He presses his forehead against mine. “I know that. We had our rules, and I went ahead and broke them.”
“What do you mean?” My voice cracks toward the end of the question as I pull back.
“I’m falling in love with you, Dahlia. I don’t expect you to say it back after everything you’ve been through this year, but I didn’t want to go another night without you knowing how I feel. Just like I can’t go another day with you thinking I’m okay with us keeping things casual.”
Por Dios.
His eyes shimmer from the moon peeking through the clouds. “I missed out on a chance to make you mine before, but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again. We’re the real deal, sweetheart, and I’m done letting you believe anything else.”
My heart soars like a bird released from a ten-year cage of wishful thinking and haunted what-ifs.
Julian doesn’t wait for a reply before he bends down and captures my mouth with his. I bask in the afterglow of his admission as he kisses me, making me feel the truth behind his words.
Every kiss feels like a promise. Every touch an oath. A vow that Julian will love me, cherish me, and protect me—no matter if I choose to believe it or not.
There is a fundamental shift happening inside of me, and I’m overwhelmed that it all has to do with Julian.
You’re falling in love with him too.
The thought is scary, but then again, the truth typically is.
As if he senses my wandering thoughts, Julian tugs me back into the moment by biting down on my bottom lip. He draws blood before licking the evidence away with the tip of his tongue.
I return the favor, earning a sharp hiss I feel straight to my clit. He grabs my ass and lifts me, and I wrap my legs around him before he presses my back against the wall, trapping me as he ravages my mouth.
I swivel my hips, and Julian moans. His nails stab into my flesh as I rub against his cock.
I’m not sure how long we tease one another, but he only breaks away from kissing me to focus his attention on my neck.
“I can’t get enough of you.” The adoration in his voice has something in my chest twisting. He sucks on my neck hard enough to bruise, no doubt marking the skin.
“We weren’t supposed to fall in love.” I pull him away by the roots of his hair.
Shit!
Before I have a chance to panic about what I said, Julian distracts me by kissing the spot beneath my ear that makes me tremble.
“What are you going to do about it?”
“I’m not sure yet. Ask me again after you make me come.”
He smiles against my skin. “Sounds like a plan.”
CHAPTER FORTY
Julian
Telling Dahlia that I’m falling in love with her wasn’t part of tonight’s plan, but neither was reacting the way I did to her conversation with Lily. When she said we weren’t together, it felt like taking a missile to the chest, and nothing could ease the ache but admitting how I feel.
I don’t want casual, and I’m done pretending otherwise.
While I’m afraid Dahlia might not reciprocate, I’m more afraid of the regret I’m guaranteed to feel if I allow my fear of losing her to rule over my actions.
There is no place for pride or denial when it comes to falling in love with Dahlia. I got my second shot at winning her over, and I refuse to squander it because of my ego or stubbornness.
I carry her over to the living room, only breaking our kiss to place her back on her feet. She sways a little before reaching out for the back of the couch.
Now that’s an idea.
I spin her around. “Bend over.” My hand pushes on the small of her back, and she curls over the cushion.
I lift the hem of her dress, exposing her ass.
She squirms with every pass of my palm over the smooth flesh. “Did you plan for all this to happen?”
“I hoped.” I push her feet apart with the toe of my shoe. “Get yourself ready.”
Her hand trembles as she slips it inside the elastic band of her underwear to reach her pussy. To stop myself from touching her, I focus on grabbing the condom from my wallet and undoing my belt.
The jangle of the buckle stops her.
I slap her ass hard enough to leave a mark. “Stop touching yourself again, and I’ll take you here instead.” I drag a finger along the crease, and she responds with the sweetest shiver.
She pushes her underwear all the way down. The lace stretches around her ankles, trapping her in place like a pair of leg restraints.
I don’t take my eyes off her as I undo the button of my jeans and slide them down my legs, freeing my aching cock in the process. The tip glistens from precum, and a single pump draws more out.
Fuck.
Dahlia’s hand pauses, only to resume her efforts when I catch her staring.
“Like what you see?” I slide my hand up and down.
Her eyes land on my lower half. “Come a little closer so I can get a better look.”
“I think I’ll stay here and enjoy the view for a little longer.”
She leans forward a bit so I can get an unobstructed show of her finger sliding over her slit.
I tug on my cock again, and Dahlia matches by pumping a single finger inside herself.
“Just like that.” I grind out the words.
She follows my pace, slow and steady.
“Another one,” I command.
She bites on the inside of her cheek as she adds a second finger. My languid pace frustrates her, and I find myself smiling more than once at the small huffs of irritation she makes every time my tempo slows back down.
“Julian. Please.”
I pause mid-stroke. “Stop.”
Her brows furrow.
“Show me your hand.”
She lifts it.
“Another pretty little mess.” I lick my bottom lip.
“Clean it,” she orders.
I bend down to suck her fingers. Her sweet gasp sends a wave of pleasure straight to my dick, already hard as steel.
I break away to roll the condom on before stepping between her legs. She shudders when I drag the tip past her entrance, coating my length with her arousal. The torturous back-andforth slide seems to drive her mad based on the noises she makes.
Her patience runs out, and she digs her fingers into the couch before pushing back until my tip slips inside her.
“If you wanted me to fuck you, all you had to do was ask nicely.” I grip her hips hard enough to bruise.
“I’m done playing nice.” She pushes back some more, and I sink deeper.
“Fuck this.” I thrust with enough power to make Dahlia and the couch shake. She claws at the cushions as I slam all the way inside her, pinning her in place with my cock.
Right where she belongs.
She just hasn’t accepted it yet, but she will soon enough. Deep down, I know she feels the same way, but my girl is as stubborn as they come. Her fighting against the idea of us is to be expected with our history…but so is my victory.
She whines as I withdraw fully. Sparks shoot down my spine as I slide my cock back and forth over her entrance, using her arousal as a lubricant while I tease it. Every time she wiggles her hips, I nearly give in to her request to fuck her.
I’m a bastard for edging her this way, but the outcome will be worth it. That much I know.
“Please fuck me.” Her voice cracks.
“My three new favorite words.” I slam back inside her.