Page 86 of Ella Gets the D
“You tell me.” I wiggle my cheeks and laugh at his groan. That is, until the bulge poking my butt hardens.
I shiver at his breath to my neck. “Don’t play games you can’t win, sweetheart.” With a quick peck, he adjusts himself and calls over to his sister, who’s still talking to Sweater Guy. “Hey, Mac, you coming?”
She peers around the torso blocking her from our view. “Can Eric come?”
Julian sighs but gives in. “If he checks his cell with security.”
At that, Julian takes my hand and guides us through the small crowd to a black door between two bookcases. It looks painted, but to my surprise it opens to a hulk-sized bouncer who’s all muscles and no neck. With a quick dip of his head to Julian, he steps aside, and we enter a private room the length of the lounge we just left. Tufted leather booths outline the perimeter of a dance floor that half a dozen of his teammates and some women are putting to use.
“Hold up!” Erica tries to pass but gets stonewalled. “Listen here, Dave Bautista, I’m with them.” She points at us.
“She’s good, Joe,” Julian says over the arm wrapped around my shoulder.
Joe steps aside with a grunt and lets Erica pass. She gives him a playful elbow to his black muscle tee and a booty graze that hits its target. “I’ll see you later. I like ’em big.” The sequins in her sapphire dress catch the light and the bald bouncer’s attention, which instantly shifts to her ass.
Bangs and a high ponytail sway toward us. “You arewearingthis dress! Doesn’t she look amazing, Julian?”
He doesn’t miss a beat, nor the chance to rake his eyes down my body for the second time tonight. I arch toward him when his thumb draws circles on my back and bite my lip to keep the color out of my cheeks. “That she does.”
“Ella!” In jeans and a white polo, Antonio walks over with open arms and a grin that deflates when Julian steps between us. “What, I can’t say hi now?”
“You’re fine from there,” Julian says.
He scoffs. “You see how he treats me, Ella Bella? Some childhood friend.” Erica’s dress catches his eye and pulls him toward her with heart eyes and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Naomi Campbell.”
“‘Erica’ is fine.”
“Yes, you are.” His eyes stall on the tops of her thighs.
The tip of her silver nail lifts his chin. “How old are you?”
“However old you need me to be.” He shudders under her gaze and says, “Twenty-six.”
Erica’s face splits into a wide grin. “This will be fun.”
She sashays over to a small bar, leaving Antonio in a pool of drool. Without another word, he spins on his heel and practically sprints to join Erica next to a group of women. One in particular stares at Julian, who turns to face me.
“Friends of yours?”
She’s a knockout, with long black hair, sharp cheekbones, and almond eyes. She looks like she never misses a day at the gym.
Julian’s nod is brief. “She’s on the women’s rugby team. Antonio ran his mouth and invited everyone at the drink-up.”
That explains the toned Tinker Bell shape. She hasn’t taken her eyes off Julian and casts us another curious glance.
“I take it you two have history?”
The muscles in his jaw flex. “We hooked up last year. It was a one-time thing that meant nothing.”
“You sure about that? She hasn’t stopped tracing your shadow since you walked in.” If Julian is as good with his dick as he is with his hands and mouth, I can’t say I blame her.
I lift a hand when he rushes to speak. “I’m not judging, and you don’t owe me an explanation.” I dip my chin at her. “But maybe you two should talk. It’s clear she still has feelings.”
Julian spends so much time with me and the kids, I forget about his playboy label until it taps me on the shoulder. First it was whispers about company during his birthday. Now a rugby player. An international roster isn’t far-fetched, but it doesn’t match the man I know. Plus, his work schedule keeps him wiped to rotate lovers.
We never discussed exclusivity. How can we when I’m technically still married? No sex for a year would be hard on anyone. Well, maybe not a nun. Julian’s past hints at a man who kept active between women’s legs, and I’m not sure he can wait that long. Would it be fair to ask him to try?
He’s young, unattached, and has options.
