Chapter Twenty-Six: Give In
You're gonna take my hand
Whisper the sweetest words
And if you're ever sad I'll make you laugh
I'll chase the hurt
"Give Into Me" Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester
"So Carlisle said he talked to you," Sam said. I rolled my eyes and kicked a rock on the driveway.
"It was like ten seconds ago," I said. He smiled.
"We all move fast," he reminded me. "What are your thoughts about what he suggested?"
"I think it's probably the only option we have left," I admitted. "Though I can't say I am thrilled with the idea of seeing any of them again."
"You realize that you'll have to spend time with them," Sam said. "To draw her out."
"I hadn't thought of it," I said honestly. "But I can do what needs to be done." Sam placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"I don't want you to think I am pressuring you," he said. "You can say no and we will figure something else out."
"Something that gets us vampires with psychic powers and mind reading abilities?" I asked He shook his head. "Yeah I thought so. It's pretty much the only option Sam, as much as I hate it."
"Then I will tell Carlisle to make the call," he said. "And you should stop by later. Emily wants to have tea with someone and everyone else is driving her crazy." I nodded once and he loped off in the direction of his house and I turned to Leah's house to see Carter framed in the doorway.
"I wish you would have taken the out he gave you," Carter said. His expression was guarded but resigned.
"I'm sick of fate being outside of my hands," I said. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?" He let the subject drop and followed me inside. I picked a comedy Leah and I saw the week before and curled up next to him on the couch. There was a comfort in his touch that I had never known anywhere before. Jake has been familiar and warm but it always seemed like such a stretch to snuggle comfortably. Paul was more urgent in his touches and every time I was around him I had been on edge. Carter was a blend of comfort and strength that had me leaning into him; craving more contact. He looked down at me when the movie was over.
"Seth Rogen is amazing," he said with a grin.
"Yeah he's hilarious," I said. "Do you want to watch another?" He shook his head.
"I'm not sure why I am so damn tired," he said with a yawn. "Come here," he said sleepily. He pulled me into his arms, kicked off his shoes and curled us both, somehow, onto the tiny couch.
"I have a bed you know," I murmured even as I settled against him.
"Warm here," he mumbled into my neck. "Tired." And a few minutes later we both drifted to sleep. A few hours later I woke slowly; realizing with slight alarm that it was now dark outside. My whole body felt alive; invigorated. I realized sleepily that Carter's hand had slipped under my shirt as we slept; his rough fingers stroking the skin on my belly. The normal embarrassed flush never came and I allowed myself the rare luxury of just being touched. I closed my eyes and allowed the sensations to flow over my body freely. And for the first time in months I felt…incredibly turned on.
"I know you're awake," Carter said in a sleep roughened voice. His hand on my stomach stilled for a moment as he stretched and then resumed the slow stroking.
"I was just enjoying a rare moment of peace," I said softly.
"The moments are few and far between," he agreed quietly. "It seems like someone is always barging in on quiet moments." I knew he was referring to the kiss Sam had interrupted earlier. I turned carefully in his arms and brushed a piece of hair from his forehead. Our legs threaded together as our lips met tentatively. The kiss was slow and heated; perfection crammed into one moment. We kissed slowly, tenderly and his hands found their way into the back of my shirt, caressing the bare skin there reverently. He smiled against my lips.
"What?" I murmured trying to move closer. His whiskey eyes were dancing.
"I can't remember the last time I was so content," he admitted. I kissed him in answer. When his tongue traced my lips I opened them; our tongues touching for the first time. It was pure bliss and a shudder ran through my body; making me cling more tightly to Carter. It was slow and languid but it didn't lack passion. My body burned like a lit candle under his touch.
"Making out on the couch like teenagers," Leah's disapproving voice reached me through a haze of pleasure. Carter tried to move but I threaded my fingers through his hair and flipped Leah the bird with my free hand. I could hear both her and Embry chuckling and then her door closed.
"We should probably break this up," he said regretfully after a few more minutes. "I have patrol soon."
"What time are you done?" I asked. "Apparently Emily wants me over for tea." He stroked my back.
"Well Paul, Seth and I are supposed to run a perimeter so maybe three hours?" He suggested. I made a face but untangled our limbs and stood. He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip once before turning to leave.
"The front door is usually unlocked at night," I said quietly as the door closed but I knew he heard me. I decided to walk the mile to Emily and Sam's house rather than drive. I let myself in and Emily smiled when she saw me.
"Thank god it's you," she said with a grin. "Kim has been driving me absolutely nuts for months. I need real conversation that isn't about shoes!"
"Well I hate shoes," I said looking down at my beat up white sneakers before sitting in one of her cozy armchairs.
"Me too," Emily said wiggling her bare toes. We both giggled. "So give me some details on you and Carter."
"He's quite a wonderful guy," I said reaching for the mug of mint tea Emily had just poured. "I definitely wasn't expecting that."
"It does seem to come from unexpected places," Emily agreed. "But I am worried about you. Both of you really. You're still so fragile Bella."
"We're taking it extremely slowly," I said staring at the steam rising from my mug. "And I am cautiously optimistic."
"Good," she said. I could tell suddenly that this conversation had been the purpose of my visit. I thought sadly of how much I had allowed our relationship to disintegrate while I mourned Gabriel. There was a gaping space where once there had been easy affection and laughter. We sat awkwardly for about another half an hour before Sam appeared in the doorway.
"Have a good talk ladies?" He asked. As always he kissed the scars on Emily's face before dropping a tender kiss on her upturned lips. They practically glowed with love and it made my heart clench for a moment.
"I should get back to the house," I said standing slowly. "It's my night to make dinner."
"Thanks for coming Bella," Emily said softly. Her eyes told me that it would take time but we would get back to where we had been. I took the long way back to Leah's house and stopped dead as three wolves blocked my path. The silver one I knew was Paul and Seth was the light brown. Which made the deep blue black wolf Carter. The Paul-Wolf swung his head towards Leah's house.
"Yeah yeah yeah," I said. "I am on my way there." At Leah's house I could hear loud, pounding music and smirked before pulling out a few pounds of ground beef. To give them more time I decided to make a shepherd's pie. I was just pulling it out of the oven when they appeared.
"Is that dinner?" Leah asked practically glowing as Embry looped one arm around her shoulders.
"Dig in," I said. "Going to need the protein," I muttered as I cut myself a much smaller portion than theirs. Leah gave me a death glare.
"Hey you were the one making out on the couch," she shot back. I stuck my tongue out at her and we all laughed. I left the dishes for her and went to my room. I popped some earbuds in, blasting music just in case Leah and Embry decided to resume their activities right next door. I fell asleep halfway through my playlist.