When Julian arrives home in the evening, I’m in his study. Julian lowers down and kisses the top of my head. I’m getting used to this.
Maybe I don’t want to leave here after all. I laugh at the concept.
“Good evening,” he whispers. “What are you up to?”
“I’m looking through these places my benefactor’s assistant chose for me.” I smile at him as I look over my shoulder. “And good evening to you too.”
“Do you need help?”
“I think you’ll agree with my benefactor in selecting one of these exquisite apartments.”
My face’s position allows him to kiss my mouth before looking at the page. “And why is that?”
“He reminds me so much of you.” And it’s as if I’ve only just realized it. “He wants to lavish me with things that are too much for me. You gave me a car, and my benefactor obviously wants me to live in a very expensive apartment. Seriously, I don’t think I need all of that. But, of course, I’m grateful. I’m not going to complain.”
“Perhaps you should learn to accept them.” He keeps kissing me—my shoulder, neck, and finally, the back of my ears. I cock my head to the side instinctively to allow him access. I groan softly in pleasure.
“You’re just spoiling me,” I say, closing my eyes. “And he’ll surely insist. My benefactor, I mean. Wait…” I move away from him a bit. If he keeps tempting me with his sweet, little kisses like this, I’m sure we’ll be in his bed in no time.
He frowns. “What is it?”
“I didn’t win today,” I state flatly.
“You received an award. You’re not required to attend any of my classes until the end of the semester. You are exempt.” He grins amusingly. “I’ll miss seeing you in my audience, though.”
“I know, but I was looking forward to it. I was confident because you’d helped me so much.”
“Mm.” He tenses up and sits at the edge of the desk. “It’s fine to be competitive, but it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose. The lessons you’ve learned there are irreplaceable.” He strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “But what worries you?”
“Mr. Pitch was looking forward to seeing me in the finals, but I disappointed him.”
He folds his arms across his chest. “He probably just wants you to look forward to a wider picture, but I’m sure it doesn’t mean he genuinely expects you to be there. Look at where it got you. You proved to everyone that you have what it takes.”
“You think?”
He nods. “It’s just that Ben’s performance tonight was outstanding. The panelists felt the same way. I’m sure you’ll agree with me.”
“Ben is very exceptional at everything.” I agree and grin, remembering what kind of student he is. “And he’s never received a C in songwriting.”
“See? It is the lesson that’s important.”
I give him a sweet grin. His words do make me feel better. “Thank you. Hey, I met my benefactor’s assistant, Dean Melnard, at dinner. He’s Jefferson Bryant. What a surprise, right?”
Julian looks at me as if he’s contemplating something. “What do you think now that you’ve met him?”
“What do I think? What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you look forward to that?”
Right. I told Julian I was excited to meet my benefactor, but I guess the same goes with Dean.
“I did. It’s shocking to finally realize who he is. It makes me assume John Pitch is someone important in your circle. I didn’t ask you because I assumed you knew him and were keeping this from me. Is it even safe to consider that?”
“Would you mind?”
“You’re keeping it a secret?”
He nods.
“So you actually know who John Pitch is?”
“I’m asking hypothetically.”
“Well, if you know him, I probably wouldn’t mind because that’s what my benefactor wants: to help students like me anonymously. Mr. Bryant said Mr. Pitch would see me, anyway, so I’ll just wait.” My limbs are tingling with eagerness. John Pitch is more of a guardian to me than a benefactor.
I look back at the photos of one of the apartments. This one is much closer to Whitlock than the others, but it is also the most expensive. He is so concerned about me he insists on paying for it.
Julian says after a long silence. His gaze firmly locked on mine.
“Of course you do,” I say. It’s not so surprising. It could be his father, brother, or another executive like Peter or Jefferson.
“You’re pretty clever at figuring all that out, aren’t you?”
I grin. Well, I had help. Kristoff is also looking for him. “I’m just excited. I owe him a lot. He didn’t know how much he had helped me. I was nothing. My life had no certain direction.”
“It’s more like you saved him...” he murmurs, although I’m not sure I heard him right.
“What?”
“Nothing. Save yourself the effort and let me help you find a place.” He flashes a slow, seductive smile. “I don’t mind if you take your time. I love coming home to a beautiful woman.”
I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck. “Or you can come to mine.” Perhaps living in such a luxurious apartment isn’t such a bad idea. Julian will feel comfortable there.
“Mm.” He slips his hands around my waist, drawing me closer to him. “What should we do there?”
“Many things,” I purr, coaxing him in.
“How about doing it right now?”
My senses become hypersensitive. The touch of his fingertips caressing my cheek sends ecstasy coursing through me.
He cups my face and presses his lips against mine, squeezing me as if we hadn’t tasted each other for a long time. His tongue then licks inside my mouth. His breath is wet and warm.
I tilt my head, attempting to deepen the kiss. One of his hands wraps around my nape while the other descends to rest on my hip. His hands are so heated that they give me shivers. And, as if he isn’t getting enough, he softly squeezes the swell of my breast.
I inhale him while gasping for air. My body knows Julian as the one thing it craves and can’t get enough of. I run my fingers over his dark hair, pulling him close.
His mouth travels down my throat and along my jaw. He jerks his hips forward, pressing his hot length against my stomach. He then picks me up, cradles me as if I weigh nothing, and carries me over to his desk. My stomach clenches in anticipation of him.
“I thought I’d be over it after two years,” he says suddenly, as if it’s a confession. “I’ve been watching from afar. I kept myself from approaching you, despite knowing exactly how I wanted you. Even loving you may not be sufficient. I needed you. I need“It’s working that way so far, although I am open to more details about how you did that. Are you saying you pursued me, Julian Sebastian? Me, a simple college girl who secretly wants you?”
His desperate stare clings to me. His beautiful face is stretched with lust, but his eyes are soft and filled with something far warmer. “You really shouldn’t say that about yourself. You’re exceptional, especially today. I almost wanted to snatch you from that stage and kiss you senselessly. But we’ll get to that later. I need you right now.”
He brings his mouth to mine again. I want him so much. I need him inside me right now.
I search for the zipper on his tailored pants and then unfasten him. Julian helps me speed the action, pushing it down to reveal black boxer briefs.
Damn. Julian is delicious everywhere. Beautiful, big, and hard. His cock is ready, with the crown poking above the waistband of his boxers. Its shiny pre-cum entices me, urging me to pull his underwear below his hips, which I do.
Julian is the most erotic sight I’ve ever seen, standing there with his trousers undone, his cock blatantly bare and lusciously hard, and his muscles tense and powerful.
He lowers the zipper of my skirt, then works on the buttons on my blouse while his lips are on my throat, and his tongue skates along with my erratic pulse. He yanks my silk blouse off my body, tosses it on the floor, and then shoves my unfastened skirt down my legs, exposing my lace underwear.
“I want you bare,” he murmurs. His words alone are an aphrodisiac, making me yearn for him and as wet as he is.
I do as he wants. As he watches, I unhook my bra and push the straps down provocatively. Then I glide down my panties, exposing my wet, slick core in front of him.
The air between us is dense, or it’s most likely our breaths. The wetness between my legs is tightening impatiently and throbbing as I wait for him to fill me with his thick shaft.
“God, you were made for me,” he grumbles. “What do you want now?” he croons, fiddling his fingertips around my nipples. “Please tell me.”
I’m panting and squirming, teased by the sensation of his huge erection on my cleft lips. “I want you inside me. Please make love to me.”
He moves close to me and nuzzles the crown of his shaft into my slit. “Do you want this?”
“Please, just put it in!”
“Greedy.” He chuckles. With a slight jerk of his hips, the broad head of his cock penetrates the writhing entrance of my body. His crown presses deep inside of me, opening me up so that his hard shaft can easily pierce pussy. I moan and flutter my eyes shut when he enters me…