[A/N; Oh, look at that... an unsatisfied Bella? HintHint—Embry/Bella/Seth future sort fic]

Sticky and Unhappy

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice warned from the doorway. Bella looked up, frowned, the sticky stuff on her cheek and caking—she had her finger half way to her lips, the same sticky stuff on the pad and glistening—and blushed at having been caught out.

She was still hot (having a wolf in the room would do that) and beyond angry that Embry just up and left so suddenly after the mess was made.

Balancing precariously, she pointed a finger at Seth.

"You shouldn't be here. In fact, seeing me like this, Jacob will not only use you for a chew toy but pretty much toss you to the others for not helping."

"I refuse to touch it, Bella. Sorry but I like my face the way it is and your wolf boy would eat me alive anyway just for standing here. Besides, Embry was grinning ear to ear and I had to see for myself."

She snorted, made a face when her face bunched up and the now-cold sticky substance pulled at the skin of her cheek.

"Can you at least get me a warm cloth or something, then? I'm kind of stuck like this until he comes back," she gestured to her spot in the middle of the room.

"He might not come back," Seth leaned against the door frame, smirking Paul's smirk and she wanted to slap it right off his adorable face. She finally heard what he said and groaned.

"Seriously?"

A nod and she groaned again, wiped the sticky stuff on the flesh of her hip.

"Please?"

She went all out, making her doe eyes wide and pouted.

Seth sighed and came to her side so fast her neck cracked from watching.

"Where do you want me?"

"If you could just get under me that'd be great... and put your leg right th—yes, perfect,"

Pressing her tongue to the corner of her mouth she took a deep breath and then gestured he move—he arched his back and she gave a small gasp at the push and lift.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Embry just... he took it slow."

"Well you are pretty clumsy Bella. What's Jake gonna think when he comes home and finds us," he gestured as she looked to where they connected "like this?"

"He can think what he wants. I wanted this room painted before Renee came over and look at the state of me."

Balancing—which, in itself, was a miracle— and feet planted firmly along his back, Bella chuckled and picked up the paintbrush, swiping a blob across the wall where she'd missed a patch. On all fours, Seth supported her, laughing softly to himself as he realised three things.

One, Bella was a mess.

Two, she'd missed plenty of spots.

Three, Jake was going to kill him for holding her up like this.

It was both Embry and Bella's fault for trusting the old not-so-reliable ladder and in the end, the paint tin, brush and rollers went bottoms up and she thanked her lucky stars she'd laid down the tarp. Embry was off to replace ol' faithful and all she had now was Seth.

(Renee, after arriving, commented that the canary yellow would have looked better than the lavender while Phil shook his head and muttered something about "women")

[Oh how I love making a mess. And the smell of paint.]