I blushed lightly as I smiled at him.

"Thank you," I said and he tucked some of my behind my left ear.

"Come on," he said with a smile. "We've got a bit of a walk to get where we're going." He climbed out of the truck and I quickly followed, making sure I brought my hoodie with me. I closed the truck door and looked up at him when he stopped a few feet from me and held out his hand to me. I smiled at him and tied my hoodie around my waist before I placed my left hand into his right and followed him into the trees.

Two weeks ago, I wouldn't have followed him. Two weeks ago, I wouldn't have even left the house with him. Two weeks ago, I would have feared that he was going to kill me the second he got me where he wanted me; but I was a different person than I had been two weeks ago and I knew that Paul wouldn't even hurt a hair on my head.

Just like in the car we walked in silence as we walked along a path that Paul seemed to know very well. I had a feeling that he spent a great deal of times in the woods. He seemed like the outdoorsy kind of guy and despite my displeasure for anything slimy, creepy, and/or crawly I still thought we were a good match. I blushed at the thought, but it came unbidden and obviously he liked me just as much as I liked him, so, I really had nothing to be ashamed of.

"Do you need a break?" he asked as he glanced down at me and I looked up at him.

"Huh? No, why?" I asked and he grinned.

"You're face is flushed," he said as he looked ahead and to the path. "You sure you don't need to rest?"

"I'm sure," I said as my blush deepened. I probably already resembled a tomato, and I didn't need to blush anymore. "I'm not tired or warm, I was just thinking."

"Oh? What about?" he asked and I felt him glance at me again. I could see the grin that was probably still on his face, but I kept my eyes ahead.

"Nothing," I said all too quickly and I mentally winced at the slight crack in my voice.

"Whatever you say, Harper," he said with a chuckle and a squeeze of my hand. I smiled then and I felt the heat fade away from my face as my embarrassment lessened. I didn't know how long we walked, but the sun had shifted considerably and I was starting to sweat a bit. "We're here," he said and I sighed as I pushed my hair from my face.

"Finally," I said and he smiled at me.

"I told you it was going to be a bit of a walk," he said and I mock glared at him, which made him laugh before he took my hand into his and we broke through a tree line. A cool breeze wrapped around us and my hair fluttered behind me while I gasped at the site in front of me.

"Wow," I said softly as my eyes scanned the area around us. We were on one the high cliffs that overlooked the ocean. I let go of Paul's hand and moved closer to the edge, but not close enough to stumble and fall. It was like something you'd see in movies or in pictures. It was breathtaking.

"I come here when I want to get away," came Paul's deep voice from behind me and I turned around to look at him. He slowly walked over to me with a smile on his face.

"This place is amazing, Paul," I said with a smile. "I've never seen anything like it." I shivered a bit thanks to the wind and my rapidly cooling skin and he moved even closer so his body heat washed over me.

"I'm glad you like it," he said before he led me over to one of the boulders. We sat down, I snuggled against his side, and we just looked out over the water before we started talking.

We sat there for an hour, just sitting together and talking; and I'd gotten to know Paul even more. The more I learned about him, the more I liked; but I knew that when I told him more about me it probably wasn't going to be a mutual feeling. We'd moved from sitting on top of the boulder to sitting on the grass just in front of it so our backs were resting against the large rock. When Jason hadn't called, I checked my phone but found that I didn't have any service. I knew Jason was probably going to blow a gasket, but as long I was home at a decent hour, he wouldn't worry too much.

"I wanted to share this place with you because it's special to me; just like you are," he said softly. His left arm was wrapped around my shoulder as he held me close and his right hand held onto mine as it rested in between us. He ran his thumb along the back of my hand. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes before I raised my head from where it rested on his shoulder and looked at his face.

"Paul, there are things about me that won't make me as special to you as I am right now," I said, my voice shaking a bit as our eyes met.

"Jason told Sam that you'd been through a lot before you guys moved to Forks," Paul said slowly as his dark eyes held mine. "Whatever happened, it's not going to make me look at you any differently. You can trust me on that."

"I'm not so sure about that," I said as I started to pull away, but his grip gently tightened on me to keep me from pulling away from him. "Paul, please," I whispered and he let me go. I stood and walked over towards the cliff's edge like I did earlier, and wrapped my arms around my waist. I heard and felt him come up behind me, but to my surprise he didn't touch me.

"We've been having a great morning, Harper, don't put your wall back up and push me away," he pleaded and I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath through my nose. There was probably a better moment than then, but I knew I would never be braver than I was at that moment. If Paul wanted to pursue something with me, he couldn't go into it blind. He needed to know what he was getting himself into and so I opened my eyes and looked up at him. My arms were still wrapped around my waist, but that was simply to keep my hands from shaking.

"I care about you, Paul," I said, "far more than I probably should, and I know you care about me." He gave me a small encouraging smile that fueled my unexpected bravery. "But before we go any further, there are some things you need to know so you can decide if I really am worth the trouble."

"Harper, I already know you are," he said and I shook my head.

"No, I'm really not, Paul," I said.

"Let me decide that, Harper," he told me as he took a step closer and his massive frame consumed me yet again. That feeling used to frighten me, but I welcomed it when it was Paul. I lowered my arms to my sides and took yet another deep breath.

"All right," I said before I gestured to the boulder we had both just left. "We should sit down. This is going to take a while."