Constantly ♡ (Paul Lahote)

7 - Surprised

"Rachel? How much longer are you gonna be? Dad says, hurry up!"

"Be right there, Jake! Tell dad I'm getting dressed..." I squeaked out, trying to keep from screaming. I listened for his footsteps and the front door before I murmured, "Oh my...cheesecake, cheesecake, cheese...cake."

Paul finally tore his mouth away from the pebbled skin surrounding the stiffened peak. He carefully lowered me, placing me back on my feet, taking care to make sure I didn't collapse. I pressed my forehead to his and tried to calm down. "I guess you should get dressed," he gasped, still out of breath.

I nodded, no longer able to form a coherent thought. He smiled at me before lightly brushing his lips against my neck. And then he was gone before I could...God forbid, tell him how I really feel.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

"Surprise!"

I looked up to find the backyard filled with our neighbors and family friends. I got hugs from the Clearwaters, the Atearas, Embry and his mom. It seemed like half the rez had shown up. "Who did this?" I asked when I finally saw Jake.

"Dad wanted to do something nice for your last night, but Paul planned it. He took care of everything. And he wanted it to be a surprise. He turned out a lot different than we thought, huh?"

I glanced around, looking for him among the partygoers. Paul shyly waved at me from the other side of the grill. I waved back and approached him slowly. "So?"

"So...I figured you want to yell at me for what I did to you in your bedroom or you want to yell at me for planning this party or you want to yell at me because I had to stop what we were doing in your bedroom to come out here."

I laughed as I slid my hands around his waist and pulled him close to me. "Maybe," I paused to swallow thickly. "Maybe I just came to say thank you. This...is really nice."

He looked surprised...and happy. I sighed when he pressed his hands to the small of my back. "I want you to come home with me tonight," he whispered into my ear. "I want you to spend the night." His voice made me tingle...absolutely everywhere.

He dragged his lips from my ear to the corner of my mouth. "I don't think I should," I admitted.

"You've been promising me all summer that you'd spend the night with me...all night at my house. It's our last chance."

When I looked deeply into his eyes, he cradled my face in his hands. "I'm not expecting anything. We can just sleep."

I gave him a doubtful look and furrowed my brow. "Even after what I showed you in my room?"

Paul hummed when he thought about it. "I'll take ten cold showers," he promised and I laughed. He lowered his voice and added, "I'll jerk off 4 times."

I nearly choked from laughing. I pressed my forehead to his chest, willing myself not to picture him touching himself. "Do you do that often?"

"Take cold showers?" he asked with a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I shook my head. "The other one...jerking off?"

Paul sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and shrugged. "Only on the days I see you."

"We see each other everyday."

He wagged his eyebrows at me and I laughed so hard. "Anyway..."

"You know I'm kidding, right?" he smirked.

"Rachel! Come here...and bring your boyfriend..." I heard a voice say.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

"What are you thinking about?"

I looked up from the mesmerizing flames of the bonfire to see Paul looking down at me. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my cheek. "Are you ready?"

"For what?"

"To. come. home. with. me," he punctuated each word with a kiss to my forehead.

"I can't just leave, Paul."

"Why not?"

"It's my last night with Jacob and my dad. It wouldn't be fair."

"What about me?" he asked, his eyes so sad. He was already breaking my heart and I haven't even left yet.

"I could...try and sneak out," I offered.

"Don't just try," he breathed. "Do it. We should be together tonight."

I nodded quickly and tried to force a smile. "I know."

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

"You know you don't have to do that, right?" I heard my father's voice rumble.

"Oh my God, Dad! You scared me. Why are you sitting in the dark?"

"Are you going to see Paul?"

I sighed as I sat near my father. "Just for a little while. I'll be back soon."

"You don't have to sneak out to see Paul. You should open your heart to him. He's good to you. And I see the way you smile when you're around him."

I nodded and tried to hold back my tears. "Is that enough, Dad? Is that enough for me to rearrange my whole life to be with him?"

"Who said you have to change your life course? Has he asked you not to go back to school?" my father inquired.

"No, he hasn't."

"Then why not take a chance, Rachel? Isn't he worth it?"

I swiped at the tears falling from my eyes and crossed the room to look out the window. I could see the bonfire in the backyard, now nothing but a small puff of smoke. "He's worth everything, Dad. He's helped me and he's shown me that I can trust people. But he's so young. What would people say?"

"I know my daughter isn't going to turn away from love because of what other people think, is she?"

I turned to face my father now and I shook my head slowly. "He doesn't love me, Dad. We're not like that."

"Are you sure he doesn't love you?"

I shrugged. "I'm pretty sure..."

My father held my hands between his and narrowed his gaze at me. "Make sure, Rachel. You need to be very sure. Because I believe he does. And if you search your heart...I think you'll find you love him too."