tongue twister • paul lahote

xiii

T H U N D E R B O O M E D off the walls of the mostly empty house. Breathing was the only sound apparent in the entire place. The early morning hours dwindled into afternoon, although the sky darkened with clouds resembled more of an evening feeling. Darren Crowley had not yet returned from his weekend call-in, and his daughter had a feeling he would be there until the late hours of the night. To pass her time, after he had warded off her unwanted visitor, Santana invited Paul to stay a while. In reality, it wasn't out of courtesy, but instead out of the deep seeded feelings she had for him. She couldn't bear him leaving. Not after the days she'd spend a part from him.

Just his aura in the house made her feel at peace. She had fallen for him but was scared to admit it. How could she give one person all power over her again. After all, it didn't work for her before. Jacob destroyed her trust, and Paul surely could build it up again, but the time it would take for that was almost agonizing to wait in. Little did she know he'd wait for as long as she wanted. She knew what she was to him, but he had reason to believe she didn't understand it to it's full intent. She was all he could ever want, or need. His love for her ran deeper than any love anybody had for another. All she had to do was say the words and that's what he would be. He wasn't going anywhere.

"I thought you had forgotten about me." Santana admitted, shattering the silence in the room. Paul's chest fell in a scoff as he pulled her small form closer to him in the bed they shared.

"As if that could ever happen. I didn't want to push my luck any further. I figured I strained the relationship enough that night on the roof. I didn't want to make things any worse." His words were soft and hurt her to hear. He couldn't ruin what they had in a million years. She'd never felt this way with anybody but him, and she was positive she never would.

His statement echoed in her ears as the rain splattered against the roof. She couldn't bear the thought of him being down on himself, especially if she may have made him feel that way. She sat up and his arms fell from around her. She turned to make eye contact and slowly lowered her face down to his, and gently pressed her mouth to his. His heart exploded with emotion, and he reached up to grab her face in his hands. Her body melted into him in bliss as his warm flesh met her own. Their lips moved in unison, only in a way that two things that were meant to be together could. It was like putting the last piece into the puzzle that took an eternity to finish.

He sat up with her in time, and moved his hands around her small frame. She pivoted in a way to give her more access to the boy in front of her. The desire that they both experienced in that moment could never compare to anything else. Paul felt like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment, and now that it was finally here he wasn't letting it slip away. In reality, the kiss lasted only a minute, but it could never be long enough for the two of them. They would always be left wanting more. They could never get enough of each other. When the two finally broke apart, neither moved away. They let their lips linger over each other's, afraid if they parted they could never get it back.

Santana pressed her mouth to his once more in a soft, slow manner. When she pulled away this time, it was far enough she could look him in the eyes. "If you ruined things then so did I." Her voice barely above a whisper. "Wild horses couldn't drag me away from you."

"Wolves."

"Shut up, it was a Rolling Stones reference."

"I know, but wolves sounds better." He grinned, still breathless. He looked glorious under the minimal lighting shining in from the window. It illuminated his face in the slightest manner, but she could still see his eyes glisten and his smile radiate through the room. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her chest.

"I want you." She paused as his grip on her tightened slightly. "I want nothing else but you. You're my world, and I want to be with you." His heart swelled with affection. "Just give it a little more time." Just as he was brought up, he was knocked down. He nodded in understanding and she lifted her hand to his face. Her thumb glided over the warm skin and she sighed. "Until that day, my feelings will stay the same. You couldn't do anything to change them. I want this. Just not at this moment. Let me have you as a friend first. Let me get over Jacob."