Page 19 of Once Upon A Valentine
“No. Because you’re still a good man, Bran. Beneath all of the bad decisions, you’ve always been a good man where it matters.” He traced a heart on Bran’s chest. “And you’re trying to do better, to turn things around and that has to count for something.”
“You think so?” Bran didn’t look convinced.
“I know so.” Julian gave him a comforting smile. “If you truly want to put the past behind you, if you want to get past that fight with your father and everything that came after it, I think you’re right. I think you have to go back to Frost Financial and take your rightful place at the company your family built. It might be what your father wanted for you, but more importantly, it’s what you want for yourself. You weren’t ready before, but if you are now, then you know what you have to do.”
“You really think it’s that easy?”
“I don’t think anything about it will be easy, but you won’t have to do it alone. I’ll be there for you every step of the way. I won’t let you fail, Bran. I promise.”
Bran looked down at him, blue eyes sparkling with so much emotion Julian’s chest felt tight.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“You said yes.” Julian smiled.
“I’ll always say yes when it comes to you.” Bran used his free hand to lift Julian’s chin until they were eye-to-eye. “I love you, Jules. I think I’ve loved you since the moment I met you but I wasn’t ready for you then. Thank you for waiting for me and believing in me. Thank you for loving me.”
Julian felt warm tears pool in his eyes. The things that they shared meant that he’d known Bran loved him for weeks now. Love was the only way a man could be as open and raw with another as Bran had been with him. But hearing the words aloud filled Julian with so much love and tenderness that he almost couldn’t get the right words out in response.
“I love you too.”
“I know.” Bran swiped his thumb over Julian’s cheek and he only realized then that a tear had escaped. “But it’s nice to hear the words.”
“Smug bastard.” Julian harrumphed. “I tell you I love you and you tell me you know.”
“It’s your own fault.” Bran only smiled in response. “You’ve never been shy about showing me. Even from that first kiss, when I was impulsive and reckless and stupid, you were in control and you showed me how much you cared, you promised to love and take care of me, and you do, every day, in more ways than you even realize.”
“I love you, Bran.” He whispered the words again, unable to keep them inside now that they’d found their way free.
“I love you too. Let me show you how much.”
Bran surprised him when he shifted them suddenly. Julian found himself on his back. Bran hovered over him. The dark glint of desire in Bran’s gaze was impossible to miss and Julian’s cock swelled back to life with the knowledge of what was coming.
“I’m in control this time.” Bran smiled down at him before he lowered his head and began to kiss a path down Julian’s chest and stomach.
Julian groaned and threaded his hands through Bran’s hair, “If you really think that, I’ve taught you nothing.”
“Guess you’ll just have to keep teaching me.” Bran mumbled before he licked a line up Julian’s throbbing cock.
“Gladly.” Julian moaned, his breath catching at Bran’s warm breath skated over his balls. “Take me in your mouth.”
His lover hummed and continued to lick and lave him with his tongue. Julian tightened his hold on Bran’s hair. He felt the answering smile on Bran’s lips before he complied and slid his mouth around Julian’s cock. They both moaned and Julian felt his lids slide shut with pleasure.
He was going to spend the rest of his life loving this man and knowing Bran loved him in return only made everything between them that much sweeter.
Chapter Eight
“Hey Julian, do you…” Gibson glanced up as the door to his office opened and then stopped talking when Bran let himself inside. “Oh, sorry Bran. I thought you were Julian.”
“Sorry. It’s just me.”
“Well, as happy as I am to see you, I can’t really hang out now. I have a meeting in…” Gibson looked at his watch and frowned, “Right now actually.”
“Yeah. I know.” Bran moved towards the desk, “I’m your meeting.”
Gibson jerked his head back up, “What?”
“I’m your meeting.” Bran settled into one of the chairs across the desk from his brother and tried to remain calm and composed. “I had Jules put me on your schedule.”
