Hi All,
Sorry for the long hiatus. I hope everyone is doing well. I hope you enjoy the new chapter. Let me know what you think.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Take care of yourselves.
Always and Forever,
Ari.
Warnings for all chapters: No minors, sexual situations, Mentions of death, funeral anxiety, parental arguing, silent treatment, bullying, emotional abuse, discussion of death, implied sexual relationships, unwanted touching, sexual assault, suicide attempt using a medication, suicidal ideation, manipulation, panic attack, abandonment, stress, abandonment.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 800.656.4673
Disclaimer: I only own my O.C.s and parts of the plot you do not recognize from the Twilight Saga.
Chapter 39: Our Universes Aligned
"If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one."
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer
9:04 a.m. Lahote House, La Push, Washington
I nestled closer to Paul, stealing his warmth. His arm tightened against my waist. I felt his fingers start to trace shapes into my skin, and I grinned when I realized how much my habit rubbed off on him. "What's amusing?" he asked, his groggy voice breaking the silence in the room.
"Nothing," I murmured, letting my fingers graze his ribs, and he twitched. I pulled back to admire him, and he tilted his head back, batting his eyelashes rapidly. I giggled, letting my fingers graze his ribs again. He caught my hand, moving to pin it to his skin, "spoilsport."
"I know; I'm the absolute worst for not letting you tickle me," He snarked as he guided me to straddle him, bringing our bodies close together. There was no space between us; we were intertwined as if we were one. "Now I understand why you enjoy this so much," he murmured, his words caressing my soul as I relaxed into his embrace, closing my eyes as his hands graciously explored every inch of my skin beneath his stolen shirt. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice filled with affection and concern.
"Incredibly loved and utterly spoiled," I grinned, peeking at him, interlocking our fingers. I gently kissed Paul's hand and confessed, "When I'm in your arms, all my worries fade away. You take such good care of me." I brushed my lips against his cheek, feeling his arms tighten their hold. "And how do you feel, my love?" I gazed into his eyes, studying every detail of his face, captivated by his presence. His jawline, his lips, his eyes hidden behind closed lids – they all consumed my thoughts. Warmth flooded my belly as I noticed my lingering mark on his skin. The urge to deepen it overwhelmed me, but I restrained myself as his fingers looped around my lower back before settling, his hand radiating warmth. The steady rhythm of his heart brought a sense of safety and peace to my core.
As my heart rhythm steadied, I met Paul's gentle, heated gaze without hesitation. In his eyes, I found calmness and a sense of home. His radiant smile was one that any person would fall for, and I counted myself lucky to be the one who received it. "I feel like I'm exactly where I belong, wrapped around you and deeply in love with you," he confessed.
"Cheeseball," I teased, but before I could say more, he swiftly pinned me beneath him. Chuckling, he leaned in closer, drawing our bodies together, fueling a delightful warmth that inflamed my skin. "But you're my lovely cheeseball," I amended, sliding my hands up his stomach to caress my mark on his neck. I peered up at him, blinking innocently, playfully wrapping my legs around him, feeling a delicious ache as he drew nearer. I watched as he licked his lips in anticipation, pressing himself closer.
"You want me, don't you? I can feel the desire radiating from you. Can you feel how much I want you?" I nodded, trembling as Paul's breath grazed my skin. "I'll always take good care of you, my heart. I promise," he whispered, his voice igniting a fire within me. He nuzzled his face against my neck, sending exquisite shivers down my spine as he softly kissed my skin. "Are you going to be good for me?" Paul's deep voice resonated with both tenderness and a flicker of passion. "What am I saying? You're always good for me, aren't you, my love?" His teeth grazed against my sensitive skin, evoking a strangled sound from my lips. I quickly covered my mouth, but before I could feel embarrassed, Paul gently reprimanded me with a firm nip. I let my hand hold onto his arm, supporting him as he hovered over me. "Look at how good you are, my heart."
His words filled me with warmth, melting away my remaining defenses. In his presence, I willingly surrendered, feeling like putty in his skillful hands. He made me feel vulnerable yet fully alive like no one else had. With him, my trust reached new depths I never knew was possible. "So good... I need you," I mumbled, my voice barely audible as desire consumed me. The intensity of my craving for him was unlike anything I had ever felt; he was as essential to me as the air I breathed. He had a gift for unraveling me, piece by piece, and then putting me back together with utmost love and care. Closing my eyes, I focused on our profound connection, unable to distinguish where he ended, and I began. He filled every part of me, completing me in ways I never thought possible. He was everything and so much more. "I... I love you."
Paul's gaze locked onto mine, his radiant smile becoming more dazzling. He leaned in closer, his eyes filled with deep intensity. As our breath intermingled, I closed the remaining distance, softly brushing my nose against his. He whispered the words I longed to hear in that small, intimate gesture. "I love you, too." Those three simple words ignited a fire within my soul. Paul pressed closer, promising me I would always have him.
10:08 a.m. Lahote House, La Push, Washington
The warm water cascaded over my body, sending delightful shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes, feeling a rush of pure joy threatening to overflow from within me. With a blissful grin, I pushed my damp hair away from my face, relishing the touch of Paul's hand on my stomach. Unbeknownst to him, I bit my lip, allowing the water to mask my overwhelming happiness. I was afraid that if I didn't, I would burst into joyous laughter or nuzzle into his shoulder out of sheer contentment.
"Babe," I stepped out of the water's spray, wiping the droplets from my face as I met Paul's curious gaze. I hummed in response, too overcome with emotion to find the right words, but the wide grin on my face said it all. "Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes filled with concern. I nodded eagerly, feeling like an ecstatic madwoman. His thumb brushed against my lip as he chuckled. "You're adorable."
Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed his shampoo, much to his amusement. "Can I wash your hair?" I asked eagerly. He nodded in agreement, letting me lather the shampoo in my palm and gently work it into his hair. His eyes closed in pure bliss, and I couldn't help but tilt his head back to complete the task. When I finished, his eyes fluttered open, and I averted my gaze, desperately hoping I hadn't missed a spot or accidentally gotten soap in his eyes.
"You're so focused," Paul teased, his hands resting on my waist as he admired my face. I playfully rolled my eyes at his comment. "Can I wash your hair?" I nodded quickly, proud of myself for completing the task without any unfortunate incidents. We switched places, and I watched in awe as he took my shampoo, generously applying it to my hair without a care for lathering it first. I tried to remain still, savoring his gentle touch and the overwhelming feeling of being cared for. A contented sigh slipped past my lips as he rinsed the shampoo and carefully untangled my hair. My eyes were fixated on him, my attention unwavering.
I absentmindedly grabbed the body wash, intending to ask for permission, but he quickly beat me to it. "Yes," he replied without hesitation, and I watched as he struggled to explain his quick answer, a flurry of words threatening to spill out. "Not because I'm expecting anything," he paused, attempting to clarify his thoughts. "I wouldn't say no if you wanted to, but it's not an expectation. I just..."
Determined to ease his tension, I interjected. "Breathe, Paul," I said with a gentle smile. I took his face in my hands, reassuring him. "I'd jump at the chance, too. I love having my hands on you, and it feels wonderful to explore and care for each other without any expectations. If you want more, I wouldn't mind pleasing you. But for now, if you want to explore and care for me by washing my body, know that I'm still sensitive and not quite ready for more. Can I explore and care for you?" Paul swallowed hard, his hand tenderly gliding over my skin. "You know, I realize how much more experienced you are, and if you want more, don't hesitate to tell me. I've done some research on... um, blow jobs, and I think I could do it too if that's something you're interested in. You might have to guide me if I'm horrible at it, but I'm really good at listening-" I babbled nervously.
"Laryssa, breathe," Paul grinned, gently holding my face. "I just want your hands on me. You can explore and care for me. I was excited about your hands and the thought of you caring for me, just like when we washed each other's hair. It feels nice to do things for each other and explore another layer of intimacy."
"It does feel nice to explore this part of our relationship," I smiled softly, preparing the lather on the loofa before sliding it across his skin.
"I want to do the same for you," Paul said, his touch becoming more tender.
"Good, because I always cherish your touch," I whispered, moving behind him to wash his back.
"I feel the same," Paul confessed, his hand reaching behind him to caress the parts of me he could touch. I took my time, ensuring he was thoroughly clean before rinsing off the suds. "Tell me more about your research," he said, his voice filled with curiosity.
I couldn't meet his gaze, realizing I had let slip my late-night research endeavor while he was on patrol. My cheeks flushed with slight embarrassment. "Surprise," my voice was weak, and his free hand gently stroked my skin. "I just wanted to make sure I could do something special for you. So, I needed to research how to give a blow job." He hummed, smirking, grabbing my body wash. "What?"
"Nothin," He kept humming, gently moving to stroke my skin with my loofa. "Stop being so cute. I can't focus."
"Hey, Paul." He stopped, giving me his attention. "Are you an experiment? Because I love testing my theories with you." I snorted, grinning at him when he chuckled, rolling his eyes. "My apologies."
"Are you a research question? Because I'm always seeking answers about you." I laughed, bringing my hair over my shoulder when he started on my back. "Cheeseball."
"Say's the biggest cheeseball," I glanced up at him over my shoulder.
I shivered from the AC turning on, and he moved closer, bringing his warmth as he leaned down and pressed his face to my head, "Y'know, our universes aligned just for us to meet." I felt my body heat up, adding to his radiated heat.
"Can you lend me a kiss? I promise I'll give it back." He laughed, turning me so I could kiss him.
"I'll lend you all the ones you want," he said, pushing some hair strands from my face and stroking my neck.
"So giving," I stood on my tippy toes, "I'll give it right back," I promised before my lips met his.
11:41 a.m. Lahote House, La Push, Washington
I leaned on the counter, watching him work on arranging the sandwiches. "Go sit and pick a movie. I'll bring the food to you."
"Okay, I got the chips and sodas," I grabbed the items, walked to the couch and got comfy. "Embry said the Lord of the Rings is good, or maybe we can watch Kong Skull Island," I offered, looking at both options.
"Whatever you want, babe," He called, rummaging through the fridge.
"Giant Ape or a movie about a ring... choices... choices," I said, deciding on Kong. I grabbed the throw on the back of the couch, covering my legs. I shifted when Paul bought the food, and he picked up my legs and settled them on his lap. "This looks so good," I grabbed the bag of chips, setting it between us.
"What are we watching," Paul asked, mouth already feasting on his sandwich.
"Kong," I hummed, savoring the turkey and cranberry bite. "So good," I swallowed, pushing play. "I hope there are no jump scares."
"Babe, the movie's name is Kong Skull Island. Do you think there won't be any jump scares," Paul teased, stuffing his mouth full.
"I said I hope; it's wishful thinking." I glanced at my phone, and Jay's name popped up. I clicked on the message, feeling slightly at ease when he messaged me, letting me know he would return this evening.
"Everything okay," Paul questioned, finishing his first sandwich.
"Yeah, Jay will be back this evening," I settled in, wiggling my toes in his lap. John also sent a reminder that he would be coming back in a few weeks. But I can-" I paused, glancing at him, remembering that he wanted to be relied on more. "We can deal with it when the time comes," I amended.
Paul smiled, nodding. "We will when it gets closer."