Julian wasn't a man you crawled into bed with and expected cuddles from afterward. This was a man you let fuck you every way imaginable. Then, you went home, unable to sit down without thinking about all the dirty things you’d allowed him to do to you.
If it weren't for him being linked to my parents, I wouldn't have minded getting acquainted with the body beneath his suit. I thought about it often. Touching every horizontal ridge on his stomach, finding out how good he tasted, dropping to my knees to get up close and personal with the cock I fantasized about.
"Can you give us a minute?" Julian glanced at my father who to my surprise, quickly agreed and went back into the den.
"Julian, what are you doing?" Groaning, I crossed my arms over my chest, giving him a sharp look when he continued to stare.
"You suddenly have a problem with men staring at your breasts, yet they've been on display all night."
"That's a moot argument. They're not much to look at. I’m sure that isn’t why you’re here, though.”
Julian contemplated me, a slow, lazy smile spreading across his face. "What if I was here for you?”
My lips flattened into a straight line. "Look, I don't know what you want from me. If it's a conquest you're after, I'm not that girl." I didn't believe the bullshit coming out of my mouth. My underwear was soaked the second I inhaled his cologne. This attraction had a magnetic feel to it, constantly pulling me towards him no matter how hard I tried to resist it.
The problem wasn’t him. It was me. Everything he said was right, but the person he was saying them to was wrong. As if he could read my mind, his smile was replaced with a dark scowl.
"All I want is to have dinner. If I only wanted to fuck you, I'd simply lift your dress up, put you against the wall, wrap those sexy legs around me, and bury my cock in you right now."
My mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. I couldn't believe he just said that with my father a few feet away. Embarrassment sent heat rushing to my cheeks.
"It's late, Julian. I'm going to bed." Before he could say anything else, I was quickly making my way down the hall and upstairs, this time skipping the steps. I rushed into my room and shut the door, dropping my head to the cool wood. My heart danced to an offbeat rhythm, skin felt flushed and tight.
Pushing away from the door I began to pace my bedroom, unsettled, unnerved, and itching to do something. Every time I left the confines of my room, it forced me to adopt a temporary visage of normalcy.
The devil masquerading in front of me wasn't helping my mental state. I was almost positive he knew about the issues I tried to hide. I couldn’t fathom why he was so persistant. There was no way I could ever let anything serious happen between us. Julian was like a tropical storm. Beautiful from afar, disastrous and deadly up close.
Noticing my bathroom door was open, my palms began to sweat. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. I didn’t remember leaving the cabinet beneath the bathroom sink open, but it didn’t matter right then. There was a chopping knife hidden between a bundle of towels.
I imagined wrapping my fingers around its bright red handle. The hard tip piercing my skin. I took a step forward fully intending to find my high, but then my phone pinged. The moment was ruined, shame washed over me like a tidalwave.
I shoved thoughts of the knife back into the dark depths of my mind. With shaky hands I pulled my dress over my head, and then went straight to my bed. Once under the covers, I grabbed my smartphone from the nightstand and swiped down.
There were only a few notifications, most of them emails. I tended to leave the phone behind most of the time since unless I had a reason to carry a purse. My newest alert had come in just minutes ago.
A text message, which for some people may have been a regular thing but not too many had my number. I swiped down, and wasn’t all that suprised to see it was from Julian.
Jules: I can be everything you need. Just say the word.
No, no he couldn’t. I stared at the screen until it dimmed trying to figure out how I could word that in a response. I don't know what his message was supposed to accomplish. All it did was remind me why we couldn't ever be together. Even if my body was begging me to throw myself at his mercy. I was already a mess. My head and my heart couldn't handle a man like him.
Chapter Five
My father's irritation hung in the air between us.
Making myself a cup of coffee and some toast, I did my best to ignore his sour mood. I did not want to get into an argument with him at nine in the morning.
"Morgana, I don't understand you sometimes."
"What are you trying to understand me?" Forcing a smile, I brought my coffee cup to my mouth and sipped.
"Julian Andreou wants to date you, and you're running away." Almost choking on the mocha flavored liquid, I played off my surprise by taking another sip. Julian must have had a chat with him after I went upstairs because this was the first time he’d ever brought this up.
"Is that what he was doing here?" Taking a bite of my peanut butter toast, I patiently waited for him to answer, ignoring the pounding in my head.
"You know how things got after your sister left. Your mother and I just want you to be happy. That man can give you whatever you desire." Oh, if he only knew the things his little girl wanted.
His dark brown eyes grew vacant for a moment, but he shook it off and went to the cabinet. After retrieving my pills, he sat them in front of me with a pointed look.
"You know you're not supposed to drink," he chastised me softly.
I blinked at him, a little taken aback he knew that I had. "I know. I'm sorry...it was only a little."
Feeling like a scolded child, I popped the pills in my mouth and focused on my mug. He mumbled something under his breath and looked out the back window. He seemed so lost, now, the void of my sister eating away at him. Penny has been his favorite. I was okay with that,understood it even. And it pained me to see him and my mother hurting.
"Dad, why him?" I asked, wanting to distract him.
He looked away from the window, smoothing his checkered tie down using all three of the disfigured fingers he had on his left hand. It was a horrid piece of silk fabric, but I didn't tell him that. My father had always been a bit eccentric when it came to fashion.
“Why not him?”
"You know I'm not normal." The reflection staring back at me in murky brown liquid showed otherwise, but it was the inside of me that wasn't normal, the parts invisible to outsiders.
My father's sharp inhalation brought my attention back to him.
"That’s the problem, Morgana. You are such a beautiful, strong young woman. I have all the confidence in the world in you...but you won't let yourself be happy." He paused, running a hand through his dark silver hair.
"We just don't want you to be alone, sweetheart. You can't give up the joys of life because of how you feel about yourself." My mother's tone was soft as she entered the kitchen, going straight to my father and giving him a kiss on the lips.
"Mom, not you too."
"He’s a good man, Morg. And handsome." My mom winked at me.
I knew they assumed their daughter was reverting to her antisocial ways and couldn’t handle being with a man who was so wealthy. Maybe part of that was true, but his status was not what bothered me. He could be a busboy, or a top chef, and I'd still see him as the same man.
When I glanced back up, both my parents were staring at me expectantly.
"Fine! I'll have dinner with him!" Throwing my hands up in the air, I watched their moods skyrocket as mine plummeted.
I sat in the little café, all the way in the back where no one paid me much attention.
Allison gave me a sympathetic smile, while Kelly looked at me as if I were insane. Tony looked pissed, and he always had a smile on his face. The three of them were my only friends in town, and they could not have been more different.
Kelly was an all-American party girl with a fair complexion and dark hair. Allison was the opposi
te, a shy, country girl with honey colored skin who would rather wrestle pigs than deal with people.
Tony was the nerd who looked like a model. I suppose I was the perfect person to balance out our squad.
"You get to have dinner with an Andreou. Why are you upset?" Kelly's tone was utterly incredulous.
"This is for my parents." Sighing, I played with my frappe’s straw and glanced around to make sure that the café wasn’t getting overcrowded. I loathed the mall. There were too many stares, hushed whispers, and indiscreetly pointed fingers. The skin on my thighs began to itch just thinking about it.
"Every girl in Riverview wants a taste of him and his brothers. Hell, I want to taste them all at once."
"Unlike you, Kelly, she doesn't chase gossip or a man with money. That's called self-respect," Allison scoffed.
"Who said anything about money? I'd just see what each one had to offer."
"Then that would make you a whore.”
“Ally,” I scolded.
"What? Money and looks aside, haven't you heard the rumors about them? What actually happens at their Chateau?" Her hazel eyes met mine across the table.
"A rumor is an unproven opinion." Kelly flicked her brunette hair over her shoulder with the dragonfly tattoo.
"I don't care what he or his family are into. This is just dinner,” I stressed. None of them looked like they believed me.
"You'll be fine. I hear he likes girls like you." Kelly took a bite of her croissant and shrugged.
Girls like me?
"Girls like her?” Allison and Tony repeated in unison.
"I didn't mean it like that, I..I," She stumbled over her words, suddenly unable to look me in the eye.
"It's fine, Kelly." It was far from fine; I was used to the rude commentary, but it stung to hear it from someone I considered a friend.
Our conversing was interrupted when a delivery man entered the café, a dark purple vase filled with flowers in his hands.
He looked around for a minute before his eyes landed on me and I became his target. Heads turned and followed him all the way to our booth.
"Morgana Sanchez?"
"That's her," Allison answered when I didn't respond.
"These are for you." He gave me a warm smile and sat the flowers in front of me before tilting his baseball cap and walking back out of the café.
I already knew who they were from. My mother or father must have told him where I was. Before I knew it, they were going to be planning my wedding and picking names for their grandchildren. I eyed the large vase that sat before me. The flowers were beautiful, black and purple dahlias, bloomed on long stems with unique petals that curved at the ends.
The card was simply signed with an intricate but rather unnecessary J. The sentiment was sweet for all of four minutes, then I realized people were still staring.
Hot prickles spread across my chest. Every head that turned my way was like the sensation of a rubber band popping against my skin. I wanted to sink into down and disappear.
"Okay, we're leaving." Tony slid out of the booth and grabbed my hand, tugging me out after him. I was cognizant of Allison grabbing my flowers and trailing after us. Kelly remained seated, watching us leave her behind.
Stepping outside, away from curious stares, lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. My breathing began to even out again.
"Are you okay?" Tony asked, his chocolate eyes full of concern.
"Better now, thanks." Aware that he was still holding my hand, I pulled away gently.
"I'm sorry, you guys. " I gave them both a tight smile, hating how even a simple coffee shop made me want to hide away in my bedroom. Allison shoved the vase at Tony, and her hands went to her hips, giving me a pointed look.
"Morgana, there is nothing wrong with you. You don't fit into society’s perfect golden box. So what? "
I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but she couldn't. They’d witnessed me have a moment like this too many times to count.
My fingers itched to wrap themselves around a cool piece of metal. To drag it across my soft flesh and find a mental release with the pain.
"I gotta go. I'll text you guys." I grabbed my flowers from Tony and practically ran to the safety of my BMW.
Chapter Six
It was two days later when a black luxury sedan picked me up from home.
The whole ordeal seemed too extravagant for a simple dinner date. From the time the chauffeur arrived to when he opened my door for me to get out, my nerves wound tighter and tighter, like springs waiting to recoil.
I was left standing in front of Donatello's. It was one of the most expensive and rare luxury hotels near Riverview.
This made me even more reluctant to go inside. I shifted in my heels and needlessly adjusted my knee-length lace dress. My insecurities whispered that I should have worn something longer.
Pulling out my phone, I typed a quick text to Allison.
Me: If I need you, can you run interference?
Within seconds, my phone pinged with her response.
Allison: Of course! I'll even cry on speaker phone for more credibility. Dramatics ;)
A giggle slipped out at the same time I became cognizant that someone was watching me. My eyes scanned the parking lot before landing on Julian. He was standing beneath the awning of the hotel, staring at me.
When our eyes met, he began striding towards me, never looking away. I hit the side button on my phone to dim the screen, and slid it back in my clutch.
"Were you going to stand out here all night?" He regarded me with an impassive look on his face.
"Maybe?"
His mouth tipped up at the corners, giving me a smile that had my stoicism falling away.
"Come on." Placing one hand on the small of my back, he guided me towards the entrance of the large glass building. Once inside, we went straight to the golden elevators.
The lobby was unusually quiet. Only one or two employees wandered about. My heels clicked across the black and white faux marble floor, echoing loudly in the empty space.
"Where are we going?" I asked him when the doors dinged open.
"I have dinner waiting for us." He placed his hand on my back again, just beneath the ends of my hair, and nudged me forward. I refrained from leaning into his touch, immediately stepping away from him when the doors slid shut, enclosing us in the square box together.
No one had said anything to me about a private room.
Taking a small breath, I focused on the crease in the doors and reminded myself that this was just dinner.
"Morgana." He said my name slowly, letting it roll off his tongue. Goose pimples spread down my arms; my stomach inundated with constant fluttering when I was around him. He didn't give me butterflies; he gave me an entire African safari, currently stampeding all over my feelings.
"Jules, tell me what you really want. Why am I here?”
"I just want to eat dinner," he replied innocently. I didn't believe that for a minute. If that were the case he would have met me at a low-key eatery, not planned out a rendezvous at a fancy hotel.
"So many other girls want your attention." I picked up a strand of my hair and twirled it.
"The only person who has my attention, Morgana, is you. All of it. Why do you keep trying to run from this?"
The elevator doors opened on the fifteenth floor, saving me from having to answer. I made a quick exit.
Exactly twenty steps down the hall I realized I had no idea where to go. Glancing over my shoulder, Julian remained just outside the lift, staring at me.
"Come here, Morgana." His tone was light. No anger was evident on his handsome face, but I was still wary. Placing my hands on my hips, I turned and faced him.
"You come here." I used the same teasing tone he did.
Almost in a predatory manner, he began to do just that. I remained in the same stance, trying not to let him see how intimidated I was. He stopped just a few inches away from me. We could easily reach out and touch one ano
ther.
"Now can you come?" Every word he spoke dripped with sensuality and sounded like sex. It sent an ache straight between my thighs.
At an imperceptible speed, I stepped forward, and before I could blink, I was pressed against the wall, his hands on either side of my body caging me in. I held my palms up, intending to push him away. Glancing both ways, I saw that we were completely alone in the long hall.
Julian placed his hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look at him. His face came so close to mine, he stole what little breath there was between us. Eyes the color of frothed seafoam stared into mine.
"Do you know what I decided?" He touched his forehead to mine.
"I'm sure you're going to tell me." My sarcastic tone was diminished by my breathy voice. If I moved just the slightest bit, I’d be able to feel his perfect lips.
"You...me...us. This is happening. It isn't a game, so quit fucking with me. I want you, and I always get what I want."
"That's not how this works. You can't just--."
He cut off my response, placing a finger on my mouth, trailing it down to lift my chin, making our noses touch. "I will have you. Trust me, Morgana. I have every intention of making you completely mine." He brushed his soft lips against mine.
Swallowing, I remained rigid against him. How did we get here already?
He did it again, this time gently biting down on my lower lip, swiping his tongue over it before he let go.
A shudder raced up my spine. Allowing myself to bask in the moment, I parted my lips for him. He didn't hesitate to slide his tongue into my mouth to intertwine with mine. I dully noted that he tasted like fresh peppermint.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. It became frenzied, carnal. The more I responded to him, the more intensity he gave me.
"You could have easily stood me up. You know why I think you're here?" His cool breath tickled my lips.
I panted, trying to gather my bearings. "Not for the reasons you think," I protested weakly.
A smile spread across his face before his mouth was back on mine. The heat between us was almost unbearable. He moved a hand to my hip, slowly sliding it lower and inching my dress up, causing my breathing to become ragged.
Malice (Dahlia Saga Book 1) Page 3
