Layers Off (19 page)

One of Julian’s hands slid up my thigh, grasping it with his full span, squeezing gently. I was now on top of him and he took advantage of my position to grasp my breasts, molding them in his hands. His erection stood tall in front of my soaked crotch. At the sight of the glistening tip, I was glad I wasn’t wearing panties.

I grasped Julian’s shaft and splayed my knees at the side of his hips, centering myself over him, then guiding his length inside me. Releasing a moan, Julian shut his eyes. The intense stretch stilled me for a moment before I could lower myself deeper. Circling my hips, I found a comfortable rhythm to ride him, my hair flopping back and forth.

Julian’s hips plunged higher with each twist of mine. I leaned forward, sliding my hands across his abdomen, feeling his hard muscles tense underneath my palms. He looked so beautiful from above.

“Touch yourself, K.” His hands grasped my knees at the side of his hips.

I lifted the transparent negligee and lowered my hand down my belly to the swollen part of my pussy.

“Yes, like that.” His approval motivated my fingers to perform more quickly. Feeling him thrust in and out of me, deeper each time, my fingers circled around my clit, urging it harder. The swell between my legs was becoming unbearable. I rode Julian up and down while flicking myself off faster, rubbing precisely. Drops of sweat collected at my nape and Julian’s chest. The smell of our excitement blended into a euphoric scent. I felt my mouth open slightly, and when I looked at Julian, silently communicating what was about to happen, he lifted me off his hips and grabbed his shaft. I sat on his thighs, untying the last knots in my clit while he stroked his cock in front of me so flawlessly.

“Argh, fuck.” Julian’s jaw tightened.

As the first of his white seed spewed upward, I lost it. Tightening my thighs around him I watched the hot stream erupt as my own orgasm consumed me. I shook on top of him, masturbating the jitters out of my pussy for so long I didn’t realize Julian was done and watching me when the last quake flew through me.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, K.”

I collapsed to the bed beside him, drenched in sweat and my own slick juices. Julian wiped himself clean with the tissues from the night table, and then pulled me to him. I lay at his side, counting the little freckles he had just under that tattoo on his ribcage.

“You make me feel alive and needed,” he whispered.

I kissed his chest and looked up to meet his gaze. “And you make my life worth living.”

“My only regret was being blind to what was happening before. I wish I could have seen the signs and helped you earlier.”

“Don’t. It’s in the past. You are my future. You’ve got me.”

“I’ve got you.” He kissed the top of my head and then pulled the covers over us.

I snuggled into his heated body and felt my eyes close with Julian’s first soft snore.

C
HAPTER
16

The next morning Pucker’s wet tongue tickled my toes and I stirred, pulling my feet underneath the covers. He barked with that cute puppy bark he still had, and I wondered whether he needed to go out.

“I’m beginning to think it was a mistake getting the pooch,” Julian growled, half-asleep.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. You were exhausted last night,” I said.

He smiled as if reliving a moment. “Totally worth it.” Julian looked down to our feet where Pucker sat at the foot of the bed with his tongue out. “How in the world did he get up here?”

“The bench.” I pointed to the front of the bed. “He’s really smart, and he already knows tricks.”

“Show me when we go outside?” he asked, with a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Outside?”

“Yes, you wanted some answers about your past, and I’m hoping to give you at least some of them today.”

My jaw dropped open and I jumped out of bed. With Pucker at my heels, I quickly brushed my teeth, hurried downstairs to let him out, and then headed for the kitchen to get the breakfast started while Julian got dressed.

By the time Julian came down, the smell of coffee filled the kitchen. I’d already cracked some eggs into a bowl, and the bacon was frying in the pan. His hands slipped around me from the back as he nuzzled into my neck.

“I’ve never seen you so excited about anything.”

“What about last night?”

“Well, we can’t count making love because nothing will ever compare to you in my arms.”

“Is it really true? Are you going to tell me?”

“Yes. There’s no reason to keep this from you any longer; in fact, it may trigger some memories to help you down the road.”

“So, what are we doing?”

“Get dressed warmly. Everything is ready outside.”

For a moment I wondered what he meant by that, and then decided to better spend my time eating the breakfast on which I nearly choked. Julian watched me with intent. His eyes were brighter this morning, as if the answers he was going to give me would set him free as well.

Outside, Pucker wore a blue sweater. His little feet treaded west across the back yard along a fresh layer of snow. He stayed close to my feet, never leaving too far away on his leash. The morning fog still hovered over the ocean, slowly drifting upward. As eerie as it looked, today a tornado could sweep right over me and it wouldn’t change my mood.

We headed toward the half dozen rows of trees separating Julian’s property line from Tristan’s. Squeezing his hand, I felt the anticipation build inside me and began almost skipping every step. Past the first few trees we stopped. From here you could see Allie’s and Tristan’s house. By a tree on the right, a storage box the size of a patio table with a lock on its front caught my attention.

“Ready?” Julian asked. A veil of doubt crept over his face, as if he was perhaps keeping a dead corpse in that box.

I nodded and stepped forward without wavering. With a few clicks he unlocked the small chain and lifted the lid. I leaned in to get a better look. Inside was a set of long range rifles, and their separate components. The smell of metal drifted around me.

“Assemble it,” he instructed.

I didn’t even ask why or question him how; instead, I automatically took hold of the gun, attached the sound suppressor, adjusted the handle to my arm reach, and loaded the ammunition. I left the bipod in the storage box.

“You’re not surprised I can do this?” I asked.

Julian picked up Pucker and held him in his arms. The pup nuzzled into the corner of Julian’s elbow as he said, “This doesn’t shock you either, does it?” With his free hand he pointed in between the trees, about one hundred yards north. “There’s a target. Shoot it down.”

Knowing what I was capable of from my experience at the shooting range with Allie and Laura, I didn’t question him or laugh. Instead, I spread my legs apart, stood sideways, pushed the rifle’s butt against the pit of my arm, and focused. My breath steadied, so each inhale I took did not affect the way I held the rifle or my aim. A swoosh of adrenalin cursed through my body, yet I felt calm and focused. After a few seconds I shot without hesitation. That single moment felt as if I had stepped into my past, but it only lasted for a fraction of a second. The world around me ceased to exist as I shot the target dead center. And even this seemed too easy. I was sure I’d never used laser sight before and I could do without it. The red dot was just an added bonus.

My phone buzzed, but I just stared into the distance, hoping for more clues.

“You trained for the Olympics biathlon since you were a kid. It was your passion,” Julian said.

“I felt so comfortable with a gun when Allie took me to that shooting range.”

I heard a quick inhale beside me, but Julian didn’t say anything.

“Firing here, it felt natural. I know how to do this, but I don’t remember any of it.”

My phone buzzed again. Pucker let out a soft bark, and I reached into my pocket to read a message from Allie.

A.Cross:
Katherine Walker was an Olympic hopeful in a biathlon. Everything about her is erased on the net. We found a small paper trail leading to Katherine’s ‘death’ in a train accident.

I quickly replied:

Kendra:
Thank you

“Is it important?” Julian asked as I read the message to myself.

“Not anymore. How do I not remember?”

“Before the accident, you underwent hypnosis.”

“Who decided to erase my memory?”

“Your parents, just before you left for your vacation.”

“Why?”

“That’s all I can tell you for now, K. When I have more information, you’ll be the first to know. We’re working hard to protect you.”

Protect me from what?
I thought, but I was beginning to wonder whether I wanted to know the truth myself. I trusted Julian, though, and if he’d said he couldn’t tell me, then I believed him.

“So my past is buried somewhere in my brain?”

“You should get your memories back with time.”

My phone buzzed again.

A.Cross:
My bachelorette party is in ten days. Right after Valentines. Get ready for Vegas!

I cracked my neck to the side and let out a long breath.

“What is it?” Julian asked.

“Don’t freak out, but I’m going to Las Vegas in ten days for Allie’s bachelorette party.”

“You’re going where?” Julian’s shocked face was exactly what I expected.

“Vegas,” I repeated, adding brevity to my tone.

He paced from the storage box toward me, back and forth, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. Pucker seemed to enjoy the little walk in Julian’s hands.

“Julian, I’ll be fine.”

“You’re a recovering addict. Besides, do you know what’s going on in Vegas?”

“Don’t talk to me like I wouldn’t know, Julian. I’m a grown woman.” I began putting away the rifle.

“I’m sorry. I just want to protect you.”

“From lights, shows, and a bit of gambling? Allie’s pregnant and Sam and Gabe are trying for a baby so I doubt there will be any drinking going on. Besides, they’re the best friends I need to help me get through Vegas. For the first time in a long time, I actually feel like a regular woman who can pull through this. I’ll be fine. I’m over the party life, you know that.”

“You know there’s more to Vegas than what you’re describing.”

“But it doesn’t matter. After what I’d been exposed to, Vegas will be like preschool. I can handle it. Besides, Laura’s planning it. How wild can it get?

“Obviously you don’t know Laura.”

“And you do?”

“She’s dating James.” Yes, that was enough to tell me what kind of kink Laura was into. James had worked with, and now for, Julian and Tristan for years, though I’d never seen him settle with a girl for as long as he had been with Laura.

“And horny girls sticking dollar bills down men’s pants can get pretty wild,” he added.

I paced toward him saying, “You sound jealous. If you like I can stick dollar bills down your pants too.” I slid my hand down to his crotch, feeling him flex that beautiful muscle in response.

“Because I am jealous,” he blurted. “And worried. Laura and Allie attract trouble like magnets. I need you to stay alert and safe.”

“So you’re fine with me going?” I scooted even closer, rubbing my hand over his hardened bulge.

“No, but I’m not going to stop you. I want to support anything you choose to do.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “As long as your hands stay away from other men’s skimpy briefs.”

“Just make sure I’m not horny before we go, and we’re set,” I said like some kind of a vixen, teasing his lower lip with a bite. Pucker growled gently between us.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” he responded with a wet smooch.

“No, but this is.” I took his mouth into mine, kissing him feverishly. Our tongues danced. I needed Julian confident that I was his and he was mine. No other man would ever come between us. Nothing would.

After a louder bark, I was forced to pull away.

“You, mister, better learn how to share my attention,” I said to the pup. Pucker just wagged his tail as if his mission was accomplished.

“Is it all right if I come here to shoot? It feels good. Like part of me is back, for the better,” I asked Julian.

“I was waiting for you to ask,” he laughed. “Of course, K. That’s why this is here, but right now I have something else on my mind.” That hungry sparkle in his eyes and low rusty voice traveled through me right down to my groin. If it weren’t for Pucker, it wouldn’t surprise me if Julian took me now, right here in the woods, but of course he didn’t want an audience.

We rushed home, with Pucker treading along after us. By the time we returned, the puppy was so tired, he lay down on the kitchen rug and fell asleep. And we took the opportunity to satisfy each other’s needs on the living room couch, three times that day.

C
HAPTER
17

We sat around the roulette table, watching the board of red and black number patterns with intent. I didn’t believe in a perfect streak, but my friend had me changing my mind with every bet. Each time Laura lucked out, I felt my mouth open wider. This girl had a team of Leprechauns working magic on her behalf. At this rate the hotel would upgrade us from the regular rooms to their most expensive suites. Okay, perhaps I was exaggerating, but the piling chips under her hand made a stack to be proud of – and one that caught the attention of a lot of onlookers. We cheered her on as she chanted toward the spinning wheel and the swirling metal ball in the opposite direction. “Come on, shiny ball. Allie needs a crib!”

When buzzed, Laura managed to find a nickname for everything. She was the only one of us drinking tonight as well, so her speech sounded funny and exciting. She’d also promised to donate all her winnings to Allie’s baby needs, so her funny one-liners had everyone around the roulette table laughing as if she were the hired comedian for the night. And to her credit, she really did sound like one.

“Come on! Mamma needs some toys!”

And though her intention was purely meant for baby toys, her risqué outfit of the night, this venue, and heavy makeup implied a totally different agenda.