“It’s one of my favorites,” she said.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Nicolette said it belonged here.”
“It does.”
“It’s the best compliment she’s ever givenme.”
“Then, she’s an idiot.”
Aida chuckled and rose on her toes to kisshis cheek. “She’s successful and talented, and I hope to be able tofind and promote talent like she does when I own a gallery.”
“You want to own a gallery?”
“Yes. I’ve finally figured out what I want tobe when I grow up.”
He chuckled and kissed her temple. “You’ll dobetter at it than she does.”
“I hope so. I have to get my purse.”
She squeezed his hand on her waist beforereleasing him and heading for the back room. She was opening herlocker when she heard the door and glanced over her shoulder tofind Julian examining the room as he strode around the crates. Sheclosed the locker and was turning to him when his arm snaked aroundher waist, and he spun her to face the wall.
Aida’s purse fell from her hands when hepressed against her back. The warmth of his breath tickled her earas he bent to nibble on it.
“Julian,” she breathed. “This is mywork.”
“Tell me to stop, and I will,” he said.
As his hand ran up her thigh, he pushed herskirt up with him. She opened her mouth to tell him… something, butthen his fingers slid between her legs. Her knees trembled as histouch electrified her body.
“Fuck,” he breathed. “I’ve unwrapped a verypretty, bare present just for me.”
“Just for you,” she panted as her hips metthe rhythm of his finger inside her.
Julian continued to tease her with his handwhile he unbuttoned his jeans. He kicked off his sneakers beforepulling his hand away from her to push his jeans the rest of theway off. He could barely think beyond being inside her; they wereapart too long today.
Once his jeans were off, he used his leg tospread her thighs further apart. He lifted her skirt higher andpulled her hips toward him as he slid into her.
Aida’s fingers curled into the wall as Julianplunged deeper into her until she couldn’t tell where he ended andshe began. They shouldn’t be doing this, not here, but thewrongness of it only added to the excitement. When he leaned overher and his fingers found her clit, she came so fast she couldn’tstifle her loud cry.
CHAPTER 35
Over the next week, Aida felt like she was walkingon cloud nine. Every second she wasn’t at work, she was withJulian, and she was falling more in love with him every day. Hetook some of her blood daily now, and not only had she accepted himfeeding on her, but she craved it as much as she craved hisbody.
Nestled securely in is arms every night, hernightmares didn’t return. Nothing could upset her when he was ather side, not even the past.
She couldn’t stop smiling as she walkedaround the gallery. Not only was everything going so amazing withJulian, but her photograph had also sold. She’d made enough on itto cover half her share of rent for the month. She might be able toput some money into savings this month.
Walking back into the main room, she pausedto watch the flow of people on the street as the sunset sentstreaks of pink and gold across the sky. She didn’t know if itreally was the most beautiful sunset she’d ever seen or if hereuphoria was clouding everything, but either way, she wanted tothrow out her arms and twirl around the floor. She didn’t thinkNicolette would like that much.
The front door opened, and a handsome manentered. She frowned as something about him tugged at her memory,and then she recalled him from Owen’s showing. It took her anotherminute to remember his name was Gerald. Smiling, Nicolette glidedacross the floor to greet him.
Nicolette spoke with him before turning andwalking over to her. Aida glanced at Gerald again before focusingon Nicolette when she stopped in front of her. “Everything okay?”Aida asked.
“Of course,” Nicolette replied. “Mr.Addington would likeyouto show him around thegallery.”
Aida glanced at Gerald; he smiled and gaveher a small wave. She waved back. “I already told him I’m seeingsomeone.”
