Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1)

by Harris, Brooke

  ‘No. But I will be.’

  Julian stood up and was in front of her before she had time to blink. He took her arm from across her chest and forced it down by her side and caught the cushion and flung it away. His intention was clear and his confidence unravelled her. He pushed his mouth onto hers and against her better judgement, she kissed him back.

  Her pubic bone brushed against the zip of his jeans and she felt his erection swell behind the rough denim.

  ‘The party is over, everyone has gone home,’ he whispered, his lips still brushing against hers and the breath of his words rushed from his mouth into hers.

  ‘Gone?’ Eva repeated. ‘Everyone?’

  Julian wrapped his hands around her lower back. ‘It’s just us now.’

  ‘Shelly?’ Eva said, worried.

  Julian exhaled, almost laughing. ‘She’s fine, I had my driver take her home.’

  Eva sighed, relieved - for a moment at least until, as always, she over analysed things. ’What about me?’

  Julian took a step back and shook his head. ‘Seriously? You’re actually asking that? After tonight and all you know now, you’re only concern is…is a bloody taxi? Jesus, Evangeline. Do you not know by now that I will look after you?’

  Eva’s throat swelled with a lump so huge that it threatened to choke her. So this was what it felt like when someone gives a shit, she thought, not sure what she’d done to deserve his protection. She stared into his eyes. His dark iris’s sparkled with honesty. She’d never seen that expression from him before. She liked it.

  She stepped forward, closing the gap that he had initiated between them. Her body was confident and bold and her head was just going to have to get a grip and catch up. She reached her hands under his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. She didn’t wait for it to hit the ground before she grabbed his jeans. She couldn’t undress him fast enough. She gasped as his rock hard cock awaited her as soon as she tugged the zip down.

  ‘No boxers,’ she said, smiling.

  Julian smirked, kicked off his jeans and wrapped his arms around her. His skin brushing against hers, took her breath away and Eva closed her eyes. The only thing in the world that mattered right now was his touch and she wanted to savour every second.

  ‘Lie down,’ Julian ordered.

  Eva lowered herself onto the cream, sheepskin rug behind her. Julian towered over her. His eyes explored every inch of her bare skin. She felt like a beautiful prize waiting for him to lay claim.

  Julian reached for the chilling champagne and shook the bottle furiously. Eva shrieked and giggled as icy bubbles caressed her body.

  ‘Close your eyes.’

  Eva did as she was told.

  ‘Do you trust me?’

  Eva didn’t have to think, the answer was instinctive. ‘Yes, Julian. I trust you.’

  Julian dropped to his knees and pushed Eva’s legs wide apart. She heard the champagne bottle shake and she held her breath, gasping as the chilled bottle top pressed against her pink skin. He wouldn’t dare she thought, her heart thundering in her chest. Champagne spilled inside her like cool, sparkling kisses. Julian didn’t give her time to think. He slid his fingers between her and stretched her hands above her head. He was rushed, passionate, hungry. She opened her eyes to watch his beautiful face as he pushed inside her. The heat of his throbbing cock after the coolness of the champagne was mind blowing, and Eva couldn’t help but scream his name as he rocked against her.

  Still inside her, Julian pulled Eva onto her knees to straddle him like a stallion. She ground her hips aggressively, pumping his cock roughly with each thrust. His fingers splayed on her hips and he dropped his head back. His pelvis hammered against her. She’d never seen him so wanting. The splash of Eva’s wet and oozing champagne drove her wild. Julian groaned as silky bubbles trickled down his balls. He pushed deeper and pulled her perky breasts tight against his chest. ‘You’re so fucking amazing,’ he gasped as his hot come exploded inside her.

  Chapter 41

  Eva could feel warm sunlight on her face. She rubbed her eyes and struggled to wake up fully. Her head hurt, and rolling over, she thought she might be sick. The crisp, white cotton sheets caressed her naked body and she curled up into a ball and was just about to go back to sleep when she shot upright abruptly. She’d just remembered where she was, and the sickly feeling got worse.

  ‘Christ how much did I drink?’ she asked herself out loud. The sound of her own voice hurt her head. The covers were thrown back on Julian’s side of the bed. Eva placed her hand on the space where he’d slept. It was cold. The door into the en suite was closed and Eva pulled the sheet tight under her chin, keeping her eyes fixed on the door and waited for Julian to appear.

  She waited a long time, but the room was eerily silent. Her eyes darted from wall to wall. He’d abandoned her in a giant house in the back arse of nowhere - naked! She slid reluctantly out of bed and was trying to figure out how to fashion a remotely wearable dress out of the sheet and a hair bobbin when she noticed a small, evenly folded piece of paper on the dresser at the far side of the room. Her name was hand written on the font.

  Good morning, beautiful.

  Don’t leave before I get back.

  Press the bell, Mrs Cartwright will send up anything you need.

  I left you something to wear. I think it will look good on you.

  J xx

  Don’t leave before he gets back? Where had he gone? And something to wear…Julian hardly had a spare set of clothes for her, did he? It wouldn’t surprise her.

  She searched the room but there were no clothes, or boxes or anything left for her; just her beautiful dress from last night lying in a dishevelled heap on the floor beside the bed. She bent down to pick it up, remembering the sound of soft material shredding as Julian’s strong hands tore if away from her body. Shivers rushed down her spine. She closed her eyes and took a moment to replay last night in her mind. His touch, his smell, his taste. She opened her eyes and noticed one of his shirts draped across the chair. He must have meant for her to wear it. She nervously slid her arms into the sleeves and buttoned it across her naked chest. She examined her reflection. The sky blue flattered her skin tone and the length revealed just enough of her leg to tease. It smelled of Julian. She liked it.

  Slightly more comfortable, now, that she wasn’t completely naked, she searched for the bell. There was a remote control at the side of the bed, so she pressed some buttons and hoped for the best. The bed made a weird sound that echoed around the room and made Eva jump. A huge flat screen TV slid out from the foot of the bed, and Eva couldn’t find the button to make it disappear again. She managed to switch on and off the lights, open and close the electric blinds and higher and lower the bed, but she absolutely could not find the button to call Mrs Cartwright.

  She looked at her watch. It was almost midday. She had no idea how long Julian would be gone, and she couldn’t spend all day hiding in his room. She’d just have to be brave and go find the kitchen herself. In nothing more than Julian’s insanely expensive shirt - shit.

  The heavy bedroom door creaked as she pushed it open, she peeked her head around the corner. She didn’t know why she was being so dramatic but she just wasn’t sure of what lay ahead. She crept down the stairs; it felt so different to last night. If possible, the house seemed bigger now. Quieter, calmer. She followed the long hallway to the back of the house. The smell of fresh pancakes beckoned. Music played behind the last door and Eva took a deep breath, before knocking loudly.

  ‘Come on in, Love,’ a woman’s voice shouted over the drum beat.

  ‘Mrs Cartwright,’ Eva said, as the elderly lady from Julian’s house in the city looked up from leaning over the cooker and smiled.

  ‘Mrs Cartwright,’ she echoed. ‘What’s this Mrs Cartwright business? Call me Anne, please?’

  Eva nodded. Anne was nice, making her feel instantly felt at ease.

  ‘Twenty-one years I’ve known that boy, and he still doesn’t call
me by my first name.’

  ‘Julian?’ Eva said, hoping she’d guessed right.

  Anne turned off the radio. Picked up two cups and carried them over to the table inside a large bay window.

  ‘Coffee?’

  Eva nodded. She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more in the world right now than caffeine. Well, maybe more sex with Julian, she blushed just thinking about it.

  ‘I used to work here when he was a boy. He was such a shy little chap. This was the orphanage he grew up in. I can't even recognise it now.’

  Anne poured the coffee.

  ‘Thanks,’ Eva took the cup in her hands and enjoyed the warmth under her fingers. She couldn’t imagine Julian as shy - ever.

  ‘So it’s true? This really was an orphanage.’

  Eva’s heart sank thinking of Julian spending his childhood without parents.

  ‘Yes, for many years. It’s was closed down when Julian was about twelve.’

  ‘What happened to all the kids?’

  ‘Some found families, but most were rehomed in a larger facility down the country.’

  ‘…and Julian?’

  Anne stopped talking and sipped her coffee in silence for a while. Eva worried she’d been too nosey. Julian hated talking about his past and here she was trying to drag the information out of someone else. She owed him more respect.

  ‘Julian just sort of disappeared. The authorities forgot about him. They probably just presumed he was dead.’

  ‘Oh my God, that’s awful. Where did he go?’

  Anne shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I didn’t see him again until he was eighteen, and he turned up on my door step. He was a very different person then to the boy I remembered.’

  Tears rushed down Eva’s cheeks. She was so used to crying, but this was different. She wasn’t feeling sorry for her own fucked up life, she was hurting for Julian. She wanted to take him in her arms and kiss away every emotional scar.

  ‘And now?’ Eva asked.

  ‘And now, he’s a man.’

  Eva stared at Anne. She had kind eyes and a genuine smile, but she knew so much more than she was saying. Julian trusted her. She was possibly one of the only people on the whole planet who he did trust and Eva wasn’t about to damage that. She wouldn’t ask any more questions. Well, maybe just one more.

  ‘Where is he?’

  Anne stood up and cleared away the cups. She pointed outside and beamed a large approving smile.

  ‘In his sanctuary.’

  Eva followed the tip of her finger and stared out into the countless fields behind them. A man on a stunning, black stallion galloped in the distance.

  ‘He doesn’t let anyone into the paddock.’

  Eva tried to hide her disappointment.

  ‘But today he might make an exception.’ Anne cast her eyes to the side, ‘the door’s open.’

  Chapter 42

  Eva walked slowly. Despite the long summer the grassy fields were mucky and squelched under feet. The heels of her stilettos speared the ground like sticks through melting marshmallows. Two falls, a muddy backside and tossed hair later, Eva reached the timber fence of the paddock. She folded her arms on the gate and rested her chin on her hands. She forgot her grubby appearance and became lost in a trance as she stared ahead.

  She’d come to learn Julian only surrounded himself with beautiful things. But she wasn’t expecting the horse to be quite so fabulous. His ebony coat was glossy and radiated health and good grooming. He was larger than she’d anticipated from the distance. His mane was tantalising as the wind rushed through it, and the muscles in his slender chest flexed as he galloped. Julian sat confidently on his bare back. He looked so relaxed in just a pair of loose fitting, stone-washed, blue jeans and no shirt. A light mist started and soft rain drops dampened Julian firm chest. Eva’s cheeks flushed as she thought about running her tongue across his most peeks and tasting his skin. She tried to suppress her desire as Julian dismounted the stallion and walked towards her.

  ‘I knew that would look good on you,’ he said, exaggerating his looking her up and down.

  Eva suddenly remembered her unsavoury appearance and tried to brush some dried muck off her sleeve.

  Julian laughed and shook his head. ‘Leave it. It’s only going to get worse.’

  He swung open the gate and Eva took a deep breath before stepping inside.

  ‘Fuck, Evangeline, you can’t wear those.’

  Eva looked at her feet. Her beautiful shoes had been transformed into cavity blocks of mud on her feet. She kicked them off and grimaced as the cold ground met her already mucky toes. Julian laughed before he scooped her into his arms and spun her around.

  ‘It’s nature, Evangeline. Just go with it.’

  The rain was heavier now. It soaked her face as she tilted her head back savouring the strength of Julian’s arms holding her.

  ‘We’re about to get a whole lot dirtier. Have you ever ridden bare back before?’

  ‘I’ve never ridden before.’

  Julian tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. ‘Well then, Ms Andrews, you are in for a treat.’

  The horse obeyed Julian’s command and waited, very still, as Julian lifted Eva on. Julian was behind her in an instant. His thighs brushed against the back of hers, his chest and stomach tucked behind her back and his pelvis nestled against her bottom. He slipped his arms around her waist and placed the reigns into her hands.

  ‘I can’t steer,’ Eva said, slightly panicked. ‘I don’t know where we’re going.’

  ‘That’s okay. He does. Just hold on.’

  Julian kicked his legs gently against the horse’s stomach and he began to trot forward. Eva held on tight as they picked up pace, and the horse jumped the fence and galloped toward distant fields.

  The only sound was the wind whistling in Eva’s ears and the rhythmic pounding of the horse’s hooves as he raced. She’d thought about making conversation a few times, but she knew it was pointless. They’d both know it was small talk, filling the gap until they were face to face, and she could confront him with the many questions that spun around her head, like an out of control hula-hoop.

  After what felt like a long time, the horse finally slowed and came to a stop under a huge, old oak tree. Julian got down first and reached his hand out to help Eva. Her dismount was less than graceful and she landed, falling on top of Julian, knocking him to the ground. She jumped up and brushed herself off, mortified. Julian stayed, lying open-legged on the long grass.

  Eva hands flew to her face. Oh Christ, had she hurt him? ‘Are you okay,’ she bent down gently, offering her help.

  Julian couldn’t answer, he was laughing too hard. ‘Get down here,’ he said, clasping her hand and pulling her on top of him.

  He kissed her. Eva was startled, and took a moment to kiss him back. Something felt different. Yes, he mouth tasted as delicious as before, and his soft tongue pressed against hers like she’d grown to expect, but there was something more, something that wasn’t there before. A sensation, a feeling. Could he feel it too? Maybe she was reading too much into it - maybe she wanted to read too much into it. What was he doing to her? He had the power to erase all her thoughts with just the touch of his lips. It was dangerous and intoxicating and it scared the hell out of her.

  Eva rolled to the side and tucked her body beside him, leaving her leg draped over his. Julian’s warm hand rested on her thigh and she exhaled deeply and relaxed. She felt more content than she ever had in her life, staring up at the sky from between the branches of the tree.

  It was probably the best time to ask all the questions that had circled her head, but no matter how many ways she practised phrasing them in her head, she just couldn’t bring herself to say them out loud. She wanted answers but she worried they would confirm what she didn’t want to hear. So she lay in blissful silence for a long time instead.

  ‘Comfortable, baby?’ Julian asked as a gentle breeze picked up.

  Baby? Eva repeated his affec
tion in her head over and over. It was such a beautiful word, but its sweetness was diluted by the frustration Eva couldn’t suppress any longer. She liked it when her called her that, but was the title only hers on loan? She was the winner of this year’s Miss Julian Harte pageant, and next year she would have to hand over her ‘baby’ tiara to his next fixation, like Shelly and Mia had before.

  ‘So, have many babies have there been?’ Eva asked, choking back tears.

  Julian obviously didn’t appreciate her question. He looked at her like he was a five year old child and she’d let him have a suck of a lollipop before snatching it back and stomping it into the ground. He didn’t speak, but he sat up and folded his arms across his knees. Eva didn’t like it. She wanted them to stay lying together longer. Hell, she’d have been happy to stay there forever, but it was too late now, she’d opened Pandora’s Box and she couldn’t find the lid to close it again.

  ‘Julian please? Just tell me.’ Eva knew Julian wouldn’t like her resorting to begging, but she was out of options.

  ‘Does it matter?’ Julian said, staring into the nearby lake.

  ‘It matters to me.’

  ‘Some. Not enough. Too many.’

  What? Fuck, she really hoped he wasn’t going to go all Mr Cryptic on her again. Her hangover couldn’t handle trying to figure stuff out, and she’d feel obliged to because otherwise she wasn’t meeting expectations. Were they her expectations or his? Christ, she wasn’t even sure anyone. Forget who was he…maybe she should be asking, who was she?

  ‘It depends on your view, Evangeline,’ Julian said finally.

  Eva pulled herself up and bum shuffled to sit beside him. The wind was really starting to get chilly now as it blew under her shirt.

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘What’s not to understand? I’ve been with other women. Of course I have, but you know that. What you don’t know, is why you’re asking.’

  Eva suddenly didn’t feel cold anymore. She was furious. Why did he always assume he knew her better than she knew herself?