Julian gaped at me. I was pretty sure this was the first time I’d seen him truly shocked.

My own books seemed to be haunting me everywhere I went these days and I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. When he thought I was stealing the stories for Elodie’s anecdotes, I had to tell him the truth. They were my books. I’d written them. And I was damn proud of what I’d created.

“You wrote those books?” Julian questioned. “Seriously?” He didn’t sound disbelieving, but it definitely knocked him a little.

“Yes,” I said, sheepish. “And I didn’t inherit my house from my grandmother either.”

He ran a hand through his hair, then dropped back down onto his bed. “No, I don’t imagine you did.”

He stared at the wall for a second, then brought his gaze to me. “So, all that time you spend alone in your house, you don’t just talk to Rainbow and Skittles. You write books?”

“Uh huh.”

A slow smile crept across his face. “You’re an international bestselling author.”

“Yes.”

His smile transformed into a full-on grin. “That’s incredible, Ellen.” A moment of quiet fell between us before he spoke again. “But, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell anyone.”

I gave a humourless laugh. “It doesn’t exactly come up a lot in conversation, not that I have many casual conversations with people.”

Julian stared at me in fascination, like all the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place for him. “You’re amazing.”

“I make stuff up for a living. I’m pretty good at it, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s amazing.”

He stood, took my face in his hands and gazed right into my eyes. “Ellen, you are the most amazing, interesting, and unexpected person I’ve ever met.”

I swallowed. “That’s…um, thanks.”

His lips curved appreciatively as he whispered, “You’re welcome,” then he took my mouth in a deep, sensual, mind-melting kiss. My knees almost went out from under me. It was a good thing he lifted me, turned us then threw me onto the bed. I heaved a shaky breath as he crawled up my body and kissed me again just as deeply.

“Wait, wait,” I breathed. “We can’t.”

He stroked my hair away from my face, his voice low and husky. “Why can’t we?”

“B-because this isn’t an arranged meeting. It’s unofficial.”

“Unofficial sex is the best kind,” he countered and planted kisses down my neck. I moaned and threw my head back, unable to help myself. We’d only spent one night together, but I was already addicted to his kisses, his touch.

He was under my skin, in my veins.

When I closed my eyes at night, all I saw was him. He invaded my heart and soul. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. This wasn’t just about sex, it was about the very heart of Julian.

Ever since I met him, my life had opened up, like a rose coming into bloom.

He licked his way from my throat to my earlobe, whispering, “I hope you’re ready for this, Ellen, because I’m going to fucking eat you alive.”

I shivered.

Julian peeled away my shirt and unhooked my bra in a matter of seconds. The cool air hit my skin and my nipples instantly hardened. He removed my glasses then kissed his way down my chest, taking a nipple in his mouth. A whoosh of air escaped me at the soft, wet pressure of his tongue.

His eyes flicked up, and I was hooked. He was all predator and I was all willing victim.

He released my nipple with a pop. His voice was rich, dark, like expensive whiskey. “What shall I do with you now?”

My throat went dry. I lay immobile and forced myself to reply. “Do whatever you want with me.”

His eyes were dazzling, his lips curving in a way that told me that was the right answer. “As you wish.”

Quick as a flash he flipped me over. I felt his mouth at my calf, then it moved up to the back of my thigh. His lips whispered across the crest of my bottom and I grew wet. From behind, his fingers slipped between my legs, testing, searching. He pulled down the elastic of my knickers and kissed the spot at the very base of my spine. It sent a shimmering, tickling sensation right up my back, lingering in the curve of my neck.

I made a sound like guh as I pressed my face into his pillow. It smelled like him, and I was drowning, no hope of swimming to the surface.

“So soft.” His hand moved further between my legs; he pulled my underwear down and threw them to the floor. Skin to skin, he touched the folds of my sex and I undulated beneath him. He slid two fingers inside me and I cried out. My body wasn’t accustomed to being touched like this, so everything he did was magnified.

He bit my bottom and I let out a surprised yelp. Julian grazed his teeth along my hip, a growl emanating from deep in his throat. Breathless, I turned around to face him. His pale skin had hints of olive tones, his torso muscular but not overly so. I soaked in the sight of him. It was one of the few times I’d seen an almost naked male body up close and I was a little mesmerised.

“Can I just…look at you for a second?”

His eyes were pure sin as he repeated my own words back at me. “You can do whatever you want to me.”

I let my head fall back into the pillows and just, well, stared. Julian rose to stand at the foot of the bed, his hands going to his trousers. He undid the fly and pushed them down. In nothing but his boxer briefs, his erection was evident and my cheeks heated. Julian held my gaze, practically reading my mind as he pushed his boxers down to reveal his throbbing cock. My eyelids fluttered, and I lowered my gaze, unable to help gawking.

Every part of him was beautiful. It was clear why women paid to sleep with him. He was the man of your fantasies, the one you had sexy dreams about. When you woke up, you willed yourself back to sleep.

He merely stood there, letting me look my fill, but the expression on his face was what captivated me most of all. He appeared fascinated by my appreciation of his naked form.

“Is it okay if I touch you?”

His eyes heated. “You don’t have to ask permission, Ellen.”

I reached out and ran my hand along the V at his hip, then up to stroke his abdomen, and higher to his pectoral. His chest rose and fell, and I wondered if he was feeling this as intensely as I was. I pressed my lips to his stomach and his muscles jumped. When I looked up to check if I’d done anything wrong, his face was a picture of male need.

He wanted me.

It was a powerful feeling, to be wanted.

“Julian?”

“Yes?” he breathed.

I swallowed, forcing myself to be brave when I said, “I want you to fuck me.”

In a heartbeat he was on me, our skin flush. I adored the feel of him, his heat, his hardness against my softness. I felt his cock press against my inner thigh, his hips moving in a slow, hypnotic rhythm while he kissed and sucked at my neck.

He reached for his dresser, opened the drawer and pulled out a condom. I watched, riveted, while he tore it open and slid it on. It was something he’d probably done a thousand times before, but I didn’t want to think about that. Besides, what was transpiring between us felt too important, too real. Anything that happened in the past didn’t matter.

It was just us. Here. Now.

“Still okay?” he asked as he readied to push inside me.

I bit my lip and nodded, tensing up a little. Julian shook his head. “That won’t do. I want you relaxed.” He reached down between our bodies and fingered my clit. My eyes rolled back in my head. He nipped my chin, his voice raspy. “Come for me.”

His movements sped up and I came in a quick, intense burst. He obviously had magic fingers. I was languid now, my body ready for him. He didn’t give me a chance to come down from my high, instead thrusting inside of me. Involuntarily, I moaned and gripped his shoulders.

“Give me your eyes, Ellen,” he coaxed.

I met his gaze and he thrust into me deep. I felt a stretch, my body expanding for him, welcoming him. He never looked away while he fucked me, and I was captured in his spell. I suspected sex with Julian wasn’t like ordinary sex. It was an experience, almost a performance on his part. One where he gave you his entire self and demanded all of you in return.

I was his, completely and irrevocably.

Julian gripped my thigh, hitching it up and around his hip so that he could enter me from a deeper angle.

“Oh, my G…” I gasped, unable to finish the sentence when he swallowed my words with a kiss. His tongue plundered my mouth with abandon, his hips pounding wildly.

My inner muscles tightened around him and he groaned loudly into our kiss, his lips sliding lusciously from my mouth, across my cheek and to my ear where he whispered, “Your pussy likes me.”

God, he really knew how to talk dirty. And he sounded so pleased with himself.

He bent to suck my nipple, swirling his tongue in a circle then giving it a little bite.

I whimpered. “J-Julian.”

“I love how my name sounds on your sexy mouth.” He laved attention on the other breast, hand reaching up to grip my neck. His fingertips dug in as his thrusts quickened. I was mesmerised.

Was he going to come?

Julian gathered my hair in his fist and gave a little tug. I emitted a startled moan, the pain he gave mixing with the pleasure. Goose bumps covered my skin when he kissed my lips, softly, sweetly, then came with a whispered, raspy, “Fuck.”

He fell on top of me and my body savoured his hot, sweaty weight. His smelled like pure man. I swore you could bottle and sell the stuff.

He rolled us so we switched and I was on top of him. He was still trying to catch his breath when he asked, “Can you go again?”

I giggled. “You’re insatiable.”

He smirked. “Something like that.”

“Just…give me a moment.”

His deep chuckle vibrated through my body as his arms came around me, hugging tight. “That good, huh?”

“Good is too tame a word,” I said, suddenly shy.

His hand sunk into my hair, gently stroking. “Compliments like that are always welcome.”

“I can’t believe we just did that.”

His ran his nose along the side of my neck. “I’m not even done with you yet.”

A grin tugged at my lips. “You’re aren’t?”

His smile was devilish. “Not by a long shot.”

“You have a very impressive sexual appetite, Mr. Fairchild.”

“It’s a good thing, too,” he purred. “I have so much to teach you.”

He flipped us again, lowered his head between my legs and proceeded to give me my second orgasm of the night, this time with his mouth.