Page 3 of Our Unexpected Beginning (Club Surrender #4)

Julia

I f Julia knew she’d be walking over a mile with no cell battery, she would have picked a different pair of shoes. Wedge combat boots weren’t meant for long trips unless it was mall shopping sprints between coffee shops. But it was the most logical choice to go with her skull-flower sundress.

She pulled her phone out of her back pocket, checking the battery as she had five times before. They all yielded the same result of shit out of luck.

Julia turned the corner and sighed with relief that Graham’s truck was outside. She knew she had some explanation dodging to do with him. She hadn’t returned his call since they met up Tuesday night at the club.

The sex and connection they had was electric. It wasn’t something she’d ever experienced with someone before. Earth-shattering orgasms aside, it didn’t quell the urge to flee with her heart intact .

Julia pressed her palms against the door, pushed it wide open, and stomped into the work garage. “Where are you?” She looked past the older man at the desk and craned her neck. “Graham!”

“Here, what’s the goddamn fire?”

She walked behind the counter and followed his voice behind the partition to find Graham wiping his hands and closing the distance between them.

“You promised me she wouldn’t break down anymore.”

“Well, I told you it needed more work, but you should be fine for a few more months.” Graham casually rifled his fingers through his hair, pulling it away from his eyes, and slipped on a beat-up baseball hat, the bill facing away from her.

“Oh, that’s a crocka–” She extended her arm exasperatedly and shoved the stick shift shaft into his chest. “Well, this still came off, and I don’t know why!”

“What? How? Where’s the car?” Graham shook his head, looking over her and glancing out the window.

“Down the road on Clifton.”

“You hiked it from Clifton? The ‘no sidewalks, mostly ice, Clifton’?” He looked down at her shoes with amazement.

She looked at him with furrowed brows. “So? Oh, sorry, my broom is in the shop.” Didn’t he realize she wasn’t joking? Her nose was numb from the cold, her feet hurt, and her plans for the day were ruined by the plot twist she didn’t ask for .

Julia exhaled sharply and crossed her arms. “I’m supposed to be beading Mia’s dress, not hiking across town in the wrong shoes with half my day ruined.”

“Are you going to sit and stop pacing?”

Halting her steps, she glared up at him. “I guess I should save my energy since I’ll be walking for the foreseeable future.“ She dug her toes into the ground with frustration.

“Hm. I get it.”

“Get what? My car before vultures and hoodlums pick it off?”

He held his hand and cleared his throat, stopping any further words. Graham leaned against the wall and pulled out his phone. “Hey, Jake. Are you free? Cool, can you do me a favor and do a pickup on Clifton? It’s a gray Fiat with personality.”

Did he just insult Betty’s lashes?!

“No man, this one doesn’t have Hello Kitty ears. Thanks, Jake, I owe you one.” Graham slipped the phone into his pocket and looked over at Julia.

He mimicked her stance, his gaze never left hers.

The longer they held eye contact the faster her heart beat.

Flashes from the other night played across her memory.

The feel of his touch, the edge he seemed to know exactly how to push.

How his cock stretched her and the blissful touch of his tongue between her thighs.

She’d never admit that the way he licked his lips made her embarrassingly wet.

He tossed his work towel onto his rolling bench. “I finally get it.” His tone is short and gruff. Graham took two steps toward Julia, closing the distance between them.

Julia retreated three steps for every two until her back hit the wall and she squeaked.

Her heart picked up as Graham closed the gap and pressed his chest against hers. He towered over her by nearly a foot, his broad shoulders shielding them from prying eyes.

Her fingers tightened in his shirt, pulling him closer. His earthy scent mixed with the metallic air of the shop.

Pressing her lips tight, she muffled the moan that threatened to give herself away. Julia’s hands fisted in Graham’s work shirt, tugging him closer and squeezing her breasts between them.

“No, Jules.” Graham placed one hand on the wall behind her. He threaded the other in her hair, tugging her head up to meet his stare. “Now I get why Wes says that Melody makes his palm itch.”

Graham didn’t allow her to reply, slanting his mouth over hers. His tongue ran over her bottom lip before sucking it between his teeth.

Her fingers scratched at the fabric between them, gripping his forearm and shoulder. Julia lifted her foot and wrapped it around Graham’s calf.

Julia’s pulse trumped through her ears. The kiss intensified, and Graham slipped his fingers up her thigh.

A loud wolf whistle broke them apart. Julia pressed her face against his chest, hiding her flushed cheeks .

“I’m going to kill Chuck,” Graham muttered, his fingers rubbing the nape of her neck, soothing her nerves. He turned his head and yelled with a laugh. “I’m leavin’! I’ll finish the Smithfield car in the morning.”

“Get your distracted ass outta here before one of these guys cuts their hand off trying to get an eyeful of ya’ girl!”

Julia wanted to melt through the floor. To have the ability to transform into another object. Poof, she’d become a fly or a bat and get the fuck out.

“Damnit.” She nudged Graham away and straightened her dress. She pulled her cardigan back over her shoulders.

“I thought you liked the crowd?”

“It’s not that simple and for your information.” She snapped at him, smacking his arm half playfully. “This is the wrong audience.” There was consent and rules when at the club. Contracted laws were put into place that kept everyone civilized.

“Okay, let’s get out of here.”

“Wait.” Julia grabbed his arm and looked up at him with wide eyes. “My car?”

Betty might be just a junk car to anyone, but it wasn’t to her. It was her eighteenth birthday present from Aunt Elaine.

It might have been to make up for the unforgivable fiasco of Julia’s sixteenth that involved being humiliated in front of the entire student body and being carted off in handcuffs for grand theft auto.

Julia should have questioned the gift of the car when she asked about registration and insurance when her mother tried to explain away the crookedly printed ‘at home’ copy.

It wasn’t the first lesson she’d learned about dealing with her mother. A woman who barely had time for her, even less since her brother’s passing.

“Jake’s bringing it by and I’ll look at it in the morning. Thank you for not throwing the stick shift,” he teased lightheartedly. “I wouldn’t want you to wait for me to order parts.”

“I don’t get pa–”

“To save us both the argument of you not letting me take care of it because I genuinely want to.” Graham moved to his workbench and began putting his tools away. “I’ll post-date the work order and it’ll add to the payment plan you already have for the last bit of work we did.”

The nerve he had to be charming. It wasn’t something she was used to, she was used to ulterior motives. But the way he smiled at her, Graham was learning how to read her.

Julia narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. “I’d like to state for the record that your proposal has been accepted under duress.”

“I don’t think we’re in a court of law, Ms. Sinclair.” Graham closed his work cabinet and nodded his head at Julia. He grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

She quietly walked behind him through the garage between the workbenches and the Jeep he was working on when she came in. He pulled her past the office and stock room.

Once they passed the doors to the makeshift locker room, Julia didn’t have time to react as Graham grabbed her by the waist and continued their previously interrupted kiss.

Julia’s arms wrapped around Graham’s neck. Leaning in to kiss him, she rolled her hips against the denim of his jeans. His grip tightened and he lifted her off the ground.

Julia sighed and tangled her fingers in his hair, dropping the baseball cap to the floor and slipping deeper into his kiss.

She pulled his bottom lip between her teeth until he groaned. She released it with a pop, trailing kisses down his jaw.

Her tongue ran across his Adam’s apple, the taste of salt and sweat bright on her tongue. Julia playfully pressed her teeth into his neck. Her bite was sharp, not enough to break the skin but enough to mark.

Graham hissed and his hands tightened on her hips. She felt the hard ridge of his cock through his jeans against her belly. He ground himself against her, and his moan in her ear caused her pussy to weep with need.

“Graham,” she breathed.

“The table is sturdy enough to bend you over.” His tone was teasing, inching them apart.

Julia looked up at him with wide eyes. “I’m not saying I’m not down for a good time… ”

“I tend to agree with you.” He fixed her hair and kissed her forehead. “Have any ideas, kitten?”

“Well, seeing as the guy behind the counter got an eyeful up my skirt because of your gorilla hands. So maybe give me a ride to my house?”

“Julia Sinclair, are you inviting me to your place?” His gaze turned dark. “Aren’t you a forward one?”

“Your mind is the one in the gutter.”

Graham nipped her bottom lip. “If Chuck weren’t at the counter my fingers would be in your pussy.” He kissed the gasp from her mouth. “Get in the truck.”

*

They barely made it through the door to her apartment before Graham pulled at her jacket, his mouth hot against her shoulder. Both of them were desperate to touch the other.

“Wait, wa-oh-wait!” Julia struggled away from him. “If I ruin Mia’s dress before I start it, I’ll be chopped liver!” She had made him stop at her car when they left the garage. There was no telling how long she’d be without the car and couldn’t risk leaving Mia’s wedding dress behind.