Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Julian

I glance down at my watch. One hour. One freaking hour, and I'm already losing control.

I want to kiss Poppy.

Scratch that; I want to sit her on this table and bury myself deep inside of her.

She is my fantasy woman: sweet, innocent, seductive without knowing it, kind, sincere, so fucking hot. Brown hair that has some red undertones when the light hits it, full lips, did I mention beautiful? And her laugh—it's got my cock planning a mutiny so he can take control of my movements. I want to hear that laugh every day. I wonder what her moans sound like?

Since Kent and Harper left to play pool, I've been listening to Poppy tell me stories about the trouble Harper has gotten her into. I haven't retained a word. I just keep thinking about what I will do with her when we're alone.

Our thighs are nestled between each other as we sit intimately close, the proximity tempting me to claim what I desire. The bar's noise has increased, but the silver lining is that Poppy has gradually inched closer to me.

She steals a glance at my mouth once more.

Fuck it.

I lean closer, smelling the shower gel coating her skin. My mouth brushes over her ear, her body shivers, and her legs clench, catching my left leg between them.

"I want to kiss you," I whisper. I want to do so much more! Keep it classy, Jay.

Usually, I'd just do it, but Poppy's earlier reaction has made me hesitant. She isn't a one-night hookup kind of girl; she's the type that takes things slowly.

That's fine with me because this onslaught of chemistry has me feeling lost. I'll take it as slowly as she needs, as long as I can be around her.

I hear her gasp, the sound going straight to my cock. Her hand gently rests against my thigh.

"Then do it." She whispers.

I'm rock hard, testing the strength of the zipper of my pants in an instant. I pull away slightly, and our noses touch. Her pupils are dilated, showing only a small amount of her hazel eyes. The freckles scattered over her nose and cheeks resemble constellations on her alluring face. From this moment forward, every night, the sky will be different, with her face permanently replacing the stars that used to watch over me.

I've turned into a sappy fuck, but who the hell cares. Girls like that shit.

"I can't," I reply with a slow grin.

Her lips part.

I don't allow her to reply, "Because if I do, our first kiss will always be here, at this bar filled with men who can't stop looking at you." I brush my lips along her jawline, "I want you all to myself.I don't want them to share a single moment of your pleasure-filled memories. Only me."

"Oh shit." She exhales heavily. She tries to close her legs but forgets my thigh is trapped between them. "I'm out of my league with you." She blurts out. "I wanted nice and normal."

I pull away with the biggest grin that has ever been on my face, "I am nice and normal, but I'm also something else."

"What else?" She asks. Her hand slowly trails down my thigh before she pulls it away.

"You'll just have to wait to find out."

Her bottom lips roll in. She's fearful again, like when she looked at that man near the bar. "I…" she swallows.

I can tell she's attracted to me, but something deep in her mind makes her hesitate.

"Tell me. We've been honest so far. I've heard about your infestation of crabs and pumpkin puss puss. There is nothing more you could say to shock me."

She claps her hands over her face as I laugh. As horrid as Harper's jokes and pranks were, it has broken all the ice. I feel like Poppy is someone I have known for years rather than just hours.

Reaching up, I gently cup her wrists and drag them away from her face.

"I can't believe we told you that. When Harper and I are together, we lose all filters. Everything just comes out. I'm not usually like this; believe it or not, Harper isn't that bad when she's alone. She acts somewhat civilized."

Poppy's deflecting again. I lower her wrist onto my lap, "Tell me what made you hesitate."

"I was going to tell you...I don't want to get hurt, Julian," she murmurs, her gaze dropping away. The bar has become so crowded now, the sea of people blending into a blur that resembles an abstract painting.

I lean in closer, compelled by a need to keep her as the sole focus in my mind.

"I don't think I can handle any more pain. And that's a lot to unload on my new neighbor. Maybe I'm overthinking this, and it's just your sexy face driving me crazy. Or maybe, just maybe, you feel something too?" Poppy's shoulders drop.

"This isn't normal. I'm insanely attracted to you, but it's more than that." She gives a small, almost helpless shrug.

"Tell me," I press. Reaching up, I can't help but thread her silky hair through my fingers before tucking it behind her ear.

Tell me I'm not the only one who feels like they are losing control and feeling something you only hear about in movies.

"It's like you're really seeing me," she finally replies, keeping those beautiful eyes downcast. Is it fear or shame that makes her avoid my eyes? "When you look at me, I feel like you actually care." She whispers so low I almost miss it in the club music.

"I do care. You're my new neighbor, after all."

That gains me a small smile.

"It's been so long since anyone has."

Tell me who hurt you. I want a name.

Fuck, I can't say that. I wish I could. One day, when I know her better, I can.

I can't wait for the dawn of that day.

I part my lips to speak, not knowing what will come out when a familiar face emerges behind Poppy.

"Mick," I grunt.

What the hell is my Colonel doing here?

I drop Poppy's hands and stand. His face tells me all I need to know. Something is wrong.

His eyes glance at Poppy, which has me stepping in their path to block her from his view.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. It comes off as harsh.

He grinds his teeth and steps closer, ensuring that only I can hear him. "Two and five o'clock," his eyes glance in that direction of the bar. "They are CIA. I've got half a dozen CID officers outside as well. I need you to come with me, and before you freak out, you did nothing wrong. Get rid of the girl and listen to my orders."

I jerk and feel the weight of my arm in my sling. I'm a sitting duck. I didn't even bring my gun with me. I've never been defenseless.

My eyes race over the bar like a ghost chasing the Pac-Man. "My brother is here," I inform Mick.

I glance over my shoulder at Poppy; her eyes look worried and annoyed. She must think I'm embarrassed by her; why else would I not introduce Mick to her?

She just showed me a piece of her broken heart, and I didn't say anything back. Maybe she thinks I'm a clone of my brother, only chasing ass.

"I'm not leaving her either," I whisper to Mick.

"I have a second team of CID covering your brother, but he's not the target, neither is the girl. Let her blend away into the crowd and forget her."

Target. That means I am one.

It takes all my training to nod and not start shouting.

"Go find Kent." I tell Mick, "Tell him to take the girls back to their apartment before you bring him to me."

Mick isn't used to me ordering him, but he agrees. I run my hand through my hair, wishing it was my right hand. I'm confident in my skills with my left, but I'm lethal with my right hand.

"Is everything okay?" I hear Poppy ask.

I turn to face her. Three minutes ago, I was hard and imagined what I was going to do to her. Now I'm a fucking target! What the fuck!

"Yeah." I plaster on a fake grin that she doesn't buy it, "I'm sorry. That was my boss."

Her forehead wrinkles, and she inches back from me. "I thought Kent said you're the CEO."

She caught me.

"I am." My eyes scan the location of two, then five o'clock, where the CIA informants are. Did my uncle send them? If so, why is my uncle, the Director of the CIA, involved?

I can't spot anyone. Everyone looks like they are here to enjoy beer. That's the problem with the CIA: They blend in too well. They are trained to be the overlooked man or woman who hears everything.

"It's complicated," I admit.

"Aww," Poppy nods, "So this is the 'something else' you were referring to."

"Yeah, unfortunately. I have to go, but Kent will drive you and Harper back home."

Her arms wrap around herself.

"Hey," I reach out. "This isn't the end; you're my neighbor after all. I'll see you soon."

What the fuck! Why did I promise that?

Apparently, I'm a target. I should back the fuck away from Poppy.

Shit! What if she becomes a target by association?

She stands and tips her head back to look into my eyes, "Just tell me one thing."

I can't tell you anything, Pumpkin. I don't even know what is going on.

"Tell me you're not the villain in our story. Tell me you're the good guy."

"I am the good guy." Who will do very naughty things to you.