All You Need Is Love (4 page)

‘Ah, but I know there’s a story there with you and Ben, big sis,’ Julia murmured to herself. ‘And I’m going to figure it out one of these days.’

Chapter Two

San Francisco

Nathan Atwood gave his fiancée and her tall, raven-haired friend a quick onceover as they more or less dragged themselves through the airport terminal to where he was awaiting their arrival.

“You two look like you’ve been through the wringer,” he drawled, even as he drew Julia into his welcoming embrace. “I never realized trying on dresses could be so exhausting.”

Julia gave him a kiss, and he could tell instantly from the way she pressed her curvy little body up against his that she wasn’t
too
wrung out.

“It wasn’t the act of trying on dresses that exhausted us,” she corrected as the three of them began the walk toward baggage claim. “It was dealing with Lauren and one of her famous moods that drove both of us crazy.”

“Not to mention driving us to drink,” added Angela, wincing a little as she pressed two fingers to her temple. “Julia, why didn’t you remind me that
nobody
ever beats Lauren in a drinking contest.”

Julia shook her head. “Honey, if you haven’t learned that hard lesson by now, there’s really no hope for you.”

Nathan chuckled as they reached the escalators. “A bit hungover, are we ladies? Guess you’ll be wanting to get some sleep as soon as we get home, hmm?”

A little thrill ran through him, all the way down to his very interested dick, when Julia whispered naughtily, “I’m not
that
tired, baby. Especially since it’s been three whole nights since we, um –”

“Shh.” He glanced around, fully cognizant of the two hundred or so people who’d just gotten off the late flight from JFK. “I, uh, get it. And let me just say I echo your sentiments and am very, very glad you’re not, ahem,
too
tired.”

It had been months since they’d spent even one night apart, much less three, and Nathan couldn’t recall too many times in his life when he’d been this horny. Except, perhaps, during the endlessly long months when he’d stupidly and stubbornly persisted in doing what he had perceived as the right thing by remaining engaged to a woman he didn’t love. Months during which he’d secretly longed for Julia; had remembered in exacting, excruciating detail the one hot, erotic night they’d spent together In New York; and had gone almost crazy with jealousy when he’d believed she was seeing other men.

And then, after he’d finally done the right thing and broken off his ill-fated engagement so that he could finally be with the woman he truly loved, Julia had very nearly been lost to him when his crazy ex-fiancée had tried to kill her. He hadn’t spent a night away from her since the one night she’d stayed at the hospital recovering from the botched attempt on her life.

After grabbing Julia’s and Angela’s luggage, Nathan escorted them to his Lexus SUV and loaded the suitcases in the back. Angela took mere minutes to fall asleep, giving Nathan the boldness to slide his hand up beneath Julia’s gray wool skirt. Even for a six-hour cross-country flight she’d dressed to kill in one of her usual sexy but classy outfits – snug fitting pencil skirt, silky blouse, sexy as fuck stilettos, and –

His breath hitched a little. “Stockings. And a garter belt.” His fingers slipped beneath the lace-topped band of one silky stocking. “Good thing you aren’t too tired, baby, because if I wasn’t already horny as hell I damned sure am now.”

“Is that so? Hmm, let’s see, shall we?” purred Julia as her slender fingers began to trace along the unmistakable bulge at his crotch.

“Fuck.” Nathan’s breath hissed out between tightly clenched teeth. “Baby, better not start that here on the freeway, okay? I know for damned sure it wouldn’t be quiet, and no way am I putting on a little show for Angela back there. Especially since it’s, uh, been awhile for her.”

“Maybe not such a long while in actuality. Though come to think of it, she never did give me and Lauren a straight answer about it,” mused Julia.

At Nathan’s quizzical look, Julia explained about how Angela was finally beginning to snap out of her three-year funk and starting to date again. He couldn’t help chuckling when Julia described Dwayne Conroy – or at least how she remembered him from high school.

“I take it none of you cool girls ever gave poor Dwayne the time of day back then?” joked Nathan.

Julia wrinkled her pert little nose. “Pretty much, I’m afraid. Though for me that was mostly because I spent all of my time with Sam, while Lauren and Angela were still more into sports than boys at the time. But you’re right – none of us would have ever taken someone like Dwayne seriously back then.”

“Are you happy for her now, though?”

Julia blinked at him. “For Angie? Of course I am. She’s been such a basket case these past few years that I’d applaud almost anyone she decided to date. Except, of course, the prick who screwed her up to begin with.”

“She still hasn’t told you anything about him?”

“Nope. Lips are sealed and the key has been thrown away,” lamented Julia. “Though Lauren and I were always pretty sure it was someone she worked with. Not at Morton Sterling” – the firm Angela was currently employed at – “but the first brokerage firm she worked at out of college – Jessup Prior.”

Nathan frowned. “That’s probably a good thing she bailed on Jessup, even if it wasn’t for the right reason. From everything I’ve been reading in the financial pages lately, that ship is rumored to be sinking fast.”

“Hmm. All I know is that Angela never talks about the time she spent there, so we’re fairly sure that A is for Asshole worked at Jessup. Plus, she just said something over the weekend about never dating a co-worker again.”

He grinned, capturing her hand in his and drawing it to his lips. “Good thing you and I don’t share that same aversion.”

Julia suggestively slipped her index finger between his lips, then gave a little gasp when he bit down on it lightly. “Though it’s probably a good thing we don’t actually work on projects together all that often,” she confessed. “I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t get a whole lot accomplished each day.”

Nathan chuckled as she drew her hand away. “Depends on what you consider an accomplishment, I guess. If you’re talking about completing designs and holding meetings with clients, then I agree. But if you mean how many times I can get you off in a single day, then I’d be the most productive employee ever known.”

She felt her cheeks grow warm, even as she gave a little eye roll. “And a modest one, too. That confident in your, um, abilities, are we?”

In response, he slid his hand back up beneath her skirt, not stopping this time until he reached the crotch of her silky thong. At her little “ooh” of surprise, he gave a throaty laugh before murmuring in a low, suggestive tone, “Don’t forget I know exactly how to get you off, Julia, and exactly how long it takes to do so. Given how wet your undies are right now, I’m betting it wouldn’t take more than ninety seconds.”

Julia’s head fell back against the plush leather seat as Nathan continued to stroke his thumb over her clit, then let out a long, low moan as his index finger slipped beneath the crotch of her thong to tease her moist folds. “Ah, that’s sooo good,” she panted. “I, ah, think that’s one bet you might actually have a chance of winning.”

“Well, I am feeling awfully lucky tonight,” he whispered. “The real question is – are you feeling dangerous? Should I make you come right here on the freeway – with dozens of other cars racing by us and your friend in the back seat? What if she isn’t really sleeping? How would you feel if she heard you come? Mmm, those moans you make when you’re close –”

Julia huffed in frustration. “Better stop, I guess. Damn you for getting me all worked up, though! I hope you’ve been catching up on your sleep, mister, because you’ve got work to do tonight.”

Nathan guffawed as he reluctantly removed his hand. “Baby, that’s not work. That’s my idea of heaven.”

The traffic on the drive into San Francisco was light, which was a very good thing since Nathan seemed intent on setting a new speed record to reach Julia’s flat. They typically spent Monday through Thursday at Nathan’s condo, given its close proximity to the office, and the rest of the time at Julia’s cozy flat in Lower Pacific Heights. Ground was being broken in just about a week’s time – weather permitting – on the spacious waterfront home they were having built across the Golden Gate Bridge in Tiburon, the home Nathan had designed himself with some inspiration from Julia’s father. Nathan planned to personally oversee the construction and make sure that not only was everything built to his exact specifications but done precisely on schedule as well. He fully intended on ringing in the New Year with his new wife in that very house in less than a year’s time.

Angela, who lived in the flat above Julia’s, sleepily insisted she could carry her own suitcase upstairs, but Nathan brushed off her protests and did it for her. Julia had already unlocked the door to her flat and wheeled her suitcase inside by the time he ambled back downstairs. Not to mention having already stripped off her blouse and skirt and draped herself invitingly against the kitchen counter.

His jaw dropped as he locked the door securely behind him. “Are those, uh, new?” he croaked, his hungry gaze raking over her petite but lushly curved body.

Julia smiled sultrily, trailing a fingertip over the strap of a cream-colored demi-bra lavishly embellished with lace. Her big, round tits almost spilled out of the low-cut garment. “I had a little extra time to shop and paid a visit to my favorite lingerie store in Greenwich Village. I got two other sets just like this one in black and pink.”

Nathan cleared his throat as his gaze dipped lower, taking in the miniscule thong and lacy garter belt that matched the opulent bra. Those sheer, silky stockings were clipped to the garters.

“You, uh, look good in pink,” he stammered. “But, ah, then you look good in any color. Or no color at all.”

She turned around slowly, full circle, letting him get the whole erotic picture – her perky ass cheeks bared by the insubstantial thong, her shapely legs encased in those cock-teasing stockings, her dainty feet still shod in one of her countless pairs of high heels – these a dark gray suede with pointy toes and a spindly heel. For the life of him he had never figured out how she could wear those things on a daily basis and still manage to walk at an astonishingly brisk pace. But Nathan had never been a man to look a gift horse in the mouth, and would have sooner cut off a testicle than suggest his hotter than hot fiancée wear more comfortable footwear.

When Julia was facing him again, there was a knowing smirk on her gorgeous face. “Do you, ah, want me to model the other sets for you?”

Nathan shook his head and began to advance on her slowly, like a panther stalking its prey. “I can use my imagination, baby. Just like I can imagine how amazing it’s going to feel to slide inside of you in about ninety seconds.”

She arched a dainty, perfectly plucked brow. “Should I start the timer?”

In three brisk, purposeful movements, he’d torn off his cashmere sweater, kicked off his shoes, and shucked his jeans. “Not necessary.”

Julia squealed in surprise as he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her fireman-style into the bedroom, nearly flinging her onto the mattress. In another, equally swift sequence, he divested himself of his underwear, jerked her thong down past her hips, and surged inside of her hard enough to leave both of them gasping.

“Ohh,” breathed Julia, her green eyes half-lidded. “God, that’s – good. A little more foreplay might have been nice, too, but, uh, it’s all good.”

He chuckled, wrapping her legs around his waist as he settled more comfortably between her thighs. “This is one of those rare occasions where foreplay is definitely overrated. Besides, I could tell in the car that you were all ready for me.”

She groaned as he began to slowly move in and out of her eager, willing body. “What – what about you?” she asked in a wispy little voice. “You don’t need any –”

“Foreplay? With you?” He gave a short laugh of disbelief. “Baby, you have got to be kidding. All I really need to be ready to go with you is look at you. Most of the time just thinking about you will do the trick. And seeing you decked out like a pin-up girl is about equal to an hour of foreplay.”

Julia gasped as his hand delved inside a shallow bra cup to squeeze her breast, his fingers twisting the nipple. “So does this mean you – uh – like my new – oh, God – wardrobe additions?”

He yanked the bra strap off her shoulder, hissing when her breast popped free. As he bent to lave the nipple with his tongue, he murmured, “Baby, I’ve already told you. When you buy new lingerie it’s like the gift that keeps on giving.”

She slid her fingers into his thick, dark brown hair as he continued to lavish attention on her full, aching tits. “A gift for me,” she moaned as he began to fuck her harder, “but a gift for you, too.”

Nathan rose to one knee, lifting her right leg over his shoulder as he did so. Sweat poured from his brow as he angled his hips, screwing into her harder and deeper from this position. “Uh, huh,” he grunted. “Though the best gift of all is having you back here in our bed, that tight little cunt of yours fucking my cock like it’s starved for it.”

Her groans were growing progressively louder as he continued to swivel his hips, pounding her deeper into the plush mattress with each aggressive stroke. “It is starved,” she cried out. “
I’m
starved for you, Nathan.”

He stared down at her, enraptured by the sight of her big tits bouncing with each hard thrust he made; the way her long caramel curls lay in tumbled disarray among the pillows; how her full pink mouth trembled each time she drew a ragged breath. He knew she was close, could tell by the whimpers she made and how her hips moved in perfect sync with his as she reached for her climax.

“Then gorge yourself on me, Julia. Take as much of me as you can handle,” he rasped. “Because I’m going to fucking devour you. All – night – long.” He punctuated each word with an especially hard, deep thrust, his hand working its way between their co-joined bodies to pinch her clit. At the same time his mouth took hers in a series of blistering kisses, sucking on her tongue greedily.