She should have known they’d ruin it for her. She should have known they’d pull something. Julia sat in the boardroom of H-Surf, pen poised to sign her part of the contract, a cold chill stiffening her spine.

“An injunction?” Kelsey asked incredulously, rushing to the door to intercept the receptionist.

“Julia?” Jonathan Beyer asked, looking between her and the bad news that just entered the room. He had to have seen the look on her face, the anger and confusion. “What’s going on?”

She stood, unsure, as her lawyer, a grizzly bear of a man, who took no shit from anyone, grabbed the papers from Kelsey and read them. He was almost the most well-connected man she knew, respected not because he was a schmoozer but because he was an absolute bulldog. Brian Owens was the best in the city and he currently looked somewhere between furious and positively volcanic. His scowl deepened, the room nothing more than whispers and shuffling papers.

His gaze hit her and Julia just knew, somewhere in the pit of her stomach, what was going on.

“I need a moment alone with my client,” he told the room at large, his eyes still glued to her. “And Mr. Beyer and his counsel.”

Kelsey, ever the mediating stateswoman, walked everyone one else out.

Julia held her hands out for the injunction, wanting to see it in black and white. The words struck like a physical blow, her stomach clenching with the hurt of it, even after all these years.

“The Louziers have filed an injunction,” Brian told Jonathan and his lawyer.

“On what grounds?” Jonathan asked incredulously.

“That this company was founded on their property and with their equipment and while they’re happy to let it run, they object to it being sold.” Brian actually scoffed. “They must know someone pretty high up to get this past a judge.” He met their eyes in turn. “I know someone higher. I’ll have this tossed by Monday.”

“Get a restraining order against them,” Kelsey growled from behind Julia, her hand landing on her boss’s shoulder. “They’re just doing this to hurt her and I don’t want them anywhere near her.”

Brian shook his head. “Not that easy, but if they think they can stop this, they don’t know Ms. Hawkins and they sure as hell don’t know me.” He tossed the papers into his briefcase, locked it, then stood. He was an imposing figure, hulking and slightly menacing, all dressed in a designer suit. “I’ll start the proceedings immediately. Let’s tentatively reschedule for Monday afternoon.”

Julia heard the words but her world had narrowed to a single pinpoint. It emanated from her chest, like a laser burning into her, destroying her from the inside out. They would do this to her; they had the means and obviously the motivation. They would do it for nothing more than the pleasure of knocking her back down again. The narrow beam focused again, homing in on that tiny slice of her heart that had held out hope that they didn’t really hate her as much as she thought they did—the delusional child that still resided deep in her soul.

Her breaths came in quick as the room emptied around her and she let Kelsey do her job, clearing them out and giving her space. She had no doubt that her lawyer would take care of this. They really had no leg to stand on and they had to know that, but how they must have wanted to flex their muscles to do this to her. They must have been desperate to show her how powerful they were, how much control they still had.

“Jules.”

She sucked in another breath, the air cold and hard in her chest, feeling completely foreign.

Her eyes met Kelsey’s.

“Get me out of here.”

* * *

Elliot’s phone rang at noon on Thursday afternoon and he was surprised to see Kelsey’s number come up. They’d been working at Julia’s all week and they were expecting her back home at the end of the day.

“What?” he said in greeting, wincing when Cole glared at him and mouthed asshole in his direction. “Hello?” he corrected.

Her tone was as serious as he’d ever heard it, hard and rushed. “I have a helicopter landing at the public park by your house in thirty minutes. How fast can you get on it?”

He held the phone away from his ear and then put it back. “Pardon?”

“Things didn’t go as planned today and Julia’s freaking out.”

Elliot stood, no thought to the movement, just action.

“Where is she now?”

“She locked herself in the back bedroom of her plane. She’s asking for you.”

There was that fist again, squeezing his chest. He didn’t know what not going as planned meant; all he heard was that Julia needed him.

“I can be there in twenty minutes,” he said, already halfway to the door before remembering that they all drove into work in the same work truck, and stopped in his tracks.

“I’ll drive you,” Cole said, right behind Elliot. “Get in the truck.” He turned back to Tucker. “I’ll be back after I take him wherever he needs to go.”

Elliot rushed to the truck and got in the driver’s seat, barely letting Cole shut the door.

“What happened?” Cole asked.

“I don’t know. Kelsey just said shit went sideways today and Julia’s not taking it well.”

Elliot, driving well over the speed limit, made his way out of town and toward the park Kelsey said to be at.

“It’s not like you to go running when someone snaps their fingers,” Cole commented as he rolled the window down and stuck his arm on the ledge, his fingers drumming the metal.

“No one snapped their fingers,” Elliot growled, shooting him a glare.

“Yet, you’re still running. How’s Julia?”

“I have no idea,” Elliot snapped. “You heard as much as I did. Stop talking.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “You’re an asshole. I have no idea what Julia sees in you.”

“No one asked you.”

“I’m your brother. You never have to ask what I think because I’ll always tell you, whether you want to hear it or not. I just find it strange that you, a man that swore he’d never fall in love, is suddenly running out in the middle of a work day to console his woman. A few months ago I couldn’t get you to take the day before Christmas off.”

“What the hell did you need the day before Christmas off for?”

“I didn’t,” Cole explained. “Why are you purposely missing my point?”

“Because I don’t want to talk about Julia with you.”

“Fine.” Cole shrugged again, looking out the window as they fell into silence.

Elliot sighed, feeling like the asshole Cole accused him of being. Yes, Cole bugged him sometimes, he was a nosy gossip, and did nothing but talk. He was also his brother and always meant well.

“I didn’t swear I’d never fall in love,” Elliot corrected into the silence. “I swore I never wanted to fall in love.”

“Is there a difference?” Cole pressed, his voice low.

“Yeah,” Elliot said, resigned. “I’m pretty sure there is.”

“Maybe you should be more than pretty sure before you get any further involved with Julia.”

Elliot’s shot a death glare at his brother. “Maybe you should back the fuck off and mind your own business.”

“Hate to tell you, bro, but Julia’s a friend of mine. She is my business. And I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”

It took Elliot a minute of quiet, contemplative driving to clear his head and listen to what his brother was saying. He thought of Julia and how introspective she could be sometimes, how suspicious and quiet her nature was, how few friends she seemed to have. Frankly, it made him thankful that Cole was protecting Julia. Even if it was from him.

Elliot took a cleansing breath and tried to press reset on the conversation. “I’m glad you’re her friend. I’m glad you made us take that job. I don’t mean to act like a dick.”

“It’s cool,” Cole said in his easy way. “But do you see where I’m coming from?”

Elliot shrugged. “Kind of. I can’t predict the future, Cole. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“But you’re going to be careful with her, right? Because she’s not as tough as she acts.”

“Yeah. I’ve got her.” He nodded in his brother’s direction and Cole responded with a nod of his own. “I’ve got her,” Elliot repeated.

He thought about their conversation the entire way to the park. What was he doing with Julia? How long did he expect it to last? Long enough, he thought to himself, that he’d just responded to a wedding invitation and added Julia as his plus one without even asking her. Long enough that even though it was only April, he was planning on taking her apple picking in the fall if she’d let him. He’d even wondered if she’d want to head to the ballpark and catch a game. So, obviously, without really thinking too much about it, he’d insinuated Julia into his life. Things just felt right when they were together.

Did she feel the same? Did she ache when they weren’t together? Did her skin hum when they touched? 

He’d never been the happy brother—that was Tucker. He certainly wasn’t the funny one—that was Cole. Elliot had always been the serious one, the solemn one. With Julia, he was someone else without even trying or knowing he was doing it. He was happier. Funnier. Things were just a little brighter and easier when they were together.

They approached the park where Kelsey had told him to go at the same time a helicopter was landing. The H-Surf logo was painted on the side.

Cole whistled. “Does it bother you that Julia’s rich?”

“Why would it bother me?” At the moment, Elliot didn’t care about anything but getting to Julia, but he’d started to appreciate his brother’s distracting chatter.

“I don’t know. Does it threaten your intense masculinity?” Cole laughed as he said it.

“Nothing could threaten my masculinity,” Elliot responded casually, slamming the truck into park and getting out. Cole met him around front and took the keys.

“Send Julia my love. And call me, you asshole,” Cole said with a slap on Elliot’s shoulder.

Elliot flipped him the bird over his shoulder and jogged to the helicopter without looking back. A pilot still sat in the cockpit of the chopper but a male flight attendant stood on the ground, expectantly holding out a hand. Ignoring him, Elliot climbed aboard and put on the provided headphones.

“Welcome aboard, sir. Just a quick twenty-minute trip and we’ll be at the airport.”

He wasn’t lying. Twenty minutes later, they were landing at an airport and he was led again to another craft. This one unmarked, but he recognized Kelsey standing at the bottom of the stairs.

She looked tired. Worried and tired.

“Where is she?” Elliot asked, not wasting any time with pleasantries. He’d come for one reason and one reason only. To see Julia.

She led him up the stairs and onto the plane, its plush leather furniture the color of caramel and sleek lighting making the cabin seem personal and inviting. It was small but well-outfitted and as opulent a luxury he’d ever seen. It smelled like rich leather and, if he wasn’t mistaken, prime rib.

“She’s been in there for almost two hours. I can’t get her to open the door.”

“What the hell happened?” he growled, not waiting for her answer, instead lightly tapping on the closed door in front of him. “Baby? It’s me. Can I come in?”

He waited for her answer, not wanting to intrude or catch her unawares. Even if she’d asked for him, she deserved her privacy. When the door unlocked with a click, he looked back at Kelsey and gave her a nod before slipping in.

Julia was sitting on the bed, still in her high-class work clothes, but her hair was a long, loose curly mess. She sat with her head down, her shoulders slumped and she looked so small it nearly broke his heart. He took the few steps, his steps lost in the thick carpet, and sat gently on the bed next to her. He sat close enough that she leaned into him, her shoulder against his bicep, and he could smell her citrus scent envelop him.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice gruffer than he intended. He didn’t like knowing something had upset her, but he also knew that she didn’t like to be overwhelmed with drama. The last thing he’d want to do was be part of the problem and not the solution. So, he held back, waiting for her to show him what she needed from him.

Julia shook her head, her hair sliding and bouncing onto his hand. “No,” she whispered.

“You want to talk about it?”

She shook her head again, hauntingly silent. Elliot didn’t think she’d be ready, but he took solace that, if nothing else, she’d called when she’d needed him. When she was ready to talk about it, he hoped she’d call then too.

“How about laying back in this bed and letting me hold you? Are you up for that?”

Julia sucked in a stuttered breath. “Please,” she whispered.

It took little effort to slip off his shoes and scoot them both up the bed until she had her head resting on his chest and his arms were wrapped around her. She was warm in his hold, soft and sweet against him, her thigh shifting until it was nestled between his own.

He held her like that for a long time, the shadows on the wall shifting as the sun made its way across the sky. She was still, other than her fingers that toyed with the button of his flannel. Elliot ran a hand slowly up and down her back, relearning the curve of her spine and the feel of her against him. He took his time, letting her come down from whatever had gotten her so wound, and it was a physical thing.

She went from being stiff in his arms, her shoulders high and tight around her neck, to loose-limbed, her breaths finally coming out even and relaxed. Eventually, she raised herself up just a little, her head tilted so she could look at him.

It struck him then that she used to avoid his eyes, hers darting all over and barely meeting his. Now, she sought him out, their connection solid.

“They ruined it,” she choked, biting her lips between her teeth to keep control. “It didn’t go through.”

“Who ruined it?” he asked, smoothing the hair off her face, his hand lingering in her curls.

“My grandparents. They filed an injunction and stopped the sale.”

“Can they do that?” he asked.

She shook her head, more bemused, he thought, than answering. “I wouldn’t think so, but they did. Somehow, they did.”

“On what grounds? What do they stand to gain?”

“Nothing,” she said, sitting up more, color back in her cheeks. “They have no stake in the company; I don’t owe them anything. They don’t stand to gain anything.”

“So what? It’s just a power play?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her brow slashed down, deep in thought. “My lawyer said he’ll have it settled by Monday. The Louziers think they’re well-connected, but they have nothing on my lawyer. Brian knows everyone in town and they all owe him a favor.”

“Brian, huh?” Elliot asked, a brow raised in her direction.

“He’s my lawyer.”

“So you said.” His voice was low as a surge of jealousy shot through him—something about the way she talked about Brian, his name rolling off her tongue like she was used to saying it.

“He’s confident he can end this quickly. This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“I know,” he said. “I was hoping you’d come home tonight and we could get back to all the good stuff we were doing before you left.”

Chin on his chest, she assessed him. “I missed you.” The confession seemed pulled out of her, the vulnerability in her eyes when she said it was palpable.

“I missed you, too,” he ground past the emotion in his throat.

“I kept thinking about you,” she admitted. “At weird times.”

Elliot wanted to laugh that she seemed so put out by the whole thing. Like thinking about him was an annoyance she didn’t understand, but he kept his face straight. He was starting to think that for the first time, he really understood a woman. He knew enough about Julia to know that she was working out her feelings, most of them usually bottled up inside.

He nodded, commiserating, his fingers sifting through her hair. “I was at the lumberyard a few days ago, ordering beams for another job, and happened to see a display for a local artist who makes stained-glass windows. I took a picture of the display to show you and grabbed his card because it made me think of you.”

“Why didn’t you text it to me?”

“I didn’t want to bother you.” Elliot shrugged. “And I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries.”

“It wouldn’t have bothered me,” she whispered. “I would have liked hearing from you.”

Elliot finally smiled, close enough to see the gold flecks in her green eyes, and framed her face with his hands.

“It’s been almost a week since I kissed you.”

“What’s stopping you now?”

Elliot pulled her up, his lips taking hers quickly. He was glad he hadn’t rushed her and let her take her time coming around. She was calm and pliant, her lips soft and supple as her arms wound around his neck.

“Julia?” A knock sounded at the door and Kelsey’s voice floated through the rich wood. “I’m sorry to bug you two, but the crew needs to know if you’re planning to fly the original flight plan or if they need to cancel.”

“I hadn’t had time to ask where you were flying off to,” he told her.

“Not me. We,” she corrected. “I had Kelsey put together a celebration trip but obviously that isn’t going to happen.”

“Well, why don’t we make it a recuperating trip? Something to help you rest before Monday comes and you go back to being the big boss lady.” He laid his lips back on hers, letting her relax into the idea. “But for now, you can just let me take care of you.”

She considered his offer, her eyes locked on his. Those bright green emeralds laser-focused on him.

“I think that’s exactly what I need,” she whispered finally.

They never left the bedroom of the plane, instead taking off and flying in the privacy of the darkened room. No one bothered them; no one came to tell them they needed to put their seats in their upright positions. Elliot let the strangeness of the situation go, instead focusing on Julia and having her back in his arms after a long week without her.

“Did you at least get to enjoy seeing your father in London?” he asked.

They were sitting up now, he against the headboard, she cross-legged across from him. Her fingers toyed with his and he absently rubbed her thigh.

“I did.” She let out a small frustrated huff. “I was going to buy something while I was there and he bought it for himself instead.”

“You could have just outbid him, I’m sure,” he commented, reminding her of the time she outrageously outbid his offer on his grandmother’s house.

She sent him a droll look. “That would have seemed petty.” He shrugged, not agreeing or disagreeing with her. “Besides, he spends more time in London than I do, so it would have been inconvenient anyway.”

“What was it?” he asked.

“An art gallery.”

He only paused, his thigh rubbing for a scant second. “Would be hard to run an art gallery in London from Connecticut,” he agreed.

“I could have hired someone.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Elliot laughed, unable to hold it in any longer and Julia sent him a sour look. “What?” she asked.

“I’ve never seen you pout before.” He pinched her gently. “It’s very cute.”

* * *

Hours later, they were shown into a very luxurious beach house on a private island that Elliot was sure cost a fortune. It was all polished, dark Brazilian wood and open windows, and as he and Julia made their way to the bedroom, he could see through the open French doors that his first steps outside would be onto white sand.

“This place is unbelievable,” he muttered as the concierge brought their bags down a long hallway to what he assumed was the bedroom. When returned, he faced them both with a smile and a bow. “Is there anything else I can get you this evening?”

“No, thank you.” Julia told him.

“If there’s anything that you need, don’t hesitate to call.” He then showed himself out.

Without another word, Julia headed down the same hallway the concierge had disappeared down. After taking another awed look at his surroundings, Elliot followed.

“Will you unzip me?” Julia, back in her amazingly high heels, asked over her shoulder as he walked in. Her hair was held to the side in one of her fists and he instantly hardened, imagining doing the same.

He took the delicate zipper between his thumb and forefinger and slowly pulled it down. He could smell the slight scent of oranges, but he was more entranced with the natural scent of her skin, the way that Julia smelled on her own. The farther down the zipper went, he revealed the thin band of her bra and the small of her back. When it was open all the way, he slid his hands into the dress and over her shoulders. It fell easily from the top of her body as she pulled those tattooed arms out of the sleeves, and he helped her skim the material down her hips until it fell to the floor. When he looked down, she was still in her heels and that thong he’d complained about being in her bag.

“I recant my statement about the granny panties,” he growled as he slid his hands down to her hips.

“Unhook me,” she told him.

He did, her filmy bra coming off. She hung it on the door knob, turned around to face him and put a hand on his shoulder. He realized she was bracing herself as she slipped her shoes off.

“You have some catching up to do if you’re going to come swimming with me.” One of her heels clattered on the tile.

“Now?”

She shifted again and he heard the clack of the other shoe hitting the floor. Julia stood in front of him, hooking her thumbs in the sides of her panties and doing a little shimmy until they dropped to the floor.

“Now,” she confirmed before walking out the French doors and onto the beach.

Naked.

* * *

Elliot knew her and somehow had the magical ability to calm her anxiety.

Her feet, white sand between her toes, went from walking to running before she knew it, and she found herself streaking, naked, across the Caribbean sand, hair flying behind her. After the crushing disappointment of the sale not going through and her subsequent meltdown, running felt freeing. The air was heavy and hot, making her skin dewy under the moonlight, but Julia didn’t care. She was vibrating inside; a thousand emotions warred inside and she was still unsure what they all meant. She was so angry, furiously embarrassed yet strangely resolved, like she wasn’t that surprised. She was relieved Elliot had come when she’d called, needing his particular brand of stead and solid to settle her soul. She was excited that even though she’d been a mess, he’d still seen her as a woman. Her nerves still jangled like bells when she recalled the heated looks he’d sent her on the plane.

She let out a squeal when big arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Elliot laughed as he walked them into the water, her back against his chest.

“I hope this is a private beach, Shorty, or else the whole place just got one hell of a view,” he growled against her ear.

He let her feet down where the water lapped her knees and ran a few feet farther, doing a shallow dive into the surf. She held her breath and swam as far as she could, gliding through the warm water until she couldn’t anymore. When she surfaced and wiped the water from her face, she saw Elliot pop up not too far away. She gently paddled to him, wordlessly wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. She kissed him with every ounce of emotion she’d felt over the last few days of missing him, disappointment over the deal’s fallout, and the unbalance she felt over seeing her father. She poured everything she had into him and felt a wave of unexpected relief.

Elliot pulled her close and with his big hands on the backs of her thighs, encouraged her to wrap the rest of her body around him too. Her ankles hooked around his back, he slid one hand up to squeeze her backside and the other went directly to her core, his lips never leaving hers. There was no teasing this time, no wondering what he was going to go. He just slid his fingers inside her folds and found the spot that was sure to make her detonate. He stroked her, back and forth, while he squeezed her behind and his mouth devoured hers. Julia felt her orgasm building around him, squeezing him in a blazing rhythm. Her hips moved too, rubbing her sensitive flesh against his stomach as he worked her into a faster pace. She broke her mouth free, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she held on for dear life, her entire being shredded into a thousand pieces, mouth open on a soundless scream.

She kept her eyes closed while she collected herself and came down, Elliot peppering gentle kisses along the side of her face and down her nose.

“Thank you,” she whispered softly.

Elliot grunted. “It was a real hardship, but I got through it somehow.”

Before she could say anything else, he let her legs go, turning her around and pushing her up by the small of her back. With her head resting on his shoulder, she floated on the water in front of him.

“Now that is a beautiful sight,” he whispered. “No, don’t move,” he told her when she tried to look up to see. “I just want to sit here for a second and look at you in this incredible moonlight.”

And that’s what they did. For long, contemplative moments, they floated around the ocean, their bodies lapped by the gentle waves, and listened to the sound of nature. It was exactly what she hadn’t known she was looking for, and everything she’d needed in that moment.

“You sleeping on me, Shorty?” Elliot asked.

“No.” Her voice was quiet against the sound of the ocean.

“Are you done skinny dipping for tonight? Can we go inside so I can love you, now?”

He shifted in the water and she knew he was bringing them back to shore.

Hand in hand they climbed out of the water and up the beach, back through the open doors of the bedroom.

“Do you mind if I take a few minutes in the bathroom?” she asked.

He kissed her on the back of the head and swatted her behind. “No. I’ll be here when you get out.”

Julia went into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind her. She started the shower and looked at herself in the mirror, leaning on the counter. Was she ready for this? Could she give herself to him like this? Was she too vulnerable right now?

Cathy, her therapist, had suggested that waiting until she was absolutely sure was the best policy. Julia considered the last few weeks and the progression of her friendship with Elliot. Was she sure? Was the upheaval of her life already too much on her plate? Would adding sex into the mix confuse things?

Julia considered all that as she showered and dried herself, letting the normalcy of her routine quell her worry. Despite what she didn’t know about how things might turn out with Elliot or where their future might lead, she was sure about wanting him for herself. He’d been patient and giving, so far, content to let things unfold as naturally as they could. He hadn’t pressured her for more or seemed in any kind of hurry. She liked that—it evened out any anxiety she might have had about rushing out of her comfort zone. Even as she dried off, contemplating where things might go, the only part that worried her was not getting enough of him.

That seemed a sign all on its own. She wasn’t worried things would go bad or she’d be a disappointment to him. She worried they wouldn’t have enough time together or that she wouldn’t be able to touch him everywhere she wanted.

It suddenly seemed pointless to put on a bra or panties as she was just planning to take them off anyway so she didn’t bother. She grabbed one of the resort robes off the bathroom shelf and put it on before she walked out of the bathroom.

Elliot sat on a lounge chair on the bedroom patio, watching the ocean lazily lap the sand. He was also freshly showered and in nothing but a pair of gym shorts. His bare chest, adorned with a dark patch of hair, that ran all the way down though his abs, was clear in the moonlight. She’d never had much time to admire his body the way she’d like. He really was a beautiful man, tall, dark and handsome describing him perfectly.

“I’m not sure where you got clothes for me or how that all works, but thanks,” he said, his voice gruff before he opened his arms to her. She cuddled herself onto his lap and into his hold, watching the ocean with him. “This is nice,” he said.

“Mmm,” Julia hummed in agreement.

After a few minutes, he interrupted the mesmerizing sound of the crashing waves. “So, I wanted to tell you something.”

“Okay,” she answered hesitantly.

“I have this wedding to go to. It’s in Rhode Island on the beach in a couple months. I RSVP’d a few days ago and I put you as my plus one.”

She levered herself up, twisting around to look at him. “So, you’re planning on us being together in a couple months?”

“I hope we are.” She went to turn around but he stopped her. “That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to be clear that when we’re there, there’s no running down the beach naked.” He ran his hand down the lapel of her robe and pulled it open a little, his hand slipping in and cupping her breast. “No nighttime skinny dipping.”

“Okay,” she agreed, adjusting so that she was straddling him.

Elliot took advantage of the belt of the robe being in front of him and untied it, slipping the material over her shoulders until she dropped her arms and it fell away. Julia leaned in, taking his mouth. He tasted like toothpaste and absolute freedom, something she’d never sampled before. Now that she had, she wanted to binge on him, take him all in, and never let him back out again.

It sounded crazy when she thought about it, but she couldn’t talk herself out of it either. He was nothing she’d ever wanted, but everything she needed and she inhaled him, her hands holding his lips to hers. He was brute strength, using his force to carry her load when she asked. He was blistering anger, his piercing eyes daring anyone to hurt her. He was a heavy blanket of eroticism, letting her take charge at every turn, willing to surrender to her no matter the cost to him. They were sealed together now, their lips fused as they breathed the same air, and she did inhale him.

Elliot moved so quickly she didn’t know how he did it. One minute she was straddling him, the next she was being cradled in his arms and placed on a soft, white sheet as he lowered himself on top of her. His hands wandered to her breasts while she explored the muscles of his back and the heat of his skin against her. He thrust forward, pushing his length against her, sucking her neck and making her squirm. Needing more of him, she pushed both hands under his shorts, palming his backside. He maneuvered out of them quickly, levering up on his arms so he could see his hard length rubbing against her. His lips were red and wet; his breath sawed in and out of his lungs.

“That looks so incredible,” Elliot murmured.

She lifted her head to watch, amazed. She’d never seen someone that looked like Elliot, in any way. His body was all hard angles and bulky muscles, but there was a still a softness to him. His skin looked supple and warm, and she reached down, unable to help herself, stroking the length of him, touching herself in the process, causing Elliot to let out a low groan. Somehow, that sound made any nerves she may have been feeling fall away, leaving her with nothing but empowerment.

She’d done that. She’d made Elliot feel that way.

Julia bit her lower lip and looked up to see Elliot’s face. He was staring at her with those burning-hot, gray eyes, watching her intensely.

“Do you like to watch?” he growled.

“I don’t know,” she admitted as she stroked him again, unable to stop her eyes from darting down to see what she was doing. In that moment, there was nothing too personal. Nothing off-limits.

“You do,” he confirmed for her, his lips crashing onto hers for a searing openmouthed kiss. His tongue swiped quickly at hers, a teasing flick that had her trying to follow him when he pulled away. “You’re definitely a lights on kind of girl.”

Elliot rounded his back, sucking one ripe, pink nipple into his mouth. Julia felt like her body was attached to an electric current, charges running through her limbs. Every time he sucked, licked, or touched her she detonated, explosions combusting under her skin. She nearly came off the bed when Elliot took his length in his hand and gently tapped it against her. He looked up at her face to watch her reaction when he did it again.

“Amazing,” he told her encouragingly.

Elliot slid down between her legs and ran his hands up and down her thighs, spreading her open as far as he could, again studying her most intimate parts. He used his fingers and thumbs in his exploration, adding his nose and mouth and tongue, literally worshipping her. For the first time, she thought of reciprocating the act and her senses went into overdrive. She saw herself in the same position he was in, using her mouth and tongue in reverence. She caught fire then and flew over the cliff, the jump long and exhilarating, the splash of relief not coming until after a free-fall that had her lungs heaving as she screamed his name.

While she recovered, Elliot arranged her where he wanted which thrilled her immensely. For some reason, she liked the idea of Elliot using her for his pleasure, she wanted that for him and for her. He hauled her up to straddle his thighs as he sat up and then pushed her back so she leaned on her hands.

“Now we can both watch,” he explained, panting and using his fingers to spread her open.

He was on fire when he thrust into her and she parted open like a flower for him. The scorching brand of his gaze was nothing compared to how he felt seated inside her. Now he was a part of her, stretching her to limits she didn’t know she had but wanting more nonetheless.

“You feel so good,” Elliot whispered, pulling her body up with a hand at the small of her back, holding her still on his lap. There was a thin sheen of sweat across his brow and beading on his chest.

“Why’d you stop?” she panted, trying to move her hips to get him moving again.

He didn’t answer, just grabbed her with both arms and pulled her to him, her arms around his neck, her legs wrapped around his waist.

That’s when it happened—she’d think later. That was the moment she fell, when he’d grabbed her and she’d wrapped herself in the safety of his embrace. That was the moment she’d given herself to him completely. He moved his hips at the same time she did, grinding against each other, grabbing each other’s skin, possibly holding on for dear life.

She started to climb again, her insides tightening on him as he pounded inside her. He watched where they were joined together, his head tilted down. As they moved, her breasts scraped against the stubble on his face and he squeezed her behind again, pumping into her until she gasped her way into a dizzying release. It came on suddenly, enough to catch her off guard and he held her tightly, groaning and thrusting once more.

They panted on the bed, intertwined for a long moment, catching their breaths and maybe taking stock of what had just happened.

“That was the most amazing experience of my life,” he ground out, almost sounding annoyed.

“Mine too,” she admitted. “I want to do it again.”