Note | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'
Chapter Thirty-Two | Port Angeles
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Loveless smiled to herself as she stepped out of the shower. It had been a good evening. The day had sucked. She still wasn't sure where that feeling had come from. It had been so awful. And being around Paul had made it feel better.
That was even more strange than the feeling she got from EdWeird and BellaBitch.
Loveless shook her head, a shiver traveling down her spine as she wrapped a fleece blanket around her. Her bunny slipper covered feet shuffled across the floor as she moved towards the white chair by the window. She liked gazing at the stars while reading - it had nothing to do with the fact that she could see the forest . . . and Paul's house.
"Nicole?" Emily called out softly through the closed door. She knocked and waited for the other to answer. Emily twisted the knob and moved cautiously into the bedroom. "How are you feeling?" Her dark eyes moved carefully over the younger woman. "Was the food too much? Do you feel queasy?" Before Emily could stop herself, she reached forward and pressed the back of her hand to the younger's forehead.
Loveless froze. She blinked slowly as she looked up at the woman standing over her. Why did she have her hand on her forehead? Loveless' brows furrowed as she leaned away from Emily. "What are you doing?"
"I'm checking your temperature, honey." Emily smiled sweetly before taking a seat on the white foot-bench. "It's the easiest way to see if your temperature is higher or lower than mine." Her voice was petal soft, a gentle smile covered her lips. Has no one done that before? Emily kept her frown hidden as she stared up at the younger woman. "What are you reading?"
Dark blue eyes stared intently at the brown eyes woman across from her. "It's Count of Monte Cristo, I've read it many times." Her voice was petal soft as she forced herself to stay neutral and keep from touching her own forehead. "Did you need something?"
"I wanted to check on you." Emily smiled softly. Her eyes honeyed over with affection as she leaned forward and grasped Loveless' hand. "I wasn't here when Sam brought you home."
Loveless blinked. She's upset that she wasn't here? Her brows furrowed as she stared down at their linked hands. This was different. Loveless wasn't used to this. No one had done this. Yes, Vic and James had been there for her . . . But it hadn't felt like this. "You made me soup."
"Yes, It was the recipe that my mother use to make for me." Emily smiled sweetly. "It always settled my tummy and soothed my throat." She squeezed Loveless' hand. Emily smiled. "I just wished I had been here."
Her breath was stolen from her lungs as the visions of Emily bringing her food and tucking her into bed. Loveless blinked repeatedly forcing the visions away. "The soup was good." She pulled her book closer to her; as if it could shield her emotions from others. "Thank you."
"No problem honey." Emily smiled widely, the scars on her face disappeared at the sheer force of her happiness. "Sam and I talked, we are going to let you stay home tomorrow." Her eyes sparkled. "Paul said that he would come over and spend the day with you." She paused for a second as her eyes twinkled. "As long as you still want too."
Loveless blinked and forced her cheeks to stay their natural color. But those traitorous cheeks were not with her, they were completely and utterly set against her. They lit up in a fiery red torrent. Loveless swallowed hard. "That . . . it would be okay." she avoided eye contact and did her best not to seem interested in what could happen.
"Okay," Emily did nothing to hide her smile. "He should like that." Her eyes twinkled happily. "He told me you were going to help him get the house back to its former glory?" Her smile widened. "So that Erica can come over and visit." Emily stood slowly. "It's been a while since I've seen her. I'm sure you two would get along well."
She nodded and focused on the stars outside the window. "Yeah?" She kept her voice even and flat as vision blurred, images of her and Erica laughing and talking. Goose-flesh traveled over her arms, she didn't need to get too attached. Loveless breathed out slowly. It was stupid to get attached. "I'm a little tired." Her voice was soft as she continued to look out the window.
"Okay sweetie." Emily knew an out when she heard one.
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Loveless groaned and she shifted onto her side.
"Honey?" Emily whispered as she carded her fingers through the brunette's hair. She smiled softly as the other shifted closer to her.
She breathed out slowly and moved towards the heat that was radiating from the side. Loveless kept her eyes closed as she soaked in the affection. It was different. Loveless wasn't willing to admit that she liked it, let alone craved it. But she wasn't keen on ignoring it either.
"I made some more soup last night." Emily whispered softly as she let her nails run lightly over the younger's scalp. "That way you don't have to force your tummy to eat anything that might still be too strong for it." She smiled sweetly. Emily leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Loveless' forehead. She held her breath as the younger froze. "You have my number if anything goes wrong." She smiled widely. "You call me immediately."
Loveless nodded as a warm filling settled in her chest. "I will, but Paul wouldn't let anything go wrong." She blinked a few times - she was supposed to be keeping the mushy feelings to herself.
"I know honey." Emily grinned before taking her exit.
Loveless heaved a soft sigh and took Emily's exit as a sign to finally get out of bed. Not that she wanted. But there was this tug high in her chest that Paul was downstairs and waiting in the kitchen. Emily had said she cooked - she wouldn't let any of them go without food. She pushed the covers back and stood, a groan falling from her lips as she stretched.
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She finished her bathroom duties quickly before deciding on her clothing. Buttery soft jean shorts and a sleeveless light blue and white Aztec design shirt. She opened her jewelry box and pulled out a teal colored anklet. Loveless smiled, she was going to go make up free today. She glanced at her hair, nose scrunching. Loveless licked her lower lip and shook her hair. Crazy curls.
"Hey."
Loveless paused for a moment, her heart ticking faster than before. She moved towards the door and twisted the knob. Her heart tripled in beat as she forced the blush to go away. "Hi Paul." Her voice was soft as she swallowed gently.
"I was wondering how you were feeling?" Paul let his eyes rake over the woman before him, assessing everything he could without touching her. "I didn't know if you wanted to go to a town over and look at home," his brows furrowed, "decor?"
She giggled at the way the word fell from his lips. Loveless nodded along with him. "Decor." She shook her head and twisted back around to grab a pair of white flip flops and her phone. Loveless wasn't going to need much else. She had a feeling he wouldn't let her lift a finger let alone pay for anything. But, James had gotten her one of the wallet and phone in ONE cases - so she had a few dollars and a credit card in there. "A town over?"
"Yeah, Port Angeles." Paul answered as he stepped down the stairs in front of her. "As long as you are up for it. We don't want you to over exert yourself." His wolf growled. They wouldn't allow it. Paul would carry her first.
Loveless hid her smile and grabbed an apple off the counter. "I will eat this on the way." She looked toward him for approval - the chord in her heart tugged as she waited for his answer.
"Are you sure?" Paul loved at her features. "I don't want you to get sick on the drive." His lips pursed. "Never mind, we'll take the truck."
She looked up, her dark blue eyes wide and curious. "What were you going to take?"
"The bike." Paul shrugged. He had wanted to know if she liked speed as much as his wolf did. But today was not the day to push it. "Maybe another time."
Her lips pursed as she thought about it. "I'd like to take the bike." She pushed out her lower lip and stared up at him imploringly. Loveless hadn't been on the back of a motor-bike in a long while. She'd always liked the feeling. "Can we?" She took a bite of the apple and chewed slowly, testing the waters. Good. Loveless swallowed and then took another bite.
"Are you sure?" Paul's eyes narrowed as he stared at her. "You are going to need to change your clothing." His dark brown eyes roved over her lithe form once more. All woman. His wolf purred softly in his chest. He watched her nod once more. "Okay, finish the apple first." Paul's dark eyes honeyed over as he watched her. "I'll go get the bike."
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"So where a we going first?" Loveless swayed a little as she finally stood back on solid ground. A soft giggle fell from her lips as Paul squeezed her shoulders. Loveless tried to look at him from her position in front of him.
Paul fought back a wide smile. "They recently opened a Pottery Barn." His nose scrunched as he thought. Paul had never really come to Port Angeles looking for stuff for the house. He there were two good bars, a really good Bar & Grill, and an okay movie theater. That was as far as it went. But Paul had thought ahead. Yeah, Paul Lahota made plans.
"There should be a Bed, Bath, & Beyond." Paul steered her towards the little outdoor food place by the peer. "I tagged them in my phone." He moved her a little further before wrapping an arm around her shoulders - tucking her against his side as they moved towards the boardwalk. "Though you might want to do this first?"
Loveless looked around. There were cute little stands with games and stuffed animal prizes. A couple huts with corn dogs, funnel cakes, and hot dogs. There was a 'Test your Strength' game and 'Shoot the Duck' game. Her dark blue eyes flitted around the area. She could see further down from where they stood, a line of clothing huts met towards the end of the peer.
"That okay?" Paul murmured as he kept her tucked against his side. She didn't seem to really like people. Paul didn't want to set her off or make her uncomfortable. He didn't want to take a chance and ruin the atmosphere that settled around them.
Loveless stopped as something caught her eye. A smile curled on her lips as she pulled away from Paul and towards the object.
"Well hello!" The elderly man smiled widely. "Are you going to try?" He held out one of the little soft balls. "Knock down all five pins and win a stuffed animal."
Loveless bit her lower lip. She'd never been a real good shot at anything - she wasn't a sports playing kind of girl. She twisted around towards Paul who was watching her carefully. "I want the silver wolf." Her voice was soft, unsure.
"Yeah?" A wide smile curled on the edges of his lips. A silver wolf stuffed animal. Paul could deal with that. "I'll give it a shot." He moved closer and put a dollar bill on the counter top.
The elderly man smiled. "It's a dollar per ball sonny," He laid down a soft ball in front of Paul. "Most can't knock it down with one ball." He grinned easily. "Good luck."
"Thanks." Paul didn't need luck. He had wolf strength. A wicked smile covered his lips as the pins rattled before clattering to the ground. Yeah, he only needed a ball. "That one." He pointed to the silver wolf and watched as the elderly man carefully took it down. Paul held it out for her to take.
A wide smile covered Loveless' lips. She pulled the stuffed wolf towards her. "Thanks." She glanced at the rest of the huts. "Can we go shopping, then catch these places on the way back?" She stared up at him with imploring eyes.
"Sure, sure." Paul nodded and pulled out his cellphone as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders once more. He liked touching her. Liked the feel of her body against his, that soft reassuring heat.
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Loveless bit her lower lip to keep from giggling as she stared at the tall dark native before her. He was being silly, a little on the idiot side too. "You cannot do that!" She shook her head. "Those do not go together." She shook her head. "And I doubt you are a fan of neon green with yellow stripes." A soft giggle fell from her lips once more.
"So no to the yellow with brown?" A smirked crawled across his lips as he watched her. She was adorable and ancestors for give him - he loved her laugh above everything. So soft and tinkling with a touch of honeyed warmth. It was perfect. Paul really wanted to take a moment and write a poem to the sound of her laugh. God he was sapped to the max.
Her eyes sparkled as she shook her head, soft wavy curls swaying around her. Vic was going to want to touch up her curls soon. Her eyes flickered back to the male in front of her. Paul seemed to be able to get her mind to relax and the oddest always came to mind at the silliest times. But she loved that. Missed that. It was how she had been before . . .
"Hey," Paul whispered as he stepped closer, crowding her. Her heart had up-ticked before sadness had blanketed her. His dark eyes melted as he moved closer. Such deep blue eyes. It remind him of water. And at this moment, their openness made him think of the ocean. So open and deep - unyielding to even the strongest of boats. "Come back to me." Paul whispered as he inched closer.
Loveless blinked as she focused on him. So male, so very male and so close. She swallowed as her heart stuttered for a different reason this time. There was something about him. She went against her mind, her body daring to look at him directly. She focused on his eyes. "I didn't leave." Her shoulders caved from their protective stance as she lost her self in those gooey chocolate depths.
"Good." Paul's lips curved with affection as a lopsided smile covered them. She seemed different right now. Easy.
She breathed out slowly. Loveless could feel the quiet power that oozed from his core. It seemed to fit him, though. His stature gave no leeway to softness. He was primal and all male. But his eyes. Her own eyes reflected back to her from those dark orbs - so turbulent and overcast with hidden power.
"So what colors do you see in my house?" He questioned as he broke the spell. Paul's shoulders thickened as he breathed her in. The animal inside wanted out. She did that to him. He wanted free and he wanted her. Paul took a step back as another tingle shot up his spine.
She blinked, gathering her bearings. What? What was that? Loveless had felt something. Something so different that what she had ever felt. It had brushed against her, pushed at her chest before retreating. "Um . . . greens, soft and dark." Loveless licked her lips. "Different tones of browns, blacks, and maybe whites." She shook her head. "Let's keep looking."