Chapter 2 #3
My insatiable beauty is demanding and I’m fucking here for it.
Pulling my head sideways to deepen the kiss, she bites down on my bottom lip.
I smile, making her bite down a little harder.
If my girl ever figures out how to tease me like I tease her, I’m in trouble, but for now, it’s exclusively my sweet torture for us both.
That I’m mostly in control is only marginally less agonizing for me.
I’m as hot and bothered as she is, just a little less frantic about it.
That she’s so keyed up only incites me more.
I pinch her nipple between my thumb and finger, rolling it, puckering it even more.
Her exhale is a pant against my lips. “Don’t make me wait, Julie. Don’t make me beg.”
“What if I want you to beg? Beg me to fuck you, Ever.”
Pushing against my shoulders with surprising strength, Ever rolls on top of me as my back flattens against the bed. Taking me in her hand, she guides me to her dripping center and drops her weight down, sinking onto me completely, her mouth forming a perfect little O on a gasp.
I hiss through clenched teeth on a sharp inhale as my hips rise to meet her. Clutching her hips, I pull her forward in a rocking motion as I exhale. “Ughhhh, Ever. So fucking good.”
“You like that, Julie?” Her eyes bore into mine as she rises up on her knees and drives back down, rocking as she does. She doesn’t need my guidance. She’s setting the pace and taking us both higher with each plunge. “Tell me you like it.”
“I do,” I pant, digging into her soft skin so hard I fear I’ll leave marks.
I loosen my grip but pull her ass into me with the flat of my palms. “Ugh, you know I do.” My words are met with a little giggle bubbling in her throat.
“Fuck me, Ever. Make me come, baby. Fuck, so sexy. I love you. So. Much.” I’m seconds away from coming, but I want her to come first. I hold her hips down to stop her driving rhythm.
My eyes that were squeezed shut find hers.
They’re almost charcoal and watch me under thick black lashes.
Her lips curve in a half smile as she waits, throbbing around me, to see what I’ll do next.
She knows me too well. She knows I’m not coming before her.
I reach between us and begin slow circles just above where our bodies are joined.
Feeling that connection with each swipe only heightens my need to press into her for my release. I’m quaking with my restraint.
“It’s okay, Julie. Just come for me. I can feel how much you want to.”
My dick twitches in response.
Her thumb drags across my bottom lip before she grips my cheeks and brings her lips to the pulse in my neck, biting and sucking, daring me to let go.
“You first,” I pant. That sexy fucking giggle again. Maybe my girl is mastering the teasing game after all.
Swirling her hips and pressing into my thumb, she whispers, “We’ll see.”
I’m about to fall off the edge without her.
With every ounce of will I possess, I lift her off me with a deep groan and toss her onto the mattress on her back.
Pushing her knees up and her thighs wide, I slide into her as deep as possible.
I pull all the way out and wait till her closed eyes open and find mine.
Then I sink again, roughly, bowing her back.
A couple more times and I’ll be done. I need her to come for me.
I pull out, and it costs me.
Dropping my forehead on hers, I attempt to catch my breath.
She’s writhing under me. I take her breast in my hand and guide her nipple to my mouth.
Sucking hard, I drive my fingers into her and tease her clit with my thumb.
Grinding my dick into her thigh, I silently beg her to come again.
As soon as I bend my finger, connecting with my thumb on the outside, and apply just the right amount of swirling pressure, she erupts.
Her tight, silky skin pulsating around my fingers.
I don’t wait. I remove my hand and drive into her mid orgasm and empty myself in two thrusts with an orgasm I feel in my fucking soul.
Collapsing, I roll with her onto my side, still joined.
Our hands are roaming all over each other.
I’m kissing her damp cheeks, her neck, tangling my fingers in her still-wet hair.
Our panting slowly subsides and still we’re joined, her leg draped over mine.
My nose nuzzles the soft shell of her ear as I whisper, “I love you, beautiful girl, my girl.”
“I love you, beautiful boy.” Her words are heavy. “So much,” she adds, but it’s garbled. She’s sleepy, spent, and almost nothing feels better.
The rise and fall of her chest against mine lulls me, too. The last thing I remember is her fingers scraping lazily along the faded hair at my nape. Fuck, I love her.
Chapter 3
Everly
Waking up alone is nothing new. Julian always rises before me and usually falls asleep after me.
I’m not sure how he does it, because he doesn’t drag or act tired—ever.
Blinking against the daylight streaming through the wall of windows and slider, I see him leaning against the doorframe of the sliding glass, back to me.
His silhouette highlighted by the morning sun is new.
His muscled frame is outlined in sparkling detail, like a pop culture vampire.
I watch silently, slowly blinking the sleep out of my eyes as he brings a steaming mug of coffee to his lips and sips, his bicep bulging against the white cotton fabric of his shirt.
He’s barefoot, one leg crossed over the other, the low-slung gray sweats cling to his chiseled legs. He looks snuggly but somber.
“Morning, pretty girl.”
My stomach somersaults at the sound of his voice, and my eyes fly back up to his profile.
He doesn’t turn when he greets me, and I hadn’t moved yet except for opening my eyes.
That he knows or senses me awake makes my heart thud and my lower region throb.
“Morning, beautiful boy.” My voice is scratchy, so I clear it before I add, “Why so sad this early in the day?”
He faces me, his lips rolled inward on a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. His usually vivid blue eyes are a muted denim as they roam over my features. “How do you read me so well?”
“How do you sense I’m awake without turning around?”
“Fair.” He walks to the edge of the bed and sits down, placing his coffee on the nightstand. “Come kiss me, sassy girl.”
“Morning breath,” I reply, placing my fingertips over my lips before he can lean in.
“Coffee breath, so we’re even.” He leans in and takes my fingers in his before placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Speaking of . . . Want me to get you some?”
“Sure, but are you gonna tell me what’s going on up there? To steal your line.”
“Yeah, but first coffee, to steal yours.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear as he stands to go get me a mug.
“I guess it’s true what they say that couples start to sound alike.”
“I thought it was look alike,” he calls as he walks out and down the stairs.
“God, I hope not,” I call back. “I’m not sure I could rock a fade and morning scruff like you can.”
The rumble of his baritone laugh floats up the stairs.
I throw the covers off, stretch and shuffle to the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face and throw on some sweats.
That I get to start my day with Julian and coffee is making me giddy.
Then I remember my man is bothered and the logical reason would be a green-eyed girl back from the dead.
I sigh at the reflection in the mirror as I twist my feral air-dried waves into a messy bun.
Navigating the Taya situation is going to be weird.
He’ll want to help her, be there for her.
It’s what I love most about Julian. His heart for others.
His protective instincts. I know how much he loves me.
He shows me every chance he gets. Every girl should be so lucky.
I have nothing to worry about. So why does my nervous system think I’m about to drop into the free fall on a roller coaster?
Stop, Everly. But first, coffee, I mentally chant.
Julian’s voice travels up the stairs. He’s on the phone.
There goes coffee. As if on cue, I hear the whirr of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. Flopping across the bed on my stomach, I snag my phone and swipe when I see Lilly’s face on the screen. “Friend! Miss your face,” I shriek.
“Well, you’re about to see a lot more of it. We’re coming home for winter break, like tomorrow.”
“Yee-aah,” I screech. My excitement is short lived.
“Yeah, but uh, Seth is coming with us. He can’t get home to Hawaii, so he’s coming with us so he’s not alone for the holidays.” She pauses like she’s waiting for me to say something. When I don’t, she adds, “It’s all good, right?”
“Oh, totally.” It’s not. How did the whole holiday season just become a shit show of past trauma, gray areas and bullshit?
My conscience revisits coming clean with Julian about my drunken kiss with Seth.
How did I become Ross Gellar? I’ve always been on Rachel’s side of we were on a break.
Now I’d like to invoke Ross’s argument to free myself of my guilt. Fuck my life.
“And like our houses are full, so can we stay at the apartment?”
Julian’s frame fills the doorway. Schooling my features, I look up and arch a brow in question. He nods immediately and puts his hands together like a prayer, his smile taking over his whole face. God, I love him. I shove the Seth kiss and my guilt down and focus on the here and now.
“Are you kidding? Julian would love to have me stay here.” Setting the coffee mugs down on the nightstand, he snakes his body across the bed next to me and rests his cheek on my lower back, his hand grazing up and down the back of my thigh.