“There’s no rush,” she agreed. His fingers parted her while he lazily stroked in and out, getting her worked up. She widened her legs so he could move deeper, and he continued his ministrations as though he had all day. It was different, they were different, and she allowed herself to let go, finding her release. He grabbed a condom, prepared to open it when she grabbed it from his hands.
“I’m on the pill. We don’t need it.” And they didn’t. He was the forever kind, and she wanted to feel him within her without any barriers. He kissed her deeply, bending her knee back before he entered her to the hilt. She let go, lifting her hips to match him stroke for stroke. It was slow, methodic, beautiful, and told her how much he loved her.
***
Alexandra walked into the bar weeks later, ready for her girls’ night. Time since the cabin had been amazing. She’d gone back to work, getting her old cases back while she and Roman had spent their evenings together. It took getting used to, since they’d rarely been out in public prior to their exposure from the media, but it was exhilarating to go out and not have to worry about her job. She’d even met his family, who welcomed her with open arms. It was one of the reasons she’d called for the girls’ night out, in order to introduce Rachel to her sister and Blair.
“You look gorgeous!” Parker hugged her when she walked up to the table.
“So do you.” She kissed her on the cheek, wiping away the pink lip gloss she’d left. “How have you been this week?”
“Living the dream. Sit down; I already ordered your margarita with no salt.” Alexandra used her hip to push Parker to the other side of the booth, leaving the other side for Blair and Rachel. “Who else is coming?”
“Blair called, she’s about ten minutes away, and Roman’s sister should be here any minute. And you need to be nice.” She pointed at Parker.
“Me? What did I do? I don’t even know the girl.”
“Nothing yet, but you tend to judge before you know somebody, and I want you to give her a fair shake.”
“It’s ’cause you love Roman.” Parker waved her hands dramatically in the air, prompting Alexandra to roll her eyes.
“Shut up and act like you have some sense. I met Rachel the other day and invited her out because she was upset. She just broke up with her boyfriend, and I want to make sure she has a good time.” Alexandra took a sip from her margarita, watching the door for Rachel. She did feel bad for the girl. Her boyfriend had told her she was too much work. She was a firecracker, but seemed a bit weepy. Hence the reason Alexandra suggested Rachel join them for a girls’ night. There she goes, she thought, watching the bubbly brunette in red hot pants, black tank top, and heels walking toward her.
“Hey!” Rachel waved, and Alexandra quickly made introductions. Rachel slid into the other side of the booth. “Where is the waiter? I need a drink!”
Parker leaned closer to her, eyes bright with sympathy. “I hope I’m not prying, but Alexandra said you just broke up with your boyfriend. Don’t worry about it; we’ll get you good and drunk and you’ll forget all about him.”
“It’s no problem.” She waved off her sympathy. “He was a flash in the pants anyway, and a horrible lay. I’m just mad he got the jump on me when I was going to break up with him next week. Now it makes me look pathetic, which I hate, and I became the subject of dinner last week when Roman brought Alexandra for everyone to meet.” She thanked the waiter, who placed her drink in front of her.
“My mother loved you, by the way,” Rachel added as an afterthought to Alexandra, and then continued the conversation with Parker about horrible boyfriends as though she hadn’t just rocked Alexandra’s world. She’d hoped to make a good impression, but never in a million years did she believe she’d gain acceptance so quickly.
“Sorry I’m late.” Blair sat down with a huff. “I was trying to deal with my husband. And I need a shot. NOW.” She grabbed Alexandra’s drink, downing it in one gulp.
“Okaaaay.” Alexandra took the empty glass and set it away from her. “You wanna tell me why you came in here and started drinking like you’re trying to break the latest world record? What happened with Derrick?”
Blair rolled her eyes. “Let me tell you what the asshole did to me.” She pulls out her phone, pulling up her latest messages. “I hear a crash outside. Then I get this text message that said ‘Hey, babe, how attached are you to your bumper?’”
Parker choked on the drink she had just taken a sip from, spitting it all over the table.
“Wait, what?!” Alexandra grabbed some napkins, helping Parker dab up the mess. Blair was obsessed with the white Range Rover she got a month ago. It was her dream car and she made sure it had all the bells and whistles.”
Blair held up her finger. “Give me a minute. It gets better. So I stared at this for a couple of minutes, because what the hell? My husband didn’t just text that he wrecked me car? So I text back, ‘If you hit my car I’m hitting your face douchebag.’ To which he replies, ‘Fuck’.”
“That’s it?” Rachel asked.
Blair nodded in her direction then did a double take. “I’m sorry, we haven’t met. And I just put my business in the street to someone I don’t know.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Rachel.” She held out her hand, but Blair looked at Alexandra while she shook it.
Alexandra answered the confusion in her eyes. “Roman’s sister.”
“Right. Forgot you were coming. But since I’ve shared the shit I’m going through, we’re all family now.” Blair’s face was flushed, but she didn’t look any different. There was a determined gleam in her eye, but an outward calm Alexandra found disturbing.
“What did Derrick say?”
“What do you think he said?” Blair shrugged. “He told me he’d get it fixed, and wisely left the keys for his car.” She drank, ignoring the looks exchanged by Rachel, Parker, and Alexandra.
“That sucks.” Alexandra patted Blair’s hand when she sat her drink down.
Blair stared into her drink, stirring it with her straw. “Asshole. So I’m getting drunk and I’m charging his card.”
“We’ll get you drunk. If you really want to stick it to him, you should charge all our drinks to his car,” Rachel joked. “I’m all for hating men right now since my boyfriend broke up with me.”
Blair propped her chin in her hand, her eyes downcast. “No offense, ladies, but I don’t want to discuss this anymore. I’ll deal with my husband later. He better fix my dream car, and then I’ll have him buy me something else ridiculously expensive to make up for it.. Besides,” she looked at Alexandra, “I’m not the only one hiding information.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not hiding information.” Blair reached into her bag, pulling out the day’s newspaper. She opened it to the front page, above the fold, where Franklin Williams was smiling like a loon. She groaned inwardly, thinking she was done with him. Tech Mogul Goes Public, the headline read. She scanned the article but most of the information she already knew, about wanting to go public with the company.
She folded the paper back, handing it to Blair. “I knew he was going public.”
“Why didn’t you tell me who was buying stock in his company?” Blair got the paper back out, opening it and pointing at the list of names on the second page. Alexandra’s heart raced, staring at the name in front of her, sure her eyes must be deceiving her. There was no way his name was on the list. She grabbed the paper, tracing the name over and over again, pieces falling into place, the missing link written right in front of her.
“Oh, my God! Guys, I know what’s going on. Wesley told me to follow the money, but I didn’t believe him.” Parker, Rachel, and Blair scrunched their faces, probably figuring she’d lost her mind.