Masquerade (Masquerade #1) Read online

  I look to see what time it is and realize that Chris will be home in about half an hour. I jump up out of the tub and dry off. So much for the bath helping my nerves. Now they are back.

  I get dressed in my new outfit and killer black heels. I run to the kitchen and pour two glasses of the champagne I had picked up on the way home as well. Out of the refrigerator, I get some strawberries I had cut up and put some in our glasses. I then find a pretty tray to arrange the rest of them on.

  In the living room I set the champagne, which is now in a bowl with ice, and the strawberries on the coffee table. I then turn the lights down low and sit on the couch, waiting patiently for him to get home.

  The door handle starts to jiggle, so that is my cue to lie as sexily as I can on the couch. The door flies open to a gorgeous man standing with his mouth on the floor.

  “Hey, baby. How was your day at work?”

  “Well, um, well, it was . . . um okay.”

  I stand up, grab both glasses, walk over to him, and lean forward to place a brief, sweet kiss on the lips. “That’s good to hear.” I hand the glass to him and hold mine up to his. “Cheers.”

  He puts the glass to his lips, taking a hefty mouthful of champagne before saying, “I just need to say that you look fucking sexy as hell.”

  “I am glad you like,” I say, blushing,

  I put my hand in his, pulling him towards the couch after setting our drinks down. Sitting him down, I straddle him. “So it feels that you are ready for me,” I say with a smirk.

  “Baby, if you saw what I saw, you would be horny and ready as hell too.”

  “Who says I am not horny and ready?”

  His head hits the back of the couch. “Damn, baby.” He then reaches back up with both hands, pulling my lips to his. He kisses me like I am his oxygen, and I am his only way to breathe.

  He stops the kiss, trailing kisses down my jaw and onto my neck. At this rate, I may cum just sitting here. He makes his way down to the top of my breasts, softly kissing them.

  “Damn, you taste so damn good. Your tits look fucking amazing in this thing. I am one lucky man.”

  He stands up, and I wrap my legs around his waist, so he can carry me back to the bedroom. He lays me on the bed. “I know you probably had plans with the strawberries out there, but I need to be in you now.”

  He takes my thongs off, throwing them to the side then looks at my cunt. He makes animalistic noises. Damn, he is making my pussy drip even more. He takes his shirt off, followed by his pants. He then takes his boxer briefs off when I see his dick spring free.

  I let a small moan escape.

  “You like what you see, baby?”

  I nod my head yes. He then starts kissing my thighs, making his way to my sweet spot. He blows softly on my clit, making me squirm. He chuckles before attacking my clit with his mouth. I cum within seconds of his tongue’s lashing assault.

  He comes up from between my legs with a big smile on his face. He then reaches down, pulling my breast out to take my nipple in his mouth. He nibbles while sucking it. I moan loudly with pleasure.

  He makes his way in between my legs and takes my mouth with his. His tongue and mine are all over the place, and I am loving every minute of it.

  He slowly positions the head of his dick at my entrance. He gently pushes his head in, leaving it there. I look at him with a please-fuck-me face, and he asks, “What do you want, baby?”

  “All of your cock inside me.”

  He slams his cock in me. He starts thrusting hard in and out.

  “Baby, this is going to be quick because I need you now, but I will make it up to you all night.”

  Throwing my head back screaming his name is my only answer to him.

  I start feeling my orgasm coming. “Baby, keep going. I am about to explode.”

  He pumps harder and harder. “Cum now.”

  I let go, feeling my pussy tighten around his cock, and his cock filling me up. This is the best feeling in the world.

  He leans down, kissing me lovingly. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  He lays down beside me, pulling me onto his chest. “Not that I am complaining, but what is all this for?”

  I shrug my shoulders. “It just seems that since you ran into Alan, we have been pulling away from each other.”

  “I’m sorry, Jules. I just felt so bad about the whole situation. At first, the more I thought about it, the more I felt like an asshole, but I couldn’t get out of my mind that I wouldn’t change what happened either. Do you forgive me?”

  I kiss his chest. “Of course.”

  We finally get out of bed to get some food. We talk all night in between making love all the way into the New Year. It is the best night I have had in a while.

  Chapter Twelve

  After that night with nothing but love making, we are closer than ever. Chris is always there for me. He takes care of me, loves me unconditionally, knows what I need, and even better, takes on my little sister like she is his. I can’t ask for a better life since my parents have passed. I know they would be proud.

  One day at work, Chris calls me to say he is taking us out to a celebratory dinner because he has some exciting news. Maybe a proposal? I can wish, right?

  I get home in enough time to freshen myself and Lucy up for the evening. I am really getting giddy, wanting to know what the big surprise is all about. He is taking us to one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Steamers Restaurant.

  When we get there, the hostess sits us in a spot closer to back of the restaurant. Our waiter comes to take our drink orders. Chris orders us a glass of wine and Lucy a ginger ale. I start looking over the menu to decide what I want.

  “I don’t even know why you look at the menu. You always pick the same thing,” Chris says, laughing.

  Looking over my menu, I stick my tongue out. “Maybe I won’t.”

  The waiter makes his way back with our drinks and sets them down in front of us. “What could I get for you, sir?”

  “I will take the shrimp and grits with chorizo sausage and arugula salad.” The waiter nods his head then Chris says, “This little lady right here will have the children’s fried shrimp with French fries.”

  The waiter writes their orders down then looks up at me. “Ma’am, what will you have?”

  I look up at him with a proud look and say, “A Cheeseburger, well done with fries for the side.”

  “I will put your order in and bring it out as soon as it’s ready.” The waiter takes the menus as he walks back towards the kitchen.

  I look over at Chris when I hear giggling. “What?”

  “I knew it, but you know what?”

  “What?”

  “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  “Good. Now tell me and Lucy your exciting news. I have been wanting to know all afternoon.”

  “I sold one of the biggest real estate properties today. It sold for over 1.5 million dollars. It was one of the oldest houses here in Georgetown.”

  “That is fantastic, Chris. I am so proud of you.” I stand up and reach over the table to kiss his lips. He really does make me proud. He is great at his job and deserves all the success that comes with it. I am a little let down it wasn’t a proposal, but I can wait.

  “Stop kissing. We. Are. In. Public,” Lucy says, covering her face.

  I laugh. “One day you won’t be saying that.”

  She points her finger at me. “Never will I do that. Boys are gross.”

  Chris and I laugh at her, knowing one day she will not feel that way, but I can wait for that day. I dread having to deal with my little sister going boy crazy.

  Shaking my head, I hold up my glass of wine to Chris. “Congratulations, baby. We are both so proud of you.” Lucy holds her cup of ginger ale too, smiling.

  We enjoy our dinner, talking about the day’s events along with smiling and laughing a lot. It has been the best evening of spending time together.

  Once we are back home
I give Lucy a bath and get her ready for bed. Chris and I tuck her in, which includes a bedtime story. Before we can even finish the book, she is out like a light.

  I wash my face and brush my teeth to get ready for bed as well. I don’t realize how exhausted I am until I am laying with Lucy. I put on a camisole and boxer shorts and get ready to climb in the bed when my gorgeous boyfriend grabs my ass and throws me on the bed.

  Needless to say, we make love for an hour, enjoying each other. He is so good to me and very attentive, not just in the bedroom but in all aspects of my life.

  We lie naked. He holds me against his chest and rubs my back. “I love you so much, baby.”

  “I love you too. I really am so happy with how good you are doing at work and with life in general. I didn’t think I could be completely happy since my parents died, but you have helped fill that void. Thank you for that.”

  “Jules, there is no need to thank me. I will always be here for you. I know it’s not easy not having your parents to talk to or becoming a parent overnight, but you have done a great job.”

  I smile into his chest. “You are too good for me.”

  “No, I am treating you how you should be treated. I will always treat you like a queen.”

  “Thank you for that,” I say, sighing.

  “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  “Well, like I said before, I am completely happy and wonder if I could be with my parents gone, but I still feel lost sometimes.”

  “You probably always will feel lost. You lost the two people who gave you life and raised you into the woman you are today.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I mean, I feel lost because I still have very little recollection of my wreck or even my life before. Yes, I remember childhood things, but a lot of my teenage years are gone. I don’t know what caused it or what happened during all the time I was in a coma. I feel like I am missing a big chunk of my life.”

  “I am so sorry, baby. If I could, I would give it all back if I knew any of what could have happened. I hate that you feel lost. It makes me feel useless to you when all I want to do is protect you.”

  I lean up and rub his cheek. “You do protect me. I am very lucky to have you, but I just keep thinking maybe one day it will come back. It’s not your fault. If anything you make me feel good,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.

  He starts chuckling, pulls my face closer to him, and kisses me sweetly on my lips. I lie back down on his chest, feeling my eyes getting heavy. Chris kisses my head. The last thing I remember is him telling me how much he loves me. This night couldn’t have ended in a better way.

  “Julia! Julia! Wake up, baby. Wake up.”

  I hear my name being yelled, and I wake up screaming, “No, pay attention! No! No! Look!”

  I jump straight up, looking around to see where I am. I now see that I am at my house and in my bed. I look over at Chris who looks to be in complete shock.

  “What happened?”

  He pulls me in a tight hug. “I don’t know. You tell me. Are you okay?”

  I nod my head. “I think so.”

  “Were you having a bad dream?”

  I am still getting my breathing under control. “Yeah, I did.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Please, not right now.”

  “Okay, baby. Let’s lie back down then.”

  Chris holds me and comforts me by telling me that everything is going to be okay until I hear his breathing evening out. Soon, I hear a small snore coming from him. I turn away from him and face the bathroom. He pulls me back into him and holds me tighter.

  I close my eyes only to relive the dream I just had. I was sitting in the passenger’s side of a car, watching myself drive down a road I’ve never seen before and yelling at someone on the phone. I watch my movements, trying to figure out where I am going, and to whom I am talking.

  “Why are you doing this to me? I need him now more than ever. I am going to look for him.

  Quit telling me what I should do. You have never supported us since day one. Why are you being like this? Please, tell me.”

  Tears start streaming down her face as she listens to whomever is talking on the other end of the phone. My dream persona is driving like an idiot all over the road, too busy telling whomever I was talking to that it wasn’t any of their business.

  I start screaming at myself to pay attention where I am going. Then she says, “I needed to do this regardless if they liked it or not.”

  The next thing I see is us driving towards a telephone pole. It is all happening in slow motion. I look over at her. She still is not seeing the telephone pole. She yells at whomever is taking the blunt of her verbal attack on the phone.

  I start yelling at her to pay attention again. She continues to yell on the phone, lost in her own conversation. I yell louder and louder. That is when I hear my name being called, and I woke up screaming.

  Was this what happened in my wreck? My parents told me I was mad at them, so could that have been my mom or dad I was yelling at? Who is ‘us’? And why wasn’t I being supported?

  I have so many questions with no one to answer them. My parents are gone. I have no way of knowing anything anymore. Tears start freely falling down my face, hitting my pillow.

  My eyes start getting heavy, but I am so scared to even try and go back to sleep. I can’t have another dream. I need answers now. I need to find help. Maybe talking to someone who doesn’t know the situation or me would help me remember.

  I decide that is what I will do. I will find a therapist tomorrow. I feel determined when my eyes give and succumb to sleep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning, I wake up with a mindset of finding a therapist to help me uncover my past. I decide not to tell Chris anything about my plan. I’m not sure how he will react, so I will keep my mouth shut for the time being.

  I go through my normal morning routine of getting myself ready then getting Lucy ready. Once that is done I make an easy breakfast, so all of us can sit together before our day starts. When we finish it’s on to take Lucy to school and my ass to work.

  Mondays, believe it or not, aren’t one of my busiest days of the week. I am to work on the trip I will be making next month. I am going back to Venice to actually bring home some pieces from a museum there. I am so excited about it. It will be during the carnival celebration too. I haven’t been since I was a girl, so going now, I will be able to appreciate the culture even more.

  Chris has decided that he will accompany me on the trip. When I first tell him about it, he is so determined that I was not going by myself. But to be honest, I am giddy he is going considering how romantic the whole city is.

  Before I know it lunch has snuck up on me. I grab my purse and dig my keys out, so I can sit and eat at the café a few blocks over from the museum called Whistle Stop Café. I also think this will be the perfect time to call the therapist I found online this morning.

  I ask the hostess to seat me back in the corner so that I am away from other people. She obliges with a smile and gives me just what I asked for. I look over the menu, deciding what I want before the server comes over.

  “Hey there. What could I start you with to drink?”

  “Sweet Tea but I am ready to order too.”

  She gets her ticket book and pen from her apron with a smile. “Go ahead, sweetie.”

  “I would like to have the Fried Green BLT, but can I substitute the French fries for a side salad with ranch on the side?”

  She scribbles my order down. “No problem. I will have it out to you in a few.”

  She walks off to only come right back with my tea and salad. I eat in peace, still going over in my head exactly what to say when I call. This is nerve wracking. Then my phone rings, startling me.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, sexy. I just wanted to check in on you and to tell you that I love you.”

  “Hey, baby. I’m good. I’m at Whistle Stop eating lunch. Hold on just a se
cond, okay?” I place the phone in my lap while the waitress makes her way to me with my food.

  “Here you go, sweetie. I hope you enjoy it. If you need anything, please let me know.”

  “Thank you.”

  I put the phone back to my ear. “Sorry.”

  “Should I be jealous?”

  “Jealous of what, my food?”

  “No, someone else calling you sweetie.”

  “You should be because you know me. I’m a sucker for a woman calling me sweetie,” I say, laughing.

  I can hear a smile through the phone. “Good, because I never want to lose you.”

  “Good. Me neither.”

  “Baby, I will let you eat. I was just calling to tell you that I love you.”

  “I love you too. Have a good day.”

  “You too, sweetie.”

  Then he hangs up. He doesn’t like saying bye over the phone. He thinks bye means forever, so instead he just hangs up. He is a hopeless romantic, but he makes me feel so special when he does things like that. Just a phone call can make my whole day better.

  I eat until I can’t eat anymore. The waitress comes back with more tea and takes my plates away.

  “Here is your ticket, sweetie, but you can take your time. I don’t want to rush you.”

  “Thank you.”

  I pull the therapist’s number from purse. It’s now or never. I unlock my phone and dial the number to this woman’s office.

  The phone rings three times before someone picks up. “Good afternoon. Thanks for calling. How may I help you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I am wanting to make an appointment with Dr. Green.”

  “Have you been here before?”

  “No, ma’am, I haven’t.”

  “Okay. Let me ask you a few questions.” I hear shuffling of papers before she starts with, “Your name?”

  “Julia Falls.”

  “Date of Birth?”

  “February 25, 1990.”

  “Reason for wanting to see Dr. Green?”

  “I was in a bad car wreck when I was eighteen and in a coma for a year and a half. I have started having nightmares about the wreck. Also, my parents passed away about a year ago in a different car accident.”