Chapter Eleven
Ray failed to mention it in the coffeehouse, but it was not just Julia’s stubbornness that he appreciated. In a way, her defiance to danger reminded him that it was another trait they had in common. He was clueless as to what drove her to defy that threat so blatantly. Perhaps it was her ignorance. The young redhead was human; only two humans had witnessed brutal battles in Paxton; she was neither of the two. The incident by the road, between his brother and the outcast, did not qualify as a battle. It ended quickly, and the kill took place in the dark, more than twenty yards away from her. She couldn’t have seen much. Whatever the impetus, however, her decision was most welcome. Why? Clearly, Ray was beginning to like her, perhaps faster than he anticipated. Julia’s bluntness had blown his mind, more than once. Her words at the pier had shown him, very obviously, that she had no problem opening up to him. She had a wonderful sense of humor as well. Ray loved her teasing and her innuendos, sexual or not. Most significantly, however, this sense of familiarity between them had rocked his world. Indeed, the two of them acted as if they had known each other for years, even though they had only met about two months ago. Ray had never found this level of emotional comfort in any other female, and doubted whether he would find it again.
The first colors of the sunset were streaking across the clear sky when they arrived in Julia’s large, noisy neighborhood, somewhere in Manhattan. Her apartment building was old and not at all well-preserved. The white paint on the outside walls was a grayish shade; large pieces of it had flaked off. This was a rather unpleasant surprise for him. He knew she wasn’t rich, but he expected her to be living somewhere nicer at the very least. Still, Ray would not voice his opinion. Julia’s intention to disregard any potential danger had moved him. The last thing he would do was criticize her on her apartment. Unfortunately for him, however, his prolonged silence gave him away.
“Come on, just say it,” Julia urged, pressing the number 3 button on the elevator panel. “Why does a bank teller like you live in this dump?”
“It’s not so great,” Ray commented. “But, I wouldn’t call it a dump.”
“Stop trying to be nice,” she said, as a smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “It is a dump. I moved in here a year ago, because Kate’s apartment is just three blocks away. And trust me; the job of a bank teller doesn’t pay as well as you might think,” she continued, as the elevator rumbled to a stop.
“Alright, but Kate doesn’t spend so much time in her apartment these days,” he stated with a teasing smile, as she stepped out of the elevator.
“Yeah, I have your brother to thank for that,” she groaned, fishing into her purse for her keys. "My girl’s in the car all the time. But, I’m not mad. If she’s happy, then so am I.”
Ray responded with a chuckle, as Julia unlocked her front door. The bond that she shared with both of her friends became crystal-clear to him, as they entered her living room. There were two, large pictures of Monica and Kate, on the wall across from them, both of them from their mating ceremonies. They were all alone, smiling for the camera. Smaller pictures were on the dining table, as well as on the table next to her couch, spanning from their childhood to the present day.
“They’re not just my friends; they’re my sisters.” Julia’s emphatic tone confirmed the obvious, as she eased her door shut. “I’m still a little mad at Monica for not reaching out to me first when she dumped Raul, though.”
“You guys are close. It’s admirable.” His voice was bass-deep, with a hint of change behind it. “But, I don’t see any pictures of your parents. Do you have any siblings?”
His question put a bitter smile on her face, as she moved around him.
“My folks got divorced, about eight months after Kate’s parents supposedly died.” Julia informed him, lowering her gaze from his face. “I lived with my mother until I went off to college. She moved to L.A., back in 2013. My dad died of a stroke, four years after their divorce. I’m an only child.”
“I’m sorry,” Ray whispered, as his lips thinned in a sad grimace.
“Don’t be,” Julia shook her head in disapproval. “It’s not your fault my dad decided to fool around with his secretary. Anyway, I’m off to take a shower. Make yourself at home.”
“Good job, dumbass,” he told himself, staring down at the floor as she trotted off to her bathroom. Ray quickly decided, however, to not scold himself any further. He was in her apartment, waiting for her to get out of the shower. What would be better than surprising her in her bedroom?
Predictably, as far as pictures were concerned, things were not much different in there. Julia had a large framed one of her and her friends, on graduation day, on the far wall. Several smaller photographs were on her desk; but something else caught his gaze, something that intrigued him far more than old pictures: a thick, red notebook, lying on the side of her desk. The temptation was too much for him to resist. Ray picked it up, and then pried it open, in the hope that Julia had mentioned him somewhere. The first few pages were dated back to January, 2017. They held no interest for him. Her past was none of his business. Ray flipped through the pages in a hurry, until his gaze landed on the date that Monica had abandoned his brother:
05-06-2017
“Tonight, I was shocked beyond my wildest dreams. Monica went missing for a week, and when she came back, she told me and Kate she had been dating the guy she saved on her moving day. He’s part human, part wolf… She even showed me a picture. Our little geek has decided to marry him, or ‘mate’ with him, as they call it. Their fates are bound together, according to some witch. I really hope she knows what she’s doing, although I must say the guy sounds incredible. His entire kind is loyal to one woman, until the day they die. It’s like a dream come true. I’d love to get me one of those, especially after what my mom went through with my dad. Fingers crossed.”
No surprises there. Ray could tell by the sorrow in Julia’s eyes just how scarred she had been by her parents’ divorce. Eager to find out more, he read her next entry:
05-12-2017
“I’ve just come back from my first visit to Paxton. I met Raul and his brothers, Dean and Ray. They both look gorgeous. Dean’s a lot more private than the others. Kate seems to have taken an interest in him, but I’ve got my sights on Ray. He’s a little smaller than those huge bastards, but he’s so damn cute, and he’s so much fun I could listen to him for hours. He’s 26, my age, has short, blond hair, dark-green eyes and a body to die for. I mean, I could see his abs through his shirt, for God’s sake. Damn it, Mon… If you hadn’t told me about their loyalty, I wouldn’t even consider leaving Sean. Now, I can’t stop thinking about it. How can I? Ray and I seem to have a lot in common, and Sean is so serious sometimes that it makes me want to scream. His sense of humor is next to none. I really want to go back to that tiny little town, and talk to him…”
A small hand came into view, before he could finish reading this entry. In a split second, Julia snatched her notebook away from him. In his eagerness, Ray failed to catch her scent.
“You’re going through my stuff?!” She yelled, her eyes flaring with rage, as his gaze shot up to meet hers. “You weren’t supposed to read that!”
“I’m really sorry,” he sighed, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, as she tossed the notebook across the floor. “I got carried away there.”
“How much did you read?” Julia asked, her voice squeaky, as she leaned over him. However, Ray was not going to dignify her question with an answer. Her diary had enthralled him, but it had triggered his curiosity as well.
“When I found you in ‘Northern Oak’, you said he’d dumped you,” he stated, his tone calm as he gazed deep into her eyes. “Was that what really happened, or did you lie to me?”
“You’re not human, Ray,” Julia whispered, her upper lip quivering, as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m not expecting you to understand.”
“Try me,” Ray encouraged with a nod.
“People…” she sucked in a deep, cleansing breath, as she ran her hand through her hair. “People spend their lives, searching for their other halves. When they marry one another, they hope that their significant other will be loyal, body and soul. With you, loyalty is a given. There’s no risk. So, no, Sean didn’t dump me; I dumped him. I did it, because I was thinking about you. I just didn’t have the courage to ask you out back then. You may be wondering why I was flirting with all those morons that night; the truth is, I wasn’t. I was just wasting time, waiting for you to show up. I gave them my name, I got their numbers, and that was it. I was about to leave Jonas’s table, when I saw you walk in. I started laughing when I realized Lucas was staring at me and him, because I was trying to get your attention.”
Ray couldn’t believe his ears. She had managed to move him yet again. He couldn’t get mad at her for lying to him. After all, he had invaded her privacy. She could well do the same with him. More importantly, however, during her confession, the scent of almond and lavender had engulfed his senses. It was like a drug that weakened him, leaving him subject to her whims. Every small movement of her lips was as sweet as the fragrances that surrounded him. He could not hold back his desire any longer. In a swift move, he grasped her wrists, and turned her back to the wall beside her desk.
“You did, you sexy little thing,” Ray said, his voice raspy, as he leaned in and then released her. Julia gave him a sexy smile, closing her eyes, as she snaked her arms around his waist. A frantic shudder ran through his body, as she pressed her soft, warm lips to his. Tugging on the belt of her bathrobe, he felt her glorious scent flowing through him, like a river in spring. A low purr escaped him, upon the sensation of her tender, still moist, flesh against his hands. Ray felt the full weight of Julia’s breasts against his chest, causing his heart to pound like a hammer. Instantly, he recalled all the moments he had marveled at them, either being hugged by tight t-shirts or low-cut tops. The days he would dream about touching them belonged to the past. Now, Julia was at his mercy, and he was going to show her exactly what his naughty dreams had contained. Dragging his tongue along her lips, he trailed his hands up her stomach, savoring her tight grip around him. Her throaty sigh in his mouth made his blood boil in his veins, as his fingertips made contact with the underside of her breasts. A gentle, upward push sent waves of lust rippling through his core. Their smoothness and their sheer weight forced a deep moan from him. Delving his tongue deep into Julia’s mouth, Ray entwined it with hers in a passionate dance, as he glided his fingertips over her breasts. Her arms crept around his waist, as he felt the peaks of her nipples tightening under his touch. Yanking his shirt from his jeans, she skimmed her hands up along his stomach and chest.
“Your body heat,” Julia hissed, as Ray stroked both of her breasts. “I want to feel it.”
A grunt of satisfaction served as his response. Taking his hands off of her, he grabbed the edges of his shirt, and then pulled it up and over his head, as she peeled off her bathrobe. The beast within purred with contentment, as Ray settled his gaze on Julia’s breasts. His large, stiff cock had been twitching, aching to be released, but he was so eager to worship her that he didn’t take any time to unbutton his pants. A sexy smile burst upon her lips, as he bent his head down towards her. She threw her arms around him, and flattened her hands against his back, pulling him against her. Ray’s lips caressed the outside edge of her left breast, the tenderness of her flesh driving him crazy with desire and need. He moved his mouth closer to her nipple, as he reached up to her breasts. His fiery kiss caused her to arch upward, thrusting her hips closer to his, as he kneaded her flesh. Snaking his tongue out of his mouth, Ray teased the area around her nipple, feeling her soft hands traveling down his back. A deep grunt escaped him, as the tip of his tongue brushed the hard peak.
“Yeah, baby.” Julia moaned, biting her lower lip, as he took her nipple between his lips.
“Mmm, they’re so big.” He grunted, squeezing her breasts, tracing his tongue over the tip of her nipple, as she clenched him tightly to her. By now, Ray could feel his hard cock pressing up against his boxers, ready to burst out of his underwear. His left hand released her breast, and reached down. Undoing the button of his jeans first, he pulled his zipper down, savoring her sexy whimpers in his ears. Aching with lust, he yanked his pants down his legs, but Julia’s next move added to his already immense arousal. Wasting no time at all, she slid her hands further down his body, and smoothed her hands over his butt cheeks.
“So firm…” she hissed, splaying her fingers over his flesh, as he gently bit her nipple. Ray’s rebuttal came in the form of a smile. She could touch him wherever she liked, as long as it pleased her. He ran his hand down her side, as he reached for her hip. With a strong, upward jerk, he lifted her off her feet. Bringing her mouth level with his, Ray felt his cock getting trapped between their bodies, as their lips locked in one more, passionate kiss. The precum that had been oozing out of his cockhead smeared the skin of her torso, as Julia’s tongue penetrated the moist seam of his mouth. She wrapped her legs around his hips, as he reached between them for his cock. Raking her nails up his back, she wiggled and whimpered, as he pressed the swollen tip up against her clit. A soft snarl tickled in his throat at the sensation of her hardness, one that he had to stifle. His wolf might have been craving her, but he had to stay hidden. Maintaining a firm grip around his thick shaft, Ray slid his cock down her glistening pussy lips to her entrance. Julia squeezed her eyes shut, as he pushed through her wet folds, with a slow, sensual stroke.
“God, it feels so good,” she moaned, tilting her head back, clutching his shoulder blades, as his lips closed around her lower lip. A deep grunt escaped him at the feel of her tightness taking his entire length. Ray placed his hands on either hip, overwhelmed by the warm wetness that surrounded his shaft, as Julia tipped her head down. He meant to maintain a steady pace at first; yet, she stole his will, as she rolled her eyelids open. Her eyes were darkened with arousal and she slid her hands up his back, heaving sighs of lust.
“You’re the sexiest thing alive,” Ray whispered, losing himself in her blazing gaze, as he angled his lips. Smoothing his hands down her sides, he claimed her mouth, as she clutched his shoulders. He grabbed and held onto her outer thighs, stretching her inner walls, feeling them burning around his pulsing manhood, as she sank her fingernails into his firm skin. Julia let go of his left shoulder, moaning louder in his mouth, as he squeezed both of her thighs at the same time. Reaching up, she buried her hand into his hair, as Ray gently bit her lower lip.
“Right there, baby!” Julia cried out, tossing her head back, as he plowed deeper and harder into her. Breathing heavily down her neck, he opened his eyes. He absolutely loved the sight of her breasts, bouncing wildly up and down with each thrust. Ray wished there was a way for him to take her hard nipples into his mouth once more, kiss them, lick them, bite them to the point of pleasure, stimulate her even further, as he coaxed her to a mind-blowing orgasm. But, he didn’t mind. He was perfectly fine with watching them, feeling the friction between their bodies, as she writhed against him. Julia pressed the balls of her feet against his lower back, her breath coming out in gasps, as Ray felt her inner muscles flexing around his shaft, faster than ever before. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and held him close, as he stroked her thighs. With her loud, lustful moans, so close to his ear, he savored each and every stroke; felt her hot juices streaming down his cock. Julia cried out, bursting into an explosive climax, her body twisting and turning against the wall, unable to stop as it ran through her like a bolt of lightning. Ray quickly took his right hand off of her thigh, feeling his balls tightening. Reaching down, he pulled out, as his knees shook. A guttural grunt fled his lips, as his juices stained the wall and the floor. Julia closed her eyes, a smile of happiness lighting up her face, as she rested her head on his shoulder, and her weight against his body. Sadly, however, Ray was taken by complete surprise. Too tired to support her weight, he swayed backward first, and then tumbled to the floor. He landed flat and very hard on his back, the thump of his drop resounding through the walls of her room and the corridor outside. Julia broke out into loud, sweet laughter, as he lazily snaked his arm around her back.
“Oops!” She chuckled, patting him on the chest. “Sorry about that!”
“It’s alright,” he panted, her curls tickling his jaw as he glanced down at her. “I’m not hurt.”
“Good.” Julia chirped, kissing him on the nape of his neck. “You can’t be a part of the things I got in mind for tonight if you are.”
“Oh, damn…” Ray groaned, shutting his eyes, as he recalled Helena’s request. “There’s this…” he paused; “special person in my town. She wants to talk to us.”
“You don’t have to find any names to call her,” she teased, her chin resting on her hand. “Monica and Kate have told me about Helena. How urgent is it?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged his shoulders. “She told me to find her, when you get to Paxton.”
“Screw it,” Julia gave a quick laugh, as she leaned back. “Let’s go.”
“What?” Ray’s voice turned into a high-pitched squeal. “What about your job?”
“I’ll call in sick tomorrow morning,” she assured him in a more serious tone, as she rose on her feet. “It’s a win-win. I’ll get to meet a witch, and spend tomorrow with you. Is there a better excuse to play hooky?”
“There’s nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?” Ray wondered, leaning back against his elbows, as she smiled down at him.
“Come on, it will be fun!” Julia said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Get up, pretty boy. We’re going to Paxton; again.”