Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (26 page)

             
‘Told you,’ he said, a wicked grin of achievement made him even more gorgeous. ‘It’s my turn.’

Eva could barely move. She shook inside and her head spun.

Julian flipped her onto her stomach and pushed his cock inside her.

             
‘Can I use you?’ he whispered into her ear.

His words tingled across the nape of her neck like delicate tickles.

‘Yes. I want you to.’

Julian hammered against her. ‘You’re so wide, Evangeline. It’s fucking gorgeous.’

Julian’s cock slipped and slid around inside her stretched hole. He gripped her hips tightly and thrust harder. His rapid breath against her cheek sent shivers down her spine. His deep groan told her he was right there. She clenched her ass tight around him and gasped as his hot, sticky come raced out of him and into her.

Chapter 26

Eva stretched and rolled over onto her tummy. Her body was awake but her head was still sleepy. It was early, she knew without checking her watch. She had no intention of getting up yet. She pulled the cream silky sheet over her shoulder and snuggled against the soft mattress and began to drift back to sleep.

‘Do you always sleep so soundly after sex?’ Julian asked.

Eva flipped quickly onto her back and tried to focus. Julian stood in the doorway. One ankle was crossed over the other, and his shoulder held his weight as he relaxed against the frame. His stonewashed jeans hung loose below his waist and a crisp white shirt, open all the way down, emphasised his dark complexion.

             
‘Was I asleep long?’ Eva asked, suddenly remembering her surroundings.

‘Just all night’ Julian smiled.

Eva sat upright and ran her hand through her messy hair. Christ, it was morning already? She didn’t remember falling asleep.

             
‘Here, sleepy head.’

Julian handed her a cup of freshly brewed coffee. She struggled to take the cup without losing her grip on the sheet
, held high under her chin.

‘Shy,
Ms Andrews?’ He laughed. ‘There was nothing shy about you last night.’

The twitch of his eyebrows said a lot more than his words.

‘What time is it?’ Eva mumbled, lifted by the scent of caffeine.

‘Just after six.’

‘Six?’ Eva squeaked.

Julian walked towar
ds the bed and sat beside her. ‘I know it’s early, but I have to go in to the office. I’ve a lot on this morning.’

‘But it’s Saturday.’

‘I know. But no rest for the wicked.’ Julian leaned in and kissed her forehead.

Eva tried to smile. That cliché wasn’t endearing when it was true. Julian Harte was wickedly sexy and he’d made a career out of it. She hated when he spoke about work. She knew realistically he had other clients. But times like last night, when they made love with moonlight shining through the window
, she’d completely forgotten about his profession. It wasn’t intentional. But nothing about their closeness felt like an arrangement. Eva sighed.

‘Why don’t you stay a while? Take your time getting ready. Andrew will drop you wherever you want to go.’

              Eva watched as Julian dressed in a charcoal grey suit with a white and sky blue pinstriped shirt. He transformed from deliciously rugged to sexily sophisticated in an instant. Eva shot a glance over the side of the bed. Her dress from last night lay in a crumbled heap on the floor. The thoughts of putting it back on made her feel grubby, especially compared to his polished finesse.

             
Julian caught her attention again and she smiled. He opened a door that led into an insanely large walk in wardrobe, especially considering they were on a boat. White boxes of various shapes and sizes lined the back wall, floor to ceiling, all bearing the shop logo from the day before.

‘I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of asking the staff to pack up a few items in your size
.’

‘A few?’ Eva clasped her hands and held them against her top lip. ‘These are for me?’

She wrapped the sheet around her naked body and tip-toed over to take in the view.

‘I didn’t know what you would like
, so I thought it best to send a variety.’

Eva spun around excitedly. ‘Wow,’ she whispered. ‘Just wow.’

‘Anything you don’t like, I can return.’

‘And anything I do…’ Eva couldn’t believe the cheeky question had passed
from her lips.

Julian’s grin pulled to one side and he looked at her seriously.
‘They're yours.’

‘It’s that simple,
’ Eva said, telling herself rather than asking him.

‘Yes.’

              Eva slowly edged forward enchanted by the beautiful boxes. Julian snuck his foot onto the edge of the sheet and laughed cockily when Eva screeched as the cotton jerked free from her body.

‘You don’t need this,’ he said
, throwing it back towards the bed.

Eva hands raced to protect her modesty.

Julian laughed louder. ‘Seriously?’ You’re still playing the shy card?’ Evangeline Andrews, you are fucking adorable, do you know that?’

Julian caught her hands and forced them down by her sides. His suited body pressed against her nakedness. He kissed her gently and whispered into her mouth. ‘Take your pick, baby.’

              Eva slowly pulled away from him and pushed up on her tippy toes. She reached for the highest box.

‘Just one?’ Julian asked, tilting his head bemusedly.

‘I don’t want to be greedy.’

‘But I want to spoil you. I can’t spoil you with just one box. Choose another.’

Eva pulled out a smaller box and two more from behind; she stacked them into her arms and wobbled towards the bed. Julian didn’t move. He remained leaning against the door arch, watching her.

             
The clothes inside were all tissue wrapped and smelled of a fresh summer breeze. The first, large box held an array of skinny jeans in rainbow bright colours. Eva pulled out a dark teal pair and laid them on the bed. The second box was overflowing with silky blouses and tops. One more beautiful than the next. Eva’s heart skipped as she laid a cream, embroidered camisole next to the jeans. She stared at the last box. It was notably different. Rounder edges and a black ribbon ran around all four corners and tied in a neat bow in the middle. Eva ran her finger across the silky ribbon and smiled. This box was special, she knew.

             
‘Not this one,’ Julian said, suddenly beside her.

Eva hands immediately pulled back against the safety of her body. Julian caught the box and pushed it to the side. Eva clamped her teeth against her bottom lip and tried so hard to hide her disappointment. She was right, that box was special. Too special for her.

              Julian looked at his watch. ‘It’s getting late. Get dressed.’

Eva dropped her eyes to the floor for a moment but quickly shook off any evidence of upset before Julian could notice. She knew the offer to leave at her leisure had been revoked. She’d upset him. She just wasn’t sure how. Julian walked to the upper deck and within minutes
, the boat began to move.

             
Eva looked in the mirror. Dark navy denim emphasised her slim legs and her freshly washed face gave her a natural look that suited their at sea location. She twirled a couple of times and enjoyed the height she gained from expensive wedges. Julian had spoiled her, and while a giddy excitement bubbled in her tummy, she couldn’t fully draw her attention away from the forbidden box.

             
Eva craned her neck and looked up the steps and gained a limited view of the upper deck. Julian was at the back of the boat, talking to a man in a muted black suit and top hat. Anthony, she noted, almost certain. Eva blushed. She’d been so ravished last night, she hadn’t considered her screams of pleasure were probably heard by Julian’s staff manning the yacht. She put her embarrassment aside, determined in her task at hand. Her conscience was banging against her temples, screaming at her not to, but she reached for the corners of the black ribbon, none the less. She took a deep breath and was about to pull it open when she was startled by footsteps approaching. She spun around, faced the door and tried to look innocent.

             
‘Ah good, you’re dressed,’ Julian said.

Eva’s lips jerked into an awkward smile and she nodded.

‘A perfect fit. You look lovely.’

Eva’s smile became natural. ‘Thank you.’

‘Did you have a look at the rest?’

Her fingers twitched. Did he mean the round edged box? He could usually read her like a book; she doubted she could hide anything from him. She was glad she hadn’t opened it. He’d know
, and he’d be angry. And he’d have every right to be.

‘Yes. Just a quick look. They’re all gorgeous.’

              ‘I’m sorry. I’m rushing you. I’ll have Anthony pack these up and you can look at the rest at home. I’ll stop by this evening to see how you got on.’

‘I’d like that
,’ Eva said.

Julian kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t be long; we’re almost back at the harbour.’

He lifted her handbag off the chair next to them and passed it to her. ‘Don’t forget this. You might want to check your phone. Damn thing was ringing half the night.’

Eva sucked in her bottom lip, embarrassed that the ringing had obviously kept Julian awake. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard it. She was usually such a light sleeper, but last night she was practically comatose.

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled meekly.

Julian laughed dryly and shook his head. ‘I don’t need an apology, but you might want to suck up to whoever was trying to get in touch all
night. It could be important.’

Eva pulled out her phone and almost gasped as she stared at her screen. Fifteen missed calls, three voice mails and eight texts - all from Nathan, except one lonely text from Shelly
, hiding in the middle.

Are you around today?

Maybe we could grab a coffee?

Let me know xx

              ‘Ten minutes, okay?’ Julian said.

It was an order not a request, Eva knew. Last night’s game was over and now it was time to go back to real life. Her phone vibrated in her hand and the deliriously up tempo ring tone filled the room. She pushed the phone against her chest and placed her palm over the speaker, trying unsuccessfully to muffle the sound.
She rolled her eyes as Julian turned around.

‘Is someone bothering you?’ he asked, the authority in his tone momentarily replaced by genuine sentiment.

Eva pleaded with her head to come up with a plausible excuse. Her mind was blank and the best she could manage was a pathetic, ‘Um.’

‘Who was that?’

Eva understood he wasn’t requesting the information, he was demanding it.

‘Just a friend.’
Shit,
she wished she hadn’t said that, immediately suspecting Julian would think of last night’s conversation.

‘Just a friend?’ Julian repeated
, his head was lowered but his eyes looked up.

Eva tried to strike a smile, and nodded. ‘Em-hm.’

‘Aren’t you the popular one with so many friends. Or is it just one in particular all the time?

             
Eva’s face reddened and she felt the start of a headache swell between her eyes. Julian didn’t seem prepared to let this go. Was he testing her? It certainly felt like it. Her leg twitched nervously. She had no idea why she was so desperate to keep it from him, but she was. Right now, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than for this conversation to end.

‘It’s just someone from work. I’ll catch up with them on Monday.’

‘Nathan,’ Julian said, certain. His usual distaste for the name present. ‘Is he bothering you?’

Only because of how awkward this is, Eva thought. ‘No of course not. Go on. I’ll follow you up in a minute.’

Julian’s eye’s narrowed and his smile was different. He looked concerned, or angry, or maybe just amused. Eva really wished she could read him as well as he could her. But he was a closed book and it was driving her crazy.

‘Ten minutes!’ Julian reiterated and
walked away.

Chapter 27

Julian’s haste eased when their feet were back on land as they walked side by side down the pier towards Julian’s waiting car. Eva’s phone rang loudly from her pocket and she cursed herself for not putting it on silent.

‘What the fuck is this guy’s problem?’ Let me answer it.’ Julian grunted.

Eva shook her head and hit the reject call button as quickly as her shaking fingers could.
Oh my God, was Julian actually jealous?
It wasn’t appropriate to smile but she couldn’t help herself from enjoying a little drama in her head. That enjoyment quickly turned to worry, the more she thought about it. Nathan wasn’t the type to give up. Sure, Julian could scare him off for a while. She imagined if Julian was angry, he could scare anyone. But he wouldn’t actually hurt Nathan would he? If he did, it would be all her fault. And for what? All for some game.