Page 57 of Only If You Dare

Chapter Eighteen

She stood before me like a goddess in her own right. Covered from her head to knees like a gift waiting for me to unravel. My hand traveled to her scarf effectively pulling it loose from its knot. It sailed to the carpet and Desiree’s hair tumbled free bouncing off her shoulders.

“You are so beautiful,” I said grabbing her chin and pulling her lips to mine. I wanted to claim her immediately, but I decided to take my time.

“So soft,” I whispered.

I kissed her tenderly, following up by a fierce suckling of her mouth. She moaned against my lips causing a strain to push against my pants.

“Tell me what you want, Bella… I’ll make your dreams come true…”

With our foreheads pressed together; me, gazing down at her, and she up at me, I saw desire stir to life.

“I want you, Julian. Only if you knew how much.”

It was everything I needed to hear, and her confession amongst other things, made me want to hold on and never let go.

“Tell me,” I said. “How much?”

I saw apprehension cross her face. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

Desire dropped her gaze, and it fluttered around the room before she completely turned and walked toward the sliding doors that led to the balcony. She paused right before it, with her back to me. One hand went to her hip while the other massaged her temples. Although I didn’t know her struggle first hand, I felt her indecision and understood why she tussled with it. But I was on a mission to snuff out the uncertainty she had. And I would love her like it had never been there before. My thoughts halted for a second. When did I decide I wanted to love her?

“Have you ever loved someone before, Julian?”

As if she’d read my very thoughts, Desiree prompted a question I wasn’t expecting. She turned to face me.

“I don’t mean your mother, father, sisters or brothers. I don’t mean your friends, coworkers, or spiritual family. I mean, have you ever loved a woman in such a way that you wanted to be with her forever?”

My answer was swift. “No…” I took a step forward. “Have you, Bella?”

Her head fell into her hand, and her voice broke. “I thought so; but when you love someone that much, it gives them power. It could be the best thing in your life or the worst. It can break you. And when you break, picking up the pieces never comes easy. Sometimes, it’s impossible. It takes sheer determination, prayer, and a support team to lift you. There’s no real way for you to figure out how much power you give a person when you’re in love until the moment your soul shatters.”

I wanted to run to Desiree and tell her she would never have to worry about that with me. But I let her finish. I needed her to get it off her chest so we could move past these stumbling blocks.

“I won’t put myself through it again.” Desiree shook her head; resolute in her fortitude. “I can’t… I won’t.”

“Are you saying you love me, Desiree?”

Our gazes ripped through each other, and the room fell silent. I’d always prided myself on being a man of patience. But right then at that very moment, my jaw ticked, and my feet moved. Within the time it took me to inhale my next breath I was upon her. “I am not Cameron, Desiree. Don’t be afraid to love again because of him. I’m not willing to let you run.” My eyes never left hers. I needed Desiree to understand that no matter what happened, this thing we had going on wouldn’t be halted because of circumstances out of our control.

“That power you spoke of, it’s yours anytime you want it. The same way you gave it away, you can take it back.” Her lips hovered below my mouth, and a shudder fled through her. “Take it back, Desiree,” I said, “And give it to me. I promise to take care of it, with my life.”

I was deadpan. Desiree’s eyes misted, and my mouth met hers. Her hands flew to my face, and she held on as I kissed her with an unrestrained craving. My body was on fire as I presumed hers was. I dipped down to grab her thighs, lifting her with ease. Her body drug against my rock-hard erection and a whimper left her mouth. Desiree’s hands moved from my face as her arms circled my neck. A purr left her, and her thighs pushed forward to climb me higher.

“I need to feel you,” she said. “Now, now, now…” she begged. “I don’t want to think. I just want to feel.”

Her pleas moved me like nothing before. I walked her to the massive platform bed, and Desiree kept her legs locked around me. Maneuvering quickly, I removed her dress and lace bra, while laying kisses against the silken skin on her neck. Desiree pulled back her arms and unbuttoned my shirt. Her arms roamed down to my pants, and with masterful hands, Desiree managed to unlatch my buckle. She worked quickly, pushing them down my hips. My erection sprang forth and bobbled against her crotch. She jumped at its playful taunting. I crawled onto the bed with Desiree still wrapped around me. The sheer panties that separated us between her legs were relieved of its duties the moment it was caught within my grasp. Desiree’s body jerked as they ripped, and a soft, relaxing, yelp left her. Our frivolous actions on the yacht had gone without putting too much thought into our decision. My eyes traveled over her gorgeous physique, and I wanted to bury myself so deep I’d lose all sense of reason.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“We didn’t use a condom earlier.”

She swallowed and licked her lips.

“Yeah, we probably should have. We wouldn’t want any accidents happening. Besides,” she said, “you would need to know my blood type and see my medical records before I bear your children.”

Quiet laughter seeped from her beautiful lips at her joke. But it only made me harder, painfully so. An image of Desiree, pregnant with twin boys assaulted me. Without another thought, I dipped my hips and entered her in one breath catching thrust. Desiree gasped, and her mouth opened. Her hands clutched my shoulders.

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