Her request might not have been the three-word phrase I would have preferred to hear, but it will do for now.
Both of us groan at the pressure, although I recover quicker than Dahlia and find my tempo. The push and pull between us intensifies as I draw out her orgasm by constantly switching my rhythm. She begs, cries, and pleads for me to let her come, but I only plan on helping her find her release once I’m ready to follow her.
I slide my arm underneath her, and with a few more strokes of her clit, she comes around my cock. It only takes a few jerky thrusts for me to come with a curse. My whole world threatens to go black from the overwhelming pleasure, but Dahlia’s lazy grin keeps me grounded.
Her smile rivals the brightest gem, and I’ll be damned if anyone threatens her happiness again. She is more valuable to me than anything else, and it’s only a matter of time before she realizes that.
And it’s my job to help get her there.
After cleaning up, I drag Dahlia to the couch situated in front of the window facing Lake Aurora. At some point, I will have to drive her home, but I won’t be the first one to suggest it now that I have my arms wrapped around her.
“I can’t believe you bought a lakefront mansion because I was bored.” Dahlia leans her head against my shoulder.
“I’m doing everyone a favor. People get hurt or arrested whenever that happens.”
“Rafa got arrested because you convinced him to break a fire hydrant.”
“He never would have done it in the first place had you not pulled that prank on us with the skunk.”
She flips her hair over her shoulder. “One of my finest moments, if I do say so myself.”
“I’m afraid of whatever you’ve planned next.”
Her smile borders on certifiable. “Don’t be.”
“Is it too late to call a cease-fire?” I pull her white lacy underwear from my pocket and wave it.
She laughs as she snatches it back. “Nothing will save you after the stunt you pulled in the attic.”
I drop my head back with a sigh. “It was worth asking.”
She shrugs. “You’ll forgive me eventually.”
“You’re that confident, huh?”
“Oh yeah. Because you’re falling in love with me.”
“I’m going to regret admitting that, aren’t I?”
“Never. Your precious little heart is safe with me.” She taps the spot over my chest.
Rather than focus on the cold thread of fear slithering through my chest, I choose to believe her.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Dahlia
Julian goes on his annual Thanksgiving weekend trip with Rafa and Nico to his Lake Aurora cabin, leaving me alone to process how it feels to be without him. After seeing Julian almost every day, I feel his absence already during the first day—a shocking development to say the least.
My mom, Lily, and I binge the latest season of our favorite telenovela together, which keeps my mind occupied for a day or two, but it never fixes the empty feeling plaguing me since Julian left for the cabin.
Because he fills a void that nothing else can.
A terrifying realization after everything I’ve been through over the last year.
You knew something like this could happen.
Yeah, well, knowing and experiencing are two very different things.
Despite my fear of getting hurt, my feelings are becoming difficult to ignore, especially now that I know how he feels.
I’m falling in love with you.
I’ve replayed the memory a hundred different times this weekend, expecting the buzz to go away, yet it remains throughout the weekend and well into Monday.
My heart slams against my rib cage when Julian walks into the Founder’s house kitchen with a paper bag I instantly recognize.
I ditch the tile samples and run up to him to confirm the name stamped on the side of the bag.
“No freaking way!” I squeal as he passes me a takeout bag from Aomi. “I thought they didn’t offer takeout?”
“They don’t.”
“Then, how?”
“They make exceptions.”
“For a price?”
He nods, and I laugh at the insanity of it all.
I place the bag on the counter and rip it open.
“I ordered a few different rolls since I didn’t know which one you liked most.”
“Are you kidding? I’d eat anything from there.” I reach inside and pull out the first container with a sigh. “How is this possible? They’re in New York.”
Aomi is the most luxurious and expensive sushi restaurant in the U.S., with most meals costing over a thousand dollars per head since they import fresh seafood directly from Japan. I only went once at my television network’s expense and never returned because I couldn’t justify the price or trip.
He avoids my gaze. “I hired a guy to pick it up.”
“With what? A private jet?” I laugh off the idea.
His lips form a thin, white line.
My eyes widen. “Oh my God. Tell me you didn’t.”
His silence says enough.
“That’s terrible for the environment.”
“Are you going to make me promise to never do it again?”
“Hell no. Next time, we’ll have to go together to make it worth the carbon footprint.”
He shakes his head. “You never cease to surprise me.”
“That’s why you like me. Challenge, remember?”
He kisses my forehead before stepping away. “Enjoy your lunch.”
The excitement I felt about eating seven-hundred-dollar sushi rolls disappears as Julian walks toward the door.
“I haven’t seen you all weekend,” I say to his back.
He turns. “Did you miss me?”
I bite down on my tongue.
“You did.” He smirks.
“Shut up,” I snap.
“When you’re ready to admit you couldn’t stand being away from me for four days, come find me.” His eyes glitter as he moves toward the archway.
“Wait!”
He pauses. “Yes?”
“Fine. I missed you. A lot.”
“Me too. I considered ditching Nico and Rafa on the second day.”
“And that right there is why I’m the favorite godparent.” I stick out my tongue.
He spares me an icy glare. “It was for their safety more than anything. I nearly poked Nico’s eye out while making s’mores because I was busy daydreaming about the other night with you.”
My cheeks flush.
He nods toward my container. “Hope the food is as good as you remember. I’ll stop by later and check on you once I’m done with the molding in the dining room.”
“Will you join me?” After spending a whole weekend without him, I want a little more than three minutes of his time.
“I was hoping you’d ask.” He winks. My whole world stops spinning for a second before I gather my bearings again.
“The house is coming along.” He stands on the opposite side of the island.
I glance around the half-finished kitchen, taking in the grand, warm oak cabinets Ryder and his team hung last week.
“I like the color of the island.” Julian glances over at the deep blue wood paint. “And the waterfall counter adds a nice touch.”
“What about the pendant lights?” I tilt my head toward the lampshades hanging above the off-white quartz counters.