Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Julian shakes his head, frustration filling his features. He offers me his hand, and I take it, melting into his side as soon as he tugs me to my feet.
“Get back to work,” Julian orders gruffly before we walk out of the room.
I frown but let him guide me down the hall and back into the wing of the house where our bedroom is.
“Why were you so mean to her? She was just being a decent human and a good friend. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“She works for me, and she is your maid. She can’t be your friend, and I will not have her questioning what I may or may not do with you. Your wellbeing is none of her concern.” He says coldly, but I can tell he’s close to snapping. I shouldn’t push the issue, but Marie is important to me, and I won’t stand by and let him talk down to her.
Stopping in my tracks, I dig my feet into the floor, forcing him to stop as well. Halting, he looms over me, and maybe before our size differences would’ve scared me, now his darkness, size, and overall body appeals to me. Placing a hand against his chest, I try not to think of the skin beneath it: the ridges, and dips, and the way his body molded so perfectly to mine.
Jesus… I can feel my core tightening.
“She is the only friend I have. It’s not like I can go out and find one that’s to your liking. And even if I could, her social standing wouldn’t matter to me. She’s still a person. She is kind, and she cares about me. I understand that she shouldn’t question you and that what happens to me doesn’t concern her, but her intentions are pure and come from a good place.”
“I won’t be questioned by my staff.” His jaw turns to steel, and his eyes flicker with fury.
“Then don’t be, but don’t treat her like she isn’t a human,” I whisper, placing a featherlight kiss against his jaw. “She is loyal to you, doesn’t this prove that. Even though she was worried, she didn’t act on it. Can’t that be enough?”
I don’t understand why I feel the need to kiss and touch him so often, but it brings me joy. When he’s near, I feel alive. All my life, I’ve been trapped, and it’s like now I’ve finally broken free. Julian’s gaze softens a fraction when I grab his hand once more and let him guide me back to the bedroom.
“Will you stay a bit with me? Maybe just lie in bed with me?”
Julian gives me a questioning look, and I’m one hundred percent sure he is going to say no, but then shocks me when he nods his head.
We both take our shoes off and crawl into bed together. Resting my head on his chest, I throw one leg over his, wanting him closer. I never thought I would feel safe in his arms, and especially not seek out the comfort of his body.
Running a hand up and down my back, he makes me shiver.
“Tomorrow, you will meet someone close to me. He is an ally and has worked with me often over the years. He is bringing his wife. Maybe you can make another friend. Their love story is far more dysfunctional than ours.”
“Love story?” I lift my head off his chest and peer up into his calm gaze. “I didn’t think mobsters fell in love?”
“Not all mobsters fall in love. Xander is tougher than steel and meaner than fuck. I’m surprised he found someone that could be the light to his darkness.”
The light to his darkness…
Maybe that’s what I’ll become to Julian. Maybe he just needs a little light to dull out all the dark in his life.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet her and hear about their love story,” I whisper, placing my head back down on his chest. Closing my eyes, I easily slip into sleep, feeling safe, protected, and cherished.
28
Julian
The next morning, I find it hard to take my eyes off Elena. She’s wearing a sundress with roses on it that ends just above her knee. I can’t seem to look anywhere but at her shapely legs, envisioning them wrapped around my middle while I thrust deep inside her.
“What are you thinking?” Elena questions, biting into a strawberry.
I decided breakfast out on the terrace would be fitting for today, but now I’m wondering if we should’ve stayed in the bedroom, so I could’ve eaten her for breakfast instead.
“You don’t want to know.”
She blinks slowly, lust swirling in her depths. “Oh, really? Try me.”
Leaning over the table, I trail a finger down her cheek. “You have sex one time, and you think you can handle all my fantasies and the things that I have planned for you?”