Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
LOOT
Reluctantly, I slip from inside her body before falling to the side, landing on this shitty-ass mattress with a loud squeak. A silence falls over us, and while it’s comfortable enough for me, I highly doubt that she’s feeling the same.
I’m a stranger, and judging by her reactions, the hitches in her breath, her widening eyes, the way her lips part in awe—this isn’t something she does… ever. Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have even thought about what she’s feeling, what she’s been through, what she’s seen.
But the pull with Juliette is stronger than anything I’ve felt in my fifty years on earth. Wrapping my arms around her, I do something I probably shouldn’t, or maybe it just feels like I shouldn’t, because I never have, not even with Destinee.
I drag her across the bed and settle her against my side. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to stay here, but this is where I want to be right now—with her pressed against me, both of us naked.
I feel her fingers trace one of the tattoos on my chest, and I grunt at the sensation, which sends goose bumps all over my flesh.
I fucking like it. Which means I need to know how she ended up here and why she looks over her shoulder at every given second, expecting something or someone to jump out at her.
“Tell me, Juliette,” I demand.
“I like it when you call me Jules. Nobody has ever called me that before,” she whispers, almost so low that I miss it.
Lifting my hand, I glide my fingers along her cheek, then through the side of her hair, tangling them in the strands before I tug her head back slightly. Turning my head, I look down at her, my eyes finding hers.
“Then that’s what I’ll call you,” I murmur.
I don’t know what the fuck this is, but whatever it is, I like it. I like having her right here, pressed against me. Her soft, warm body, her blue eyes. She’s long and lean, but it doesn’t take away from her feminine softness. I didn’t know this was what I’ve been missing.
“Tell me, Jules,” I repeat, knowing that she’s avoiding my question.
“I don’t want to,” she whispers.
“Why?”
She places her palm against my chest, trying to push up, but I don’t let her. I keep her where she is. Enjoying the way she feels far too much to allow her to leave or even put an inch of distance between us.
“Because if I tell you, then whatever this is, it will never happen again.”
I can’t imagine what she could tell me that would change what just happened between us or make me not want to do it again, because even though I’m not sure I could get hard right this second, I’m already thinking about working my way back up.
“Try me.”
“You don’t know me,” she breathes.
I snort, my gaze searching hers. “We don’t know each other, babe. We’re gonna work backward here, mainly because I’m an animal and I couldn’t keep my eyes and hands off you.”
Her lips curve up into a small smile, and I can’t help but wonder just how out-of-this-fucking-world amazing she would look if her whole face lit up. The darkness behind her eyes doesn’t ever go away, not even when she’s coming.
“It’s the age-old tale,” she begins. “Girl meets boy, boy is an asshole, girl runs, boy chases, and the story replays on a loop.”
I believe her, but I know she isn’t being completely forthcoming. I also don’t push her. Releasing my grasp on her hair, my hand shifts, and I cup her jaw again, my thumb gliding along her bottom lip, my gaze on hers.
“You’ll tell me everything when you’re ready. For now, I’m good with that. Except one thing…”
Her lips part as she watches me, and my cock twitches, wondering just how good it’s going to feel when it slips between those parted lips. Fuck me, I want to be inside every inch of her body. And I will be. That’s a promise I can keep to myself.
“What’s that?” she finally asks when I don’t say anything.
Leaning closer to her, I touch my lips to hers in a whisper of a kiss. “You’ll tell me when and if I need to ask more questions. Or demand answers.”
“I can do that,” she murmurs.
“And if I hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable, you’ll tell me.”
Her breath hitches, but it’s me who sucks in a deep breath and holds it because she climbs over my body, straddling my hips, her eyes on mine, her warm heat against my cock, and I wish I were hard right now.
“I don’t know what this is, how or why it even happened the way it has, but I wanted it. I liked it, and maybe I’m stupid as hell, but I want more.”
“Then you’ll have it, Jules.”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her down to my chest, my lips touching hers, my tongue sweeping through her mouth, and then I pull back slightly before I murmur. “I’ll give it all to you.”
It’s a promise I’m not sure I can keep. But I want to try.