Love for Eternity (Seth's Imprint)

Chapter 24

Dixie's POV:

I held back my noise of pain as I peeled the bandages away from my side, looking at them in the mirror once they were uncovered. My arm has healed, leaving behind only faint scars that will be gone in another few weeks. My side is another story though as the eight claw marks continue to bleed some as the bandages pull the scabs away. It isn't infected, but it still hurts like hell. I turn on the water, waiting a moment for it to heat up, before stepping in. I hold back another hiss as the warm water runs over the marks.

I know Seth has hearing that could rival my own and I don't want him to feel guilty anymore over this. If he hears me hiss in pain he surely will and I don't want that. I close my eyes as I gently scrub my scalp, thinking over the last few days with him. He's so different from anyone else I've ever known, and he makes me feel.........different. I've noticed my heartrate increasing when he's with me, going from it's normal 15 beats to 25 or even 30 beats per minute. It hasn't beat that fast in a century.

My mind stays with the shifter the entire time I'm in the shower, and even longer as I get dressed. I chose a simple outfit, wanting comfort but still having a desire to look decent. I redressed the wounds before I slid the patterened shirt over my head, grabbing some brown leggins to go with it before towel drying my hair as much as I coul. I packed a small bag with a few extra outfits since Carlisle would rather I stay at their house until the wounds stop bleeding.

I hear music on downstairs and I smile a bit as I realize he figured out how to work the sound system. The Cd in right now is a collection of 80s hits, and I laugh a bit as I wonder if he wanted to listen to that or couldn't figure out how to open it to change Cds. I walk out of the room with the small bag, pausing at the top of the stairs as I hear his voice. He's singing along to "Don't You" by Simple Minds.

The pain in my side seems to disappear as I walk slowly down the stairs, holding onto the railing as I go. I listen to him sing the chorus of the song, and I see him nodding his head as he looks at some of my paintings on the wall as I reach the bottom step. I smile as he keeps singing, wondering if the music kept him from hearing me come down the stairs. Suddenly he turns towards me belting out the chorus again, until he sees me standing there.

His singing dies off mid-chord and I can't help the laugh from my lips as I see the blush appear on his tan face. He soon joins me with a soft laugh of his own, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck and grinning at me. I walk over to the sound system, cutting it off for a moment before looking back at him.

"You should have called for me, I could have helped you down the stairs." (S)

"It's fine, I need the exercise. I'm close to going mad not being allowed to do anything all day. At this point walking down the stairs is like climbing a mountain, it's great." (D)

"Yeah but if you had fallen or something I would have never forgiven myself." (S)

"That's rather foolish, considering it would have been my fault if it had happened." (D)

I see him about to argue but just as he opens his mouth I smile and press play, another 80s song starts blaring through the room. He smiles a bit before he shakes his head at me. I offer my hand and he takes it before walking with me to the kitchen, keeping his other hand out just in case I should start to fall. I start pulling out ingredients for parmesan chicken, while he watches from the island with a small smile.

"So Ruby, what was your favorite time period music wise?" (S)

I see him smiling at me and I raise an eyebrow slightly at him as he does. That isn't a question I was expecting from him while we were at my house. I turn back towards the stove as I ponder his question, getting the oil in the pan ready to cook the chicken before tossing the noodles into the boiling water.