Page 139 of Alive At Night

“Easy.” His eyes dragged over me, making me shiver, and then returned to meet my gaze. “Do you want me to be rough or gentle? You never did tell me what you like when I asked that day.”

“Both.” I didn’t want him to treat me like I was glass, but I also wasn’t sure what Julian’s definition ofroughwas.

“I can do both.” Julian’s eyes softened, but his lips smirked. “Do you want me to use toys?”

“I—” I bit down on my lip, caught off guard but not opposed to the idea. “What kind?”

A flare crossed Julian’s irises. “God, Juni.”

Apparently, he’d expected a flat-out no.

“What kind, Julian?” I whispered.

He plowed his fingers through his hair, giving a tiny shake of disbelief. “I think we’ll start with something you’re probably familiar with. Okay?”

A flush crept up my neck.“Okay, but I didn’t…like, bring anything.”

Cheekiness lit up Julian’s face. “It’s time for you to see what’s really in my bedside table, right next to my list of plant names.”

A laugh rippled through me. “You told me that what was in your bedside table didn’t concern me. And that youdidn’thave a list of plant names.”

“I lied. Just like how you told me in New York that you lied to me all the time. But we’re done with that, right?” I nodded wordlessly, and his gaze burned into mine as he stood at the end of the bed. “Good. Now, as much as I love that jersey on you, it’s time to take it off.”

My pulse sped up. I didn’t know why I thought I could have sex with Julian without letting him see me naked, but I suddenly didn’t feel prepared for this moment. How was that possible? After twenty-six years, how was Istillnot prepared?

Julian began unbuckling his belt as he watched me with heavy lids.

“Take it off, Juniper,” he repeated, slower this time. “I know this will destroy me forever, but I’m already wrecked. So let me see you.”

I pushed into a sitting position, unable to tear my eyes from his. He stared, taking me in as though this moment right here was the main event, and it gave me the confidence to slip the jersey over the top of my head. I threw it at his feet, but he didn’t give another glance at the jersey after it came off. All his attention remained glued on me as I sank back into his bed again, my head hitting his pillows. He didn’t move except his eyes, tracing my shape against the sheets.

The heat of his gaze licked my skin, and it was the only thing that helped me resist the urge to cover up again. That, and the way his jaw kept clenching with desire.

When Julian finally spoke, his voice descended into something deep and gravelly. “You look so fucking perfect in my bed.”

“Julian…”

I didn’t know what to say. But that was okay. Julian leaned forward with his pants half undone to skim his hands over my skin. And as soon as we touched, I knew there was no going back tonight. No going back, not ever.

It was that pull, that magnetism that coursed from my body to his. Everything in me strained toward his touch, feeding off it. I felt it in Julian, too. He climbed onto the bed over me, needing to touch more of my body than he could reach.

“Fuck.So beautiful.” He cupped my breasts in his palms, squeezing experimentally. Like the rest of me, there was more than enough to grab. I’d always been self-conscious about it, but not right now. Not with how Julian curved his hands over me so reverently. “You are so beautiful.”

The awe in Julian’s expression was breathtaking. I never imagined he would look at me like this. His eyes didn’t stray from my skin once. They blazed a trail of heat while he continued muttering breathy praises. The words made me hum in delight, but it was that gaze of his that made me believe them.

Julian lowered himself until his lips were poised to take mine. My breaths came in quick spurts while the anticipation of the kiss hung heavy and sweet in the air. One of his hands continued to explore my curves, smoothing over my hip. His pupils dilated while roaming my face.

“Do you have any idea how badly I want you?”

I lifted my hips so they grazed his. My bare skin against his unbuttoned pants, the fabric brushing roughly over delicate flesh. I inched higher, and Julian’s hard cock pressed between my legs.

“I have a pretty good idea, yeah.”

Julian growled, partly in frustration and partly in heady arousal, as he flung himself off me, landing on the side of the bed. He slipped his pants and underwear to the floor, stealing all my attention down south.

Now I had areallygood idea of how badly Julian wanted me.

Noticing the direction of my attention, his gruff voice cut in before I could have any doubts. “It’ll fit perfectly, baby. Just fucking perfectly.”

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