Chapter 4: is a friend indeed or even more?
A/N: one of my readers ask is if this is a homage to the devil you know! Yes, it is! I love that story and I love the characteristics of Paul in that story.
The following day found Bella nodding off into her cereal. She had taken her father to the airport, while Emmet and Jasper followed her in the shadows.
It was 3:00 am and she was exhausted. Just as she was nodding off again, she heard a knock on the door.
She bolted up and ran to the door, not bothering to ask who it was. If she could have, she would have ripped it off the hinges.
The man on the other side chuckled at her desperation. For some reason, she couldn't get the door to unlock.
He laughed even harder as she failed to open it.
"Turn the lock, Izzy." He pointed
" I'm trying!" she began to laugh
Eventually, through her clumsiness and sleep deprivation, she opened the door.
His warm hands found her waist and her hands found his neck.
Bella practically crawled up his body as he picked her up for a hug.
She was hesitant to touch him before he purred into her neck.
"Hey, touch privileges remember.."
Bella felt herself relax. That was right Paul had granted her touch privileges, something extremely rare for him. No one was allowed to touch him. Except for her.
"You're scared," Paul said. It wasn't a question, just an observation.
"I just don't want to be bothered with the Volturi again," Bella told him as she absentmindedly rubbed scars under her sweater.
Paul stopped the motion, as he pulled her hand away from the sweater.
He rolled up her sleeve to reveal the multiple bites and deep lacerations. They were old but they traumatized her nonetheless. No matter the weather, she hid behind long sleeve shirts and long jeans.
Anything to hide the reminders. She was just glad they left her face alone.
"how'd you sneak past Jasper and Emmett?" she asked when she noticed he was staring at her.
"Gave a false trail. They should be back any minute."
Without saying anything, Paul took her hand and led her to the bedroom.
"Sleep. I'm here now." he rumbled.
This time, Bella fell asleep. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't have any nightmares.
…
"Bells! Bells! Wake up!" someone yelled as they shook her awake. Whoever they were, the panic was in their voice.
Bella shot up almost bumping heads with Emmett.
"Darn it! Em! What are you doing at my house? You know you're only allowed in here during emergencies!" she admonished, pulling the covers over her naked body. she liked sleeping in the nude, so what?
"But this is- "Emmett was cut off by the smell of smoke, the fire alarm, and the sound of a large crash.
"What is going on!" she yelled as she quickly threw on her blue silk robe and ran out of her room. Emmett trailing behind her.
The scene before her made her pause. On her stove was a grease fire. And standing over an armless jasper was Paul.
His glasses were still on his face but one of the arms had been broken, making them crooked.
"Bella stay back. The family is coming." Emmett warned as he tried to pull her away.
But she didn't listen.
Bella simply stood in between Paul and Jasper. Paul arched an eyebrow at her.
"Are you ok?" she asked him as she reached out to rub her hands over his arms. He was tense and she could feel the beast beneath his skin. Ready to come out.
"I had just taken a shower and Started making breakfast before these two clowns came running in and attacked me," he growled.
It was then Bella realized Paul was in a towel. Just a towel.
With a flirtatious smirk, Bella peeked into the top of his towel.
"Woah…hello big boy..." she smirked.
The tenseness in Paul's muscles relaxed as he looked over his glasses at her.
"He'd love to see you again. it's been a while." He flirted back.
Her back door burst open and the whole Cullen family burst in. All of them crouching and growling.
"Bella love step away from him!" Edward warned.
Bella only stepped closer to Paul as she closed the top of his towel.
"Well save this for later." She told him with a wink. "Now, everyone calm down. The man you see here is the friend I was talking about.
"Friend?" Paul said with a sly smile.
Bella rolled her eyes and gently smacked him on his chest.
"ok. fine. Everyone this…this is my husband ...Paul."
As soon as she said it, Bella felt him slip on her wedding ring.
" Hello. It seems we have a lot of work to do."