I nod and can’t hide the desire I’m feeling when my voice comes out sounding raspy, “I thought you’d never ask.”
Julian is the first to get up. When I rise from the seat and take a step forward, he places his left hand on the small of my back. The silence between us feels alive as the growing desire between us makes it impossible to think.
Thankfully the lobby is quiet, but reaching the elevator, it feels like it takes forever for the doors to open. When they finally open, I step inside, followed by Julian. Turning so I can face him, I lean back against the gleaming steel wall.
Julian presses the floor number, then slowly closes the distance between us. He places his hands on my hips and lightly tugs me toward him. Lowering his head, I feel his breath skim over my flushed face. The touch of his lips on my forehead is so soft, I can barely feel it as he moves his mouth over my temple. The anticipation keeps growing, and when he reaches the corner of my mouth, my body is wound tight from needing more.
The doors ping open, temporarily pulling us out of the trance we were caught in. As we walk to his suite, I marvel how comfortable I feel with the silence between us. The couple of times I’ve been with a guy, there was a lot of talking.
When he opens the door to his suite, I vaguely think he must be doing well as a musician to afford the penthouse. I don’t get to look around because he shuts the door and bringing his hands to my face, his eyes meet mine.
“Are you sure?” he whispers, and it looks like he’s holding his breath as he waits for my answer.
It makes me feel desired. I’ve always felt like I had to fight to be taken seriously, that people only saw me as Della’s little sister, but with Julian looking at me as if his world would come to an end if I denied him, it makes me feel like so much more.
More than a sister.
More than an aunt.
More than the kid who always tagged along.
He makes me feel like a woman.
“I’m sure,” I murmur, and pushing up on my toes so I can reach his mouth, I don’t have to dream about being just Jamie anymore because for once I get to be the assertive adult who has full intention of taking everything she wants from this man.Chapter 1JulianI’ve been at the office since five this morning, preparing for the first board meeting where our new partners will be present.
Mason, who’s starting today at CRC to take over from his father, Mr. Chargill, as Chief Financial Officer and the president, closed the deal with Indie Ink Publishers.
A grin pulls at my mouth as a sense of pride fills my chest. I knew Mason would be an asset to the company, and him bringing in such a huge deal only solidifies the fact.
With Mason by my side, I feel more confident we’ll continue to make a success of CRC Holdings as we take over from our fathers.
Walking into the boardroom, I smile at Stephanie, who was my father’s personal assistant before I took over as chairman.
“Everything is ready,” she says as she pulls out the chair at the head of the huge mahogany table before handing me a folder with everything I’ll need for the meeting.
“Thanks,” I sit down and opening the folder, I glance over the main points I’ll need to present to the board. Moving on to the next page a worried frown forms on my forehead as I stare at the retirement document Mr. Cutler has handed in. Just then, my younger brother, Falcon, walks in along with Mason and Lake.
“Lake,” I say to get his attention, “Are you sure about not joining CRC?” With his father retiring, I’m hoping he’ll accept the position instead of only being a board member.
Lake first takes his seat next to Falcon, before he answers, “I’m sure.”
“Why won’t you consider it?” I ask.
Lake glances to Mason, who’s seated on my right side, and I already know what’s coming. The three of them are inseparable and share the same bond I used to have with Mason’s older sister, Jennifer before she passed away.
“Falcon’s running with the new company, and I’m here,” Mason explains on behalf of Lake. “Once Lake is ready to work, he’ll take it into consideration to join Falcon.”
“That’s not much of an explanation,” I state. “Give me something solid for the board.”
Mason pins me with a serious look. “Lake doesn’t need to justify his decision. The board will just have to accept that only I will be working at CRC.”
I have to suppress a grin as another wave of pride washes through my chest. Mason has come a long way after he lost Jennifer in such a tragic way.