“Oh my God.”
He stepped toward me, and I stepped back, holding my hand up to stop him. He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, meaning me no harm. However, it wasn’t his caress I was afraid of this time. His words were affecting me far more than his touch.
“All I want is to make a life with you here, Autumn.”
“Julian, my mind is spinning.”
“For the first time in my life, mine isn’t. I’m standing in front of you, hoping that you’ll stand with me.”
“Jesus,” I breathed out. “And I thought you were coming on strong before.”
“I go after what I want. It’s who I am, it’s how I’m made. I don’t ask for anything, kid. Yet, here I am, asking you to be with me. Truly be with me. Out in the open—no secrets, no hiding. Where we’re together and nothing else matters. I know you still love me, and I’m not asking for this to happen overnight. But I have a month, and I need you to seriously consider what I’m saying. You can’t push me away forever. You have to give me a chance. Not just for us, but for our daughter too. She deserves to have what you had growing up, Autumn. Two loving parents under the same roof, a family.” He grinned. “And several siblings.”
“Siblings?”
“Yes, I plan to knock you up. A lot.”
“Do you hear yourself right now?”
“I’m not the one who needs to hear me, kid, it’s you.”
“I don’t know what to say. I barely know what to think when it comes to you.”
“I’m coming for you. And it’s going to make this last week look like child’s play compared to what I have planned for us this month.”
My heart beat rapidly against my chest, waiting for I don’t know what. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got down on one knee and professed his undying love. The irony was not lost one me. For years I waited for this exact moment, even after he’d left. Now, here it was, and I didn’t know how to handle it.
Without wavering, he finally uttered the three little words I’d been waiting for all my life…
“I love you,” he expressed all in one breath. “I’ve always fucking loved you, Autumn.”
Although my mind was a jumbled mess, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the first time he’d ever professed those words to anyone before.
And the fact that it was me resonated deeply.
Chapter TWENTY-SEVEN
—Autumn—
Then
It had been over two months since I’d lost my virginity, and Julian and I were spending a lot of time together behind everyone’s backs. We were lucky that Christian was engaged to Kinley, spending most of his time at her place, letting their apartment become our little oasis.
We spent a great deal of time at their place, pretty much christening every surface we could. From his bedroom, to the couch, to the kitchen counter, against the wall, in the shower, in the tub, on the floor, on his dining table, and even on his bedroom furniture. There wasn’t an inch of my body he hadn’t explored. Even down to my back door.
Yeah … he’d stolen that from me too.
“What are you thinking about over there, kid?”
I smiled. We’d just eaten dinner. He’d cooked me spaghetti and meatballs.
“Of all the spots we’ve had sex here.”
He grinned. “I think we’ve covered every crevice by now.”
I was on the pill, and Julian definitely took advantage of that. Saying I was the first girl he’d ever gone bareback with.
“What would you do if Christian came home right now?”
He lifted his phone in the air, showing me the text from him, confirming he was indeed staying the night at Kinley’s.
“What do you think about them getting married in a few months?”
He shrugged. “I don’t think anything. It isn’t my life.”
“I know, but he’s still your best friend. Are you scared you’re going to lose him to married life?”
“That isn’t what I’m scared of losing him to.” With that, he got off the couch and walked into the kitchen. I knew what he meant by his not so subtle response.
“Is that the end of our conversation?”
Opening the fridge, he grabbed a beer. “I wasn’t aware we began one.”
“You can’t fool me. I know everything about you. Especially when you’re blowing me off.”
He twisted the cap from the bottle and threw it in the trash before making his way over to me. “It’s why I fuck you so much. I need you to keep me around despite my shitty personality.”
“Your personality is not shitty, Julian. I’d say you were more of an alpha asshole than shitty.”
His hand went under the blanket, tickling my inner thigh. I laughed, thrashing around.
“You need to go put some clothes on.”
“I thought you preferred me naked.”
“I do, but I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where?”
He smiled, big and bold. “For a joyride.”
I arched an eyebrow, confused where he was going with this.
“You better hurry before I change my mind and eat you out instead.”
“Well…” I giggled. “That isn’t going to get me to move any quicker. If anything, I think I’ll lay here and make you follow through with your threat.”
He laughed, pulling off his hoodie to throw it over my body. Grabbing my panties off the floor next, he stated, “You won’t be needing these anytime soon.”
For a moment, I took in his chest and arms. Making my mouth water. Julian was a work of art. Chiseled muscles, broad shoulders and back, a six-pack showcasing a V—he was completely breathtaking.
“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re not going to be leaving this couch, and I really want to take you for a ride.”
“All the more reason to keep looking at you then.”
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me up and put his hoodie on me instead. “I like seeing you in my clothes, kid.”
“Good, because I love wearing them.”
Holding my hand, he dragged me off the couch and led the way into his garage. When he opened the door, I gasped. There in front of my eyes, was a bright green Audi R8.
My eyes shifted to him. “Did you rob a car dealership today?”
He chuckled. “No, not today.”
Julian always had different cars every month. They were usually classic cars he’d fix up. This was new.
“Who’s is this?”
He winked. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
I laughed. “You’re wicked.”
Rounding the front of the car, he opened the driver’s side door. “Want to go for a ride?”
“You’re serious?”
“I mean, I’d much rather you ride my cock, but it’ll happen soon enough. Especially if you go for a ride with me right now.”
“I can’t think of a better way to end my day.”
He stepped inside the car, and I followed suit, sitting on the passenger side. He started the car, and the engine purred to life, vibrating my entire body.