Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (16 page)

             
Julian pulled harder. She was really gapping. Her breathing became short, sharp gasps for air and she couldn’t concentrate on anything more than the fire inside her. It was almost more than she could take. She wanted to beg him to stop, but his head had moved between her legs, and she knew he was staring inside her. His gentle, deep moans told her he liked it. The sting of her stretching pussy coupled with his primal sound, drove her wild with desire. Julian gave one last force and Eva screamed. It made her eyes water and she panted heavily.

             
‘Good girl. You’re doing brilliantly. I know it hurts, but it will be worth it. I promise.’

Eva smiled.
She believed him, and right now, she wanted it more than anything in the world.

             
Julian pushed his tongue against her trembling clitoris and licked her with long, even strokes. Fast and hard. His thumbs locked in their silky destination, violating her dignity for her own pleasure. It didn’t hurt anymore. It was just raw, overwhelming pleasure. Julian’s warm lips closed around her clit and sucked hard. She couldn’t hold back anymore. Her pelvis bucked and quivered against him as a massive, uncontrollable orgasm rippled through her body.

             
Julian released his grip of her. Her eyes were closed but she could feel him watching her as she lay trembling with pleasure beneath him. He moved just enough to lie beside her, kissing her cheek softly. Eva’s heart was pounding so hard, she was worried it might break a rib. The sensation of moments before, mixed with the realisation of what she had just done made her feel a bit sick. Eva shakily pulled her clothes back on and sat on the edge of the bed. She still wasn’t relaxed but clothes helped avoid a complete freak out.

             
‘I hope I didn’t hurt you too much.’

‘It’s ok
ay,’ Eva said, the ache of the pressure slowly fading between her legs.

‘I wanted to show you how strong it can be.’

Eva turned back to face him. She smiled. Strong was good. She liked strong.

‘It gets better but we’re not quite there yet. It’ll be fun though, just wait.’

Eva raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

             
The doorbell rang before she had time to ask for details.

‘Fuck.’ Eva hisse
d. ‘Hold that thought, yeah?’ She awkwardly pulled on her clothes almost hopping on one leg as she struggled to gain speed.

Julian didn’t take his eyes off her and his
prurient smile told her she wasted her breath on the question.

‘As you wish.
’ Julian winked.

             
Eva opened the door and prepared to tell whatever sales rep she found herself faced with that she wasn’t interested in a shiny pen set or knifes as sharp as Samurai Swords. She wasn’t expecting to find her colleague and new friend, drenched and pitiful on her doorstep.

             
Eva glanced at her watch. It was almost ten. What was Nathan doing here?

‘I was just in the neighbourhood and I wanted to check that you’re ok
ay,’ he said as if he read her mind.

             
Eva glanced back at the couch where Julian lay, wearing just his work trousers with the top button still undone. Damn open-plan design she thought, afraid to open the door any wider. She really didn’t want Nathan to see Julian. She wasn’t quite sure why, but something told her it wasn’t a good idea for them to meet - not tonight, not like this.

‘Erm thanks. I’m fine.’ Eva really didn’t know what to say.

‘No. Shit. That’s a lie. Man, I’m crap at this. I wasn’t in the neighbourhood. I just made that up to sound less pathetic, and here I am now sounding exactly that.’ Nathan ran his hand roughly across his head, tossing his messy curls.’

Eva lowered her head to hide a
little giggle. He was adorably helpless.

‘But I really did want to check
to see if you were okay. You know, after feeling sick earlier and all.’

             
Eva was smiling, but she wasn’t talking. While it was very sweet, it was all a bit awkward and she was overly aware that Julian had started to move around behind her. She hoped he was getting dressed. She couldn’t turn around to check, it would be too obvious. She didn’t want to make Nathan uncomfortable. Hell, who was she kidding? She didn’t want to make herself uncomfortable. She crossed her fingers that Julian would stay put, and they could avoid possibly the world’s most awkward introduction ever.

             
‘Thanks. I’m okay now. You really didn’t have to come all this way to check. Thanks though.’

‘Good. I’m glad.’

Eva smiled more, and nodded, while keeping her hand firmly on the door. She waited for Nathan to say goodbye. She waited, and waited more.

Her heart was beginning to race. Julian was coming; he was actually coming to see who was at the door…in her house. Christ he was ballsy. Or maybe he was just coming to check and see if she was alright. She had been standing in the doorway a long time.

              Eva pulled the door over slightly, sliding to the side to remain visible to Nathan.

‘I
think I just need a good night’s sleep. I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning.’

‘Hope so. You looked as white a ghost earlier. Can I get you anything? Pop to the shop for you?’

              Ordinarily, Eva would have melted like an ice cube with Nathan’s generous offer, but right now she really wished he would take the hint and bugger off.

‘No. I’m fine, honestly. Just going to head to bed.’ Eva added a huge yawn for authentication.

‘Good, Good.’ Nathan finally began to back away. ‘Well, if you need anything, you have my number. Just give me a call.

‘I will. I promise…bye.’

              Eva didn’t have his number but she really didn’t want to correct him. She felt bad enough that she would have to face him at work tomorrow after blatantly lying to his face, she certainly wouldn’t be calling him in the meantime to make things worse.

             
‘Goodnight, Eva,’ Nathan said slowly walking away.

Eva’s tense shoulders relaxed but the rest of her body didn’t. She was riddled with guilt. This must be what it feels like to be a bitch, she thought.
God, how does Mia do it?

             
Eva yelped as Julian’s hand slapped her backside. She lost her grip on the door. Julian caught it, kissed her on the cheek and pulled the door back, fully open.

‘Cheers for that earlier, mate,
’ Julian said, his hand firmly attached to Eva’s ass.

Nathan had turned around
, hearing Eva’s tiny shriek. The two men were face to face. Eva forced an oversized lump of air down her throat and rattled her brain for an excuse to offer Nathan. Damn, she couldn’t think. Her mind was completely taken over by the thought of where Julian’s hand rested. She knew Nathan couldn’t see but that made no difference.

             
‘You know each other?’ she all but whimpered.

‘Your friend was looking for di
rections to your place, earlier,’ Nathan said.

Eva shook her head and glanced back at Julian.

‘I gave you my address already,’ she said a little confused. Had he come by the office looking for her?
Oh God.
She’d had a super-hot guy turn up at her work place.
Oh holy shit
. She really hoped Mia had seen it.

‘Yeah I know
, but I was passing and I thought directions wouldn’t hurt. You were on lunch or something but Nate was great. He knows Dublin like the back of his hand.’

‘Never head of Google maps,’ Nathan mumbled
, and Eva caught Julian throw him a narrow-eyed glare. She coughed roughly and tried to ignore her ever quickening pulse.

             
‘It was a game of Hide and Seek trying to find you,’ Julian said, attempting breezy but Eva could hear the undertone of irritation in his tone. ‘Nate here was like a personal Sat Nav.’

Eva really didn’t want to talk about Julian’s stupid games. Not in front of Nathan.

‘It’s Nathan, actually,’ Nathan replied, though an odd crackling in his voice made him hard to understand.

‘Oh shit sorry, man. Didn’t mean to offend. Cheers for earlier, Nat-h-an.’

Julian sounded out the syllables of Nathan’s name as if they were painful between his lips.

             
Eva knew from Julian’s approach he didn’t think much of Nathan. He had a diabolical dress sense and his body language screamed nervous virgin. Eva thought it was endearing but she knew Julian would think it was pathetic. In fact, she knew most people probably would.

             
Julian’s hand moved from Eva’s bottom and crept around her waist. His other arm followed and he pulled her close to him. Nathan stared, his discomfort written all over his face. Julian kissed Eva softly on the cheek, his lips lingering much longer than necessary. He was making a point, Eva knew. Nathan would have to be stupid not to miss it, but there really was no need, she decided - almost angrily. Almost. Eva’s attention was drawn again to Nathan’s puppy dog eyes. He wasn’t a threat. He was just a nice guy and Eva hated to upset him.

             
‘You looked so pale earlier, I was really worried. But you’re flushed now. Nathan’s palm swept across her cheek but Eva was distracted by Julian exhaling deeply and raising himself to his full height.

‘Do you have a temperature?’
Nathan continued.

Eva didn’t think it was possible to feel any more guilty, but Nathan’s genuine concern was like torture.

             
Julian laughed. A dry, undisguised laugh. ‘She’s hot all right,’ he said.

Eva caught them exchange glances but they both looked away before she had time to introduce them properly to one and other. Nathan took a couple of steps backwards, just enough for Eva to notice his slim, average-height physic.

‘Goodnight, Eva. I’m glad you’re not really ill.’

He walked away. Fast this time. His head was down and he never looked back.

              ‘That guys a drip, Evangeline. You can’t seriously like him,’ Julian said as they walked back into the sitting room.

Julian was sexy and vibrant and made her feel alive. More alive than she had ever been, but suddenly it wasn’t fun anymore. It killed her that Nathan was upset and she was the cause. Julian’s touch wasn’t fun if it was at someone else’s expense. Eva suddenly began to wonder if she had spent the evening with the right man.

              ‘Not everyone is as confident as you, Julian.’

‘You are. You just don’t know it yet.’

‘Enough with the games. I get it. You’re going to change me. I’m going to be a better person for it, blah, blah, blah. Maybe I like the way I am now…huh? Did you think of that?’

Julian’s lips moved but Eva cut across him before sound came out. ‘I’m just like Nathan. Can’t you see that? If he’s boring...then I’m boring too.’

‘There was nothing boring about you in there.’ Julian pointed towards Eva’s bedroom. ‘Or here.’ He tilted his head towards the couch.

Eva liked confident, sexy Julian. She didn’t like cocky, arrogant, complete dickhead Julian. Maybe she had made a horrible mistake. Julian was trying to ma
ke her something she wasn’t. She already didn’t recognise herself.

             
‘I’ve got to go,’ Eva said, chewing her lip.

Julian’s jaw tightened and his brow narrowed. Christ, he could even make disapproving look sexy. He fell back onto the couch. The cushions exhaled a sudden puff under his weight. He draped one elbow over the back and picked up his barely touched glass of champagne in the other.

‘Now. Julian. I’m serious.’

              Julian caught her hand as she brushed passed him. ‘Don’t do this, Evangeline. He’s not worth it.’

Eva yanked her hand free from his grip. ‘Why? Because you say so?’

Eva stared at Julian. She expected a response. Some sort of apology. Maybe then she would have stayed. Julian didn’t flinch.

‘He’s upset. I need to check if he’s ok
ay,’ she snapped.

‘You bar
ely know the guy.’

‘I bar
ely know you.’

             
The conversation came to an abrupt halt. Eva really wished she hadn’t said that. And now she was about to walk out on the hottest guy she had ever seen. She desperately wanted to pounce on him, rip his trousers open and fuck him until he exploded. But she was a good girl, and deep-down, she knew she couldn’t allow desire to suppress all her usual instincts.

             
Eva stopped at the door and inhaled so hard her lungs ached. She looked back at Julian for a brief moment. He casually shrugged his shoulders. Cocky bastard, she thought, trying not to let just a glimpse of his face distract her. Was this part of the game, she wondered. If she left the apartment, would she lose?
Fuck it
. It was game over as soon as Nathan turned up on her door step.