He’s staring at me with fire in his eyes, and I know I’ve crossed a line. I’ve embarrassed him in front of Luke. I glance at Luke, and his expression matches Julian’s.
“Are you okay to go, Lex?” Luke uses the opportunity to come to my rescue even though I can tell he isn’t happy with me.
“She’s good, Luke. C’mon, Alexa, let’s go.”
I hear Luke become my white knight. “You don’t need to speak for her, Julian.”
Uh-oh. They’re staring at each other, and it’s anyone’s guess which man will back down first this time. This is getting way too intense. Luke needs to remember Julian is his boss. I would hate for anything to happen to his job because of me, especially when he really is just looking out for me.
I lean across the bar and give him a quick peck on the lips. I know that is going to piss Julian off even more, but I really don’t care.
“I’m good, Luke. I’ll call you later.”
Luke shakes his head at me and reluctantly walks away. I get off my stool and turn to walk toward the stairs. Julian follows behind me, and when we’re out of earshot of the bar, he grabs my hand and turns me around.
“What did he mean by he told you? What were you two talking about when I walked up?”
I yank my hand away. “Nothing, Julian.”
“I’m not playing, Alexa, tell me what he meant? What did he tell you?”
I can’t help myself. I’m pissed, hurt, and now a little buzzed. “He told me to stay the fuck away from you.”
Julian’s eyes blaze, and the laugh that comes out of his mouth isn’t one of amusement. “And what was his reason for that, Alexa?”
“Does it matter?”
“Oh yeah. I’d love to hear why Luke thinks you should stay away from me.” Julian’s posture is rigid, and I can tell he’s trying to stay calm.
“Um, maybe because he doesn’t want me to be part of your ‘girl of the night’ club.” Sarcastic Alexa is fully out and not holding back now.
“Would that be my girl of the night club or his? Because I’m sure he’d be okay with you being part of his.”
I shake my head. “What are you talking about, Julian?”
“Gimme a break, Alexa. Luke goes home with a different girl almost every night. And he’s worried about me?” Now I’m frustrated. This isn’t about Luke. This is about how Julian treated me earlier.
“No, Julian, he’s worried about me, and after how you just treated me, he appears to have good reason.”
Julian’s expression softens as he formulates his response. I’m anxious to hear how he’s going to defend himself.
“I’m sorry I treated you the way I did, but it was the better of two evils. Victoria and Elyse are not nice women. Victoria, the one with the black hair, and I have been together a few times. She wanted more, I didn’t. Had I put you in her line of fire, she would have gone after you. I’ve seen her do it. She doesn’t understand why I don’t want her, and she would question why I want you.”
“Why? Because I’m not a model?”
He doesn’t miss a beat. “Yes.”
“And I’m sure it would’ve been really hard for you to explain it, right? I mean why you were with me.” My heart is breaking as I realize this is how it’s probably always going to be. People will always question what he sees in me.
“Were? No, Alexa. Are. I am with you, and I don’t have a problem telling anyone why. But those two are mean and nasty. I didn’t want them to even talk to you.”
“Well thanks for protecting me. It sure seems like you surround yourself with some quality women. Present company excluded.”
“I’m sorry, Alexa. I really am.” He tries to pull me to him, but I put my hand up to stop him. I’m not feeling okay with this yet.
Julian shakes his head. “Please don’t do this,” he says in a pleading tone.
“Do what, Julian?” My hands are on my hips, and my posture is defensive. I’m very stubborn when I’m hurt.
His answer isn’t more than a whisper. “Pull away.”
“Pull? Let’s be clear here. You pushed, Julian. You pushed.” The last part also comes out in a whisper, and I realize I don’t want to fight with him about this. It’s exhausting.
“Maybe. And you ran right to Luke, didn’t you?”
“Julian, I’m not going to keep having this conversation about Luke. He’s my friend, a good friend who’s only looking out for my best interests.”
Julian takes a deep breath and exhales. He’s over this too. “Okay, Alexa. I don’t want to keep fighting with you about Luke, or anything really. I can’t tell you how sorry I am we even came here tonight, but I really need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Please just think about whose interests Luke is really looking out for.”
Before I have a chance to reply, Julian pulls me in close to him. This time I let him. He kisses me on the forehead and holds me in his arms for a few minutes. He takes my hand, and I know he isn’t going to let it go no matter what. As we walk through the hotel toward the parking garage, several other people try to approach him. He puts his hand up to each one and tells them to go find Ruben. He doesn’t even stop.
Julian finally lets go of my hand when we get to his car. He opens the door, and I get in. I glance over at him as we exit the garage, and see he’s pensive and tense. He’s very quiet, and when I catch his eyes, he gives me a thin smile. My insecurities kick in, and I wonder if he’s as worn out by this drama as I am. He has to be. We have been arguing or fooling around for the last twenty-four hours. This relationship, or whatever we’re doing, is wearing me out big time. I feel like everything is different now, and in true Alexa fashion, I really just want to go home. I can’t help but think about all the women Julian has brought to his place. I’m sure the girl from the bar has been in Julian’s bed, and I can’t get that image out of my head. I begin to feel anxious, and nothing good ever happens when I start feeling like this.
Before I can stop myself, I open my mouth. “Julian, you’re not going to like what I have to say, but I think it would be a better idea if I went home tonight. I’d rather not get to your house and go through that drama again.”
I watch Julian grip the steering wheel with both hands. Even though we’re only a few blocks from his house, he pulls over. He takes a deep breath in and then exhales. He turns and looks at me, and I can see he wants off the roller coaster too.
“Alexa, it’s one o’clock in the morning, and I’m exhausted from this day, which feels like it’s lasted forever. We’ve been all over the map emotionally and physically, and all I want to do is get into my bed, wrap my body around you, and go to sleep. We seriously can do that. Just go to sleep. But if you really don’t want to be with me, I’ll take you home. But I won’t stay.”
Julian is calling my bluff. He’s telling me he wants to wrap his beautiful body around mine, and I’m questioning his feelings? What is wrong with me? We started out this night with such great plans for the weekend. Damn it. Why am I letting everyone ruin this for me? I’m here with him, and he wants me. And despite every crazy emotion I’ve experienced today, I want him too. I need him.
I take a deep breath. “Never mind, Julian. Take me home with you. I’ll stay.”
He nods as he reaches over and squeezes my hand, and we make the rest of trip from the hotel to his condo in silence. Even the elevator ride is quiet. The last time we were in the elevator, Julian had his hands and mouth all over me. I can’t help but be a little turned on by the memory. However, I don’t see a repeat of that night happening now. Aside from holding my hand and a hug or two, Julian hasn’t really touched me since we left my house earlier. I think maybe that’s some of the problem. I’m craving the contact. It helps ground me and lets me know without any doubt he wants me.
We enter his unit, and once again I’m amazed by
how beautiful it looks with the moon and stars shining through the windows and across the floor.
“This view is so beautiful. I can only imagine what the sunrises and sunsets look like.”
I know the way to his bedroom, but I haven’t really seen the rest of the condo. I walk through the foyer and into the living space. The white slate floor continues throughout the whole area, and the whole back wall of the condo consists of floor-to-ceiling windows. The view is breathtaking. I look around and take in the rest of the place. The kitchen, dining, and living room are open concept and join together for a large living space. There is a huge leather sectional sofa in a chocolate brown and a flat screen TV that covers almost one whole wall in the living room area. The other furniture pieces are a mix of white, grays, and browns. It’s decorated very tastefully with muted, nondescript artwork, but in my opinion, the style is very impersonal. There are no pictures anywhere, and I don’t know if I see Julian anywhere in this style. The hotel seems so much more warm and vibrant, like him. I wonder if someone decorated his condo for him. It’s definitely expensive looking, but I find it cold. I would love to get my hands on this place and add some color and personal touches. My home is nowhere near as nice, and I definitely don’t have these views, but it feels like a home, and we have pictures everywhere.
He’s still not saying anything, and now his silence is making me uncomfortable.
I turn and face Julian, who is standing in the middle of the living room staring at me. “Are you not talking to me anymore?”
He has a resigned look on his face, and the tone of his voice matches. “I’m glad you’re here, Alexa. I just don’t want to say anything that will make you want to leave.”
Wow. He’s scared of me leaving. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. I did leave the last time I was here. I went also went MIA for a few hours today, and I just attempted to bail on him tonight. And each time I run, he has told me how much he wants me to stay. Rationally, I know I’m not being fair here, but emotionally, I’m having a hard time believing all this.
I turn to him and attempt a smile. “Let’s just go to bed, Julian.”
He carries my stuff into his room and sets my bag near a door I assume leads to his closet. I’ve been in the bedroom before, but I didn’t pay much attention to what it looked like. I was too mesmerized by the view and by Julian. As I look around, I’m more convinced than ever some overpriced decorator got ahold of Julian and convinced him that his style needed to fall into the category of cold and impersonal. First of all, his bedroom is spotless. I mean there is nothing out of place. It doesn’t even look like anyone lives here. The massive king-size bed is set on a dark wood platform, and his linens are various shades of browns mixed with white. There’s no color in here and no personal touches. Not even a picture. There are two dressers and a few plants. That’s it. Julian is warm and vivacious, and this place is so not him.
I’m lost in my redecorating ideas when Julian responds, “I’m going to take a quick shower. Do you want to go in before me?”
No, I want to go in with you, I think to myself. I don’t get an invitation to join him, and I’m disappointed. I shake my head no and tell him he can go first.
“You can use the other bathroom if you want. I’ll show you where it is.” I grab my toiletries bag and follow him down the hall. He grabs me a towel from a closet we walk past and leaves me to get ready for bed. This bathroom looks like the rest of the house. Good thing whoever designed this place didn’t touch the hotel.
I shut the door and exhale. We have been intimate several times now, but we haven’t stayed a whole night together, and I need the privacy. I use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wash my face. Julian saw me today when I was a sweaty mess after running, so I’m not feeling shy about going makeup-less. That ship has already sailed. I finish up and walk back into Julian’s room. I can hear the water running through the cracked door. I’m taking that as an invitation. Without allowing any time to question my decision, I take my clothes off and head into the bathroom.
Julian’s bathroom is huge and is decorated like the rest of his condo, masculine and contemporary with clean lines. No surprise here. The double vanities are made out of the same dark wood that’s in the kitchen, and the countertops are white stone. The floors and walls are covered with a mixed gray-and-white marble tile, and there’s a huge, jetted white tub in the corner. The shower is massive and looks like something you’d find in a luxury spa. The walls and curb-less shower floor are made out of slate-gray and dark brown stone tiles. There’s a white, stone floating bench, and the glass enclosure is frameless, which gives the appearance of the shower being totally open. I’m impressed with the shower but more impressed with the man in the shower. I stand there for a minute and stare at Julian. He has his eyes closed and his head tilted back with the water running over his face. He’s so beautiful. My body comes alive, and I’m taken aback by my need to touch him. He opens his eyes, looks toward the door, and sees me standing there. A slow, inviting smile breaks across his face, and I can tell he’s happy to see me.
I walk over to the shower and open the door. He immediately pulls me into his arms, and as the warm water washes over me, I feel the tension leave my body and disappear down the drain.
Julian is pressed up against me, and it feels incredible. I run my hands over his body, and within minutes I’m aching for him to be inside of me. His shower is state-of-the-art, and there’s water coming out of jets in all directions. I close my eyes and get lost in the sensation of the warm water, the feel of Julian’s rock-hard upper body beneath my hands, and the exquisite feeling of him running his hands all over me. I feel his erection against me as well. I knew when I got in the shower what my intentions were, but because Julian mentioned he was tired and just wanted to go to sleep, I decide to let him chart the course and set the tempo.
He sets a slow and sensual pace, and although I’m already completely turned on, I relax and savor the delicious feeling of him slowly running his wet, soapy hands all over my body. He doesn’t miss a spot. He’s caressing me and teasing me and torturing me in the most delicious way. His hands are on my breasts, on my ass, and between my legs. I’m quivering from his touch. I honestly think I could stand here and let him touch me like this forever, but I need to feel him too. I want to pleasure him and take care of him like he keeps doing for me. He gave me two orgasms earlier tonight, and although I don’t think he’s keeping score, it’s his turn to be satisfied. I lather my hands and run them over his body. He begins to moan and shuts his eyes. I know by the sounds he’s making and by the way he leans into my touch that he needs the physical connection as much as I do. His erection grows even larger as I stroke him steadily with one of my soapy hands. I reach around behind him and run my other hand over his ass. I pull him into me, and he groans loudly as I eliminate any space between us. He grabs hold of a bar in the shower to keep his balance, and I see that he’s completely lost in my touch. I kiss his chest and run my tongue over his nipples. I bite down softly on one, and he thrusts his hips into me. I keep my hand on him, stroking his long, hard shaft as I sit down on the floating bench. I turn my head so the water isn’t hitting me in the face, and I take him in my mouth. He finally speaks.
“Sí, baby. Sí. I’ve wanted to feel your mouth on me all night.” There’s no bigger turn on than to watch Julian let go and give himself to me. I feel powerful and in control, and I like it.
I take him as deep as I can and gently knead his heavy balls with one hand. I run my tongue up and down and around his shaft and across the soft, wide head. Julian’s hands are in my hair now, and he’s gripping my head as he loses himself in the rhythm of me sucking him off. His whole body is moving into me, and I struggle not to gag as he thrusts himself deeper into my mouth. I look up at him and see he’s watching me pleasure him. I feel a burst of warmth spread from between my legs and throughout my body. This is so erotic, and I’m so turned on. I pull ba
ck so my mouth is just covering the head of Julian’s dick, suck harder, and taste the saltiness of his arousal. A loud groan comes out of his mouth, and I see his legs begin to shake. He’s close. I keep my eyes on him and watch his expression as I slow things down and start gently running just the tip of my tongue delicately around the head of his pulsating dick. He’s struggling not to break the connection with our eyes, but I can tell he’s barely hanging on as his eyes flicker open and shut. And just when I think there’s no way I can be any more turned on, Julian opens his mouth.
“Dios mío, you’re driving me fucking crazy. Te quiero mucho, baby. I want to come inside of your beautiful mouth, and then I want to come inside of your beautiful body.”
Yes please; I want that too. I stop teasing him and take him in as deep as I can. I grasp him firmly and stroke him hard and fast. He has one hand on my head and the other on the bar as he thrusts his hips wildly. I hear his breathing speed up, and his grip tightens on my hair. I feel his whole body stiffen as he calls my name and explodes into my mouth.
I keep my mouth on him while the last of his orgasm races through his body. When he’s done, I stand up and face him. He reaches behind him and turns the water off. He takes my face in his hands and brings it close to him.
“You are so, so beautiful, Alexa. Thank you for that.”
When his lips finally touch mine, they’re soft and sweet. The kiss that follows is the same, and as waves of emotion course through my body, I know I need to stop worrying that I’m going to fall in love with this man. It’s already happening, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
Julian quickly dries himself off and wraps a towel around his waist. He grabs a second one and envelops me in it. I dry myself off and hang my towel on a hook on the back of the door. I’m usually a little more modest, but the way Julian is looking at my naked body makes me feel beautiful and confident. I walk back into the bedroom and take panties and a tank top out of my bag.
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