P is for Paul, Part 8 The Conclusion
It's short, but I think I did what I set out to do. I hope you agree. Besides, I could have dragged this out for weeks and weeks with more sweaty James/Paul sex and then MC would have to wait to write Texas III and I am just too impatient to see what happens next!!!
P is for Paul - Part 8 The Conclusion
Paul read until dinner, then poured over the books, read every one in the cabin and the ones lilibet had brought with her besides. The next several days he worked harder than ever, reading along with bit and questioning her, wringing her for every bit of knowledge that he could soak up.
He was the last person up at night and when James woke up the next morning, he found Paul still on the couch with a book resting on his chest where he had fallen asleep the night before.
James chuckled and Paul awoke with a start, sitting up on the couch and rubbing his eyes.
“Well, good morning, son, sleep okay?”
“Is it morning already? I feel like I just fell asleep.”
“I think you did, you’re inhaling those books like air now. You should be proud of yourself, boy. You’ve picked it up quick.”
“I’m motivated, James. This, well, this opens up a whole new world to me, if I want it. I can read what Kyle writes to me, or books, or I could get a job…”
The words trailed off and Paul looked down, his cheeks coloring.
“You mean a job besides selling yourself? Now don’t look that way, Paul. You did what you could with what you had. And you’ve done pretty well for yourself. But you’re right, you can do whatever you want. Being somebody’s boy included. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t your own man too.”
“James, you have a funny way of looking at things, you know that?”
“How so?”
“You’re supposed to be a Master, and all you talk about to me, or even to lilibet, is about making our own decisions, being strong, it’s just weird.”
James sat on the couch next to Paul and thought a moment. He ran his fingers through his thick silver hair and looked up at the ceiling.
“I know it doesn’t much seem like it, but Sal and I really aren’t so different. Take me and lilibet. Sure, I could make her stay with me, but what kind of love is that? Knowing that she’s here because she wants to be? That makes all the difference in the world. Like I said to you the other night, Sal could have made you stay, but he didn’t. He wants you to be happy, even if that means not being with him. I am the same way with bit. She has the right to walk away at any time. I would never stop her.
“It would rip my heart out because I will love that girl until the day I die, but her happiness is more important than my own. I thank God every day that she’s mine. I don’t take it for granted, Paul. Love is too hard to find to throw it away. But life isn’t all fairy tales and roses. Sometimes love can’t make everything all better and love doesn’t fix everything.”
Paul felt the tears spring to his eyes before he could choke them back. James put his arm around the younger man’s shoulders, holding him close and letting him cry.
“I’m not trying to tell you how to run your life, Paul. You’ve had enough of that already. I’m just trying to get you to think. About who you are, what you want, all of it. I talked to Texas last night and I think you’ve done what we set out to do this week, lilibet says you’re reading like a champ. Are you ready to go back?”
He was. He missed Kyle. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do next, but it was his life, and nobody else could live it for him.
“I’m going to miss you and bit.”
“We’re not far if you ever want to come see us, or give a call on the phone. I’ve got plenty of room if you ever want to stay. I know bit’s been wanting Texas and Kyle to come up here to the cabin. Or whatever you want. I meant what I said, boy, you can always count on me to be here for you.”
“Thanks, James.”
“Now get yourself showered and dressed while I wake that girl of mine up.”
***
They spent the morning packing up the house while lilibet cleaned. James had wanted to ride the bike back and Paul was dying to take a ride, but since neither Paul or bit drove, they decided that James would drive them all back to the community, then he and Paul would ride on the Harley back to Texas’ place.
Lilibet came in to Paul’s bedroom and sat down on the bed while he finished packing up his clothes.
“I’m going to miss you, Paul”
“Me too bit, I owe you and James more than I could every repay.”
She hugged him tight and whispered in his ear, “You pay it back by helping someone else.”
Paul hugged her back and smiled.
***
Paul sat in his spot in the front seat next to James while bit slept in the back. He had called before they left, said it would be a few hours but that he would be there by late afternoon. James and bit just stood there while he spoke, looking so proud at hearing the confidence in his voice. He wasn’t the same scared and broken Paul they had met just a week before.
They brought lilibet back to the community and settled her in at the house before taking off on the bike. It was a couple of hours ride and they had to get a move on for James to be back before nightfall. James and he rode on the bike in silence. He was grateful for this. Just riding with the wind in his hair and feeling James lean, strong body to press against. He was going to be okay.
What a difference a week makes. He had learned to read, and a whole lot about life besides. There was a world for him outside of what he had known. Outside of Texas.