IT HAD BEEN TWO WEEKS since Paul had been around the pack, needing time to clear his head and let go of some of his built-up anger after breaking down in Eloise's room while she slept.
It was hard, and he wasn't even sure if it did any good or if it made his need for her even worse.
He had called Sam and let him know he was on his way back and to apologize for just disappearing, but Sam understood, and for that Paul was grateful.
He could smell her addicting scent a mile away, and the closer he got to Emily and Sam's front porch, the worse it got.
The scent of vanilla mixed with lavender plagued his nostrils, but he pushed through it. He needed to get his shit together, but his desire for her was overwhelming and making it so hard.
He entered the house with confidence and a clear head, vowing to ignore his inner wolf and act normal, but the sight before him stopped him dead in his tracks and all of his confidence disappeared.
Paul felt his jeans tightening uncomfortably as he watched Eloise bend over from across the room, his mouth going dry as she let out an innocent moan as she arched her back to stretch. Her entire behind was on full display for him as she did Yoga with Emily. He had never felt this horny in his life, and he was cursing at himself for not being able to control his raging emotions.
His pep talk on the drive back to La Push seemed to be thrown out of the window the moment he laid eyes on her.
Hearing one of the other guys approaching, a very deep and territorial growl escaped Paul's lips as he let out a warning for them to stop in their tracks before they even thought about looking at Eloise in that kind of position.
Eloise turned her head at the sound, feeling her cheeks flush at the sight of Paul standing there looking at her. He seemed to be shaking, causing her to break her pose and slowly stand up, but before she can say anything to Paul he walked right past her and into the bathroom.
Paul felt his insides burning the moment he walked right by her like they were trying to tear him up from the inside out in order to get to her, but he refused. He groaned and leaned over the sink as his body heat rose even more than usual and he looked into the mirror to see his eyes glowing a bright yellow as if he was transitioning into his wolf form.
He let out a shocked gasp, pushing himself away from the mirror in terror before the sound of someone knocking on the door brought him back to reality.
"Paul?" Eloise's sweet voice seeped through the door and into his ears like honey. "Are you alright?"
Worry laced in her voice like all was forgotten like he didn't fuck everything up the last time he saw her. It made it even worse because she seemed to put it all behind in that moment to check on him.
God, it made him adore her even more.
Paul trembled as the doorknob moved and Eloise opened the door to peek inside at Paul who stood frozen in place as he watched her.
"Paul, where are you?" Jared called and Paul quickly pulled Eloise into the bathroom and slammed the door shut at the approaching footsteps.
He wasn't ready to answer all of Jared's questions just yet.
Eloise went to speak, but Paul covered her mouth and tried to control his erratic breathing.
Eloise's chest rose and fell against his as the two of them were pressed against each other in such a small space.
He was in no position to see any of the other pack members, he couldn't risk the embarrassment.
The more she breathed, the more Paul felt his eyes traveling lower and lower as he gulped and the smooth flesh of her breast invaded his vision.
Eloise watched him and felt her legs tighten before she went to speak, but before she could, Paul's lips came crashing down on hers to keep her quiet as Jared passed by the bathroom.
Paul was sure Jared knew he was there but was grateful when he picked up on Eloise's scent mixed with his and decided to leave them be.
Eloise struggled against him for a moment, but after a few seconds, she felt herself melting into the kiss and pressing herself closer to Paul.
Paul's eyes grew wide at her response but couldn't help but let out a shaky moan that was barely audible as her breast bounced against his chest from her quick movements.
He had been with many girls in his life, but something about the way her body felt against his was driving Paul absolutely wild.
He wasn't sure if it was just because he imprinted on her, or if there was even more to it than he or anyone else understood.
He ran his hands up the back of her thighs, smirking immediately as she gasped as he grabs a handful of her ass in his hands and lifts her up until she had her legs wrapped around his waist.
"P-aul!" Her words barely escape her mouth as he slams her back against the wall and kisses her again.
She seems to forget what she was saying as she moans and wraps her hands around his neck.
If it were up to him, he'd make love to her right then and there.
He'd give in to every single urge inside him to devour every single part of her and make her his forever with just a simple bite mark between her inner thigh.
Eloise's body seemed to melt into his own as if she was feeling the exact way that he was feeling before her eyes grew wide and she pushed him away from her as if coming out of a trance.
"What is wrong with us!" She panted, her heart racing a mile a minute as Paul reluctantly set her down on her feet as she ran her hands through her hair. "We can't keep doing this, it doesn't make any sense."
He watched her without saying anything.
All he could think of was her lips, and how he wished they were still on his own.
He shook his head, running his hands through his own hair and tugging on the strands in frustration at how hard it was to stay away from her.
It wasn't like he didn't necessarily want her, because damn did her really want every part of her, but the fear in his heart still lingered and he had so much he was afraid of.
He didn't want to give in and break his heart, because even though he imprinted on her- it didn't mean she would return the same feelings as him.
He would be anything she needed him to be, that was how imprinting is supposed to be, but Paul didn't think he could be anything less than everything to her in every way.
He couldn't handle seeing her fall in love with someone else while he remained her friend like he was supposed to if that was what she wished.
He couldn't even do imprinting correctly, he cursed himself.
Paul didn't understand why it was so much harder for him than it was for everyone else.
He craved every single aspect of her. Mind, body, and soul.
No other member of the pack, that had imprinted, had trouble controlling their bodies like he did.
Sam had a moment, and it caused him to hurt Emily.
Was Paul going to lose control and hurt Eloise?
Paul stepped back away from Eloise, at least as much as he could in such a small space as he let out a soft whimper.
Eloise stared at him with wide eyes, "what is going on with you?"
He struggled to keep his composure as nightmares of Eloise being hurt by the beast inside him plagued his mind.
He pulled harder at his hair as he began to cry in fear, no longer able to control the emotions inside him as he fell to his knees in front of the woman he was supposed to protect.
How could he protect her when he would probably be the one hurting her the most?
"Paul?" She lowered herself down to sit in front of him, her hands pulling his own away from his hair and placing them on her knees, and leaving them there as she lifted his head to look at her.
Her beautiful blue eyes searched his chocolate ones as he trembled beneath her gaze.
He could hear Emily greeting Sam out on the front porch, and he wanted to use that as an excuse to distract Eloise from staring at him any longer.
Paul went to speak but tensed up as Eloise just simply leaned in and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're confusing the hell out of me, Paul." She whispered into his ear, making him close his eyes and sigh in defeat. "But, I do like kissing you."
Paul couldn't help but chuckle as she giggled into his ear, her plan to lighten the mood working as he smirked and raised one eyebrow at her.
"You do, do you?" He watched her bite the corner of her lips as she nodded her head softly, her cheeks flushed.
I wasn't looking for love, but damn did it find me.
That was all he could think as he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her once more.
No longer feeling the anxiety in his chest as she gave him a slight hint that she was into him as he was.
It wasn't everything, but maybe this was the start.