by Rosie Praks
“What about?” His deep baritone vibrated through his chest.
“About you. About you calling yourself a bastard.”
“There’s really nothing to explain.” Julian sighed deeply. I could sense the slight resistance in his answer.
“Please,” I begged. “I want to know you more. You’re very important to me. You and your other secret self.”
Julian sighed again. Then slowly he explained his past. “Dad had an affair, and I’m the product of that affair.”
“So your mother had you first before Fiona had Josh.”
“Yes.”
“Is that why Josh treats you like shit? And Fiona eyes you like an insect?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you tolerate their behavior? If it were me, I would go away and live with my mother. I wouldn’t need to see their faces, especially Josh’s and Fiona’s.”
“My mother passed away when I was a little boy. Dad took me in. And because he’s been so kind to me, I didn’t want to disappoint him in leaving him. He only has me.”
“Mmmm.” I listened. “Tell me more. About those bank statements and your solicitor’s letter.”
After a long sigh, Julian started again. “Josh has been taking funds out of our company account. Dad knows about this. He came to me for help. I had to help. I had Barry, my private solicitor, put in my own money to cover it up so the board wouldn’t know it went missing.”
“I know he’s embezzling money from the company, but to have you cover it up, Julian, that’s not right. You can’t go on being his enabler.”
“I know. When the time comes, I’m going to leave. Go far away from here. Leave everything behind. Then you and I, we can grow old together.”
“I would like that too. To grow old with you. But what are you referring to… leave when the time comes?”
“When Dad dies and Josh becomes the heir.”
I sucked in my breath and shot my head up to stare at Julian in shock. “Julian, if Josh becomes the heir to Devereux Enterprise, then he’ll run the company into the ground. I can’t invest in your company if Josh becomes heir. I won’t allow it. Papa won’t allow it either.”
Julian placated me and settled me back against his chest, then resumed with his gentle hand stroking my hair. “In the end, it’s all up to you. I can’t control your decision.”
“This isn’t right, Julian. Not right at all.”
“Can we not talk about this?”
“Okay, I won’t. But you should never feel ashamed of yourself. You’re a good man. I’m glad your mother gave birth to you. Otherwise, what would I do? I wouldn’t have met you. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you.”
“You really love me, Kimberly?” he asked as if unsure of the answer. What could I do to show him, to convey to him my love for him was stronger than the blood bond he had with Beau?
Julian caressed my cheek. I purred at his touch and closed my eyes, feeling that rough hand moving gently against my skin. I opened my eyes again and gazed at him.
“Why do you have to ask? I love you. I’ve loved you since I saw you three years ago.”
“You’re not ashamed to date a bastard? What happens if the media finds out?”
“I don’t care about the media. What I care about is how you feel about this.”
“I feel I’m not equal with you. You’re so beautiful and rich. And I’m—”
“A man worth more than a billionaire. Julian, don’t you get it? Even without your father’s company, you’re already capable. You’re a self-made man. And that’s why I like you. You thrive to be the best in everything. The only downfall is you love Josh too much. Even when he’s a bastard, no pun intended.”
Julian chuckled, then grew serious again. “I can’t help myself, Kimberly. He’s my brother.”
I sighed too. What could I say about Julian? He was a very humble man. He reminded me of a turtle who felt sorry for the rabbit even when the rabbit tried to outsmart him to win the race. And that was what Julian did, always thinking about his brother before himself. And for that, I had to teach him a lesson. I mounted him and straddled my legs on either side of his body.
“Fuck, Kimberly, what are you doing?” he asked in surprise when I started rubbing myself against him.
“Riding you. Showing you how much you mean to me. I need this, Julian. I need you to trust that I want you. I want you to feel me. I want you to know you being the bastard son of Beau doesn’t mean a thing to me.”
“Fuck… shit… Kimberly.” He panted, heavy breaths kicking in as soon as I positioned myself at the tip of his cock. My entrance was already slick and throbbing for him to be inside me. Julian held on to my hips, easing me in slowly. I slid down his whole length and caught my breath.
Oh God, he was so big. He filled me up and then some.
“Fuck, Kimberly, you’re driving me crazy.”
“Shush.” I closed my eyes and started moving, slowly at first, and then it was like the bullet train of Japan, the ride went faster and faster until I lost track of who was riding who. Julian held on to my waist as he lifted his butt off the bed and pulled me slamming down again, making his tip run all the way to the end of my passage.
“Julian,” I screamed. Again and again we rode like this until I couldn’t take it anymore and came and collapsed on top of his sweat-sheened body.
Julian’s black hair was matted to his temples. I slipped it back behind his ear and whispered, “You’re not a bastard, Julian. You’re my man.”
Julian turned to face me, a sated look on his face. He kissed me on the lips and with just one sentence, he made me the happiest woman. “And you’re my woman, Kimberly. Remember that.”
Chapter 18
My day with Julian started with a kiss on the lips and a ride in the elevator with his throbbing member rubbing against me through his slacks. I flushed from the intimate contact and smiled secretly at myself, already anticipating the coming afternoon when we would be alone, possibly making love again.
As more people filed into the elevator, I had no room to escape except to plaster myself against Julian’s massive chest. Julian was trying his hardest to remain calm.
I lifted my chin up to see his lips clamping shut and his jaw clenched. I supposed he was trying to dampen his desire too.
I, myself, wasn’t one to dampen any mood. I wiggled my butt and pressed my body into his form, almost like I was molding my body to his. Julian sucked in his breath, which pleased me even more.
As soon as everyone vacated the elevator, Julian pushed the emergency stop button and dragged me across the space to pin me to the wall, riding up my skirt then pushing down my panties to expose my feminine core.
“Oh God, Kimberly, you’re so wet. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“And you shouldn’t take them off me. I love your hands on my skin.”
“This is crazy,” he rasped, sucking on my lips as if he were thirsty.
“You’re the one who’s driving me crazy.” I corrected him.
It looked like I didn’t need to wait until the afternoon to feel Julian’s naked skin against mine. He took me right there in the elevator. It was a quickie, but a totally smooth one. Once we both climaxed, he cleaned me up and dressed me back in the appropriate state for work.
“Why do you always wear a skirt?” he complained when my skirt refused to be wrinkle free, even after smoothing it so many times with his hands.
“So you can have easy access.” I smirked.
“You’re making this very difficult for me.” He pulled me forward, pressing his already hard member against my soft body.
My eyes fluttered open in anticipation again. “Well, it’s not my fault, Mr. Julian Devereux. It’s you who should learn to control your own body. Don’t blame me because you have such a high sexual appetite.”
“Only with you.”
“Really?” I caressed his butt, wiggling my eyebrows in mischief.
“We don’t have time for another
session. We have to get to work now.” He reprimanded me and held on to my hand before I could attempt to seduce another part of his body.
I pouted but smiled anyway. He took my hand and together we walked out, hand in hand—and stopped short.
Josh sat in the coffee room. As soon as he saw us, he immediately stalked towards us. I could tell he was flaming mad.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked his brother but yanked my hand out of Julian’s grasp.
Julian shook his head and said calmly, “Let’s talk somewhere else.” Then Julian turned to me and said, “Wait inside my office. I’ll be back soon.”
Julian let my hand go and walked out. Josh followed Julian.
I knew there’d be a big fight, all because of me, so I followed them. But obviously, my legs were shorter than theirs, by the time I rounded a corner, they were already gone. I walked along the hallway, trying to find them, peering into the different meeting rooms, but they weren’t there. I knew I lost them. But then, some shouts from a room a few meters away drove me to them.
A row was in process between the two brothers. I inched the door opened and glimpsed at the sight with my ear plastered to the door.
“Didn’t you say you’d give her to me?” Josh shouted at his brother.
“I love her,” Julian said quietly.
A brilliant smile beamed across my face. I felt pleased he was already confessing to his brother he loved me. But what Josh said next made my blood run cold.
“I don’t care. It’s your birthright to sacrifice everything for me. You’re born on this earth to serve me.”
What a selfish and obnoxious person he was. How could he talk like that to his older brother? Bastard or not, Julian was still his older brother. This made me really mad. Before I had the chance to set things straight and give Josh a piece of my mind, someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned to glare at that person for interrupting, then stopped short when I saw Beau.
“Kimberly, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Josh and Julian are having a fight. I was going to stop them.”
“Boys.” Beau laughed. “They’re always fighting. Let them be. Once they use up all their pent-up energy, they’ll settle down.”
“But…” I couldn’t get another word in when Beau led me away from the door.
What was going on? Was this the way of this household, letting their children fight without intervening until they sorted themselves out? Just because Julian was the bastard child, did this mean he would always be at the receiving end of their neglect?
My Julian.
Beau led me to the conference table and asked how I was settling in.
I stared at Beau. Could this man really be Julian’s father? Did he know I knew Julian was his bastard child?
“Beau, can I ask you something?”
“If I can answer it, I will.”
“Julian isn’t Fiona’s, right?”
I was sitting in his office when Julian walked in wearing a worried face.
“Julian. What’s wrong?” I ran to him, pulling him into my embrace.
Julian turned to me, plastered on a sad smile, then hugged me for the longest time. Finally satisfied, he then deposited himself in his seat and fired up his laptop.
“Talk to me,” I said, drumming my fingers on his desk. “What did Josh say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? It doesn’t look like nothing to me.” Not the way he was walking with his shoulders hunched up in addition to wearing that defeated expression. Something was definitely up.
Julian gave me a weak smile. “Okay, he said something. But it’s nothing to fret over.” He wedged his glasses up his nose and got back to work.
“Are you ignoring me, Julian?” I asked.
Julian turned back to me. “No, Kimberly. I just don’t want to talk about it.”
“So you’re at that again.” I accused.
“I’m sorry.” Julian pulled my body close and hugged me around my waist.
“Don’t be sorry. Just talk. Tell me. What did he say?” I urged him on.
“He didn’t say much. Just that I’m supposed to give you to him.”
I lashed out of his embrace. “Oh, so now I’m just a possession between you two? So you’re just going to hand me to him like I’m a can of tomatoes?”
“No, Kimberly.” He reined me back into his embrace and hugged me close again, resting his head between my breasts. “Never, Kimberly, never. You belong to me.”
That was the answer I wanted. But I needed proof, so I sat on his lap. Julian sucked in his breath. His glorious manhood stood out as soon as I unzipped his fly.
“I need proof, Julian. That you still want me.”
“Kimberly, this is work,” he hissed under his breath, afraid Melissa might come in at any time.
“I’m a risk-taker, Julian. Deal with it.” I stroked his member until it was fully erect.
“We shouldn’t be doing this here.” He gripped my hand, wanting to tear it away, but I was adamant. I didn’t let go.
“Fuck!” He cursed when I kept going at it with my hand, up and down his shaft, from the tip all the way to the root.
“Are you scared of him?” I asked again.
“No, I’m not.” He panted, his eyes already glazed with lust.
“Then why are you being like this?”
“Because this is the workplace.”
“Don’t tell me you never fantasize about fucking a girl at work.”
“I never fantasize about fucking any girl. The only girl I fantasize about is you.”
“So take me, then. Unless you’re scared of our relationship leaking out. Unless you’re scared of Josh finding out about us.”
“I’m not scared of any of them.” He gritted his teeth, his endurance almost spent.
“Then what’s stopping you?”
“Fuck! Because I’m a bastard child.” He exploded, his release erupting onto my hands. He pushed me off his lap, and I ended up sprawled on his desk. He took some tissue and cleaned my hands.
“I’m sorry, Kimberly. I lose control when I’m with you,” he said without looking at my face. He then sank back into his chair, his rough hands threading through those black strands in exhaustion.
Did I push him too far?
“Julian,” I said quietly, moving in to comfort him. I ran my fingers through his hair and rubbed his shoulder. “Stop saying you’re a bastard child. I don’t care.”
“It’s not that easy, Kimberly. What Josh said, it only reminded me I’m beneath you. I’m not worthy of you. I tell myself again and again how lucky I am to have met you again after three years. But how can I compare to you? You’re a millionaire’s daughter, and I’m… I’m only a bastard, a child of a mistress.”
“Was last night’s display of love not enough to convince you I love you for who you are and not your name, not your position? I don’t care if you’re a beggar. I don’t care if you have no money. I love you. I love you. I love you,” I cried, choked up.
I pushed him away and went to sit on the couch. I didn’t want to see his face. I couldn’t face him right now. I bared my soul for him. I didn’t know what else I could do to stop this destructive conversation that could ruin our relationship. I was tired of his negative thoughts, his constant putdowns of himself.
Julian hugged me. I didn’t want to see his face just yet, so I buried it into the crook of his neck. Soon, gentle patting motions smoothed over my hair. “Kimberly, I’m sorry. I’ll stop saying that now. I promise.”
I lifted my head, tears staining my eyes. He wiped them clean.
“You promise?”
“I promise,” he said again before kissing my eyes to stop my tears from falling.
“I know you love your family, but are you willing to lose me too, for the sake of compensation to your brother.”
He spoke so quietly I almost couldn’t hear. “That’s the one thing I can’t afford to lose. I can give him anything, but you. You’
re my woman. I’m not going to lose you. Do you still want me?”
“Julian. I fell in love with you three years ago. I don’t care if you’re Beau’s bastard child. I don’t care if you don’t earn a cent from this family. You’re enough for me.”
“Kimberly, I love you. You’re my woman. Mine, mine, mine.” He nuzzled his head at the nape of my neck. I let him take charge, letting him have his way with me. Just hearing him say I was his made me wet with desire. And so I gave myself to him, right there in the office.
Chapter 19
For the next few days I claimed myself as Julian’s assistant. No matter what Beau or Josh said, I didn’t listen. My time was running out, and I had to do what I could to help this man gain recognition. In several meetings, since I was the representative from Henderson Corporation, I’d asked many difficult questions of Josh, only to have Julian answer them instead. I had the basic tactic sorted out: humiliate the one that tries to pose as the winner. Many now saw Julian in a new light, which pleased me greatly.
But still, my desired outcome wasn’t manifesting fast enough. With one phone call to Papa, a private auditor came to review the accounts at Devereux Enterprise. Beau was white with worry. Julian was surprised, and Josh… What could I say? He was hiding behind his desk when the auditor asked to speak to him in private.
In the end, Josh was outed throughout the whole company for embezzling money for his gambling.
“Are you trying to tear my family apart?” Julian haggardly asked while he was busy thrusting into me later that afternoon in my hotel room. His cock slid in and out of my passageway without resistance. I was catapulted into a new realm. I couldn’t even find my voice to speak. “Answer me!” he growled.
“Maybe we should finish this first before starting with your interrogation,” I managed to say while another wave of electric current washed over me. Droplets of perspiration trickled down my forehead. My body was covered in a sheen of sweat. I was almost at my breaking point, and Julian wanted to question me now?