Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (13 page)

Eva took Julian’s, still full, glass out of his hand and rested it on the table. She threw her leg over his, straddling him - wobbly.

‘So you think you’re the boss,’ she said.

‘I’m not? Julian replied casually.

‘Let’s just see about that.’

              Eva unbuttoned his shirt, two and three buttons at a time, stopping to rub sweet kisses against his chest. Julian took a deep breath and eased his back further against the soft cushions behind. The last buttons were stubborn but Eva won and tugged his shirt aggressively off and tossed it to the floor. The force left faint red marks on his wrists, and Eva dotted her lips along the pinched lines and slowly kissed them better.

             
He liked it, Eva knew. She could feel him grow beneath her. She pushed her weight harder onto him and ground her ass slowly against his throbbing cock.

‘Don’t tease, Evangeline
,’ Julian warned.

‘Who’s teasing?’ She smiled, grinding just a little more.

‘I can’t,’ Julian whispered softly. ‘You’re not ready.’

‘I am. I really am.’

              Julian caught Eva’s wrist and flipped her on to the sheepskin rug on the floor. She landed roughly and looked up at him, uncertain. She worried he was angry, maybe she was too assertive. Some men don’t like that, a friend had warned her about it once when she was in high school.

Eva lay still, her mind racing in anticipation of Julian’s next move. A mild, summer wind had picked up outside and it distracted her for a moment a
nd she felt a chill as it whispered against the window. Goosebumps lined her body as the cold of the timber floor penetrated the rug beneath her. She shivered a little but she never took her eyes off Julian.

             
Julian kneeled between her legs. He was steady and moving slowly. Lustfully slow, and it took Eva a moment to realise her mouth was open. She shut it again but the anticipation didn’t disappear.
Fuck he was hot
. She’d never seen anyone with such a perfect face before. She’d always been so sure of her type. The sweet and baby faced, be your best friend type. But Julian didn’t fit the bill. In fact, he was so far the opposite, it was scary. He was a man’s man, and, even though it shocked the hell out of her, she liked it, she liked him - a lot.

             
She couldn’t take her eyes off his strong and toned body hiding behind his impeccable, tailored suit. A small scar above his left eyebrow and a five o’clock shadow along his firm jawline offered him an alluring ruggedness that was hard to resist. His dark skin contrasted against her peaches and cream complexion like the perfect compliment. She ran the tip of her finger over the simple, black horseshoe tattooed on his left peek.

             
‘What’s this?’ she asked softly, aware that she was prying.

‘A tattoo.’
Julian smirked.

‘Ha ha, very fu
nny. I know that. I mean, what is it?’

‘It’s a horseshoe, Evangeline.’

Eva shook her head and smiled. ‘I mean, what does it symbolise? Or is it just that you like horses, or something?’

Julian exhaled slowly and his dark chocolate eyes glistened as he stared into
Eva’s. He cupped her hand in the palm of his and pressed his moist lips softly against her wrist leaving a single kiss.

             
‘You’re the first person to ever ask me that,’ Julian said, still holding her hand. ‘I do like horses but that’s not what it’s about.’

Eva chewed her bottom lip and held her breath. He was actually about to tell her something about himself, she hoped she didn’t look too shocked.

‘You can start up here.’ Julian placed his finger against her wrist and began to trace a shape on her skin. ‘And in the blink of an eye, without warning, you can drop to the bottom.’ His finger slowly ran down her skin. ‘But that doesn’t define who you are, Evangeline. It’s the climb back to the top, that defines who you are. And how high you climb is up to you.’ His finger completed the pattern of an invisible horseshoe as he softly spoke out his action. ‘Down, around and back up…understand?’

             
Eva pushed her lips tight together and forced an uncomfortable bubble of air down her throat. She’d been climbing for a long time but, she was no closer to the top. She sniffled and looked up to meet his stare. She didn’t want him to notice her getting upset, but she wasn’t hiding it as well as she’d like to.

H
e pulled her closer to him and Eskimo kissed her playfully. ‘The past doesn’t define you.’

             
The lump of air in Eva’s throat hurt. Was he telling her something about himself or something about her? Damn, he was as smart as he was gorgeous. And my God was he gorgeous, Eva thought, beginning to undress him with her eyes, but Julian noticed the naughty gleam in her eye.

             
‘Something I can help you with, Evangeline?’ he asked.

Eva froze. He knew what she was thinking? Of course he knew. She wanted him, it was obvious. And now she was his prey. She hop
ed he’d tease her first like an untamed beast. Christ, her face stung just thinking about it. Julian took her hands in his and placed her fingers over the buckle on his belt.

             
‘It’s okay, no inhibitions, remember?’

Eva began to slide the leather back through the buckle, he
r fingers trembling and turning it into a huge task. Julian was patient and waited, very still. His heart and breath were calm and controlled. Eva envied his composure. Her heart raced like a runaway train and her breathing, well, she considered herself lucky she didn’t pass out. She pulled his belt free from the loops of his trousers and placed it gently on the rug beside her. Her lips pressed against his firm, tanned stomach before her head had time to think. It was instinctive. She was so turned on she couldn’t resist her desires. Her body was in control, her mind wouldn’t dare argue.

             
The dark, neat, hair around his bellybutton led a teasing trail to the button of his trousers. Eva’s fingers followed the inviting path. She tugged gently on the button but Julian’s hands clasped hers and forced them down by her side. He lowered his chest to meet hers and pressed his lips firmly against her open mouth. His kisses were more aggressive now. His moist lips forced against hers told her his patience was wilting. If he wanted her so badly why was he was still playing games? Eva smiled as she tasted his anxious tongue, she was beginning to understand games were in his nature.

             
Julian’s hands reached behind Eva’s back. He grabbed a single ass cheek firmly with one hand and waited. Eva’s breath quickened with anticipation. The corner of her lips twisted into a tiny smile. She guessed his next move and the thrill of being a step ahead was exhilarating. His hand over her ass wouldn’t be enough for him. It was too subtle for him. She was right. His other hand slowly crept inside her tracksuit bottoms. His fingers were momentarily restrained by the tight elastic. He pulled his mouth free from Eva’s and looked into her eyes. She nodded. Julian pushed and his whole hand was inside her pants, cupping her.

‘No knickers, Evangeline. You never stop surprising me.’ A wicked twinkle danced in his eyes.

              Eva cringed. She was in such a hurry to get dressed and follow him, she’d forgotten her bloody underwear. And now he’d think it was part of the game. It wasn’t, it really wasn’t. Eva fought the lump growing in her throat.

             
Julian ran the tip of his nose against the bridge of Eva’s and softly kissed his way down her neck, stopping just above her collar bone before switching to the other side.

‘You truly surprise the hell out of me, Evangeline,’ he said between soft caresses of his warm lips against her tingling skin.

Eva shrugged gently. It was habit to shake off compliments. Instinct almost.

‘If you’d just relax for more than five seconds
, maybe you’d surprise yourself. You might even see how fucking amazing you are. ‘

A tiny shiver settled at the nap
e of Eva’s neck.

‘But that’s my challenge, Evangeline. I’m going to show you just how amazing you are. Starting tonight.
’

Now relax. You’ll like this - I promise.’

              Eva did as she was told. She sighed heavily and surrendered her body to him. He pushed his hand just a fraction lower and paused for a second before slipping two fingers deep inside her. Eva winced at the sting of the stretch. His hands were huge; she wasn’t used to so much pressure. It burned. She wanted to pull away from him but his body pinned her to the spot.

She whimpered like a wounded animal but Julian’s kisses softened and his lips told her it was ok
ay.

‘Stop, wait
,’ Eva pleaded. ‘Let me get used to you.’

             
Julian’s fingers stilled, he left them idle inside her with no force. Eva slowly relaxed. The pain eased. She trusted him. She trusted this new man more than she had ever trusted anyone in her life. Julian’s kisses continued, warm and gentle. He never coerced her. He just waited. The pain stopped, but the stretch remained. A hot, intense pressure. She wanted more, much, much more. She slowly ground her hips from side to side. Each time Julian’s fingers dared moved, Eva would stop, inhale sharply and try not to tense.

             
Julian took his lips from hers and ran them down the side of her neck. His hot breath hovered over her ear every so often.

‘We can take this as slow as you need to, just enjoy me.’ Julian promised.

Eva closed her eyes and relaxed. A heat was building inside her as her aching muscles clenched around his fingers. Pleasure darted like a powerful waterfall cascading through her body. She was close, right on the edge. Her breath quickened and a hot flush teased her face.

             
‘Not yet, Evangeline. Hold it.’

Eva tried. She was panting now
; she was so close, she didn’t think she could hold back much longer but she desperately wanted to do as he asked.

‘Just a little more. Wait…wait…good girl.’

Eva pouted instinctively and exhaled in short, rapid breaths.

Julian’s fingers pushed just a fraction deeper and curled l
ike a question mark. His fingertips knew their way and pushed excitedly against her spot. Her orgasm exploded like the pop of a cork from a champagne bottle and intense pleasure fizzed through her in tiny bubbles of ecstasy.

‘That’s it…keep going. You’re so fucking beautiful when you come.’

Eva squirmed and bucked against his hand. The pleasure was more than she could handle.

             
Finally she wilted and felt heavy as the tension faded and she regained control of her own body.

‘Oh my God, oh my God.’ She knew there had to be better words, but there was no way her flab
bergasted mind could search for them. She did well just to function at all.

             
‘I told you you’d like it,’ Julian said, a triumphant smirk lit up his face.

Julian rested his hand between her breasts. Her heart raced against his palm. She loved being this close to him. She loved that just the simple touch of his hand could make her feel safe - wanted.

              ‘More?’ Julian shrugged his brow and invited Eva to touch him.

Eva’s hands, exhausted, reached for Julian’s trousers. Her hand brushed against his rock hard erection. She wanted to see it. She wanted to expose his body and examine every inch of his skin.

              The button on Julian’s trousers wobbled in place as Eva’s fingers rushed. The crisp snap of the zip being opened made Eva nervous. But she couldn’t help smile when she found dark navy boxers. The fitted jersey material clung to Julian’s cock like a naughty teaser. She could see his size, his firm, wide size. Christ she wanted him. She wanted to feel him inside her. She was so wet, she could feel the warm silky moisture between her legs.

             
She tucked her thumbs inside the light grey trim on the top of Julian’s boxers and began to tug. His hands grabbed hers roughly and raised them to his mouth, kissing each hand in turn.

‘Not now, Evangeline. I told you
, it’s too soon.’

‘Too soon?’ Eva repeated
, trying not to reveal how confused she felt.

‘Because you’re not ready for me. I’ll hurt you.’

‘It’s okay,’ Eva said slightly scared that he was right.

             
‘No.’ Julian was blunt. There was no arguing with him. Eva felt hideously deflated. They had come this far. He had taken over her body. She had let him. He had watched her come and fall into his arms but she was being refused the same courtesy. She was angry, hurt, upset. She didn’t know what she was. Mostly she was uncomfortable. She gave it up so easily. Julian, a fucking escort had more shelf-control. But she wasn’t easy, she wasn’t that kind of girl. What the hell did he do to her? She barely recognised herself around him. Damn him and his ridiculously hot bloody everything.