sexting.
Stephanie: WHAT?! I thought you’d be all for it.
A sly smile crossed his lips. To say blood did not travel south would be an understatement. Turned on as hell would be putting it mildly. This woman.
Julian: I’d rather DO the things than describe them. Like for example: I could tell you how badly I want to undress you. Slowly. How much I want to kiss that one spot under your ear that makes you shiver. How much I want to watch you come apart. How much I want you to moan my name and your nails to rake down my back. I could text you all those. Or I could do all that and more when I come home.
Stephanie Appleton induced hard-ons are uncomfortable as fuck.
Julian waited but she hadn’t quickly replied like she had to his previous text messages.
Julian: Blondie?
Julian: Blondieeeee?
Julian: Stephanie I-don’t-know-your-middle-name Appleton, you message me back!
Julian: Did that make me sound needy?
Julian: I am pretty needy. Are you sore from this morning? Four times is a record for us. Definitely worth being late for that meeting.
Julian: Should I send you a voice note of me singing Boyz II Men?
Julian: Stephanie, it’s been like twenty minutes. You have five minutes to text me back or I’m sending you that voice note. I’ve actually Googled the lyrics. Get ready!
Julian: I’m thinking about asking one of the marketers, probably Dwight, to sing backup. It’s going to be beautiful.
Julian: Please don’t make me sing “I’ll Make Love To You.” I love you and you love me, remember?
Just as he was about to send another message, the sound of the door opening had him lifting his gaze. Stephanie entered the office, peeked down at her phone before she lowered it and cleared her throat. “My middle name is Élise. I didn’t message you back because I was driving. Your messages make you very needy. I am sore from this morning but the good kind. I will spare you from humiliating yourself by singing Boyz II Men because I unfortunately love you and you don’t need to recruit Dwight. And I’m very sure it would be beautiful. And yes, I remember that you love me. You whispered it several times this morning in bed and when you kissed me goodbye.”
“Took you long enough to answer me.” Julian set his phone down, placed his elbows on the desk, and rested his chin in the palm of his hands. “You’re missing the part where I said you love me.”
Stephanie slid her phone into the pocket of her black jeans and swept her long, blonde hair from her shoulders to her back. “Julian.”
“Yes, Blondie?”
“Aren’t you getting sick of that word? Won’t you get tired of hearing it from me?” she asked in a small, worried voice.
“Stephanie.”
“Yes, Julian?”
He smiled at her and rose from his chair. “Come take that walk with me.”
“On one condition.”
Julian made his way towards her. When he was close to her, he took her hand, brought her knuckles to his lips, and kissed each one. “And what’s your condition?”
Stephanie splayed her fingers on his chest. Her left palm rested over his heart. “You promise that you will never get tired of loving me. I’m in too deep, and I think I’m madly in love with the way you tell me you love me. Addicted, even.”
Thankful that it was Friday and most of the senior executives weren’t in, Julian’s hands tangled in her hair as he brought his lips to her forehead. “Never gonna get tired of you or of telling you that I love you. I don’t believe that’s even possible. We don’t do the impossible here, Stephanie. Not us. Now let’s take that walk. Gotta show you something special. Okay?”
Her beautiful smile spread across her lips, and she nodded. “Okay.”
Julian took in the sight of the Royal Exhibition Building before him. It had been four years since he last saw his mother’s favourite part of the city. His heart ached at the memory of him and her, walking hand in hand until they had stopped, and she had instructed him to admire the building. He had been seven when his mother told him the story of how his parents had met. It hadn’t changed. It was still as beautiful as it had always been. The Florence inspired dome of the building was as awe-inspiring as it had been when he’d been that young boy, clutching his mother’s hand.
“So what are we going to do here?” Stephanie asked.
Julian’s smile widened, and he took