Chapter 17
Wes
What the hell have I done?
Two days after I’d lost control with Juliette, the guilt had really started to set in.
In these quiet moments alone in the morning while she was still sleeping, I found myself ruminating the most. When Juliette was right in front of me, on the other hand, it was much easier to forget our dilemma and focus on her.
I couldn’t wait for her to wake up today, so I could escape into her beautiful face and forget everything else again.
My phone rang—my mother. I moved outside to the front of the house to avoid waking Juliette. “Hey, Ma.”
“Hi, honey. I wanted to check on you. We haven’t spoken much since Grandma’s funeral.”
I waved to a neighbor rolling his garbage cans out. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with work.” I sighed. “How are you holding up?”
“It’s been quite the job cleaning out her house. So much stuff to go through, deciding what to keep, what to donate…”
“I bet. I’m sorry I can’t be there to help you.”
“You can’t imagine how many old photos I’ve come across of you and your brother. She loved you both so much.”
That made me smile and feel a little sad at the same time. “She kept everything, so that doesn’t surprise me.”
“So…” She paused. “How are things with Juliette?”
While I’d lied to my mother about the nature of my relationship with Juliette, ironically, after recent events, the lie didn’t seem like all that much of a stretch anymore.
“Things are still going well,” I finally said. Better than ever. But also, so very bad.
I wished I could tell my mother everything.
I’d always valued her advice. Would she tell me to run from this situation before I got myself killed?
Or would she believe that my feelings for Juliette superseded everything?
One thing I knew: even if it didn’t work out between Juliette and me, I couldn’t leave her behind.
I couldn’t trust anyone else to protect her.
I shook my head, unable to contain the truth. “Actually, things aren’t perfect, Ma.”
“What’s wrong?”
I hesitated. “I can’t tell you everything. But…I wasn’t completely honest about how Juliette and I met.” I paused. “She’s related to a client of mine, and we’ve been hiding our relationship. That’s the most I’m able to say due to…” I paused again. “A non-disclosure agreement I signed.”
That was the most honest I’d been with my mother in a long while.
“Okay…” she said. “So you’re torn between doing the right thing for your career or following your heart?”
Much more complicated than that, but she got the gist. “Basically, yes.” I scratched my chin.
“There are always jobs, Wes. But there’s only one Juliette. And if you care about her, then fuck the job. That’s my opinion. Nothing else should matter.”
If only it were that simple. Fuck the job. I chuckled, though, since my mother rarely cussed. Hearing her say that gave me renewed hope that somehow, some way, I could figure this out. I wished I could fuck this job straight to hell.
“She seemed really great,” my mother added. “She makes you smile, which was nice to see.”
“She is great,” I agreed.
After we hung up, I went back inside and continued to ruminate about whether I’d made a colossal mistake with Juliette.
I had a bad feeling I couldn’t shake about how this was going to play out.
That’s why every single day we had together mattered.
I couldn’t control the future, but I could control her memories of me.
I could control today. Today felt safe, and I would cherish every second.
Juliette interrupted my thoughts as she emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes. She stretched her arms and yawned. “I overslept.”
“I sure as hell wasn’t going to wake you.” I winked. “Anyway, it’s my fault. I kept you up late last night.”
She smiled. “What’s the plan for today?”
“We’re going on a trip.” I decided this in that very moment, my mouth slowly curving into a smile. “Just for the night.”
Her eyes went wide. “Where?”
“It’s a…surprise.” A surprise even for me. I need to figure this out. Needing to buy myself some time to make plans, I decided to make this fun for her. “Give me a few, all right?”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and went to make her coffee.
A little while later, I met Juliette in the kitchen as she finished her cereal.
“I’m sending you around the house on a little scavenger hunt,” I announced. “When you get to the last step, you’ll find out where we’re going.”
“Really?” Her face lit up. “Where’s my first clue?”
“I’ll give you the first one.” I handed her a piece of paper.
Grinning from ear to ear, she read the message aloud. “I won’t tell you everything, just a smidge. You’ll find out more when you head to the fridge.”
Juliette got up from her seat and went over to the refrigerator. Earlier, I’d come in here and pretended I wanted orange juice, but really just stuck one of the notes to a carton of almond milk.
She peeled off the note and read it aloud. “There shall be mountains galore. Head to the toilet for more.” Juliette giggled as she left the kitchen.
I followed her to the bathroom.
She found the note lying next to the sink and read it. “It’s only a hundred miles from here. Next clue is on the chandelier.” She scratched her chin. “Hmm… A hundred miles. I’m trying to think…”
Juliette made her way to the chandelier that hung in the entryway. She picked the sticky note off one of the bulbs and read, “The location is east. Now go to the room you like least.”
She looked up at me. “The laundry room?”
Crossing my arms, I shrugged and played dumb. “You tell me…”
She raced to the small laundry area and found the note I’d left on top of the dryer.
Juliette covered her mouth in laughter. “By now, you know it’s not France. Final answer is in Wes’s pants.”
She turned to me and glanced down at my package. “You didn’t…”
I smirked. “I did.”
Juliette inched toward me and undid my belt. She slowly unzipped my jeans to peek inside. Right on my boxer briefs was a sticky note that read: We’re going to Palm Springs!
“Clever, Wes.” She shook her head. “All that just to get me to stick my hands in your pants? You didn’t need to send me on a wild goose chase.” She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Palm Springs sounds amazing!” She kissed my lips.
Our tongues collided for several seconds, and I immediately grew hard. It didn’t take much.
She spoke over my mouth. “When do we have to leave?”
“Any time now, but no rush,” I said.
“So we have a little time?”
I arched a brow. “Time for what?”
She flashed a mischievous grin as she ran her finger seductively over my lips.
Already horned up, I flipped her around, pressing my cock against her ass.
Juliette braced her hands against the washing machine as I kissed down the back of her neck.
My cock went rigid. “I can’t get enough of you.”
She pushed her ass back against my throbbing dick.
“You really want to get fucked right now, don’t you?” I groaned.
“I do.” She let out a long breath, reaching back to rub her hand along my erection. “But I’m also in the mood for something else…”
My curiosity was officially piqued.
Juliette turned and dropped to her knees, sliding my belt out of the loops and throwing it aside with a loud clank. She pulled my pants down to my knees.
“What are you doing?” I murmured, even if I knew damn well what was happening. And fuck yes.
She looked up at me. “I want you to fuck my mouth.”
Shit. Hearing her say it that way nearly made me come on the spot.
Juliette lowered my boxer briefs, and my cock bobbed out to greet her. She wrapped her hands around my swollen shaft and took me straight into her hot, wet mouth.
For so long, this very thing had been one of my biggest fantasies. The past couple of days had felt like a dream. I never wanted this to end.
I bent my head back, and my eyes followed. No dream could do justice to the reality of what it felt like to move in and out of her beautiful mouth, to slide down her throat. Pure ecstasy.
Fisting her thick hair, I looked down and kept my eyes on her, relishing every second. “You’re so fucking good at this…” I had to tighten my abs to keep from exploding down her throat.
She moaned, and it vibrated down my shaft, causing me to lose control and come faster than I’d wanted. I watched in awe as Juliette swallowed every last drop. My chest rose and fell as I recovered from that mind-blowing orgasm.
She licked her lips and stood. I wanted to burn that sight into my memory.
Juliette kissed me, and I could taste myself on her tongue. “Let’s get out of here…” she whispered.
I couldn’t wait to get to Palm Springs so I could bury myself inside of her again.
As we exited the laundry room, she said, “I’ve never been to Palm Springs, you know.”
“Me neither.” I kissed her forehead. “Pack your bag.”
After Juliette and I threw our stuff together, we headed to the rental car place where I’d reserved a convertible. The weather was supposed to be perfect, so I figured, why not?
We drove with the top down for the nearly two-hour journey to Palm Springs, blasting the music.
Juliette lifted her arms into the air numerous times, her hair blowing in the wind.
This was what freedom felt like, even if it was only for a couple of days.
True freedom with Juliette was likely a pipe dream.
But I needed to put the negativity aside for a little while.
Once we got to Palm Springs, we dropped our stuff at the Airbnb before taking a tram ride from the desert to the mountains.
Juliette was a bit scared of heights, so I held her hand the entire time.
We had dinner at a mountaintop restaurant as we watched the sun set overlooking the Coachella Valley below.
Our escape so far had been everything I’d hoped it would be.