Page 48 of Keeping Lilith
Julian dropped his bag and caught Lilith all at the same time, a feat he was sure he could never replicate again. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Her apple scent filled his sense, and he relaxed even further.
Now he understood why the guys had always been so eager to get back to their women. There was nothing better than having someone waiting for you when you got home. The knowledge that they were as eager to see you, as you were to see them.
“I missed you, Lil,” he murmured against her ear.
“Not as much as I missed you. I’m so glad you’re home, J.”
J.
That was the second time she’d called him that, and he loved it. Now that he had Lilith in his arms, the tiredness that consumed him only seconds ago disappeared. He leaned back and looked down at Lilith. Her green eyes sparkled with happiness and something else…desire.
It had been too long since he’d tasted her, and Julian didn’t waste any time now that he had her close. He lowered his head and kissed her. Her fingers dug into his shoulder and he welcomed it. He tightened his hold on her, never wanting to let her go.
For so long, he’d been wandering around lost. The guilt from what he’d failed to do for Rose. Bringing pain to the woman in his arms had been a constant companion to him. Slowly, though, a change had been happening. Feelings he’d never thought he’d feel were bursting to life inside of him. The guilt was still there, and would always be there, but happiness, desire, and love were filling him now.
And he owed all to the woman in his arms. The woman who had trusted him and given him a second chance. The woman who owned him, body and soul.
I love her. I love Lilith.
The thoughts didn’t scare him like he’d once thought they might. Instead, he embraced them and understood what had been so fundamentally wrong about everything Ralph Williamson had espoused. Love didn’t make you weak. It strengthened you. It gave you purpose.
Julian broke the kiss and smiled down at Lilith, as he brushed his fingers across her cheek. His declaration of love on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t want to overwhelm Lilith with the depth of his feelings. There was still so much he had to do to prove he wasn’t like the men of her past. That he wouldn’t be controlling. So his confession of his love for her would wait until he showed her he wasn’t saying pretty words and that hetruly, deeply meant them. “I like coming home to you,” he said reverently, still amazed that she was in his arms.
“I like you coming home to me in one piece.” The green of her eyes dulled a little. “I was so worried that something would happen to you. I didn’t want to ask Cass what was happening. I had to trust that you and the others knew what you were doing. That they would keep you safe, like you would keep them safe. Everyone is okay, aren’t they?”
Her worry about him and his work colleagues only cemented his feelings for her. “Yes. Everyone is unharmed.”
“And the reason you went, was it successful?” Her question was tentative.
“Yes, it was successful. It will take time, but they’ll be okay. Changed, but okay.” Julian didn’t think he’d ever forget the way the women clung to each other on the ride to the airstrip. Nor how they didn’t want to be apart when they’d arrived back in the US. He’d spoken to Mac to ensure that they be given every avenue of help available to them. He didn’t want any one of them to go through what Lilith had gone through. Where her parents had deserted her. He didn’t think that would happen with those women, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Mac hadn’t questioned him but had reassured him he would make sure, once they were back with their families, they’d be given access to whatever they would need. Julian had to be satisfied that his boss would keep his word, but he planned to do his own following up to ensure it happened.
“I’m glad. Are you hungry?” Lilith asked, reminding him he was back in the safety of his home and the arms of the woman who was so special to him.
“I am, but I want to shower first.” Her eyes flared briefly, and he was tempted to ask her if she’d like to join him, but he didn’t since they weren’t quite there in their relationship. But he hoped to change that soon. After the “welcome home” he’d gotten fromher, he wanted to worship her and show Lilith how much she meant to him.
“You shower while I fix you a sandwich or something. And then after that, who knows what we can do?”
“Indeed.” Julian grabbed that subtle invitation and held it close. He knew exactly what they could do. And he couldn’t wait.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lilith’s handshook as she tipped the pan, and the omelet she’d made for Julian slid onto the plate. The shower had turned off about five minutes ago, and she expected him to walk into the kitchen any moment now. She carried the plate over to the table between the knife and fork she’d laid out.
If he questioned why she wasn’t joining him, she’d tell him she’d already eaten, which wasn’t a lie, but she was too nervous to eat.
She couldn’t believe she’d basically begged the man to have sex with her. Well, maybebeggedwas too strong, but she’d given a huge hint when she’d said they could do what they wanted after he’d eaten.
There’d been a hint of desperation in Julian’s kiss. She didn’t know if it was because he was glad to see her, or if something bad had happened on the mission. Or had he wanted her as badly as she wanted him? She hoped it was the latter, but if it was because of something he’d seen, then she’d help him through it as much as she could.
“Something smells good,” Julian said as he walked into the kitchen, his hair damp. He wore a black t-shirt that clung to his chest and black sweats that sat low on his hips. He looked sexyand dangerous at the same time, and her mouth dried, thinking of what might happen between them.
“I’ve been working on my cooking skills while you’ve been away. I can now make an omelet and cook a steak.” Her voice sounded strong and didn’t belie the butterflies that were flitting around her stomach.
“I look forward to having you cook me a steak soon.”
Lilith scoffed. “I’m still working on not overcooking a steak, but it’s getting there.”
“Doesn’t matter how it’s cooked. You did it for me, and that means everything.” Julian dropped a kiss on her head before sitting and digging into his food.