A/N: Here it is. I had to wait at the airport for six hours tonight, so i got a bunch typed up. Hope you like it. I own nada.
Chapter 5:
There was a solid five minutes where all we did was look at each other. It looked like he was fighting something hard, and I was close behind. Why do I have this sudden pull this this prick. Did Laurent see this coming? I knew nothing about Paul, but I suddenly wanted to. I wanted to know anything and everything about this stranger, even though I knew he hated me. But after those strange moments of silence, his expression shifted. He was gazing softly back at me, like I was the only person in the world. And I liked it. What the hell is going on? Could I fight this urge? Did I want to?
"Paul. I know you might be confused, but please don't kill her." Seth finally spoke. I was actually startled to find him sitting there. I had completely forgotten about his existence. With that declaration, Paul promptly stood and walked slowly back into the trees, only to emerge a minute later in the shorts that were the wolf uniform. Did any of them wear shirts? How was I supposed to concentrate. Everyone that came out of the woods was hotter than the last. It was frustrating.
"I wouldn't hurt her even if she fucked every vampire from here to Canada." Was that supposed to sound like a compliment? He even went as far as to offer me a big smile. What an asshole. Did he think that was funny? Romantic? Oh wait, he hated me. He could very well just be being a dick.
"Excuse me?" I was slightly fuming. This man honestly thought I was sleeping with vampires all across the state. It was in that moment that the realization hit me. The one human experience I didn't think I was going to lose. I was still a virgin. In my entire human life I had never had sex. I always thought of it as inevitable. That at some point before my transformation, even when I was hoping for it, we would have had sex first.
I was lost in thought and I most definitely must have looked a little sad, because Paul did the unthinkable. He apologized to me.
"Whoa, whoa. Hold on there Sunshine, I was just joking." I was only vaguely aware of the new nickname, still too deep in my thoughts. How could I have missed so many human experiences? I would never have a child, I would never be walked down the isle by my father. I would never find a human man and settle down to live the golden years on a porch. No iced tea and cookies for me. I was supernatural now. Immortal. I would live forever and stay the same. My eyes watered at all the things I finally acknowledged I lost.
Paul took it the wrong way, as men will do. "Are you crying? I really didn't think it was that bad. I'm sorry."
I couldn't believe he was being nice to me, but he was being self-centered about it. "Not everything is about you, Paul. Don't you think that this whole changing thing might be a little hard for me? Not like you even care, so just drop it and leave me alone." it felt good to say, even if it was a little childish.
Paul then stepped it up a notch, clearly intent on surprising me all afternoon. He strolled right across the line and came straight to me. He moved so quickly, I had no time to react. He grabbed my shoulders with both of his massive, calloused hands and, roughly, pulled me to his chest. He put his arms around my waist and I had no choice but to except it. He was hugging me. Well, holding me would be a better term. Holding me tightly, but also like I might break. I had never been held like this in my life. Not by Edward or even Jacob, who was always so good at comforting. He leaned down and I felt his hot breath at my ear. "I care now." And with that he released me, far sooner than I would have liked, and crossed back to his side of the line. He sat down and crossed his arms. He glared over at Seth. "If you ever…"
Seth immediately put up his hands and cut off his threat. "Wouldn't dream of it. No one would believe me if I did." Paul thought this over and the smile returned to his face as he realized the truth behind his brother's words.
"Hmm. I guess you're right." He chuckled, tossing a small pebble in Seth's direction. Watching them interact this way was nice. Peaceful. I didn't want it to end. The only thing I wanted was for the boundary to disappear so I could be with Paul. Okay, I really needed to cut it out. It was unhealthy to get attached in the span of fifteen minutes. The little voice in the back of my head wanted to know why it was wrong? He has clearly shown at least a little interest. Why did it have to be a horrible idea to have my own interests? Because you are still hoping for Edward to want you back when you find them. No! I was done with Edward. He had left me, and Paul may be an ass, but this feels different. I already felt like I had known him longer than anyone in my entire life, let alone the measly months spent with Edward. He could look me in the face right now and swear his love for me, and it wouldn't even occur to me to take the offer. That was over. Maybe Paul was the future, maybe not. The two men were completely isolated incidents. I could see how things progressed without having to feel guilty. Whatever you say.
Thank god that at that moment was when Sam and the others returned. He was the only one in human form. Quil, Jared, and Jacob were in wolf form. Jacob looked like he was trying to face Sam, but he was struggling too much.
"Belle." He was angry.
"Sam." Was all I could reply. I thought I could vaguely understand that face.
"The elders have spoken. You are too much of a threat. A liability. It has been decided that you must be destroyed. I tried to talk them out of it. They were adamant. I am so sorry." The sad part was, I knew he was. The apology was written all over his face.
I was just about to speak before all hell broke loose. Paul leapt over the line for the second time that day to stand facing Sam. He pushed me behind him with his arm. I was so touched I almost forgot to be afraid. Could I even fly fast enough to get out of their reaches in time?
"No one can touch her. She is mine." Paul's chest heaved as he spouted the oddly worded phrase. Is it weird that even that claim of ownership was music to my ears?
"Paul, I will be doing this alone. No one else will have this on their conscience, no matter how much they hate vampires." Wow, did Sam misread the situation. At least I hoped he had.
"I didn't mean she was mine to kill. I mean she is mine forever. I imprinted."
"Very funny Paul." Sam let out a small chuckle. "But we all know you can't imprint on someone who can't bear children."
"She is mine." It was barely a whisper.
I grabbed Paul's arm. "Please don't fight over me. I don't know what imprinting is, but I'll go. I will leave and no one will ever hear from me again." I couldn't believe how saying the words felt like the highest form of blasphemy to my soul. It wasn't that I didn't want to leave Paul, it was that I didn't think I could. Not when I had him here, touching me.
"No!" He growled. He turned to completely face me, and took my face in his hands. He crushed his lips to mine. The world exploded. It was like we had done this a hundred times. Our mouths joined in a perfect harmony and it was filled with raw passion. It drew a low moan from me as he deepened the kiss further. I felt his tongue invade, and it reached the very tip of my toes. I couldn't get enough. One hand left my face and wrapped protectively around my waist. It was a perfect. I was whole again. I would go anywhere. Do anything. As long as this man was leading, I would follow.
And then it was over. He pulled back and just rested his forehead against mine. I had no need for the air, but I was gulping it down, as if to catch my breath. He was just as flustered. Without opening his eyes, or loosening his hand from my hair, he whispered. "I won't let anything happen to you."
He released me, and my entire body immediately missed his. This entire situation was still blowing my mind. Did he really feel the same connection I did? Were we already here? Once again I was too deep in the moment, forgetting that our little episode had an audience. I looked up and was thankful I no longer blushed. Apparently I still giggled though. I let a small one slip and covered my mouth apologetically. Paul gave me a quick smile and took my hand. Then he turned back to Sam, a heartbroken look in his eyes. "Sam…" Was it just me, or did Paul sound close to tears? It was too far out of character. Almost reflexively, I put my arms around his waist to keep him from falling over. He closed his eyes again, leaning in to kiss the top of my head. If I hadn't have been so worried if Paul was okay, there would have been a Belle sized puddle on the floor. "Sam… I can't live without her."
The words floored me. We had met today. Today! And we were already at a place, that we could be this intimate with each other. It was exciting, and terrifying at the same time. I was exited that Paul might feel the exact same heart-wrenching things I was feeling, but terrifying because of how fast my own feelings were moving.
Our eyes locked for a minute more before we both looked back at Sam. "Fuck. Well…the imprint law is the highest above all others. Belle, we will explain everything back at my house. This is a very special circumstance. But I am the Alpha, and that means I have more than enough authority to make the decision. You are part of the family now, and the Quileute tribe welcomes the first ever vampire onto their lands. But if you should ever be in contact with the Cullen clan, this does not apply to them. Do I make myself abundantly clear?" He rushed through this entire speech without even pausing to take a breath. It caught me so off guard, it took me several moments to collect a response.
"Ummm." Wow. I'm a genius. Let's try that again. "I already told you that I did not come here to cross your border. If that is what you wish, and Paul too, then of course I will. Please let your elders know that I do not take this lightly, and I am available to them for any form of questioning whenever they like." Sam was more than agreeable to this as I took my first steps onto Quileute land as a vampire. We were to walk to his and Emily's house and discuss all of the little details. But something still bugged me. "Hey Sam!"
He turned to look back at Paul with his arm around my shoulder, neither of us quite ready to let go yet. "Yes?"
"You never answered me before. About the smell. Do I smell the same as other vampires?"
Sam merely looked at the man to my right and nodded, then proceeded to walk away. "Paul?" I asked, suddenly not so curious.
"Sunshine, if you smelled even one tenth as bad as a Cullen leech, I never would have let eye contact happen. I don't know how it is for everyone else, but you smell like the most wonderful bouquet of flowers I have ever come across." He highlighted the comment by taking in a huge whiff of my hair. I was about to call him a liar when I remembered something.
"You know, you keep calling me Sunshine, and you just compared me to flowers." I giggled out as we trailed farther and farther behind the group.
"What's your point?" He faked offense.
"Here. Look at this." I pulled out my new fake I.D. to show him.
"You're kidding. Sunflower. Your fake name is Sunflower."
"You don't like it?" It was my turn to fake an injury.
"On the contrary. I like it a thousand times better than Sunshine. From now on, you are my little yellow Sunflower. My little flower that eats people, and has scary purple eyes.
I smacked his arm. "I do not eat people! And you wish you could have a cool eye color." I shut my eyes and stuck my tongue out. It was very grown-up.
He took advantage of the new opportunity to grab me. I let out a small squeal as he pulled me to a small spot just out of earshot of the group. He pushed me back until my spine came in contact with a tree trunk. As I was pressed between the tree and Paul, I had zero objections when he used his upper hand to pull my mouth to his. I could do this every single minute for the rest of eternity, and it still won't have been long enough.
A/N: Thoughts? R/R