Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) (14 page)

“I couldn’t live there anymore,” she said quietly. “Everything was too much. I wanted to get away from Paul, from what I did. I just ran without looking back.”

“Does everyone know where you are?”

“Only my sister.”

“You didn’t tell anyone where you went?”

She shook her head.

“You should tell them, Alexandra. I’m sure they are all worried, especially Paul.”

“If I tell him where I am, he’ll come after me. And I texted him the other day and said I was safe. That’s all I can do.”

He stared at her face, still running his fingers through her hair. “I don’t think you should have ran away from your life in New York. But I’m really glad you came here.”

She smiled through her tears. “I am too.”

“And you’ve become my favorite apprentice.”

She laughed. “I’m the worst farmer ever.”

“No you aren’t. You’re learning.”

“Very slowly.”

“That’s okay,” he said with a smile. “Your motivation is admirable.”

“Well, Martha is my family.”

“And that’s one of the reasons why I fell for you.”

“What are the other reasons?” She ran her hand down his chest, feeling his strength.

“Well, the first reason is I think you’re really cute, extremely gorgeous. Call me superficial, but that’s the first thing I noticed.” She didn’t judge him for the comment. She thought the same thing. “The second reason was because of your humbleness. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, but you’re ignorant to your looks. You’re smart—too smart for your own good. You’re compassionate, putting everyone before yourself. And that smile—it kills me every time.”

“I wasn’t sure if you even liked me.”

“Believe me, I did.”

“Then why were you so distant?”

The light in his eyes disappeared. “It just wasn’t the right time.” He averted his gaze. She thought there was more to this story but she didn’t press him. He never pressured her to spill her secrets and she would do the same for him.

She stared at him while they lay under the trees, letting the slight breeze take their stress away. When he looked at her, he held her gaze, love and adoration in his eyes. The world became silent as they stared at each other.

Blaise kept glancing at her lips, appraising them.

Alexandra wanted him to kiss her. She made the move last time, so it was his turn.

Blaise looked conflicted. He sighed. “Fuck it.” He grabbed her face and pressed his mouth against hers.

The passion in his touch burned her lips. His lips caressed hers, stealing her breath away. His hand cupped her cheek, deepening his kiss. She was still winded by the immediate fire that sparked into life. His tongue slipped into her mouth, lightly touching hers. She moaned when she felt him, never feeling a passionate kiss like that.

Blaise moved on top of her, his hand moving up her leg. His lips moved with precision, making love to her mouth with perfect touches. He made her moan and gasp over and over. She wasn’t ashamed by her obvious enthusiasm. He blew her mind and she wanted him to know that. He pulled away and rubbed his nose against hers, giving her a second to recover from the electricity coursing through her veins.

She grabbed his face and kissed him again, her leg wrapped around his. Her hands explored his body, feeling the shoulders she admired so much. They were broad and strong, defined from the years working in the fields. When she moved down his back, she felt the lines of muscle. He was strong and powerful, sculpted from solid stone. She and Paul had a strong sexual attraction but it was nothing compared to this. She was burning from the inside out. She wanted more, but he already gave her everything he had. When he moved against her, she felt the bulge in the front of his pants. She was astounded by his obvious size. She was already hot for him, but her infatuation only grew.

Alexandra rolled on top him, leaning over him. When she looked down at him, she saw the desire in his eyes. He ran his fingers through her hair then he pulled it away, revealing her face. She leaned down and kissed him again, taking the lead.

Blaise trembled underneath her touch. His hands moved into her hair wildly then down her slender back, feeling her petite frame. He moved to her hips and grabbed them, holding her to him.

She pulled away then rubbed her nose against his, teasing him.

“Mmm,” he said. “You’re an amazing kisser.”

“I was going to say the same about you.”

“I’m not even done.” He rolled her to the ground and moved on top of her, dominating her. His mouth sealed over hers, his tongue touching hers. When he moved his kisses to her neck, she dug her fingers into his hair, moaning quietly. He moved between her legs then leaned over her, taking the lead. “I could kiss you all day.”

“It looks like we have a common hobby.”

He grabbed her face and kissed her again. The sun set over the horizon, making the forest turn dark. Alexandra didn’t want their make out session to end, but she knew they should leave soon.

Blaise stayed on top of her when he broke their kiss. “I should take you home.”

“Let’s go to the loft,” she blurted.

He rubbed his nose against hers. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“Let’s go.”

He moved off her then kept his gaze averted so he wouldn’t see up her dress. They packed everything and threw it in the back of the truck. Bane jumped inside before they shut the tailgate.

Alex sat in the seat directly next to him, kissing his neck while he drove home. She didn’t want to stop kissing him. The taste of his skin set her on fire. She wanted to feel him everywhere, to know him in an intimate way. Her hand ran up his chest while she nibbled his ear.

Blaise moaned while she kissed him. His breathing was deep and heavy, the bulge in his pants unable to be hidden. “Damn, Alexandra.”

“You should drive faster,” she whispered into his ear.

“Not if I don’t want to kill us,” he said with a moan.

She lightly blew into his ear.

“You’re so fucking sexy, Alexandra.”

She chuckled quietly. “I guess you should hurry.”

Blaise parked the truck in front of the warehouse and practically jumped out. He took her hand as they walked inside. When they reached the ladder, he went first so he wouldn’t see up her dress. After she reached the loft, he pushed her down and climbed on top of her, continuing their make out session. It was dark in the warehouse, hiding most of their bodies from view. The stars started to appear through the wooden boards.

Every moan Blaise made when she kissed him sent her to the brink. Her hands glided through his hair, totally out of control. She clutched him tightly, never wanting to let go.  Her nails dug into his skin harder than she meant. She hadn’t kissed anyone like this since high school and she enjoyed it immensely. Blaise was special to her, someone she never expected to find. Now she knew she was meant to come here, to find the person that was waiting for her. She never felt this connection with anyone in her life. Blaise was the one for her.

Blaise pulled away then rubbed his nose against hers. He was out of breath, hot and heavy. His hand cupped her cheek as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I need Chapstick.”

She laughed. “I do too.”

He kissed her forehead. “Alexandra, you’re amazing.”

“You are too.”

He lied on his back and pulled her to his chest. “I’ve never kissed anyone like that.”

“Neither have I.”

He ran his fingers through her hair, his heart starting to slow.

Alexandra wrapped her arm around his waist, hugging him. She stared at the stars in the crack of the wall, seeing them shine bright. Both of them were too tired to leave the loft. And neither one wanted to anyway. The warmth of his arms lulled her to sleep. The last thing she thought about before she fell asleep was Blaise, the star in her sky.

19

Blaise woke up just as the sun rose. His internal clock never allowed him to sleep in. He had work to do.

He looked at Alexandra, who was asleep in his arms. She curled around him, holding him tightly. He never saw anything more beautiful. He could lay there all day, just watching her sleep. Blaise kissed her on the forehead before he climbed down the ladder and headed toward his truck. Bane was sleeping with the other dogs on the porch, snoring quietly. When he turned to the field, he stiffened when he saw Martha sitting on the porch, staring him down. She didn’t look happy.

Blaise walked up the stairs and approached her.

She sat in the rocking chair, as still as a statue. The hard look in her eyes showed her anger and disappointment.  “Have a good time?”

He kept his hands by his sides. “Alexandra is in the loft.”

“Yeah, I connected the dots,” she snapped. “I love you like my own family, Blaise. But that doesn’t change anything. You mess with my niece, you mess with me and every shotgun and rifle I own.”

“I don’t understand where this hostility is coming from,” he said simply. “I care about Alexandra deeply.”

“The last time I checked, you were living with your girlfriend, the woman who was carrying your child at one point.”

Blaise sighed, knowing this wasn’t going to be good. “We’ve been broken up for months.”

“And now she’s just a roommate? Are you tight on money?” she said sarcastically.

“It’s complicated…but we haven’t been together in months. I swear on my father’s grave.”

“You really shouldn’t disrespect him in such a way.”

“I just want to assuage any doubt you may have about my intentions with Alexandra.”

“Does she know?”

He averted his gaze. “No...”

Martha looked even angrier. “So you bed my niece without telling her the truth? You’re lucky my gun is in the house.”

“I didn’t sleep with her,” he said quickly. “She and I kissed—that’s it. I would never do that to her. I’m trying to figure out how to…solve my problem with Danielle. But it’s an ordeal.”

“Just ask her to move out,” Martha said. “It doesn’t sound that difficult.”

“Martha, you know me better than anyone, since I was a little boy. I’m honest, loyal, and caring. Please just trust me on this. I can’t explain what’s going on, but I promise that I’m figuring it out.”

Martha rubbed her chin with her fingers, lost in thought. “I have to tell her, Blaise.”

His eyes widened. “Please don’t.”

“Family is first, Blaise. She deserves to know what she’s getting into. I’m sorry.”

He sighed. “Please trust me.”

Martha looked conflicted. “When will you tell her?”

“I don’t know...”

“I can’t wait that long,” she said. “My niece, the child I love like my own daughter, is already falling too deep. I can’t let her get hurt.”

“I thought you trusted me?”

She stared at him.

“I promise I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be doing. I intend to tell Alexandra everything. Please let me handle it this way. I really care about her, and want to be in a serious relationship with her.”

Martha looked across the field, watching the sun rising over the horizon. “Do I have your word?”

“Yes, I promise I’ll tell her.”

“And you and Danielle are really over?”

“Yes.”

“I have your word?” she repeated.

“You have my word,” he said as he looked her in the eye.

“I’ll be watching you, Blaise.”

“I know.”

She rose from her chair and walked inside. He stayed on the porch and stared at the warehouse, knowing Alexandra was still asleep. The greatest gem had come into his life, brightening the sky and the stars, but it had come at the worst time. If only Danielle hadn’t been such a pain in his ass this would have been different. Or better yet, he should have controlled himself and not gave into his weakness. He should have pushed her away until he figured out how to get rid of Danielle while protecting her at the same time. Then he could have made his move. But it was too late now. He made his mistake and he had to live with it. He just hoped Alexandra would be as trusting as he assumed she would be. His happiness depended on it.

He went into the field and worked for the day. Alexandra didn’t join him, and he assumed she was still asleep. When she finally arrived, she yawned.

“Are you already done?” she asked.

He smiled. “Well that was a coincidence. You show up as soon as I’m finished.”

She hit him lightly on the shoulder. “You know I always want to help.”

He pulled her to his chest and kissed her despite the sweat covering his body. “I had a great time yesterday.”

“I did too,” she said. “Can I see you tonight?”

“I have some work to do. How about on Tuesday?”

“Sure,” she said. “So when am I going to see your place? I don’t even know where you live.”

His heart hammered in his chest. “I’ll have you over for dinner soon.”

“And you live alone, right?”

He felt cornered. “It used to belong to my parents.” That didn’t answer the question but it wasn’t a lie either.

“Well, I haven’t gotten my own place yet,” she said. “And my aunt is always here…it would be nice to go somewhere more private.”

His cock hardened at her words. He wasn’t sure what she was implying specifically, but he knew he would like whatever she had in mind. “Yeah…”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“Okay.” He watched her walk back in the house.

She turned around and waved at him, a big smile on her face, one just for him. His heart squeezed when he watched her go. He got into his truck and drove home. He sat in his truck for a while, knowing he had to figure out a pan today, not tomorrow, not next week. He would feel uncomfortable if Alexandra lived with her ex-boyfriend. It would keep him up late into the night, panicked and anxious at all times.

He walked inside, his determination set into his bones. Danielle was sitting on the couch, crying into a tissue. It seemed like she always crying. “Danielle, we need to talk.”

She blew into the tissue, sobbing. “Where were you last night?”

Now he knew why she was crying. “With my girlfriend.”

She covered her face.

“Danielle, I don’t say this to hurt you, but I really care about this girl…I think I love her.”