Hershey Kisses
by Momma2fan
FAGE 15: Endings.
Title: Hershey Kisses
Written for: Deonne
Written by: momma2fan
Pairing: Bella/Embry
Rating: M
Summary/prompt used: Yesterday in class I complained about cramps to my friend. Today I find chocolate on my desk with a note “Feel Better” with no name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella sat at her desk with her head in her hands, fingers rubbing her temples against the headache which was forming. She was grateful she’d planned a test and her students were concentrating on that, so her room was relatively quiet. She hated the end of the month. Like clockwork, her monthly visitor would show up. First it was a headache, followed by her lower back aching, and then came the inevitable cramping right before her flow started. Her doctor had finally put her on some pills, which were supposed to alleviate her symptoms, but she had to wait until her cycle before she started them. It seemed she would soon be able to pop those tiny pills and get rid of this trouble.
“Miss Swan?”
She looked up and saw Colin Littlesea standing in front of her desk. “Yes, Colin?”
He looked up at the clock and then back at his teacher. “The bell rang, and I collected the tests for you.” His hand reached out with a pile of papers.
“Thank you, Colin. Enjoy your lunch period.” She smiled at the teen before watching him walk out the door.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she stood from her chair and, after grabbing her coffee mug, made her way to the teachers’ lounge. Walking in, she found her best friend, Leah, along with a couple of their other friends.
“You okay, Bells? You seem a little paler than usual.”
Bella groaned as she grabbed the Tylenol out of the cabinet and a bottle of water from the fridge. “Aunt Flo is on her way, and I am not happy about it. At least tomorrow is Saturday.”
After visiting with Leah for a few more minutes, Bella made her way back to her classroom to get through her next couple of periods before her free time. When the last student, from her last class of the day, handed in her paper, Bella sighed with relief and ran to the restroom. After taking care of business, she grabbed another bottle of water and a chocolate bar from the lounge before heading to her room to get the test papers graded.
Walking into her class, she didn’t notice anything until she sat down. However, once she was seated, she saw in the center of her desk three bags of the family size Hershey Kisses along with a note which read simply “Feel Better”. Smiling at the bags, she reminded herself to call Leah later and thank her. She put the bags and the note in her messenger bag before turning to get the test papers graded.
~*HK*~
She walked into her small house on the res, kicked off her shoes and placed her messenger bag on the table she kept by the door. When her father had been killed while she was in her last semester of college, it had devastated her, especially when she fully believed it was her fault. Despite what the pack had told her, the vampire who had drained her dad had been hunting for her. The pack had gotten her, but not before she took every family member Bella had left from her. First, it had been her mother and Phil, followed a year later by Charlie.
When it happened, she had only three months before her college graduation. She knew her father would have wanted her to finish, so she had. Once she was done, she had petitioned the tribe's elders to allow her to live on the reservation under the protection of the pack. They agreed under the condition that she accept a teaching position at the school. She was happy with where she was, but wished the vampire hadn’t taken her family.
The pack had finally killed the vampire two months ago, ironically it was on the one-year anniversary of when Charlie had passed. She had been so grateful she’d thrown a dinner party for the pack and their imprints. She ended up drinking too much and wound up in bed with one of her best friends. They were still in that awkward, can’t-believe-we-did-that phase and she hated it.
She’d grown up with Quil and Jacob, but only ever saw them as her brother’s, her best friends, and her protectors. Now, Jake wasn’t speaking to either of them, having had a crush on Bella for years and feeling betrayed by Quil, who was aware of it. Bella and Quil were dealing with the regrets that came with a one-night stand.
Sighing, Bella walked into her kitchen to make herself some dinner. After she’d eaten, she decided to take a warm bath to alleviate the discomfort in her lower back. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she grabbed a bag of the Kisses and a novel she’d been meaning to read.
In her bathroom, she grabbed some soothing bubble bath with lavender and chamomile. After pouring in a generous amount, she stripped and pinned her long brown hair on top of her head. She settled herself in the warm water and sighed when she felt the pain ebb away from her back. Bella could only assume since her symptoms were coming on her so quickly, she would wake up miserable in the morning. She popped a chocolate in her mouth and closed her eyes as she felt her body finally relax.
~*HK*~
Bella was sitting on her porch swing, nursing her chocolate-laced coffee, when Leah called her.
“I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?”
“Ugh, it started this morning,” Bella groaned as she sipped her beverage. “By the way, thanks for the Hershey Kisses yesterday. They really came in handy. I’ve eaten almost a full bag already.”
“What? I didn’t leave you those, Bells.”
“Well then, who did? You, Paul, and Sam were the only ones in the lounge when I was talking about it. I doubt very seriously Paul or Sam would have thought of it.”
Leah laughed, “Probably not. Don’t forget, though, there are two other wolves who work in the building.”
Despite the protests from the elders and the dangerous vamp who had been running around, four of the pack had managed to graduate college with their teaching degrees. While Leah was the school nurse, Sam was the other English teacher, along with Bella. Paul taught math, having always been good with numbers. Jared was the gym teacher and Embry taught social studies, with an emphasis on Quileute history.
“Jared is out, so that leaves Embry. Why would he give me chocolates?”
“Maybe he likes you, Bella.” Leah’s giggle was followed by a click as she hung up her phone.
Bella set her phone down beside her and thought about Leah’s words. There was no way Embry liked her. The wolves were all terrified to get involved with someone who wasn’t their imprint. Which was part of the reason Quil and Bella were so awkward around each other; he had an imprint. Granted, she was a small child, but he worried about what would happen when Claire was older and she found out.
Deciding not to dwell on it, she got up and began her weekend. She’d brought home more test papers, which needed grading, and it was her weekend to host Sunday night’s pack night. Throwing on some ratty clothes and putting her hair in a messy bun, Bella set about cleaning her house from top to bottom. She kept the place picked up during the week, but always did a deep clean on Saturdays. Once satisfied everything was cleaned to perfection, she showered and got dressed. When she was comfortable, Bella grabbed her messenger bag, her heating pad, a glass of tea, and her chocolates before settling in her oversize chair and getting to work. An hour later, she had her stuff put away and was curled up in her chair with a blanket, sound asleep. That’s how Leah found her when she, Kim, and Emily decided to swing by. None of them had the heart to wake her, so they left her a note that they’d stopped by and would see her Sunday.
~*HK*~
Sunday found Bella in her kitchen making pies and preparing hor d'oeuvres for the pack to munch on while they had their meeting and waited for dinner to be ready. She put a tray of sandwiches on her coffee table, along with a tray of fruit and veggies. She knew there were only a few, including Leah, who would eat the stuff that was good for them, but she tried anyway.
For that evening's dinner, she had decided a taco bar would be fun. She had pounds of taco meat, spicy shredded chicken, and nachos ready for the pack to devour. She had seen this video on Facebook that she wanted to set it up for herself, Kim, Emily and Rachel to try. After covering her dining table in foil, she was going to dump tortilla chips and taco meat before pouring melted cheese all on top. She had separate bowls of tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole lined up as well. No plates to dirty up, and she knew whatever they didn’t eat, the pack would.
She had just finished setting things up on the bar when the pack showed up.
“Bella, I smell food!” Jared shouted as he opened her door.
“Well, I hope you’re hungry. As usual, I made too much.” Bella laughed as he hugged her.
She was soon wrapped up, one by one, by the rest of the pack. They had always been very affectionate with her, especially Jake, Embry, and Quil. Now, though, Jake still ignored her, choosing to step around her, and Quil just patted her on the back.
Her monthly visitor brought out her bitchy side, and she huffed before walking into her living room. She stood in front of where Jake and Quil had planted themselves and growled at them.
“This has gone on long enough,” she spoke with her hands on her hips.
The pack grew silent as she stared down her two friends. They knew it wouldn’t be long until Bella had enough and were waiting, somewhat patiently, for her to kick their proverbial asses.
“Jake, you need to get over being pissed at Quil and I. So we got drunk and had sex, people do it all the time. Just ask Paul.”
“Hey!” Paul immediately took offense, but then caught her teasing grin and shrugged, knowing she was right. Or she had been before he imprinted on Rachel.
Bella kept on with her rant. “Jake, you and I have been friends since we were in diapers. I have never and will never see you as anything other than my brother and best friend. You need to understand that and grow the hell up.” She then turned her ire onto Quil.
“And you,” she pointed her finger. “You need to realize that Claire is six. She isn’t gonna care that you had sex with someone else while she was a small child. In fact, I’m fairly certain she wouldn’t want you to live as a monk while you waited for her to grow up.
“Now, I’m done with this awkwardness and bullshit. Can we please just go back to the way it used to be?”
Quil put his head down while Jake let out a low growl. Neither of them commented on anything Bella said. The rest of the pack observed the behavior of the two and watched the frustration grow on Bella’s face.
“Fine,” Bella said after a couple of minutes. “Get out of my house, both of you.” She looked at Sam and then walked into the kitchen away from the pack members who had pissed her off.
“You’re both fools,” Sam said to the two wolves. “Both of you go patrol, no fighting,” he ordered.
Jake and Quil left, and the pack turned to their Alpha, who began their short meeting. Once it was over, Bella called them all to eat.
“Taco bar!” Paul rubbed his hands together right before he froze at seeing the dining room table set up. “What the hell is that?”
“That,” Bella got in his way, and poked a finger in his chest. “Is for the women. You can have at it when we’ve had our fill.”
Paul rubbed at the spot she poked. “Fuck, Bella, who pressed your bitch button?”
“Paul!” Rachel, Emily, and Kim yelled at once.
Leah growled at him. “Use your nose, you idiot.” All at once, the men backed off and moved to make their plates, all but one.
“You doing okay?” Embry leaned over to ask Bella.
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
Nodding, Embry moved to make his plate with the rest, while Bella stared at his back, wondering if Leah was right. Did Embry leave her the chocolates? Did he like her like that?
~*HK*~
“Some of you understood the reading very well,” Bella said as she passed out the graded test papers to her students. “And some of you, not so well. If you have any questions about your grade, I’ll be here after school.”
Bella sat down with a sigh after her last student left the class and ran her hands down her face. She hadn’t slept well the night before, cramps and a backache keeping her up, making her exhausted. She’d started the new pills the doctor had prescribed her, and she was hoping for some relief soon.
She was also still wondering about her anonymous candy giver. Could it have really been Embry? If so, why?
“Bella?”
‘Speak of the devil,’ she thought as she looked up and saw Embry in her doorway. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
Bella shrugged. “I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Embry took a step forward, thinking maybe this could be his in. “Anything I can do to help?”
Bella laughed humorlessly, “Can you get me another heating pad?”
He chuckled, “Well, no. I’m my own heating pad.”
“True.” Bella bit her tongue to hold back what she was going to say. “I’ll be fine, but thanks for checking on me.”
“How about I come over and give you a massage this evening? I’ll make you dinner too.”
Bella looked up at him, “Embry, I—”
“Come on, Bella,” he interrupted. “I promise you’ll be relaxed enough to sleep.”
Sighing, Bella looked down at her desk, thinking over her options. She really liked Embry, always had. Perhaps tonight she could get to the bottom of his feelings. Assuming Leah was right.
“Okay. I’ll be home around five-thirty.”
“I’ll see you then.” Embry turned and left her room, biting back his smile.
~*HK*~
Bella moaned as Embry’s warm hands and fingers found a particularly sore spot on her lower back.
He had shown up just as he’d promised and made her dinner, before having her lay on the floor of her living room. He had started at her shoulders and worked his way down her spine, soothing away the aches and pains brought on by stress and her period.
Embry pushed on the same spot, causing her to moan again. Her moans brought a smile to his face and a tightening in his pants. Pushing through his arousal, he continued massaging away her aches until he heard her breathing even out, indicating she had fallen asleep.
He took the time to look at her, the curve of her back, the paleness of her skin and her long mahogany locks. With his enhanced eyesight, he could clearly make out the red highlights in her hair as they wove through the long tresses. He longed to run his fingers through her hair as he kissed her lips and buried himself inside her.
Embry had fallen in love with her a long time ago, but had kept his feelings to himself, especially in light of the current situation with Jake and Quil. He was also hiding how much what happened between her and Quil actually bothered him.
Shaking himself of his thoughts, he moved to pick Bella up and carried her up to her room, gently placing her on her bed. He drew the covers up over her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving her to sleep. He turned to walk out of her room when he heard her moan and whisper his name in a breathless sigh. His pants tightened at the sound and he sprinted out of the house before he did something he knew he wouldn’t regret.
~*HK*~
Bella rolled over and looked at the clock, groaning when she realized she was awake thirty minutes before her alarm. Looking down at herself, she realized she was in the clothes she’d worn when Embry had been there. Grabbing her phone, she opened up a new text.
Thanks for carrying me to bed. Sorry, I fell asleep on you. -B
She got up, grabbed some panties and a matching bra from her drawer before heading into the bathroom to take her shower. Once washed, conditioned, buffed, and shaved, she got out to do her hair and makeup. Forty minutes after she’d gone in, she walked out and to her closet to get her clothes.
Once dressed, she grabbed her phone and headed downstairs to get some coffee and a small breakfast. Sitting at her table, she munched on an English muffin and fruit along with her final cup of chocolate-laced caffeine while she scrolled through Facebook. She prayed that today would be her last day of her visitor; she could already feel the symptoms fading away. Embry’s warm hands had worked magic on her back and she had slept like a log.
Her phone vibrated in her hand with an incoming text. She smiled when Embry’s name flashed across her screen.
It was no problem. You’re light as a feather. How do you feel? -E
Much better. Thank you. I’ll see you at school. -B
Smiling, Bella cleaned up her breakfast, grabbed her lunch, and picked up her messenger bag as she walked out the door. It surprised her to see someone sitting on her stairs as she shut her front door.
“Quil?”
“I wanted to talk to you,” he started and waited until she sat beside him. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted, Bella. You were right when you said I was worried about what Claire would think.” He turned to look in her eyes, “However, it’s not for the reason you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not worried about what she’ll think of me, because I frankly don’t care. That sounds bad, but think about it. I’m twenty-two years old and she’s six. How am I supposed to watch her grow up, having changed her diapers and helped potty train her and then one day think about fucking her? I’m not gonna be able to get it up.”
“Jesus, Quil, be blunt.”
“I’m serious, Bella. That night with you was some of the best sex I’ve ever had. The passion between us...” he trailed off and looked at her. “Bella, I can’t be expected to feel that kind of passion for a little girl that I know I will always see as a niece and who calls me Uncle Quil.”
Bella felt a shudder run down her spine at the picture he was painting. “Okay, that makes sense. But it still doesn’t explain the awkwardness between you and me.”
Hanging his head, he ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Ever since that night, I can’t look at you and not see you writhing and moaning below me. It makes my dick hard and I want to fuck you all over again.”
Bella felt her face heat up. “Oh, well, um...”
“I know it won’t happen again, Bells, but you asked what the problem was.”
“Listen, Quil, I love you. You’re one of my best friends. I’m not gonna tell you that night wasn’t great, because it was. So far, you beat the other two guys I screwed in college. But I want my friend back. Can we try to get past this?”
“We can try.” Quil gave her his cocky grin. “Just let me know when you’re ready for a repeat.”
Bella laughed, “Get out of here. I have to get to work.”
“Have a good day, teach.” Quil kissed her cheek and loped off to his own job.
~*HK*~
“Okay,” Bella sat on the stool in front of her class. “Why do you think Boo Radley was never really seen?” Several hands shot up, causing her to smile that her class was willing to participate. For the next hour, the students in her freshman class had a discussion and broke down the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Each of her grade periods was reading from a different novel in literature, Bella’s first love.
When the bell rang, Bella hollered over the din. “Please try to reread the book over the weekend. We will have our test on Monday.”
Her next couple of classes were just as talkative, as they all debated the merits of the books she had assigned. She was ready for a break when her lunch period rolled around and collapsed into a chair in the lounge with a sigh. She looked to her left at the chuckle which greeted her ears.
“Hey, Sam.”
“Bella,” he handed her a bottle of water. “Rough morning?”
Bella shook her head, “Nah, just loud. We’ve been discussing the reading. Trying to prepare for Monday’s test.” Leaning forward, she looked at him, “Speaking of which, we should probably come up with more than one test paper. You know, to prevent cheating.”
“True,” Sam nodded. “I don’t have anything until Saturday afternoon if you want to work on it in the morning.”
“Sounds good.” They both looked up as Paul and Embry walked into the room.
“Why do I smell Quil?” Paul wanted to know as he sat at the table with Sam and Bella.
Embry took a seat next to Bella, sniffing as he got comfortable. His eyes immediately shot to hers.
“He was waiting on my porch this morning, wanting to talk to me. He had some things to get off his chest. You guys may want to phase with him so you know what’s going on in his head. Especially regarding Claire.”
Sam stared at her for a minute. “Is it something we need to discuss with the elders?”
Bella sighed, “Maybe. It has to do with how he views his imprint and the thoughts that go along with it.” She left it at that and decided to let the pack deal with him.
~*HK*~
The next couple of weeks seemed to fly by for Bella, but she was busy with papers needing grading, getting new material ready, and prepping for their holiday break. Although she was busy, she often found her thoughts straying to Embry. He had shown up at her house a few times over the last couple of weeks for dinner and stayed to keep her company.
Sitting on her back porch, wrapped up like a burrito in a heavy blanket, she stared at the woods. She didn’t know when it happened, but she was falling for the quiet wolf. Something which scared the hell out of her.
When Edward left her, she’d been broken and depressed. The pack had pulled her out of it, though. If she were to make her feelings known and anything happened with her and Embry, it would destroy her when he imprinted. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t take the chance. She could never let him know.
“Why’re you sitting in the cold, Bella?”
She looked up when she heard his voice coming toward her. Shrugging, “Just thinking.”
Embry stepped up onto her back porch. “Why not inside where it’s warm? It’s December, you know.”
“I know; that’s what the blanket and my hot chocolate is for.” She smiled as she sipped from her mug. “What are you doing here?”
“Sam sent me.”
“Oh,” she stood up, her blanket falling loose around her shoulders. “Is anything wrong?”
Embry couldn’t resist reaching out and pulling her blanket up, which brought her closer to him in the process. “No, he just wanted me to let you know that the pack meeting has been moved to tonight and its pack only, no imprints. We’re gonna be phased for this one.”
“Oh, okay.” Bella shrugged and moved toward her door to go inside. She was actually getting cold now that she’d felt some heat coming from him.
Embry followed her inside, just to make sure she was settled. “I’m sure someone will fill you guys in later.”
“Sounds good.” Bella turned to smile at him. “Thank you for coming to tell me.”
Embry nodded, gave her a small smile, and left. Once he was away from her, he stripped and phased into his gray wolf. He immediately heard his pack brothers in his head. It was time for him to tell them the secret he’d been keeping for the last few years.
You’ve been keeping a secret, bro? -JB
Yeah, but I’m ready to tell you now. -E
Well, don’t keep us in suspense, man. -P
I imprinted. -E
That’s great, Embry. When? -S
Three years ago. -E
What!? Came from the whole pack, confusion running rampant.
Show us. -S
Clearing his mind of everything but that day, Embry showed them his imprint. She was crying on her front porch, clutching to her father as he delivered devastating news.
You imprinted on Bella? -JB
Jesus, you imprinted on her the day she found out her mom died. -P
How have you fought it for so long? -L
I haven’t been. I’ve been whatever she needed and she has only needed me as a friend for the last few years. -E
And now? -S
Now, it's changing. I can feel it. -E
The pack collectively sat back on their haunches and thought about what Embry was telling them. If he was feeling the imprint changing, that meant Bella was developing feelings.
What are you gonna do? -Q
I’m gonna love her. -E
His answer was simple, and that was all they needed to know. Jacob whined and phased pulling on his shorts, he strode down the beach.
I thought he was over this by now? -JC
He is, especially after what happened with me and her. But I think this killed any hope he may have been hiding. -Q
He needs to work it out on his own. Imprints are sacred and not to be messed with. -S
And by the way, bro, I’m sorry about what happened between me and Bella. -Q
She wasn’t really mine then. I don’t like it, but I’m not gonna do anything to you about it. -E
Go, Embry, claim your mate. -S
I’m out. -E
Embry phased and ran back toward Bella’s in his human form. It was time for her to find out the truth.
~*HK*~
Bella was running a towel over her hair after her shower when the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone since she knew the pack phased for their meeting. Clad in only a pair of fleece pajama pants and a T-shirt she’d stolen from one of the pack, she walked to the door and, after unlocking it, pulled it open.
“Jake?”
“Hey, Bells. You got a minute?”
“Sure,” she stepped back and opened the door wider, allowing him to pass through. She shut the door once he was inside and turned to look at him. “What’s going on, Jake? I thought the pack meeting was tonight.”
“It was; I left a little early. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Do you want anything to drink?”
He shook his head. “Can we sit?”
Bella nodded and walked over to her oversized chair while he sat rigidly on the couch. She was silent as she watched him gather his thoughts. She’d never seen him act the way he was.
“Bella, I know you’ve always kept things friendly with us, but I need you to know that I want more.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m in love with you, Bella. I have been for a while now.”
“Oh, Jake,” she sighed and hung her head. “I really wish you hadn’t told me that.” She looked up into his eyes. “You have been my best friend for as long as I can remember. You helped me when Edward abandoned me and brought me to the pack, to my family. While I do love you, Jake, it’s not like you want. You’re family to me and the last thing I want to do is hurt you, but I’m in love with someone else.”
Jake couldn’t stop the tear that slipped down his cheek. “I understand.” He stood up and moved toward her door. Before he walked out, he turned his head. “I’ll always be here for you, Bells.” He closed the door behind him with a final click.
Bella put her head in her hands and let her tears fall. She hated hurting him, but she knew she was never going to feel for him the way he did for her. Another knock on her door had her sighing and wiping her face before getting up to answer it. She prayed it wasn’t Jake again. Opening the door, she smiled when she saw Embry on the other side.
“Hey.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Seems to be a common theme this evening,” she mumbled as she opened the door and allowed him to pass her by.
“Why’s that?”
“Jake was here about five minutes ago.”
Embry frowned. “What did he want?”
Bella walked into her kitchen and grabbed her ever-ready bottle of wine and looked at Embry with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and watched as she poured herself a glass.
“He told me he was in love with me.” Bella told him before she downed her whole glass and then poured another. Reaching into her fridge, she pulled out a bottle of beer for Embry. “Here, I don’t want to drink alone.”
Taking the beer, he followed her into the living room, where they got comfortable. “What did you say to him?”
“What I always tell him.”
Embry nodded, knowing she always told him she loved him like family. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been keeping a secret for a while. I only revealed it to the pack tonight.”
Bella sat back in her chair and stared at him. “What’s going on, Embry?”
Taking a deep breath, “I imprinted on you, Bella.”
With a shaking hand, she set her wineglass on the side table nearest her. “When?”
Embry knew this was going to be the hardest part of his confession. “Three years ago. It was the day your dad told you about your mom. You looked at me for a fraction of a second, but that was all it took. I’ve been yours ever since.”
“Three years?” Bella stood up and paced across her living room. “I don’t understand. You’ve never even indicated I was your imprint. You never made any kind of move.” Bella gasped and covered her mouth, “Oh, my God! I slept with your pack brother.”
Embry stood and rushed over to her. “Stop, Bella. You didn’t need me in a romantic capacity, that’s why I never made a move. I’ve always been here as your friend.” He pulled her hand from her mouth. “I’m not mad that you slept with Quil. Yes, I had imprinted on you then, but you didn’t need me then.”
Bella stared into his eyes. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Embry pulled her back over to the couch and pulled her down beside him. “Because I can feel the imprint changing, Bella.”
Bella’s heart skipped and then settled into a fast rhythm. She knew he could hear it and looked away from him for a second. Steeling her nerves, she finally raised her eyes to his. “The Hershey Kisses. They were from you, weren’t they?”
“Yes, not just those, though.” He walked over to her kitchen cabinet and pulled down four coffee mugs.
“You bought me these?” She remembered one had held a hot chocolate bomb, the other Hershey kisses, another M&M’s, and the last one had assorted chocolates. “Embry, these always appeared when I was feeling low or sick. How did you know?”
“You’re my imprint, Bella. It’s ingrained in me to know what you need and when. Just like I knew you only needed me as a friend these last few years, and just like I know you, want more now.” The tenor of his voice dropped as he walked closer to her, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek.
Bella found herself lost in his eyes as she leaned into his touch. “Embry,” she whispered as he angled his head and covered her lips with his own.
When she sighed against his lips, Embry took the opportunity and slipped his tongue in to massage hers, groaning at her taste. He moved his hand that was on her cheek to the back of her neck, while his other gripped her hip, holding her to him.
Bella ran her hands up his chest, feeling his muscles rippled under her fingertips. She moved her hands up further and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing further into him as he plundered her mouth with his. She couldn’t stop the moan which escaped her.
Embry broke their kiss and looked at her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “Tell me to stop, Bella.”
Bella looked up at him with eyes full of lust. “I don’t want you to stop, Embry.”
With a growl, Embry slammed his mouth back to hers as he reached down and lifted Bella up by her thighs, wrapping her legs around him. Without separating their lips, he carried her to her room and dropped her onto her bed. She giggled when she bounced slightly, but it was short-lived as Embry soon covered her with his body.
“Bella, the wolf needs to claim you. I know this is still new to you, but—”
Bella pressed her lips to his to silence him. “Embry, it’s okay. I want you to claim me. You’re my mate and I love you. I don’t know when it happened, but I’ve fallen head over heels for you, Embry Call.”
“Spirits, I love you, Bella. I think I always have.” Embry leaned down and kissed her again, gently at first and then growing as their passion for each other grew.
Pulling away from her lips when oxygen became an issue, Embry kissed down her neck to the juncture where it meets her shoulder, nibbling on the flesh there. Bella moaned as she felt his teeth make contact with her skin.
Embry’s warm hands began moving under her T-shirt, pushing it up as he stroked her skin, causing goosebumps to pop up. Bella’s hands were following a similar path up his back, and she longed to feel his skin on hers.
“Off,” she whimpered as he sucked on a sensitive place on her neck.
Lifting himself up from her, Embry allowed Bella to remove her shirt and watched in fascination as she stripped her bra off, throwing both of them across the room.
“Touch me, Embry.”
Once he had her permission, Embry’s hands and lips traced a path all over her torso. He paid close attention to each of her breasts, nipping and sucking at her hardened peaks until Bella was a writhing mess. He was harder than he’d ever been, and her arousal permeated the air around him. Embry could feel his wolf close to the surface and while he wanted to take his time with her, he knew this first time would be fast.
Grasping her pants, he yanked them and her panties down, revealing her naked body, which was flushed with passion. He quickly stripped his own shorts off and watched as Bella spread her thighs, revealing her glistening pussy to his feasting eyes.
“Please, Embry...” she moaned as he settled himself between her legs, his pulsing cock laying heavy where she needed him most.
“I’m trying to hold back the wolf, Bella, but he needs you. This will probably be fast.”
“I don’t care,” she whimpered as she shifted her hips. “I just need you inside me, please.”
Reaching between them, Embry grasped his cock in his hand, running the head through her slick folds. Lining himself up with her entrance, he slowly pressed forward. The feel of her slick heat surrounding him after so long was almost more than he could handle. Still trying to hold back his wolf, he pushed his way into his imprint for the first time. When he was fully seated inside her, they both held still, gazing into each other’s eyes and breathing heavily.
“Move, baby, please,” Bella begged, and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Embry pulled back, leaving only the head inside, and then slammed his hips to hers. “Fuck!”
He set a quick pace, making sure his pelvis hit hers every time. From the moans and mewls that were escaping her throat, she was enjoying what he was doing.
“Harder, Embry,” Bella arched into him as he hit that secret spot inside her that is elusive to most men.
“Bella,” he groaned out her name as his thrusts became harder and deeper. He could feel her walls fluttering around him and knew she was close. Reaching between them, he pinched her clit, causing her to scream out his name as she clenched around him. Slowing his thrusts, he let her ride out her orgasm before he pulled out of her completely and flipped her to her stomach, pulling her up to her knees.
Bella screamed when she felt him slam into her again, gripping the headboard in front of her. “Yes, more!”
Embry reached forward and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her back up to his chest as he thrust in and out of her. He could feel her dripping onto his own thighs as he pummeled her body with his dick. “Come on, baby, give me one more.”
“Embry, please, so close.”
As he felt her walls flutter around him again, he moved her hair, revealing her neck to him. “I’m gonna mark you, Bella. Mark you as mine.”
“Yours,” Bella cried out as her orgasm slammed into her.
Feeling her clench around him again brought forth Embry’s release. He came with a roar and sank his teeth into the juncture of her neck and shoulder, filling her with his essence inside and out.
They fell to the bed as he pulled his teeth from her skin, licking the mark with his tongue and healing it. They were both breathless, but neither willing to break their connection.
“You’re mine, Bella.” Embry whispered into her hair.
“Always,” she whispered as she looked over her shoulder at him.
They completed their bond and made love several more times that night before they both succumbed to exhaustion. Embry’s wolf was content that they had marked their mate and was curled up, allowing his human counterpart to care for Bella.
~*HK*~
Three years later...
“CJ!” Bella watched as her two-year-old son made his way to the kitchen to stand before her. He looked so much like his father, it made her heart smile. “Your lunch is ready, monkey.”
Lifting his arms to his mother, he squealed when Bella picked him up and twirled him around. He wrapped his chubby little arms around her neck as she carried him to his booster chair. Bella sat him down and gave him his lunch, sitting beside him as he babbled on about his toys.
She’d found out she was expecting a month after Embry had marked her. Neither of them had any idea that his mark would act as a deterrent to all forms of birth control. They had married when she was in her second trimester and settled into their new life. The pack was still phasing, although there were very few vampires crossing through their territory.
“Daddy?” CJ looked at his mother.
“Daddy will be back in a little while. He had to go help Uncle Sam and Aunt Emily.” Sam and Emily had just found out they’re expecting and Embry, along with the rest of the pack, was helping Sam build an addition to their house.
After he had finished eating, Bella picked CJ up and carried him to his room. She picked up his favorite stuffed wolf and his blankie before sitting in the rocking chair to put him down for his nap.
Charles Jeffrey Call had come screaming into the world late one night, sliding from his mother’s body into his father’s waiting hands. There hadn’t been time to get Bella to the hospital, since she had unknowingly been in labor for several hours, with no clue until she needed to push. He’d weighed almost nine pounds and came with a head full of dark hair and his mother’s brown eyes. They had named him after Bella’s dad, but had agreed to call him CJ. He was the apple of both his parents’ eyes and neither of them could wait to have more.
Bella was just walking out of his room when Embry walked in. She smiled when she saw her husband.
“Hey,” Embry smiled at her. “CJ down?”
“Yeah. How’s the build going?”
“Finished.” He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna take a shower. Sam gave us the night off from patrol.”
“Great,” she smiled and went to clean up lunch while he went to shower.
She was suddenly struck with an idea and after she had the dishes in the sink, she walked to their bedroom. She could still hear the shower running and the thought of her naked husband with water cascading down his body had warmth growing in her center. Stripping off her clothes, she walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, running her hands up his back.
“Mmm,” Embry turned and wrapped his arms around her. “What about CJ?”
“He’ll sleep for at least two hours so long as you don’t growl.”
“You like it when I growl,” he said into her neck, growling to prove his point, smelling her arousal increase.
“Embry,” she whined as he kissed his way down her neck to her breasts.
Lifting her up by the back of her thighs, he wrapped her legs around his waist as he slid home. Slamming his mouth to hers, he took her hard and fast against the shower wall, their moans caught in each other's mouths. Her orgasm triggered his own, but he was nowhere near done with his wife.
Leaving the shower, he carried her to their bed and slid back inside her once they were down. This time was slow and loving, as he showed her just how much he loved her with every stroke.
When they were spent, Bella lay in Embry’s arms as he ran his fingers through her long tresses. “I love you, Bella.”
“I love you, too.” Knowing that CJ would soon be awake, the two of them dressed and walked into the living room. Embry opened the front door and picked up the package he had left there. He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a mug and fixed his wife her favorite treat. When he walked into the living room, he handed her the mug of hot chocolate and a bag of Hershey Kisses, causing her to smile.
“Are you trying to butter me up?”
Embry grinned. “No, just wanted to give you something sweet. But I do want to talk to you about something.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve been thinking; CJ is two now, so what would you think about having another one?”
Bella smiled and sipped her drink before setting her mug down. She climbed over and straddled his legs, grasping his hand in hers. “I think,” she started as she placed his hand over her womb. “That we’ve already made one.”
“What?” Embry looked at her in surprise.
“I’m pregnant, Em.”
Picking her up, he stood her before him and pressed his ear to her belly. Sure enough, he could hear something that sounded like hummingbird wings. Looking up at her, “I am so thrilled, baby.”
Just then, CJ cried out from his room. “I’ll get him,” Embry stood, grasped her cheeks in his big, warm hands and kissed her gently. “I love you, Bella.”
He left the room to get their son as Bella sat back down on the couch. She picked up a silver-wrapped candy and smiled. If it hadn’t been for Hershey Kisses, she never would have known the love that she now has. Once Embry was back, she cuddled up with the two most important people in her life, thanking the Spirits for their blessings.
Title: Hershey Kisses
Written for: Deonne
Written by: momma2fan
Pairing: Bella/Embry
Rating: M
Summary/prompt used: Yesterday in class I complained about cramps to my friend. Today I find chocolate on my desk with a note “Feel Better” with no name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella sat at her desk with her head in her hands, fingers rubbing her temples against the headache which was forming. She was grateful she’d planned a test and her students were concentrating on that, so her room was relatively quiet. She hated the end of the month. Like clockwork, her monthly visitor would show up. First it was a headache, followed by her lower back aching, and then came the inevitable cramping right before her flow started. Her doctor had finally put her on some pills, which were supposed to alleviate her symptoms, but she had to wait until her cycle before she started them. It seemed she would soon be able to pop those tiny pills and get rid of this trouble.
“Miss Swan?”
She looked up and saw Colin Littlesea standing in front of her desk. “Yes, Colin?”
He looked up at the clock and then back at his teacher. “The bell rang, and I collected the tests for you.” His hand reached out with a pile of papers.
“Thank you, Colin. Enjoy your lunch period.” She smiled at the teen before watching him walk out the door.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she stood from her chair and, after grabbing her coffee mug, made her way to the teachers’ lounge. Walking in, she found her best friend, Leah, along with a couple of their other friends.
“You okay, Bells? You seem a little paler than usual.”
Bella groaned as she grabbed the Tylenol out of the cabinet and a bottle of water from the fridge. “Aunt Flo is on her way, and I am not happy about it. At least tomorrow is Saturday.”
After visiting with Leah for a few more minutes, Bella made her way back to her classroom to get through her next couple of periods before her free time. When the last student, from her last class of the day, handed in her paper, Bella sighed with relief and ran to the restroom. After taking care of business, she grabbed another bottle of water and a chocolate bar from the lounge before heading to her room to get the test papers graded.
Walking into her class, she didn’t notice anything until she sat down. However, once she was seated, she saw in the center of her desk three bags of the family size Hershey Kisses along with a note which read simply “Feel Better”. Smiling at the bags, she reminded herself to call Leah later and thank her. She put the bags and the note in her messenger bag before turning to get the test papers graded.
~*HK*~
She walked into her small house on the res, kicked off her shoes and placed her messenger bag on the table she kept by the door. When her father had been killed while she was in her last semester of college, it had devastated her, especially when she fully believed it was her fault. Despite what the pack had told her, the vampire who had drained her dad had been hunting for her. The pack had gotten her, but not before she took every family member Bella had left from her. First, it had been her mother and Phil, followed a year later by Charlie.
When it happened, she had only three months before her college graduation. She knew her father would have wanted her to finish, so she had. Once she was done, she had petitioned the tribe's elders to allow her to live on the reservation under the protection of the pack. They agreed under the condition that she accept a teaching position at the school. She was happy with where she was, but wished the vampire hadn’t taken her family.
The pack had finally killed the vampire two months ago, ironically it was on the one-year anniversary of when Charlie had passed. She had been so grateful she’d thrown a dinner party for the pack and their imprints. She ended up drinking too much and wound up in bed with one of her best friends. They were still in that awkward, can’t-believe-we-did-that phase and she hated it.
She’d grown up with Quil and Jacob, but only ever saw them as her brother’s, her best friends, and her protectors. Now, Jake wasn’t speaking to either of them, having had a crush on Bella for years and feeling betrayed by Quil, who was aware of it. Bella and Quil were dealing with the regrets that came with a one-night stand.
Sighing, Bella walked into her kitchen to make herself some dinner. After she’d eaten, she decided to take a warm bath to alleviate the discomfort in her lower back. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she grabbed a bag of the Kisses and a novel she’d been meaning to read.
In her bathroom, she grabbed some soothing bubble bath with lavender and chamomile. After pouring in a generous amount, she stripped and pinned her long brown hair on top of her head. She settled herself in the warm water and sighed when she felt the pain ebb away from her back. Bella could only assume since her symptoms were coming on her so quickly, she would wake up miserable in the morning. She popped a chocolate in her mouth and closed her eyes as she felt her body finally relax.
~*HK*~
Bella was sitting on her porch swing, nursing her chocolate-laced coffee, when Leah called her.
“I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?”
“Ugh, it started this morning,” Bella groaned as she sipped her beverage. “By the way, thanks for the Hershey Kisses yesterday. They really came in handy. I’ve eaten almost a full bag already.”
“What? I didn’t leave you those, Bells.”
“Well then, who did? You, Paul, and Sam were the only ones in the lounge when I was talking about it. I doubt very seriously Paul or Sam would have thought of it.”
Leah laughed, “Probably not. Don’t forget, though, there are two other wolves who work in the building.”
Despite the protests from the elders and the dangerous vamp who had been running around, four of the pack had managed to graduate college with their teaching degrees. While Leah was the school nurse, Sam was the other English teacher, along with Bella. Paul taught math, having always been good with numbers. Jared was the gym teacher and Embry taught social studies, with an emphasis on Quileute history.
“Jared is out, so that leaves Embry. Why would he give me chocolates?”
“Maybe he likes you, Bella.” Leah’s giggle was followed by a click as she hung up her phone.
Bella set her phone down beside her and thought about Leah’s words. There was no way Embry liked her. The wolves were all terrified to get involved with someone who wasn’t their imprint. Which was part of the reason Quil and Bella were so awkward around each other; he had an imprint. Granted, she was a small child, but he worried about what would happen when Claire was older and she found out.
Deciding not to dwell on it, she got up and began her weekend. She’d brought home more test papers, which needed grading, and it was her weekend to host Sunday night’s pack night. Throwing on some ratty clothes and putting her hair in a messy bun, Bella set about cleaning her house from top to bottom. She kept the place picked up during the week, but always did a deep clean on Saturdays. Once satisfied everything was cleaned to perfection, she showered and got dressed. When she was comfortable, Bella grabbed her messenger bag, her heating pad, a glass of tea, and her chocolates before settling in her oversize chair and getting to work. An hour later, she had her stuff put away and was curled up in her chair with a blanket, sound asleep. That’s how Leah found her when she, Kim, and Emily decided to swing by. None of them had the heart to wake her, so they left her a note that they’d stopped by and would see her Sunday.
~*HK*~
Sunday found Bella in her kitchen making pies and preparing hor d'oeuvres for the pack to munch on while they had their meeting and waited for dinner to be ready. She put a tray of sandwiches on her coffee table, along with a tray of fruit and veggies. She knew there were only a few, including Leah, who would eat the stuff that was good for them, but she tried anyway.
For that evening's dinner, she had decided a taco bar would be fun. She had pounds of taco meat, spicy shredded chicken, and nachos ready for the pack to devour. She had seen this video on Facebook that she wanted to set it up for herself, Kim, Emily and Rachel to try. After covering her dining table in foil, she was going to dump tortilla chips and taco meat before pouring melted cheese all on top. She had separate bowls of tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole lined up as well. No plates to dirty up, and she knew whatever they didn’t eat, the pack would.
She had just finished setting things up on the bar when the pack showed up.
“Bella, I smell food!” Jared shouted as he opened her door.
“Well, I hope you’re hungry. As usual, I made too much.” Bella laughed as he hugged her.
She was soon wrapped up, one by one, by the rest of the pack. They had always been very affectionate with her, especially Jake, Embry, and Quil. Now, though, Jake still ignored her, choosing to step around her, and Quil just patted her on the back.
Her monthly visitor brought out her bitchy side, and she huffed before walking into her living room. She stood in front of where Jake and Quil had planted themselves and growled at them.
“This has gone on long enough,” she spoke with her hands on her hips.
The pack grew silent as she stared down her two friends. They knew it wouldn’t be long until Bella had enough and were waiting, somewhat patiently, for her to kick their proverbial asses.
“Jake, you need to get over being pissed at Quil and I. So we got drunk and had sex, people do it all the time. Just ask Paul.”
“Hey!” Paul immediately took offense, but then caught her teasing grin and shrugged, knowing she was right. Or she had been before he imprinted on Rachel.
Bella kept on with her rant. “Jake, you and I have been friends since we were in diapers. I have never and will never see you as anything other than my brother and best friend. You need to understand that and grow the hell up.” She then turned her ire onto Quil.
“And you,” she pointed her finger. “You need to realize that Claire is six. She isn’t gonna care that you had sex with someone else while she was a small child. In fact, I’m fairly certain she wouldn’t want you to live as a monk while you waited for her to grow up.
“Now, I’m done with this awkwardness and bullshit. Can we please just go back to the way it used to be?”
Quil put his head down while Jake let out a low growl. Neither of them commented on anything Bella said. The rest of the pack observed the behavior of the two and watched the frustration grow on Bella’s face.
“Fine,” Bella said after a couple of minutes. “Get out of my house, both of you.” She looked at Sam and then walked into the kitchen away from the pack members who had pissed her off.
“You’re both fools,” Sam said to the two wolves. “Both of you go patrol, no fighting,” he ordered.
Jake and Quil left, and the pack turned to their Alpha, who began their short meeting. Once it was over, Bella called them all to eat.
“Taco bar!” Paul rubbed his hands together right before he froze at seeing the dining room table set up. “What the hell is that?”
“That,” Bella got in his way, and poked a finger in his chest. “Is for the women. You can have at it when we’ve had our fill.”
Paul rubbed at the spot she poked. “Fuck, Bella, who pressed your bitch button?”
“Paul!” Rachel, Emily, and Kim yelled at once.
Leah growled at him. “Use your nose, you idiot.” All at once, the men backed off and moved to make their plates, all but one.
“You doing okay?” Embry leaned over to ask Bella.
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
Nodding, Embry moved to make his plate with the rest, while Bella stared at his back, wondering if Leah was right. Did Embry leave her the chocolates? Did he like her like that?
~*HK*~
“Some of you understood the reading very well,” Bella said as she passed out the graded test papers to her students. “And some of you, not so well. If you have any questions about your grade, I’ll be here after school.”
Bella sat down with a sigh after her last student left the class and ran her hands down her face. She hadn’t slept well the night before, cramps and a backache keeping her up, making her exhausted. She’d started the new pills the doctor had prescribed her, and she was hoping for some relief soon.
She was also still wondering about her anonymous candy giver. Could it have really been Embry? If so, why?
“Bella?”
‘Speak of the devil,’ she thought as she looked up and saw Embry in her doorway. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
Bella shrugged. “I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Embry took a step forward, thinking maybe this could be his in. “Anything I can do to help?”
Bella laughed humorlessly, “Can you get me another heating pad?”
He chuckled, “Well, no. I’m my own heating pad.”
“True.” Bella bit her tongue to hold back what she was going to say. “I’ll be fine, but thanks for checking on me.”
“How about I come over and give you a massage this evening? I’ll make you dinner too.”
Bella looked up at him, “Embry, I—”
“Come on, Bella,” he interrupted. “I promise you’ll be relaxed enough to sleep.”
Sighing, Bella looked down at her desk, thinking over her options. She really liked Embry, always had. Perhaps tonight she could get to the bottom of his feelings. Assuming Leah was right.
“Okay. I’ll be home around five-thirty.”
“I’ll see you then.” Embry turned and left her room, biting back his smile.
~*HK*~
Bella moaned as Embry’s warm hands and fingers found a particularly sore spot on her lower back.
He had shown up just as he’d promised and made her dinner, before having her lay on the floor of her living room. He had started at her shoulders and worked his way down her spine, soothing away the aches and pains brought on by stress and her period.
Embry pushed on the same spot, causing her to moan again. Her moans brought a smile to his face and a tightening in his pants. Pushing through his arousal, he continued massaging away her aches until he heard her breathing even out, indicating she had fallen asleep.
He took the time to look at her, the curve of her back, the paleness of her skin and her long mahogany locks. With his enhanced eyesight, he could clearly make out the red highlights in her hair as they wove through the long tresses. He longed to run his fingers through her hair as he kissed her lips and buried himself inside her.
Embry had fallen in love with her a long time ago, but had kept his feelings to himself, especially in light of the current situation with Jake and Quil. He was also hiding how much what happened between her and Quil actually bothered him.
Shaking himself of his thoughts, he moved to pick Bella up and carried her up to her room, gently placing her on her bed. He drew the covers up over her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving her to sleep. He turned to walk out of her room when he heard her moan and whisper his name in a breathless sigh. His pants tightened at the sound and he sprinted out of the house before he did something he knew he wouldn’t regret.
~*HK*~
Bella rolled over and looked at the clock, groaning when she realized she was awake thirty minutes before her alarm. Looking down at herself, she realized she was in the clothes she’d worn when Embry had been there. Grabbing her phone, she opened up a new text.
Thanks for carrying me to bed. Sorry, I fell asleep on you. -B
She got up, grabbed some panties and a matching bra from her drawer before heading into the bathroom to take her shower. Once washed, conditioned, buffed, and shaved, she got out to do her hair and makeup. Forty minutes after she’d gone in, she walked out and to her closet to get her clothes.
Once dressed, she grabbed her phone and headed downstairs to get some coffee and a small breakfast. Sitting at her table, she munched on an English muffin and fruit along with her final cup of chocolate-laced caffeine while she scrolled through Facebook. She prayed that today would be her last day of her visitor; she could already feel the symptoms fading away. Embry’s warm hands had worked magic on her back and she had slept like a log.
Her phone vibrated in her hand with an incoming text. She smiled when Embry’s name flashed across her screen.
It was no problem. You’re light as a feather. How do you feel? -E
Much better. Thank you. I’ll see you at school. -B
Smiling, Bella cleaned up her breakfast, grabbed her lunch, and picked up her messenger bag as she walked out the door. It surprised her to see someone sitting on her stairs as she shut her front door.
“Quil?”
“I wanted to talk to you,” he started and waited until she sat beside him. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted, Bella. You were right when you said I was worried about what Claire would think.” He turned to look in her eyes, “However, it’s not for the reason you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not worried about what she’ll think of me, because I frankly don’t care. That sounds bad, but think about it. I’m twenty-two years old and she’s six. How am I supposed to watch her grow up, having changed her diapers and helped potty train her and then one day think about fucking her? I’m not gonna be able to get it up.”
“Jesus, Quil, be blunt.”
“I’m serious, Bella. That night with you was some of the best sex I’ve ever had. The passion between us...” he trailed off and looked at her. “Bella, I can’t be expected to feel that kind of passion for a little girl that I know I will always see as a niece and who calls me Uncle Quil.”
Bella felt a shudder run down her spine at the picture he was painting. “Okay, that makes sense. But it still doesn’t explain the awkwardness between you and me.”
Hanging his head, he ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Ever since that night, I can’t look at you and not see you writhing and moaning below me. It makes my dick hard and I want to fuck you all over again.”
Bella felt her face heat up. “Oh, well, um...”
“I know it won’t happen again, Bells, but you asked what the problem was.”
“Listen, Quil, I love you. You’re one of my best friends. I’m not gonna tell you that night wasn’t great, because it was. So far, you beat the other two guys I screwed in college. But I want my friend back. Can we try to get past this?”
“We can try.” Quil gave her his cocky grin. “Just let me know when you’re ready for a repeat.”
Bella laughed, “Get out of here. I have to get to work.”
“Have a good day, teach.” Quil kissed her cheek and loped off to his own job.
~*HK*~
“Okay,” Bella sat on the stool in front of her class. “Why do you think Boo Radley was never really seen?” Several hands shot up, causing her to smile that her class was willing to participate. For the next hour, the students in her freshman class had a discussion and broke down the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Each of her grade periods was reading from a different novel in literature, Bella’s first love.
When the bell rang, Bella hollered over the din. “Please try to reread the book over the weekend. We will have our test on Monday.”
Her next couple of classes were just as talkative, as they all debated the merits of the books she had assigned. She was ready for a break when her lunch period rolled around and collapsed into a chair in the lounge with a sigh. She looked to her left at the chuckle which greeted her ears.
“Hey, Sam.”
“Bella,” he handed her a bottle of water. “Rough morning?”
Bella shook her head, “Nah, just loud. We’ve been discussing the reading. Trying to prepare for Monday’s test.” Leaning forward, she looked at him, “Speaking of which, we should probably come up with more than one test paper. You know, to prevent cheating.”
“True,” Sam nodded. “I don’t have anything until Saturday afternoon if you want to work on it in the morning.”
“Sounds good.” They both looked up as Paul and Embry walked into the room.
“Why do I smell Quil?” Paul wanted to know as he sat at the table with Sam and Bella.
Embry took a seat next to Bella, sniffing as he got comfortable. His eyes immediately shot to hers.
“He was waiting on my porch this morning, wanting to talk to me. He had some things to get off his chest. You guys may want to phase with him so you know what’s going on in his head. Especially regarding Claire.”
Sam stared at her for a minute. “Is it something we need to discuss with the elders?”
Bella sighed, “Maybe. It has to do with how he views his imprint and the thoughts that go along with it.” She left it at that and decided to let the pack deal with him.
~*HK*~
The next couple of weeks seemed to fly by for Bella, but she was busy with papers needing grading, getting new material ready, and prepping for their holiday break. Although she was busy, she often found her thoughts straying to Embry. He had shown up at her house a few times over the last couple of weeks for dinner and stayed to keep her company.
Sitting on her back porch, wrapped up like a burrito in a heavy blanket, she stared at the woods. She didn’t know when it happened, but she was falling for the quiet wolf. Something which scared the hell out of her.
When Edward left her, she’d been broken and depressed. The pack had pulled her out of it, though. If she were to make her feelings known and anything happened with her and Embry, it would destroy her when he imprinted. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t take the chance. She could never let him know.
“Why’re you sitting in the cold, Bella?”
She looked up when she heard his voice coming toward her. Shrugging, “Just thinking.”
Embry stepped up onto her back porch. “Why not inside where it’s warm? It’s December, you know.”
“I know; that’s what the blanket and my hot chocolate is for.” She smiled as she sipped from her mug. “What are you doing here?”
“Sam sent me.”
“Oh,” she stood up, her blanket falling loose around her shoulders. “Is anything wrong?”
Embry couldn’t resist reaching out and pulling her blanket up, which brought her closer to him in the process. “No, he just wanted me to let you know that the pack meeting has been moved to tonight and its pack only, no imprints. We’re gonna be phased for this one.”
“Oh, okay.” Bella shrugged and moved toward her door to go inside. She was actually getting cold now that she’d felt some heat coming from him.
Embry followed her inside, just to make sure she was settled. “I’m sure someone will fill you guys in later.”
“Sounds good.” Bella turned to smile at him. “Thank you for coming to tell me.”
Embry nodded, gave her a small smile, and left. Once he was away from her, he stripped and phased into his gray wolf. He immediately heard his pack brothers in his head. It was time for him to tell them the secret he’d been keeping for the last few years.
You’ve been keeping a secret, bro? -JB
Yeah, but I’m ready to tell you now. -E
Well, don’t keep us in suspense, man. -P
I imprinted. -E
That’s great, Embry. When? -S
Three years ago. -E
What!? Came from the whole pack, confusion running rampant.
Show us. -S
Clearing his mind of everything but that day, Embry showed them his imprint. She was crying on her front porch, clutching to her father as he delivered devastating news.
You imprinted on Bella? -JB
Jesus, you imprinted on her the day she found out her mom died. -P
How have you fought it for so long? -L
I haven’t been. I’ve been whatever she needed and she has only needed me as a friend for the last few years. -E
And now? -S
Now, it's changing. I can feel it. -E
The pack collectively sat back on their haunches and thought about what Embry was telling them. If he was feeling the imprint changing, that meant Bella was developing feelings.
What are you gonna do? -Q
I’m gonna love her. -E
His answer was simple, and that was all they needed to know. Jacob whined and phased pulling on his shorts, he strode down the beach.
I thought he was over this by now? -JC
He is, especially after what happened with me and her. But I think this killed any hope he may have been hiding. -Q
He needs to work it out on his own. Imprints are sacred and not to be messed with. -S
And by the way, bro, I’m sorry about what happened between me and Bella. -Q
She wasn’t really mine then. I don’t like it, but I’m not gonna do anything to you about it. -E
Go, Embry, claim your mate. -S
I’m out. -E
Embry phased and ran back toward Bella’s in his human form. It was time for her to find out the truth.
~*HK*~
Bella was running a towel over her hair after her shower when the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone since she knew the pack phased for their meeting. Clad in only a pair of fleece pajama pants and a T-shirt she’d stolen from one of the pack, she walked to the door and, after unlocking it, pulled it open.
“Jake?”
“Hey, Bells. You got a minute?”
“Sure,” she stepped back and opened the door wider, allowing him to pass through. She shut the door once he was inside and turned to look at him. “What’s going on, Jake? I thought the pack meeting was tonight.”
“It was; I left a little early. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Do you want anything to drink?”
He shook his head. “Can we sit?”
Bella nodded and walked over to her oversized chair while he sat rigidly on the couch. She was silent as she watched him gather his thoughts. She’d never seen him act the way he was.
“Bella, I know you’ve always kept things friendly with us, but I need you to know that I want more.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m in love with you, Bella. I have been for a while now.”
“Oh, Jake,” she sighed and hung her head. “I really wish you hadn’t told me that.” She looked up into his eyes. “You have been my best friend for as long as I can remember. You helped me when Edward abandoned me and brought me to the pack, to my family. While I do love you, Jake, it’s not like you want. You’re family to me and the last thing I want to do is hurt you, but I’m in love with someone else.”
Jake couldn’t stop the tear that slipped down his cheek. “I understand.” He stood up and moved toward her door. Before he walked out, he turned his head. “I’ll always be here for you, Bells.” He closed the door behind him with a final click.
Bella put her head in her hands and let her tears fall. She hated hurting him, but she knew she was never going to feel for him the way he did for her. Another knock on her door had her sighing and wiping her face before getting up to answer it. She prayed it wasn’t Jake again. Opening the door, she smiled when she saw Embry on the other side.
“Hey.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Seems to be a common theme this evening,” she mumbled as she opened the door and allowed him to pass her by.
“Why’s that?”
“Jake was here about five minutes ago.”
Embry frowned. “What did he want?”
Bella walked into her kitchen and grabbed her ever-ready bottle of wine and looked at Embry with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and watched as she poured herself a glass.
“He told me he was in love with me.” Bella told him before she downed her whole glass and then poured another. Reaching into her fridge, she pulled out a bottle of beer for Embry. “Here, I don’t want to drink alone.”
Taking the beer, he followed her into the living room, where they got comfortable. “What did you say to him?”
“What I always tell him.”
Embry nodded, knowing she always told him she loved him like family. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been keeping a secret for a while. I only revealed it to the pack tonight.”
Bella sat back in her chair and stared at him. “What’s going on, Embry?”
Taking a deep breath, “I imprinted on you, Bella.”
With a shaking hand, she set her wineglass on the side table nearest her. “When?”
Embry knew this was going to be the hardest part of his confession. “Three years ago. It was the day your dad told you about your mom. You looked at me for a fraction of a second, but that was all it took. I’ve been yours ever since.”
“Three years?” Bella stood up and paced across her living room. “I don’t understand. You’ve never even indicated I was your imprint. You never made any kind of move.” Bella gasped and covered her mouth, “Oh, my God! I slept with your pack brother.”
Embry stood and rushed over to her. “Stop, Bella. You didn’t need me in a romantic capacity, that’s why I never made a move. I’ve always been here as your friend.” He pulled her hand from her mouth. “I’m not mad that you slept with Quil. Yes, I had imprinted on you then, but you didn’t need me then.”
Bella stared into his eyes. “Why are you telling me this now?”
Embry pulled her back over to the couch and pulled her down beside him. “Because I can feel the imprint changing, Bella.”
Bella’s heart skipped and then settled into a fast rhythm. She knew he could hear it and looked away from him for a second. Steeling her nerves, she finally raised her eyes to his. “The Hershey Kisses. They were from you, weren’t they?”
“Yes, not just those, though.” He walked over to her kitchen cabinet and pulled down four coffee mugs.
“You bought me these?” She remembered one had held a hot chocolate bomb, the other Hershey kisses, another M&M’s, and the last one had assorted chocolates. “Embry, these always appeared when I was feeling low or sick. How did you know?”
“You’re my imprint, Bella. It’s ingrained in me to know what you need and when. Just like I knew you only needed me as a friend these last few years, and just like I know you, want more now.” The tenor of his voice dropped as he walked closer to her, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek.
Bella found herself lost in his eyes as she leaned into his touch. “Embry,” she whispered as he angled his head and covered her lips with his own.
When she sighed against his lips, Embry took the opportunity and slipped his tongue in to massage hers, groaning at her taste. He moved his hand that was on her cheek to the back of her neck, while his other gripped her hip, holding her to him.
Bella ran her hands up his chest, feeling his muscles rippled under her fingertips. She moved her hands up further and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing further into him as he plundered her mouth with his. She couldn’t stop the moan which escaped her.
Embry broke their kiss and looked at her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “Tell me to stop, Bella.”
Bella looked up at him with eyes full of lust. “I don’t want you to stop, Embry.”
With a growl, Embry slammed his mouth back to hers as he reached down and lifted Bella up by her thighs, wrapping her legs around him. Without separating their lips, he carried her to her room and dropped her onto her bed. She giggled when she bounced slightly, but it was short-lived as Embry soon covered her with his body.
“Bella, the wolf needs to claim you. I know this is still new to you, but—”
Bella pressed her lips to his to silence him. “Embry, it’s okay. I want you to claim me. You’re my mate and I love you. I don’t know when it happened, but I’ve fallen head over heels for you, Embry Call.”
“Spirits, I love you, Bella. I think I always have.” Embry leaned down and kissed her again, gently at first and then growing as their passion for each other grew.
Pulling away from her lips when oxygen became an issue, Embry kissed down her neck to the juncture where it meets her shoulder, nibbling on the flesh there. Bella moaned as she felt his teeth make contact with her skin.
Embry’s warm hands began moving under her T-shirt, pushing it up as he stroked her skin, causing goosebumps to pop up. Bella’s hands were following a similar path up his back, and she longed to feel his skin on hers.
“Off,” she whimpered as he sucked on a sensitive place on her neck.
Lifting himself up from her, Embry allowed Bella to remove her shirt and watched in fascination as she stripped her bra off, throwing both of them across the room.
“Touch me, Embry.”
Once he had her permission, Embry’s hands and lips traced a path all over her torso. He paid close attention to each of her breasts, nipping and sucking at her hardened peaks until Bella was a writhing mess. He was harder than he’d ever been, and her arousal permeated the air around him. Embry could feel his wolf close to the surface and while he wanted to take his time with her, he knew this first time would be fast.
Grasping her pants, he yanked them and her panties down, revealing her naked body, which was flushed with passion. He quickly stripped his own shorts off and watched as Bella spread her thighs, revealing her glistening pussy to his feasting eyes.
“Please, Embry...” she moaned as he settled himself between her legs, his pulsing cock laying heavy where she needed him most.
“I’m trying to hold back the wolf, Bella, but he needs you. This will probably be fast.”
“I don’t care,” she whimpered as she shifted her hips. “I just need you inside me, please.”
Reaching between them, Embry grasped his cock in his hand, running the head through her slick folds. Lining himself up with her entrance, he slowly pressed forward. The feel of her slick heat surrounding him after so long was almost more than he could handle. Still trying to hold back his wolf, he pushed his way into his imprint for the first time. When he was fully seated inside her, they both held still, gazing into each other’s eyes and breathing heavily.
“Move, baby, please,” Bella begged, and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Embry pulled back, leaving only the head inside, and then slammed his hips to hers. “Fuck!”
He set a quick pace, making sure his pelvis hit hers every time. From the moans and mewls that were escaping her throat, she was enjoying what he was doing.
“Harder, Embry,” Bella arched into him as he hit that secret spot inside her that is elusive to most men.
“Bella,” he groaned out her name as his thrusts became harder and deeper. He could feel her walls fluttering around him and knew she was close. Reaching between them, he pinched her clit, causing her to scream out his name as she clenched around him. Slowing his thrusts, he let her ride out her orgasm before he pulled out of her completely and flipped her to her stomach, pulling her up to her knees.
Bella screamed when she felt him slam into her again, gripping the headboard in front of her. “Yes, more!”
Embry reached forward and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her back up to his chest as he thrust in and out of her. He could feel her dripping onto his own thighs as he pummeled her body with his dick. “Come on, baby, give me one more.”
“Embry, please, so close.”
As he felt her walls flutter around him again, he moved her hair, revealing her neck to him. “I’m gonna mark you, Bella. Mark you as mine.”
“Yours,” Bella cried out as her orgasm slammed into her.
Feeling her clench around him again brought forth Embry’s release. He came with a roar and sank his teeth into the juncture of her neck and shoulder, filling her with his essence inside and out.
They fell to the bed as he pulled his teeth from her skin, licking the mark with his tongue and healing it. They were both breathless, but neither willing to break their connection.
“You’re mine, Bella.” Embry whispered into her hair.
“Always,” she whispered as she looked over her shoulder at him.
They completed their bond and made love several more times that night before they both succumbed to exhaustion. Embry’s wolf was content that they had marked their mate and was curled up, allowing his human counterpart to care for Bella.
~*HK*~
Three years later...
“CJ!” Bella watched as her two-year-old son made his way to the kitchen to stand before her. He looked so much like his father, it made her heart smile. “Your lunch is ready, monkey.”
Lifting his arms to his mother, he squealed when Bella picked him up and twirled him around. He wrapped his chubby little arms around her neck as she carried him to his booster chair. Bella sat him down and gave him his lunch, sitting beside him as he babbled on about his toys.
She’d found out she was expecting a month after Embry had marked her. Neither of them had any idea that his mark would act as a deterrent to all forms of birth control. They had married when she was in her second trimester and settled into their new life. The pack was still phasing, although there were very few vampires crossing through their territory.
“Daddy?” CJ looked at his mother.
“Daddy will be back in a little while. He had to go help Uncle Sam and Aunt Emily.” Sam and Emily had just found out they’re expecting and Embry, along with the rest of the pack, was helping Sam build an addition to their house.
After he had finished eating, Bella picked CJ up and carried him to his room. She picked up his favorite stuffed wolf and his blankie before sitting in the rocking chair to put him down for his nap.
Charles Jeffrey Call had come screaming into the world late one night, sliding from his mother’s body into his father’s waiting hands. There hadn’t been time to get Bella to the hospital, since she had unknowingly been in labor for several hours, with no clue until she needed to push. He’d weighed almost nine pounds and came with a head full of dark hair and his mother’s brown eyes. They had named him after Bella’s dad, but had agreed to call him CJ. He was the apple of both his parents’ eyes and neither of them could wait to have more.
Bella was just walking out of his room when Embry walked in. She smiled when she saw her husband.
“Hey,” Embry smiled at her. “CJ down?”
“Yeah. How’s the build going?”
“Finished.” He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna take a shower. Sam gave us the night off from patrol.”
“Great,” she smiled and went to clean up lunch while he went to shower.
She was suddenly struck with an idea and after she had the dishes in the sink, she walked to their bedroom. She could still hear the shower running and the thought of her naked husband with water cascading down his body had warmth growing in her center. Stripping off her clothes, she walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, running her hands up his back.
“Mmm,” Embry turned and wrapped his arms around her. “What about CJ?”
“He’ll sleep for at least two hours so long as you don’t growl.”
“You like it when I growl,” he said into her neck, growling to prove his point, smelling her arousal increase.
“Embry,” she whined as he kissed his way down her neck to her breasts.
Lifting her up by the back of her thighs, he wrapped her legs around his waist as he slid home. Slamming his mouth to hers, he took her hard and fast against the shower wall, their moans caught in each other's mouths. Her orgasm triggered his own, but he was nowhere near done with his wife.
Leaving the shower, he carried her to their bed and slid back inside her once they were down. This time was slow and loving, as he showed her just how much he loved her with every stroke.
When they were spent, Bella lay in Embry’s arms as he ran his fingers through her long tresses. “I love you, Bella.”
“I love you, too.” Knowing that CJ would soon be awake, the two of them dressed and walked into the living room. Embry opened the front door and picked up the package he had left there. He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a mug and fixed his wife her favorite treat. When he walked into the living room, he handed her the mug of hot chocolate and a bag of Hershey Kisses, causing her to smile.
“Are you trying to butter me up?”
Embry grinned. “No, just wanted to give you something sweet. But I do want to talk to you about something.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve been thinking; CJ is two now, so what would you think about having another one?”
Bella smiled and sipped her drink before setting her mug down. She climbed over and straddled his legs, grasping his hand in hers. “I think,” she started as she placed his hand over her womb. “That we’ve already made one.”
“What?” Embry looked at her in surprise.
“I’m pregnant, Em.”
Picking her up, he stood her before him and pressed his ear to her belly. Sure enough, he could hear something that sounded like hummingbird wings. Looking up at her, “I am so thrilled, baby.”
Just then, CJ cried out from his room. “I’ll get him,” Embry stood, grasped her cheeks in his big, warm hands and kissed her gently. “I love you, Bella.”
He left the room to get their son as Bella sat back down on the couch. She picked up a silver-wrapped candy and smiled. If it hadn’t been for Hershey Kisses, she never would have known the love that she now has. Once Embry was back, she cuddled up with the two most important people in her life, thanking the Spirits for their blessings.