Then Came Absolution (Southern Love #3)

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Then Came Absolution (Southern Love #3) Page 6

by E. L. Todd


  Alexandra laughed. “It’s nice to see you too.”

  “You know what I mean.” She sighed then pulled away. “You look good. Did you lose weight?”

  Alexandra shrugged. “Probably.”

  “Let’s get some coffee.”

  “I already got yours. Chai tea latte, cold.”

  Abby smiled. “Elephants never forget.”

  “Are you calling me an elephant?” Alexandra asked.

  “I said you lost weight, not that you weren’t fat.”

  Alexandra glared at her.

  “You know I’m kidding,” she said with a laugh.

  Alexandra laughed too. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.”

  They sat down in the corner.

  “So, what’s going on with you?” Abby said as she sipped her coffee.

  “Paul’s dad had a heart attack so we came back to see him.”

  “Is he okay?” Abby asked immediately.

  “He’s fine,” Alexandra said. “Thankfully.”

  “That’s good,” she said. “Paul is a good guy. He doesn’t deserve to lose his father so soon.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  She smiled. “So, you and Paul are back together?”

  “Yeah…”

  “I’m so happy,” Abby said. “I love Paul. I really couldn’t imagine you being with anyone better than him.”

  Alexandra nodded. “He’s a great guy.”

  Abby studied her face. “You forgave him for kissing that girl?”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “Our breakup was all my fault anyway.”

  “I wouldn’t say that…”

  “He was going to propose.”

  “I know,” Abby said. “When he told me you were totally distant, it was so hard for me not to tell him the truth. If you were just honest with him, things would have been a lot different.”

  “I know…”

  “Not to make you feel worse.”

  “I know,” Alexandra said.

  “So, you’re happy with him?”

  “Yeah.”

  Abby watched her closely. “What is it?”

  “What’s what?”

  “I can tell something is bothering you.”

  Alexandra loved her sister, but their ability to read each other’s thoughts was annoying a times.

  “Is it Blaise?”

  Alexandra nodded.

  “Get over him already,” Abby said. “What’s the big deal about this guy?”

  “I don’t know,” Alexandra said with a sigh. “ I hate it.”

  “This guy lied to you and cheated on you. Move on.”

  “I know, I know. I just can’t stop loving him. It won’t go away.”

  Abby stared at her. “Does Paul know?”

  Alexandra nodded. “I could never hide that from him.”

  “And he’s still willing to work it out with you?”

  “Yeah…”

  “You are so lucky, Alex. Most guys wouldn’t put up with that, especially beautiful and successful ones like Paul. Do you even love him?”

  “Of course I love Paul,” she said quickly. “I love him so much. That isn’t the problem.”

  “Do you think about Blaise when you’re having sex with Paul?”

  “No…we haven’t had sex.”

  Abby’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? How long have you been back together?”

  She shrugged. “A few weeks—a month.”

  “And he’s waiting for you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “If you weren’t my sister, I’d steal him away from you.”

  Alexandra laughed. “You would.”

  “You need to let Blaise go—seriously. Paul is a sweet guy but he won’t put up with this forever.”

  “I know,” Alexandra said. “When I move back here, I’m sure I’ll forget about him. It’ll just take some time.”

  “You fell in love with the wrong guy.”

  “I know…” She played with her cup and stared at the logo on the side. “Sometimes I think he wasn’t the wrong one.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I don’t know…sometimes I wonder if he didn’t cheat on me, that maybe I was wrong.”

  Abby gave her a sympathetic look. “I know this is hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth. He played you.”

  “But it felt so real.”

  “Players are good at what they do. Don’t forget that.” She rested her hand on hers. “You know who isn’t a player? Paul. He loves you so much, Alex. Just be happy with him.”

  “I am happy with him,” Alexandra said. “I am.”

  “Then you need to give yourself to him, not partially, not a little bit. All of it. Blaise is never going to happen. You need to move on.”

  “I know,” Alexandra said. “I just get confused sometimes.”

  “There’s nothing to be confused about.”

  “I suppose. I think about how different our lives would have been if I hadn’t run away to Georgia. Paul and I would be married by now.”

  “It’s not too late,” Abby said. “You can still get married. Paul would ask you in a heartbeat if he knew you were ready.”

  Alexandra nodded. “Maybe I should tell him I’m ready.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Maybe I should tell him to propose. If we get engaged, it might help me move on.”

  “It probably would,” Abby said. “But would that be fair to Paul?”

  “No…”

  “Maybe you should rethink that idea.”

  Alexandra covered her face. “I hate myself.”

  “Don’t,” Abby said. “It’s okay.”

  “Maybe I should sleep with Paul. It might help.”

  “I’m sure the first time you do it, you’ll think about Blaise. But after that, you’ll always think about Paul.”

  “The first time I slept with Blaise, I never thought about Paul and we had only been broken up for a month.”

  “What are you saying?” Abby asked.

  “I’m not saying anything.”

  “I think you are.”

  Alexandra rested her hands on the table. “I think I really loved Blaise. I did in a way that I’ll never explain.”

  “Are saying you love him more than Paul?”

  “More isn’t the right word—different would be better.”

  “And where are you going with this? Do you want to be with Blaise instead? Because if you do, you shouldn’t waste Paul’s time and heart.”

  Alexandra knew she could never be with Blaise. He wasn’t trustworthy, and he wasn’t what he said he was. “No, I want to be with Paul.”

  “Then don’t let yourself think about Blaise. That’s it.”

  Alexandra nodded. “You’re right.”

  “I know everything.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Conceited, much?”

  Abby shrugged. “I just know my strengths.”

  “Are you seeing anyone?”

  “No,” Abby said. “I’m never seeing anyone.”

  “What’s the deal?” Alexandra asked.

  “I don’t know…I just don’t like anyone. Most guys seem so…boring and plain. I want someone that gets my heart rate up, you know? And guys get too clingy. I want to be with someone that I can actually commit to. Every other guy I meet is just…not right.”

  “Paul has a brother.”

  “I don’t do blind dates,” she said automatically.

  “Well, if you like Paul you’d like him. They are pretty similar.”

  “No,” she said. “It’s not my thing.”

  “Well, he said he’d like to meet you if you change your mind.”

  “He agreed to a blind date?”

  Alexandra nodded.

  “I could be hideous.”

  “I said we look a lot alike.”

  “So he knows I’m hideous.”

  Alexandra laughed. “You’re such a bitch.”

  She smiled. “I know.”
r />   “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “I won’t,” Abby said.

  Alexandra grabbed her phone and found a picture of Paul and his brother. “What do you think?”

  Abby nodded her head in approval. “He is pretty hot.”

  “And he’s a lawyer.”

  “That sounds good too.”

  “And he’s very sweet.”

  She handed the phone back. “But no thanks.”

  “Fine,” Alexandra said. “It’s your loss.”

  “Girls with asses like mine can get their own dates.”

  “Conceited much?” Alexandra repeated.

  “I’m confident,” she said. “And it’s better than your blatant ignorance. I’m sure that gets annoying for Paul.”

  Alexandra looked at the time. “I should get going.”

  “Are you staying with Paul?”

  She nodded.

  “You better give him amazing head for putting up with your shit.”

  Alexandra rolled her eyes. “You’re such a lady.”

  “I’m just saying the guy deserves something.”

  “I’ll see you later.”

  Abby adopted a serious look. “You’re moving back, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Cuz, I kinda, sorta miss you in a really weird way.”

  Alexandra smiled. “I’m sorry I’ve been so out of touch. It won’t happen again. I know you don’t have any friends besides me.”

  “Back to being a bitch like usual,” Abby said with a sigh.

  “I’ll be in touch,” Alexandra said.

  “Alex?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Treat Paul good. He deserves it.”

  Alexandra nodded. “I know he does.”

  She left the café and walked back to Paul’s apartment. She knew she should forget about Blaise and move on with Paul—really move on with him. He deserved her unconditional love and devotion. He shouldn’t have to share her heart with someone else, especially someone who hurt her so much.

  When she came back to the apartment, Paul was sitting at the kitchen table, papers scattered around him. “How was Abby?” he asked.

  “Good.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  “Yeah,” Alexandra said. “I love my sister even though she’s annoying.”

  “You two are a lot alike.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “But you are definitely the more beautiful one.”

  “That’s better,” she said. She came to his chair then sat in his lap. As soon as she put her weight on him, his erection came to life. “How was work?”

  “Toby wasn’t kidding. The place is pure chaos.”

  “It’s a good thing you’re here.”

  “Yeah.” He cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

  She rubbed his shoulders and thought about what Abby said to her. Paul was a great guy and she should feel grateful to have him. She leaned in and kissed him gently while she unbuttoned his jeans.

  He moaned while he kissed her, letting her get the fly down. She pulled down his jeans and boxers slightly until his cock sprang out, long and hard. He continued to kiss her while it twitched.

  Alexandra grabbed it and rubbed it while she kissed his neck. Paul let his head roll back while he enjoyed it. Then she lowered herself to her knees then leaned over him. Paul took a deep breath when her lips touched his tip.

  “What did I do to deserve this?” he whispered.

  “You’re the best boyfriend in the world—that’s what.”

  He bit his lip while he watched her.

  She licked the base to the tip then put him in her mouth. She moved down slowly, making it achingly painful. Paul immediately grabbed her hair and pulled it out of her face. He dug his fingers inside and rocked her head slightly, pushing himself to the back of her throat.

  “Yeah…”

  Alexandra gripped his base then ran her hand up and down. By the feel of his twitching cock, she knew he wouldn’t last long. His fingers moved into her hair as he rocked into her gently.

  “Alex…”

  She pulled him out then licked the liquid from his tip.

  “Fuck…”

  She inserted him back in just as he exploded. He filled the back of her throat with a full squirts. He gripped her neck and moaned the entire time, enjoying it immensely.

  “Baby, that felt so good.”

  She pulled away then wiped her mouth on her arm. “I’m glad I can make you feel as good as I do.”

  “You did.” He pulled her to his lap and held her close. “I love you so much,” he whispered.

  “I love you too.”

  He kissed her forehead then squeezed her. “This nightmare would have been horrific without you. With you standing by my side, I know I can overcome anything, succeed in everything. The pain I feel is less when I have you in my arms, almost non-existent.”

  She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead. “You take care of me too.”

  “Not in the same way,” he said. “You do so much for me. I can’t even describe it.”

  She hugged him. “We’re always there for each other.”

  “Always.” He pulled away and looked at her. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  She pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes. “Me too.”

  Chapter Eight

  Alexandra met Abby for lunch the next day. When Paul was at work, she didn’t have much to do, and she already cleaned his apartment until it was spotless. She wanted to call her friends but she wanted to wait until she was permanently in the city.

  “So, did you give him good head?” Abby asked.

  “The best.”

  “Good,” she said. “He deserved it.”

  “I’m going to do it tonight.”

  “Go down on him again?”

  “No, the other thing.”

  Abby eyed her. “You ready for it?”

  “It’s a like bandage. I just need to get it over with.”

  Abby laughed. “That’s so romantic.”

  “You told me it was going to be bad no matter how long I wait.”

  She shrugged. “That’s true.”

  “When was the last time you got laid?”

  Abby picked up the menu. “That was a personal question.”

  “You just asked if I gave my boyfriend head.”

  She laughed. “I did, huh? It’s been a while, actually. I keep meeting boys, not men.”

  “Your vibrator is good enough?” Alexandra asked.

  “Compared to most guys, it’s way better.”

  “Ouch,” Alexandra said.

  “You’re lucky Paul knows what he’s doing.”

  “How would I know?” Alexandra asked. “He was my first.”

  “Well, how was he compared to Blaise?”

  “Uh…”

  Abby smiled. “You’ve never compared them?”

  “They aren’t really—comparable.”

  “Did they both get you off?”

  Alexandra blushed. “You’re the only person I have these conversations with.”

  “I know,” she said. “I’m your best friend.”

  “And my best annoyance.”

  “Spill it,” she said. She drank from her ice tea then returned it to the table.

  “They were both good. Both got the job done.” Alexandra felt a little awkward comparing the performance of two different guys. “I feel like a slut.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve slept with two guys.”

  “So? That’s a really low number.”

  “But they were so close together, like a few months.”

  Abby rolled her eyes. “You’re practically a saint, Alex.”

  “Well, I thought Paul would be my one and only.”

  “And that’s a bad thing,” Abby said. “How would you know Paul was the one unless you slept with someone else? Saw what else was out there?”

 
“Or knew if Blaise was the one.”

  Abby narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing,” Alexandra said quickly. “I’m just saying it could have gone either way.”

  “But it didn’t,” she said firmly. “It’s Paul. Remember that.”

  “I’ve never forgotten.”

  Abby flipped through the menu then put it down. “So, who was better?”

  “No one was better. They were both amazing.”

  “I’m jealous.” She looked for their waiter. “I think I’m getting a burger. I’m starving.”

  Alexandra’s phone went off. She immediately grabbed it, thinking it was Blaise. He finally called her. But it was Paul. “Hello?”

  “Hey, baby. What are you doing?”

  “I’m having lunch with Abby.”

  “Can I join you?”

  “Let me see,” Alexandra said. She put the phone down. “Paul wants to join us.”

  “Are you asking my permission?” Abby asked incredulously.

  “Is that a yes?” Alexandra asked.

  Abby rolled her eyes.

  Alexandra picked up the phone again. “We are at that bistro on 23rd.”

  “Great,” Paul said. “Order me a turkey club.”

  “Okay.” She hung up.

  Abby smiled. “Paul is going to get laid tonight and he doesn’t even know it.”

  Alexandra laughed. “I know he’s been wanting to for a while. And if he really hasn’t had sex with anyone besides me, he must be dying.”

  “If?” Abby asked. “You think he’d lie about that?”

  “No,” Alexandra said. “Paul has never lied to me.”

  “Then there is no if,” she said simply. “He isn’t a liar like Blaise.”

  Alexandra felt uncomfortable with the comparison.

  “And he’s such a sweet guy. I can’t see him being with anyone besides you.”

  She knew that was true.

  Paul joined them a moment later. “Hey,” he said with a smile. He came to Abby and hugged her tightly. “You look nice.”

  “Thank you.” She winked at Alexandra. “I’ve always liked Paul.”

  “Because he kisses your ass,” Alexandra said.

  Paul came to Alexandra’s side of the table. “Hey, baby.” He kissed her forehead then took a seat.

  “How’s work?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t even want to talk about it. I had to get out for lunch.” He put his hand on her thigh then looked at the menu. “Did you order already?”

 

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