“You don’t have to ask me twice.” I dipped my head and kissed her, my lips urgently conveying all that I’d already told her. When she groaned into my mouth, I felt my body light up with desire. “Let’s go. Quickly.”
“I know it was kind of crazy, but what did you think of Johnny?” Julia laid back, her head resting on my chest as we talked. I’d called Tracey and told her I’d found Julia, and she’d yelled and screamed and cried at Julia over the phone. She’d then talked to Paige. Now, it was just us. The way I wanted it to be.
I thought back to everything Johnny had told me. He didn’t expect me not to tell her, did he? “He loves you so much, Julia.”
She nodded. “I know. I feel bad I left things like that, but I know he can do something to fix this situation he’s in. He needs to do it, whatever it is. No matter how hard it is.”
“There are things you don’t know,” I said. She sat up, crossing her legs.
“What do you mean? He told you?”
I nodded. “Don’t be mad. I was freaked out that I couldn’t find you, and he just kind of started spilling it all.”
“So what is it? What’s the big reason that he won’t save himself?”
“You.”
“What do you mean, me?”
I sat up also, lifting her hand and kissing it gently. “Johnny told me that when he left home at eighteen and moved to LA, he got mixed up with these guys that he thought were his friends helping him get a recording studio to notice him. Except what they were doing was getting him involved in drug trafficking. He had no idea. Eventually he figured it out, and that’s when he moved back to Colorado and stayed with you.”
Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t say a word.
“They didn’t like that he knew information, so they started blackmailing him to help them.”
“Blackmailing him how?”
This was the part that was going to kill her. “They took pictures of you and would send them to Johnny. They were watching you.”
“What?”
I nodded. “Yes. That’s why he disappeared without saying anything to you, Julia. They were threatening to hurt you. So he went back. Then when he and the other guys got busted, he had a visit in jail. They had your house key.”
Julia gasped. “How did he know it was really mine?”
“He said it was purple with a sparkly J on it, just like yours. They’d taken it right off your keychain. It was a reminder for him to keep his mouth shut on the others that didn’t get busted.”
“All this time,” she said, looking down at her hands, “he’s been in there to protect me. So he’s never going to turn the other guys in, is he?”
I shook my head. “No. He can’t. He says he’s just hoping that they get busted or killed and solve his problem. I guess they’ve scared all of the ones that got busted that day enough to keep them quiet as well.”
“So he’s not going to get out of there until he’s in his forties. God, I’m the reason for all of it! For what’s going to happen to you and what happened to him! I’m poison, Carter!”
“Julia.” She was on the verge of hysteria again. “Stop. You aren’t poisoning anyone.”
“He loves me, and he’s locked up because of it. Now you love me and you’re going to lose the one thing in your life you wanted!”
“Listen to me. Yes, before I came to Colorado, my one and only dream was to work for GSJ. On paper, it looks like the best place in the world for someone like me. But you and I both know dreams change. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an accountant just like my dad. That was a childhood dream. But now, the reality of loving you and wanting to be with you, is way beyond what I could’ve imagined. I didn’t know I wanted it, needed it. But I do. I need you, not just anyone. Your brother is doing the same thing. He loves you more than he loves his freedom. He’s sacrificing to keep you safe.”
“But he could be out, living his life! Falling in love himself! Having a family! Playing music! Instead, he’s locked up for something he shouldn’t be, and he can’t even save himself because of me! How do I live with that?”
“You live with it because that’s the choice he’s made. You can’t do anything about it. You don’t know who these people are, and you don’t want to get involved in it.”
“Did he tell you?”
“No. I thought maybe they’d taken you, and I asked for a name. He refused to get me involved with them and said if they’d taken you, you’d be dead, and they’d make sure he knew about it.”
Julia shivered. “I need to talk to him, tell him I’m sorry for what I said.”
“I’m sure he knows, Julia. Johnny never told you on purpose. He doesn’t blame you.”
“I know he doesn’t,” she said. “But I still need to talk to him. He needs to know I love him. I . . . I can’t believe it. Why didn’t he just tell me?”
“I know it’s all hard to digest, but he thought he was doing what he needed to do to keep you safe. He loves you, Julia. Your safety and happiness are most important to him.”
Tears accumulated in her eyes. “I hate this,” she whispered.
“I know, baby. You can’t control it, though. If this is what he wants to do, you have to accept it. I wanted to tell you one more thing.”
She lifted weary eyes to mine. “What’s that?”
“When we leave here, I’m going back to Denver and having a meeting with your parents.”
“About?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, ever since you disappeared on Monday. I’m going to thank them for the amazing opportunity they gave me, but that I won’t be returning to my internship.”
“No. Carter, you can’t do that.”
“I can, and I will. You and I, Julia, we’ll figure out where to go together. If you want to leave Denver and go somewhere else, I’ll be right by your side. If you want to stay and continue your work with Colorado Cares, I’ll be there too. If you want to start your own interior design company, I’ll find another place to intern and eventually work. But what I won’t do is continue at GSJ.”
“Why?”
I pushed her backwards and hovered over her, kissing her soft lips. “Because love not only shows up, it stands up. This is me, standing up for you.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. Her response was to lift my shirt and throw it on the floor, followed by my jeans. We didn’t speak a word as we undressed each other, finally lying naked in each other’s arms.
“You don’t have to do that, you know,” she said finally.
“Shhh,” I said, silencing her from further comments with my mouth and hands. She moaned as I caressed her with my tongue, fisting her hands in my hair as I continued further, teasing her.
“Carter . . .” She wrapped her hands around me, stroking me into oblivion as we moved slowly, kissing, touching and caressing like it was the first time. Because it was. The first time we both knew exactly how the other felt. There were no more secrets or uncertainties. She was mine, and I was hers. For the first time in my life, I felt completely content with the decisions I was going to make.
“Make love to me,” she whispered. Our eyes met, and we held our gaze as I moved gently into her, her eyes fluttering closed for a second as a moan escaped from both of us.
“Heaven,” I said. “Right here.” I lifted her arms above her head and intertwined our fingers as we moved together. The only sound in the room was our soft moans. She pushed her heels into my backside as our pace picked up, and I couldn’t help but to release one of her hands and use mine to lift her leg, changing our intensity.
Julia moaned my name, using her free hand to touch my chest and abs. She then reached between us and caressed, feeling where we were joined, the whole time looking directly into my eyes. I kissed down her leg as our lovemaking became louder, more intense.
“Now, Carter. Now,” she demanded, wiggling out of my grasp and using both of her hands to hold onto my thighs. I lifted her, pulling her closer and drove it ho
me, sending us both spiraling out of control. I mirrored what she’d done earlier, touching her where we were joined, and she writhed under my touch, gripping the sheets as I sent her over again.
I leaned over and kissed her. “I love you, Julia.” She smiled, her dimple exposed. “And I freaking love that dimple. It just might be my most favorite body part. The first time you smiled at me and I saw that, I was gone.” I pressed my lips to said spot, causing her to giggle.
“Your most favorite body part is my dimple? Really?” She indicated her naked body, still under mine. “Well okay then, Mr. McIntyre. I guess I’ll say my favorite body part on you is your . . .” She looked me up and down, stopping her gaze quite south. “Blue eyes.”
We both laughed, and I pulled her over so she was lying on top of me. “I do love your dimple,” I said. “I also love your eyes, your gorgeous hair, the body that won’t quit, and . . .” I put my lips at her ear and whispered the rest.
“I love you, Carter. Thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For everything. You know how I said before that I always called you on your bullshit? Well, you’ve now done the same for me. Thank you for not giving up, for knowing better than to believe what I was saying. I never want to be the reason you regret anything, though, so please think about what you’re going to do.”
“I already have, for the entire time you were gone. I’ve never been so panicked in my life, Julia. I’d just stare at the ceiling at night, my mind racing a million miles an hour on the things I’d done wrong, whether I could’ve prevented what happened, what I would do to have you call me back or knock on the door. All the things I’d say.”
“I’m sorry. I was so selfish. I just couldn’t see past my own guilt and pain. I thought it would be best for me to go away.”
“Stop saying you’re sorry. You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I think in a way, it was good.”
“Why?”
“It gave me all that time to think about what I was doing, how I felt, and what I needed to do in my life. Plus, my parents and Johnny helped.”
“How?”
“My parents were the first ones to say I loved you. They didn’t get to meet you of course, but they watched me all week. We even had our Friends Thanksgiving while they were here, and I tried. God knows I tried to enjoy myself. We all did. But we were worried sick about you.”
Julia sighed. “I missed everything. I bet they’re all so mad at me.”
“No one is mad at you. Everyone was worried. They’re glad you’re okay and here with me. Anyway, when my parents said I was in love with you, I denied it. Then Johnny said the same thing, and I sat there like, shit. They’re right. All of them. They can all see it, and I’m trying to deny it. Not because I didn’t want to be, but because I was scared. So because of all of this, it made me realize what I wanted, what I needed.”
“Are your parents going to even want to meet me now?”
“Julia. They’re the nicest people in the world. My dad said before we both got on our flights that he’d better hear from me that I’d gotten you back and that we were coming to Florida to visit for Christmas.”
She laughed. “I think I’m going to love them. And I’d love to go to Florida for Christmas. I can’t wait to see where you grew up and meet your family.”
I sat up, holding on to Julia as I adjusted us into a sitting position. I hugged her tightly. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?”
“That this is happening. That we’re here, together. You want to go home with me and meet my family. That I’m in love with you. Hopelessly, crazy in love with you.”
“Well believe it, handsome,” Julia said. “I’m hopelessly, crazy in love with you, too. Now, you want to know what I want?”
“Name it.”
She turned her head and looked across the room. “Remember that one time you told me something about a fantasy of yours?”
“Everything including you is a fantasy.”
She shook her head. “No. There was one about a coat and a desk?”
She got my attention, in more than one place. I followed her gaze and saw the desk across the room where we’d thrown our things when we came in.
“Go into the bathroom,” she said, climbing off my lap. “And wait for me to call you out.”
I stood, and her eyes zeroed in on what effect she’d had on me with that mental picture. Her eyes followed me until I walked into the bathroom. I blew her a kiss and she caught it, and then signaled for me to shut the door.
I stood at the sink, looking at myself in the mirror. It had been a hellish few days, but we were here together. My head was still swimming at everything I’d found out and had happened. I hoped Johnny could find a way to get himself out of there, for Julia’s sake. Living with that guilt was going to be hard to handle.
I could hear her moving around out there, and I smiled at my reflection. I looked happy. I was happy. I couldn’t wait to take her home with me. The rest of it I was going to put out of my head for now. Dealing with my job, where we were going to go, all of that could be handled later.
“Car-ter! Come on out! We have a meeting, remember?”
My eyes widened. My girl was hot, and she just ratcheted it up a few million degrees.
MY HANDS SHOOK AS THE bathroom door opened and Carter stepped out. He’d wrapped a towel around his waist, but it didn’t hide the obvious arousal behind it. I’d never done anything like this, but now was as good a time as any, right?
I sat behind the desk, my hair up in a bun and my coat buttoned completely. As requested, I had nothing on underneath it, not even a sexy bra or panties. It felt good to let loose a little after the crazy stress of this week. I couldn’t stop grinning. Carter told me he loved me. He told me he loved me first. He fought for me. He wanted me.
“You called for me, Ms. Gibbons?” Carter stepped up to the desk. “I finished those plans you wanted done. Would you like me to show them to you?”
Oh, he was good at this. “Yes I would, Mr. McIntyre. I hope they are to my satisfaction.”
“You’re going to have to get up and let me get to your computer so I can pull them up.” Of course, we had no computer, but I went with it. I stood, pushing the chair back as Carter walked around and stood behind me. He leaned over.
“You smell so good, Ms. Gibbons,” he said, making goose bumps prickle down my body.
“Mr. McIntyre, let’s keep on track. We have a lot to do today.”
“Oh yes, the plans. I’m going to need you to move this way so I can get to the computer.” I shifted, and he placed his hands on my hips. “No. This way.” He pulled me into him so there was no space in between us.
“Do you like this proposal?” he growled into my ear, grinding against me.
“It may need a few adjustments,” I said, turning to face him. His eyes followed my fingers as I began to unbutton my jacket. “Is this acceptable?”
“These ideas need further investigation.” He removed my fingers and continued unbuttoning the jacket himself. I was losing control and fast. The thing was, I didn’t care. I’d tried to be in control for too long. It was time to enjoy someone else taking the reins.
He reached the last button, and the jacket fell open. Carter gripped the lapels of my jacket and pulled me to him, taking my lips with his. He let go, snaking his arms under the jacket and to my naked body underneath.
“These blueprints are almost perfect,” he whispered against my lips. “Turn around.”
Need clenched low in my belly as I listened. He pulled my hair from its bun, and it cascaded around me. He fisted it gently, pulling me back so he could reach around and kiss my neck.
“Mr. McIntyre,” I purred. “I didn’t know I had this type of proposal.”
“You do now,” he said. “This fine body in this jacket, you’re going to get all sorts of layouts, Ms. Gibbons.” He lifted the jacket, caressing my body and making me almost pant with need.
“
But first, there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“The plans can’t be complete with this boulder in the way. We’re going to have to remove it.” When he began pulling on the jacket, I assisted, shoving it down my shoulders and arms. It fell in between us on the floor and he kicked it away.
“Oh yes. The extraction of that boulder now makes the design ready to go.”
“Not exactly, Mr. McIntyre. There’s one more thing that must be done first.” I reached around and tugged the towel until it joined the jacket on the floor. “There. Now plans are set.”
“Oh yes, that’s good, Ms. Gibbons. I like a lady that remembers all the details. Now, lean over the desk and hold the edge.”
I did as he said, leaning over and closing my eyes, ready for him. Beyond ready. His hands roamed my body, starting at my ankles and moving north, stopping so he could grip my bottom and then he moved up to my back and shoulders.
“Perfection. Your body is better than the best architectural design any man could come up with. It’s a masterpiece.” He placed kisses along my spine, his hands gripping my hips as he rubbed against me. I wanted nothing more than to touch him, but I held on instead. The anticipation of what his next move would be had me a puddle of want. If he didn’t do something soon, I might beg.
I wanted to come up with a witty response to his compliment, but I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to come up with anything other than “take me.” So I bit my lip and stayed quiet.
“Do you want this, Ms. Gibbons?” His fingers brushed over my sensitive skin, and I bucked against him, willing him to do it.
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“More words, my love. What would you like me to do?”
“Touch me.”
“I am touching you.”
I growled in frustration, and he laughed. “Impatience. I like it. That’s a bad, bad girl, Ms. Gibbons.” With that, he smacked my right butt cheek, causing me to jump. Holy shit. No one had ever done that before. “Do you need more?”
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