Before I could utter another word, she grabbed my tie, yanking me toward her. Her lips crashed against mine, our tongues tangling in a kiss that heated every inch of me, my need for her increasing with every second. I pulled her close, the warmth of her body against mine an aphrodisiac for my soul.
“Miss me?” I panted once she brought our kiss to an end.
“You have no idea. And then you show up in a suit? It makes me want to crawl on top of you right now.”
“Well then…”
Crooking a wry smile, I walked her backward into the house, kicking the door closed behind me. When her back hit the wall, I pinned her to it, sensually circling my hips so she could feel how desperate I was for her.
“I’m all yours to do whatever your filthy little heart desires.”
My lips collided with hers, lust coiling within me. I was hopelessly addicted to her taste. Her kiss. Her everything. When I dipped my fingers just below the waistband of her shorts, her muscles clenched under my touch.
She tore her mouth from mine, breaths coming fast and heavy as she placed her hands on the lapels of my jacket.
“Bedroom. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I stepped away from her, extending my arm toward the open living area. “Lead the way.”
Since returning to Atlanta, we’d spent all our time at my house. I hadn’t really questioned it. I liked having her there. It made my place feel more like a home.
But as she grabbed my hand and led me up the stairs, the walls covered with photographs of Imogene, I wondered if that had something to do with it. If she’d hoped to keep this part of herself from me for some reason.
I didn’t want to think that was the case. After all, I had nothing to base it off of. This was new territory for both of us… In more ways than one.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I came to a stop in front of a framed collage of a slender blonde playing soccer. “Is this her?” I whispered, gesturing to it. “Your daughter?”
Julia followed my line of sight, even though it didn’t matter where I looked. All the photos in this house appeared to be of her daughter. It was obvious how important she was to her.
“That’s Imogene. Or Mo, as she often goes by these days.”
I stepped toward the collage, studying her. There was no mistaking the resemblance. “She looks just like you. Apart from the eye color. And hair color.”
“Well, mine’s naturally blonde, too.”
“I know,” I said, recalling the image of a beaten Julia taken in the aftermath of Nick’s attack. “But she has your smile,” I continued, pushing down the anger bubbling to the surface over the reminder of everything she’d endured.
“Thank you.” She flashed me a smile before her expression grew heated.
Sauntering up to me, she grasped my tie, fingers working to loosen it. “Now. Do you plan on standing out here all night? Or do you want to come to the bedroom?” She yanked the tie free. “Maybe put this to some…other use.”
“Bedroom,” I growled. “Definitely the fucking bedroom.”
She placed a finger over my mouth, hushing me. Then she took my hand and pulled me into the room at the end of the hallway, softly closing the door behind her.
When she turned around to face me, we lunged at each other like two horny teenagers who found themselves home alone.
We tore at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel flesh against flesh after too long apart. It had only been four days, but that long with her was akin to torture.
Once I pushed my boxer briefs down my legs, eliminating the final article of clothing between us, Julia grabbed my erection, stroking me against her heat.
“I need you inside me. To hell with foreplay.”
I hardened even more, my pulse skyrocketing. She barely resembled the unsure, shy woman she was less than a month ago. The one who blushed at the mere idea of talking about sex. I couldn’t help but feel a hint of pride at how open she was now. How free she was around me.
It made me want more of this.
To give her wings.