Layers Off (Layers Trilogy)

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Layers Off (Layers Trilogy) Page 13

by Silks, Lacey


  “Thank you for taking me out. I love this.” I looked out into the distance. “But you’re tired and we should get home.”

  “Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could find the strength to argue with you.”

  Julian packed up the remaining food into a compartment on his bike, and we were on our way. Once we had parked in the garage and the engine’s rumble underneath me stopped, I pulled away. Robbed of Julian’s warmth, new emptiness filled me. Part of me wanted the gentle vibrations between my legs to return, but another part needed more. The insistent throb in my panties practically begged him for more. Just the thought of having Julian touch me again made me slick. I hopped off the bike, only to lift my leg over the front, straddling the seat so that I faced Julian. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my mouth to his. His mouth opened invitingly, accepting my lips and tongue as if he’d been waiting for them for centuries. I removed his helmet and weaved my fingers into Julian’s soft hair.

  When I pulled away, his eyes had already darkened with lust.

  “Thank you for everything tonight,” I said. “Sometimes I wonder ho...”

  He shut me up by covering my mouth with his, and I forgot what I was about to say. Julian unzipped my jacket, slipped it off my shoulders, and tossed it aside.

  He curled his hand underneath my neck, forcing me backward. I lay down over the fuselage, my head resting on the odometer between the handles. The spot was oddly more comfortable than I would have expected it to be.

  Julian’s finger grazed the hollow of my neck before sliding down the center to the zipper on my shirt. He drank in the sight of my rising breasts before unfastening. Need flowed on his every breath as the shirt fell open, exposing my lacy black bra.

  “There’s no way I can make it to the bedroom without having you, K.”

  The promise rolled through my body like a bowling ball headed down between my legs where that one pin was waiting to be knocked off. Julian lowered himself on top of me. My legs lifted higher as my ass pressed right against his crotch. His weight over my body and down against my pelvis felt comfortable and arousing at the same time. Grateful for the bike’s size, I leaned my head to the side. He nuzzled at my earlobe before trailing his searing lips down my neck, under my chin, and onto my nearly exposed cleavage. His fingers dug into my splayed thighs, and he began kneading my muscles, traveling upward to my hips and my ribcage.

  Julian gripped my bra with his teeth, pulling it down, and lowered his mouth over my nipple. His tongue swirled around it, suckling gently at first, teasing me, letting the sensation flow through my body and settle at the most sensitive areas. I already knew where this would lead, and Julian knew how to play with my breasts to get the desired outcome. And when he finally clasped his teeth around the stone-hard nipple, gently rolling his tongue over the tip before pulling up and letting go, I pushed my hips higher toward him, needing the building ache to release. The helmet hanging on the bike’s handle fell to the floor, but Julian didn’t seem to worry.

  “Easy baby,” he said before lowering himself off the bike. “Stay there.” Julian’s commanding tone made me wonder what he was up to. His breaths were heavy and deep, lips swollen from kissing my breasts.

  He flicked his fingers over my jeans and I felt them loosen. Grasping the waistband at my hips, he yanked them off me, right on that bike, leaving me in my panties, loose bra, and an open shirt. For a moment I wondered how he got my boots off too, as I was sure my feet were now bare. A gust of wind swept through the garage, sprinkling shivers over my arms and legs. I hadn’t even noticed the garage wasn’t closed yet. Julian pressed a remote control in his pocket and the double doors rolled down, sealing off the cold winter air. Moonlight filtered through the glass windows at the top, lighting the garage in gray and white tones. With another click on his phone, heated air flowed from the ducts overhead, ruffling Julian’s hair. Even in his exhausted state, he looked like he stepped out of my wildest dreams. With his attention back on me, Julian lifted my hips and gently pulled my entire body forward so that my back rested flat on the motorcycle.

  He lowered himself behind the bike, right where my ass was nestled at the edge, disappearing from my view. His hand guided my dangling foot to his lips and he skimmed my toes, slowly trailing his hot kisses up my calf and inner thigh. When he finally lifted my legs over his shoulders and I felt his breath near my panties, a shudder of delight swept across my body. I couldn’t get enough of his touch. Hooking his finger into my underwear, he tugged them off my hips.

  “You’re so fucking wet, K,” he breathed into me.

  His words were like something you’d hear in a porn movie – and filled with confident desire. And they were enough to wet me even more between my legs. The pull of his finger from my soaked opening to between my folds, up and then down, had my thighs tensing and hips writhing on that bike. I could feel his warm breath so close. I reached above my head, stretching out as if by some miracle I could control what he did to me – which I couldn’t. Julian held the reins. He expertly dominated the feelings that were exploding inside me, limiting my movement with a slight pressure from his palms against my ass cheeks, or flat down on my belly. He played around my hole, circling his finger on its rim, and then gently inserted one inside me.

  I squeezed around him, feeling that one finger wouldn’t be enough. I needed him inside me. And then the second finger joined in. He did something magical there, rubbing against my front inner wall. That exquisite contact exploded from there, directing a zap toward my clit. At the same moment his mouth closed around my swollen folds, licking just below where I needed him.

  My shattered voice was not my own as I heard my moans echo through the garage.

  “Higher, please.”

  “I know, K. Patience.”

  But how could I be patient? His tongue swirled so deliciously close, licking me up and down and back up, yet not high enough. The frenzy inside me had my hips pushing up into his mouth until he clasped my clit and flicked it feverishly, stopping every few seconds with a gentle lick. The sound of his mouth on me cut the last strings that were withholding my release, and he sucked the orgasm from within. I let go and erupted into his mouth. My legs shook and hands gripped my own breasts because there was nothing else to hold onto.

  The jitters continued for a while before dissipating.

  Julian slowly trailed his kisses up along my belly, through the valley between my breasts, to my neck until he reached my mouth. I tasted the remnants of my own juices, hot and sweet, his tongue swirling through my mouth as if it were still down between my legs. This only awakened another tingle down there and I felt my thighs tense. I was already preparing for another round. I couldn’t get enough of him, his thick cock, and fondling hand rubbing my pussy in gentle circles.

  He stood at the bike’s side. I drew my hand to his jeans where that curved bulge strained from underneath. Lifting my leg over the bike to one side, I used his arms to sit up, and unzipped his jeans. Pulling them off his hips with such an erection wasn’t easy. I made a mental note of getting him naked first the next time. When they slid lower, I was surprised to see Julian wasn’t wearing any underwear. This was very unlike him.

  “Not enough time to get dressed this morning?” I teased.

  “Thinking ahead and limiting the number of clothing articles you’d need to get off me.”

  That’s when I noticed he wasn’t wearing any socks either. They were already on top of his boots at the side.

  “Are you saying I should go commando more often?”

  His brow lifted as Julian smirked. “A very interesting thought, K.”

  Once his jeans fell to his ankles, he stepped out of them. Julian removed my shirt from my shoulders, whispering, “Want to do the honors?” as he handed me a foil packet.

  What I really wanted to do was take his length in my mouth to taste that glistening drop of pre cum on his tip and play with his balls in my hands. I sat back on the bike and grasped his shaft in my ha
nd, stroking it slowly from the base up, looking right up into his eyes to see the pleasure it gave him.

  Julian’s abs sank as he sucked in a breath.

  I ripped the corner of the foil with my teeth and heard Julian catch his breath. Placing the rubber circle on his crown, I rolled it down.

  “Stand up, K. And turn around.”

  I followed his lead and leaned over the side of the bike, wiggling my ass for him.

  “So beautiful,” he said, his hand already between my legs getting me ready, spreading the dampness around.

  Yeah, it didn’t take me long to get ready.

  The tip of Julian’s cock poked around my opening, lubricating its crown and length along my entrance. He slid inside me, slowly, then almost fully drew out before going in to fill me again.

  “You are so tight, baby.”

  It had been so long since anyone spoke to me the way Julian did, which aroused me even more.

  Julian picked up his momentum. I braced against the bike, holding on as he rocked me back and forth. The sound of his front colliding with my flesh echoed through the garage. The smell of our sweat mixed with a bit of the bike’s gasoline and the leather seat filled me. I felt him harden inside me as he held onto my hips, pulling my weight back onto his shaft.

  He slid his hand down my belly to my pussy, reviving my want with circular rubs, and my orgasm consumed me within a few swirls. Julian let out a loud groan before jamming in for one last time. My release, with him still inside me, drained my last strength and I collapsed onto the bike.

  Without saying a word, Julian lifted me into his arms and carried me to our bedroom, where I fell asleep in the comfort of his body. That night, cradled in Julian’s arms, was one of the most peaceful ones I remembered.

  CHAPTER 14

  Julian’s flight was early in the morning. I remembered him kissing me before he left. His aftershave still lingered on my cheek when I woke up. A fresh bouquet of roses was set in a vase on my night table, along with another small box. On his pillow was a card. I sat up and took a whiff of the paper before reading, the sweet scent of Julian filling me as if he himself were breathing into my lungs.

  Good morning,

  By the time you read this I’ll be in a meeting. Please text me when you wake up.

  How am I supposed to text you? I don’t have a phone, I thought, and then reached for the box and opened it. Of course, inside was a brand new phone. I turned it on. The wallpaper was set to the cutest puppy’s face I’d ever seen. It had a tiny black nose and matching eyes in the midst of its white fur. If I was ever going to get a dog, he’d look just like this one. I set the phone aside and kept reading.

  I hope you enjoy yourself (not too much). I’ll be thinking about you every minute and I promise to get back as fast as I can with the answers you seek. Emma will be by this afternoon. Please don’t think I sent her to check up on you. Like I always say, I trust you, but she’s running a small errand for me and needs to drop something off at the house.

  I’ve got you.

  Julian

  I reached for my new phone. Julian’s number had already been pre-programmed. I clicked on the screen as fast as I could.

  K: Good morning. Thank u for the phone. Miss u.

  Within seconds my phone buzzed.

  J.Cross: Good morning. Miss u 2. In a meeting.

  K: Good luck.

  J. Cross: Stay safe and in touch. I’ve got you.<3

  I leaned back against the headboard, wondering what to do first. The empty house felt hollow without Julian. If I stayed here by myself for too long, I’d go insane.

  After a hearty breakfast, I made plans with Allie to meet her for lunch at her office. My visit with her was long overdue, and who better to speak with about my new freedom than the woman who had saved my life?

  My car parked in the garage was practically begging me to take out for a drive. I turned on the ignition. Born to be Wild played on the radio as part of their flashback, and I switched the station. This time, my head bopped to the sound of a reggae remake of I Got You, Babe.

  I took that as a sign and switched the gear into drive. The steering wheel responded to my touch like a trained animal. The further I drove, the better I felt. Feeling the need to walk on an actual street, I parked a block away from Allie’s office. The morning rush had passed, and I still had extra time to spare before our lunch. I stopped into a deli and ordered the salad and sandwiches I’d promised to bring.

  Next door was a convenience store. I stood in front of it, wondering what I needed to buy because my legs walked over the threshold of their own accord. And just like that, I found myself at the back of the store, looking through the glass of a refrigerator at a stack of beer bottles.

  A thick lump formed in my throat. The memory of me walking into a similar store was clear. I’d picked up a bottle of wine or beer before exchanging a swat of cash for an envelope with the clerk. Chills passed over my arms as I took a step back and out of the store. The memory was vile and left a bitter taste in my mouth. The cool wind ruffled my hair, and I picked up my pace toward Cross Enterprises. Pride swelled in my chest with each step I took away from the store.

  I took the elevator up to the thirty-third floor. Tristan was attending a business meeting in upper Manhattan, so I had no chance of running into him. Today was a perfect opportunity to visit Allie to see whether she could help me find answers about my past. Julian had said we’d discuss my father’s business in Washington when we returned, but what if he didn’t get the answers he sought? Digging around on my own, with Allie’s help, couldn’t hurt.

  She had reserved a private conference room for us, and now we were waiting for the receptionist who brought us herbal tea, to leave. Allie’s eyes were finally brighter, and she looked like a ton of stress had fallen off her shoulders. With Wright finally dead, I imagined she could relax and concentrate on her growing belly. With the baby on the way, I was glad her troubles were over. And from the look on her face when she saw the extra box of donuts I’d brought, I was sure I had made it right with the mamma-to-be.

  I’d often wondered whether Allie knew how much we had in common. Her past had haunted her since she was kid; mine had blown up in flames – literally – destroying my future. I admired her passion to help victims of abuse and sex trafficking. If it weren’t for her, I’d be rotting on the floor of some cell. Her work here reminded me of the feeling I’d had in high school, when I coordinated those Facebook clubs and the bullying stopped.

  Once the door closed, I pushed the sandwiches toward her, let out a long breath, and leaned forward looking over the folder Allie held open in front of her. A fat CASE CLOSED stamp was splayed over the page.

  “Is that Wright?” I pointed to the photo of a man.

  Allie slouched in her chair before she answered, “Yes, that’s him.” She then folded the folder in half asking, “So, what’s this meeting about?”

  “Before I say anything, I need your assurance the conversation we’re about to have will be confidential.”

  She grabbed the avocado and tuna wrap off her plate and frowned, leaning back against her chair. “Meaning you don’t want me to mention this to Tristan?” She took a bite.

  “Yes. It’s important I get the information I seek before I speak with him or Julian about it.”

  “This is delicious,” she said while chewing. “Are you in trouble?”

  “No, it’s not like that.” I stuck a fork into my chicken salad.

  “All right. If I don’t say anything to them, will they be in harm’s way?” Allie wiped her mouth with a napkin.

  “Absolutely not,” I assured her. “At least I don’t think so. I’m just trying to piece my past together.”

  “All right, what can I help you with?”

  “Have Tristan or Julian ever told you the circumstances under which we met?”

  “No.” She leaned forward, and I knew I had her intrigued. I didn’t mean to hook her in this way, but if Allie was going to help
me learn about my past, she had to know everything. As I retold the details of that day on the train and how Julian and Tristan saved me from an intricate hijacking, I discovered that I hadn’t thought about the incident in a long time. I found I didn’t quite remember as many details as I wanted to, which I blamed on my hormonal teenage brain at the time that chose to concentrate on the hot brothers I’d spotted on the train.

  I quickly went through what had happened, how I met the Cross brothers and how Maggie and John kept me out of the spotlight and changed my life. By the time I was done, Allie finished her tuna wrap and held her belly.

  At first she laughed, saying, “Since the day I met him, I wondered how Tristan got that scar on his lip.”

  “Yeah, I have a way of damaging that man both physically and emotionally.” I clasped my hands together and cracked my knuckles underneath the table.

  “Are you two okay now?” The hesitation dimmed her eyes.

  “Yes. I hope so. Do you know what’s in Washington? I mean, Tristan has gone so many times, and now Julian.”

  “He’s mentioned money-laundering legislation. They’ve been having a tough time with one of the Congressmen.”

  “Yeah, it’s not an easy job. My father seemed stressed that day on the train. It’s the only thing I can remember about him from before the explosion.”

  “He was going to run for the Presidency; he should have been stressed. But what doesn’t make sense to me is the vacation itself. Spontaneity is not something a man of your father’s statue can afford. How did you guys all of a sudden have time to take a vacation? It just doesn’t fit into the kind of lifestyle your family led.”

  Allie was right. Our trips had always been pre-planned with itineraries the size of a bible. And what confused me even more, was why I didn’t remember the events of the days which led to the trip. Was I even at school?

  “So, do I call you Katherine now?” she interrupted my thoughts.

  “No, please don’t.” An odd feeling of dread passed over me.

 

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