Side Story 1-15

Side Story 1-15
After we finished our meal, they hurried us out of the house. We all knew what they were planning to do with the way they rushed us out of there.
We get back into Levi's car, and he drives us back to the office so Tim and I can get our cars.

I get in my car and go home. I'm so happy that Liam is back! I missed him all too much, and I can't wait to find out what he's been up to!
I get out of the car when I arrive home and walk to my door. I open the door and walk inside. I see there's a lamp on in the living room, so I walk into the living room and see Paul sleeping on the couch.

I gave him a key a couple of months ago, so he could come and go as he pleases.
Apparently, it pleases him to be around me frequently, and that pleases me.

I pick him up gently and smile as he starts mumbling in his sleep. He blinks his eyes open sleepily, "Roxanne?"
I chuckle and say, "Yes, butterfly, it's me. Were you waiting for me?"

He yawns like a cute little angel and says, "Yes, but I've been so tired since I got caught up in this case at work."
The embezzling that he told me about a couple of years ago was now too big to ignore. He had given his boss my card, and his boss had called me, and now he is a client at our firm.

"Aww, babe, just a couple more weeks and this should all be finished with," I say as I start walking to the bedroom.
I lay him down on the bed and tug off my clothes before sliding in beside him.

He sighs and says, "I know, it's just exhausting being a whistleblower and having to testify to the same thing over and over again."
I smile softly at him and say, "I know, love. That's the defense trying to find holes in your story. Pretty soon, there will be no avoiding the outcome: he's guilty."

He smiles back at me and says, "Thank you, babe. For always being there for me, in everything."
I wrap my arms around him and say, "I told you before, no need to thank me. I'm just handling my responsibilities."

He presses his lips to mine gently. I kiss him for a moment before I pull back suddenly. Paul looks at me with a quizzical expression on his face.
"Oh," I exclaim, "I don't know how it slipped my mind, I mean, I guess your beauty does have a way of distracting me," I say thoughtfully.

"Oomph!" I grunt when Paul smacks me on my arm and says, "Concentrate! What? What slipped your mind?"
"Oh! Right! Liam is back!"

Paul pulls away from me and looks at me with excitement and happiness on his face. "He is?! That's awesome! I know everyone is happy and excited!"
"Yes, that's what took me so long, we stayed to eat with him and catch up a bit. That was until Chase kicked us out because he wanted sexy times with Liam." I snickered.

Paul swats me again, "Oh, hush! You would want sexy times as soon as you saw the love of your life after two years apart, too."
I pull him back to my chest and chuckle, "Yeah, if you were my fated mate, I for sure would, cause even though you're not my fated mate, I still for sure would!"

Paul pulls away from me again, looking at me with wide eyes, "They're fated mates?!"
I look at him with a puzzled expression on my face, "I'm sure I told you about that before..." I trail off as I realize I never mentioned it before; I kept all things Liam tucked away.
"I'm sorry, butterfly. I thought I mentioned it before, I guess I didn't talk about Liam much, huh?"

He shakes his head, "But I'm so curious! I've never met a fated pair before! How did they find out? Why were they apart for so long? I thought there was a pull that makes it hard to resist?"
He rapid-fires these questions, not taking a breath until he's done speaking.

I chuckle, "One question at a time. To answer your first question, when Liam told us about it, he described it as a tingling sensation that ran through him every time they touched. Being unable to help the attraction he felt for him, and wanting to be around him all the time. To answer your second question, they were apart for so long because Liam went through that traumatic experience not too long after they found out they were fated mates. Liam needed to take some time for himself for his recovery, so he left. I thought there was a pull too that made it hard to stay away. But when I looked into it more, I found people saying that when a traumatic event happens before the deadline, then the deadline is waived until the person is better and ready."

He's staring at me with his eyes wide and his mouth in a perfect circle. Then he parts those beautiful lips and says, "Wow! That's so fascinating! Could you imagine feeling a sensation that lets you know you are fated to someone?"

I shake my head, "No, that has always puzzled me. I wanted to rule what Liam was describing as just static shock, but he said it happened every time they touched. So..." I shrug as my voice trails off.
Paul smiles at me, "It feels electrical when I'm in your presence, too. Does that mean we're fated?"

I chuckle, "We'll be fated for us, because you complete me."
He flushes and ducks his head to my chest, mumbling, "You say the sweetest things sometimes."

I laugh again, "Don't be so bashful, I'm sure you know by now how much you mean to me."
He gives me a soft, sweet smile, "I do know, I'm honored to be held in such high regard."

"The honor is mine that you love me back at all is a wonder to me!" I say, smiling wistfully.
"You are absolutely worth it. We had to go through everything we did to get to right where we are now. That's how it was supposed to be," he says with a voice full of conviction.

I give him a happier smile when I say, "And that, my dear butterfly, is why I love you so much!" I tuck my face into his neck, breathing his sweet scent deeply. It comforts me.
He pulls the scrunchie that's holding my hair down a bit, loosening my ponytail. He pushes his fingers into my hair, rubbing against my scalp.

"If it's any consolation, I think we were always supposed to meet when we did. Everything with you felt right from the very beginning," he murmurs into my hair.
"That's great consolation," I say, chuckling, before I place a gentle kiss on his neck.

He shivers and wraps his arm around my back, using the hand he has in my hair to press me tighter to him. I just chuckle and breathe in his strawberries and chocolate scent.
I listen to his breathing and the sound of his heartbeat as they lull me to sleep.



Liam calls us up a few days later and invites us to dinner. We're busy, but we'll for sure make time for our little brother!
We go to his house, and he's cooked this delicious shrimp and garlic pasta, which he serves us with white wine.

We talk, catching up on everything. He's gone back to work for Chase, even though I'm not sure how that will play out.
I mean, how do you work for your significant other? Whatever, if they like it, I love it.

I tell them all that I'm thinking about asking Paul to marry me, Liam gets excited, topping off everyone's wine, and holding his glass up to cheer.
We eat, drink, and enjoy each other's company, then we leave so Chase and Liam can have their sexy time.