His soft, warm lips were like heaven against hers, and her already pounding heart thrummed faster as she tried to pull him closer. Before she knew it, Bella had her arms wound around his neck as she stood on her toes to kiss him back. His hands moved to Bella's ass to lift her, using the tree as leverage to support them both. She wrapped her legs around him, ignoring the rough surface against her back as his tongue writhed with hers.

The overwhelming urgency that followed was so similar to her dream that it was disorienting. Paul's body heat seemed to envelop her, radiating into her flesh and spreading across her limbs. Her cold, stiff nipples ached as they met his feverish chest through the thin bikini top, and she could feel him already hardening as he ground himself against her. Desire pooled between her legs, sending an involuntary lust-filled whimper straight to his lips from hers.

Bella cupped his neck in one hand as the other explored the smooth skin of his back and chest, gasping for air each time she pulled away, only to dive back in. She hadn't forgotten how intense kissing him could be, how fully engulfed she became in him. It had always scared her, wanting him so much. Besides, learning he'd wanted her back had left her dumbstricken each time she considered it. Paul was swoon-worthy back then, but now, simply looking at him without a shirt nearly knocked her on her ass.

And he kissed her precisely the way she remembered. Tenderly at first, building in intensity, Paul gradually worked his tongue into her mouth. She tucked her free arm under his to wind it around him before grazing her nails from the back of his shoulder to his hip. Paul growled into her mouth before abruptly breaking their kiss. He ground his erection harder against her, spurring another involuntary whimper from her as he simultaneously hissed from the sensation.

His voice was strained and husky as he said, "Come home with me. Let's leave. Right now."

Bella's head was spinning. He wanted her to go home with him? She took a deep breath, desperately trying to ignore the throbbing between her legs and calm her heart so she could think. Anticipating the answer, she stuttered, "W-why?"

He chuckled softly, and the reverberation passing between them from it did nothing to soothe the ache. Paul leaned down to press his lips against the pulse point in her throat as he squeezed her ass. "Because I wouldn't mind fucking you against this tree, but after seven years, I'd like to take my time."

Bella seriously wondered if it were possible for someone to swoon straight from their vagina and melt into an inside-out puddle at someone's feet. Had Paul been any other man on earth, his audacity would have infuriated her. But this wasn't just any man. It was her husband. Her very soon-to-be ex-husband. And even if it was the dumbest idea on the damn planet, she wanted it. She wanted him, regardless of how fool-hardy or reckless it might be.

That's the exact reason you're in this mess, to begin with, s he reminded herself. Risking ruining the moment, Bella said, "Seems a little counter-productive, considering the divorce you asked me for."

Paul shook his head. "I don't care."

"You don't care?"

"Nope. You're here right now... And soon, you won't be. That's what I care about."

He didn't give her time to argue as he pressed his lips back to hers, starting another mind-numbing kiss that left them both panting as he tightened his hold on her, grinding against her soaked bikini bottoms.

She ignored every warning flag in her head, every alarm that reminded her why she'd chosen to stay away from him for so long, only pulling away from him to gasp for air. Bella was lightheaded as he pulled her away from the massive driftwood. Both trembling and needy, he carefully pried her legs from his waist and set her back on her feet.

Still panting, he warned, "You should put your dress on if you're leaving with me, or everyone will know what's going on right away."

"Why?" She wobbled as she stepped away and reached for her dress. "Because we went swimming?"

"No, because if anyone looks at you the wrong way right now, I might lose my shit, woman. God, I'm glad I'm the only one who saw you in that suit. The pups would jizz their goddamn pants."

She couldn't hold back a slightly hysterical giggle as she pulled her dress on while he shrugged into his T-shirt. Physically, she was regaining her bearings, but mentally, Bella was still spinning.

After securing her dress, Paul clutched his phone and keys in his left and held his right out for her to take it. She looked at it and hesitated as she took another deep, calming breath.

He chuckled. "Gonna keep me hanging over here, or what? You held my hand half the night. You nervous now?"

She snorted and rolled her eyes at herself. You're overthinking shit, Bella. Just go with it. She reached for his hand, and he threaded their fingers together. Paul never said a word as he walked them back to the bonfire, but he stopped twice to kiss her firmly, reassuring himself she was still on the same page. He finally released her hand as they neared the others and picked up the quilt they'd been sitting on while she gathered her bag and searched for her car keys.

Approaching her from behind, Leah asked, "And where have you been?"

"I went for another walk," Bella said as she stood, car keys in hand.

"And a swim," Leah teased, reaching up to touch the stray wet tendrils of hair on her neck.

Bella nodded and chuckled nervously. She held the car keys to Leah, and her stepsister frowned as she took them.

"What are you doing?"

Lowering her voice to a whisper, Bella said, "I'm, um, leaving. With Paul."

Leah's eyes went wide as she grinned mischievously. "Bitch, I knew it. Are you finally getting your head out of your ass?"

She scowled at Leah and huffed. "No. Just… we need to work out some things."

"Sure ya do. Like your vagina."

"Oh, shut it." Bella lightly backhanded Leah's arm as Leah cackled.

"Should I just meet you at the hotel tomorrow? I'll take you to lunch, and you can tell me all about it."

Cringing, Bella asked, "Um. Can I text you? In case I'm not there?"

Leah covered her mouth and tried her hardest not to laugh.

As Bella swung her bag strap over her shoulder, Seth hollered, "Bells! You're leaving?"

She turned toward her stepbrother as he ran toward her and smiled apologetically. "Yeah. I'm heading out of here."

Seth wrapped his arms around her and lifted her as he hugged her tight. Bella laughed as he put her down, and she was immediately pulled into Jacob's arms.

"So, I guess I'll see you Sunday, huh?"

"Yeah." she nodded against his chest.

"Sanna's excited. Thanks for that today… what you said to her. She was pretty nervous about you, and that's honestly my fault. I was a mess when we met, and she-"

"Picked up the mess just like you did for me," Bella interrupted knowingly. He smiled, and it was all the answer she needed. "You deserved for someone to love you like that, Jake. I'm too selfish for someone like you. I'm glad you found her."

He tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head. "I'll always love ya, Bells. Maybe not in the same way, but…"

Bella's chest was tight with emotion as she blinked back grateful tears. "I get it. Love you, too." Pulling away from him, she said, "Get my number from Seth or Leah. You'll have to call me sometime. I promise I'll answer."

Leah cackled as Seth practically snorted, but Jacob grinned. "Sounds good."

As the remaining pack members realized she was about to leave, Bella again passed from wolf to wolf, hugged, and reassured that she was more than welcome and missed. Just as she had upon first seeing Jacob, Bella felt lighter and relieved. By the time she could leave, she was crying happy tears and nearly giddy.

She looked around for Paul, trying to find where he'd gone through the dark. Leah chuckled and discreetly nodded in his direction to point the way. Bella squinted as she looked for him, and he stepped into view.

As she headed toward him, she heard Jacob quietly ask, "Where the hell is Bells going with Paul? He's been up her ass the whole time she's been here. They weren't even really friends before. I don't get it."

She glanced back toward the fire but couldn't see Jacob's facial expression.

"You never really did," Leah said and walked away, leaving him and Seth to wonder what she meant.

Bella turned her attention back to Paul, and he was trying not to laugh. He gracefully swept the heavy bag from her shoulder and put it over his own before grabbing her hand.

"Watch your step," he warned, and Bella looked down in time to avoid tripping over a small piece of driftwood.

She teased, "Were you going to let me trip?"

He wagged his eyebrows and said, "Thought about it. I'd have caught you, though."

Bella tried to summon the same straight-faced flirtatious courage she managed at home as she teased, "Did you think it would make me forever grateful so I'd just fall into your bed?"

He laughed as they stepped into the parking lot. "Isn't that where we're going?"

"Right now, we're going to your truck. And we should probably both shower because I can feel the salt on my skin."

Like a sign of what would come, a sigh followed the sound of a grunt as a car in the far corner rocked. Paul chuckled as he opened the passenger door of his truck for her and waited for her to climb in. He carried her bag to the driver's side and set it in the back seat before climbing behind the wheel. Bella glanced toward the back windshield, but the dome light shut off the second he shut his door.

"Where did you get the etchings of the wolves done?"

"I did them." He started the truck and rolled down his window. "Watch this."

He nodded toward the windshield as he turned on his headlights, shining them directly at the rocking car, filling it with light. Bella and Paul both gaped in surprise as they recognized the pair that shot up in the back seat.

Paul said, "Looks like she's not satisfied after all."

"I'll say. And him …"

"Your reunion should be fun," he teased, grinning.

"I doubt that."

They turned toward each other and laughed as Paul put the truck in gear. Bella was grateful they weren't visible inside the dark cab as she contemplated how to delicately handle the inevitable conversation. First, Bella had to survive tonight. But, looking at the man beside her, she couldn't help but think it seemed like a good way to go.