Page 86 of Dealing Dirty
There’s a pivotal moment in every person’s life when something just… shifts. It can’t always be explained, butsomethingchanges. They go to bed as one version of themselves, only to wake up whole and brand new.
Derrick is my moment.
His strong hands slide up my spine with care as he leans over me, dipping me back and moaning against me. I clutch his arms to keep myself upright.
“Juliana,” he says breathlessly.
I will never tire of hearing my name on his sweet lips.
“You’re a vision,” he praises, reaching beneath the slit of my dress and searing my leg with the heat of his hand. I lift it up into his hold, and he grips me tight as I wrap my leg around him.
Our mouths collide, the sense of urgency driving our passionate kisses. He drags my bottom lip between his teeth, and my body responds eagerly as hot liquid pools between my legs. The press of his erection against my center only maddens our pace.
He pulls back just enough to break contact, and I nip at him, desperate for him to come back to me. “My hellcat,” he says with a smile.
Our breaths mingle as he lowers my leg to the ground achingly slow.
“I promise you this, you will never have to wonder if my intentions are true. You will never be forced to do something or be someone you don’t want to be.” He presses gentle kisses to both corners of my mouth. “You can go where you want and do what you want, because I want your freedomforyou, and I wouldn’t dream of taking that away.”
My heart clenches in my chest painfully, and I can barely catch a breath.
“But I want the promise ofyou, Juliana. I want your laugh in my ears, your mouth against mine, and your naked body sliding between my sheets. I want to treasure you.” He swallows, closing his eyes and leaning his forehead against my brows. “Because I’d be a goddamn wreck without you.”
This time when Derrick claims my mouth, the dance is slow and tender. He gives and I take and take some more, until it’s my turn to give to him—and with the walls I’ve built between us crumbling to dust around us, that’s exactly what I do.
Placing my hands over his stubbled cheeks, I gently stroke his tongue with mine. I moan into his mouth, savoring his taste and the intense feeling of rightness.
“I fell in love while neither of us were paying attention,” I say against his full, smooth lips. “And it was just as terrifying and wonderful as I imagined it would be.”
Stunned, Derrick stills for a faint breath before pulling back. “You’re brave, kind, sexy as hell, and… maybe even a bitloca.” His hand glides over my hair, stopping to trace my smiling lips with his thumb. “As long as you’ll have me, my love is yours and you’re mine to love.”
I melt into his strong arms pulling me into the security of his body. Somehow, this hug is more intimate than the mind-blowing, panty-melting kiss we just shared. I rub the side of my cheek against him, nestling into a man who’s standing here because he wants to protect me but isn’t afraid to let me protect myself.
“We have to go,” I say into his chest as his heart beats steadily against my ear.
“I know.” He cups the side of my face, holding me tight. “You lead the way and I’ll follow. Always.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Juliana
“Are you sure this is it?” Derrick whispers, checking over his shoulder for the twentieth time.
“Yes. Purple door, stairs, and it looks familiar from when—” I snap my mouth shut as rage devours his pupils. I’m not about to tell him details of Ethan’s idea of a ‘good time,’ and definitely not about the encounter I had with Jackie last night.
My head is still sore from when he yanked me backward.
Placing my hand on his forearm, I give it a squeeze. “Come on, it’s not much farther.”
We creep down the cool basement hallway. A tingling feeling caresses my neck like creepy crawlies, and I swat at it when a shiver crawls up my spine.
“Scared,hermosa?” Derrick’s teasing whisper soothes the sensation to a dull annoyance.
Beautiful.
The endearment settles right into my bones, turning them to sap. “Back to nicknames, are we?”
“Ow! Has anyone ever told you how bony your elbows are?”
