Chapter 18 #2
“Sort of, but the real gift I have for you is in here.” He stepped around the bed and slid aside the barn-style door that covered the closet. As he opened it, she could see his neat array of clothing on one side. The other side was empty.
Julie shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“This side of the closet is empty because it’s your half, if you want it.
” He moved back over to stand in front of her, taking her hands.
“I’d like for you to live here on the boat with me.
You can work remotely like you have been, and whenever we’re in port, you can check in with your company.
Or don’t work if you don’t want to. That’s up to you. ”
She gaped at him, and then the closet, and then at him again. Her mouth moved as she tried to find the right words but didn’t know what they were. “This is all so sudden.”
“I know.” He squeezed her hands tighter as the corners of his eyes crinkled with sympathy and worry.
“And I know I told you I wouldn’t ask you to make any decisions.
I tried to be patient, I really did, but I couldn’t leave Truro without at least giving this a chance.
I love you, Julie. Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you again. ”
His words moved through her body and mind as though they were physical.
Julie looked up into his face, and suddenly things started to clear.
“Will, I haven’t known what to think about you, about us.
It seemed like things just kept getting more complicated the more I tried to understand.
But just being here now, with you, there’s no other place I’d rather be. I love you, too.”
Will’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. “Does that mean you’ve just made my Christmas wish come true?”
“Yes.” She leaned up and kissed him gently. “Let’s do this, Will. There’s just one thing left that I want for Christmas.”
“Anything. What is it? He watched her eagerly, ready to give her whatever she asked for.
Julie had a feeling he wouldn’t mind fulfilling her request. She pressed her hips against him. “You.”
His dark eyes were so expressive, and for just a moment, she caught a glimpse of the bear hiding behind them. A slight growl reverberated from his chest as he grabbed her ass. “Lucky for you, Santa happens to have that very gift in stock. It even has your name on it.”
“Does it?” Julie leaned back and pretended to look him over. “I don’t see it anywhere.”
He shrugged. “I’ll guess you’ll just have to unwrap it so you can find out for sure.”
She grabbed the collar of his jacket and used it to pull herself up and kiss him again. They’d shared a gentle kiss of love and commitment, but now Julie wanted to remind him that there was a physical side to this connection. Very physical.
She moaned as she felt his tongue slide into her mouth, gently commanding.
Will was the impossible ratio of bad boy and good guy she never thought she’d find, and he exuded that attitude in everything he did.
He could turn her on with a hard smack on her ass or by tenderly sweeping her hair from her face.
Julie deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue along the length of his.
She pulled back a little, inviting him into her mouth.
His hands were still on her butt, and they clenched down hard.
“Was that a threat or a promise?” he asked when they came up for air.
“A little of both,” she admitted as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders.
Damn, the man had a great body. She loved the way his muscles felt even through his clothing.
Julie tugged on the pompom of his Santa hat and tossed it after the jacket.
“After all, I don’t think we ever figured out if I was on the naughty or nice list this year. ”
“Nice,” he insisted as he freed her of her coat, tossing it casually on the couch. His eyes dropped to the V-neck of her sweater, which had inched forward and now showed her cleavage. “Very nice.”
“You think so?” she challenged. Julie pulled his shirt over his head and then went for his belt. She unzipped his jeans, and her knuckles grazed gently over the hard package behind his fly. A new jolt of desire rushed through her. “I’m sure I could find a way to be naughty if I really tried.”
“No.” Will had made good headway with her clothing as well, and his thumbs rubbed appreciatively over her nipples. “I think it’s all nice for you.”
“Is that so?” Julie pulled away his boxer briefs, though she truly appreciated the way the soft fabric clung to his athletic thighs. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft, exploring the smoothness of his skin.
Will’s body tensed with pleasure, and his erection hardened further in her hand.
“Naughty, then. Or nice. Hell, if you keep doing that, you can be on any list you want.” He continued to massage her breast with his left hand, but his right slowly drifted down.
He trailed his fingers down her belly, past the faint line still left by her c-section, and drifted further until he smoothed his palms along the insides of her thighs.
Julie could feel her body awakening at his touch.
He captured her mouth in his, kissing her as he lifted his hand back up to find that most sensitive spot between her legs.
His mouth and hands worked her over simultaneously, brushing, flicking, enticing.
His palm pressed against just the right spot and moved in slow, seductive circles.
He brought such delight already that he made it hard to concentrate, but she returned the favor. Julie liked having his hardness in her hands and especially liked knowing she created it. Her fingers tightened and curled as they roved over him.
Will had worked her nipple into a hard bud, and now he let go of her breast and pressed his left hand against the small of her back.
With his right palm still making those agonizing circles against her core, he plunged his finger inside her.
His tongue slipped past her lips at the same time.
Will plundered her, invading her mouth and her body.
Julie’s knees went weak. His left hand that’d gone to her back now held her against him as he continued, his calculated strokes bringing her higher and higher. The tension was ratcheting up inside her to the point of almost being unbearable, and then he thrust a second finger inside her.
It sent Julie over the edge, gasping and panting as her orgasm ripped through her. Will continued his kisses, catching her vocal pleasures in his mouth just before he laid her on the bed and sank into her.
She hadn’t even had a chance to come down from that first set of convulsions.
Feeling him inside her, seeing his abs ripple as he stood between her legs and thrust against her, Julie easily crested a second time.
They were finally alone, and she screamed her satisfaction while she writhed against the pillows.
Her legs clenched around his thighs and backside, and she took all she could from him.
“Julie.” He slammed harder into her as his pace increased, along with his girth.
His voice was deep and husky as he said her name again, and then he drove it home one final time before his release took over.
Will gripped her hips hard against him as his breath squeezed out his lungs.
He shuddered as he reached his height and came back down.
Julie had never lived on a boat before, but she had an idea she would enjoy it just fine.