Embracing Juliette (Texas Heroes: Station 9 #1)

Chapter 13

13

Dylan

J uliette in nothing but my t-shirt was a vision. My eyes roved over her freshly washed face, her hair pulled back, showing the sleek lines of her neck, her shapely legs under the hem of my shirt, my Station 9 logo on her chest, the anticipation glimmering in her eyes. I felt a possessiveness I’d never felt before. This girl was mine. I wanted her in my shirt, in my bed, in my life.

She took a single step into the bedroom before she paused and nervousness washed over her beautiful face. Sitting at the edge of the bed, I spread my legs and opened my arms, beckoning her to me. “Come here, Juls.”

She rushed the few steps to me, not slowing down until she was between my legs, her chest against mine, her core against my throbbing dick, her arms wrapped around me, her hands in my hair. Yet, somehow, the warmth in my chest that she ran into my arms when she was nervous overpowered everything else. My dick was happy, but my heart was even happier. I was starting to think there was nothing I wanted more than to be with this girl. I wanted to be her safety net, to give her the freedom to soar, knowing I’d be there to catch her.

“Juliette,” I whispered.

She moaned in response.

No games, no putting on a show. I loved her genuineness. I’d never known a woman like her.

I buried my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. So good. The exotic coconut scent of her hair, my toothpaste on her breath, and the scent of our arousal in the air was an intoxicating blend.

I slid my hands to her upper arms and pushed her back just enough so I could see her beautiful face, her lower body still plastered to mine.

“So beautiful. I like you in my shirt, no makeup, hair pulled up. You look like sexy nights and lazy mornings in bed. I can’t wait to wake up with you in my arms.” I ran my fingers over her jaw as I talked. I couldn’t not touch her.

“I can’t wait to sleep with you.” Her cheeks turned pink. “Um, I mean, to sleep next to you. Not, uh, you know.”

“I know what you meant, baby. I can’t wait to sleep with you in my arms tonight. I can’t wait to do more with you too, but not today. When you’re ready.”

Fuck. She jerked like it was a physical blow.

“Baby.” I rocked my hips against her. “Do you feel how hard I am for you? You have no idea how much self-control it’s going to take to not let us go further tonight. I want you.”

I saw the hope flare in her eyes.

I repeated the words, seeking confirmation that it’s what she needed to hear.

“Juls, I want you so bad. I want to touch and taste every inch of you. I want to be inside you so deeply that our bodies meld into one.”

Yes, those were the right words. She melted into me, and with her head against my chest, she mewled the sweetest, sexiest sound. I hated that I’d caused her to doubt my feelings for her. Or, probably more accurately, to doubt herself.

“Be right back.” I left her sitting on the edge of my bed while I ran to the bathroom to get ready myself. I hurried back to find her sitting right where I’d left her. I pushed the blanket to the side and climbed into bed, pulling Juliette with me until we were lying down. I shifted her so we were on our sides, her back against my front, and I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her, one hand on her hip, the other just under her breast. I could feel the weight of it on my fingers. I was itching to move my fingers the tiny bit needed to feel more of her, but I resisted. For now. She held tight to my forearm, holding me to her as she wiggled, fitting herself even closer to me. I freed one hand, pulled the blanket back over us, then resumed our position.

We were cocooned under the blanket, every inch of our bodies touching, head to toe. I’d never felt simultaneously so electrified and so at peace.

“I hope you’re comfortable, baby, because I’m never moving.”

She squeezed my arm and purred.

My girl was content in my bed. Thank fuck. I felt like I’d been walking a tightrope with her. After the extreme highs and lows of the day we met, I knew how important it was to find her comfort zone. But it jumped around like a bunny on speed. Just when I thought I was starting to figure her out, she was all over the place, on fire with passion one moment and fighting back tears the next. Sexiest thing I’d ever seen when she came on me. I almost exploded in my pants like a teenager. Seconds later, though, the doubt and embarrassment in her eyes had gutted me. I hated to see her like that at all, but after being intimate with me? It was unacceptable.

I wouldn’t have sex with her until I figured it out. I wouldn’t risk hurting her, and without knowing her triggers, I’d be helpless to avoid them. The thought of her associating intimacy with me with embarrassment or fear or sadness was deplorable. She was so nervous that her speech was affected every time we talked about sex. But anytime I tried to reassure her we’d move slowly, she’d looked so dejected.

Her vulnerability cried out to every protective instinct in me, and the way she battled through that vulnerability with her passion and strength was irresistible. Juliette was a mystery I couldn’t wait to solve.

Juliette stirred in my arms. I buried my face in her hair and inhaled deeply, clearing my mind and relaxing my body, molding myself against her curves. I’d figure it all out. I just wanted to enjoy our first night together. With that thought in my mind and Juliette warm in my embrace, I drifted off to sleep.

The first thing I was aware of, before I even opened my eyes, was that Juliette’s hair was everywhere, tickling my chest and teasing every single one of my senses. I loved the feeling of her in my arms, but I also couldn’t wait for her to sit up so I could see her wild curls. She’d probably immediately pull her hair back into a bun, and that made her wild morning curls a new craving of mine. Another little piece of her mystery, a glimpse of her true self just for me.

Juliette had turned during the night so that we were now face to face, her arm and leg thrown over me. She snuggled in closer, her arms tightening around me as she slowly woke up. When she was fully aware, would she stay here, or would she pull away? I kissed her gently on her forehead and on her closed eyelids, trying to entice her to stay exactly where she was.

“Good morning, baby,” I whispered into the side of her neck, just below her ear.

“Mmm,” she hummed back, stretching.

“So beautiful,” I said, running my hand over her hair and down her back. “This is my new favorite way to wake up.” I ran my hand down her back again, continuing until my pinky grazed the curve of her ass. She arched, pressing herself into me.

“Dylan,” she gasped. Yeah, there was no hiding my morning wood. Could I still call it morning wood when I was hard all night?

“That’s what you do to me, baby. I loved sleeping with you in my arms.”

“I loved it, too. I slept so well last night.”

Juliette wiggled to free her hands, and seconds later I felt her warm touch. The boxers I was wearing provided a wonderfully inadequate barrier. My heart beat heavy in my chest as my eyes sprang up to meet hers. My dick sprang up trying to meet her as well. She giggled as my dick jumped against her hand.

I held my breath, not wanting to persuade nor discourage her in any way. Yes! She reached a tentative hand into the waistband of my boxers and pulled my dick out, running her hands hesitantly up and down the shaft. She shifted, leaning up to peer at it. I fisted the sheets, willing my body to be still and calm, letting Juls take control.

Juliette released me for a second to pull her shirt off, then she was back and exploring me. There’s no other word for it. She moved her hand quickly, then slowly. Gently, then roughly. She teased my crown with her fingertips, then wrapped her fist around me. Licked and sucked and traced the ridges of my cock with the tip of her tongue.

Like last night, she was all enthusiasm and passion. So damn sexy with her eagerness to touch and taste. She lacked the practiced techniques that other woman relied on, and it was fucking amazing.

Appreciative sounds rumbled out of my chest, drawing a smile from her. I forced my body to be still, letting her set her own pace and depth, even though I desperately wanted to rock my hips and plunge myself into her sexy mouth. I couldn’t stop my hands, though, not with those glorious breasts swaying inches above me.

I caressed her, teasing circles around her nipples, but when she nearly swallowed my cock, my hands clenched around handfuls of her softness. She moaned around me, the vibration unlike anything else, so I kneaded and squeezed, and pulled her nipples, elongating her tits, then plumped them up together, loving the way they molded to my hands, heavy and full.

When she kissed my tip with a little suck while pumping her fist around the shaft, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I dropped her tits and grabbed her curls, careful to give her room to move away if she wanted, and pumped my hips.

“Show me,” she said around my dick.

I put my hand over hers and moved her hand slowly and firmly over the base of my dick. “Keep doing that while you suck on me.” She did, and within a minute, I was pumping into her hand and her mouth, craving the release I knew was coming any second.

“Juls! I’m coming!”

She lifted her mouth off me just enough to say, “Yes, come. Come for me.”

I pulled away from her mouth and put my hand over her hand, moving it exactly how I knew would finish the job as I flipped her onto her back, hovering over her. I was more excited than I probably should be about marking her as mine. Her words, her beautiful body, her touch, her obvious pride in her handiwork, had me exploding over her in moments. I shot off, groaning Juliette’s name as I watched the streams of my come land on her breasts and stomach.

Breathing heavy from my climax, I dropped to Juliette’s chest, my release smearing between us. “I’m sorry if it makes me a caveman, but it feels like I just claimed you as mine, and I want to keep it that way. You’re mine now.”

“Yours. I like that. And you’re mine too.”

“I’m all yours, Juls. I’m going to show you how happy that makes me.”

“Yes, please.”

I kissed her thoroughly before caressing my way down her body, smoothing my hands over her body, slick with my come. I slid my thumbs in the waistband of her panties, brushing over the softness of her mound as I pulled them down. She choked out a sound, half cry, half gasp. My fingers tightened on her inner thighs, but I didn’t let her sweet, pleading sounds deter me. I teased my way down her legs, divested her of her panties, and teased my way back up.

“Dylan, please!”

The sound of her begging twisted through me. Some primal part of me liked it, but some other part of me rejected the thought of making her want for anything. I wanted to give her everything.

I zeroed in on her pretty pussy, and using my fingers and mouth, I showed her just how much I loved our mutual claiming. Glancing up, I saw Juliette’s hands on her breasts, rubbing my juices into her skin, and I nearly lost it again. I moved my fingers inside her with renewed vigor as I kept my eyes glued to her glorious come-covered breasts. Within seconds, her body tensed, her walls squeezed my fingers, and her ass rose all the way off the bed as she arched like a bowstring ready to pop. She screamed my name as her body convulsed under me.

“Hi,” Juls said shyly as her body relaxed and her eyes opened.

“Hi, baby. That was incredible. You’re so sexy,” I said as I kissed her and gently caressed her sticky breasts. I wasn’t allowing her any space to be embarrassed.

She smiled and tried to change the topic. “What are we going to do today?”

“I need to do some errands this afternoon. Laundry and things like that before I go back to work tomorrow. I don’t want you to go yet, though. Would you be okay just hanging out here with me this afternoon? Then Liam and Ryan asked me to meet them at Nolan’s tonight. Do you want to see if Jenna and Nicky want to meet up?”

Juliette agreed, and we shared a great day doing nothing of importance. We worked well together making breakfast and lunch. We snuggled on the couch watching a movie while the washer and dryer were running. Juliette read a book while I sorted through the mail and paid a few bills.

I loved having her in my space and in my life. It felt comfortable, as though she’d been there forever. Wait—did I say love? It was too soon for that, but whatever comes before love, that feeling was there in spades. It was soon, but with the shit I saw every day at work, I knew better than to waste the time we had. Horrible shit happened to good people every day, and after everything I’d been through with Kayla, I was not about to risk letting someone so good slip through my fingers.

“So what were you girls like in college? Were you party animals?” Ryan asked, sipping his beer.

“Oh yeah, Juliette especially,” Nicky responded sarcastically. “She almost shut down an entire frat party.”

“Tell us,” I said to Juliette, curious to learn more about her.

“Tell them,” Juliette said with a nod to her friends.

“It was epic,” Nicky said. “We were in the basement of some frat house. There was one lamp in the whole place, with a red lightbulb. Juliette here tried to dance?—”

“Was forced to dance,” Juliette interrupted with a glare.

“Fine, I forced her to dance, and she bumped into the lamp, knocked it over, and broke it. It was pitch black. Girls were shrieking, guys were trying to be all macho, drinks were spilled everywhere. It was a mess.”

“Ha-ha.” Juliette rolled her eyes, not quite as amused as her friend.

“Were you invited back after that?” I asked. Even though it was years before I’d met Juliette, I couldn’t help the jealousy shooting through me at the thought of Juliette hanging out with frat boys.

“Yeah, I don’t think anyone there even knew who we were. They only knew Nicky,” Jenna said.

I watched Ryan’s gaze narrow on Nicky. They’d be an interesting match. He better not screw things up, though. I liked hanging out with Juliette and my friends.

“That’s only because the two of you insisted on leaving every party early. You were more excited to stop at the gas station for hot chocolate on the way home than for the party.”

“Mmm, remember the hot chocolate with French vanilla creamer?” Jenna said.

“So good. Why don’t we do that anymore?” Juliette asked.

“Because now we drink too much coffee like the overtired, overworked adults we are.”

“See what I had to deal with? More interested in going home to get hot chocolate than going out!” Nicky said with exaggerated disgust.

“You’re lucky you had us to rein you in with hot chocolate. Without us, you’d have slept around at the party, then burned it to the ground,” Jenna said.

“She had some anger issues,” Juliette added.

Nicky shrugged, but didn’t deny it. “Life is meant to be lived. Besides, you’re one to talk,” she said to Jenna. “If I didn’t drag your ass out, you’d probably still be hiding in our dorm room.”

“Also true,” Juliette added again. She was impressive at saying just enough to be part of the conversation without speaking much.

“Don’t act like you’re any better. You would have gone all four years without talking if it weren’t for us.”

Juliette shrugged and nodded in an awkward and adorable gesture.

“And now look at the three of you well-adjusted adults here. Let’s drink to growing up to be better versions of ourselves,” Ryan said, with a surprising hint to his own issues.

We clinked our drinks together, and I knocked back the rest of my beer. I looked around to see if Juliette or anyone else needed a refill and caught Liam eyeing Jenna with a critical look. I followed his line of vision to see her tipping her drink to her lips without taking a sip. Liam raised an eyebrow at me, and I gave a subtle shrug back. Ryan looked between us, reading the silent conversation. He looked at Jenna and her full glass for a second and caught on, giving a slight nod.

We were fortunate that our crew at the firehouse had been together for years. We had each other’s backs in life-or-death situations, and each of us knew that any of the others would risk his life for another if need be. We spent over half of our lives working, eating, sleeping, and generally living together at the station. At this point, we were open books to one another. Sometimes it was because we were just shooting the shit, sometimes we deliberately shared our dreams and demons, and sometimes the emotional toll of a callout ripped us open, whether we wanted it or not. Bottom line is, I knew exactly what Liam and Ryan were thinking.

Jenna had caught Liam’s attention, and Nicky had Ryan’s. It was no surprise that the three girls were best friends. They all had a vulnerability and resilience at their core that drew in my friends the same way Juliette did to me. I sent my friends a silent warning. I found Juliette first. Don’t fuck this up for me.