𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲

I woke up to lips on my skin, trailing down my neck, stubble scraping against my skin making it pebble. I sighed softly at the ripple of pleasure brought on by the hands skating up my sides. The mate bond thrummed in my chest and I smiled as I blinked my blurry eyes open, meeting a familiar pair of whiskey brown eyes.

Paul's lips were on mine before I could so much as utter a 'good-morning' to the man who'd taken up most of my time over the last few weeks. 

We spent every free moment we had with one another, the days blurring together in a haze of lust and love. Most of our time was spent in bed, like now, not that I minded it much. Apparently this was fairly normal for new mates who'd completed the bond. Or at least, that's what Emily told me when we talked about it. 

She assured me that her and Sam were the same way and that it'd wear off in a few weeks. But that didn't seem likely. I couldn't get enough of him, our relationship was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. It was deep and consuming and nothing like what I'd had with Emmett. I couldn't help but wonder if that's because I was able to feel the full intensity of Paul and I's bond whereas, as a human, I was unable to feel the full intensity of mine and Emmett's.

The only downside to the bond being completed, was that I was now more acutely aware of the empty piece of my soul, the place where my bond with Emmett was supposed to reside. It was like a gaping hole in my chest. I suppose the intensity of that feeling was making up for the fact that the physical wound was long gone. 

My skin had healed perfectly after Paul and I completed the bond. Now, the only mark on my skin was a white scar on my neck from where Paul had marked me as his. I let out a soft moan as he kissed over the scar, the bond pulsing between us in response. It was a live and breathing thing, the connection between us.

"Are you sure you can't get out of patrol this morning?" I asked, slightly breathlessly as Paul kissed his way down my stomach, his teeth nipping at the flesh on my hip bone as he slid down the bed.

I wanted to spend all day like this. In bed with him where nothing else mattered but us. "I can't, Sam needs me on patrol since Embry shifted and needs his full attention." Paul's morning voice was rough and deep and oh so sexy.

Though, even as he said he'd have to leave, his hands spread my thighs apart, his eyes dropping down to my bare center. "We still have an hour though, right?" I asked after checking the clock on the nightstand.

Paul's eyes lifted, meeting mine as he gave me a wolfish smile, "Yes, and I intend to make the most of it." My breath caught as he dove down, feasting on me like a man starved.

Paul's tongue slipped through my folds, circling over my clit expertly. My hands threaded through his hair as my back bowed off the bed. "Oh... fuck..." I moaned breathlessly, tugging on his cropped hair.

His hands pinned my legs back, keeping me open for him to devour. Pleasure shot through me, washing over me with every lap of his tongue. I was dripping and throbbing and I could feel my body respond to Paul's every touch like I was wired specifically for him.

"Paul," I moan desperately, feeling the coil in my abdomen starting to draw tight, ready to snap. But, of course, he pulls back right before I can reach my peak. I let out a groan of frustration, my eyes snapping open to watch him sit back, smirking down at me.

My eyes drop down to his hard cock, throbbing and leaking at the tip. My mouth watered, wanting to taste him, but I was too close and too worked up to be selfless right now. I sat up on the bed, my hand going to the back of his neck, pulling my body flush against his and kissing him deeply.

Paul groaned into my mouth, his hand threading through my hair at the back of my head, holding my face to his as I shifted to straddle his hips. 

I wasted no time in sinking down on his length, our kiss breaking as we each let out a sound of pleasure. 

It didn't take long for us to find release, my moans growing louder as my orgasm crashed over me. I was panting softly, my head dropping down onto Paul's shoulder as I slowed my movements. 

Paul kissed the side of my neck, his touch turning gently as he brushed a hand down my back. "I wish I could stay here with you all day." 

I laugh breathlessly, lifting my head. "Me too." 

Within the next ten minutes Paul was out the door leaving me behind, still lying on his bed, tangled in his sheets, and smiling dazedly, my mind fully occupied with one man and one man alone. 

It was nice, being so occupied by this blissful happy I'd found myself in. Nothing and no one could pull me from my revere. 

I was so caught up in my own bubble of happiness that I hadn't thought of Bella once over the last three weeks. I hadn't even spoken to her since our fight nearly a month ago, so I was quite surprised when my phone rang, her name flashing across my screen.

Hesitating for only I moment, I stared at the screen before accepting the call. Now was as good a time as any to forgive and forget, right? "Hello?"

"Hey, Liv, uh... it's Bella"

I can't help but smile at her slight awkward introduction. Damn, even after she pissed me off, I still somehow am able to forgive her in an instant. Jake might be right, maybe I am way too forgiving for my own good.

"I know, Is, I have caller ID. What's up? I'm surprised to hear from you... you've been practically comatose for months now." I don't say it to be mean or to hurt her, I'm just stating facts.

"I know, I, uh... Charlie is on my back about that... uh, that's actually why I'm calling. Do you want to go see a movie Friday?"

I thought it over for a moment, unsure if I was ready to go back to hanging out with Bella. But Paul had patrol that night, so I really didn't have a valid excuse to not go. Besides, I did miss having a close girl friend.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun, want me to pick you up then?" I say, smiling softly, happy at the idea of getting my friend back.

On the other end of the line, Bella lets out a breath, "yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Liv."

"I'll see you, Friday, Is."

I hang up the phone, smiling softly. I was ready for us to move on. To be friends again. 

I couldn't wait for Friday. 

I drove to Bella's in a giddy daze. I was excited that she was finally ready to be herself again. Or close to it. I missed having my friend. And I kind of missed having someone who understood the whole vampire thing. 

Sure, the Cullen's were gone and never coming back and yes, Paul tried to understand when I had talked with him about Emmett... but no one would understand as well as Bella. She just got it in a way no one else would.  

I pulled up outside her house, but I didn't have time to get out as she was already walking down to my car. She looked okay, less pale and zonie-outie than before. 

She opened the door to get in my car I and I sent her a wide smile. "Hey, Is!" 

Bella gave me a half smile as she pulled on her seatbelt. "Hey. Uh, thanks for coming with me tonight." She said in a grateful tone that was edged with enthusiasm that was a bit tight. I hated being able to read her so well. It was too easy to notice that she was faking it. 

Oh well. Baby steps, I suppose. 

I didn't let her false enthusiasm curb my own. "Of course, anytime, Is." I pulled away from the curb, our conversation going silent for a moment as I started driving in the direction of Port Angeles. 

The radio played softly in the background, a song I didn't recognize fliting through the speakers. "Do you mind?" Bella asked suddenly, reaching toward the stereo. 

I shrugged, "no, not at all." 

She turned the dial to a rap station, and I couldn't help but snort in amusement. "Since when do you like rap?" Bella was more of a classical, indie, soft rock kind of girl--and that was when she listened to music. Never, in all the years I'd known her, had Bella enjoyed rap. 

Bella shrugged, her voice soft as she responded, "I don't know. A while." I rose a questioning brow at her, a look that said 'I don't believe you in the slightest' and then she did the funniest thing. She started bobbing her head along to the song, completely off beat, like she was trying to get me to buy it. I let the issue drop there because, clearly, for whatever reason, Bella wanted to listen to the rap station. 

I shook my head, laughing as I drove down the road. "Yeah, okay." 

We fell into silence again, a rap song by someone I didn't know playing in the background. It reminded me of the music Emmett listened to sometimes in the jeep. I always hated it, but I never complained because he enjoyed it. 

The memory brought a slight frown to my face, but I tried to quickly shake it off, not wanting to ruin my night with Bella. Especially since I didn't know when her and I would hangout again. For all I know, she could go completely comatose after tonight for another three months. 

"So, what's going on with you these days?" Bella asked hurriedly. 

I glanced at her, then back at the windshield. I thought about our last conversation, about how she shut me down and made me feel horrible when I'd told her about Pual. Would she repeat those same hurtful words if I told her again? 

After a beat I decided I didn't care. Paul was my mate, my soul was tied to his for eternity and I wasn't going to pretend that wasn't the case. 

My lips tugged into a smile as I thought about Paul. "Well, Paul and I are together. Like, officially." I said with a giddy smile as I turned to look at Bella, trying to gauge her reaction. 

Bella's brows pinched but if she was going to say anything criticizing, she bit it back. "You and Paul? How'd that happen, tell me all about it." 

I didn't have to be asked twice. I quickly started going into detail about how caring and helpful Paul had been the past few months since Emmett left and how he'd told me he confessed his feelings last month when we were hiking and that we got together not long after that. I told her about our date and how sweet Paul had been. I even went as far as telling her that the sex was great, giggling at her wide eyes. 

I left out all details about the imprint bond and the pack, not being able to share those things, of course. But I gushed about Paul all the same. By the time I finished, I was pulling up to the theater and we were getting out to go to our movie. 

I laughed, letting out a breath, "sorry, I got a little carried away there. I didn't mean to talk your ear off." 

Bella shook her head, offering me a small smile, "No, Liv, it's fine. I... I'm glad you're happy." And as she said the words, I truly felt like she meant them. And it was relieving to feel like I finally had my best friend back. I just hoped it would last.