The grey wolf sped through the forest, four huge paws pounding the earth and throwing up leaves and twigs in his wake. The wind, created mostly by his incredible speed, ruffled his fur as he expertly dodged rocks and trees, finally arriving at his destination. The granite cliffs dropped off to the pounding surf below, and he realized he was not alone. He raised his snout and sniffed the air, picking up a familiar and pleasing scent, when suddenly something heavy landed beside him.
"Dammit, Leah, I was having a good dream for a change," Seth mumbled, managing to glare at her with his one open eye.
Leah smirked and jumped off the bed and out of his reach. Seth rolled onto his left side, grasping his pillow with his right hand and chucking it at Leah's head in one smooth, fluid motion.
"You've been practicing, haven't you?" she grinned at him.
"With a softball, not a pillow," he admitted. "What the hell do you want at this ungodly hour?" he growled.
Leah smiled at him. "We're going out for dinner and dancing tonight, and I thought you and Paris might want to join us. Please, please, please?" she begged, a mischievous twinkle lighting up her dark eyes.
Seth grumbled. "You know she doesn't eat, Leah. Besides, I'm tired. I can't be staying out half the night…"
Leah flipped the pillow back at him and decided to change tactics. "I know she doesn't eat, Seth, but she can talk, can't she? And as I recall from our wedding, she's a pretty good dancer. Come on, Seth! Live a little!" she whined.
Jacob and Leah arrived promptly at 7, and Seth was ready. Leah smiled as he loped down the steps in his tan Dockers and crisp white shirt, the left sleeve trimmed and expertly hemmed by Sue to make his missing arm as inconspicuous as possible. Sue and Charlie stood on the porch, smiling. "Don't keep him out too late, Leah. You know he needs his beauty sleep," Charlie teased as they backed out of the driveway and headed to Forks to pick up Paris.
Paris was wearing a sunshine-yellow sundress and a huge smile as she climbed into the back seat and moved over to make room for Seth. He leaned in and kissed her lightly before he slid in beside her and closed the car door.
The restaurant was crowded, and everyone pretended not to notice Seth's discomfort. When they were finally seated at their table, he seemed to relax. The noisy, happy crowd didn't seem to be paying them any attention, except for an occasional appreciative glance their way. Among humans, the tall Quileute shape shifters tended to stand out, and Paris's pale beauty was exacerbated by the dark good looks of the other three.
Dinner could have been awkward, but Paris asked for Jake's advice on what to order. He helpfully pointed out that their filet mignon (rare) was amazing. With a little rearranging of dinner plates, by the time the busboy cleared the table all the dishes were empty. As far as they could tell, no one had noticed that Paris didn't eat anything as they passed plates around the table.
As soon as the band began to play, Jacob grabbed Leah's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. Paris tapped her foot in time with the music, and Seth reached over to hold her hand. He ignored Leah's pointed glances, and eventually Jacob shrugged and smiled at Paris. "May I?" he asked. Paris hesitated and looked at Leah. Leah made a shooing motion as she collapsed onto her chair.
"Nobody's looking at you, you know," she whispered to Seth as soon as the pair had been swallowed up in the crowd.
"I know, Leah. Just let me do things in my own time. It wasn't easy for me to get this far."
Leah sighed. "I get that, Seth. I just think Paris would rather be dancing with you." She smiled at the oddly matched couple, Jacob more than foot taller than Paris. He brought her back to the table, thanked her for the dance, and grabbed his wife, twirling her back out on the floor.
The next dance was a slow one, and Seth stood and held out his hand to Paris. He held her tightly to him and led her confidently around the floor. Paris laid her head against his chest, listening contentedly to the steady beating of his heart as they moved to the soft music.
Leah and Jacob were perfectly matched. In her heels, she was just a few inches shorter than Jake. She had only to tilt her head up to gaze into his eyes, and he leaned in to taste her lips as they danced.
Seth and Paris sat out the salsa dancing. They held hands and tapped their feet as they watched Leah and Jacob whirl around the floor. As the music ended and Jacob expertly dipped Leah, they were embarrassed to realize they had attracted the attention of a small crowd, smiling and applauding. As they returned to their table, Paris pulled a pen from her purse and offered it to Jacob. "Could I have your autograph?" she asked, apparently breathless and star struck. He obligingly "signed" her hand with a flourish, without removing the cap from the pen.
Leah grinned at them. "If you two are quite finished, I think the band is packing up to leave." Laughing, the four piled into Leah's car and headed back to the Clearwaters', where Seth picked up his truck to take Paris home.
When they arrived at her apartment, he walked her inside and said softly,
"That was fun." He leaned forward, his knees almost touching hers as she sat on the couch opposite him. "I'm trying to get my life back together," he continued, "and I'd like you to be a part of it. I know I've hurt you, but I never meant to. The Seth Clearwater you knew and loved is gone, Paris", he continued. "That carefree, goofy kid doesn't exist any more. I don't know how you'll feel about the new me. I'm more serious, more mature, and slightly battle scarred." He took her hand in his. "I still care for you, and I hope you'll give me another chance."
Paris finally spoke. "I've never stopped loving you, Seth. Even when I thought you'd forgotten about me. In all my many long years, I've never met anyone like you," she said softly.
They stood, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her close. He touched his lips to hers, no longer shy or hesitant, and kissed her roughly, hungrily. She responded immediately, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his as she kissed him back.
Seth smiled against her lips. He brought his hand up to her face, gently brushing her hair behind her ear as he kissed along her jaw. "I've missed you," he breathed in her ear.
She smiled shyly but didn't hesitate when he rose and took her hand, leading her into the bedroom. He gazed into her eyes as he kissed her deeply, passionately, and there was no more hesitation. His shyness and uncertainty had disappeared, and he expertly unfastened buttons, snaps, and zippers with his one hand. She found his inexperience endearing, but as his lips and tongue followed the path of his fingers, leaving a trail of feverish warmth on her cool skin, she gasped in surprise and delight.
He made love to her slowly, patiently…almost lazily, savoring each new pleasure. She thought she would go mad with desire until, finally, she screamed his name, arching her back and digging her nails into his shoulders as he groaned and shuddered deep within her.
Afterwards, they lay side by side. Paris pushed her hand up under his tee shirt, caressing his muscular chest as his heartbeat and breathing slowed to normal. His arm encircled her slim waist, and he pulled her close to him, kissing the side of her face and murmuring in her ear. "We're not supposed to be here, you know. It's against all the rules."
She chuckled huskily and whispered, her smile brushing against his ear. "I know what you mean. Vampires aren't supposed to breathe, so how is it that you take my breath away?"
Paris propped herself up on one elbow, smiling down at his face. She realized it could no longer be considered boyish. His new maturity showed in the sharp lines and planes of his features. She grinned as she realized this handsome, passionate man was the same Seth she had known for so long. He caught the change in her expression. "What?" he asked.
She traced his lips with her finger. "I was just thinking I used to date a boy named Seth. He was sweet and shy. Actually, he looked a lot like you." He chuckled and looped his arm around her neck, pulling her down to kiss her softly. Then he pulled himself up to a sitting position and looked into her eyes.
"I have to go, Paris." He sighed.
She smiled at him. "I understand." She touched his face gently. "I love you, Seth."
He cupped her chin in his hand, murmured "I know," and kissed her tenderly.