Hold On (25 page)

Chapter Nineteen

I left work early today so I could get home, or to Julian’s condo, and get ready without
being rushed. I have to be back at The Promenade by seven, which leaves me a little
over an hour to get ready. The actual party starts at eight. Julian is going to drop
me off, go check things out at the hotel, and meet me back at the party. I’m excited
for tonight, anxious, but excited. This is a huge deal for me professionally and personally.
Julian told me he knows his Uncle Juan will be there along with Danny, and a few other
Bywater employees. He isn’t sure if his dad is going. Julian told me today they haven’t
talked much since the night at DeAngelo’s. I hope he doesn’t go, it’ll only ruin what
sounds like a fun night. I took a shower while Julian went for a quick run on the
beach. I sense he’s feeling a little tense and I’m glad he got rid of some of his
own nervous energy.

As I’m getting ready, I turn on my iPod so I can listen to music while I put my makeup
on and do my hair. I’m in a good mood and as I move around Julian’s big bathroom,
I find myself dancing. I’m in here for about twenty minutes when Julian walks in to
take a shower. He takes his red and black athletic shorts off, drops them next to
the shower and gets in. I love looking at his body and don’t even try to hide it.
The mirror I’m looking into allows me to see what Julian is doing behind me. He makes
taking a shower look so sexual and I can’t help but be turned on. I attempt to alter
my thought process because we really don’t have time for sex. Not that Julian needs
much time. I swear there are instances when I think I might orgasm just looking at
him. This may be one of those times.

I try to refocus on getting ready and finish putting my makeup on but I can’t help
myself from watching Julian get out of the shower, dry himself off, and wrap a towel
around his waist. He joins me at the vanity and starts his own routine: brushing his
teeth, shaving, and making himself look even more gorgeous. It feels good to do this,
to be this normal couple. I can’t help but smile and Julian notices.

“Whatcha smiling at mi amor?”

“You. You’re hot, and I’m happy.”

Julian flashes me his sexiest smile and comes and stands behind me. He wraps his arms
around me from behind and pulls me close.

Right then, as he’s holding me, the song Show Me by Bruno Mars comes on. I love the
song and I can’t help but move my hips a little as it plays. I sing the words to Julian
as we stare at our reflections in the mirror.

No, I won’t think you’re easy, no, I won’t think you’re fast
Your eyes saying “please me,’ but your lips get to ask
No need to fight it, when you know it feels right
You say you’re a woman who knows what she likes

I sway my hips a little more and Julian moves with me. He slips one hand inside my
robe and is resting it on my stomach right below my breasts. The other is holding
my hand down at my side.

Julian can move. He’s an amazing dancer as well as an amazing lover and watching him
move against me in the mirror is such a turn on. I’ve never watched myself like this
and it’s more erotic than I could’ve imagined. The movements of our hips have basically
pulled the towel off of him. I reach down and yank the towel away, leaving him naked.
I think he’s going to take my robe off but he doesn’t. He unties the sash though and
with me watching, starts to caress my breasts. I lean back into him and savor the
feeling. He pulls me gently backward and turns me so that we’re in front of the very
large, full-length mirror on one wall of the bathroom. I can see our whole bodies
now. A feeling of shyness comes over me and I close my eyes.

“No, Lexie, abra los ojos. I want you to see how sexy you look when you’re turned
on, when you’re about to come.”

Sometimes I think I’d do anything he asks. He has a way of making me feel so comfortable.
I keep my eyes open and locked on his through the mirror and watch as he slides his
free hand down my stomach and in between my legs. I watch as he spreads me open with
his fingers and runs his index finger through my wetness. He touches me gently and
slides his fingertip slowly, back and forth, back and forth. With each pass he pushes
down and puts pressure on my clit. He rolls my nipple between his fingers with his
other hand, and I feel his hot breath on my neck as he runs his tongue down it and
across my shoulder. I start to tremble as the stirrings of my orgasm pick up steam
and delicious sensations start flowing through my body. I can’t help but moan loudly
and rock my hips into his hand.

“Mmm. I want you to come for me. Watch yourself, Lexie. You’re so beautiful.”

“I’m so close, Julian. Please don’t stop.”

“Nunca, Baby. Sabes esto. I’ll always take care of you.”

My body starts to shudder as it’s overtaken with pleasure followed by explosive orgasm.
Julian removes his hand from between my legs but doesn’t move away. We’re still looking
into the mirror as I lean back into him for support. My legs are shaking.

“Did you like watching me?”

“God, yes. I love watching you watch me get you off.”

“Good, because now you get to watch me get you off.”

Before he can argue, not that he was going to, I drop to my knees and take him in
my mouth. I position myself at an angle so I can watch his face in the mirror as I
give him head. It looks like I’m not the only one who is turned on by the view. Julian
is rock hard. When I see him close his eyes, I take my mouth off of him and repeat
his words.

“Keep your eyes open, Julian. I want you to see how sexy you look when you’re turned
on, when you come.”

A deep moan escapes him. “Then don’t stop, Lexie.”

I repeat his words again. “Never, baby. I’ll always take care of you.”

And I do just that. Over the last month I have learned what he likes. I know what
pace works for him. I know he loves it when I run my tongue just underneath the head.
I know he really likes when I grip his shaft firmly and stroke him the same way. I
try my hardest to pleasure him because he always takes such good care of me. It isn’t
easy either. Julian is well-endowed and when he comes, he really comes. I’ve never
been a big fan of swallowing but with him it seems wrong not to. I know this man worships
every single inch of my body and I need him to know I feel the same way about his.

I incorporate all of these things into my blow job and keep my eyes on him. He’s watching
me so intently now. His eyes look almost black with lust and the erotic sounds coming
out of his mouth let me know he’s close. He starts to tremble and thrusts harder as
his orgasm approaches. I keep my mouth on him until I have taken everything he has
to give. He sits down on the edge of the bathtub to catch his breath.

I glance at my watch as I stand up. It’s six-thirty and we need to leave in fifteen
minutes if we’re going to be on time. Julian tries to pull me to him but I duck out
of his arms.

“No time for anything else. We need to build an extra hour into our schedules when
we have to be somewhere Julian. It seems we have a problem keeping our hands off of
each other.”

He stands up and walks past me to the sink.

“And mouths too, Corazón. But I’m not complaining. I’d trade a blow job from you for
being late any day.”

His compliment makes me feel good and makes me smile. “Oh, I’m not complaining either.
That’s why I suggested the extra hour. I hate being late.”

“Well then hurry up.” He swats me on the ass as he walks out of the bathroom.

I spend five more minutes on my makeup and hair, which I’ve left down and wavy, I
brush my teeth and follow him out. My clothes are already laid out. I look at the
dress I’m wearing tonight and fall in love with it all over again. I slide it over
my head, slip my feet into my birthday shoes and look at myself in the mirror and
smile. I feel like a million bucks.

When Julian comes out of his closet and stands next to me at the mirror I almost gasp.
He’s wearing a black, three piece Brioni suit with a white shirt and a black tie with
flecks of gold in it. He’s stunning. We look stunning next to each other. He squeezes
my hand and leans over to whisper in my ear, “You’re gorgeous.”

I know I look good, great actually, but it has so much more to do with how I’m feeling
than how I look. This man next to me has really helped me feel good on the inside
again and for the first time in a really long time, when I look in the mirror, I really
do like who I see.

Julian drops me off a few minutes before seven and leaves to go check-in at the hotel.
I find Lauren and Serena, and all three of us tie up the remaining lose ends for the
party. Lauren isn’t wearing the red dress she bought the other night and when I ask
why she gets mad at me for not telling her it was the wrong dress to wear tonight.
She’s in an off-white, lace, eyelet dress that looks amazing next to her tan skin.
It’s a much more appropriate choice. I apologize and tell her how beautiful she looks
tonight. I have to admit Serena looks great too. She’s wearing a lavender colored
tank dress with a black-beaded beat and little ruffles in the back. It’s cute, yet
professional and I tell her she looks great too. I’m sure this peace treaty is temporary,
but for the night we all seem to be in agreement that work comes first.

We’re standing in the reception area when I see Andrea, Mark, and Diego come into
the building. Andrea looks gorgeous in a black, silk sheath and Mark looks like he
always does, professional and put together in a suit. Diego on the other hand looks
fantastic and I can’t help but gaze at him with appreciation. He looks very polished
in whatever black designer suit he’s wearing. His hair isn’t as unruly as it usually
is and he looks like he stepped off of the cover of some Italian style magazine. Serena
and Lauren make a few comments about how he looks as he makes his way over toward
us. He greets all three of us in the same manner, but I catch his lingering gaze on
me as he turns my way. Andrea is in full party-planner mode and starts asking questions
to make sure we have done everything we were supposed to. When she’s convinced everything
is under control she walks away and starts to greet the guests who are arriving.

Diego and Mark follow suit, so the three of us do the same. People are flowing into
the building in a steady stream and before long, the empty lobby area is filled with
guests. I try and to keep a lookout for Julian as I network, but it’s already eight-thirty
and I still haven’t see him. I know I wasn’t going to be able to spend a lot of time
with him tonight but I still wish he was nearby. I’m in the middle of a conversation
with a realtor when I hear Julian’s voice wafting through the air behind me. My happiness
only lasts for a moment as I hear Diego responding to Julian in Spanish. I finish
my conversation quickly and turn to face the two of them.

Julian and Diego are standing off to the side with a few people around. Danny is next
to Julian and so is a man I assume to be his Uncle Juan. He looks like Antonio. Julian
has his fake, I really don’t like you, smile on and I can tell by his posture he’s
tense. Damn. He was in such a great mood when I left him. I make my way over to where
they are and when he sees me, his smile becomes real. Diego turns to see what Julian
is smiling at and when he sees me his big smile comes out. I walk up and stand to
the side of both of them.

“Julian Bauer, I’d like you to meet Alexa Reed. Alexa’s one of our top salespeople
and a total asset to W&M. It’s been such a pleasure to work with her.”

Um, okay, that’s a little over the top. We’ve been working together for five minutes.

I glance at Danny and see he’s trying hard to stifle a laugh. I turn to face Julian
and play the game a little.

“It’s so nice to see you again tonight, Julian. It’s been way too long. I was wondering
if you were going to show up.”

Julian’s expression stays soft and I’m glad he isn’t mad or acting jealous. On the
contrary, he does an untypical “Julian in public” thing and pulls me in close. He
kisses me on the cheek softly.

“Alexa and I know each other very well and I’m quite familiar with all of her great
attributes.” He chuckles and glances at Diego who looks a little stunned and uncomfortable.
“Ella es mi novia, Diego.”

Diego turns and looks at me. “You didn’t mention Julian was your boyfriend, Alexa.”

“I didn’t realize you two knew each other, Diego. I see now that you do.”

I move away from Julian and give Danny a kiss on his cheek. He in turn introduces
me to his Uncle Juan, who shakes my hand gently. What a different greeting than the
one I got from Julian’s dad. When I turn back to Julian, I see the two of them shaking
hands and Diego walking off.

“That was bad. You set him up.”

His eyes are filled with mischief and I know he liked the little joke I played at
Diego’s expense. It was harmless, really, and I hope now that Diego knows I’m with
Julian; he’ll stop with the staring.

I spend the next fifteen minutes with Julian as he introduces me to a few other people
he works with or does business with. He always introduces me as his girlfriend, just
like he said he would, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I catch more than one surprised
expression when he utters the word, “girlfriend”. I’m about to leave to go mingle
when I see Antonio Bauer walking toward us. I feel the immediate need to flee, but
this is Julian’s dad we’re talking about and it would look so disrespectful. Julian
sees the panic under my fake smile, and grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly.

“Hola Papi. I wasn’t sure you were coming.”

Julian’s greeting to his dad is curt and businesslike. I see the hurt in his eyes
when he hears his son speak to him so coldly.

I can take one quick glance at his dad and know he’s sober and right now he seems
like a different person. He shakes Julian’s hand, Danny’s hand, and Juan’s hand, and
then turns to me. He keeps his distance, but extends his hand. I look at Julian and
then take it. His grip is soft and warm.