“Hey, Ellie. It’s nice to see you. I’ve got a little problem right now, so I’ll hug you in a few minutes, if that’s okay,” I said dryly.
Ellie’s eyes danced as she laughed. Julia gasped and shoved me in the shoulder. I laughed out loud and they both joined me.
“I understand, honey. How is Boston?” Ellie asked.
“It’s okay. School is good. A lot of work, but it makes the time go faster. How are you and Harris doing? When’s the wedding?” I teased. Ellie flushed and looked pointedly at Julia.
“Hey, I didn’t put that in his head, El. He’s pretty sharp on his own, you know,” Julia said loudly over the din of the crowd and band, saving Ellie by changing the subject. “Is Harris going to get a break so we can talk to him?”
“In about an hour. They take 10 minutes at the top of each hour.” I groaned inwardly but realized I was being selfish by wanting to steal Julia away.
“They sound great, Ellie. Really good,” I said as I felt for the bare skin of Julia’s back beneath her shirt and jacket. I rubbed little circles and she leaned into me further. It felt wonderful just holding her close.
A couple of assholes at the bar were eyeing Julia when she went to talk to Ellie. I glanced in their direction. They were staring and talking between themselves. I glared at them before nuzzling into her neck again. Julia didn’t notice the men as she rubbed my back and chatted with Ellie and another girl.
Yes, that’s right. She’s mine. Don’t even fucking think about it.
I was having a serious case of déjà vu.
So many times in college I’d seen a similar scene go down when we’d all go out to clubs, but back then I didn’t have the right or the ammunition to openly squash it. Never overly obvious; I had to rely on quietly walking up to guys and warning them off of Julia without her knowing it even happened.
I’d been such a bastard. I realized how unfair that was, but damn it, I couldn’t stand seeing them pawing all over her, or even looking at her with lust. I was always very possessive and protective of her. Not that she needed me every time. She’d been more than capable of telling unwanted admirers to fuck off, and she had done so many times. Only a few times had she needed me to intercede, allowing me to get in their faces openly. Aaron had given me so much crap over it, telling me to shit or get off the pot.
Immersed in her conversation with Ellie, Julia was unaware of the exchange or the men watching her, but my eyes narrowed on them as they continued to ogle her. They were either intoxicated, had very little class, or were just fucking stupid.
“Ryan.”
Julia stood and pulled on my hand to have me join her. “Will you dance with me or are you too busy flirting with those guys at the bar?” Amusement danced in her eyes as she looked up at me.
A smile lifted my lips as I reached down to wrap my arms around her, lifting her up to carry her toward the dance floor, her feet dangling. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and laughed softly.
“You caught me. Just letting them know that you’re mine, sweets.”
Harris’s band was finally playing a slow song and it was a perfect excuse to hold her. I lowered Julia to the floor, but didn’t relinquish my tight hold on her. My hands roamed up and down her back as she settled her head onto the curve of my neck, her high heels giving her the perfect height to allow easy access to her luscious mouth. I resisted the temptation as long as possible.
She fit against me perfectly as we swayed together. I closed my eyes, letting her scent envelope me.
“You feel so great.” She raised her head until her mouth was under my ear and her hot breath rushed over me. My arms tightened around her.
I dropped my forehead to her shoulder and turned my face to kiss her neck, letting my mouth open and my tongue graze her skin and then sucked a little before raising my head.
“You’re so delicious…I’m just starving, my love.”
She moaned against me and it was all I could do not to ravish her mouth on the spot. “I can’t take much more of this. It’s wonderful but I want to get you alone and make slow love to you. Do you want that?”
She brought her hand to my face and her fingers danced along my jaw while she looked at me with those big doe eyes. “Always have. But now, knowing what I’ve been missing, it’s insane.”
My heart quickened at her words. “Julia…” I felt my dick swell and I pulled her hips against mine so she could feel the effect she had on me. “God…as amazing as last night was, I want more.”
“I love when you touch me, when you taste me…having you inside me,” she moaned against my neck and my body started shaking.
“God, this is torture. Please, say we can go,” I groaned and looked down into her face, my body on fire. Her skin was so perfectly smooth and her mouth, full and beckoning, cried out for my kisses.
“I want to, but look at poor Ellie, Ryan. We have to stay for a little bit. I’m sorry I teased you, I just can’t seem to stop the words.” She looked up at me apologetically as the song ended. “Will you dance with her just one time? She loves you and it will give her a chance to drill you too.” She flashed a beautiful smile that I couldn’t refuse and I bent to place a soft sucking kiss on her lips.
“Like I can deny you. Will you miss me?” I teased.
“Every second. I’ll wait for you at the table. Should I order you anything?”
“Crown and Coke.” I kissed her hand as she turned from me and I went over to Ellie, smiling the whole way.
“Hey short stuff. Will you honor me with this dance?” I mock bowed in front of her.
Ellie’s face lit up. She was a pretty girl and had been a good friend to both of us. “I didn’t think Julia would want to share you once she’d sunk her teeth in you,” she joked, and had a huge smile on her face, as we walked back onto the dance floor. “She does have her teeth in you, doesn’t she?”
“To the bone.” I nodded and laughed.
“Yeah. I told her years ago you were in love with her but she wouldn’t listen! She’s loved you for a long time, Ryan. I’m very happy for you both.”
I hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Ellie. Your support means a lot. How are things with you and Harris, really?”
Another slow song started and she put her hand on my shoulder and I took the other in mine.
“Hasn’t Julia told you?” she said, resuming the conversation after we started to dance.
“Only that you guys are close. Harris is a good dude. You could do a lot worse, and for sure he could.” I smiled at her.
“I think things are going to work out for all of us. It seems to be heating up on all fronts, huh?”
“Yeah. In case you’re in any doubt, I love Julia with all my heart.”
Her grey eyes smiled at me. “I know. Everyone did, except Julia, I guess. I expect her to move out East, yes?”
“We’re talking about it. We don’t want to be apart. If that happens, will you move in with Harris? Julia worries about you being alone.”
Before she could respond, I looked over Ellie’s head toward the table and didn’t like what I saw. The waitress was delivering the drinks and one of the men who had been eyeing Julia earlier was speaking to her. She looked up at him and shook her head as she tried to pay for the drinks, but the man handed a bill to the waitress and waved her away.
I felt the blood begin to pump around my body and my skin lit on fire.
He knew she was not here alone and she didn’t want his attention, yet he was hitting on her with no regard for any of it.
“Ellie, I need to go take care of Julia. I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Excuse me.”
Her gaze followed mine to the table. Julia’s annoyance when the man sat next to her was obvious. Her scowl increased when he scooted closer, her exasperation evident by the hand she ran through her hair. When I approached, a look of relief flooded her delicate features.
“Come on, little lady, loosen up. Maybe you need a real man.” He didn’t sound drunk but my palms be
gan to sweat as I clenched my fists at my sides.
Julia stood up when I reached her and I wrapped my arm around her in time to hear her response.
“As you can see, I have one. But, thanks for the drink.” She tried to brush him off without needing my help, but I seriously wanted to punch him in the face. I smirked as his expression changed from eagerness to anger when her hand came up to rest on my stomach. He reached for her arm, trying to pry her from me.
Oh Fuck, no! He did not just touch her.
“I recommend that you remove your hands from her. Immediately.” My face tightened and my voice lowered so as not to make a scene, but it was more like a growl. I was more furious than I could ever remember feeling in my life.
Julia pushed him away and he stumbled back a little but soon regained his balance and came back toward her.
“Look, asshole,” she said, “I don’t want you to die, so listen to me very carefully. You don’t have one damn thing that I’m interested in. Ryan is being very calm right now but I suggest you leave us alone before you piss him off.”
“Ryan? Are you her fucking husband?” He looked at me pointedly. He was shorter than me, heavier and out of shape. I’d be able to lay him out without much effort if needed.
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. Julia’s arm tightened around the back of my waist.
“Well, you’ve got great taste, man.” I relaxed a little when it seemed like he was going to back off. It was too much to hope for. “Too bad that she ain’t,” he continued and took a hold of her arm again. “Come for a dance, baby,”
Julia recoiled back from him again as I held her and the rage boiled up inside my chest. I’d had enough.
I growled fiercely and reached for the hand on her arm twisting his fingers backward until he winced.
“Listen, you sorry fuck. Take your hands off of her now or I swear to God, I’ll break every one of your fucking fingers. Now, I strongly suggest you move along if you ever plan on jerking off again. Got me?”
I waited for him to nod and then let go of his hand, flinging it away from me. He moved away clutching his hand and I wrapped both arms around Julia, glaring at him over her head. She giggled into my chest. I smiled with her when I saw him finally slink back to the bar.
“Dickhead! I swear, I can’t take you anywhere,” I laughed against the top of Julia’s head and rubbed her back with both hands.
“Oh, my God! That was hilarious…but sorta hot, too. I think I like this side of you.” She nuzzled my neck.
We sat back at the table and I lifted the drink Julia had ordered in salute to the asshole at the bar, before I downed it. “Thanks for the drink,” I said and hoped to hell he could read my lips. Julia was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.
“Holy shit,” she gasped for breath between fits of laughter.
I reached for Julia’s chair and scooted her closer so I could hold her hand and rest my arm across her lap under the table. Whenever she was near, I had to be touching her in some way.
Ellie was shaking her head and laughing with us. “Wow, Ryan! I think that guy just pissed his pants.”
The band was on a break, so Harris came over, shook my hand and leaned down to kiss Julia on the cheek.
Casually slinging an arm around Ellie’s waist, he spoke. “Remind me never to make you mad, Ryan. That was classic.”
“I had to save that poor schmuck from Julia. She was ready to kick his ass.” I smirked and she elbowed me in the ribs. “Hey,” I protested.
“Yeah. She’s badass, for sure,” Harris teased and Julia rolled her eyes.
“Have you figured out a way to accelerate your years at Harvard yet, Ryan? I figure if anyone can do it, it’s you.” His eyes followed my movements holding Julia and he raised an eyebrow at me.
Now that Julia and I were together, it would be even more important to me to finish as quickly as possible.
“Yeah, a little. I considered asking my dad to bribe the dean,” I joked, “but you can’t rush med school. It is what it is.”
“Have you decided yet what you want to specialize in?” Ellie interjected.
Julia was resting her head on my shoulder and held my hand under the table, reminding me how badly I wanted to get her home. It felt so natural being with her, like we’d always been together. No one ever belonged together as much as we did. It settled over me like warm honey. She belonged with me and I was wrecked for the rest of my life. Gone.
Julia nudged me and brought me out of my reverie. “Ellie asked you a question, hon.”
“Um, either some sort of surgery or trauma.”
“Trauma? Ewww,” Ellie retorted. “Wouldn’t that be gross, Ryan? You mean people from accidents, right?”
“Anything that is an emergency, really, Ellie. Someone has to do it, right? Plus, I’d have a regular shift at a hospital and I wouldn’t be on-call all of the time, which might come in handy at some point.” I let my middle finger scratch the inside of Julia’s palm under the table and she squeezed my hand in response. “I don’t know for sure yet, though. I’m going to talk to my dad and try to get some time in ER before I make a decision.”
“What about Aaron? Has he decided, babe?” Julia questioned. “Seems to me that he’d pick something like that, too.”
“He’s more interested in Internal Medicine and wants a regular practice. I think he’s planning on popping the question soon.” Julia’s eyes widened. “Don’t say anything to Jen, you guys. Aaron will have my ass if she finds out before he gets around to it.”
I leaned into Harris so I could speak in a low tone. “Thanks for letting Ellie stay with you, man. I really appreciate the time alone with Julia.”
Harris looked at me knowingly and nodded slyly. “Yeah. Did you finally seal that deal, dude? Seeing the two of you, I’d say that you two are definitely on another level now.”
“Yes, and it feels great. It’s been a long time coming.”
“Congratulations.” He patted me on the back before the girls’ chattering together interrupted us.
We chatted with them until Harris’ break ended. Julia spoke to Ellie while I finished my drink and waited impatiently for a sign that I could take her home as soon as possible.
I watched my girl approach and my hands settled on her hips as she stopped between my legs. Her arms slid around my neck and I pulled her in tight.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered suggestively in my ear before her mouth trailed along my cheek to my mouth and we kissed passionately. I sucked her lower lip into my mouth and tasted her like she was the sweetest ambrosia. Wine and sweetness. So, so good.
I lifted my mouth from hers reluctantly, but was anxious to be behind closed doors with her.
“Jesus, you taste amazing. Let’s get out of here.”
Julia nodded. “Yeah.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and led her toward the coat check to get our coats before we could leave. We passed the man who’d accosted her and he turned his back to us. Thank God. I just wanted to get out of there and avoid another confrontation with the loser.
We didn’t speak on the walk through the parking lot or on the drive back to her apartment. With my hand in hers and her head on my shoulder, the air was charged with anticipation and silent communication that we were both anxious to be alone together, to have our mouths and bodies meshing for hours on end.
The minute we pushed through the door of her apartment, I threw the keys on the entryway table, pulled her to me and latched on to her mouth, pushing her clothing aside in heated fury.
We were frantic. The closeness of the evening, the sexiness of holding and touching her for hours, all the while wanting to take her down and have her had driven me to the breaking point. The sexual tension was finally more than I could bear.
I lifted her up and her legs wrapped around my waist as I pressed her back against the closed door. My pelvis pushed into hers and her heat made my breath hitch. My erection throbbed, aching for friction, my need f
or her vibrated through my entire body. Feeling her desire, made my blood sing. The little mewling sounds she made in her throat excited me even more, my dick so full and hard it was almost painful.
I’ll never get enough of this woman.
My heart was pounding, all the while kissing her over and over again, devouring, and sucking her tongue into my mouth. Her hands clasped in my hair as one of mine clasped around her breast and I kneaded the perfect mound, feeling her hardened nipple press into my palm through the thin fabric of her shirt. I wanted it off, no barriers between us, her skin on mine. She was moaning in need of her own and it drove me to distraction.
“Julia, God…You’re so hot. The sounds you make drive me insane. You’re mine. Always mine.”
Her hands groped at the front of my shirt, but our mouths kept returning to each other again and again, distracting her from the task.
“Uhhhhh…Ryan…I want to feel you.”
“Fucking rip it off of me if you want. I don’t care.” I pressed into her, establishing the rhythm that we both needed as I held her against the door. She moaned into my mouth before the buttons on my white shirt went flying, the fabric giving way as she pulled the shirt open over my chest and her warm hands splayed out on my skin.
I lifted her off the door and carried her toward the bedroom, one of my hands twisting in her hair and pulling her head to one side so I could bury my mouth in the curve of her neck as my tongue traced a trail up her neck to her ear. “How did I live without touching you like this? I must have been insane.”
“Ryan…I want you…now…” It was music to my ears, reinforced by the pounding of her pulse beneath my lips, and how she writhed against me. The smell of her skin and perfume was intoxicating, making conscious thought almost impossible.
I lowered her to the bed and followed her down, my hands finally free to lift the white shirt from her body. I slid my hands underneath and pushed it upwards over her ribs. She sat up slightly and raised her arms, allowing me to remove it completely before leaning back, watching me as I slowly worked the snap and zipper of her jeans before sliding them down her shapely legs.
The Future of Our Past (The Remembrance Trilogy) Page 12
