A/N Wow, the amount of reviews amazes me, really. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)

About cliffhangers – I feel some kind of urge to put them in the story, because that way I feel that the story is to be continued, there is a feeling that something more is about to happen. When I see a chapter that seems to be finished, without any cliffies, it's not that interesting for me to wait for the next chapter – I mean, it already feels complete. But that's just my opinion, my apologies to those who hate cliffhangers ;)

Chapter Fifteen: Paul

I didn't even get to take my shorts off. Great! There goes my last pair of good ones. I knew there was a pair hidden somewhere, but I couldn't remember where exactly.

You have one in the big bush next to the cliff. And Embry showed me an image of me stocking my shorts in the bush.

But I would leave them, c'mon, go back to her naked and see the impact! I growled. Jared should know by now that there will be no joking about my imprint this way. Although a part of me actually wondered what would it be like to go back there naked. If she was embarrassed by me just being half naked, this one should be a lot of fun.

Ha, I knew you would approve. Just remember to take a good view and keep the mental image fresh for us to have a nice laugh later. That's it, he's crossing the line again. I knew that it was just a revanche for me making fun of him when he imprinted, but I was mad enough before this, and now his comments pushed me over the line.

Mentally I figured out where he was, I was faster, eveni if he ran I would manage to catch him and kick his ass. In my head I heard his laughter, that pissed me off even more.

I could see him already, this would be a nice catch, I didn't even care if he deserved it, but I knew that Jared's going to have to take time to heal afterwards. I would get to steam off a bit and he would get a valuable lesson.

Just as there was a hundred feet distance between us and I was getting ready to leap forward and catch the bastard, the Voice in my head made me stop.

Paul, STOP it! You're not attacking your brother just because you're pissed. Sam and his Alpha thinking. It's not like I'm gonna hurt him or anything, just teach him not to tease me about my imprint.

I know, I know, but still it's not the best way to be cooling off. Blah, blah, blah, Sam was always there to ruin all the fun. A little fighting would've kept my mind off the fact that my imprint was now with a guy I didn't trust.

He's your brother, Paul. So what, like you've never seen his thoughts of her. She thinks of him as a brother, but that bastard has some not-so-brotherly thoughts. I've never actually cared, sometimes it used to amuse me how that little punk used to fantasize, but since now it was my girl he had been thinking about, no wonder I'm getting paranoid.

He knows about the imprint. He's not going to stand between the two of you. Yeah, sure. I've been trying to trust the pup, but I couldn't help myself. And I knew that I would be ready to rip him apart, if he did something inappropriate.

Paul, I think it's better for you to phase back. Go take a walk or something. No can do, I can think more clearly this way.

We're patrolling, and your thoughts are disturbing. Well, then keep out of my head. It's not my problem that you pay attention.

Oh really? Yeah. Whenever you or Jared start thinking of the happy-oh-happy moments you have had during the nights, or when Leah starts remembering her periods, I do my best to ignore. And it is possible. So, be nice, and keep the fuck out of my head!

I heard Sam sigh. This isn't a negotiation, Paul. Phase back. That's an order. Even with all my willpower, I couldn't resist. Few seconds later I was standing naked in the woods.

For a moment I just stood there, thinking. I didn't get to steam off, that's one. My imprint is fuck-knows-where with a guy that has romantic fantasies about her, that's two. And I'm standing in the middle of the forest, naked. I felt so miserable I wanted to cry. Or laugh. Or kill something, whatever.

I sighed and went to get my shorts. Did Embry say they were in a bush by the cliff? I knew clearly, that if I really haven't used that stash yet, that would be the only one left. When I finally had gotten okay with the werewolf thing, I had hidden clothes all over the woods. I knew my temper very well.

I reached the cliff and breathed in the fresh air. My eyes looked down on the beach, the place where that happened. And the cliff. She had been standing right here, I scowled remembering the thoughts I had. Not wanting to think about what would happen if I didn't get there on time, I decided to jump.

Falling down and diving in the water felt amazing. I haven't done this in a while, and it felt so refreshing, I took my time to swim back to the shore slowly.

Once I got back up and found my shorts, I sat down on the edge and let my mind wander.

It had been a week since I imprinted. I had made my peace with that. My imprint was a pale faced girl who had loving feelings for bloodsuckers. I had even made my peace with that. I knew how good she felt in my arms, and I could swear she felt better than whenever the leech had been hugging her. His embrace should have been colder than ice, while mine was warm.

I couldn't deny that I was happy as hell when she threw her arms around my neck. Fuck, that was the best I've felt in days. At that moment I was praying she wouldn't let go.

And she didn't. She needed the comfort, and she got it. I was trying not to think about how good her body felt pressed against mine, being a guy I had a lot on my mind. But her comfort was in the first place, the wolf inside didn't let me get all Paul and start using the situation.

Had the imprint really changed me that much? I couldn't actually tell, I didn't feel much different. But when I paid attention to my thoughts and feelings, I knew that I had changed. A lot.

Fist of all, my opinion of her had changed. Yes, I still thought she was annoying as hell, her constant apologizing could make me go insane. Also her insecurity. I had a feeling that the last one had something to do with the leech and the relationship they used to have, but I wasn't sure. Well, I would have time to figure that out.

At least I hoped I would. On the beach she had said something about getting to know me better, but the moment she said that, I saw regret on her face. Did she regret saying that or giving me a false hope?

I shook my head. It's not like I'm eager to find that out.

I had decided to let everything go naturally. And it did. Today she had come here to see Jacob, but as she admitted herself – that wasn't the main reason. Or was she lying? I couldn't tell, but my insecurity was driving me crazy. Since when have I gotten this insecure about myself? Haven't I always been the confident and arrogant Paul, who knew what he's worth and never accepted anything less? What the hell had happened to that guy?

Oh, right, he fucking imprinted!

Even if I had accepted that, I still hated the fact that we were forced into this. But as for me, I knew I would be okay. I had some control, so I couldn't say that I was totally forced into loving her. I could get out if I wanted to, but the idea of being with her wasn't that repulsive.

She, on the other hand, was a completely different thing. I knew she had the pull, she felt something towards me. And I was afraid she would give in easily. Because I didn't want her to fall for me because of the imprint, I wanted her to do that because of me. I wasn't the nicest guy, and I've always been proud of that fact, but I still could be lovable.

And if I would ever consider being with her for real, I would want her to be in it because she wants that herself, and not just because some stupid mythical power made her to.

Like when she was about to kiss me on the beach. I knew she wasn't doing that because she had something for me, it was simply because she's drawn to me. At that moment I didn't quite realize it, but now I knew.

The wolf seemed to disagree. What's the difference, the main point – she wanted to kiss you, who the fuck cares why? But I cared. The wolf didn't, but I had my ways to keep him quiet.

I had to admit, I would have kissed her if that little fucker hadn't showed up. My rational mind realized that I had to leave them alone, they needed to talk, but the wolf hated to share the time he had to spend with her. In this case, I agreed.

How long has it been since I left them alone? It has to be more than an hour, that I knew for sure.

Not wanting to let my mind think about the kiss that could have happened, I decided it was time for me to go and claim Bella back. She was mine after all.

Once more I jumped off the cliff, the cold water refreshing my mind. I got out and started pacing along the beach, knowing I would run into them eventually.

And so I did. They were slowly walking along the beach, talking. She was laughing. With a sting of jealousy I had to admit – when she laughed with him, she did it warmer and nicer than with me.

And there was a smirk on his face I wish I could sweep off the way I wanted to. But for her, I had to remain calm.

I swear I could see a sparkle in her eyes the moment she noticed me. That gave me even more confidence.

Finally I approached them, and for a moment we just stood there quietly. Jacob was looking at me, while I was giving him the best I-want-to-kill-you look I had. Bella kept looking back and forth.

After few intense minutes of staring, Jake gave up.

„Okay, okay, you win." He raised his hands as if giving up and laughed. „I'll see you soon?" With a smile (that was too warm, by the way) he turned to Bella. She nodded, smiling as well.

As soon as he left, she blushed. But I was too busy to notice that as I kept looking at Jake. I couldn't get my eyes off the bastard while I could still see him.

That's why I noticed that Bella was studying my features intensly only after the bastard was ut of my sight. Obviously she had been doing so for a few minutes while I had been burning Jacob's back with my eyes.

As I looked back at her, she started giggling.

„What?"

„Did you know that all of your emotions are written on your face?" She kept on laughing and I couldn't help but think that her acting so free is still an impact of her being with Jacob.

„So, I see he did get your mood lighter."

„Well, he always does."

I growled.

„Is that some kind of problem?"

„Well, I've never seen you being like this with me." And immediately I regretted even thinking that, her laughing stopped and her face darkened. Why the hell was I accusing her of something?

She kept quiet for a while and then looked up at me, determined.

„And what exactly do you expect from me? Do you want me to be crazy in love with you? Abandon Jacob and Alice? Not leave your side so you don't get too worried?" She was almost yelling now. „I never asked for this, I don't want this, I already love someone, even if he doesn't love me. And then you turn up with this imprinting nonsense and I have to go with it? I mean, you hated me, I was terrified to be in the same room with you, you can't even imagine how many times you hurt me with your words. And now you're acting all weird and nice, you're jealous of Jacob and you expect me to understand and support that?" She took a pause to breath. „Paul, I hate this, I hate the pull I have for you because it makes me forget who I really am. And I'm not sure I want this. I'm.. I'm just not ready." She stopped, breathing heavily. For a moment I kept quiet, not knowing if I should say what was on my mind.

„Well, there you go, you finally said what you actually thought, without trying to be nice."

She just stood there as if trying to apprehend what she had just done. And I felt worse than I could have imagined. Even though I understood the way she felt, it hurt. And I had no fucking idea when have I gotten so vulnerable.

While I was still deep in my thoughts, Bella looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

„Paul, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, I just..." She had done it. Since this may be the only chance I get, I would use it now.

With a quick step forward I was right in front of her. With a hand on her waist I pulled her closer and my lips captured hers.

The taste was amazing. The sweetness of her scent was mixed with salty taste of the ocean, that made me go crazy. I wouldn't let her go under any circumstances, right here and right now she was mine. I tasted her again and again as my lips brushed against hers. I put everything I had in the kiss – the passion, the pain, the hate.

Her lips were still parted from the surprise, that gave me full access, and I used it shamelessly. But she never resisted. And after a while I felt her wrap her arms around my neck. That's when I gave in completely.