“Shit.” A tear slid down Julie’s cheek.
“It’s not your fault. Patricia knew the dangers of this job.”
A hiccup came from her mouth as she cried harder. “Doesn’t matter. It was me she was protecting. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for her family. Anything.”
“I will.” Ayden gave Aston a look and walked out of the door.
Tears kept streaming down Julie’s face and there was nothing she could do about them. They just kept flowing like a river. Aston reached over to the end table and grabbed a tissue.
“Thank you.” Julie wiped her face and noticed the tissue paper was covered with black streaks from her mascara. “Shit. I’m sorry. I am such a mess right now.”
“No, it’s totally understandable. Don’t apologize.” Aston took a deep breath and Julie’s eyes fixated on his chest. Really, Jules! Can you think of anything besides men? God! You’re ridiculous.
“Julie, are you okay? You look really dazed out.”
She tore her eyes from his pecs and looked up guiltily. “No, I’m fine. Well, actually I’m not. Ugh, sorry. I can’t even think right now. I could make a mountain of the mess I’m in.”
Aston put his hands in his pockets and Julie immediately caught herself checking out his package. What in the world? Fine, she just wouldn’t look at him at all.
“Would you like to talk about what’s on your mind? You know, I’m not just a cop. I’m a great listener too. And I’m going to be here for a while. We might as well get to know each other.”
Julie glanced up at his face. There, she’d keep it from the neck up, and she’d be fine. “If you only knew. Gosh, I’d hate to think of the person you’d believe me to be.” Julie paused. “The person I am. I don’t even know what I’m saying.”
A laugh came out of Aston’s mouth. “I don’t judge. We all have our problems. I’m sure you’re not a horrible person. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.”
It was Julie’s turn to burst out in laughter. “I assure you. It’s worse than you can imagine.”
Aston sat down on the couch. “Please. I’d love to learn more about you.”
“For some weird reason, I believe you.” Julie couldn’t describe it. There was some kind of connection between the two of them and the more they made eye contact, the more it stood out to her.
“Tell me why you made Taylor leave?”
Julie hesitated.
“Please.”
The truth started pouring out of nowhere. “I love him. I always have. But you see, I can’t be with him. Not now anyway. So I told him that we were getting too serious, and I kicked him out.”
Aston sat quietly, waiting for her to go on.
“You see…I’m sick.”
That seemed to catch his attention. Aston leaned forward and took her hand. “What do you mean?”
The warmth felt so good on her cold fingers. She stared down at his large hand engulfing hers, refusing to look up. “Those words sound so misleading. I’m an alcoholic. If he stays with me it’ll ruin him. He deserves so much better.”
“Have you tried to get help?”
“Not at a place. Not yet.” Julie forced herself to meet his gaze. “I fear that’s what it’s going to come down to. Every time I go a certain period of time without drinking, I get extremely ill. I’ve spent the last few months in a constant state of intoxication that now that I’m trying to stop, it’s kicking my ass.”
Aston squeezed her hand. “Well, I’m here for you. I’ll try my best to help you any way I can.”
“Thank you.” Julie smiled and stood, trying to divert the conversation from her problems. Breaking their contact was almost painful. Her heart started to race and all she wanted to do was touch him again. Not sexually. She just wanted to have him hold her, or touch her hand again.
“Did you already eat?” Julie looked for anything to do or say. She had to get her desperation for this man out of her head, and fast. She was probably just lonely because she missed Taylor. “I have pizza in the fridge.”
“You know”—Aston stood—“that actually sounds really good. I’m starving.”
“Great.” Julie heated up some pizza and turned the television on. She wasn’t even aware of what they’d been watching when Aston’s smile broke the spell she was under. Oh my God. Had she been staring at him the entire time? She quickly stood. “I think maybe I should get some rest. I’ll get you some sheets and a blanket. The couch has a bed inside.”
“Nice.” Aston began taking off the cushions and Julie had to snap herself away from watching him again. Jesus!
She walked to the hall closet and grabbed the Bed in a Bag she kept as a spare. The moment she shut the door, her full attention went to that beautiful chest. Aston was taking off his shirt and Julie thought she heard herself physically moan.
“Did you say something?”
“What?” Julie shook her head. “Me? No. Here.” She placed the bag down at the edge of the living room. If she took one more step toward him while he was halfway undressed, it would be her undoing.
“Uh, Julie?” Aston let out a nervous laugh. “You sure you’re okay?” He began to walk toward her and Julie felt herself walking backward. She hit the wall behind her hard.
“Whoa.” Aston came up and placed his large hand on the back of her head. God, he smelled heavenly, and those large pecs were eye level.
“Does it hurt?”
“I like a little pain sometimes. I mean…” Julie closed her eyes, mortified. “I’m fine.”
“Here, let me see.” He turned her around and wove his fingers through her hair, massaging her head. Julie leaned against his weight. She suddenly realized that she’d actually molded her entire body against his.
“Julie,” Aston moaned her name. He lifted the hair off the back of her neck, and she shivered as his breath brushed over her skin. “You smell so good. I bet you taste better.” Lips kissed against the nape of her neck and a cry came out of Julie’s mouth as his tongue ran over her flesh. She pressed her ass deeper into him, feeling his thickness through his jeans.
Aston met her passion head on, wedging Julie against the wall as his hands traced the sides of her body.
“I’ve never wanted someone so bad in my life.” Aston spun her around to face him and lifted her against the wall. Julie straddled his waist and still tried to pull him closer.
“Me either. This can’t be happening. This is crazy. We really shouldn’t be doing this, but I don’t want to stop.” Julie felt her shirt rip beneath his hands, but she didn’t care. She grabbed his cheeks and pulled his mouth to hers. Her back was pressed against the wall hard, but with his hand rubbing her ass, she didn’t care.
Aston’s hand maneuvered her head to the side and his lips made his way to her neck. Small nibbles had Julie squirming in his grasp. “Please. Take me to the bed. I can’t wait.”
“You’re going to have to. I want to taste you first. Your scent is driving me crazy.”
Julie pulled her head back to look at him. “Scent?”
“This.” Aston cupped her pussy and applied pressure, rubbing his hand in a clockwise motion. Julie bucked against him, almost having an orgasm on the spot.
“Whatever. Bed. Now.” The button to Aston’s jeans popped open under Julie’s grasp. He rushed around the corner and gently placed her down. Julie pulled off the rest of her clothes as fast as she could, and Aston didn’t hesitate to strip off his either. As they held eye contact, Julie saw nothing else. It was so intimate she almost looked away, but something held her gaze transfixed to his. It was as though deep reaches beyond his pupil were pulling her inside, to his soul. As silly as that sounded, Julie couldn’t explain their connection, or why she couldn’t even grasp common sense and stop. She kept getting sucked in, and there was no way to pull back.
Aston lowered his head to her pussy, and Julie buried her fingers in his short hair, gripping tight as he slid his tongue deep inside of her entrance. A low growl purred fro
m deep within him and vibrated Julie’s clit. She fought the orgasm, but there was no fighting the need she had for this stranger. She hardly knew him, and yet there was no denying the chemistry they had was electric.
“Fuck…Fuck.” Julie lifted her head as spasms rocked her body. For some reason she had to see him as she came. Those blue eyes were still on her. Not moving. Julie began having tremors rock her body even harder as the following orgasm overlapped the first. God, what was he doing with his tongue inside of her? Whatever it was, it was mind-blowing.
* * * *
The euphoria Aston felt while he tasted Julie consumed him. If he never had to do anything else again in his life, it was fine by him. The way Julie’s essence took over all his senses was amazing. All he could see, taste, smell, was her and there was no turning back now. He was hers, forever. The bond was making sure of that.
Her fingernails raked down his forearms as Julie tried to pull him up. Curls from her hair scattered the comforter behind Julie, and her face was flushed to a beautiful pink tint. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The mental picture of her exactly like this would be burned into his brain forever. With each breath, her breast rose and fell, deeply. The sight was right out of his dreams.
“Please, Aston. I need you.”
He lifted and slid a finger deep inside her. Julie arched her back and moaned. “Aston, please.”
The begging didn’t sit right with him. It left an aching in his chest to deny something she wanted so badly. Aston settled over her, pressing his body against the softness of hers. Nails dug into his back as Julie pushed herself down against the hardness of his cock. They were so in the heat of the moment, Aston pulled back and looked at her, bewildered.
“Julie, I don’t have anything on me.”
The lost look she had on her face quickly vanished. Her eyes got big as she took everything in. “Um, there,” she said, pointing. The nightstand was within reach, and he grabbed a box out of the top drawer. With his attention completely on Julie, Aston could feel himself fumbling with the open wrapper.
“Here.” She smiled and took it from his hand. As she slid the condom down his cock, Aston moaned. Her touch her so delicate, yet he could feel her all the way to his toes.
It was beautiful seeing Julie’s legs spread wide. He rubbed his tip down the smoothness. The wetness helped him slide easily inside, but it still didn’t stop Aston from feeling her stretch around him tightly.
“You feel so good.” Aston clenched his jaw through the whisper. Sensations erupted through his mouth as she sucked on his lower lip. With a swift plunge, he buried himself inside of her.
“Yes,” Julie gasped.
He slowly tried to let her adjust to his impatience, but he could tell she was getting close again. The more he tried to be patient, the more she tried to speed him up. He was amazed. She bit his shoulder as her body tightened around him even more.
“More, Aston. I want more.”
Julie’s scent hit him hard, and he could feel himself go crazy with lust. Aston increased his speed until Julie was writhing beneath him. Fire raced up his back at her screams, and he rotated his hips, grinding into her as she came. But she still wanted more. Whispering to him. Sucking on his lips.
Julie reached around and grabbed his ass. Faster she pulled, until Aston couldn’t hold back any more. He felt himself explode with ecstasy. The room began to spin as lights blinded his vision. He’d never come that hard before. And he could hear her. Still feel her all over him.
Suddenly, his body felt like it weighed twice as much. Tingling quickly took over as Aston lay down and pulled her against him. “I could get used to this. You’re perfect. So perfect.” He kissed her forehead and inhaled the scent of her hair. This was going to be his life now. Maybe not just the two of them, but suddenly Aston didn’t seem to care too much about that anymore. As long as he had Julie, that was suddenly all that mattered.
Chapter 9
Londyn sat in the chair next to his bed watching Taylor toss and turn with fever. His transformation had his body flushed a light red. The groaning tore at Londyn’s heart. Now that the infection had completely taken over, the bond between the two was unbreakable. Londyn had made him, and therefore the love he felt for his former competition was unmistakable. He’d die for this man without a second thought. The anger from earlier was erased as though the harbored rage was never there. All Londyn wanted was to lie next to him and tell Taylor everything was going to be okay.
“How long have I been like this?” Taylor kicked off the covers and placed his arm across his face to cover his eyes. The newly added muscle that covered his body was astounding. Taylor was still lean in the waist, but his chest was wider, and his abs and arms were so cut with muscle it was even shocking for a wolf. If Londyn hadn’t known better, he’d have thought Taylor was made out to be Alpha material.
Londyn forced his eyes up to Taylor’s covered face. “You’ve been out for four days. The fact that we’re even having this conversation tells me the process is over. The fever will remain for maybe another day, but it won’t be anywhere near as high.”
His arm came down so hard the bed shook. Taylor jerked to a sitting position. “Four days. I thought it was only twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Not nearly a week!”
A smile came to Londyn’s face. “My guess is the infection liked your body a little too much. It didn’t want to leave.”
“What?” Taylor looked down, and his lips seperated. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Holy shit. How am I going to explain this to the people I know?”
Londyn shrugged. “You’ve started working out? I don’t know.”
“Julie.” Taylor climbed out of the bed. “Where are my clothes? I need to see her.”
“I threw them out.” Londyn tossed Taylor some of his clothes. “They were pretty ruined, plus I doubt you would fit into them. Hell, you might not even fit into mine. We might have to go raid Aston’s closet.”
Taylor slipped on the pants easily, but the shirt hugged to his chest as though it were painted on.
“It’ll do.” Taylor slipped on his shoes and swayed.
“Whoa.” Londyn caught him before he hit the wall. “You’re still not one hundred percent yet. You need to take things slow. Aston is with her now, so no worries. She’s safe.”
Taylor nodded. “Believe it or not, I kinda like the guy. I’m not sure why though.” They made eye contact and something flashed through Taylor’s that Londyn couldn’t read. “Actually, all the bad feelings are gone. For both of you.”
Londyn laughed, but felt his stomach flip. He loved Taylor. It went far beyond liking. “Well, I’m glad to hear that.”
“No, seriously.” Taylor stared hard into his face. “I can’t explain it. There’s something about you that’s different.”
The keys were on the dresser and Londyn grabbed them.
“We’re connected to the deepest level, Taylor. My blood is mixed with yours. The bond will only grow stronger between us over time.”
“Oh.” Taylor ran his fingers through his hair. He lowered his head as if he were in deep thought. Londyn patted his shoulder.
“Let’s go check on our happy couple. I’m sure by now the bond between them two is…” Sadness overwhelmed him. Londyn thought about the call he received two days ago from Aston. It was time to change shifts with Julie, and as much as Londyn wanted to go, he knew he couldn’t leave Taylor until the guy had pulled through. His wolf wouldn’t let him.
“Is what?” Taylor looked concerned.
“Aston and my wolf are meant to be with Julie. I know you don’t understand what that is yet, but you have to know, it’s not a feeling that will ever go away. When we actually bond, Julie will forever be ours. It’s a love that will never die or grow old. We’ll always be connected, just like you and I are.”
“What about me? Will I get to bond with her too?”
Londyn took a deep breath. “I sure hope so.”
Taylor kept
quiet as they headed to the car. The entire way he only asked to make a pit stop at a McDonald’s to grab a quick bite. Little did Londyn know that meant half the menu. He should have thought of the hunger that follows. He had been a cub at one point too, and his change had only taken two days to kick in. It just felt like forever ago.
“I’m scared to see her.” Taylor finished off his last hamburger and stuffed the trash in the bag. “What is she going to think when she sees me? I’ve gained at least twenty pounds of muscle in my chest and arms alone. She’s going to see right through the whole working out lie.”
“We’ll deal with that when we get there. It doesn’t matter though. She’ll know the truth soon enough.”
Taylor took a long drink of his soda. “I feel like shit. You got any Tylenol?”
A laugh burst out of Londyn’s mouth. “Do you know how many of those things you’d have to take for it to even have the smallest effect on you?”
A blank expression stared back at him.
“Too many to even waste your time.” Londyn pulled into the parking lot and spotted Aston’s car. “Well here we are. First thing to remember, control your temper. We don’t need your wolf to make an appearance and scare the hell out of her.”
“My wolf? Oh.” Taylor nodded and opened the door. He was walking so fast to Julie’s door that Londyn had to jog just to keep up.
“Chill out. You’re walking like you’re ready to beat someone’s ass. Slow down.”
“I can’t help it. I have all of this energy.”
Londyn grabbed his arm and made him stop. “I thought you said you felt like shit?”
“I do, but I’m jittery. My adrenaline is racing. I have been sleeping for four damn days. I feel like I could run a marathon with you on my back, and not even break a sweat.”
Someone came out of the apartment above Julie’s and gave them a weird look. Londyn let go of Taylor’s arm. “Listen to me. Try to stay calm, and the moment we leave I’ll take you for a run, down Shoreline.”
Three for Julie (Blissful Bets #4) Page 7