18. Sunshine
Chapter 18
Sunshine
T he day after the smashing success with Mrs. Cullen, Julian texted me his congratulations. He apologized for taking so long to get back to me, but I’d told him not to worry. He wanted to hang out the next day. I told him I was off and looking forward to it.
My stomach swooped at the thought of being around him. I needed to just suck up my feelings and ask him about what he meant when he told Chuck the pack wasn’t closed. I’d tried to ask Logan and Luca a hundred times, but I couldn’t figure out how to ease it into casual conversation.
Hey, remember when you told me you weren’t dating, but then it turns out you actually might be dating? About that…
I sighed. I was a hopeless coward. I needed to get my courage up and ask. I no longer thought they would laugh in my face. Maybe it would feel a little awkward, but now I felt like Julian wouldn’t shun me. And if he said thanks but no thanks, I’d even make a joke about how of course he was irresistible.
Still, my stomach churned.
Julian texted that he was on his way over and when he arrived, he’d brought boxes of food. “Logan’s been in a cooking frenzy. You should come over, really take advantage of that.”
I laughed, joy bubbling up inside me. “That’s not the only thing I could take advantage of.”
Julian blinked, looking shocked for a minute.
Nerves fluttered through me, and I breezed past him. “We should play Race to Win. I watched YouTube videos on some tricks.”
“Did you?” Julian smirked, heat in his voice. “We’ll have to see about that.”
My brain stopped for a minute. Were we flirting? We were flirting. I thought. Maybe.
I grabbed snacks and water, and we played. I was still terrible at the game, but it was fine because the tracks were fun, and Julian was hilarious when he was trash talking the other computer-generated racers.
He flopped back onto the couch. Despite his happiness, he had bags under his eyes and his scent smelled off. “I’m beat. Let’s be lazy and watch some Kitchen Wars.”
“Let’s snuggle again. You look like it’s been a rough couple of weeks at work too.”
“Don’t I know it.” He shook his head. “We had three back-to-back calls the other night. I thought Luca and Logan were going to go through the roof when I came home.”
“That sucks.” I scooted closer to him, putting my head on his shoulder.
Julian put his arm around my shoulder. “I’m always down for snuggles.”
“Great.” I popped up. “I’ll get the blankets.”
I grabbed the weighted blanket again and the stuffed animals. Part of me wondered if cozy snuggle time would forever put me in the friend zone, but I couldn’t help but crave even the slightest touch from him.
We assumed the same positions, me laying with my back against Julian’s chest, his arms around my waist. I pulled the blankets over us, and we spooned. Slowly his scent evened out, until it smelled normal. Coconuts and pineapple, tropical and beachy.
I let myself drift in the warm comfort of being around one of my favorite people in the whole world and fell asleep.
When I woke up a couple of hours later, I was refreshed and ready to take on the world. Or at least a snack.
Julian was like a furnace behind me, his scent teasing my senses. I made a happy noise of contentment. I should bring up the dating thing today. While we were both content and happy, with no chance of being interrupted.
Julian sighed behind me and nuzzled his face into my neck.
On instinct, I lifted my hand to touch the side of his cheek, turning my face toward his. It put my mouth not an inch away from his.
Julian was sleepy, his defenses down, open in a way I hardly ever saw him. He leaned into the last inch of distance and pressed his mouth against mine.
I melted against him.
His mouth was warm and soft. He kissed me thoroughly, like everything else in the world no longer mattered. Time stopped, his mouth on mine, his arms around my waist.
Warmth from comfort but also now desire moved through me like smoke. I kept my hand on his cheek, the position leaving me feeling oddly vulnerable since it made me stretch a bit to reach him.
He kept kissing me, breaking away to brush his lips against mine, only to dip back in. I floated, his kiss anchoring me. I opened my mouth, and he pressed his tongue inside.
Liquid heat curled through me, my nerves firing with electricity. His mouth was a blessing and curse, breaking me into smaller pieces only to make me whole again.
We kissed and kissed, time stretching out until it was my whole world. His tongue swept into my mouth, and I moaned, wanting more of him, whatever else he wanted to give.
He pulled back from the kiss, his mouth hovering near mine. “I was supposed to ask if you wanted to go on a date with us.”
I laughed, my sleepy, sex-addled brain confused. “What?”
He moved his hand slowly, lazily, over my hip, his fingertips brushing against the bottom of my t-shirt.
“I want to go on a date with you. Luca and Logan too.”
“Really?” My brain seemed to have stopped working. Everything good was happening at once and I wondered if I was still dreaming.
He pressed a kiss against my mouth. “Really.”
“I thought you weren’t dating anyone.”
“We aren’t dating random people, which is why Luca and Logan said no thanks to matchmaking. But we want to date you .” Both his hands moved over my hips, now.
“I want to date you.” I brushed my hand over his cheek again. “So badly. Luca and Logan too. It felt like hubris, thinking that you would make an exception for me.”
“Not hubris.” Julian kissed me, trailing his mouth down my jaw. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re incredible.”
I sighed. His hands brushed the small strip of skin between the bottom of my shirt and the top of my pajama bottoms.
“This okay? Touching you? I don’t want to rush you.” Julian pressed a soft kiss near where my jaw met my neck. “I crave you.”
“This is amazing. Don’t stop.” I whimpered, my body lighting up like he was kissing somewhere more intimate.
He had every nerve firing, even the smallest bit of movement felt sensual. He gently brushed his hands over my stomach, over and over, until I was breathless.
Slowly, slowly as he sucked on the sensitive skin behind my ear, he brought his hands up, skating against the edges of my ribcage.
I keened, twisting my hips. Heat pulsed through me, covering me like liquid molasses until all I knew was that I hungered for him, for the next feather touch.
He moved his hands up to gently cup my breasts over my bra, and I saw stars. I shifted my hips against him, my back pressed against his front. I expected him to grind against me, but he didn’t move.
This is what being in heat had to be like, with everything inside boiling into an inferno. My pussy pulsed, wetness seeping between my legs. I was finally, finally kissing Julian. After all of my desire and longing, his mouth was on mine.
Leisurely he rubbed his thumbs against my fabric-covered nipples. He cupped and stroked and squeezed, exploring me like I was his for the taking.
I shifted again, trying for more—anything. I needed him, needed his touch. He was so sure, so possessive with my breasts. Shifting one hand to my back, he unhooked the back of my bra.
“Yes.” I gasped.
“Whatever you want, babe.” He chuckled before diving back in to kiss me.
“Luca and Logan are okay if we…?” I stopped talking, his hands on my breasts making heat concentrate in my core.
“Very okay.” He nipped my neck.
Bra loosened, he pulled my shirt up so he could touch bare skin. I gasped as he grazed his teeth gently on my neck, the sensitive skin overstimulated.
The feeling of his hands on my breasts was so sensual, almost like we were teenagers having a horny make out session. It didn’t feel he was just going through the motions to get me ready for sex.
I wanted to sit on his lap, but something about him touching me from behind was making me crazy. I wanted to see what else he would do.
“I love your breasts,” he whispered, squeezing them gently.
I arched my back, my voice breathless. “I love that you love them.” It felt like my breasts were directly connected to my clit, heat pulsing between my legs.
“Let’s see what else you love.” His voice was pure smoke, desire rolling through me. He kept a hand on one breast and moved the other one slowly down my stomach until his fingertips brushed against the waistband of my sleep pants.
All I could do was moan, squeezing my legs together at the idea of him shoving his hand down my pants.
“Please,” I whispered.
Nipping my neck, he pushed his hand slowly down. Edging a knuckle and then another inch down further. Each inch sent scorching heat between my legs. I tried to focus, but I was breathing like I’d run a mile. My back flexed up on its own, chasing his touch.
Pulling me back into a searing kiss, he reached the edge of my panties. I gasped into his mouth as he sank his fingertips into the small thatch of hair above my pussy.
I dug my nails into his forearm. He swirled his fingers further, sweeping down to my nether lips, and groaned.
“You’re so wet.” He was hoarse, his own breath coming in gaps. “Oh, Sunshine.”
He rubbed his fingers along my lower lips, and I cried out, bucking up against his hand.
Moving made his hand shift away from where I needed him. I sat back, putting my heels on the couch and letting my legs fall open.
Julian groaned, nipped my neck again, and rubbing his fingers against me. I tried so hard not to thrust my hips again. It felt good to move, but every time I did, I moved away from where I wanted his hands.
“Yes, that’s it. That’s my girl.” He dragged his fingers up and down my entrance, rubbing his thumb along my lips.
Even single cell in my body was focused on his fingers. On the electric waves of pleasuring shooting out from where he touched me.
He slid two fingers inside, and I arched up, unable to help it. “Julian,” I panted.
“I’ve wanted to do this to you for so long.” He pushed his fingers in and out with excruciatingly slow thrusts.
“Me too.” I pressed my back against him, and he did grind against me this time.
He built up a rhythm, thrusting his fingers until I was twisting around him. Using his other hand, he caressed my breast, until desire was as steady as my pounding heartbeat.
Julian shifted forward so he could push his fingers deeper inside, and I saw stars. Keening, I twisted my hips.
“Yes, babe, come on.” He panted in my ear. “Let me make you come.”
His long fingers inside me spiraled my desire tighter and tighter. He worked me with his hands and fingers, panting in my ear, my lips wet and swollen, my hips making little jerky movements with each pump of his fingers.
I hovered on the edge of orgasm, pulled there by the sharp buildup of ecstasy. Julian’s scent surrounded me, strong enough to make everything smell like coconut and pineapples.
“Tell me if I should do something different.” Julian panted. “I’m not trying to edge you. This time.”
Anxiety spiraled through me. I was taking too long to come. Sometimes, no matter how into the moment I was, it took more time to build up to an orgasm. Isaac used to always get impatient, thinking he was doing something wrong.
I panted. “I’m sorry it’s taking so long.”
Julian wrapped his arm around me, squeezing me against him. “Babe, I would do this all day.” His fingers pressed deeper, and I shuddered, electricity shooting through me.
“I’m worried I’m not pleasuring you right.”
He sounded nervous and aroused in equal measure, and that cut through my anxiousness.
“I love you touching me.” I relaxed against his hand. “You can do whatever you want.”
Julian growled, nibbling my neck. “I want to make you scream.”
I shuddered at the pure lust in his voice, arching my hips up.
“You’re amazing.” My breath came in pants. I should probably tell him to play with my clit more if he was going to try and finger me into an orgasm, but I couldn’t make myself say the words. “It just takes longer sometimes.”
Julian nibbled the sensitive skin on my neck again. He moved his fingers inside me, changing pace, curling them around my entrance before pushing back inside. Time slowed down, narrowing to his hands on me, his body pressed against my back, his heavy panting breaths in my ear.
My body went liquid and hot, the orgasm hovering just out of reach but every other nerve lit like it was on fire. And then he dragged his fingers out of my pussy, his thumb brushing against my clit.
I cried out, a moment of electric shock racing through me. Julian bit my neck, wrapped his ankles around mine so I’d hold still, and rubbed my clit again.
It felt like being struck by lightning. My eyes squeezed shut and my body bowed out, but Julian held me against him, using his fingers in a sweeping motion until an orgasm burst over me.
All I could do was make a strangling noise, and then everything tensed inside me. Fireworks went off, and I collapsed against him.
“I think I found your clit,” Julian whispered, kissing my cheek.
I choked out a laugh. “Umm… yes? I didn’t know you were looking for it.”
I curled on my side, and Julian wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face into his shirt, breathing in his tropical scent.
“I haven’t been with a girl before.” Julian nuzzled my hair. “I’m mostly gay.”
I gasped and looked up at him. “I assumed you…”
He shook his head, grinning ear to ear. “Nope. Luca is the only one of the three of us that’s slept with a woman. And after all the movies make a big deal about pleasuring women, I worried I wouldn’t do it right.”
“Oh,” I sighed, “that was more than right.”
Desire curled back through me. I wanted to kiss him again, wanted to curl myself against him. He was hard against my hip, and I wanted more.
I brushed my mouth against his. “What do you want next?”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He gave me a soft kiss. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
I sighed. “I think this is the most comfortable I’ve ever felt.”
With a start, I realized it was true. I wanted him, but this was my friend. I could tell him anything. I should have had the courage to tell him to touch my clit. He wasn’t trying to get me off as quick as he could so I would return the favor. He just didn’t know what to do.
“I want you. If you’re okay with that. If Luca and Logan are…” I trailed off.
Julian stole a kiss. “I’ll come home smelling of you, it will make them insane.”
The thought sent shivers of desire racing through me. With Julian’s help, I pulled my shirt and pants off and he pulled his pants off.
I paused, admiring his body. He was lean, with defined abs. I trailed my hand over his chest. “You know you’re gorgeous, right?”
He looked at me with a grin. “An omega does like to be told.”
I laughed, running my hand down his dragon tattoo over his shoulders. “I love the tattoos.”
“I got them just so you would paw all over me like this.”
I grinned, moving my hands down his stomach. His cock was hard and weeping precum. I raised my eyebrow. “Do you want to be on top or…”
Julian brushed his hands over my sides, resting them on my hips. “I want you to take me. Have your way with me.”
Heat rolled over me, and my pussy pulsed with the thought. I ached to have him inside me.
“Are you on birth control?” He cocked his head. “I’m clean but if you’re not, we should use a condom.” He made a face.
“Birth control,” I said, straddling his lap. I thanked the universe for that, I wanted to feel him bare inside me.
“Thank fuck,” he said. His eyes were wide and his silky hair mused.
I positioning myself over his cock.
“Yes, Sunshine.” Julian moaned, leaning back.
I usually felt self-conscious being on top, but he looked like he was already about to come. It helped my nerves. I slid myself down onto him and we both moaned at the same time.
He was thick and hard, the position making him slide deep inside me. Usually taking someone this deep would make it feel like too much of a stretch, but he fitted perfectly.
I twisted, helpless against the rising tide of desire. I needed him, he needed me. His hands were roaming my body. I lifted my hips up, almost pulling off him, and pushed down slowly, so wet that he slid in and out of me easily.
“Oh my fuck,” Julian gasped, arching his hips up. “Oh God, Sunshine, you’re so warm and wet.”
His pupils were blown black, and he looked up at me. “Oh baby, yes. Take your omega.”
“You’re so hot,” I panted, running my hands over his flexing abs. “I want you so badly.”
“Take me. I’m yours,” he panted. “You can have anything you want.”
I moved up and down more quickly, my breasts swaying. Julian cupped one with his hand and then snaked his fingers between where our bodies met. He rubbed my clit, a quick study, and heat pulsed inside me as another orgasm started to build.
Julian levered up into a sit-up to meet me, our bodies moving together in synch until he moaned, grabbing my hips as he thrust inside me. We met each other, his cock rubbing deep inside me, making my body go liquid with pure bliss. I rode him, the position making me feel sexy and powerful and just turned me on more. Julian was whining and keening underneath me, like I was destroying him with pleasure the way he was wrecking me.
He cried out as he came. I gyrated my hips, trying to milk his orgasm out as long as I could.
I stopped as he finished, then I leaned forward to rest my cheek against his chest. His heart was hammering in his chest and he was sweaty.
He stroked his hands down my back, panting. “You need a break?”
I looked up at him. “Me? What about you? You just came.”
Julian laughed and kissed my forehead. He shifted his hips, thrusting slowly up into me. He was still hard.
Liquid heat rolled through me. He was still ready to go.
Julian choked out a laugh. “I thought you’d been with an omega before.”
“No.” I let my need rise up again with the knowledge that the orgasm that had been starting to build would have the chance to peak. I wouldn’t have to lay there and tell myself to be happy with the climax I’d just had.
Julian lay all the way back down, pulling me against him. I lifted up and then pushed down onto his cock and the angle made us both gasp. As Julian thrust up inside me, it felt like pure heaven, with his cock hitting places inside me I didn’t know existed.
I built up speed, chasing the orgasm I knew was there, although hovering just out of reach.
“Oh yes, ride me baby. Ride your omega,” Julian groaned, thrusting up to meet me. His fingers dug into my hips, cupping my breasts like he couldn’t help himself, and played with my clit.
His cock kept hitting deep inside me, until I felt like I was nothing but a creature of desire. I bounced on top of him, faster and faster until I forgot about anything but the feeling of our bodies meeting over and over.
I came hard, moaning his name, my entire body shuddering. He kept thrusting up, pushing me through my climax, which was just as well because I couldn’t move, my body spasming so hard.
I collapsed onto his chest, struggling to breathe. He brushed his hands up and down my back, gently playing with my hair as he caught his breath.
“You’re amazing.” He kissed my temple. “I was trying so hard to be patient. I hope I didn’t rush you.”
I shook my head and huffed in his scent. He smelled amazing, and everything inside me felt like pure joy. “I have trying to figure out how to ask about dating, but I’m a chicken.”
“You’re not a chicken. You’ve been hurt.” He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me against him. “We’ve been trying to figure out how to know when you’d be ready for dating.”
“’We’?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.
I was finding it hard to come to terms with the reality that Julian wanted me, let alone his packmates. He hadn’t stopped touching me like I was a precious gift. It felt too good to be true.
“Luca and Logan are crazy about you.” He kissed my temple. “We’re all crazy about you. I wanted you to spend the night the other week. I want you in my nest, making it smell right.”
I rubbed my cheek against his chest. “This isn’t just…desire…?”
I felt stupid asking, because he’d been talking about dating, but I couldn’t help but need more reassurance.
“Not just desire.” Julian held me closer against him. “If it wouldn’t completely freak you out, I’d ask you to move in with us. I’ve wanted you badly, for years. But between my life and your life the timing has been garbage.”
Move in. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“That’s fine.” He sounded so pleased with himself. “I can wine you and dine you. Luca and Logan too. So you’ll see that we’re amazing.”
“You are amazing.” I tilted my head up so I could look him in the eyes. He looked so, so happy. I’d made him that happy.
“I was scared of rejection, and then I didn’t want to lose you as a friend.”
“You will never lose me as a friend.” He looked serious for once. “Ever. You’re stuck with me, forever.”
“Good.” I sighed. “Dating sounds good.”
“Great. How much begging would I have to do in order to convince you to spend the night at my house?”
“Considering you just made me come twice,” I sighed happily, “not that much.”
Julian kissed my cheek, pressing his face into my neck and inhaling deeply. “Pack an overnight bag. Stay with us.”
Maybe I was just riding high on omega hormones, but the thought of walking in smelling like Julian and sex didn’t make me anxious. When I’d been dating the Beneventi pack, if Rob and I had sex without the others, the rest of the pack made it awkward, like we’d left them out.
Julian acted like it was perfectly natural that we’d had sex without the rest of his pack present.
So I packed a bag, and Julian drove us back to his house.