Chapter 12
As the evening progressed, their small crowd began to get even smaller. Marina left with Diana and James, saying they had lots of wedding plans to get to in the morning. Brent had to drive out to Miami Beach and make sure things were ready for the club opening for the night. And finally Dottie decided to turn in. Dylan and Julie stood at the same time she did.
Dottie turned to Dylan first.
"You are a good boy," she said. "I know your father would be proud."
Dylan simply nodded at her words.
Dottie then turned to Julie.
"
Te quiero, 'Lita
" Julie whispered.
"I love you too,
querida
," Dottie said, then pulled Julie to her for a hug.
After Dottie left, Dylan and Julie stood around the table.
"Thank you again," Julie said, moving toward him. "I knew she would listen to you."
"She more so listened to my mother," Dylan replied.
"Your mother is a lovely woman."
"She likes you."
"You think so?" He could tell that pleased her quite a bit.
Dylan nodded. "Yeah."
"I like her too."
The live band began to play a slow song and Dylan glanced down at Julie. He held out his hand and asked, "Do you want to dance?"
"Sure," Julie said, placing her hand in his. As they walked toward the dance floor, she looked up at him. "Sounds like a rumba. You think you can handle the dance of love?" she teased.
"I think I can manage," he replied as he pulled her into his arms. "I've got just the right partner."
His hand slid down to her lower back as they slowly moved to the music. Once again, it felt completely effortless with her. Their hips swayed sensuously from side to side, and she danced around his body with such a graceful fluidity.
"You sure you haven't danced like this in years?" she questioned, as she moved back into his arms and they rocked back and forth.
"Scout's honor," he teased. "I guess you just bring out the best in me."
"You bring something out in me too," she said.
"I hope it's something good."
"Yes, it's something I thought might have been gone forever. You make me feel things I never thought I'd feel again and things I've never felt before."
He'd definitely noticed a change in her. When they first met, he got the sense that she wasn't really living her life; she just seemed to be existing. But now she was loosening up, smiling and laughing more. Her dancing even seemed different...freer. If he was the reason for all of that, it made him feel good.
She spun around in his arms so that her back was facing his front and they continued to move to the music. Neither one of them realized that they were now the only ones on the dance floor.
Dylan inhaled the intoxicating scent of Julie's hair and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.
"You feel so good in my arms," he murmured before kissing the spot beneath her ear.
He felt her tremble slightly before she whispered, "I like being in your arms."
He continued kissing her, moving from her ear down to her neck. Dylan knew there was no hiding how aroused he felt at the moment, but Julie didn't seem to be bothered as she continued moving against him to the beat of the music.
She turned back around and wrapped her arms around his neck and when her eyes moved upward to lock with his, he could see they were filled with just as much desire as he felt.
He knew he was about to take a risk with his next words; she might feel like they were moving way too fast. But he felt like it was the perfect time to take a chance.
"From the moment I first saw you in that club, I've wanted you."
She looked away for a moment and bit her lip. When she finally looked back at him, she responded with, "I think I've wanted the same thing."
"Come home with me tonight?"
It wasn't a command, it was an offer he hoped she wouldn't refuse, but would understand if she did.
"Yes."
He looked in her eyes again, and saw the certainty in them. He took her hand in his and quickly led her away from the dance floor. They went by the table to pick up her purse and made their way to the exit.
"I hope you don't mind, I walked ove
r–
"
"I don't mind."
He nodded and they walked at a clipped pace to his apartments.
They were silent on the way up the elevator and they stood apart, as if they knew that if they were any closer to one another in the confined space, they wouldn't be able to control themselves and what they did in there.
When they got to his door, he pulled out his key and unlocked it. Like the last time he brought her with him to his apartment, he stepped aside and allowed her to walk in first.
"Welcome back," he said quietly.
"It's even nicer than I remember," she said, looking around.
He gently closed the door, watching as she stopped in the center of his living room and turned to face him. The setting sun was cutting through his windows and surrounding her. It gave her a glow that made him want her even more.
"Jules."
She looked up at him and even though he could feel her desire for him, see it...even smell it, he noticed a nervousness about her too.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, moving toward her. "Because as much as I do want you, I also don't want you to feel rushed."
"I want to," she said quickly. "There's just...there's just something I need to tell you first."
"What is it?"
"You will be the first...the only..." She let out a sigh, seeming frustrated as she tried to find the right words. Finally, she stood up straight, threw her shoulders back and held her head up high as she said, "I've only been with one other man."
Realizing what she meant made Dylan loathe her ex even more for breaking her heart; but it also made him love Julie even more.
He stopped dead in his tracks at his last train of thought.
Love?
He couldn't possibly love her. Not so soon. He could admit that his feelings for her were beyond any feelings he'd felt for any other woman. He'd known that from the very beginning. But he'd always thought that what he felt for her was simply an undeniably fierce attraction.
But love?
He wasn't ready to delve deeper into those thoughts just yet. But what he was ready to do was make her forget.
He wanted to make love to her so passionately that she would forget that she'd ever had another lover.
"Dylan?"
Realizing he must have been silent for a little too long for her comfort, he smiled as he reached out and pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"That won't be any kind of problem," he said. "Just let me take care of you tonight."
She nodded her head, and he pulled her to him, gently lowering his lips to hers.
What was meant to be a sweet and tender kiss, quickly turned in to a fiery and urgent one in no time. Dylan lifted Julie into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and he carried her to his bedroom, as they continued kissing each other.
He sat her down beside the bed and took a moment to just look at her.
"I know I've told you plenty of times, but Jules...you are just beautiful beyond words."
She smiled at his comment, then ran her hands, which shook slightly up his stomach until they were resting splayed across his chest. He pulled her hands up to his mouth and kissed her soft fingertips, before running his hands up her arms to her shoulders.
"Tell me what you want, Jules."
"I want you to make love to me."
One by one he began undoing the buttons on her blouse at an excruciatingly slow pace. He was still giving her a chance to back out if she wanted to. He pushed her shirt open, revealing her smooth firm breast under the lacy bra she was wearing, and her toned, flat stomach. The urge to kiss her there was overwhelming, so he dropped down to his knees in front of her and ran his lips over her belly.
"Dylan," she rasped, as she ran her fingers through his short, wavy hair.
He continued kissing his way down her stomach, stopping briefly at her belly button, before moving further down, until he met the edge of her jeans. He reached down and helped her out of her shoes before unsnapping the button on her pants. He reached for her zipper and once again, took his time undoing it, giving her time to stop him. Once he caught a glimpse of her matching lacy underwear, smelled her arousal right there in his face, there was no turning back. He tugged both her jeans and panties down at the same time, and his mouth watered, craving the taste of her on his tongue.
"Sit down on the bed," he said.
She did as she was told and slowly eased down onto the bed.
"Lay back."
Her body bowed perfectly beneath him, and he spread her legs wide in front of him. He kissed her knee and worked his way upward leaving kisses on her gorgeous thigh. When he reached her center, he hovered there for a moment before moving to the other thigh, kissing his way down to the other knee.
"You're teasing me," he heard her say.
"Just a little," he said, smiling as he kissed her leg.
"Stop it."
Something about her saucy little attitude made him grow harder. Not wanting to keep her waiting any longer, he took her hips in his hands and pulled her to him, closing his mouth over her sweetness. She cried out and bucked underneath him and he gently pressed her body back down on the bed as he continued to make love to her with his tongue.
"Dylan," she whimpered, rolling her hips against him.
When he felt her legs start to tremble, he quickened his ministrations until he felt her body explode.
He stood and quickly began removing his clothes, the need to be inside of her clamoring at him. He climbed into the bed with her, reaching over to grab a condom out of the nightstand drawer. He made quick work of covering himself, before nudging her legs apart.
He looked down at her, aroused even more by the way her skin was now flushed. He leaned down and kissed her deeply, as he slid inside of her. She moaned against his mouth and he began to slowly grind his hips against hers.
He continued moving, pumping inside of her and when she tilted her hips, he felt himself go even deeper.
He never wanted the feeling to end; but when she hooked her legs around his waist, dug her nails into his back and screamed out his name, he couldn't hold on any longer.
As they both began to come down off of the high they'd just been taken to, he rolled onto the bed, bringing her with him.
He buried his face in her hair, once again entranced by the scent of it.
He heard her murmur his name one last time before he felt her body fall into a steady rhythm, letting him know she'd drifted off to sleep.
His mind was soon taken back to the thoughts he'd had earlier that evening. He wasn't sure how it happened exactly, but he knew that he couldn't imagine himself with any other woman besides the woman laying in his arms.
Chapter 13
Julie woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast. She sat up and looked around, momentarily startled by the unfamiliar sight, sounds and smells. Then she remembered.
She'd spent the night with Dylan. And what a night it had been.
He'd brought out a side of her she never even knew existed. Sometime in the middle of the night, she'd been eager to feel all of the wonderful sensations he'd elicited the first time they made love, so she boldly woke him by stroking his body to life. He'd returned the favor, by flipping her onto her back and stroking her until the early morning.
Now the smell of food that drifted into the bedroom made her realize how famished she now was. She looked around the room for something to put on and grabbed his shirt and slid her arms into it.
When she entered the living room, she saw him in the kitchen. His back was facing her as he stirred something on the stove with one hand while he held his cell phone to his ear with his other.
"Fine," he said, annoyed. "I'll make arrangements later this morning."
He hung up the phone with a frustrated sigh, and turned around with the pan in his hand. When he saw her standing there, his face brightened instantly.
"I hope I wasn't intruding on your call," Julie said, as she met him in the kitchen.
"Not at all," he said, pulling her into his arms.
He placed a minty kiss on her lips and brushed her hair out of her face.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," she responded breathlessly.
"I hope you're hungry," he said, sliding his hand underneath the shirt that stopped around her mid thigh.
"I'm starved."
He chuckled and led her into the kitchen. "I'll bet you are. I'm sure you worked up quite an appetite early this morning," he teased.
She sat down in one of the bar stools and watched as he filled up a plate and pushed it in front of her then poured a cup of orange juice.
"Wow," she said, looking at her plate. "You've been busy this morning."
He didn't say anything, just smirked as he made a plate for himself.
Julie could see the lines of stress forming over Dylan's forehead, as they ate breakfast.
"Is everything all right Dylan?"
He looked up. "Yeah it's just...the company is acquiring a new client and things aren't going so smoothly in Tallahassee. S
o–
"
"You have to leave," she finished.
"Just for a few days."
Julie nodded. "You're the boss, you have to take care of your business."
"Things will go a lot smoother when I make a complete transition to Miami, but until then..."
"You have to do what you have to do."
"Right."
Julie was quiet for a moment before asking, "When do you have to leave?"
"I'm flying out later this morning. I wish I could have left later, but they really need me."
They ate in silence for awhile and Julie was startled when Dylan suddenly dropped his utensils and turned to face her.
"I hope you don't think I'm just using going out of town as some lame excuse to get rid of you."
Julie's eyes grew wide.
"Of course I don't think that," she said.
"Good," he said, taking her hands in his. "Because last night was one of the most amazing nights I've had...probably ever. And if it were up to me, I would keep you here in my bed making love to you all day."
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips, and his cell phone rang out at the same time. He shut his eyes briefly, pressing his forehead against hers, before he opened them and stole another kiss.
He snatched his phone off the counter and answered it, standing to head to his office.
Julie watched as he walked away. Her eyes roamed over his strong back, down to his narrow waist. They went even further down to the pajamas that hung low around his hips and nice backside.
He turned just in time to catch her ogling him and gave her a sexy grin.
"This shouldn't take too long," he said.
"Okay."
She turned back to her breakfast, but realized she'd lost her appetite. He hadn't left yet, but Julie found that she missed Dylan already.
"One, two, three...very good James...."
Julie watched as James led Diana around the dance floor, ending their waltz with a subtle flourish. They'd only taken a few lessons, but they were quick learners and looked good together on the dance floor.
The sound of James' pager filled the room, and he gave the ladies an apologetic smile.
"Go," Diana said, waving him off. "We're done anyway."
"Sorry, love," he said, pulling his cell phone out and stepping outside to call the hospital back.
Diana sighed blissfully as she watched him walk away.
"The life of the soon-to-be wife of a surgeon," she said, shaking her head. She turned to Julie and gave her a serious look.
"Okay, be honest....how are we really doing?"
"You two are doing amazing," Julie answered.
"You're sure?" Diana asked. "Because I don't want to get out on the dance floor at my reception and look a mess."
Julie reached out and squeezed Diana on the arm.
"I can assure you, you will not look a mess on the dance floor."
Dottie hadn't come to the studio that day, so Julie took over as many of her grandmother's classes as she could, including Diana and James' private lessons for their wedding.
Both women turned when James came back inside.
"I'm sorry," he said again. "But I've got to get to the hospital for an emergency surgery."
He pulled Diana into his arms. "Will you be okay getting home?"
"Of course," Diana replied. "That's why we took separate cars."
"I'm marrying such a smart woman."
"And don't you forget it."
Julie turned away, feeling as if she were encroaching on a private moment between the couple. But she couldn't help notice the way they were affectionate toward each other. The way James looked at Diana, as if she were the only woman in the world...that look felt familiar. It was the same was Dylan looked at her.
And the way Diana looked, was the same way Julie felt when Dylan looked at her.
But Diana and James were in love.
There was no way she could be in love with Dylan.
Was there?
"Oh my god..."
"Julie? Are you okay?"
Julie looked up to find Diana staring at her with a concerned look on her face. She hadn't even noticed that James had just said goodbye and left.
"Y...yes," Julie stammered.
"Are you sure? You look a little pale."
"I think...I probably just need to eat something."
"Well...since it seems we are both without dinner companions tonight, with yours being out of town to save businesses and mine dashing off to save lives, how about we go out and grab something to eat?"
"Me and you?" Julie asked.
"Sure," Diana said, enthusiastically. "It'll be just us girls. We can drink lots of margaritas and gossip 'til late in the evening," Diana said, hooking her arm through Julie's.
"Okay," she agreed.
After her startling revelation, she could use a drink.
"So...I noticed that you and Dylan were quite cozied up the other night at dinner."
Julie nearly choked on her margarita when she heard Diana's comment from across the table.
"Did you?" she asked casually, as she stirred her straw around in the frozen drink.
"Mmhmm," Diana said. She sat back and studied Julie for a second before adding, "He's different with you."
"You think so?"
"No one knows Dylan better than me. I am his older sister after all."
"By twelve minutes from what he's told me," Julie said with a smile.
Diana smiled as well. "Oh yeah, you two are perfect for each other."
"Would you two like another round of margaritas?" the waitress asked.
"Yes," both women said simultaneously.
"Actually," Diana said with a mischievous look in her eyes. "Bring us a pitcher instead please."
"Oh it's that kind of party," the waitress said with a smile.
"The first of hopefully many girl's night outs," Diana said.
"The wedding is next weekend, are you excited?" Julie asked, after the waitress left to get their drinks.
"I am," Diana sighed. "You know, at first I was kind of stressed because my mother swept in like a hurricane and it seemed like she was going off the rails with the wedding planning. But she's actually been so on top of things, I've barely had to lift a finger."
"That has to be a relief."
"It is, all I've got to worry about is showing up on the wedding day. She's handled everything else."
Diana picked up a tortilla chip and dipped it in some salsa, then said, "You will be coming to the wedding right?"
"Oh...I don't know. I mean Dylan hasn't invited m
e–
"
"So...it's my wedding. And I consider us friends now. Whether he invites you or not, and I just might kick his ass if he doesn't, I've already invited you and your grandmother. So I hope you come."
"I would love to," Julie replied.
"Great. Now that that's settled, it's time for more margaritas."