On his feet again, Will rolled her over and pushed her onto her knees. He entered her in one hard thrust, nearly causing her to climax again. Wrapping his arms around her body, he leaned over her, his breath sawing in her ear as he pumped into her.
“The next time you’re in a storm, Princess,” he panted, “think of this. Think of how good this feels. I guarantee you’ll never be frightened again.”
He reached a finger around to play with the sensitive nub, and she squeezed him tighter inside her. She came in a rush. With a harsh cry, Will was right behind her.
They lay on the bed trying to catch their breath for several moments, his body still cocooning hers. The storm outside seemed to have subsided long before the one in the bedroom. A soft rain now fell in the night, nearly muting the sounds of the sea. Will gently slid Julianne beneath the covers before turning out the lights and joining her. She snuggled against his warm body as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Mmm,” was all he said.
She trailed a finger over his shoulder. “As exorcisms go, that one was pretty good. But it may take a couple more attempts to make sure I’m fully recovered.”
Julianne heard the smile in his voice. “You think? Well then, you keep checking the weather forecast because I’m your man.”
She burrowed in closer, satisfied that Will was exactly that.
Twenty-three
“You’ve got a little over ninety thousand left after the sale. Nigel and I are good for at least another hundred. That means you need only to raise another sixty or so more to cover the start-up costs. Several of your creditors from JV Designs would be interested, despite the fact you’re going to manufacture over there.”
Julianne chuckled at Sebastian’s words. He was excited about the prospect of helping create a new design company, but the thought of having to relocate to the United States was killing him.
“Suck it up, Sebastian. It’s only temporary. If this takes off, you and Nigel can hop back across the pond and handle the European end of things. But right now, I need to keep things close to home.”
“Home, is it?” Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the phone dripped with sarcasm. “And here I thought Italy was home.”
She peered out the bay window in the kitchen, searching the shoreline for Will. He’d taken Owen out with him on his daily jog along the beach. Despite his attempts to acclimate her to the ocean and exorcise her fears, Julianne still suffered tremors at the thought of them both being swept away. She wouldn’t be able to draw a thing until they got back. So she’d called Sebastian instead to discuss financing her latest venture.
“Home is wherever Owen is.” And Will, she added silently.
He hadn’t told her he loved her, not in words at least. But she felt his constant protectiveness, since the first night they’d met. And his trust. Each day, he was sharing more and more about his past. Whether it was visiting his childhood haunts or taking her to meet Mrs. Elderhaus, his first-grade teacher, this morning, Will was opening up. He didn’t trust many people with his innermost thoughts, but he was sharing them with her. She knew that by letting her in, he was showing her he loved her, even if he couldn’t say it yet.
“And I really don’t want you and Nigel investing everything you have in this. I can borrow against my grandmother’s trust fund again. I just need to get Stephen’s approval since he’s the trustee.”
“Jules,” Sebastian drawled. “Nigel and I want to be partners with you. You’re the bomb. Mums all over the world will be clamoring for your baby knickers. And you needn’t worry about our finances. Nigel and I have money tucked away for our retirement. Now if you’re really worried about us, you’d reconsider setting up shop in rustic North Carolina.”
Julianne spread her notes out on the kitchen table. “No way. It’s perfect here. There are four closed textile mills within a fifty-mile radius and scores of people looking for work. The company would give the local economy a big boost. Annabeth and her friend Patricia are virtual goddesses at all the ins and outs of owning a small business. We’re going to look at potential sites tomorrow.”
“Good God! Women on a mission! Heaven help the men of that little hamlet. What does your muscle man say about all of this?”
She checked outside again. Still no sign of Will. “I haven’t told him yet. He seems to have the impression that I fly by the seat of my pants.”
Sebastian snorted.
“I want to prove to him that I don’t.” She ignored him. “I’ve successfully run a business in the past, and I can do it again. This past year has just been a cosmic glitch, a pregnant pause, pun intended. But I’m back now.”