Page 77 of Taming Scarlet

Alarmed.

Because I wasn’t the vapid, silly little girl he wanted to believe me to be.

Because I suddenly posed a threat to him and his plans.

“You’re quiet,” Julian said as we stood waiting for our luggage to be loaded into the car I’d arranged to take us to our hotel.

I’d been staring off at the distance in the direction my father’s car had gone, rushing them off to the airport.

My head turned, my gaze pinning Julian’s.

“I want to take Stephen and his schemes down,” I declared, voice firm.

Julian looked at me for a second before a smile pulled at his lips. His arm went around my hips, pulling me close enough to press a kiss to the side of my head.

“That’s my girl.”

I could do it, too.

People underestimated me because I chose to direct my attention to things they deem superficial. Like my social media, my brand, and having fun.

But there was no denying that when I set my mind to something, I accomplished it. Straight As all through high school and college. Millions of followers. Six-figure brand deals without breaking a sweat.

I could be just as effective at chasing the snakes out of my father’s business. Out ofmyfamily legacy. Before it was too late.

“But, first, let’s go settle in,” I said, mind on getting some relief from the aching need inside from walking around with the plug in.

Julian had other things in mind, though.

I couldn’t tell if his desire to take a walk down the beach was because he wanted to torture me, or because he was genuinely excited to see the sights.

Knowing him, it was a combination of the two.

He’d been in a rush to drop off our luggage at the front of the hotel, not even going inside, not giving me a chance to climb on him in private, and get some relief.

I was trying to be patient, reminding myself that while I’d been to this area before, this was his first time. And I couldn’t rush the wonder of exploring a new location for him.

Even if desire was making a sweat break out over my skin, despite a slight chill still in the air. My nerve endings felt frazzled. And my pussy was aching with need.

“Ready to check out our room?” Julian asked, his hand rubbing my lower back.

“Yes,” I said leaning into him, not even caring if he knew how exhausting the desire was becoming.

His little laugh said he knew exactly what he was doing to me as we walked back to the hotel—a long, two-floor white stucco and glass L-shaped structure with a giant pool and beach views.

It was the nicest the area boasted, but was small by comparison to other, more luxurious hotels I’d stayed in. But you couldn’t fault them for not wanting to invest in grandeur that wouldn’t suit the majority of their clientele.

Our room was maybe the size of my bathroom at the penthouse, but updated with light wood tile floors, white paint, and a queen-sized bed covered in white linens.

But it had a sliding glass doors to a small balcony that overlooked the empty beach, the waves cresting lazily, leaving white foam in its wake.

“That’s a good fucking view,” Julian said after I opened the door, and leaned my arms on the balcony railing.

I turned my head over my shoulder, not sure if he was talking about the beach… or me.

As I looked, though, he snapped a picture.

This time, though, not with my phone. Not pictures he meant for me to post on my socials. It was his phone. A keepsake just for himself.

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