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Julian began to thrust his hips again, and she was lost in a world of hazy pleasure as his pace quickened, then grew erratic. His fingers tangled in her hair, and his teeth sank down into the flesh of her shoulder as he came.
As their heart rates slowed together, Julian held her, and with their bodies pressed so tightly together—her heat, his heat—she couldn’t hold back the tears. They rolled down her cheeks. He cooed gently against the top of her head and rocked her as she cried.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”
* * *
When they’d both recovered,Julian helped her stand. He walked her to her office and gently helped her back into her trench coat. Together, they walked down to the garage where he’d parked his Porsche, got them inside, and then drove to her place with one hand clasping hers.
When they arrived, he silently walked her to her door, then took her keys from her trembling fingers and let her in. And without a word, he led her to her bed, slipped her out of her trench coat once again, pulled back the covers, lifted her in his arms, and placed her in the bed. Tucking the sheets up under her chin, he gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
“You’re gorgeous. A princess. A goddess. A fucking warrior. Don’t forget your strength or power ever again. You are enough on your own. But you are also everything a man could ever hope for. I’m sorry I’m not that man, and I’m serious about that, Skylar. I’ve never felt that, never said that to a woman in my life. I wish it could be different. Find the man who can give you everything you deserve—and not just in bed, though that must at least land in your top two non-negotiables.”
Despite everything, despite how her heart was breaking, she laughed.
He brushed back her hair.
“I’ll miss you, sweetness.”
He leaned down and gave her the perfect kiss, passionate and tender, arousing and heart-wrenching, empowering and devastating. And she greedily sucked in every emotion.
Contradictoryemotions.
She’d felt them from the moment she met him, and she knew she’d feel them whenever she thought of him.
Finally, he pulled back, and without a word, he turned and left.
Skylar’s heart twisted in her chest, and tears slid from the corner of her eyes. She caught back a sob when she heard her front door close with a softsnick.
“Goodbye, Julian.”
48
It was Friday, two weeks after she’d last seen Julian, and there’d been no word from him, not that she’d expected there to me. He’d given her what she needed.
Fireworks.
A galaxy of stars.
He’d shown her what it was possible to have with a man she trusted and cared about, and maybe someday, she’d have that again.
Someday when the scent of Julian Bauer wasn’t still in her nostrils.
Someday when she couldn’t taste the memory of his skin on her tongue.
Someday when his low chuckle didn’t sound in her ear.
Someday.
But not now.
She’d been focusing on work per usual, working every day, including the weekend. Hours upon hours of time spent at her desk, building what she hoped would be her future.
But sometimes, like now, thoughts of Julian would slip into her mind. Unannounced. Unwanted.
Her computer beeped—a productivity check she’d installed reminding her it was time to answer emails. Ten minutes later, she sat back in her chair, dumbfounded.
Yet again, she’d been bcc’d on an email that shouldn’t have gone to her.
