Forsaking All Others Read online

  Julianna laughed and tightened her fingers around Evan’s.

  He slowly released her hand as he rose from his seat, waiting for her to join him. “Let’s do this again sometime. Soon.”

  She voiced her agreement as a comfortable silence settled between them.

  They walked back to the parking lot, Evan’s fingers woven through hers.

  He kept his eyes on the sidewalk in front but gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they approached her car. It was then he finally settled his gaze on her once again, his eyes paradoxically guarded yet clear. He stared down at her, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought, before he spoke. His voice was soft as he turned to stand directly in front of her. Her pulse quickened as she too took a step forward, enjoying the faint smell of his cologne.

  “I like this, Julianna. This is nice.”

  He took another step, stroked his thumb across her knuckles. She took a deep breath, enjoying their closeness, before placing her free hand lightly on his chest. He closed his eyes briefly at the contact before he reached up and placed his hand over hers.

  “What the hell are we doing, Julianna?”

  Startled, she stared up at him, her eyes wide.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This.” He leaned in, their bodies now touching. She molded her body into his, reveling in his hard exterior. He sighed loudly.

  “This… thing. This game we’re playing.”

  Her heart hammered in her chest.

  “You know, the one where it’s clear I’m attracted to you, but nothing happens.”

  He lowered his head again, his hand now moving to the small of her back. He tilted her face up to his, his lips hovering just above hers. He stared at her, his gaze alternating between her lips and her eyes.

  “Is it fear?”

  His voice was barely above a whisper. He raised his hand to cup her cheek. She closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of his calloused hand that was now stroking her cheek.

  “No.”

  Her voice was soft as she continued to lean into him. His body immediately tightened from the contact, but he maintained his grip on her.

  “Then what is it?”

  His eyes were dark, mysterious—endless. Although her heart hammered in her chest and a deep ache had taken root in her center, she remained silent.

  I don’t know.

  “I need to know, Julianna, because I don’t think I will be able to stop myself. I need you to tell me to stop… this.”

  His lips were hovering directly over her. Just the slightest move from Julianna would bring their lips into contact.

  “Julianna.”

  His breath caressed her face. His breath was heavy, but he held on to his resolve. Instead of moving away, she stood on her toes and lightly brushed her lips against his. When she finished, he grinned as he tightened his grip on her torso with one hand and brought her face up to his once more with his free hand, his lips urgent. He took his time, molding his lips to the exact contours of hers as a breathy moan escaped her lips. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, sampling the sweetest of nectars. He traced a line with his lips down her neck, making a lazy path back up to her mouth. He kissed her once again as she clung to him, needing more than just the closeness of their bodies before he slowly pulled away, but not before placing one more peck on her lips. He sighed, satiated for that moment. Then he smiled, slow and sly.

  “You didn’t stop me.”

  “I didn’t want you to.”

  Evan grunted a laugh stared at her, his eyes scanning her from head to toe before his eyes settled back on her hers.

  “I’m not sure this is a road you want traveled, Julianna.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Meaning?”

  “I will make you mine. Object now, while you still have time.”

  “You expect me to give in so willingly?”

  “No,” Evan shrugged with a grin. “But, that’s half the fun.”

  “Hmm.”

  “You’ll see.”

  He leaned in again as he brushed his lips against hers. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Julianna.”

  “I’m holding you to it.”

  He smiled as he stepped back and allowed for her to enter her car. He stayed where he was as she pulled off. After he watched her car maneuver onto the main road, he got into his own car and left.

  Julianna remained flushed even after she had returned to her home, her body still humming from the kiss she had shared with Evan. Never in her life had she ever experienced something that felt so right. She sighed softly as she curled up on her couch, her mind still on him. She closed her eyes as she imagined his hands sliding slowly down her body to rest on her clit, which was now throbbing.

  Eventually.

  Julianna smiled. Evan had awakened a side of her that had been dormant. She was demanding, sexually charged. For once, she was going to do what her heart—and her hormones—told her to do, rather than what was expected of her. She was going to find herself. And it would be a hell of a lot of fun.

  23

  Devon fumed as he sat inside his car, which sat idling in the half-filled parking lot. He fought to control the rage that burned inside his gut as he watched Julianna allow herself to be kissed by another man. She even seemed to be enjoying it.

  “Whoring bitch!” he growled as he crumpled up the paper bag in front of him. Devon couldn’t have believed his luck when he noticed Julianna sitting outside of a restaurant by herself. He’d been about to join her when he noticed a tall, muscular man sit next to her. It was the same guy from that night at the bar. He’d recognize that damned face anywhere.

  Meddling prick.

  Although his fury had been mounting, he’d willed himself to stay in the car. If Julianna was with that other man, she would definitely cause a scene, and that was the last thing he wanted today. Devon heaved a frustrated sigh as he glanced over at his phone. The thing had seemed to go off constantly, and it was driving him crazy. His brother Derek was now the one harassing him, begging him to talk to him. As if Derek knew anything about living a good life. Coming up, Derek had seemed to be hell-bent on being on the wrong side of the law and had brought nothing but shame and disgrace on the family because of his poor life choices. As a result, Devon had taken it upon himself to become the pinnacle of perfection and to shy far away from his big brother’s footsteps at a young age. He’d vowed to make something of himself, and he had, so if Derek thought he had all the answers just because he had turned his life around and by became an entrepreneur, he was wrong. His past would always be tainted. Devon scoffed as he heard his phone beep.

  And he had the nerve to leave another voicemail.

  Devon scoffed once more and started his car. He still hadn’t found out where Julianna had been staying, but he was determined as hell to find out. He couldn’t understand how someone so bratty and needy as Julianna could think she would be the one calling shots. He’d done everything he could to provide her with all the nice things and a nice house, and she’d still turned around and threw it in his face talking about love.

  “Fuck love,” Devon murmured to himself as he tried to keep Julianna’s car in sight before he drove off.

  She should have been grateful that he had taken her little hopeless ass and given her prestige, had shown her an elevated way of living. They made a good pair. That was all that mattered. Devon shook his head pitifully as he recalled the first time he had seen Julianna on the campus of her university, all starry-eyed and innocent. He’d been having a meeting with associates when he’d bumped into her. The attraction had been instantaneous, and he’d had decided that she had potential. He would make her into someone who would fit nicely into his life. It was about time he found someone and settled down. At first, he was put off from her meager upbringing, but had decided that it was still doable. She was malleable and would make a beautiful addition on his arm. Devon heaved a sigh as he thought about Julianna now. She was defiant, whiny, and way too needy.

&nb
sp; And apparently a fast little bitch.

  He felt almost sick to his stomach as he had watched her throw herself at the creep. She’d better not be fucking him. At that, Devon chuckled softly to himself. Not Julianna. He had taught her everything she knew about sex, and even then, she was mediocre. She didn’t have the confidence to sleep with this guy. That final thought appeased him as he silenced his phone once again before he pulled out into traffic. In his brooding, he’d lost sight of her car. No worry, he would still try. It was time he found his wife.

  24

  Evan sat at his dining room table, the shades drawn, his expression brooding as he allowed his mind to drift. His body still felt charged after the kiss he’d shared with Julianna.

  He heaved a sigh as his dick hardened at the thought of her, and he slowly shook his head. Julianna never failed to surprise him. She was shy—there was no denying that—but every so often he would catch glimmers of a sultry, sexually-charged woman who left him intrigued and enticed. She was definitely special. Evan ran his tongue against his bottom lip. It had only been a matter of time before he would have given into his feelings.

  What he felt for Julianna was so raw and intense he had known he wouldn’t have been able to continue the charade of not wanting more with her for much longer. He felt drawn to her as if by a magnet that forced him in her direction. Attraction in its purest form. And then there was the sexual energy.

  The corner of Evan’s mouth lifted into a smile.

  Julianna exuded a tense, potent, sexual energy that called out to him each time they were together. He wouldn’t deny that he wanted her. He had spent many a tortured night lying awake, craving her. Dreams of slowly entering her wet pussy from behind haunted him, taking full advantage of her round ass as he did so. He had dreamed of tasting her, licking every bit of essence from her clit and then inside her, fucking her from every angle he could imagine until his muscles gave out on him from pure exhaustion.

  Yes, he wanted her. His dick reminded him of that every time he’d lain awake, tenting the sheets, its engorgement relentless and unyielding. However, he knew he had to tread lightly with her, no matter how badly he craved her. There were… layers to her that revealed hurt and vulnerability, and he didn’t want to move too quickly. He wanted her. Needed her. Not only in a sexual way.

  There was a part of him that knew she was special to him, and not because of what she made him feel in his groin. For the first time in a long time, he wanted…more. Whatever the hell that meant.

  Evan shifted in his seat and downed the rest of his drink, enjoying the burn of the amber liquid. He was pulled from his thoughts as Hudson made his way into the dining room. He was on his phone, and his brow was furrowed. Although Hudson had his own place not too far from his, he came and went to Evan’s fluidly, and Evan to his. Hudson appeared to be in deep concentration as he glanced over at his brother.

  “You’re thinking about her again.”

  Evan chuckled and shook his head. It was uncanny how well his brother could read him.

  “Your point?”

  Evan shifted once again in his seat, grateful for the table to obscure the prominent bulge in his crotch.

  “Do something about it.”

  “Yeah.” Evan scratched his jaw and stared off into space before he returned his gaze to his brother.

  “She doesn’t say much, but I feel like she’s been hurt. Probably by that guy at Julio’s.”

  Hudson continued to scrutinize his phone, but he stilled; the gesture almost imperceptible even to Evan.

  “Hmph.”

  Hudson turned and concentrated his gaze on his little brother, his phone temporarily forgotten.

  “What is Julianna to you?”

  To anyone else, the question may have seemed oddly worded, but Evan sat back in his chair and shrugged. Growing up, that question had always been the base of their decisions. If someone or something meant a lot, that would usually mean they would stick around fora bit. If not, they would continue their path to wherever the next step would beat that time. If it weren’t for Hudson that life could have easily been a very lonely one. Evan glanced up at his brother and shrugged once again.

  “More than I expected it would at this point.”

  “Then do something about it.”

  Hudson disappeared outside of the dining room. Evan, knowing the conversation wasn’t over, remained where he was. Hudson quickly returned, brow still furrowed.

  “You make sure you’re careful. I don’t know or care who that man was, but if he’s still bothering her, be mindful. I didn’t get a good vibe.”

  Hudson held his brother’s gaze until Evan nodded, his mind adrift. He hadn’t gotten a good vibe from that man either, and it wasn’t because of how he’d acted at the bar. Something just seemed off. It was still a mystery how in the hell Julianna had gotten entangled with the likes of him. At the thought of her, another slow smile spread across Evan’s face. Although Julianna had been receptive to his advances, he knew it wouldn’t be easy. However, it was a challenge he was willing to accept. He wanted her, and he wouldn’t stop until he knew her inside and out, until she was completely his.

  25

  In the middle of the night, Julianna’s phone jarred her awake. She blindly searched around her bedside table in the darkness until she found it. In the stillness of the night, it was deafening. She needed it to stop. She picked it up with a loud groan, only to have the ringing stop.

  “Ugh!” She flung herself back down in the bed and closed her eyes. It rang again. She snatched it up and squinted at the too-bright screen.

  Unknown caller.

  Although she hadn’t answered the phone, something stirred deep within her. She knew it was him. The last several weeks had been relatively silent, but she knew it wasn’t over with Devon. She silenced the phone and lay back in the bed. What she didn’t understand was why Devon couldn’t just accept that they were no longer together. When they’d been married, he barely acknowledged her, but now they were officially divorced, he stopped at nothing when it came to harassing her. At first, it had been a nuisance, but she was now becoming worried. Devon hadn’t shown up at her home, but a part of her feared that he knew where she lived. She wouldn’t put it past him to keep that fact a secret until it benefited him. She sat up in the bed, disquieted by the silence. She flicked on the lamp on her nightstand and pulled the blanket more closely around her body. She didn’t want to be alone right now. She stayed still for a few minutes before she dialed his number. Although she had only been spending time with Evan for a few short weeks, she felt secure with him. He made her feel safe. When the phone began to ring, she nervously bit her lip and stared at the clock on her nightstand. It was two o’clock in the morning. Surely, he would be sleeping. Her heart pounded as she allowed the phone to ring one more time.

  What the hell am I thinking? He’s probably asleep.

  She was about to hang up the phone when the sound of his deep voice picked up on the other end.

  “What’s wrong?”

  That was all that he asked her as she drew her knees up to her chest. Even just the sound of his voice on the other end of the line was comforting to her, and the tension left her body.

  Although it was late in the night, his voice was clear, free of the mumblings of sleep. She paused, biting her lip. She’d called him, but it wasn’t until now she realized that she hadn’t planned on what to do after he picked up.

  “I’m so sorry,” she started.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Although his reply was immediate, his voice was gentle.

  “I just…I was having a hard time sleeping, and I don’t want to be alone right now.”

  She tried to quell the rapid beating in her chest as she drew in several calming breaths.

  “You need me?”

  “I–” She paused. She barely knew this man, but when she had felt the need for safety, it was his number she had called, without hesitation. She would be lying if she tried to deny the leve
l of comfort she already felt around him. It was something she had never felt before. Julianna sighed softly at her realization and nodded her head, her mouth forming the words as her mind was made up.

  “Please.”

  She heard a soft rustling in the background, as if he was getting out of bed, before his powerful voice was on the line again.

  “Let me get dressed. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Goosebumps rose on her skin as her mind conjured up an image of him, his powerful body bare before her, his muscles on full display. Sculpted. Hard. Built from determination and hard work. The more she concentrated, the more intricate the details unfolded in her mind, to the point where she shifted uncomfortably on the bed, trying to calm the deep ache of desire. She wasn’t going to fool herself and deny that she wanted him. Hell, she felt more comfortable accepting the sexual pull she felt toward him than to admit anything else. She wasn’t sure if her heart was ready for anything deeper than the primal need he set off within her.

  “You hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “Ok. I’ll pick up something on the way over.”

  She rattled off her address and remained unsettled even after she ended the call and awaited his arrival. She padded into her living room and turned on the television, grateful for the low drone of voices to fill the silence. She immediately jumped up when she heard his knock at the door and forced what she hoped was a neutral expression on her face as she opened it. He stood there in front of her, dressed casually in a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, a large paper bag in his hand. Instinctively, she went to him; his arms automatically encircled her waist as she briefly rested her head onto his chest before moving away. He placed his finger under her chin and tilted her face up to his.

  “Thanks for coming,” she whispered.

  “You needed me.”