The Escort (14 page)

She sighed
heavily. “Court on the other hand, well, he’s never been good at
loving them and leaving them. He was in this relationship with this
bitch of a woman for nearly two years. Did he tell you about her?
She put him through the wringer but it wasn’t until he caught her
cheating on him that he finally kicked her out. He’s not weak,
don’t get me wrong, he just – he sees the good in people, you know?
Even the rotten ones. He believes that there’s good in
everyone.”

Julie could
feel the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Why are you here? Why are
you telling me this?” She whispered.

“Because I love
my brother and he is miserable without you.” Melanie sighed. “And
forgive me, but I think you’re just as miserable without him.”

“He lied to
me.” Julie swiped at her cheeks.

“Yeah, I didn’t
say he wasn’t stupid. I just said he was miserable.” Melanie rolled
her eyes and Julie couldn’t hold back the small smile.

Melanie
returned her smile. “I want you to consider giving Court a second
chance. I wasn’t kidding when I said he was miserable without you.
He hasn’t been to work in the week since the shit hit the fan.
Hell, he hasn’t left his apartment. He refuses to speak to Cal and
he won’t even talk to my parents. Dad’s threatening to kidnap him
and take him to the mountains again.”

Julie smiled
again. “He told me about that.”

“Did he?”
Melanie grinned. “Yeah, dad likes to bring that story up at every
family reunion. It’s like his greatest parenting moment, ever.”

She leaned
forward and gave Julie a searching look. “Listen, I know what my
brother did was absolutely, without a doubt, the stupidest thing he
could ever do but I truly believe that he cares about you. And I
know you care about him or you wouldn’t have given Cal the money
and saved his ass. You could have called the escort agency and
gotten Cal fired but instead, you kept your mouth shut and sent him
fifty thousand dollars. I know you didn’t do that for Cal. He’s
charming but he’s not that goddamn charming.”

She finished
drinking her tea and stood up. “I’d better go. I’ve taken up enough
of your time. Just, please Julie, think about forgiving my brother
and giving him a second chance. I swear he’s worth it.”

Julie nodded
and followed Melanie to the front door. Melanie stepped outside and
smiled at her. “It was nice to meet you, Julie.”

“It was nice to
meet you too.” Julie replied.

She shut the
door as Melanie turned and walked away, and leaned heavily against
it. Her mind was whirling and her pulse was thudding in her ears.
She yanked the front door open.

“Melanie?”

Melanie paused
with her hand on her car door. “Yeah?”

“I’ve thought
about it. Will you take me to your brother’s apartment?”

Melanie, a huge
grin crossing her face, nodded. “Yes, I can do that.”

* * *

“Jesus, Court.
Open a window in here, for the love of God.” His sister’s voice
rang down the hallway and he sighed and turned the volume up on the
TV.

“Go away, Mel.
I don’t want company.”

“Yeah, that’s
apparent.” His sister walked into the living room, her nose
wrinkling with disgust.

“Did mom send
you over here? Tell her I’m fine.” Court snapped as she crossed the
room and opened the blinds.

He blinked at
the bright light. “I prefer the blinds closed.”

Mel ignored him
and shoved the window open. “Mom didn’t send me. She’s having
dinner with dad and Cal.”

“Cal? I would
have figured he was in the hospital with two busted legs by now.”
Court said grouchily. He stared at the flickering light of the
television as Mel snatched the remote from his hand and muted
it.

“You know, Cal.
He always bounces back.”

“Yeah.” Court
replied bitterly. He glanced at his sister. “Can you go? I’m tired.
I want to go to bed.”

“It’s only
five-thirty, you big dumb lug. Besides, you’ve got company.”

“What?” He
blinked at her as she pointed behind him.

“I said you’ve
got company.”

He twisted
around, his mouth dropping open as he stared at Julie standing in
the doorway of the living room.

“What – what
are you doing here?” He rasped. He stood up from the couch, acutely
aware of the stained t-shirt and shorts he was wearing and the
scraggly beard he was sporting.

“I thought we
should talk.” She whispered.

“Well, I’m
gonna go.” Mel said cheerfully. “Call me later, big brother.”

She squeezed
Julie’s shoulder as she slipped by, and he took a nervous step
toward Julie as he heard the front door shut.

“You look
good.” He whispered.

“Thanks. You
look um…”

She stared at
him and he grimaced.

“Yeah, I know
what I look like. How have you been?”

She shrugged.
“Okay. Better than I was.”

“I’m so sorry,
Julie.” He said hoarsely. “I never meant to hurt you. I swear I
didn’t. It was stupid of me to lie and I wish to God I hadn’t.”

“I know.” She
said simply. “I forgive you for lying to me.”

“You do?” He
was standing in front of her now and he wanted to reach out and
touch her but he kept his hands closed into fists at his sides.

“Yes.” She
didn’t say anything else, just regarded him solemnly and he closed
his eyes.

“I’ve missed
you.” He whispered.

For a moment
there was nothing and he could feel despair washing over him. She
might have forgiven him but she would never take him back. She
would never let him –

“I’ve missed
you too.” Her soft hands were cupping his face and he opened his
eyes to see her face only inches from his. “It’s ridiculous how
much I’ve missed you.” She repeated before she pressed her mouth
against his.

He groaned and
wrapped his arms around her waist, yanking her into his embrace as
he kissed her warm mouth repeatedly.

“I’m sorry, I’m
so sorry.” He whispered.

“Stop. Don’t
apologize anymore, okay?” She rested her forehead against his and
he stroked her back through her t-shirt.

“You’re so
beautiful.” He whispered. “You smell so good.” He buried his face
in her throat and inhaled deeply.

“Thank you.”
She tugged at his hair until he raised his head. “You smell
terrible.”

He burst out
laughing and she grinned before wrinkling her nose. “I mean,
really, really terrible.”

“I haven’t
showered in a few days.” He admitted.

“I can tell.”
She stepped out of his embrace and took his hand. “Where’s your
bathroom.”

“Down the
hall.”

He followed her
into the washroom and watched as she turned the shower on, testing
the water with her hand before she pulled his t-shirt over his
head. She studied him in the bright light of the bathroom.

“When was the
last time you slept?”

He shrugged. “I
don’t know. A couple of days. I kept dreaming of you, and after a
while I figured it would be easier just not to sleep.”

She frowned at
him. “Court, that’s a really stupid thing to do.”

He didn’t
reply. He was running his hands over her arms as if he thought she
would disappear and she tugged on his shorts. “Get in the shower,
Court.”

“Will you join
me?”

She shook her
head. “I’d better not. You need to get some sleep and if I climb
into the shower with you, you won’t get any. We both know
that.”

“I don’t need
sleep. I need you.” He reached for her and she stepped back.

“What you need
is to brush your teeth, shave and have a shower.” She said
pointedly. “I’ll wait for you in your bedroom.”

* * *

When he walked
into his bedroom, she was lying in his bed. He nearly ran across
the room and crawled into the bed, pressing himself eagerly against
her warm, naked curves.

She put her arm
around him and pulled him close. “You smell much better.”

He smiled and
nuzzled her neck. “I feel better.”

“Good.” She
stroked his chest. “You should get some sleep, Court.”

“I’m not
tired.” He was aching for her, his cock hard as a rock, but he made
himself stroke her side instead of cupping her breast the way he
wanted to.

She slipped her
hand under the covers and grasped his cock, making him moan with
need. “I can tell.”

“Please, Jules.
I need you.” He whispered.

“I need you
too.” She murmured. She slipped on top of him and rubbed herself
against his cock before leaning over him and kissing him
deeply.

He returned her
kiss eagerly, pushing his tongue into her mouth as he cupped and
kneaded her breasts.

She pulled back
and showed him the condom in her hand. “I found this in your
bedside table.”

He grinned as
she ripped it open and shifted backwards until she was straddling
his thighs. She rolled it on carefully, biting her lip in
concentration, and he nearly came in her hand when she stroked him
lightly.

“I can’t wait,
darlin’.” He moaned.

“Me either.”
She held his cock in one hand and lowered herself on to him. He
blew his breath out in a harsh rush as she began to ride him with
slow, careful strokes.

“Christ, that
feels so fucking good.” He moaned.

“Touch me,
Court. Make me come.” She demanded.

He moved his
hand to her clit and rubbed it as she moved faster. She slid up and
down his throbbing cock as he rubbed furiously at her clit. She
moaned and gasped with pleasure and he gave a hoarse shout of
surprise when she suddenly came with a short cry.

“Julie!” He
gasped her name as her pussy squeezed around him and he was
helpless to stop from coming.

She stared down
at him as he panted beneath her and he reddened slightly. “Sorry,
darlin’.”

“For what?” She
asked curiously.

“I usually have
better control.” He muttered.

She grinned. “I
like making you lose control.”

She slid off of
him and he pulled the condom off and disposed of it before pulling
her back into his arms. She rested her head against his chest and
sighed happily.

He stroked her
warm back. “How did you know Cal wasn’t me? When I went to your
house that night I heard you yelling at him. How did you know?”

She took his
hand and rubbed her fingers across the calluses on his palm before
linking their fingers together. “Your hands.”

“My hands?”

“Cal took my
hand and his was smooth.” She smiled up at him. “No calluses.”

“How did you
meet my sister?” He gave her a curious look.

She smiled
slightly. “She came to my house and asked me to give you a second
chance.”

He groaned
loudly. “Christ, that’s embarrassing.”

She shrugged.
“Your sister loves you and so does your brother.”

He scowled at
the mention of his brother and she rubbed her hand over his chest.
“I need to tell you something, Court.”

“Alright.” He
kissed her forehead as she took a deep breath.

“I gave Cal the
fifty thousand dollars.”

His mouth
dropped open. “You did what?”

“I gave him the
money he needed.”

“Jules, I – you
shouldn’t have done that. He’ll never pay you back.” He said
quietly.

“I don’t care
about that.” She replied.

“Why did you
give him the money?”

“Because he’s
your brother and he was in trouble. Besides, as Mary says, I’m a
rich bitch who’ll never be able to spend all of my money anyway.”
She grinned at him. “Why not give it away?”

He gave her a
troubled look. “Jules, I’ll pay you back the money. It’ll take me a
little while but I promise – “

She put her
hand over his mouth and gave him a stern look. “Oh no you will not,
Court. This was a gift.”

“It’s a hell of
a gift.”

“I’m a hell of
a woman?” She raised her eyebrows at him and he laughed.

“That you are,
Julie Winslow.” He kissed her forehead again. “Thank you for
helping him, darlin’. He drives me crazy but I love him.”

“I know you do
and you need to forgive him for his part in all of this. Okay?
People do crazy things when they’re desperate.”

“I know.” He
sighed. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“Good.” She
gave him a cat-like grin of satisfaction and he sighed and pulled
her closer.

“I really am
sorry for lying, Jules.”

“I know. Go to
sleep now.” She said softly.

“Will you give
me a second chance?” He whispered. “Will you – can we get to know
each other again? Maybe go out for dinner or to a movie?”

She smiled in
the dim light. “Are you asking me out on a date, Court?”

“I am.” He held
his breath.

“I’d love to go
on a date with you.” She kissed his neck and he pressed his body
against her warm one.

“I’ll never
hurt you again, Jules. I promise.” He whispered.

“I know.” She
kissed him lightly on the lips before taking a deep breath. “I
think I might be falling in love with you.”

He grinned
delightedly at her. “Well, that’s a real shame because I
know
I’m falling in love with you.”

“People don’t
just fall in love in four days. We must be crazy. You know that,
right?”

He nodded.
“Yep. And I’ve never been happier.”

“Me either.”
She whispered. “I love you, Court.”

“I love you
too, Jules.”

END

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