4. Julian
4
JULIAN
T he tension between us crackles like a live wire as I stand, extending my hand. Ivy's fingers slide into mine, delicate yet sure. Her amber eyes meet mine, and that same electric current shoots straight through my chest.
"Let's get out of here." My voice comes out rougher than intended.
She nods, gathering her small purse. I toss a hundred on the bar, not bothering to wait for change. The need to get her alone overrides everything else.
My palm finds the small of her back as we weave through the crowded bar. That little Mrs. Claus outfit is soft beneath my touch. She's tiny compared to me, the top of her head barely reaching my shoulder even in those heels that are starting to grow on me. Something primitive stirs in my gut at the size difference.
The cold Chicago wind hits us as we step outside. Ivy shivers, and I draw her closer, shielding her from the bite of winter. Her perfume drifts up, that vanilla scent that is absolutely intoxicating, mixing with the crisp night air.
My Bentley waits out front, black paint gleaming under the streetlights. I guide her to it, my fingers splayed possessively across her back. Each step she takes in those heels makes her hips sway, and I find myself tracking the movement like a predator.
I'm glad I dismissed my driver earlier. Xander will definitely be going home with someone and now I have Ivy all alone. I don't know if her friends even noticed we left, but I don't give a shit about them.
She follows without hesitation, her trust both arousing and unsettling. I've spent years ensuring people fear me, yet this woman walks beside me like I'm not the most dangerous person she's ever met.
I pull open her door and Ivy slides in, that dress sliding up until she's nearly exposed. My jaw clenches as I round the car, forcing myself to move at a measured pace.
The engine purrs to life, and I catch her watching me from the corner of her eye. The interior lights cast shadows across her face, highlighting those high cheekbones and full lips. My grip tightens on the steering wheel.
I've never wanted anyone the way I want her. The realization should worry me, but all I can focus on is getting her somewhere private - somewhere I can have her all to myself.
I let the silence stretch, watching her squirm. The lights from passing buildings paint her skin in alternating shadows. We pull up to my building, the penthouse I have in the city at least, the doorman rushing to open her door before I can round the car. I usually don't let people come here - or anywhere that is my private area.
I have a feeling that Ivy will be breaking a lot of my rules tonight.
I put a hand on her lower back, guiding her through the lobby, watching how she seems nervous but takes direction well. The elevator ride up is silent. Her heels click against the marble floor as we enter my penthouse. The city sprawls below through floor-to-ceiling windows, but her attention is fixed on me.
"Drink?" I move to the bar, selecting a crystal tumbler.
She hesitates, fingers twisting together. Her nerves are showing, and I love it. It gives me more of a chance to tell her what to do. "I-"
The whiskey splashes amber against the glass. I cross to her in three long strides, pressing one palm flat against the wall beside her head. Her breath catches.
"Open."
Her lips part automatically. I tip the glass, watching her throat work as she swallows. A drop escapes, trailing down her chin. Perfect.
I catch her gaze as I bring the glass to my own mouth, drinking from exactly where her lips touched. The whiskey burns, but her wide-eyed stare burns hotter.
The now empty glass clinks against the nearby table as I set it down. She's trapped between my arms now, chest rising and falling rapidly. That pristine Mrs. Claus outfit is wrinkled, her lipstick smeared. Her hair is mussed, strands falling around her face.
She's already such a mess, and I haven't even touched her yet.
The need to break her down further, to reshape her into something entirely mine, claws at my chest. I've never wanted to possess someone like this before. Never wanted to see someone so thoroughly ruined only to build them back up piece by piece.
I dip my head, dragging my mouth up the column of her throat. Her pulse jumps beneath my lips as I inhale that intoxicating vanilla scent. She tilts her head, offering more access, her chest heaving against mine.
But when she moves to kiss me, I freeze. Every muscle in my body locks up out of instinct.
The hurt that flickers across her face makes my cock stir. I like seeing her so affected by me, so eager to do whatever I want. I like seeing her very being, every emotion and desire, tied to me. And I want to see how far that runs.
She immediately shakes her head, dark hair swishing, and tries to twist away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
I pinch her chin between my thumb and forefinger, forcing those amber eyes back to mine. "I've never kissed a woman."
Her eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. "Are you... are you a virgin?"
A harsh laugh escapes me. "No. Sex is just a release. A physical act. Kissing is..." I struggle to find the words. "Too intimate."
And I really, really never wanted it before. Never wanted someone that close, wanted their taste lingering in my mouth.
"That's fine." Her voice is soft, understanding. "We don't have to-"
I jerk her body flush against mine, one hand tangling in her hair as I dip down until our lips nearly brush. Her breath hitches.
"But you…" The need to possess, to take, to break, it's all-consuming. "I'm going to take everything from you." The words come out like gravel. "Every inch. Every breath. Every fucking piece of you is going to be mine."
Then I crush my mouth to hers and my whole world shatters. Her lips are soft, yielding, perfect. She tastes like whiskey and something sweet, and I want to fucking drown in it. A sound tears from my throat as she opens for me, letting me devour her.
My hands tighten in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss. As expected, she crumbles as she whimpers into my mouth. I've never felt anything like this - and I want more.
I want all of her.
I lift Ivy in my arms, her body light as a feather. Our mouths clash, the kiss turning savage. My hands roam, finding the hem of that ridiculously short Mrs. Claus dress and sliding beneath it. Her skin is smooth, warm, and she squirms against me, a soft moan escaping her lips.
I drag my teeth down her neck, biting the tender flesh. She gasps but doesn't pull away. Instead, she tilts her head, offering more. Perfect. I sink my teeth in harder, sucking until I know I've left a mark. She takes it, her fingers digging into my shoulders, her breath coming in ragged pants as she grinds against me.
Carrying her to the bed, I rip down the top of her dress, exposing her breasts. Her nipples are hard, begging for attention. I dip my head, capturing one between my teeth. She arches into me, a cry tearing from her throat.
"More," she begs, her voice hoarse. "Please, more."
I growl, moving to the other nipple, biting until she writhes beneath me. Her skin is already marked, red welts rising where I've suckled and bitten. The sight sends a surge of possessiveness through me.
"You take it so well," I murmur against her flesh, my hands moving to strip her completely. The dress goes, tossed onto the floor, leaving her in that little Santa hat, white thigh highs, and those fucking candy cane heels.
I run a hand down her thigh to her calf, hitching her leg up around my hip and run a hand over the red and white striped heel. "These stay on," I command, my voice rough.
Her eyes widen, but she nods, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I unbuckle my belt, the metal clinking as it hits the floor. Her gaze follows the movement, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
"You're so fucking beautiful," I tell her, my hands sliding up her calves, past her knees, pushing her thighs apart. She's already fucking soaked. It drives me wild.
I lean down, biting the inside of her thigh. She gasps, her hands fisting the bedsheets. I do it again, harder, sucking until I leave another mark. Mine. She's fucking mine.
"I'm going to mark you," I growl, my fingers hooking into her little red lace panties, tearing them off. "Claim you." I dip my head, biting just above her pubic bone. She cries out, her hips bucking.
"That's it," I praise, my hands sliding up to cup her breasts, squeezing hard. "You're doing so well."
Her body is a canvas, and I'm the artist, painting her with bites and bruises. She moans, her head thrashing from side to side as I continue to mark her, to claim her. Each sound she makes, each movement, drives me closer to the edge.
I stand, unbuttoning my shirt. Her eyes follow my movements, her breath coming in quick gasps. I shrug out of it, letting it fall to the floor. Her gaze roams over my chest, my scars, my tattoos. She doesn't shy away from them. Instead, she reaches out, her fingers tracing the raised skin.
"You belong to me now," I tell her, my voice a low rumble. "Every inch of you. Every breath. Every fucking moan."
She nods, her eyes meeting mine. "Yes," she whispers. "I'm yours."
A thought hits me. Reaching into my nightstand, I pull out what I'm after and give her a look. "Trust me."
She just nods again, and it makes my cock jerk. How obedient.
Ivy's wrists look tiny, delicate, wrapped up in the red velvet ribbon I pulled out. The ends trail down the sides of the bed, framing her body like a depraved present.
Leaning down, I bite down on her earlobe, sucking it into my mouth as I work my way back down her body. I want her covered in evidence from me.
My fingers hook into the waistband of my boxer briefs, shoving them down. I kick them off, my cock springing free, heavy and aching. I grip myself, stroke slow and hard as I bite and suck every inch of her skin like it's a fucking feast.
Her breath hitches when I hit a sensitive spot, a moan rips from her throat when I suck hard enough to leave a mark. She's trembling now, her body quaking with need. Her eyes roll back as I lavish attention on her breasts, biting her nipples until they're stiff peaks.
"Please..." The word is a broken sob on her lips. "Please, Julian."
Fuck, my name on her tongue does something to me. I growl, moving lower, biting the soft flesh of her stomach. She cries out, her hips bucking up to meet me. I can smell her arousal, see the wetness slick on her thighs. I dip down, biting the tender skin there, right above her pussy.
She screams, her body convulsing. Ivy's chest heaves, her almond-shaped eyes are glossy with tears. Each one that spills over, tracking down her temple, has my cock throbbing.
I shift up, lapping up the salty trail with the tip of my tongue, my cock throbbing in my hand. I'm so fucking hard it hurts. She shivers, a soft whimper escaping her lips. Perfect. I want to consume every ounce of her desperation, her desire.
I line myself up, the head of my cock pressing against her entrance. She's so wet, so ready. Her eyes meet mine, pleading. Begging.
"You want this?" My voice is rough, harsh. I grip her hip, dig my fingers into her soft flesh.
She nods, a sob catching in her throat. "Yes. Yes, I want you."
I lean down, my mouth finding hers. The kiss is brutal, savage. I swallow her cries as I slowly slide into her, inch by fucking inch. She's so tight, so wet. So fucking perfect.
I pull out and thrust back into Ivy, hard and merciless. Her bound wrists flex against the velvet ribbon, and those fucking candy cane heels dig into my thighs. She begs, pleads, as I drive into her relentlessly, her voice a symphony of need and desperation.
"Please, Julian. Please..." Her head thrashes from side to side, dark hair splayed across my pillow.
I lean down, capturing a nipple between my fingers. I pinch, twist, and she arches against me, a cry ripping from her throat. Her pussy clenches around me, and I groan, slapping her breast, leaving a red handprint. She moans, pushing into my touch. I couldn't have asked for anyone more pliable, more perfect, than her.
"You like that, don't you?" I growl, doing it again, harder.
Her breath hitches, her body trembling. I grip her chin, forcing her to look at me. Tears pool in her amber eyes, spilling over, and I lick them away, tasting salt and desire.
"Yes," she whimpers. "Yes, I like it."
Her admission sends a jolt straight to my cock. I pound into her, alternating between pleasure and pain. I savor her gasps, how her skin reddens under my hands. And with every bite and pinch and slap, her walls clench. Knowing she likes the pain spurs me on further.
Her hips move with mine, rolling and trying to get me deeper. She's close, I can feel it. Her body tenses, her breath coming in quick, desperate gasps.
"Not yet," I command, slowing my movements.
She sobs, straining against her binds. I lean down, biting her shoulder, her collarbone, her neck. Each bite, each suck, each kiss draws out more tears, more pleas.
"Julian, please... I can't... I need..." Her voice breaks, her body shaking beneath me.
My cock is throbbing, and I'm so close to finishing that I am shaking. I thrust deep, hitting that spot that makes her scream, licking up the tears that leak free.
"Now," I growl, picking up my pace. Her body convulses, her pussy milking my cock as she comes, screaming my name.
I pull out, stroking myself as thick ropes of cum paint her stomach, her breasts. The sight of her, bound and covered in me, has me ready to fuck her all over again. I dip my fingers into the mess, smearing it across her skin, marking her.
"Fuck." She's a damn mess. Her skin is painted in my release, her flesh pink and puckered from my abuse, her lips swollen and cheeks tear stained. "I have never seen anyone more beautiful."
She whimpers, leaning her head back as she breathes. She sinks into the bed, slowly looking down at her body, and in a little voice she says, "No one has ever treated me like that."
I grin at her. "I told you I was going to take everything." I bring my hand to my still hard cock, stroking it. "Every ounce of pain. Of pleasure. Every breath and tear. It's mine."
Her eyes are fixed on my hand, pumping slow and tight, and her hips start to move. "Julian..." Her voice is barely a whisper, her eyes glazed. She looks up at me, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. "Please... I want more."
Fuck, she didn't think I was already done, did she? Because I want to pound into her, staring at her covered in my cum, over and over.
I grin, smacking her clit with the head of my cock. "You have more to give me?"
She nods frantically, a tear already squeezing out and running down the side of her face. I've clearly wrung more out of her body than she's ever experienced. "I'll give you everything."
As I line myself up with her entrance, plunging back in, I wonder how true that statement will stand in the light of day.