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  “He sounds a little like a mobster.” She’d seen the man but hadn’t actually talked to him. Big Tag didn’t wait to be seated. There was a table that was always held open for him and he knew the way.

  “I think Big Tag would say he knows the power of influence. He wouldn’t ever use a person’s sexual proclivities against them, but it does give him the chance to sit at the bar with some people who can do his business an enormous amount of good,” Javier explained.

  Rather like her mother. Her mother could work a relationship like no one she’d ever seen. Right up to the point that relationship became inconvenient.

  A clap of thunder shook the house and she jumped.

  Javier put down the glass and moved to her again, his hands on her arms. “Hey, it’s okay. You really don’t like storms.”

  She hated being weak. “I’m good.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re shaking.” He took the glass out of her hand and drew her in, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s okay. Let me take care of you. You helped me out that night, and don’t think I don’t see you trying to help my brother. I’ll stay with you. You don’t have to worry.”

  Those big arms came around her and she was completely enveloped in his warmth. She knew she should step back. She had to work with this man, but she couldn’t. He felt way too good. She liked him. He was a nice guy, and according to rumors he’d slept with coworkers before and hadn’t had a problem with them afterward. A couple of waitresses, one of the hostesses who’d moved on.

  He’d come looking for her. He’d come with wine and now he was giving her physical attention. Surely that meant he’d come over looking for some attention himself.

  It wasn’t wrong to tilt her head up, to look up at that gorgeous face of his. Somehow in the candlelight it felt right to hold on to him.

  He looked down at her and she caught the moment he went from “guy giving girl comfort” to “guy who might get some comfort of his own.” His eyes seemed to darken, the arms around her tightening slightly like he didn’t want to let her get away. “Juliana, you shouldn’t look at me like that, sweetheart.”

  “Why shouldn’t I?” She couldn’t stop staring at his lips. It had been too damn long since a man had kissed her.

  “Because it could get you in trouble. It could make me think things I shouldn’t.”

  Yes, this was what she needed. There was zero question he was rejecting her. He’d come here for this, for her. It didn’t mean more than they both needed someone tonight and that was okay. “What would you think? What would you think if I went on my toes and did this?”

  She pressed up and brushed her lips over his, an easy affection. It was over almost before it began, but she felt a shudder go through his big body.

  “Yeah, that might make me think about doing this,” he whispered before his arms moved, hands coming up to cup the sides of her face. His fingertips brushed over her skin before he tightened his hold and dipped his head down. His mouth covered hers, lips aligning with perfection.

  He moved his mouth on hers, easing into the kiss. He took his time, gentle at first, and then she felt the warmth of his tongue requesting entry. There was no way she would keep him out. Somewhere in the background she could hear the rain pounding against the roof, but it wasn’t a thing to be afraid of now. Now it made the world seem cozy and safe. She wasn’t alone for the night. She didn’t even have to contemplate it. No worries, just this.

  His tongue slid, dancing with hers. She let him lead, giving over completely because it felt good to not be in charge. He showed her how to move, gently nudging her this way or that.

  When he moved away, she was breathless.

  He stared down at her as though memorizing her face. The man knew how to make a woman feel like she was the center of the world. She could see why women fell in line to wait for a chance to spend the night with him.

  “I didn’t intend to do this tonight,” he said, one side of his mouth curling up in the sexiest grin she’d ever seen.

  “But you intended to do it?” She hadn’t missed his wording.

  He smoothed her hair down before running his hands along her back and bringing their bodies together.

  Damn but that felt good. Her skin was heating up, nipples starting to peak. Her brain was going a little fuzzy and it had nothing at all to do with the wine.

  “Yes, I did,” he admitted, his voice low and deep. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, moving down toward her nose. Each caress was soft and sweet. “I knew I was going to try to seduce you fairly early on. I have to admit I’ve been a little obsessed with you these last few weeks. You’re very different from other women I’ve known.”

  He brushed his mouth over hers and then kissed along her jaw.

  She could barely get the question out. “How am I different? Not as blonde as your usual?”

  “I don’t have a type like that, sweetheart.” His lips trailed to her ear, licking over the shell and making her shiver. “I tend to like my women fun and easy, and I think you’re more interesting than that. I think you’re complex. I think you could be very satisfying.”

  She knew he would be satisfying. “Why don’t you kiss me again and we’ll find out?”

  “Oh, I knew you would be a righteous brat.” He said the words, but there was a deep amusement to his voice that made her think he was okay with that.

  Brat. She kind of liked the word. She’d been damn near perfect as a child. It had only been coming out of high school that she’d felt a real need to break away. To leave all of it behind and do something she’d never done before.

  It was time to break away again, time to find a new her, and this felt like a damn fine place to start.

  He lowered his head down and kissed her again. This time his intention was plain. He surged into her mouth, his tongue rubbing against hers. Long and slow and infinitely carnal. His hands moved over her body and before she really knew what was happening, she found herself lifting her arms and letting him draw the tank top over her head, exposing her breasts. He turned her, bringing her back up against his front. Those big hands ran up her body and cupped her breasts.

  “I knew they would be beautiful. Look at how perfect they are in my hands. Do you see how we fit together?” His mouth was against her ear, the words hot and sweet. “I took one look at you and knew we would fit together just like this.”

  Oh, he was good. Brilliant. This was what it meant to have her body played by a master. No one had ever kissed her the way Javier did—like she was the sweetest fruit and he couldn’t get enough of her. She let her head fall back against his chest. “I know this feels good.”

  “It feels right.” He seemed content for a moment to touch her breasts, learning their shape and firmness. He kissed the shell of her ear, licked along it until he got to the lobe, where he gave her a playful nip.

  She gasped and shuddered in his arms because that little nip of pain had gone straight through her body to her pussy. She was wet and warm down there. What normally took forever with her ex, Javier managed to do with a couple of kisses and some hot words. “I think we should take this to my bedroom.”

  One hand came up, shifting her hair to the side. “You move fast, sweetheart. I like to take my time. I think I probably have more experience than you, so maybe I should take the lead here. You see, I think you’re greedy, baby. I think you want me to hop on top of you and get you off as fast as I can.”

  “Not sure what’s wrong with that.”

  “What’s wrong with that is everything. I told you I had plans for you and I’m not going to change them because the timetable moved up.”

  “Plans?”

  “Plans to take all night. Plans to go slow and make this last. Plans to show you how good this can be.” He kissed her shoulder, his free hand starting to inch down her body toward the waistband of her pajama bottoms. “I can’t do that with a quickie. Tell me how long it’s been.”

  There was a decadent bite of command in his voice that re
ally did something for her. Still, she found herself fighting him a little. “What makes you think it’s been a while?”

  His fingers dipped inside her pajama bottoms, inching ever closer to the place that seemed to have become the center of her world. “Let’s see. I know I’m a pretty boy, but I have a brain, too. Don’t underestimate me. I’ve been around the McKay-Taggart boys long enough to know how to deduce a few things about the people near me. One—you recently divorced. Couples who have excellent sex on a regular basis don’t tend to divorce. Two—your husband was also military and you were both deployed. Even if you were having good sex, distance would be a problem, and I don’t think you’re the kind to play around while you’re married.”

  “No playing around.” Was that her voice? It was breathy and sexy. She couldn’t quite catch a deep breath because those fingers of his were playing at the edges of her pussy, coming close to her clitoris. Poor, lonely clitoris.

  Yeah, masturbation hadn’t been the same since she lost her dominant hand.

  “Then there’s the third part.” He whispered the words against her ear, quiet and low, like they were only ever meant to be heard by her. “You went through something traumatic. You probably haven’t felt sexy in a long time.”

  “Not in forever, Javier.” She was vulnerable, wanted to believe this was something real, but it wasn’t. He was a good-time guy who knew how to work a woman. She had to remember that at all times and take the good he had to give her.

  He wasn’t trying to hurt her. This was simply what he did, and when she looked at it in a positive fashion, it was all right. He hadn’t promised her a thing. He was bringing her pleasure and making her feel like a woman again. In the morning she would thank him and never give him a moment’s worth of awkwardness.

  He was exactly what she needed.

  “You are the single, sexiest thing I’ve seen in forever,” he said as his finger made that first light pass over her clit.

  Her vision went soft. Yeah, the storm couldn’t touch her here. “I don’t know, Javi. I’ve seen some of your conquests and you like them beautiful.”

  “It’s not the same.” The hand on her breast began to move, lightly pinching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “You’re different. You’re gorgeous, but there’s something more about you. Not a single one of those women I’ve spent time with lately would have been kind to my brother.”

  “Then you choose crappy women.”

  “I didn’t choose them for their personalities. I chose them because they didn’t want anything out of me. Not anything other than sex. Do you understand, Juliana?”

  He was offering her sex and nothing more. She could handle that even though her heart was already softening toward him. He was being honest and that was all she could ask of him. But she was a big girl and she wasn’t looking for another relationship. She wasn’t good at them. This, though, this she could handle. This she could crave.

  “I understand.” She could barely hear the words over the pulse pounding through her.

  A single finger ran over her clit, pressing with just enough force to make her gasp and try to squirm.

  He held her tight. “Good. I want to make things clear between us. You’re different. You should know that. And I know you’re eager. I know you want this and you want it now. I do, too, but I know how good it can be when we take our time. But, sweetheart, that doesn’t mean I can’t give you a little taste. Do you want that?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I want that. I want you, Javier.”

  Even if he would break her heart at the end. Feeling like this—even briefly—was worth it. Her life had been bleak since that night, colorless and bland. Now she felt vibrant, spicy, and a little on the wild side. She was old enough to know feeling like this had a price and that price was heartache, but she would manage it. Anything was better than how dull she felt every day of her life.

  “I want you, too.” That finger of his picked up the pace and she couldn’t help but rub herself against him like a damn cat in heat. It didn’t matter because she could feel his cock hard against her ass. He wanted her. He wasn’t scared off by her missing limb or how she could put her nose in where it didn’t belong. He wanted her.

  She relaxed for the first time in forever and gave over to him. He was the one with the experience and she let him have his way.

  The orgasm broke over her, a wave she didn’t want to cage. Jules didn’t hold back, moaning over the steady sound of rain.

  When the thunder rattled the apartment this time, she barely noticed.

  * * * *

  Javier felt the orgasm go through her and a real thrill of pleasure spilled across him. He’d watched her carefully over the weeks she’d been at Top and he would bet a lot that Juliana O’Neil wasn’t a woman who gave over easily. It would be hard for her to let go and forget about her problems, but she’d given in to him without a whisper of trouble.

  Because she felt what he did. She had to feel that this was right. For the first freaking time in his life, he was with the right woman.

  One good thing. That was all he needed. The last several weeks of his life had been past difficult, but if he came out of it with Jules by his side and in his bed, it would all be worth it. He could handle Rafael’s damage as long as he had Jules.

  “Take these off for me.” There was no reason for her to keep those pajama bottoms and undies on. He pushed them off her hips and she managed to kick them away.

  He leaned over and picked her up, carrying her to the couch.

  Her eyes were soft and a bit hazy when she looked up at him. “Shouldn’t we go to the bedroom?”

  He loved how husky her voice had gone. That whiskey rough voice went straight to his dick. Not that he needed more encouragement. He was hard as hell as it was. “No light in there and I want to see you. I want to see every inch of that gorgeous body.”

  She flushed slightly and shifted her damaged arm. She talked a good game, but it was obvious it bothered her.

  “Don’t.” He gently gripped her arm and brought it up to his lips. There was nothing wrong with her. Even her scars were beautiful. He kissed the place where they’d taken a piece of her. “This is beautiful, too, sweetheart. This is sacrifice and love. Don’t ever try to hide it.”

  “You’re killing me, Javier,” she said. “You know exactly what to say.”

  He often didn’t. He often fumbled, but it seemed to come easy with her. Most of the women he’d been with, there hadn’t been a ton of talking. He knew what his reputation was. Hell, he’d nurtured it for years. If a lady wanted a good time, he was her guy. No strings. No promises. Most of the time no repeats, though he’d broken that rule on occasion. He moved fast and always left his lovers satisfied. He was Hurricane Javier. He got in, got the job done, and walked away before it got too heavy. Sometimes that meant walking away before names were exchanged.

  Something had changed over the last few months. Maybe it had been watching his friends settle down, but damn it, he wanted more and he wanted it with this woman.

  He wanted what Macon had with Ally. What Eric and Deena had found. What Sebastian and Tiffany had.

  Her couch was big and comfy. He could do what he needed to do. He kissed her once more and then dragged his shirt over his head. Skin to skin. He wanted to feel her warmth around him.

  He was always open and honest with women. He told them what he was willing to give. Telling Jules she was different from other women felt right.

  Everything felt right with her.

  For the first time in his life he was in deep with a woman.

  Her skin was warm, practically glowing in the candlelight. She was a sexy goddess lying there waiting for him, her nipples tight and skin flushed. He could see how her pussy glistened from the orgasm he’d given her. It made his cock tighten even further until he was almost certain the damn thing was going to break out and try to get inside her on its own.

  “Take them off, Javier,” she demanded. “I want to see you. I’
ve thought long and hard about what you would look like without all those clothes.”

  She’d thought about him, had she? He couldn’t help the fact that her words made him feel about ten feet tall. It made all the time he spent in the gym worth it. He unbuckled his belt and shoved his jeans down, toeing out of his sneakers. He tossed them to the side but not before fishing out the condom he kept in his wallet. Just in case.

  “You’re a Boy Scout,” she said, looking him over. “A big, gorgeous, always prepared Boy Scout.”

  “I’m an optimist.” He laid the condom on the coffee table and dropped to his knees. “But you can change your mind at any time. I’m willing to take this slow if you want to. I can be patient when it comes to you.”

  She reached for him. “I don’t need patience. I need more.”

  Oh, he could give her so much more. He needed more, too. He dipped his head down and took one of those tight nipples into his mouth, sucking her hard. He felt a shiver go through her and her hand found his hair, sinking in and holding him there.

  “It’s been so fucking long,” she whispered. “Please don’t stop. It feels good.”

  When they’d settled into whatever this was going to become, he would slowly introduce her to D/s. She would never want a full-time submissive role, but she would enjoy it in the bedroom. She’d given over perfectly to him the minute he’d taken control. She was reacting to him beautifully, her needs seeming to dovetail with his own.

  He could have plenty of vanilla sex, but any relationship would have a touch of kink. He needed it. It was time to leave the party boy behind and get serious about life. It was odd to think he’d been hesitantly ready to test the waters with Kristy a few weeks back. That had been a mistake he’d been saved from. He’d been cautious with her, wanting the relationship more than the woman herself. He couldn’t say that about Jules. There was no caution with her. He was jumping right in the deep end with this woman.

  He moved to the other breast, laving it with affection. When he was ready, he started moving down her body, kissing and licking as he began to make his way to his final destination. “I’m glad to hear you think about me because I haven’t been able to get my mind off you since that night you came and saved me with Rafe. Did I thank you for that?”