Chapter 4
Julian
She lay next to me asleep, lightly snoring, facing the window.
No lie, I’d snuck several peeks at her because Amaris was fucking beautiful to me…
always had been. I meant what I’d said earlier.
From the very fucking moment I’d seen her, I wanted her.
But I utilized self-control, even though very often I found myself wanting to ride the fucking line tough.
I didn’t know how long I lay there, thoughts running rampant, before I fell asleep.
I awakened what felt like a blink later from knocking at the door, then the sound of someone saying breakfast. It wasn’t until I heard footsteps moving toward the door that my mind registered how deep I had been sleeping and the fact that she was no longer in bed with me.
When I sat up, she had just turned the corner to the door. Out of habit I reached for my phone that would’ve been on the nightstand next to me until it dawned on me that I didn’t have it.
“I did the same thing when I woke up. Then I realized I was here with you and my phone is nowhere near.” She turned the corner and her eyes were locked on me, as mine were on her.
She’d just gotten out of the shower judging from the way her medium length hair crowned her face.
Not only that, she was wearing a robe. It was open too, sending my thoughts straight to the gutter from the moment I took her in.
Under the robe she wore a lacy, pink-ish bralette that stopped two inches above her belly button and a pair of lace underwear to match.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, shoving my face into my hands. “Damn, what time is it?”
“Ten. And I ordered breakfast.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I forced myself to my feet, moving toward the bathroom to piss and take care of my morning hygiene.
“Because you were snoring and I didn’t want to interrupt you. It seemed like you were sleeping well.”
I chuckled, standing over the toilet to relieve my bladder. “I did, but yo’ ass was asleep before me.” I leaned forward, flushed the toilet, and moved to brush my teeth.
“After last night, can you blame me? I was exhausted and you should have been too. I got you an omelet and black coffee, orange juice as well if you don’t do coffee anymore.”
“Mhmm.” I stabbed the toothbrush into my mouth. After spitting the excess toothpaste into the sink and repeating the routine a few times, I was done. I grabbed the face towel and cleaned my face. When I was finished, I grabbed the second robe hanging on the door and threw it on.
I came out just in time to see her taking a seat on the sofa furthest from the food tray. Her eyes fell on me briefly before she focused on the food in front of her on the small coffee table.
“How do you know what I eat?” I asked, taking a seat next to her.
“I used to go with Audry to get breakfast in the morning. After picking it up so many times, we memorized the orders like it’s our own.” She shrugged, referring to my old assistant.
I nodded. “So what you're saying is you picked up my order all those times she snuck off with Harold?”
Amaris laughed. “Probably.”
I shook my head. Shorty had been a good assistant, but that ducking off mess she used to do was her downfall. “Do you have any idea what you want to do today?”
A small smile crept across her features. “A little bit of exploring. I need ideas.”
I laughed, then forked the omelet. “Ideas?”
“Yep, but you won’t know until later. It is the least I can do.” She winked in my direction.
That wink landed on my dick. She couldn’t be human, shit, not possible. She had to be a siren or something like that from the way every gesture, smile, or word from her lips invited me in.
“Don’t be winking at me like that, Amaris. That’s dangerous.”
She laughed. “It shouldn’t be, considering today is my day, correct?”
I nodded. “Not necessarily. Tonight could still count as your night but right now could count as a snack.”
She grinned. “It could, but nope. I mean, unless you want to go level five a little later. According to the brochure, that's bondage and I hear they have a swing.”
I chortled. “They do, and if you’re open to it, I’m down.”
“Why do you seem surprised I’m actually interested in this?” she asked.
“Because you’re innocent, Amaris. You don’t do shit like this.”
“Yet I’m here, doing shit like this,” she responded, her head tilted to the side.
I nodded. She was right. I was shocked when she agreed, completely taken aback when she signed the NDA required by the hotel weeks ago, and fucking floored when she got on the plane.
Everything since my invite had shocked me, because she could have backed out at any time and I wouldn’t have looked at her any differently.
But now, I would look at her differently because she’d come in more ways than one and I was the reason. “You’re right.”
“I know I am, but if you didn’t bring me here to partake in the festivities, why am I here? Why are we here? Any hotel would have sufficed if you just wanted to have sex with me.”
“Probably, but we’re here.” I was short for a reason.
I’d brought her here to take part in the festivities, but somewhere between sharing a meal and her space last night, I changed my mind.
No other motherfucker would ever witness her fuck faces or be permitted to hear her whine.
One hit and I was hooked. The fucking thing I needed because I damn sure hadn’t planned to be infatuated when I wasn’t between her legs.
We finished eating in a bit of a silence and I didn’t like it. I wanted to hear her voice. Shit, feel her voice. So when I assumed she was finished eating, I grabbed the plate from her hand and set it on the table.
Confusion swept her features. “I wasn’t do—”
“You’re mad at me?” I couldn’t stop myself. I already gave a fuck where I shouldn’t have. I grabbed her body and pulled her onto my lap.
“I’m not mad at you. I’m perturbed. You were short and offered no real answer—”
“I haven’t designated a floor for us to visit because I don’t need another motherfucker seeing you come. Don’t ask why, I don’t know, but that shit bothers me.”
She nodded. “Even though I don’t belong to you.”
“This weekend you do.” I leaned forward and kissed her lips then her chest. “So don’t fuck around, sweetheart.
I’m possessive ’bout you.” Before she could say anything else, I grabbed her neck and pulled her face against mine.
My eyes went to hers, she leaned forward, and we kissed.
The feel of her lips against mine sent tremors through me.
Feelings I had never felt before. Shit, not even for my ex-wife in the beginning.
“You gonna show me what you bought?” I asked, watching Amaris walk out of the back area holding a little black bag. She had a smirk on her face that let me know whatever she’d bought would make our evening interesting.
“Nah. You can see it tonight. It’s a surprise.”
I grinned, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the elevator.
She’d been talking about this damn Toy Story floor all morning, nearly begging to come down.
I brought her, and while the sales associate explained a few of the toys in the cases, littering the space, Amaris dipped off toward the back of the store.
“I enjoyed last night, even though you bit me.”
“You liked that too.”
She laughed hard. “Maybe I did. What are we eating?”
“Damn we just ate. You hungry already?” I joked, just to mess with her.
She snatched her hand from me and hit me in my chest. “What, are you trying to call me greedy? And no, we didn’t just eat. We ate earlier.”
I ate that lil hit then grabbed her arm and pulled her body back into mine. “What do you wanna eat? Bar, room service, or you wanna go off resort?”
“Umm. I don’t know. What do you thin—”
“I think I’m not the one who’s hungry. Then again, I’m hungry, but for something more than the food you’re thinking about.”
She laughed. “Bar it is, because they had good wings and I’m not about to let you speed us to where we’ll end up tonight. Trust the process.”
I chuckled as the elevator doors opened.
“Aight, I’ll trust the process.” When we stepped on, I pressed two, then stepped back, pulling her body against mine.
Something about this woman made me feel like I always needed to touch her.
I craved her flesh and last night I’d almost overdosed on it. Still wasn’t enough.
The elevator ride was short, like the moment we stepped on we were stepping off. But that was a good thing. Because I wanted nothing more than to bend her over some shit and handle business every time I was close to her.
A fucking craving.
When we reached the bar, we sat at a small table instead this time. The entire time our orders were taken, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She was fucking radiant, skin all moisturized and supple. So fucking inviting.
“Were you always into law?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I was too busy tryna stay out of its crosshairs.”
“Then what?”
“First, I picked up a book. Then I decided to take a couple classes.”
She nodded.
“What about you? According to Sam, you’re studying for the bar.”
A massive smile filled her features. “Yeah, I am. The practice test for the environment is kicking my ass but I feel like I’ll have it within a few more weeks.”
“Facts, why I ain’t know?”
“Because even though you’re my boss’s boss, we don’t exactly talk every day or week for that matter. Sam and I talk every day. Shit, he’s nosy; so he knows everything.”
I laughed. “Yet we talk enough for me to invite you here. And you’re right. Sam is mad fucking nosy, but that’s why he’s good at his shit. Best divorce lawyer in the fucking world.”
It was her turn to laugh. “First of all, you requested for me to meet you in your office. I thought I was in trouble. There is a difference and we don’t have organic conversations, Julian. We don’t share lunch or have dinner. I just indirectly work for you.”
When she said that, it dawned on me that she was right. Funny enough I knew much more about her by way of others, but not from her mouth. I wanted to know about her through her.