“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m right here.”
He led her into his bedroom, where the drapes were wide open, revealing the ocean as lightning lit up the night sky. She trembled.
“Shh.” He kissed her temple. “It’s just a storm. You can do this. You’ve done it before. We’ve done it before.”
Stepping back, he peeled the sweatshirt over his head, revealing his bare chest. As always, the sight made her mouth go dry. He lifted her hand and gently placed it over his heart, the pectoral muscle jumping when her fingers made contact. She swayed on her feet and he pulled her in closer.
“That’s right.” He urged her nearer. “Forget the storm and lose yourself in me. Just like that night on Sea Island.”
Her lips found the warm skin of his chest and she dragged her tongue over his flat nipple. He ground his hips into hers as he unzipped her sundress and slid it down to her hips.
“Last time you needed me.” His breath fanned her ear. “Tonight I need you, Princess.” Her knees buckled as he pressed an openmouthed kiss just below her ear.
She let her lips wander lower as her hands found the snap to his shorts. Unzipping them, she pushed his boxers and the shorts down over his hips. Her mouth stopped at his happy trail before her hands followed his shorts to his knees. Wearing only her bra and panties, she sat back on her heels before him as he stepped out of his shorts and underwear. His eyes blazed down at her as she took her time enjoying the view.
Rising to her knees, she trailed her fingers along his hard thighs before taking him in her mouth. With a hiss, he arched his back and fisted his fingers in her hair. Her name fell reverently from his lips as she pleasured him.
Suddenly, she was on her back on the big bed, her legs dangling off the side. Will towered over her, a sheen of perspiration glistening on his chest. Julianne crooked a finger at him, but he shook his head.
“Unh-uh.” He nudged her legs open wider and settled his hips between them before leaning down to capture one of her breasts in his mouth. Her body bucked off the mattress.
“Hold on, Princess.” He moved to the other nipple and she moaned his name. She felt him smile against her skin as he rained kisses down her belly.
Kneeling before her, he hooked her legs over his shoulders and Julianne whimpered. This time he laughed as his tongue trailed along her inner thigh. He blew a breath over her sensitive skin and she squirmed again.
“Stubborn woman, I told you to hold on.” And then his mouth found her sweet spot and Julianne fisted her hands in the sheets to keep from flying off the bed. Will tortured her, bringing her to the edge twice before finally letting her fall free, her climax a blinding display of bright lights. She let out a silent scream before she went limp.
On his feet again, Will rolled her over and pushed her onto her knees. He entered her in one hard thrust, nearly causing her to climax again. Wrapping his arms around her body, he leaned over her, his breath sawing in her ear as he pumped into her.
“The next time you’re in a storm, Princess,” he panted, “think of this. Think of how good this feels. I guarantee you’ll never be frightened again.”
He reached a finger around to play with the sensitive nub, and she squeezed him tighter inside her. She came in a rush. With a harsh cry, Will was right behind her.
They lay on the bed trying to catch their breath for several moments, his body still cocooning hers. The storm outside seemed to have subsided long before the one in the bedroom. A soft rain now fell in the night, nearly muting the sounds of the sea. Will gently slid Julianne beneath the covers before turning out the lights and joining her. She snuggled against his warm body as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Mmm,” was all he said.
She trailed a finger over his shoulder. “As exorcisms go, that one was pretty good. But it may take a couple more attempts to make sure I’m fully recovered.”
Julianne heard the smile in his voice. “You think? Well then, you keep checking the weather forecast because I’m your man.”
She burrowed in closer, satisfied that Will was exactly that.
Twenty-three
“You’ve got a little over ninety thousand left after the sale. Nigel and I are good for at least another hundred. That means you need only to raise another sixty or so more to cover the start-up costs. Several of your creditors from JV Designs would be interested, despite the fact you’re going to manufacture over there.”
Julianne chuckled at Sebastian’s words. He was excited about the prospect of helping create a new design company, but the thought of having to relocate to the United States was killing him.
“Suck it up, Sebastian. It’s only temporary. If this takes off, you and Nigel can hop back across the pond and handle the European end of things. But right now, I need to keep things close to home.”
“Home, is it?” Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the phone dripped with sarcasm. “And here I thought Italy was home.”
She peered out the bay window in the kitchen, searching the shoreline for Will. He’d taken Owen out with him on his daily jog along the beach. Despite his attempts to acclimate her to the ocean and exorcise her fears, Julianne still suffered tremors at the thought of them both being swept away. She wouldn’t be able to draw a thing until they got back. So she’d called Sebastian instead to discuss financing her latest venture.
“Home is wherever Owen is.” And Will, she added silently.
He hadn’t told her he loved her, not in words at least. But she felt his constant protectiveness, since the first night they’d met. And his trust. Each day, he was sharing more and more about his past. Whether it was visiting his childhood haunts or taking her to meet Mrs. Elderhaus, his first-grade teacher, this morning, Will was opening up. He didn’t trust many people with his innermost thoughts, but he was sharing them with her. She knew that by letting her in, he was showing her he loved her, even if he couldn’t say it yet.
“And I really don’t want you and Nigel investing everything you have in this. I can borrow against my grandmother’s trust fund again. I just need to get Stephen’s approval since he’s the trustee.”
“Jules,” Sebastian drawled. “Nigel and I want to be partners with you. You’re the bomb. Mums all over the world will be clamoring for your baby knickers. And you needn’t worry about our finances. Nigel and I have money tucked away for our retirement. Now if you’re really worried about us, you’d reconsider setting up shop in rustic North Carolina.”
Julianne spread her notes out on the kitchen table. “No way. It’s perfect here. There are four closed textile mills within a fifty-mile radius and scores of people looking for work. The company would give the local economy a big boost. Annabeth and her friend Patricia are virtual goddesses at all the ins and outs of owning a small business. We’re going to look at potential sites tomorrow.”
“Good God! Women on a mission! Heaven help the men of that little hamlet. What does your muscle man say about all of this?”
She checked outside again. Still no sign of Will. “I haven’t told him yet. He seems to have the impression that I fly by the seat of my pants.”
Sebastian snorted.
“I want to prove to him that I don’t.” She ignored him. “I’ve successfully run a business in the past, and I can do it again. This past year has just been a cosmic glitch, a pregnant pause, pun intended. But I’m back now.”
“That’s our girl. You can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan.”