Julian.
“Whiskey guy?!” She shrieked in that sultry voice of hers. The same voice that had almost made me rethink the idea of kissing her earlier in the club when she had asked me to. She stared at me in shock. Her drunk brain probably trying to process how she ended up in my car. “What are you doing in my car?” I tilted my head,observing her through my rear view mirror. She blinked,disoriented,then gasped like she realized the gravity of her mistake. “No No no no no. You can’t be my driver. That’s illegal. You’re not allowed to be hot and drive.” I arched a brow,resting my palm on the steering wheel. “You’re not allowed to hijack a stranger’s car.” She bit her lip as she glanced down at her phone,her cognac colored eyes widening slightly. “Oh no. I got into the wrong car.” She groaned as she looked up at me. Her lips were plump and red,complete with a perfectly shaped cupid's bow. As I watched her nibble on her lip,the insane urge to kiss her consumed me again and instantly my dick hardened in response. Who was this girl? And could she actually be following me? She was beautiful,I couldn’t deny that. She had the kind of body that could bring a man to his knees. Full perky breasts,a slim waist and the most perfect pair of legs I’d seen in a while. I had noticed her the moment she stumbled onto the dance floor,half wild,half wrecked. She had moved like someone who wanted to forget something or someone. Then she had flirted with me at the bar and it had taken all of my will power not to hoist her onto the bar and kiss those lips of hers,effectively ruining her for anyone else. “Do you make it a habit of stumbling into different rideshare without checking the plates?” “Only when emotionally devastated.” She deadpanned. “And you didn’t lock the door, so… that’s on you.” She paused as though she suddenly remembered something.“Oh my God,I guess this is why my mother used to pray so much. To protect me from something like this.” I couldn’t help it,I laughed. Low. Rough and deep. “So I’m the devil your mother warned you about?” “It may seem like it.” She eyed me skeptically. I sighed. “You should get out and find your driver.” She met my gaze in the mirror,and in that moment I could see the mischief in her eyes. “Or…you could take me somewhere.” I knew what she was asking. But I didn’t want to entertain it…Not yet. “Why don’t I take you home? What’s your address?” She stiffened at the word Home. “Yeah no thanks. My ex fiancé and my ex-best friend are currently defiling on those bedsheets. I’d rather die.” Jesus. Typical case of a woman being cheated on. ”People betray. That’s what they do. I learned that a long time ago.” I responded. I looked at her again,really looked this time. Beneath the makeup,the sass and the bad decisions,I could see the broken woman,the hurt woman,the angry woman. “How long were you with him?” I asked before I could stop myself. “Six years,” she muttered,then sat back and folded her arms like the question itself cracked something open. “Six years,and he still cheated on me with someone who used to borrow my dresses.” “That’s cold.” She looked away but not before I saw the first tear slip down.“It hurts. It hurts so much. I sacrificed a lot for Liam. Most especially my dreams. And he just… threw it all away.” “You know what.” I begin “There’s a hotel two blocks away. Let’s get you a room for the night and tomorrow when you feel better you can figure out the next step.Is that cool?” She nodded as she wiped her eyes subtly. I didn’t know why I offered. Hell I didn’t know why I even cared. But I felt this sudden urge to protect her. To get my hands on Liam and snap him into two. Just as I made to drive, she spoke up. “Wait!,” she shrieked,then leaned forward,her arms braced between the seats. “Can I sit up front? I usually get carsick at the back.” I cocked a brow. I didn’t believe her for a second. But I nodded anyway. She immediately climbed over like she’s done it a hundred times,pulling the seatbelt across her chest with a soft click. The scent of her perfume hit me and I became all too aware of how close she was. Too close. Too warm.. Too her. “So,” she said, turning towards me,her eyes glassy. “What’s your name?” “Julian.” “Julian,” she repeated,like she was tasting it. “You sound like a man who ruins lives.” “I’ve been known to.” She tilted her head,as she bit her lip. “Are you gonna ruin mine?” My cock hardened in response. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.” She studied me for a beat,then said “I do.I want to sleep with you.” Everything inside me stilled. “That’s the tequila talking.” “No,” she said. “The tequila helped me say it. But the part that wants you? That’s been screaming since I saw you.” Fuck. This girl had no idea what she was poking at. “You don’t want to sleep with me.” “I do,” she insisted, her voice low and breathy. “And I’m not asking for forever. I want tonight. A moment to forget the hurt. Something that reminds me I’m not broken.” “I don’t do pity fucks Kitten. If you sleep with me,it’s going to be because you want to remember every inch of me, not to forget some ex.” She swallowed as her eyes darted quickly to the tent that had now formed in my pants. The air in the car thickened ,as the sexual tension and weight of unspoken things settled between us. I should have said no. I should have driven her to the hotel,handed her a key and walked away. But when I looked at her lips—bruised from her teeth,parted and waiting. I forgot how to be good. Just as I moved to shift the car into drive. My hand brushed against her thigh.ZOE’S POV My eyes widened till they were nearly popping out. He wants me to unzip his pants with my teeth? How was I supposed to do that? But the thought of actually doing something so risque made me more excited and I felt my arousal pool between my legs, soaking my panties through. “Why are you staring at me like that Kitten?” his deep voice cut into my flustered thoughts. “You don't think you can handle it?” His voice was low, but I could hear the subtle tease in his words. And at that moment something in me snapped and I wanted to prove him wrong, prove that I wasn't shy or timid. So I moved. Slowly and Carefully. I reached for the buckle of his belt, hesitating just long enough for his mouth to curve in that wicked, knowing way. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. The air felt too thick, like it was wrapping around me, trapping me in that small space between us. Julian didn’t move—he just watched me, his eyes dark and steady, waiting to see what I’d do. My pulse
ZOE’S POV His voice dropped, smooth and steady. “Drop it. Get on all fours and crawl to me.” For a second, I thought I’d misheard him so I just stood there, staring at him. My heartbeat thudded in my chest, loud and uneven. He’d said it so casually, like telling me to take a seat or hand him a pen. His eyes didn’t waver, he was watching me with fire in his eyes. That steady, quiet authority in his gaze was unnerving. And the worst part was how a single look from him could make my pulse trip over itself. “Julian…” I started, my voice low and unsure, an edge of disbelief scraping against it. “What are you—” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached for something on the desk behind him which had a perfect view of the New York skyline —It was a familiar folder. The contract. Oh, were they two copies? I blinked. “Is that the contract you gave me yesterday?” “This is my copy. I was under the impression you would be bringing back your copy today sin
ZOE’S POV “Maybe you shouldn't have come at all.” I bit out as my hand tightened around my bag. I turned away before the familiar ache in my chest could find a foothold. I looked around subtly,to make sure we didn't have an audience but just as I feared, the security and a few of my colleagues were idling around,pretending that they weren't listening. Oh for the love of God. I turned and started walking away trying to look for a more secluded spot. The sound of my heels against the pavement echoed through the quiet street, a rhythm that matched the irritation burning through my veins. “Zoe, wait—please!” Liam’s voice followed me sounding desperate but I ignored it. I didn't have to turn around to know that he had a desperate, pleading, pathetic look on his face. But then I heard his footsteps quicken behind me as he caught up with me and th
Julian’s POV The moment the door clicked shut behind her I let out a deep exhale. Damn my traitorous body. For a long moment, I just sat there, staring at the space she’d occupied for the last ten minutes. Her scent still lingered in my office wrapping around my brain and refusing to let go. Get it together, Hart. She’s not the first woman who’s ever been in your life. You’ve had models, executives, women who would burn the world to touch you — and none of them ever mattered. So why the hell did she? I looked down at my pants and cursed under my breath. I was hard and aching. Even the memory of that damn dream was enough to undo me. Leaning back, I let out a humorless laugh. “You’re losing it, Hart.” ~•~ Zoe’s POV I told myself not to care too much. That his distance meant nothing. That it was just him sticking to the terms of the contract. Still, the fact that he had barely looked at me, or said more made something in my chest feel ho
ZOE’S POV I woke up on Monday morning feeling a bit gloomy due to the notification I had gotten yesterday about being taken off the family trust. As if that wasn't bad enough, my father had sent a message before I went to bed. I stared at my phone for a long moment, the message still sitting at the top of my notifications — “You’re no longer part of this family, Zoe. Don’t contact me again.” A clean cut. Just like that, like I was never his child to begin with. I swallowed, forcing the lump down my throat. I could’ve spent the day hiding under my sheets, feeling sorry for myself, replaying the moment the ground fell out from beneath my feet. But that wasn’t me. That couldn’t be me. I refuse to be beaten down and trampled upon anymore. If he wanted to erase me from his life, fine. I’d show him that I could exist just fine outside the shadow of his name. So instead of taking my last day off, I said fuck it and got out of bed. I took a long shower, brushed my hair and pinn
Julian’s POV My bedroom shone with golden light, the kind of light that moved across your skin in a soft and seductive manner. I sat back against the headboard, the top buttons of my shirt undone, when the door opened and Zoe walked in. She looked like sin wrapped in lace. The black lace lingerie she wore clung to her curves, the silk straps sliding down her shoulders as she moved closer to me. Her eyes, which were blown wide and hazy with lust—didn’t waver from mine. She didn’t say a word, she didn’t even need to. No words were needed at this point. “Zoe,” I murmured, the sound of her name rough in my throat. She stopped at the edge of the bed. “You’ve been ignoring me, Mr Hart,” she said, her voice low and teasing adding to my already wound-up state. Her hands trailed up my chest, slow and unhurried, her fingers igniting fire wherever they touched. She straddled my lap, her thighs pressing against me. Her scent, jasmine and honey wrapped around me until I cou