Chapter 11 Julian
JULIAN
However I wanted ended up being replacing the vibrator in Harper’s ass with my cock and coming harder than I ever had in my life as she encouraged me.
Her whimpers of “harder” and “faster” lingered deep in my psyche, following me into my dreams and offering glimpses of fantasies I had every intention of fulfilling.
We hadn’t made any further agreements about ending things after the gala.
And if I had any say in the matter, we’d never finish with Harper.
The thought cemented itself in my head as I woke up with Harper in my arms. I kept still, afraid of waking her.
Though I had a raging boner and wanted nothing more than to fill her sweetness again, I lingered in the embrace.
Her leg was thrown over mine, giving me access if I moved just right.
I adjusted my hips the slightest bit, and my cock prodded her.
She moaned and her eyelashes fluttered, but she remained asleep.
Dante and Alexander were sprawled on the other side of the bed, bodies akimbo and soft snores puffing from Alexander’s mouth.
“I want to keep you.” I whispered it too low for anyone to hear, but the need to say the words out loud forced me to commit it into the void.
Last night was one of the best nights of my life.
Waking up in the penthouse suite together hinted at a beautiful morning full of even more glorious sex.
I could spend the whole day here. Hell, I’d spend the week in bed with Harper.
She’d responded so well to our first dip into bondage and exploration that it made me curious to know where she drew the line. Was there a line?
I cradled Harper against my chest and smoothed the rumpled lump of hair at her crown. Even asleep, she was adorable. Mussed and incredible. I never let women stay all night. Never.
Things were different with Harper. Waking up with her in my arms satisfied me in a way I’d never known was possible.
Contentment relaxed my arms and curled me around Harper. She nestled closer to my chest, her hair fanning out across my arm. Another shift in position, and my cock slid closer to her entrance.
Grinning, I pumped my hips while teasing her earlobe with tiny nibbles.
“Julian?” Her eyelashes fluttered, and an adorable smile appeared. A pillow crease cut across her cheek when she lifted her head. “What are you doing?”
“If I have to answer that, I’m doing it wrong.” I kissed the corner of her mouth and cupped her heavy breast in my palm. “I’m never going to get enough of this.” I brought her nipple up to my mouth and lapped at it with my tongue.
Her stomach clenched, and she wrapped a hand around my shaft. “Me either.”
Alexander snorted and rolled over, his hand flopping across Harper’s side. His eyes opened, and he raised his head to look around. “Huh. So it wasn’t a dream.”
“Not even close.” I rubbed my chin back and forth over Harper’s nipple as it peaked.
Dante sat up and ran his hands through his hair.
A creak sounded from the door, and the knob turned.
Before I could do anything other than curse, it opened and a thin young man in a hotel suit pushed a silver cart into the room.
“Good morning. Thank you for–” He looked up as he lifted the silver domes off one of the platters.
His mouth fell open, and the look on his face would be comical if not for the possible repercussions.
I threw myself out of the bed and between him and Harper.
Alexander and Dante cursed and stood, but they were on the other side of the bed.
I didn’t need to turn to know what the man saw.
Three men in bed with one woman. We were recognizable.
Our names were on the registry for this room.
This man had seen more than anyone should.
We were all naked and we’d been aroused until the door opened.
I grabbed the nearest robe and threw it across my shoulders.
“My apologies.” He ducked his head, his entire face going crimson.
I shoved him toward the door. “What are you doing in here?” The question came out low and guttural.
Throat dipping in a hard swallow, he averted his gaze from the bed where I knew Harper lay naked.
He stumbled over nothing, his arms windmilling to keep him upright.
“I. You.” He regained his balance and slammed into the door.
“As guests of the hotel, you are offered a complimentary breakfast. Since you did not opt out of this service, I was sent up with the cart.”
“Where in the fucking fine print does it say that anyone is allowed into our room without our permission?” I grabbed a fistful of his jacket, turned the knob on the door, and shoved him into the hallway.
“We chose this hotel because we were promised discretion and no interruptions. That means no turn down service. No housekeeping. And it sure as fuck means no one is supposed to enter our room unannounced. Not even for a motherfucking complimentary breakfast.” I released his shirt and he stumbled away from me.
People often thought Alexander and Dante were the more intimidating, and Dante sure as fuck was more dominating, but I scared the shit out of more people than the two of them combined.
No one expected it of me. Not sure why. Standing in the hallway in nothing but a robe with a full body of tattoos on display was enough to scare the majority of the population.
This kid was no exception. He swallowed several times and smoothed his hand down the front of his jacket. “I’m sorry. It’s hotel policy. I was just doing my job.”
“I understand that.” It took considerable effort to control the rush of protective instincts that begged me to shred this man. He was right. It wasn’t his fault. But he had seen things we wanted to keep hidden. I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. “What’s your name, kid?”
“A-Arthur. My friends call me Archie.” He kept his gaze pinned on the ground. “I don’t want to get fired. I need this job.”
“It’s okay, kid.” I patted his shoulder, grimacing when he flinched back.
“I’m sorry I came down so hard on you. It’s just…
” I hesitated and took a second look at Arthur.
Clean cut and dressed in the hotel’s uniform, he looked too young and innocent for this shit.
“Look, we need you to keep your mouth shut.” I held out both hands, showing him my palms. “Do you understand?”
“Like…if I don’t you’ll kill me?”
“Jesus. No.” I shook my head. “We’re not the fucking mafia.
We’re not doing anything illegal or immoral, we just don’t want you blabbing to your friends.
I’m willing to give you money, if that helps keep your mouth shut.
” But if he did blab to his buddies and I found out about it, I had a few friends who could make sure it never happened again.
I hated thinking that way, but protecting Harper mattered more to me than anything else.
“You want to bribe me to stay quiet?” Arthur’s eyebrows drew together. “I’ve never been bribed before.”
“Consider this your lucky day.” I held up a finger.
“You stay put. And from now on, you knock on people’s doors before you go in.
No more of this using the employee card to sneak in.
You’re going to end up walking in on some shit that will get you in serious trouble.
” We were not the mafia, but they’d been known to frequent this hotel and they’d slaughter Arthur without a second thought.
I backed into the room and shoved my feet into my pants, then threw a shirt on in place of the robe.
Alexander and Dante had Harper at the table, the three of them leaning together and having a hushed conversation, but then she stood and began pacing.
Dante gave me a look, and I dipped my head in a nod that told him I had everything under control. I rejoined Arthur in the hallway, and the kid hadn’t much more than breathed. “Here.” I peeled off a stack of hundred-dollar bills and held them out to him. “Swear to me you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
“I swear.” He nodded so hard his eyes bugged out.
He reached for the money, but I snapped it away from him.
“If anyone asks you what you saw up here, I need to know about it. You tell them you don’t know shit, and then you call me.
” I handed him one of my business cards that had nothing except my first name and phone number.
The number went to a burner phone that I used for situations like this, just in case the card fell into the wrong hands.
“Yes, sir. Absolutely.” He took the card and the money, and both disappeared into his pocket. He turned on his heel and waved one hand over his shoulder. “I didn’t see shit, sir. You have my word.”
“Fuck.” I shoved a hand through my hair and entered the room, closing the door behind me.
“The hotel is known for its discretion. That’s why we do business here.” Dante sat at the table with his ankles crossed and his hands behind his head.
To the casual observer, he looked completely relaxed.
That’s why Dante was the best businessman out of all of us.
Harper stopped pacing and crossed her arms over her stomach.
She wore one of the hotel’s robes, but the sash hadn’t been tied right and it fell open to reveal a line of smooth skin between her breasts.
She hugged her ribs and bent to pick up her dress, holding it tight over her chest. “That’s good.
Um. I think I should head home now. I need… I need to get ready for work tomorrow.”
“You could stay.” I propped my hip against the desk beside the door and matched her crossed arm posture. “There’s plenty of time for tomorrow.”
“No. I think it’s better if I go. Better if I go before anyone else sees us.” Her voice did that quivery thing that made her sound near tears.
I focused on her face, trying to read her.
It had been easy last night, but today, with the threat of discovery between us, she locked down her expression and met my stare with a steady gaze.
Did she not want to be with us anymore, or was it all shame and embarrassment at getting caught?
Either way, our happy love bubble had burst, and we had no choice but to return to our normal lives.
Harper hurried into the bathroom and closed the door, closing us out and leaving me feeling bereft. For the first time in my life, I didn’t know what to do with myself.