Disclaimer: I do not own most of these characters, they belong to Steph Meyer!

A/N: Ok-back to Leah. I'm actually enjoying writing her. Her and Demetri are probably my fave POV's to write from now. Many thanks to all my reviewers and readers.

Chapter 22 Out with Sam In with Demetri

I locked myself in the master bathroom to steal a moment of privacy. Every inch of it was white marble with silver snaking through its veins. The wall across from the gigantic jacuzzi tub was entirely mirrored. I sat on the edge of the bath taking a much needed breather from the intense vampire monopolizing my room. Demetri showed no signs of leaving it anytime soon and this was something that I didn't want to do in front of him. I needed to talk to Sam before I left for Romania. Jacob had informed me that he'd told Sam that I imprinted on a vampire, but he wouldn't give me anymore details beyond that; which, most likely meant that he hadn't taken the news well. Tough shit, in my opinion. I've suffered for years while he had his fun. He could damn well dislike Demetri all he wanted. This was out of his control. No longer would I pine away for that selfish, untrustworthy, bastard!

I took off every stitch of clothing letting them puddle on the floor at my feet as I thought about the corpse lying on my bed right now. For a few moments I'd been completely at ease with him. He was infectious with his naughty streak and had me bubbling with laughter like that idiot Bella when she's around her leech. Why was he in there? Surely he didn't think I was going to screw him tonight? Though, the idea had merit. Loath as I was to admit it, I desired nothing more than to feel his body thrusting into mine, but it so was not going to happen. I would make damn certain of that.

I studied my naked reflection taking in every inch of my tanned skin. Every inch that Sam had rejected, had thrown away like some foul piece of garbage. I let the wolf take me over. It was easier in animal form and it was the only way to carry on a private conversation when surrounded by three vampires.

I knew there was no guarantee that Sam was in his wolf form, but it was likely that one of the guys would be and could pass the message along.

My bones popped, muscles lengthened, and my body shifted fluidly. My wolf stared back at me in the mirror. How I hated being this thing. Truthfully, I was embarrassed by what I was, that's why I was now barricaded in this bathroom. I didn't want Demetri to see me in my animal form, though why I cared what the walking dead thought was a mystery. I might be an animal, but at least my heart beat, at least I was alive.

Sam's deep timber penetrated my morose thoughts. "Leah?"

"Yeah, Sam. I'm here."

"Jacob told me about the vampire." Was there anger in his voice?

"And?" When in doubt, be vague.

"Is he still alive?" There was a visual of his teeth snapping together.

"Yes."

His voice lowered into something menacing. "Do you want me to take care of that?"

I felt him sense the confusion fluttering through my mind at his unexpected offer. Why would he care? He had Emily. Was he so selfish that he couldn't even let me have this little bit of happiness?

I'm not being selfish, Leah. I'm just looking out for you. So, you've decided to stay with him, then?

"I don't know," I admitted softly, trying to stamp out the feeling of happiness that thrilled through me at Sam's words. I didn't want to feel anything for him anymore. I'd wasted too much time on him and he didn't deserve one more thought or feeling from me.

I hear you words, but they tell a very different story from the impressions I'm getting from you. Do you love him?"

"No!"

"Do you still love me?"

"No," and for the first time it was true, because despite what I'd said, my heart now belonged to another. "I'm leaving in the morning to meet up with Jacob." I'd had enough of the emotional heart-felt talk. Time to get down to business.

"Leah, you can't remain with this parasite. He can't offer you anything. He can't carry on the legacy. You will end up childless. Is that how you envisioned your life? One day you will begin to age again and you will die, but he will continue. This will never work. His voice held an edge of anger and hysteria in it. Like his opinion counted.

"I will be tied to a vamp, so why would I stop transforming? His presence should ensure that I never lose the ability to shift, so I will remain as I am now…just like him." I hoped that was true, because I didn't want to be old and wrinkled while he remained frozen in time.

"Your decision's already made then?"

"I'm changing back now. Goodbye Sam… My Sam. You'll always have a piece of me."

"Leah-"

But I broke the connection by shifting back into my human form. Empty, I was utterly drained of everything. I twisted the faucet as hot as it went and added some vanilla bubble bath. Steam began filling up the room and melted some of the tension away.

The water came up to my chin relaxing me in a way little else could. I closed my eyes and let all the tears that I'd kept locked away in my dead heart flow free. Finally, I could mourn the loss of Sam. For the first time I was able to deal with the agony and loneliness that had been such a big part of my life for so long now. And all of this was made possible by a vampire. Because I knew that curled up on my bed was a bloodsucker waiting to shower me with love and attention. Me and only me. More tears slithered down my face and dripped into the water, and the tightness in my chest eased a fraction with each newly shed tear. My body shook with the intensity of my heartache and I pressed my hand roughly against my mouth to keep the pathetic sounds inside me.

"Leah," Demetri called through the door. "What's wrong?" But the floodgates had been opened and I couldn't close them now until it had run its course. Try as I might to answer him, I couldn't get the words around the painful lump in my throat.

The door crashed open and he stood in the doorway looking fierce. He strode to the edge of the bath and knelt on the hard, cold marble tile. Not once did his gaze stray from my tortured face to my naked body, nor did I try to hide myself from him. His hand brushed my tears away. "What is so very wrong? Why all these crystalline tears?" He murmured gently, his eyes full of concern and something else. Love, maybe?

The tenderness in his voice only made the tears escape faster. He leaned over the side and lightly kissed every inch of my face, licked away every tear. A strangled sob erupted and I sat up exposing my chest to the cool air of the room and to him. I wrapped both arms around him uncaring that I was soaking through his shirt and clung to him as I let go of the man I believed to be the love of my life. But I had to. There was not enough room inside me for both men. Sam was my past. Demetri my future. And it was time that I exercised Sam from my heart for good; to take back the power he had over me.

My hands smoothed over the shirt that now clung to his chest from where my damp form had been pressed against him. He rested his forehead against mine and whispered words of comfort in Italian. I didn't need to understand his words, just feel them. I slowly unbuttoned the top button of his grey shirt. I felt him become motionless as his gentle voice faltered at my uncertain touch.

I waited for the panic to set in, for something to indicate that I was making a grave mistake, but all I felt was his desire for me, even as he tried to restrain it. I worked on undoing the rest of the buttons letting his shirt fall open framing his creamy, sculpted chest. I looked into his eyes to gauge his reaction. He was utterly still now, like a bird caught in a snakes gaze as he waited to see what my intentions were. I raked my gaze back down his hairless body and wanted more than anything to feel the smoothness of it under my hands, lips, tongue.

I reached one tentative hand out and brushed it down him ending at the top of his slacks before moving back up much more slowly so I could memorize each line and indent, how he shuddered a little causing his muscles to ripple, how the pads of my fingers burned as though I'd ran my hand over a flame. The feel of him under my fingers was electrifying. I felt the shock all the way to the core of my body which was now flushed with desire for this perfect man, this undead being kneeling carefully and uncertainly before me.

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes trying to find the strength to stop myself from making a dreadful mistake. I dropped my hands away from him and I sank back into the water and waited. Waited for him to leave. Well, if I was honest with myself, I was really waiting for him to join me, but when I opened my eyes I was again alone, the door hanging at an awkward angle, but as closed as it could get after Demetri busted through it.

A/N: I have no idea how many more chapters are left in this story, but I don't see it wrapping up anytime soon. Funny, since it was only meant to be a short piece on Demetri and his love interest. Any ideas or suggestions feel free to pass them along.