Chapter 18 Vivienne
Vivienne
I woke slowly, awareness filtering through layers of contentment.
The first thing I noticed was the warmth at my back and the unfamiliar weight across my waist—Julian's arm, holding me securely against his chest. The second was the sensation of bare skin against my breast, no barrier of leather between us.
He'd kept his gloves off all night.
The memory of the evening before came flooding back—his confession about his father, the trust he'd shown me by sharing something so deeply personal, the way he'd touched me with his bare hands like it was the most precious gift he could offer.
I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, and looked over my shoulder at Julian's sleeping face.
In sleep, the careful control he usually maintained had melted away, leaving him looking younger, more vulnerable.
His dark hair was mussed, his breathing deep and even, and his bare hand gripped my breast possessively.
I felt a rush of tenderness so intense it almost brought tears to my eyes. This man had trusted me with his darkest secrets, had literally and figuratively stripped away his gloved secrets for me. The magnitude of that gift wasn't lost on me.
Julian stirred behind me, his arm tightening around me as consciousness returned. When his eyes opened and focused on my face, his smile was soft and genuine.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
"Good morning," I replied, turning in his arms to face him properly. "How did you sleep?"
"Better than I have in years," Julian said honestly, his bare hand coming up to trace the line of my cheek. "You?"
"Perfectly." I caught his hand in mine, studying the long fingers, the calluses from his work, the way his skin looked pale and vulnerable without its usual leather covering. I kissed his index fingertip, "Thank you for trusting me last night. With everything."
Julian's expression grew serious. "Thank you for listening. For not running."
"I'm not going anywhere," I said firmly, echoing my words from the night before. "Whatever this brings, we'll handle it together."
Julian leaned down to kiss me, soft and sweet, a morning greeting that tasted of possibility and promise.
When we broke apart, I glanced at the clock on my nightstand and was relieved to see it was only six a.m. I had plenty of time to get ready for school, maybe even time for a proper breakfast with Julian.
"I should probably start getting ready," I said reluctantly. "But we have time for coffee if you want."
"I'd like that," Julian said, his fingers still tracing patterns on my bare shoulder. "I cleared my schedule for today."
My eyebrows rose. "The whole day?"
"The whole day. I thought maybe after your classes we could spend some time together, away from all the chaos. Maybe take that motorcycle ride I promised you."
The suggestion sent a thrill of anticipation through me. After everything that had happened yesterday, the idea of escaping with Julian, of experiencing something he enjoyed, sounded perfect.
"I'd love that," I said, already imagining the feeling of the wind and the city rushing past us.
I was just about to suggest we head downstairs for coffee when my phone rang. The caller ID showed Roosevelt High's main number, and my stomach immediately clenched with anxiety.
"I should take this," I said apologetically, reaching for the phone. "Hello?"
"Ms. Ellis, this is Principal Morrison." The woman's voice was crisp and professional, but I could hear something underneath it that made my pulse quicken. "I need to inform you that effective immediately, you're being placed on administrative leave pending a full review by the school board."
The words hit me like a physical blow, making me sit up straight with Julian behind me. "What? Why?"
"The situation we discussed yesterday has escalated beyond what the board considers acceptable. There have been additional media inquiries, and the board feels it's in the school's best interest to remove you from the classroom while they conduct a thorough review of your employment status."
I felt the blood drain from my face. Beside me, Julian had gone very still, clearly hearing enough of the conversation to understand what was happening.
"Principal Morrison, I haven't done anything wrong," I said, working to keep my voice steady. "My personal life has no bearing on my ability to teach."
"That's for the board to determine," the principal replied coldly. "The review process typically takes one to two weeks. You'll be contacted when we have more information. Until then, please don't come to the school grounds."
"But my students—"
"Will be covered by substitute teachers. Good day, Ms. Ellis."
The line went dead, leaving me to lower my phone down and stare at it in shock. Administrative leave. Under review. Don't come to school grounds.
In less than twenty-four hours, my career had gone from secure to hanging by a thread, all because someone had decided my relationship was newsworthy.
"Vivienne?" Julian's voice was gentle, concerned. "What happened?"
"I've been placed on administrative leave," I said numbly. "Pending a review that could take up to two weeks. They don't want me on school property."
Julian's jaw tightened, and I could see anger flashing in his steel-gray eyes. "This is unconscionable. You've done nothing wrong."
"Apparently that doesn't matter." I felt tears threatening but forced them back. I would not cry about this. I would not let them break me.
"I'm sorry," Julian said quietly. "This is my fault."
"No," I said firmly, turning to face him.
"This is the fault of whoever is pushing that photo around gossip sites, and the fault of a school board that cares more about perceived scandal than actual teaching.
It's not your fault for being in the spotlight, and it's not my fault for caring about you. "
Julian studied my face, as if looking for signs of blame or resentment. "You're not angry with me?"
"I'm angry," I said. "But not at you. I'm angry at the situation, at the unfairness of it, at the fact that my private life is apparently public property now. But I'm not angry at you for any of this."
Something in Julian's expression softened, relief evident in his features. "What do you want to do?"
I considered the question. I could spend the day wallowing, worrying about my future, letting the anxiety consume me. Or I could refuse to let them win, refuse to let their narrow-mindedness ruin what should be a beautiful day with the man I was falling in love with.
"I want to take a shower," I said, standing up with renewed determination. "And then I want to spend the day with my boyfriend, who promised me a motorcycle ride."
Julian's smile was brilliant. "I like that plan."
I headed toward my bathroom, feeling lighter despite the morning's devastating news.
I wasn't going to let them break me. I wasn't going to hide away and feel ashamed for caring about someone.
If the school board wanted to play games with my career, fine.
But they weren't going to steal my happiness.
I was just about to step into the shower when Julian appeared in the bathroom doorway, looking slightly hesitant.
"Would you... would you like company?" he asked.
My pulse quickened at the suggestion. The idea of sharing such an intimate, everyday moment with him, of seeing him completely without barriers, sent warmth spiraling through my chest.
"I'd love company," I said, as I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the shower, turning on the water and adjusting the temperature until steam began to rise around us.
As we entered the warm spray, Julian's hands found my body, soaping my skin with a thoroughness that had nothing to do with getting clean and everything to do with worship. His fingers traced every curve, every sensitive spot, building heat between us with methodical precision.
When I reached for the soap and began returning the favor, my hands exploring the lean lines of his chest and shoulders, Julian's breathing became labored, his body responding to my touch with obvious excitement.
I could see him hardening, and when I wrapped my soapy hand around his length, Julian groaned and braced himself against the shower wall.
"Vivienne," he breathed, his voice rough with want.
"Touch yourself," I whispered, my eyes fixed on his tattooed hand. "Let me see."
Julian's right hand joined mine, his fingers wrapping around himself, and I felt myself clench at the sight. The words ‘say please’ curved around his hardened flesh, turning something natural into something that felt sacred and profane all at once.
Without breaking eye contact, I dropped to my knees on the shower floor, the warm water cascading over both of us. I looked up at him through the spray, my hair plastered to my head, water running down my face.
"Please," I whispered.
Julian's hand fisted in my wet hair, gentle but controlling. "Say it again," he commanded, his voice rough with need.
"Please," I repeated, and then he was there, guiding himself between my lips with careful precision.
I took him eagerly, my mouth working over his length while my hands gripped his thighs for balance. Julian's grip on my hair tightened, his breathing becoming ragged as I found a rhythm that had him groaning my name.
"You can be rougher," I managed between strokes, looking up at him with eyes dark with desire. "I won't break."
Julian's control snapped at my words. His grip on my hair became firmer, more demanding, and he began moving with me, setting a pace that had me making soft sounds around him.
The contrast of his gentleness and his intensity, the way he held me tight but never hurt me, sent heat spiraling through my own body.
"Vivienne," he warned, his voice strained. "I'm going to—"
Instead of pulling away, I gripped the backs of his thighs tighter and pulled him closer, taking him deeper, letting him know without words that I wanted everything he could give me.
Julian came with a groan that echoed off the shower walls, his release filling my mouth as his hand gentled in my hair, stroking instead of gripping.
When I released him, Julian immediately helped me to my feet, his hands framing my face as he kissed me deeply, thoroughly, without any of the hesitation some men showed after such intimacy.
"Most guys are weird about that," I said breathlessly when we broke apart.
"Most guys are idiots," Julian replied, his mouth finding my throat, my collarbone, any skin he could reach.
We finished our shower with lingering touches and soft kisses, the morning's stress temporarily forgotten in the intimacy we'd created. When we stepped out, Julian playfully smacked my ass as I reached for a towel, making me yelp with surprise and laughter.
I looked back at him over my shoulder, water still dripping from my hair, a mischievous glint in my eyes.
Instead of wrapping my towel around my body, I bent at the waist, giving him a great view of my ass and used the towel on my hair instead, twisting it up into the towel and standing up, making sure to shift sideways so he got a nice view of my everything before giving a little bounce so all my assets gave a nice jiggle.
I watched in the mirror as Julian's towel dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers, and I could see him beginning to harden again despite having just found release.
In one quick movement, he spun me around and pulled me against him, his mouth crashing down on mine with renewed hunger.
When we broke apart, both breathing hard, Julian's still damp arms were around my waist and his right hand had moved to rest gently against my throat.
I caught our reflection in the mirror and gasped at the sight of his ‘say please’ tattoo dark against my skin in the reflection.
I looked up at him, loving this version of Julian—free, open, uninhibited by the careful control he usually maintained. His eyes were dark with renewed desire, his hair damp and tousled, his body pressed against mine with obvious need.
"Please," I whispered, just to see what would happen.
Julian's hand moved from my throat to cup the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my wet hair as he pulled me up for another passionate kiss. This one was deeper, more demanding, full of promise for what we could explore together now that we had the time.
We stumbled back toward the bed, still kissing, still touching, until my stomach chose that moment to growl loudly enough to break the spell.
We both froze, then burst into laughter.
"When did we last eat?" Julian asked, suddenly realizing how hungry he was.
"Dinner was cancelled last night due to crisis management," I said with a rueful smile. "And we never had breakfast."
"Food first," Julian said decisively. "Then motorcycle ride. Then we can continue exploring your... preferences." He gave a lecherous eyebrow wiggle that had me giggling even as the promise in his voice sent a shiver of anticipation through me.
"I like that plan," I said, reluctantly stepping back to get dressed. "What do you want to do about breakfast?"
"Whatever you want," Julian said. "I cancelled all my meetings today. We have the entire day to ourselves."
Despite everything that had happened—the photo scandal, my job, the uncertainty about my future—I felt a bubble of happiness rising in my chest. I had the whole day with Julian, no work obligations, no external pressures. Just us, and the open road, and all the possibilities that lay ahead.
As we headed downstairs to figure out breakfast and plan our day, I realized that being put on leave from my job might have been the best thing that could have happened.
Not because I didn't love teaching—I did, desperately—but because it had given me something I'd never had before.
A day of complete freedom with the man I was falling in love with.
The school board thought they were punishing me. Instead, they'd given me exactly what I needed. Time to focus on what really mattered.
And what really mattered was walking beside me, his bare hands reaching for the coffee pot, his hair still damp from our shower, looking more relaxed and happy than I'd ever seen him.
Whatever came next, we'd face it together. But first, we were going to live a little.