by Laurie Roma
If she didn’t want to take that leap, he was just going to have to push her over that ledge.
Tara’s inability to open up to him hadn’t been his only problem this past week. Adrian and Lucian found enjoyment with Julian’s predicament, treating him with friendly camaraderie but neither man hesitated to give a similar warning about hurting Tara. Julian had been prepared for the men’s reaction. His good friend Lucian had added another small piece of advice, wishing Julian luck because he would need it in order to keep Tara.
That wasn’t exactly the encouragement he had been hoping for.
Rock and Slade had taken off to follow up on a lead on the white supremacist, Edward Levy, the morning after they had taken down Ricardo Mendez. Unfortunately for Julian, that meant he lived with the impending doom of them finding out about Tara’s sleeping with him when they returned. Not knowing when that would be was beginning to wear on his nerves. The way all of the agents made it sound, Julian was living on borrowed time because Rock was going to kill him when he got back.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
The only ally Julian had in the group was the beautiful Mikayla Lincoln, although she had issued her own warning, be it a friendly one. She had been cheerful in her delivery, but Julian knew in reality that she was just as capable of following through with her threats with lethal efficiency as the other men were.
Gee, wasn’t he a lucky man…
Never for one moment did Julian think that when he fell for someone it would be with a dire threat hanging over his head from her various friends and colleagues.
On top of that, Tara herself wasn’t cooperating.
Over the last week, Julian had tried to spend time with her during the day, but she had been busy working on her secret spy stuff or running around helping with the upgrades in the casino.
It was only late at night that she was his.
Every night Tara would look up at the cameras and give that little mysterious smile he loved because she knew he was watching. With a wink, she would head to the elevators. Like a doomed sailor following a siren’s call, he would follow where she led.
Julian figured he should be thankful that she was more at ease spending time in his suite with him. He had given her a key card to the suite and even allowed her to install the new security system like she wanted. There was now a monitor inside the doorway of his suite that showed a live feed from two cameras hidden outside the door in the hallway so they would know if anyone approached.
Tara’s reaction to when they had ordered room service that first night together made it impossible for him to argue against the addition. He had to admit that it made sense. Besides, anything he could do to make her feel safer in his home, he would.
Their nights were filled with passion. Every time they came together they were like dynamite, an explosion of ecstasy that only made him crave more. But like a dream, Tara was gone by morning and he would wake alone. For a man never inclined to spend the entire night with a woman, he found the reversal situation strange and disconcerting.
He wanted her desperately and he didn’t think this frantic need he had for her would be changing anytime soon. He tried talking to her about their relationship, but she always distracted him with sex. He knew that was partly his fault. Every time she got naked, the blood drained straight from his brain down to his penis. It was amusing and almost baffling how little Tara cared about his money. Instead it seemed she was just using him for sex.
But he had had enough.
Julian knew she was the one for him, now he just had to convince Tara of that fact. He knew in his gut that she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but he had to strategize how to make it happen.
He had made steps in that direction and knew he was in for a storm when Tara found out.
Julian had sat in on a meeting with the IAD agents yesterday when they had been strategizing about how to proceed with their op. Now that they had taken down Ricardo Mendez, there were only two other terrorists scheduled to bid on the stolen sarin. Julian had felt helpless but he was determined to do whatever he could to help them find the assholes and take them down.
Since the reports stated that the hybrid sarin compound could be distributed through water and last up to an hour in gas form, the threat level to the United States was at DEFCON 1. If it were released into the water supply of a city like Vegas, the fallout would be a catastrophe of biblical proportions. The city in the sand would be a blackened wasteland of chaos. Casinos would be ransacked of money, greed would run rampant, and blood would run in the streets.
They were hoping to find the seller before the auction, but so far John Gorin was safe under whatever rock he had decided to hide under. As for Hassan Sharif, it was a dead end. If he was in the States, then he was being smart about it and keeping a low profile.
On New Year’s Eve, Julian was hosting a charity event in the main ballroom for many of Vegas’s elite, along with many out-of-town celebrity guests. If they didn’t manage to draw out Hassan Sharif before that, the agents had decided that Tara and Lucian’s presence at the charity ball would be the perfect place to flush him out.
Sharif didn’t know that they worked for IAD, but Tara and Lucian had caused him enough trouble that it would be almost too tempting for him not to seek them out to try to make them pay.
Julian still didn’t know what history they had with the terrorist, but had enough sense to know it wasn’t good. Every time Sharif’s name was mentioned, Julian could see the rage burning in Tara and Lucian’s eyes. Knowing that was enough to make Julian want to stay close.
Very close.
Everyone planned to attend the ball. Lucian Steele came from family wealth and was going as a representative for his family’s company, Steele Enterprises. Slade had decided he would rather be in the background and would go as Lucian’s bodyguard for the event. The twins would be representing Mac Securities, and Tara…
Well, she was a whole different story.
That morning Julian had come up with a plan. Having run it by Lucian and Adrian, Julian had put the plan into motion. Now it was only a matter of time until she found out.
Then the fireworks would begin.
Julian forced himself to look away from the screens down through the windows of his office to the security floor where members of his team were taking instructions from Lucian. Adrian and Mikayla walked in to the security center and Julian watched as his entire staff came to attention. His security people wanted to learn from the Mac Securities team and Julian watched with veiled amusement at the evidence that their respect had turned into a severe case of idolization.
Julian didn’t turn as Devon walked into the office.
“Boss? We got a card counter at table seven.”
Julian pressed a few buttons and zoomed in on the blackjack table in question. A small, average-looking man sat at the table collecting a large quantity of chips.
“Pull up facial IQ,” Julian demanded and the computer chirped to life and quickly found out all the information about the man sitting in his casino. “Well, well, well. This isn’t the first time.”
“He was warned last week over at Wynn’s place,” Devon reiterated the information that was on the screen.
“Blacklist Mr. Farnsworth,” Julian quietly ordered. “And show him the door. And make it clear to him that it would be very bad for his health to step foot in here again.”
“Got it, boss.”
Picking up the phone, Devon sent a security team to escort the man out of the casino and explain that he was no longer welcome in the Palace Hotel and Casino. As Devon hung up the phone, the door to Julian’s office burst open.
Julian barely missed a beat when Tara stormed into the office. He had been expecting this.
“Why, hello, darling.” Julian smiled at her.
“Don’t you darling me, you son of a bitch,” Tara snarled.
“Ah, and to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of your visit?” Damn, he must be a sick
man to get hard from the mean glint in her eyes.
“I’m going to kill you. I am going to rip your balls off and strangle you with them.” Tara all but growled in a low voice filled with rage.
Julian couldn’t help but wince at the imagery she evoked.
“Ah, um, I should…I should go,” Devon said as he bolted from the room as quickly as he could.
The fury in Tara’s eyes was as deadly as a razor-sharp sword and her focus never left Julian’s when the door slammed shut. Julian may have underestimated the level of pissed off she would be. Tactically not a good thing, but at least it got her in the room.
“Would you like to tell me why you’re so upset?” Julian asked lightly, holding back a smile as he watched Tara’s eyes narrow further to slits.
“You’re engaged?” Tara’s voice shook with rage. “You fucking bastard. I just saw the goddamn news clip. You’re going to the charity ball with your fiancée? Nice press release, asshole, I hope you and your bitch rot in hell. I should have known better than to get involved with you, you egotistical lying cheating scumfuck prick!”
Julian’s good humor fled. Is that what she thought of him? Insulted to the core, Julian’s body came to attention in his chair. He was prepared to fire back, but Tara wasn’t done.
“It’s a damn good thing I saw your last medical report, because who knows where your dick has been.”
“That’s enough,” Julian roared. Well, hell, this wasn’t going as planned. Julian recalculated and tried again. “Damn it, I did put out the press release but—”
“Well, fuck you very much, for clarifying. We’re done here. Stay the hell away from me from now on or I’ll kill you myself.” Tara spun on her heels and moved toward the door when she heard the click of the lock sounding.
“Open the goddamn door,” she snarled over her shoulder. “Let me out or I’ll break this fucking glass.”
A slight hum was the only warning before the room went on lockdown and the clear windows went opaque, blocking the room out from the rest of the world. Tara had to jump back from the glass door as a heavy interior wall slide into place, completely soundproofing the room.
Julian rose slowly from behind his desk.
“Are you finished?” he asked, his voice a sharp whip of fury as he approached her. “Good, because it’s my turn. Now what was it you just said? Ah yes, let’s deal with what’s bothering you first. Yes, I gave a press release this morning about the New Year’s gala and yes, I did say I would be going with my fiancée.”
“Open the door. Right. Now,” Tara ground out.
“Tara…”
Julian moved to take a hold of her arms but she moved like lightning and position herself away from him again. It took every ounce of her willpower to stop herself from striking out. She was beyond pissed.
Tara was fucking thermonuclear and ready to blow.
She willed the heat of temper back and let it frost over inside her. He’d messed with the wrong woman and she’d make him pay for it.
“I swear to god, Julian, if you try to touch me again, I won’t hesitate to take you down.” Her voice was shockingly cold, expression blank.
Julian hated that look on her face and his own temper boiled over. Julian reached for her again. “Tara, I can explain everything. I just need you to listen to me—”
“Listen to this,” Tara seethed between clenched teeth. Her fist snapped out and connected with his face. Julian hit the ground.
Damn, the woman packed a punch like a freight train.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Julian wiped the blood from his lip in disbelief. She hit him.
She actually fucking hit him!
Enclosed in the privacy of his office he let his temper have free rein. “Goddamn it, Tara! My fiancée is you,” he raged. “You, woman! We are going to the fucking charity gala together. You are my bitch, as you so succinctly put it!”
Her shock gave him the time he needed to spring into action. He leaped up and grabbed her, kissing her passionately, pouring his pent-up desire and need for her. He yanked at the tank top she wore, tearing it down the middle and took her bra in his large hands and ripped it apart.
Tara let a strangled cry explode from her throat as he literally tore her jeans from her body as his mouth savaged hers. She cupped his head to her, his teeth biting and nipping at her, tongue plunging deep as he yanked his own shirt from his body. He ripped the offending material off and roughly palmed her breasts, pulling at the piercings in her nipples.
He took Tara down to the ground. Forcing his way between her legs he spread her wide for his body. His large hand clamped down on her wrists holding her hands captive with one hand, and he jerked them over her head. With his other hand, he shoved two fingers deep inside her, thrusting them in and out, and felt her cream flooding his fingers with her desire.
“Damn you,” Tara cried as she tore her mouth away from his. She could feel his hot breath on her cheek before his lips recaptured hers.
“Damn us both.”
Unable to wait for even one more second, Julian ripped the zipper of his pants down, pulling his boxers and pants down just enough so he could thrust his big cock into her. He slammed his hips forward, shoving the entire length of his shaft inside her in one blow.
Tara tried to scream but Julian captured the sound with his mouth. Once he was seated to the hilt inside her, he brought his head up so he could stare at her. He held her in place, impaled on his large cock, hands held above her head. Breathing heavily, Julian tried to focus on what he needed to say to her.
“My fiancée is you,” he repeated. “I am going to the charity gala with you. Did you even listen to the whole report before you came barreling down here? No, of course not. They even named you, I gave them your fucking name. I never, never take women to functions with me, and if you are going with me, we needed to have an explanation for you being there. There is no other woman. Christ, there hasn’t been since I met you.”
He saw shock replace the lust on her face and his voice softened. “Tara, you’re the woman I want, the only woman. You keep running from me, you won’t even spend the whole fucking night with me and it’s making me crazy.”
He pulled back and slid deep inside her again, ground his hips against her, making her gasp.
Eyes heavy with need, Julian’s rough voice rasped out above her. “Christ, aren’t we a pair? You make it so I have to fuck you into silence just so I can talk to you.”
Her strangled laugh was cut off as he pumped into her with hard steady strokes. “I want you to let me in, Tara, not just in your body but into your heart. I want you to want me, need me like I need you.”
Tara didn’t know what to say, couldn’t say anything. The breath she had been holding left in a rush. “I don’t…I want…”
“Tell me, baby, tell me you want me.”
“You know I do,” she snapped, trying to claim his lips with hers. He resisted and held her down, stroking in and out of her slowly. So slow he was killing her.
“I’m not just talking about sex, Tara. I want more from you, I need more.”
“I need more, Julian, fuck me,” Tara urged him on.
Julian kissed her lightly. “Not this time, baby. We’re making love. It’s you and me. Tell me I mean something to you. I want you to stop running from me, from us.”
“I’m not running,” she said desperately, alarm filling her.
“Yes, you are,” Julian countered. His mouth tightened with determination, a furrow forming between his eyes. “I’m falling in love with you. Fuck that, I am in love with you, Tara. I need you to give me something. Give it to me, tell me you care. At least give that to me,” he demanded harshly, but his voice was tinged with longing.
“I care.” The words were ripped out of her. She closed her eyes in defense and whispered them again. “I care.”
His lips crushed down on hers. Hot, thick desire fueled him, making his heart ache with his love for her. Their lips met, desperate for the connect
ion.
Tara pulled her hands free from his grasp and wound them around his back, pulling him closer to her. Moaning low in her throat, her body shuddered with the pleasure he was forcing on her. Tara helped him work his pants down his legs, pushing at the material with her feet so he could kick them off completely. Once he was free, she raised her hips to meet his thrusts, forcing his cock deeper, harder inside her.
“Please, Julian, faster, fuck me faster. Please, I need more. Hurry, hurry,” she chanted.
His gaze tangled with hers. A harsh laugh escaped his lips. “Baby, I wanted to go slow, but you make it fucking impossible. Especially when you talk dirty like that.”
His laughter died when she shot him a look so fiercely full of need that his hips pumped against hers like a piston without him even thinking about it.
“Fuck, hold on,” Julian snarled as he levered up on his elbows and knees to get better traction. Tara clenched his cock so tight that he thought he would burst.
Like a slingshot, Tara let herself fly. Her muscle pulsed as she cried out in ecstasy, her release gushing around his driving cock so he was soaked in her pussy juice.
“More, give me more,” she demanded and she flipped them. Tara shoved Julian’s body forcefully to the ground, laughing with wicked glee as he grunted upon impact. Yes, this was what she wanted. This wildly handsome, powerful man under her, letting her take what she wanted from him and trusting her to give back what he needed.
She moaned his name as she rode his cock hard and fast through her release.
It was absolutely amazing.
Julian felt his vision blur. The only thing he could hear was the incredible sound of his name on her lush lips. He cupped her breasts in his hands, plucking on her piercings with his fingers, pulling and twisting to enhance her pleasure. His body jerked up, hips lifting as she rode him with wild abandon. Overcome, he twisted, pulling her under him again so he could power into her the way he needed. He loved their struggle for dominance, never having had such a wild partner before. She was his equal in every way and he loved every second.
