Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1)

by Harris, Brooke

  Eva’s whole body tingled; a sleepy, relaxed tingle. She lay back against her pillow and enjoyed the aftermath of her best come ever. She wasn’t ready to open her eyes, but she felt Julian’s body hover over her, he was watching her, she could tell. She suddenly became very aware of her naked body beneath his still clothed frame. She wanted to pull the sheets over her and recapture her dignity. But it was too late now, Julian possessed her. She had to play on, it was his turn. It was only fair. Eva ordered her shaking hands to reach for his belt and her fingers fumbled with the buckle.

  Julian laughed gently and placed his hand over hers. ‘Just you tonight, Evangeline.’

  ‘What?’ Eva didn’t understand. Had she done something wrong? He was hard, she could feel it pulse against her. Why didn’t he want it?

  ‘You’re so beautiful,’ he whispered. He stretched his body out to lie alongside her.

  ‘But I thought -‘

  ‘Shh.’ Julian placed his finger against Eva’s lips. ‘Tonight’s not about me. I told you I wanted you to lose your inhibitions. I think it’s fair to say they are well gone.’

  Julian’s hand brushed past Eva’s breasts and stopped when it reached just below her bellybutton.

  ‘I love this, by the way.’ he added, venturing slightly lower until his fingers touched her finely trimmed hair. ‘Very neat.’

  ‘Erm thanks.’

  Eva had never had a pubic hair compliment before; she didn’t know how to reply.

  Julian stood up, lifted his crinkled jacket from the end of the bed and offered it to Eva.

  ‘Here, this will look good on you.’

  Eva sat up and slid her left arm into the sleeve and draped it across her back, her other arm followed. She pulled it across her chest. It was huge on her, more than big enough for one side to overlap the other. She smiled. Julian was a broad guy, she should have expected it.

  ‘More wine?’ Julian asked.

  ‘Ugh no,’ Eva looked at the bottle of cheap plonk distastefully.

  ‘Oh Christ no, not that crap. I’ve brought some. Hope you don’t mind.’

  Walking out of the room, Julian looked back at Eva and leaned his head for her to follow. Eva nodded her silent understanding. She rummaged in her wardrobe for a pair of old track-suit bottoms and a tee-shirt. His jacket was a lovely gesture but she just couldn’t relax, still naked underneath. She glanced in the mirror, pleasantly surprised to find her makeup holding up well. She ran her fingers through her hair, squirted some perfume on her wrists and walked towards the sitting room rubbing them together.

  Chapter 11

  Julian sat on the couch, his left ankle resting on his right knee. He looked relaxed, comfortable. Eva wished she was comfortable. She could hear her moans play back over in her head. Christ, why did she have to make noise? Julian must think she was an animal.

  ‘You changed,’ Julian stated the obvious.

  ‘I was cold,’ Eva lied. Normally that would be a realistic complaint but at twenty-six degrees, the weather was unusually warm for an Irish summer.

  Eva self-consciously walked over to the large french doors in front of the couch. She drew the curtains and slowly turned back to face Julian.

  A large cheeky grin stretched across his face. Eva couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

  ‘You’ve blocked my view,’ Julian said.

  Eva hands flew to her cheeks and she shuddered. ‘Oh no, I’m sorry, I just didn’t want the neighbours staring in.’ She reached for the curtain and was about to pull it open again.

  ‘I’m not talking about the sea view, Evangeline.’

  Julian pointed to where the curtains hid the picturesque beach setting outside the window, but his eyes were on her. ‘I’m talking about the delectable view of your legs.’

  Eva giggled nervously. His compliments always made her shake and left her not knowing what to say. She stood on the spot and twisted a strand of hair around her index finger.

  ‘Oh you’re not going to go all shy on me again, are you? I thought we were making progress.’

  ‘No, of course not. I mean, yes.’

  Julian’s eyebrow twitched.

  ‘I mean…of course I’m not shy anymore.’

  ‘Good girl.’ Julian nodded his approval. He patted the couch beside him.

  Eva walked forwards and self-consciously sat beside him. Overly aware of every creak the couch made as it adjusted to her weight.

  ‘Oh my God. Is that Krug? She stared at a green, glass bottle of alcohol with glossy gold label that rested casually on the coffee table. ‘It is, isn’t it? Holy shit.’

  ‘You like it?’

  ‘I’ve never tried it. I…I’ve never even seen a bottle in real life. Just on the telly, you know.’

  Julian began to pour and the golden bubbles fizzled like a hot spring rushing to the top of the glass.

  ‘Isn’t this, like, two hundred quid a bottle?’ Eva touched the label like it was a historical artefact she was afraid of tarnishing.

  ‘Does that matter? It’s all about the taste.’

  Eva thought the ten euro sparkling wine from Tesco tasted just fine but she didn’t dare admit it, not now.

  ‘Yeah. I suppose. I don’t know much about wine.’

  ‘Well that’s another thing I can teach you.’ Julian handed her a glass.

  It smelt like Heaven. Eva cringed, thinking about the bottle of horse piss she’d offered him earlier.

  ‘Sorry about the wine, tonight.’

  ‘Don’t be.’ Julian took a large mouthful.

  Jesus, each sip must cost about twenty quid, Eva thought as her jaw dropped dramatically.

  ‘It tasted fine, Evangeline.’

  If he pays hundreds for bubbly and he thinks a bottle of the stuff for a fiver tastes okay, then he’s either very naïve or a very convincing liar. Judging from his expensive suit and polished accent, Eva guessed it was the latter.

  The conversation flowed surprisingly well, Eva decided. Her face only over heated occasionally, mostly when she remembered her earlier naked status. They talked about a lot of irrelevant stuff, the weather, Eva’s job and skimmed over how a shy girl from New Jersey ended up in Dublin city centre. They didn’t talk about Julian much. Anytime the conversation veered in the direction of his home life, he would top up Eva’s glass and distract her with sweet, soft kisses. A second bottle appeared without Eva noticing and her head began to feel light and blurry vision made it hard to focus.

  Eva pulled her arm to her face, almost slapping herself in the process. Her eyes jumped and finally focused on her watch. It was only 9.20pm and she was already half pissed. It wasn’t a bad thing, she thought, it had just been a while. Alcohol gave her confidence, she liked it.

  Chapter 12

  Eva took Julian’s, still full, glass out of his hand and rested it on the table. She threw her leg over his, straddling him - wobbly.

  ‘So you think you’re the boss,’ she said.

  ‘I’m not? Julian replied casually.

  ‘Let’s just see about that.’

  Eva unbuttoned his shirt, two and three buttons at a time, stopping to rub sweet kisses against his chest. Julian took a deep breath and eased his back further against the soft cushions behind. The last buttons were stubborn but Eva won and tugged his shirt aggressively off and tossed it to the floor. The force left faint red marks on his wrists, and Eva dotted her lips along the pinched lines and slowly kissed them better.

  He liked it, Eva knew. She could feel him grow beneath her. She pushed her weight harder onto him and ground her ass slowly against his throbbing cock.

  ‘Don’t tease, Evangeline,’ Julian warned.

  ‘Who’s teasing?’ She smiled, grinding just a little more.

  ‘I can’t,’ Julian whispered softly. ‘You’re not ready.’

  ‘I am. I really am.’

  Julian caught Eva’s wrist and flipped her on to the sheepskin rug on the floor. She landed roughly and looked up at him, uncertain. She worried he was angry
, maybe she was too assertive. Some men don’t like that, a friend had warned her about it once when she was in high school.

  Eva lay still, her mind racing in anticipation of Julian’s next move. A mild, summer wind had picked up outside and it distracted her for a moment and she felt a chill as it whispered against the window. Goosebumps lined her body as the cold of the timber floor penetrated the rug beneath her. She shivered a little but she never took her eyes off Julian.

  Julian kneeled between her legs. He was steady and moving slowly. Lustfully slow, and it took Eva a moment to realise her mouth was open. She shut it again but the anticipation didn’t disappear. Fuck he was hot. She’d never seen anyone with such a perfect face before. She’d always been so sure of her type. The sweet and baby faced, be your best friend type. But Julian didn’t fit the bill. In fact, he was so far the opposite, it was scary. He was a man’s man, and, even though it shocked the hell out of her, she liked it, she liked him - a lot.

  She couldn’t take her eyes off his strong and toned body hiding behind his impeccable, tailored suit. A small scar above his left eyebrow and a five o’clock shadow along his firm jawline offered him an alluring ruggedness that was hard to resist. His dark skin contrasted against her peaches and cream complexion like the perfect compliment. She ran the tip of her finger over the simple, black horseshoe tattooed on his left peek.

  ‘What’s this?’ she asked softly, aware that she was prying.

  ‘A tattoo.’ Julian smirked.

  ‘Ha ha, very funny. I know that. I mean, what is it?’

  ‘It’s a horseshoe, Evangeline.’

  Eva shook her head and smiled. ‘I mean, what does it symbolise? Or is it just that you like horses, or something?’

  Julian exhaled slowly and his dark chocolate eyes glistened as he stared into Eva’s. He cupped her hand in the palm of his and pressed his moist lips softly against her wrist leaving a single kiss.

  ‘You’re the first person to ever ask me that,’ Julian said, still holding her hand. ‘I do like horses but that’s not what it’s about.’

  Eva chewed her bottom lip and held her breath. He was actually about to tell her something about himself, she hoped she didn’t look too shocked.

  ‘You can start up here.’ Julian placed his finger against her wrist and began to trace a shape on her skin. ‘And in the blink of an eye, without warning, you can drop to the bottom.’ His finger slowly ran down her skin. ‘But that doesn’t define who you are, Evangeline. It’s the climb back to the top, that defines who you are. And how high you climb is up to you.’ His finger completed the pattern of an invisible horseshoe as he softly spoke out his action. ‘Down, around and back up…understand?’

  Eva pushed her lips tight together and forced an uncomfortable bubble of air down her throat. She’d been climbing for a long time but, she was no closer to the top. She sniffled and looked up to meet his stare. She didn’t want him to notice her getting upset, but she wasn’t hiding it as well as she’d like to.

  He pulled her closer to him and Eskimo kissed her playfully. ‘The past doesn’t define you.’

  The lump of air in Eva’s throat hurt. Was he telling her something about himself or something about her? Damn, he was as smart as he was gorgeous. And my God was he gorgeous, Eva thought, beginning to undress him with her eyes, but Julian noticed the naughty gleam in her eye.

  ‘Something I can help you with, Evangeline?’ he asked.

  Eva froze. He knew what she was thinking? Of course he knew. She wanted him, it was obvious. And now she was his prey. She hoped he’d tease her first like an untamed beast. Christ, her face stung just thinking about it. Julian took her hands in his and placed her fingers over the buckle on his belt.

  ‘It’s okay, no inhibitions, remember?’

  Eva began to slide the leather back through the buckle, her fingers trembling and turning it into a huge task. Julian was patient and waited, very still. His heart and breath were calm and controlled. Eva envied his composure. Her heart raced like a runaway train and her breathing, well, she considered herself lucky she didn’t pass out. She pulled his belt free from the loops of his trousers and placed it gently on the rug beside her. Her lips pressed against his firm, tanned stomach before her head had time to think. It was instinctive. She was so turned on she couldn’t resist her desires. Her body was in control, her mind wouldn’t dare argue.

  The dark, neat, hair around his bellybutton led a teasing trail to the button of his trousers. Eva’s fingers followed the inviting path. She tugged gently on the button but Julian’s hands clasped hers and forced them down by her side. He lowered his chest to meet hers and pressed his lips firmly against her open mouth. His kisses were more aggressive now. His moist lips forced against hers told her his patience was wilting. If he wanted her so badly why was he was still playing games? Eva smiled as she tasted his anxious tongue, she was beginning to understand games were in his nature.

  Julian’s hands reached behind Eva’s back. He grabbed a single ass cheek firmly with one hand and waited. Eva’s breath quickened with anticipation. The corner of her lips twisted into a tiny smile. She guessed his next move and the thrill of being a step ahead was exhilarating. His hand over her ass wouldn’t be enough for him. It was too subtle for him. She was right. His other hand slowly crept inside her tracksuit bottoms. His fingers were momentarily restrained by the tight elastic. He pulled his mouth free from Eva’s and looked into her eyes. She nodded. Julian pushed and his whole hand was inside her pants, cupping her.

  ‘No knickers, Evangeline. You never stop surprising me.’ A wicked twinkle danced in his eyes.

  Eva cringed. She was in such a hurry to get dressed and follow him, she’d forgotten her bloody underwear. And now he’d think it was part of the game. It wasn’t, it really wasn’t. Eva fought the lump growing in her throat.

  Julian ran the tip of his nose against the bridge of Eva’s and softly kissed his way down her neck, stopping just above her collar bone before switching to the other side.

  ‘You truly surprise the hell out of me, Evangeline,’ he said between soft caresses of his warm lips against her tingling skin.

  Eva shrugged gently. It was habit to shake off compliments. Instinct almost.

  ‘If you’d just relax for more than five seconds, maybe you’d surprise yourself. You might even see how fucking amazing you are. ‘

  A tiny shiver settled at the nape of Eva’s neck.

  ‘But that’s my challenge, Evangeline. I’m going to show you just how amazing you are. Starting tonight.’

  Now relax. You’ll like this - I promise.’

  Eva did as she was told. She sighed heavily and surrendered her body to him. He pushed his hand just a fraction lower and paused for a second before slipping two fingers deep inside her. Eva winced at the sting of the stretch. His hands were huge; she wasn’t used to so much pressure. It burned. She wanted to pull away from him but his body pinned her to the spot.

  She whimpered like a wounded animal but Julian’s kisses softened and his lips told her it was okay.

  ‘Stop, wait,’ Eva pleaded. ‘Let me get used to you.’

  Julian’s fingers stilled, he left them idle inside her with no force. Eva slowly relaxed. The pain eased. She trusted him. She trusted this new man more than she had ever trusted anyone in her life. Julian’s kisses continued, warm and gentle. He never coerced her. He just waited. The pain stopped, but the stretch remained. A hot, intense pressure. She wanted more, much, much more. She slowly ground her hips from side to side. Each time Julian’s fingers dared moved, Eva would stop, inhale sharply and try not to tense.

  Julian took his lips from hers and ran them down the side of her neck. His hot breath hovered over her ear every so often.

  ‘We can take this as slow as you need to, just enjoy me.’ Julian promised.

  Eva closed her eyes and relaxed. A heat was building inside her as her aching muscles clenched around his fingers. Pleasure darted like a powerful waterfall cascading
through her body. She was close, right on the edge. Her breath quickened and a hot flush teased her face.

  ‘Not yet, Evangeline. Hold it.’

  Eva tried. She was panting now; she was so close, she didn’t think she could hold back much longer but she desperately wanted to do as he asked.

  ‘Just a little more. Wait…wait…good girl.’

  Eva pouted instinctively and exhaled in short, rapid breaths.

  Julian’s fingers pushed just a fraction deeper and curled like a question mark. His fingertips knew their way and pushed excitedly against her spot. Her orgasm exploded like the pop of a cork from a champagne bottle and intense pleasure fizzed through her in tiny bubbles of ecstasy.

  ‘That’s it…keep going. You’re so fucking beautiful when you come.’

  Eva squirmed and bucked against his hand. The pleasure was more than she could handle.

  Finally she wilted and felt heavy as the tension faded and she regained control of her own body.

  ‘Oh my God, oh my God.’ She knew there had to be better words, but there was no way her flabbergasted mind could search for them. She did well just to function at all.

  ‘I told you you’d like it,’ Julian said, a triumphant smirk lit up his face.

  Julian rested his hand between her breasts. Her heart raced against his palm. She loved being this close to him. She loved that just the simple touch of his hand could make her feel safe - wanted.