Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Julian was tired, hadn’t eaten since lunch and hadn’t had time to work out that morning.
His well-ordered routine had been obliterated by Isla’s presence in his life, but every second with her was worth the chaos when he was away from her.
He wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t see what his brothers were upset about.
His behavior was so far out of character as to be inconceivable to them.
It would’ve been inconceivable to him before he’d met Isla and instantly felt everything inside him shift to make room for her.
He pulled into her driveway, cut the engine and was out of the vehicle so quickly he nearly stumbled in his haste.
She was waiting for him at the door, smiling as she held out her arms to him.
He picked her up, making her squeak with surprise as he carried her inside, kicking the door closed behind him.
As he let her slide down the instantly aroused front of him, her lips connected with his in a kiss full of pent-up desire.
Finally, he thought as it occurred to him that his entire day had been about doing whatever it took to get back to her.
“Mrs. V,” he whispered against her soft, sweet lips.
“She went home for the night.”
Hearing they were alone—and knowing the kids were sleeping—Julian was lightheaded with desire. He kept his arm around her as he kissed her and walked her backward toward the hallway where the bedrooms were. “Which way to your room?”
With her arms curled around his neck and her body pressed against his, she directed him to the last door on the left.
Julian stopped next to the bed for another tongue-twisting kiss as he ran his hands over her soft curves. She was wearing a white tank and pajama pants. He untied the bow at her waist to push the pants out of his way as she pulled his suit coat over his shoulders.
He took a step back to remove his tie, unbuckle his belt and take off his shirt by pulling it up and over his head. All the while, he held her gaze as they undressed and fell onto the bed in a wild burst of need that took his breath away.
“I couldn’t wait to get back to you,” he said as he slid his lips over hers.
“I thought I wasn’t going to hear from you.”
“Today was a mess, from start to finish. Until right now, that is.”
“I’m sorry you had a tough day.”
He kissed her neck and breathed in the scent that so bewitched him. “How was your day?”
“Pretty good. The kids and I went to the park and had lunch at In-N-Out. They loved that.”
“I love In-N-Out.”
“We’re still talking about the restaurant, right?”
He laughed as his hands slid down to cup her bottom. “I love all the various ins and outs.”
“I’m not sure I can do that tonight. I’m a little sore from last night’s trifecta.”
Julian immediately pulled back from her, and just as quickly, she drew him back into her embrace. “Oh no. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did.”
“I mean earlier.”
“You were busy at work, and I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry I caused you discomfort.”
“Trust me, it was totally worth it. I’ve been in this state of dazed disbelief all day.”
“Is that right?”
“Uh-huh. It’s never been like that for me.”
“Tell me more.”
Her giggle was the new sound of joy for him.
“Come snuggle me.”
“Nothing I’d rather do.”
She rested her head on his chest and sighed. “This is lovely.”
“Sure is. You were going to tell me more about how it’s never been like that for you…”
“I’ve only been with Gabriel, so I didn’t know anything else. When we were first together, it was really great between us. He made me feel wanted and sexy and you know…”
“I know.” A wild feeling of possessiveness caught him off guard as he tried not to picture her with another man.
“But there were things he didn’t like to do.”
“What things?”
“You want, like, details?”
“I’m here for anything you want to tell me.”
“It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed with me. You have no idea how obsessed I am with you—in the best-possible way, of course.”
“Of course.”
He felt her lips curve into a smile against his chest as he ran his fingers through her silky hair. “Don’t be shy, Isla. I want to hear all your thoughts, even the naughty ones.”
“He didn’t like oral.”
“Giving or receiving?”
“Giving. Receiving was never a problem.”
“Why did I know you were going to say that?”
“It was fine with me. The few times he did do that, it didn’t do much for me.”
“Because he didn’t want to be doing it, so he intentionally sucked at it. No pun intended.”
She laughed. “I could tell you like doing it.”
“I loved doing it to you.” He was so hard he ached. Talking about sex with her was better than doing it with anyone else had ever been. “In fact, a little more of that might help to soothe the soreness. It’s commonly known to be the best cure.”
“You’re a bit shameless, aren’t you?”
“Only with you.”
She ran her hand over his chest and down to cup his erection through his boxer briefs. “Maybe I could do that for you.”
He got even harder when she said that, and she laughed again. “He approves.”
“He’s all in with you.”
“Is it weird that I already feel like we’ve been together this way forever, rather than just a few days?”
“Same. I can’t remember what life was like before you strolled into my office.”
“I do not stroll!”
“Oh yes you do, and it was hot as fuck.”
“I had a kid on each hip. How is that hot?”
“It just was.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Mmmm, does that apply to all things, or is it selective?”
Julian nuzzled her neck as they moved against each other, simulating intercourse, which was almost as hot as the real thing.
“Is that your way of saying you like being in charge?”
He cupped her breast and ran a thumb over her tight nipple. “Only when it comes to your pleasure. You can be in charge of everything else.”
“Is that, like, something you’re into?”
“I have been in the past, but it’s not required.”
“Tell me more.”
The thought of her being interested in dominance and submission nearly sent him right over the edge.
“I, um… Well…”
She laughed. “Articulate, Counselor.”
“You’ve got me all flustered.”
“What did I do?”
“You’re you, and you smell so good, and you feel even better. And then you want to up the ante to talk about my dominant side, and it’s all I can do not to implode.”
“Is it always like this for you?”
“Like what?”
“Hot, frantic, desperate.”
Hearing her describe their insane attraction with those words almost did him in. “Never. Not like this.”
“What makes this different?”
“Damned if I know,” he said with a laugh, “but it’s been unlike anything else from the minute you strolled—”
She pinched his lips.
Laughing, he twisted free of her grip to add, “Onto the scene.”
“That strolling thing is going to get you in trouble.”
“Oh goody. What does trouble involve?”
“You really are shameless.”
“Not usually. You bring out my shameless side.”
“I’m trying to understand how this is even possible.”
“Some things just are, or so I’ve heard. I’ve never experienced anything like this either.”
“Denny asked me today if I’d heard from you.”
“What did you say?”
“I believe my exact words were, ‘You could say I’ve heard from him.’”
“Which of course left him with more questions than answers.”
“He doesn’t need to know everything.”
“No, he certainly does not.”
“He… He told me again that you’re not a wife-and-kids kind of guy.”
Julian winced at the vulnerable tone of her voice as she said that. “I’m not.”
“But here you are with a single mom…”
“You noticed that, huh?”
“Haha, yes, I noticed. And I noticed that you’re great with my kids. All they’ve talked about since we went to Ojai is when we can go back to see the gochas and when they might see their new friend Mr. Julian again.”
“They asked about me?”
“A hundred times today alone.”
His heart suddenly felt too big for his chest. “That’s so cute.”
“You made a big impression.”
“Wow.”
“Can I say something that has no place in a brand-new situationship, or whatever you want to call this?”
“You can say anything you want to me any time you want.”
“I’m not sure I can be seriously involved with a man who has a no-wife-and-kids policy.”
He winced. “Why did I know you were going to say that?”
“Please understand… I’m not a big fan of marriage myself after the last few years with Gabriel, but my kids deserve a real family and maybe a dad to be there for them since Gabriel can’t be. I don’t know what the future holds, but I don’t want to rule out any possibilities.”
The same heart that had expanded when she’d said her kids had asked about him wanted to shrivel up and die at the thought of having to let her go to find some other guy to help her raise her kids. “That’s fair.”
“I want you to know I get why you feel the way you do. I… I watched a few episodes of that reality show about your family, and I ached for you, imagining what it must’ve been like to have that story on blast.”
He hated that she’d watched that but didn’t blame her for being curious about who she was sleeping with. “It was brutal. I hated that the whole world knew our business and that my parents ate it up because it was so good for their divorce practices. The phone rang off the hook with new business.”
“It’s just gross.”
“That’s a very good word for it.”
“But you were very cute back then. Not as cute as you are now, though.”
“I was never cute.”
“Hate to break it to you—you were and are very cute.” She kissed him. “And sexy and sweet and hot.”
“That last part is all fine, but the cute shit is not.”
Smiling, she said, “I give you and your siblings so much credit for not only maintaining relationships with your parents but also working with them. That can’t be easy.”
“It’s easier than it would’ve been back in the day when it was all so raw. That was a long time ago now. A lifetime ago, really.”
“But the scars are forever.”
“Yeah, they are.”