Alive at Night (Wildflower, #1)

by Amelie Rhys

me. “I’m fine, Julian,” she said through heavy breaths, still clutching her dress to her chest. I couldn’t help but notice she didn’t try to tell me she wasn’t drunk. “You’re drunk, Juniper.” “You already said that.” “It warranted being repeated.”

Juniper’s pouty, kissable lips were an utter distraction, so I forced myself to turn around and search for her pajamas instead. Thankfully, they weren’t hard to find, tossed on top of her suitcase.

“Arms up,” I muttered, bringing her pajama shirt over to her with shaky hands. There was too much adrenaline coursing through me. Her brows furrowed. “You’re going to kiss me like that and then put my clothes on?”

“You kissed me, if you recall.”

you wearing a bra?” I asked, wanting to make her as comfortable as possible. I couldn’t do anything about the raging headache she’d likely wake up with, but I could do something about this. “Did you want to wear one to bed?” “I’m not wearing one.”

“But do your hands count? Because I wouldn’t mind wearing them to bed.”

Ahhh

think you said that sentence incorrectly,” she said. “Oh?” “I think you meant to say… I’m taking you to bed, Juni.”

“Is it too late to ask for that proof? Because I think I’m ready for it.”

“Here.” Taking a deep breath, I lifted my head and threw her pants at her. “Put these on.” “I’d rather not.” She threw them back at me, hitting me square in the face. “It was roasting in here last night. I’ll just wear my shirt. It’s long.” It was not long. Juni stood, wiggling her hips to shimmy out of her dress, and I suppressed a groan. Her shirt barely covered her ass. One little bend and I’d be able to see everything. “You have to wear the pants, Juniper,”

“Fine,” Juni huffed, ripping her pajamas back out of my hands. “I’ll wear the pants and take off my shirt instead.” She had to be fucking kidding me. “You can’t sleep without a goddamn shirt on, Juniper.”

“Why not?” She arched her brow. “You didn’t wear a shirt last night.” “Is that what this is about?” I threw my hands up in frustration. “You’re still mad about that?”

was never mad about it,”

mad, huh?” She gave me the sheepish version of my expression. Coy and timid all in one. “Not mad.” “So you’re saying you liked it.” I wanted to make her say it.

saying that if you can sleep half-naked, I should also be allowed the same courtesy.” Technically, she had a point. Even if it was one that I hated. “Fine.”

“You don’t have to wear the pants, but will you at least wear this instead?” I asked, shrugging off my button-up and thrusting it into her lap.

“Instead of my shirt? Why?” “It’ll cover more of you,”

Steeling myself, I walked back into the bedroom. I should have steeled myself harder. “Fuck.” “What?” Juniper did a little spin for me, pirouetting sloppily. She nearly tipped over completely before catching herself with a laugh. “Don’t you like it?”

fucking loved it; that was the problem.

“What’s that?” she asked when I couldn’t find an appropriate reply. She pointed at my hand. “Oh.” I cleared my throat. “This is a washcloth.” “A washcloth?” “If you want to take your makeup off.” I

know that’s like…important or whatever.”

“That was very…nice of you. Or whatever.” I didn’t know what she was doing, but I couldn’t

“Your shirt smells good,” she breathed. I snorted into my pillow. “You told me I smell. Remember?” “That was a lie.” I figured it had been. But still, it made me wonder… “How often do you lie, Juniper?” A quiet moment passed. “With you or in general?” “With me.” “All the time.”

Juni kept readjusting herself like she couldn’t get comfortable even while sleeping, and it was even more distracting than yesterday morning when I caught her tracing my abs with her fingers. When I couldn’t take any more torture, I slid out of bed and padded toward the bathroom. I needed to take a long, cold shower.

“You’re awake.” Juniper blinked at me, and I ran a hand through my hair nervously, slicking back my wet locks. Water trickled from the ends of

“Juni, do you…” I cleared my throat. “Do you remember last night?”

“Yeah,” she whispered and then straightened herself in a hurry. She flung the covers off and scrambled out of bed, mumbling something about how she was going to take a shower. Her eyes stayed downcast, watching her feet as she tiptoed around the bed. When she went to dart past me, I hooked an arm around her waist to stop her without even thinking twice about it. I should have, though. She looked at me with pretty but alarmed eyes, her hair hanging limply around her face. “All of it?” I asked, needing to know. “Or just some of it?”

“All of it,” Juniper said, a hushed confession. I dropped my arm like her words burned me,

“I know you didn’t put them there. I did.”

“They looked like they needed some sun. Although I don’t think that one’s going to bloom no matter how much sun or water it gets,” I added, pointing to the one in the middle.

“The kiss.”

tried to get closer with every step, crowding me. “You don’t need to worry at all. I’m certainly not delusional in thinking that you—” “Juniper.” “—want me like that. Trust me, I am more than aware that you don’t have any real interest in me. Not like that. I mean—” Julian stole the rest of my words with his lips, kissing me and knocking me back into his desk in a single swift movement that left me reeling.

His talented lips broke from mine for one split second to grunt, “Shut up,” before he dove in again, capturing my mouth with his for a second time. I kissed him back recklessly, momentarily losing myself in how our tongues tangled and lips clashed. Why? Why did he have to be so good at this?

“Jul—” “God, you drive me up the wall.” Julian grabbed me by the throat and wrenched us back ...

Our lips fused back together. Although, I was torn. Because even though I loved the feeling of his lips on mine, I didn’t want him to think that he had to do this. He didn’t have to kiss me. He didn’t have to do anything. Th...

want you. I desperately want you like this. You have no idea, Juni baby.” Chills ran across my skin. Maybe I was easily convinced, but those words combined with his mouth, his hands, his hard body—it wiped all my other doubts away. I desperately want you.

It wasn’t fake,” he breathed, his lips fanning my skin. “The kiss, the things you said in the hotel room… Tell me it wasn’t fake. Tell me it was more than getting swept up in the moment.” “I thought you wanted me to shut up,” I retorted while fighting to catch my breath.

“Well, now I want to hear your pretty little mouth tell me it wasn’t fake.”

wasn’t fake.” None of it was fake, not a single moment. “I know,” Julian groaned into my neck, and my stomach flipped. He peppered kisses on my hot skin, his lips never leaving for long, making me feel wanted. Like he had on Saturday night. Until he pushed me away. “Don’t stop,” I whispered. “Don’t stop tonight.”

“You know I didn’t want to stop, right?”

“Pushing you away this weekend was the hardest fucking thing.”

things I would have done to you if you hadn’t been drunk, Juni…God.”

“That wasn’t how you were acting.”

was all I could do to keep my fucking shit together with how you were teasing the hell out of me.” His voice lowered. “You’re gonna pay for that, by the way.”

“I already told you not to st...

muscles tensed, doing everything to hold on to him and never let go. The pulse between my legs ached. God, it ached, and it was hard to comprehend that it was all for Julian. Julian. But now that I wasn’t drunk, I felt it with such clarity, such intensity. It would destroy me if I wasn’t careful. What happened when magnets resisted their pull? It couldn’t be good. “Fuck, this wasn’t supposed to happen,”

didn’t stop his hand from running up my leg, from inching beneath my skirt. “But I just want to feel you, Juni. Just once,” he rasped. “Please.”

wanted to feel him. Feel all of him. A hardness pressed between my legs, but I wanted to feel more. It wasn’t enough to soothe the ache, the pulse. “Please,” I repeated, the only word in my brain at the moment.

much I loved kissing him. His hand rode higher beneath my skirt while letting me slowly slide back to the ground. But even once my feet landed on the floor, it still felt like I was floating. Our kisses grew lighter, less frenzied. Instead, we exchanged rough gasps and continual brushes of lips against lips like we wouldn’t survive if we separated completely. “Juniper.” He spoke my name between us, sounding gravelly, desperate. “I’m going to touch you. I need to touch you.”

They traced the top of my underwear slowly, and I wanted to know what the hell he was waiting for. “Payback, remember?” he breathed.

“Touch me,” I pleaded, and my request had Julian folding in an instant. “Christ,” he groaned, slipping his hand beneath the fabric of my underwear. “Open up for me, Juni.” Knowing what he wanted, I widened my stance, thinking about nothing except how badly I hungered for what he was about to give me. “Good girl,”