And then, I kiss her, hard and fast and with so much passion she loses her balance, forcing me to brace her against my chest to keep from falling to the floor. I kiss her as if I’ve waited two years to be with her again. Because I have. And this time, I’m not letting her go.
Chapter Seventeen
Briana
“You look hot,” Sadie says from behind me. “Julian is going to lose his shit when he sees you in this dress.” She tilts her head to the side to appraise my body in the mirror attached to my closet door. “He chose well. He always did have good taste in clothes.”
She flicks my hair off my shoulder and fixes the diamond necklace she let me borrow. “I’ll be surprised if you make it to the restaurant without him ripping this dress off. And who could blame him?”
A knock on the front door sends a wave of electricity down my arms. “He’s here. Can you let him in?”
Sadie smiles. “Sure, make him wait for a few minutes.”
After she closes the door behind her, I stare into the mirror. I only wear makeup on special occasions and feel like someone else. Sadie applied what she calls a smoky effect around my eyes with shades of pink touching my cheeks. She had insisted I dress appropriately for the occasion, and I didn’t fight her this time. Julian picked a fancy restaurant for our date. I can’t go in there looking like some trashy college student in my ragged jeans and faded shirts.
When I step out of my bedroom, my heels clack on the tile floor. Julian snaps his head in my direction, his eyes wide as he drinks me in, rolling his tongue along his bottom lip. I stand there, with my hands folded in front of me to steady the nerves shooting throughout my body. He moves toward me, looking as handsome as ever, nothing less than perfection in a dark suit that makes him look like a million bucks.
Julian clutches my hip. Our chests are so close we’re almost touching, and when I feel his breath on my lips, I shiver.
“Wow, you look beautiful, Briana.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, intoxicated by his masculine scent. “You look good, too.”
Julian kisses me. His lips are so soft against mine that I close my eyes and kiss him back. My body is on fire, his gentle touch leaving a blazing trail of heat down my arms in the process. Sadie squeals behind us, and when I turn around she’s making a goofy face.
Julian holds his arm out for me. “Ready to get out of here?”
I wrap my fingers around his strong bicep with a stupid grin plastered on my face.
Twenty minutes later, Ramon parks in front of Bennett’s Steakhouse, a new restaurant that Julian said opened last month. I couldn’t afford a soda in this place, let alone food. So, to say I feel out of my element when we step into the fancy pants restaurant is an understatement. It’s impossible not to wonder if the hostess is eyeing me up like I don’t belong.
I always feel out of place in Julian’s world. I’ve never fit it and probably never will. And I guess that’s my problem more than his. I have to stop my negative thought patterns. Dr. Saxon says my mind holds me back. She’s one hundred percent right. I overthink everything.
We follow the hostess to a semi-circular booth in the corner of the restaurant. I scoot along the leather bench until my thigh is pressed against Julian’s muscular one. Hidden in the back, we have plenty of privacy. He must have planned it this way. As the only son of a billionaire, Julian gets a lot of privileges.
After our waitress appears and takes our drink order, Julian leans back, stretching his legs under the table as he slides his arm across the back of my neck. I relax against his thick chest and move my hand to his thigh.
I peek up at Julian, and when I do, he smiles.
“I can’t believe I’m here right now,” I admit.
“Why?”
“Because I promised myself I would never speak to you again, and here I am, despite my warnings.”
Julian covers my hand on his thigh and gives it a good squeeze. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make the past up to you. I want you to experience everything I had planned for us before…” His voice trails off. “How about we avoid talking about the past for a change? I’d rather focus on our future together.”
“Someone is a little presumptuous, huh?” I say this with a wicked smirk that he returns.
“I always saw a future with you.”
Part of me wants to challenge him, but since he asked me not to talk about the past, I keep my mouth shut. We don’t need to fight over something neither of us can change. No matter how much we rehash what happened in our sophomore year, nothing we say or do can change the past.
When I don’t respond, he says, “How are you feeling?” He slides his fingers beneath my chin, tilting it up until our eyes meet. “You haven’t gotten sick since last weekend.”
“The swelling is gone.”
“Good.” He cups the side of my face and inspects my head for proof that the welt is gone. “So, you don’t need to see Dr. Carter again?”
“No, I don’t think so. I feel fine.”
“I booked us a room at the Ritz,” he says.
“I want to spend the night with you. But, Julian, I swear to God if you hurt me, or you’re using me in any way, I will murder you. I’ll turn into Carrie at the prom.”
He laughs at my Carrie reference, and then his expression hardens. “I will never hurt you ever again. I promise.”
I blow out the breath of air I was holding. “This isn’t just sex to me. I’m not letting you back into my life for that. So, if you’re not here for something more than a hookup, you can drop me off after dinner, and we can go our separate ways and pretend like this never happened.”
“I still love you, Bri.” He whispers the words against my lips. “I never stopped. It’s always been you.”
My heart races from his confession, my pulse pounding so loudly I can hear the thumping in my ears. I smile but don’t know what to say. I was in love with Julian years ago, and a part of me will always love him. But I’m not ready to confess how I feel about him. Regardless of our history, it’s too soon. We’ve been apart for too long.
The waitress sets a basket of mixed bread that smells amazing at the center of the table and hands us our salads. Saved by the bell. The awkward tension filling the air was starting to get a little weird. I sip from the glass of wine the waitress places in front of me, hiding behind the glass. If I keep drinking, I don’t have to say anything to Julian. I can go on as if he never confessed his love for me.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Julian stabs the lettuce with his fork. “Because this place is known for big portions.”
I lift my fork from the table. “I’m starved.”
“There’s something else I would rather eat,” he mutters under his breath.
He smiles and then shoves the lettuce into his mouth, grinning like an idiot as he chews his food.
“You’re a bad boy, Julian.”
I get another sexy smirk from him.
Julian stares at my breasts while he eats his food, licking his lips between bites. Even though I’m not his meal, he sure as hell can have me for dessert.
“I didn’t want to make this night awkward,” Julian says after we finish our salads. “So, I hope what I said earlier didn’t bother you.”
I shake my head. “No, not at all. I just think we should take our time and not rush anything.”
“I can cancel the hotel room. I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything you don’t want to do.”
I rest my hand on his thigh, staring up into his beautiful green irises. “No, I want to spend the night with you.”
“I meant what I said.” His tone is serious, controlled. “I’ve hated myself for a long time because of how I reacted that night, and since you wanted nothing to do with me after our breakup, I tried to move on with my life. I left you alone because that’s what I thought you wanted. But I never stopped caring about you. No girl has ever compared to you, Briana. None. Ever.”
I slide my hand up his thigh, sur
prised when I feel his growing erection through the thin fabric of his black trousers. “Someone’s excited,” I say with a wicked smirk that he returns.
“It’s this dress.” He brushes his fingers along my bare arm, sending chills down my spine. “The second I saw you in it, I wanted to rip it off you.” His eyes fall over my breasts that are popping out from the low-cut top. Julian glances over his shoulder, and then he dips his finger beneath my dress to tease me.
“Julian,” I moan, too distracted by his finger that might as well be his hand and mouth. “You shouldn’t start something you can’t finish.”
He moves his finger over my nipple that’s so hard it hurts and rips a hiss from my lips. “Finishing is something I’m good at.” Julian winks, the dimple in his cheek popping as he smiles.
He dips down to kiss my lips, his hand slipping between my legs in the process. I want to pull away from him because I’m afraid the waitress will come back, but I also don’t give a shit. I wish we could skip dinner and go straight to the hotel. Just the thought of having him inside me again excites me. With his hand beneath my dress, I consider peeling my panties to the side to get some relief when the waitress stops at our table with our food.
We act as if his hand isn’t under my dress. Nope, we pretend we were talking about the weather, all while we’re dying for her to drop the plates on the table and go. I let out a sigh of relief after she leaves. Julian sips his beer, staring over at me with a strange look on his handsome face. We eat our steak that’s so mouthwatering I swear I’ve never tasted anything better. It’s better than sex. Well, maybe not sex with Julian, but it’s pretty damn close. And pretty soon, I’m about to find out. Again. I just hope he doesn’t break my heart.
Chapter Eighteen
Julian
After dinner, Ramon drops us off at the Ritz Carlton. I booked us a suite that overlooks City Hall. Briana hasn’t stopped staring out the window since we got here.
“Our view is incredible,” she says, looking dreamily out at the bright lights of the city.
I move behind Briana and wrap my arms around her stomach, resting my chin on her shoulder as I whisper into her ear. “I’m happy you’re here with me. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” Pressing a kiss to her cheek, I slide my hand to her hip. “I missed you, Bri.”
Briana leans her head back on my shoulder, her eyes closed. “I missed you, too, Julian.”
She makes a purring sound, shivering with each kiss I plant along her skin, saying my name under her breath. Slipping from my arms, she turns around to face me and attaches her body to mine. Briana slides her palms up my chest until her arms are hooked around my neck. Cupping her face in my hand, I slip my tongue into her mouth.
Each kiss makes it harder for me to take things slow. But I don’t want to rush anything when it comes to Briana. This is our second chance. I have to show her how much I missed her and that this is more than sex. When it comes to Briana, it’s always more than sex.
Briana tugs on my bottom lip with her teeth. Her breath warms my lips as she purrs my name. She reaches between us and pulls down the zipper of my pants. Her dress is already bunched up around her waist, revealing a pair of silky black panties. My cock pokes through the slit in my boxers and grazes her leg, which earns me another moan from her plump lips that are swollen from kissing.
“Touch me.” She moves her panties to the side, giving me enough room to slip two fingers inside her. She’s so fucking wet that I close my eyes, enjoying every second, and push further, quickening my pace with each thrust.
“Fucking hell,” she groans, and her inner walls tighten to match her grip on my neck. She’s so greedy for more when she rocks her hips against my hand. “I’m so close,” she whispers and then parts my lips with her tongue. For a split second, our lips separate and she whispers, “Julian… I’m gonna come.”
And when she unravels for me, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. Briana tilts her head back against the window, her moans turning into screams as her orgasm rocks through her with the violent force of a hurricane. Our lips meet once more. After I give her a long, hard kiss, I set her back on the carpet and drop to my knees in front of her. No one can see us through the tinted window. Even so, the thought of people watching us thrills me.
She stares down at me, her eyes lidded and her breathing ragged. My name is a whisper on her lips as she shoves her fingers through my gelled hair. Gripping her hips, I pull her to me and bend forward to roll my tongue over her clit, causing her body to jerk in response. My tongue slips between her folds, lapping up her juices. It’s not long before the pressure builds again, and she’s fisting my hair in her hand, screaming my name as she loses all control.
Her legs are wobbly by the time I hold her in my arms and our eyes meet.
Reaching behind her, I tug on the zipper of her dress. “This needs to go.”
She gives me a satisfied smile and slides the dress over her hips. The fabric falls to the floor around her ankles along with her panties.
Briana grips my shirt between her fingers. “You’re overdressed.”
I smirk, staring down at her delicious body. Naked and glistening in sweat, she looks gorgeous, like a package I’ve been waiting too long to unwrap. And now, she’s all mine.
Yanking at the hem of my dress shirt, she pulls it from my waist and proceeds to flip open the button on my slacks, staring into my eyes the entire time. There’s something so erotic about the way she undresses me. She does so in a hurry until we’re standing in the middle of the suite, naked and waiting for the other to make the next move.
I fist my cock in my hand and give myself a few strokes.
Briana licks her lips and closes the distance between us. “It’s my turn to make you come.” She wraps her tiny fingers around my cock and sinks to the carpet in front of me.
Once her tongue glides across the head of my sensitive skin, my eyes slam shut. Her wet, hot mouth feels so fucking good that I don’t want her to stop. I never want this to end.
I slide my hand to the back of her head, twisting my fingers through her long hair as she takes me in her mouth. She looks up at me, jerking my shaft, her movements perfectly timed. After tasting her and feeling her body writhe against mine, it doesn’t take long before the pressure builds. But I don’t want to come in her mouth.
I lift her from the floor and lower her to the mattress. She slides up to the head of the bed and opens her legs wide, giving me the perfect view of her juices glistening on her pale skin. After I roll on a condom, I join her in bed. Licking my lips, I crawl between her spread thighs and line myself up with her entrance. Positioned above her, with my elbows on each side of her head, I lean forward to kiss her neck before making my way to her lips. Her hips arch as she kisses me, and her hand glides down my back to guide me inside her.
I’ve thought of this moment hundreds of times since the last time we were together. We were so good back then. I had never felt so relaxed, so comfortable around another woman. When our bodies molded together, we just knew how to move and what the other liked. We never had any awkwardness between us. From the second I met Briana, I knew she was the one.
After waiting for what feels like forever, I want to take my time. I inch my way inside her, careful not to rip through her inner walls too fast. Briana knows what to expect, sucking in a deep breath as I rock my hips. She peeks up at me, her head tilted back against the pillow with a smile on her lips. The moans that escape are so loud they piece my eardrum. My girl always was a screamer. She put on plenty of shows that had my teammates asking how I do it.
Trailing kisses along her jaw, I move slower. As I drag my teeth along her neck, I try to distract myself from thinking about how good she feels, because I don’t want to come too soon. If I could, I would make this last all night. It’s not a race or a marathon. I want her to enjoy every second and remember we were once good together.
As her body relaxes, working in a rhythmic motion along with mine, I lift he
r leg over my shoulder, sliding deeper inside her. She sucks in a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with each groan that escapes her lips.
Once her eyes find mine, I smile from the look of pure ecstasy in them. “You’re so beautiful, Bri.”
I pull down her bottom lip with my finger. She smiles and then takes my finger into her mouth. My eyes slam shut the harder she sucks, forcing me to concentrate. Her teeth graze my skin. Fuck, it feels good. This girl is killing me. All of my pent-up sexual frustration is like a balloon ready to pop, and the more she moans and whispers my name, her insides clenching around me, I can’t take it anymore.
“Harder,” she whines, and I swear I’m going to lose it.
Doing as she commands, I slam into her harder, faster, giving her exactly what she wants. Briana comes for me again, and when she does, I make sure to watch her. I open my eyes as hers flutter open. Her body trembles beneath mine. My cock pulses, and after her body stops shaking, it’s my turn. I can’t wait any longer, needing more than anything to find my release.
Out of breath, I collapse on top of her, my chest pounding from the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. We’re covered in sweat, a few beads dripping from my forehead and onto her cheek when I kiss her. After a quick peck, I roll onto the mattress next to her, and she molds her body against mine. We lay there for a few minutes, breathless and still wrapping our heads around the best sex we’ve ever had. At least I’m pretty sure it’s the best.
She looks at me beneath her light brows, her features softening. “I’m trusting you this time.”
I bring her hand to my lips and press a soft kiss to her skin. “I know, and I promise you won’t regret taking me back.”
Briana smiles in response.
Chapter Nineteen
Briana
When I open my eyes, the sun is shining through the curtains, casting its soft glow on Julian’s naked body. His tanned skin is radiant in this light, not a single imperfection on his muscular body. Except for the scar that wraps around his right calf. In high school, the blade from a skate cut him, and it never healed right.
Most Desirable Player Page 12
