by Layla Silver
I almost groaned when my inner mouse rejoiced at the news that the cat would be away. April and I would be alone after our dinner tonight, and I couldn't stop the avalanche of thoughts that went through my head of what I could do with her in that time. Natalie had lied to me, there was nothing good about me.
"It's alright. If you need anything just let me know."
Kenneth nodded and replied, "And you keep an eye on this one for me."
Oh, I would be keeping an eye on her alright.
I watched father and daughter say goodbye just as a taxi pulled up. We both waved as Kenneth got in and was driven away.
"I should probably give you time to get ready then," I said, putting my hands in my pockets so I wouldn't be tempted to touch her.
"Yes, and I have chores that you so rudely interrupted as well."
"Hey, at least you're getting a free dinner out of it," I said with a wink.
She took my arm and walked me to my bike. I playfully protested, but she wasn't hearing any of it.
"I'll pick you up at seven, is that alright?" I asked.
"Should I prepare for a ride on that deathtrap of yours?" she said, eyeing my bike.
"Only if you want to. But I could drive if I got the proper motivation."
"What proper motiva—"
I held her chin and kissed her quickly before she could finish her sentence. She melted in my arms, but I didn't deepen the kiss. I kept it gentle and sweet, licking my lips when I finally drew away.
"Consider me properly motivated. I'll pick you up at seven sharp in my car, dress however you want to." I smiled.
I left her speechless like that and rode away with a grin on my face.
Chapter 14 – April
It was official, I was insane.
Not only insane but an insane and hormonal pregnant young woman who had no business going out on dates with dangerously attractive older men. This was a terrible idea, and I never should have said yes to a date with Julian. It was bad enough that he was on my mind all the time lately. Now I was adding fuel to the fire by spending more time with him. In a romantic setting no less.
Yes, I really was insane.
I put on yet another dress as I tried on almost everything in my closet. This one was a figure hugging red dress that Charlotte had given me for my birthday two years ago. It fit like a glove, showing every curve I had, including the one on my abdomen. My bump wasn't too obvious in regular clothes yet, but my tight red dress would show off everything.
"You now want to announce your presence, don't you?" I sighed, turning, and checking how it looked from every angle. "I suppose I am 360 degrees pregnant now, there's no hiding it from any angle."
I took off the dress and threw it on the bed, then took a black dress from its hanger. This one was a bit loose and hid my baby bump fairly well. I turned as I checked myself in the full length mirror, seeing that I now looked good from all angles.
"Pretty and functional, check. Now for the shoes."
I picked some gold sandals I hadn't worn in a while, but they were perfect for the dress I had picked. It really was hard trying to pick out something to wear when I knew my date would look smashing no matter what he wore. He just had that charm about him, it had little to do with his clothes.
He could also wear nothing and still look good.
I smiled at my own little internal joke and set a gold clutch on the bed to go with my outfit. I now just had to figure out what to do with my hair, and then I would be good to go. My phone beeped with the alarm that I had set for six thirty, and I silently cursed. How had time flown by so fast? I ended up pulling my hair back for a tight ponytail, then put on a bit of red lip gloss to finish off my look.
"This is as good as it's going to get, I guess," I said and smiled into the mirror, checking again if my slight bump was well-covered.
At exactly five minutes before seven, Julian was knocking at the front door. I took a deep breath then walked to the door to open for him.
"You look breathtaking, April," he said, looking like he meant every word.
He took his time looking at me from head to toe, then back up again. Then he remembered that he was holding some flowers.
"Oh, these are for you. I wasn't sure if you like flowers, but I wanted to do something nice for you, and these seemed like a good idea at the time. You do like flowers, don't you? Because if you don't, I can get you chocolates, or whatever it is you like. I should probably just ask you first, I guess."
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me while I took the flowers; he looked so nervous and adorable.
"You're rambling," I told him, and he snorted.
"I don't ramble."
"Yes, you do. And it's cute. Let me just throw these in the bin, and we can be on our way."
His mouth hung open in surprise, and I laughed again as I took care of the flowers. I put some water in a vase and placed the flowers inside.
"I'm just messing with you, I like flowers. Thank you."
He laughed but didn't say anything until I had locked up and we were outside.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" He paused in his steps and just looked at me until I felt my skin heat under his gaze.
"I believe the word was breathtaking?" I winked, trying to break the sexual tension that was building up.
"It is," Julian said in a whisper, looking at me as if he was amazed.
He opened the door for me, and I got in, wondering what that moment had been about. The drive to the restaurant was good, with Julian asking me funny questions about my childhood. He was the perfect gentleman, opening doors for me and drawing out the chair for me once we were inside. The restaurant was beautiful and cozy, and Julian had reserved a table for us in a quiet corner.
"This place is beautiful," I remarked, looking around and taking in everything.
"I thought you might like it. But just wait till you try the food; you're not allergic to anything, are you?"
I shook my head. "Not that I know of. If I was, I'm sure I'd have found it by now with the way I experiment with food."
Julian groaned. "I'm trying to be a gentleman here, and yet you're putting dirty thoughts into my head."
"How did you get dirty from anything I just said?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.
Then it clicked that I had just said I liked experimenting with food. Oh.
"Really, Julian?" I narrowed my eyes at him playfully.
Julian gave me a faux innocent grin and shrugged. I couldn't really be mad at him when that dimple made an appearance. He should come with a warning, I thought. 'Warning: deadly smile might cause heart palpitations and side effects, including being turned on. Not recommended for pregnant women.'
A waiter brought out our menus and gave us a few minutes to decide. Everything looked good, and I couldn't decide quickly enough, so I decided to find out more about Julian through what he liked to eat. I already knew he liked his steak medium rare, and he also had a bit of a sweet tooth.
"Why don't you order your favorite for me?" I suggested, folding my menu and placing it on the table.
"Are you sure you're up for it? I like my food a little hot," he replied and winked.
"I like a challenge," I replied confidently, earning a dimpled grin from my date.
He ordered for us, and when the waiter had left again, we started talking about different things that interested us. I enjoyed his choice of food, and he let me try out some things from his plate as well. We talked about the kinds of food that we would never try. On my list was raw fish (especially given the condition that I was in) and Julian agreed. I found that we had quite a few things in common, but where we were different, it really went to the extremes. It wasn't bad at all though, it just made me appreciate Julian a bit more as a person.
He hated sea food, and when he was alone at home, he would sometimes cook breakfast for dinner. I learned that he hated broccoli, but could eat raw celery any day. And that when he'd been younger he'd eaten half a chocolat
e cake at his friend's birthday party. He had been sick for three days after that and to this day he hadn't touched chocolate cake even once. So for fun, I ordered chocolate cake for dessert and fed him his first bite of it in years.
I laughed at his expression of discomfort as he chewed and swallowed, looking as if he would start throwing up any second now. But he'd been a good sport and managed to eat three more bites until I'd had mercy on him.
I also learned that he'd had a perfect first shift, lucky man, and he was always looking for ways to make our lives as shifters more free and safe. It was one of his passions, and I could tell just by the look on his face when he talked about various projects he had worked on.
I asked about all the countries he had visited, and he asked about the ones I wanted to visit. He never made me feel as if I was anything less than his equal, and I loved that. I also found out that while he joked around about most things, he was very passionate about his business and his pack. His humor didn't mean that he was irresponsible or took anything for granted, which made sense considering how successful he was.
"So, have you had enough of me yet?" Julian asked after we were done with our third dessert option, and he had settled the bill.
"I'm too full to think right now, but take me home, and I'll let you know in a few minutes."
He laughed and waited as I got out of my chair before placing his hand just below my back and walking me out. The drive home was in comfortable silence, except for a few glances here and there that made both of us chuckle. We got to my house, and I invited him in for a cup of tea, but the truth was I didn't want him to go just yet. I was enjoying his company a lot.
"So, did I pass with flying colors?" he asked as he sat down in the kitchen while I switched on the kettle.
"I had a great time, Julian, thank you."
"Please leave a great review on my website," he said with a wink.
I laughed and tried to hit him with the dish towel I was holding. He caught it and used it to pull me closer to him. I was breathing heavily by the time I was only a small distance away from him, now closing the distance on my own. Would one kiss hurt? I thought to myself. So I leaned in and kissed him gently. But I should have known that Julian would go full-predator on me and kiss me like his life depended on it.
Our kiss quickly took a life of its own, and we attacked each other's mouths with a hunger I never knew was possible. I was somewhere between human and Wolf, and Julian's scent was wreaking havoc on all of my senses. His tongue explored my mouth and made my knees wobbly. I couldn't even feel my own feet anymore, and I held onto him for support.
Julian had to pull me into his lap in the end, and I moaned loudly when I felt his arousal press against me. Before I knew what he intended, he had helped me out of my dress. I briefly worried about him seeing my bump, but at the same time, I felt this urgency to get even closer to him, and my hands found their way underneath his shirt. His skin was smooth and hot to the touch, and the more I touched, the more I wanted. When he raised his hands to help me take off his shirt, I gladly obliged. I wanted him totally naked, however, and I quickly got rid of the rest of his clothes as well.
If anyone had asked me how I would feel if I ever got the chance to make love to Julian Rollett, I would probably have told them that I would feel like a nervous wreck. But that wasn't the case at all at this moment; I felt totally at ease, and Julian made me feel so comfortable even when the most gorgeous man was naked in front of me. My heart beat fast, and my breathing was out of control, but that was only my excitement.
Julian looked at me for a moment, and I noticed how dark his eyes had become, almost like they were when he shifted. I wondered if it was possible for someone to shift halfway, to remain human while retaining everything else that came with being a Wolf. If so, then that must be quite an experience. And it was something I wanted to find out with Julian. Because I felt my own Wolf trying to come to the surface at the moment, and it was a relief to know that I wasn't the only one barely holding on.
I had been right after all; the man looked glorious naked. Julian's form was lean, his stomach firm and flat with a thin trail of dark hair starting at the base of his navel. His thighs were strong and just begging to be squeezed, and his legs were covered in dark hair. Julian was the true definition of male beauty, and I don't know how I managed to see all of that when my gaze almost immediately went to his manhood. Long, thick, hard, and ready for me. I looked back into his eyes again and saw that they were full of hunger. He was like one tall dish of deliciousness being served just for me, and I didn't know where to start.
"As much as I enjoy how you're looking at me, sweetheart, you're still wearing too many clothes," he growled as he stepped closer.
He helped me discard the undergarments I had left on and proceeded to kiss my neck down to my collarbone. Every inch of me that he touched was left burning, and I wanted more of him. The space between us wasn't much, but it seemed to be a lot in my mind, and I wanted to be as close to him as possible.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips feather light against my skin.
I couldn't breathe, and I worried I would pass out any moment now before I even got to enjoy him. I wanted to tell him as much but couldn't form the right words.
"Can I take you to bed?" he asked, and I somehow managed to nod.
Things had started out hot and heavy, but we'd somehow found our own rhythm now. He carried me to my bedroom, and I couldn't help but bury my nose into his neck and sniff him. He smelled like fresh air and fruit-scented shampoo, mixed with his own natural scent that made my mouth water. By the time he put me on the bed, I was so turned on that I had to grab his hair and hold him in place for a kiss. I attacked his mouth without mercy, and he reciprocated.
That sinful mouth left mine to torture other parts of me below, settling on my abdomen and dipping into my navel. His hands never stopped moving, kneading and squeezing and doing a great job of their own. It was hard to know what to focus on when he was playing my body like an instrument. His hand slipped between us to find my damp center, and my back arched off the bed when he touched me just right.
I couldn't help but scream his name. "Julian!"
Julian's mouth followed his fingers, and he started to worship my center as I trembled and screamed out his name over and over. Then finally, just when I was about to reach my peak, his fingers stopped massaging my warm cavern, and he looked up at me with a grin on his face. I didn't take my eyes off him as he kissed his way up to my mouth once more, letting me taste myself on his tongue.
"Julian, please," I moaned into his mouth, not quite sure what I was begging for.
It was too much and yet not enough, all at the same time. Luckily, he seemed to know just what I needed as he got ready to give me everything. I bit my lip when he sucked my earlobe between his hot lips before positioning himself at my entrance. I nodded when he paused and looked at me for reassurance before I gasped. Julian had just pushed all the way in, burying all those delicious inches inside me.
There were no words to describe it, it was simply perfection. I'd thought people exaggerated before when they'd said making love could make you die a little, but I was close to my own death. If death was this pleasurable, then it could certainly claim me any time and if it had a face like Julian's, even better. I dug my nails into his skin as I tried to pull him even closer, needing him as much as I needed air. He felt so good, and every time he moved I felt like screaming.
We began a dance as old as time, our bodies moving as one as we raced to the finish line side by side. His fingers found mine, and we held on to each other, never letting go until I felt my toes begin to tingle. My climax hit me like nothing I had ever felt before, and I let out a silent scream as all my senses heightened and I fell into a vortex of pleasure. My mind was spinning, and I grabbed Julian's waist to hold him right where he was. Every part of me was on fire, and it was emanating from where we were joined so intimately. Julian was right there with me, and I hea
rd my sheets rip as he reached his climax as well.
We lay like that for a while until our bodies began to cool down, and Julian buried his face in my neck. He seemed to enjoy smelling me as much as I did him, which made me smile. When he finally moved away, my body mourned the loss of his, and I voiced my protest. Julian just chuckled as he cleaned us up, then came back to hold me in his arms as I sighed happily into this firm bicep. I could really get used to this.
"I tore your sheets," he whispered, kissing my bare shoulder.
"I'm flattered," I said with a grin, feeling sleep starting to claim me.
I listed to Julian's heartbeat as I fell asleep, feeling so safe that I never wanted to leave. It was like being enveloped in the softest of cotton, or at least that's how I imaged it would feel like. It was the most comfortable thing I could think of at the moment. Was it possible to just lie here for the rest of my life, I wondered. And if so, could I start right now? Could I go forever without food or any other of life's annoying necessities? Because all I needed was right here, in this bed.
"What are you doing to me, April?" he whispered after a little while, briefly waking me up out of my slumber.
The exact same thing he was doing to me, I thought. But he was so warm and comfortable, and I was too far gone to respond.
Chapter 15 – Julian
I hadn't slept this well in ages, and I never wanted to move. The night had been so perfect that I doubted I would ever sleep so peacefully again in my entire life. It wasn't even because the bed was comfortable because, to be frank, April's bed was small and could use an upgrade. It was all because of the lovely woman next to me of course, and I smiled at how much space she took up in the bed. How someone that small could cover almost the entire bed was beyond me, but it was adorable how she managed it somehow. I brushed her hair away from her face with my fingers, loving how the strands felt silky soft against my palm. I could lie here forever just staring at her, I thought, just as I remembered that this was Kenneth's daughter I was staring at.