Chapter 16 #2
I wince when he touches my split lip but keep still because a second later he smoothes the salve over my lip but when he does it’s not the cotton swab that touches my lip.
It’s his finger. I freeze at the brush of his finger, it’s light the same as it was before but different.
I’m acutely aware of the way Julian moves.
The way his body takes up space and how close he really is to me.
He shifts, just a slight lean but it brings the side of his body against mine.
I suck in a breath and shift in my seat.
The creak of the wood sounds like a shotgun blast in the quiet of the kitchen.
I can hear the grandfather clock ticking down the hallway, the telltale creak of the house as it settles and the ever present wind rolling in from the sea.
I shiver and lick my lips. I don’t mean to, I really don’t.
My body on the other hand, she has fucking other deranged ideas about what she’s going to do with Julian’s finger on my lip.
My tongue moves and of course, presses up against Julian’s finger.
I freeze when it does, my brain short circuiting when Julian stops abruptly.
The house moves around us. The grandfather clock goes on ticking, the house keeps groaning, floorboards creaking and shifting.
Julian and I stay still and quiet. I can hear my heart beating, it’s slamming against my ribs so loud that I’m sure Julian can hear it with how close he is.
There’s no way he doesn’t. I think about shifting away from Julian, ducking my head and pretending I didn’t just fucking lick his goddamned finger but it’s not me that breaks the tense silence.
Julian moves first.
He doesn’t move away the way I think he might, the way I know I would. No. Not even close. He shifts closer, leans into my space so close that if I turned my head I’d be kissing him. Julian’s finger moves when he does, sliding across my bottom lip, pressing against the place my tongue wet.
“I’m going to give you something for the pain. Stay here.”
I swear his lips brush against my cheek but Julian’s standing so quickly that I must have imagined it.
Another fantasy cooked up by my brain. Maybe I did get a concussion or whatever it is that makes you hallucinate.
You’re not supposed to sleep when you get a concussion, right?
I slept half the day away after I was done with Brian. That has to be it.
I watch Julian go through his bag and pull out a bottle of pills.
He doesn’t say anything as he goes to the cupboard and pulls out a glass to fill with water from the tap.
I almost tell him I have a filter on the fridge, the water in town is alright but the house’s pipes are old enough that it tastes like lead.
In the end, I don’t say a word as I watch the maybe hallucination of my hot doctor neighbor fill a glass and shake out two tablets into his palm.
“What is that?” I ask. My voice is just above a whisper. I can’t manage anything more than that, my throat feels like it’s made of sandpaper.
“Something to help you sleep. Your body needs rest to heal, this will help.”
Julian comes back and holds out the pills before he drops to his knees in front of me.
The sight of Julian on his knees makes my throat feel like it’s on fire.
Hallucination or not, I’m dry mouthed and practically panting for the man.
He could give me bleach to drink and I’d blindly swallow it down.
“Thank you,” I tell him and take the pills and glass of water.
Julian doesn’t answer, just gives me a smile and nods his head.
My hands shake while I throw back the pills and chase them with the bitter water.
I manage to get a few sips down before I put the glass down and cough.
“The water is kinda gross,” I explain when Julian gives me an assessing look.
He frowns, looks around the kitchen and I know he sees the water dispenser on the fridge when he hums. “I’ll remember for next time.”
“Next time?”
“Yes.” That’s all Julian says, no further explanation and when he holds out his hand to me there’s a thrill that shoots through me.
He feels different than he did earlier. Heavier.
Sharper. If I look at him for too long it’s like his features turn into something else.
I don’t know what, but it feels hungry. I take Julian’s hand before I even think to ask why he wants me to.
“Where are we going?” I ask when he leads me into the hallway.
I don’t know how fast the pill works and maybe it’s a placebo effect but I’m already feeling off.
Like I’m slow and heavy. Is this what being calm is like?
I look down at where Julian holds my hand and bite my lip.
My teeth cut through the salve and breaks my wound open again. I taste my blood.
Julian squeezes my hand. “We’ll need to get you in bed now. The pills are quick. Show me your room, Maris.”
I swallow down the metallic tang of my bleeding lip and nod before I step past Julian and start down the hallway.
“Okay.”