Chapter 8
ROSE
Julius has surprised me. At first he scared the hell out of me, and yet now I see behind the dark menace and find a man who is sweet, kind and rather caring.
He is not bad to look at either, and despite not being the gardener I have fixated on for a while now; he is more. Way more.
It’s as if I’ve sinned just by looking at him.
Crazy thoughts spiral in my mind as I wonder what it would be like to be close to a man like him.
It’s something I’ve thought about a lot more recently because I’m fast realizing this test was a blessing in disguise because I am craving something that is forbidden to a nun. A boyfriend.
Julius is no boy. He is one hundred percent man, and my breath catches when he smiles, his dark eyes glittering with something I can’t put into words.
I have never met a man like him, and my inner voice is screaming at me to stay away.
However, the part of me I am listening to more these days is purring like a kitten who found a new master.
The attendant approaches and clears away the meal and says pleasantly, “Dessert is waiting. Shall I fetch it now?”
My eyes must light up because Julius chuckles softly and nods. “Bring everything you have.”
I gaze with dismay at the amount of food left, and I almost jump out of my skin when his hand reaches across the table and closes around mine.
“Relax.”
His husky whisper is like a spell drifting across my soul.
“The food will not be wasted. There are many other passengers on this flight further down the plane. They will finish it.”
“More passengers?”
I glance over my shoulder, and when I turn back, his hand is still holding mine and a ripple of electricity shoots through my body as it reacts to his touch. I peer down at his tanned hand almost covering mine, and when I lift my eyes to his, he is staring at me with amusement.
“Does this bother you?”
He inclines his head toward our hands, and I suck in my lip and chew on it, a nervous habit I’ve tried to control, but control isn’t something I possess any of right now.
“A little.”
“Only a little.”
He smirks, and I nod shyly. “I’ve, well–”
“Never touched a man.”
My face is on fire as I nod slowly, and I almost jump out of my skin as his thumb caresses my skin while staring at me with a smoldering gaze.
“It’s hot up in the clouds,” I say with a sharp breath, and he winks and draws his hand away from mine.
“I’m sorry; call it a test.”
“A test.” I reach for my water as he nods, leaning back in his chair.
“You told me that Sister Agatha wants you to experience normal life. Many women hold hands with men, and I was interested to see your reaction to that.”
“Did I pass—the test, I mean?”
He grins, and if anything, my blood heats even more.
“I’m confident you could pass any test you are set, Rose.”
“Then you have a better opinion of me than I do.”
I draw a deep breath and lean back in my seat, wishing like crazy I could open a window or something.
Luckily, the attendant returns with the most interesting desserts, and I peer at the dishes with greed rather than hunger, which shames me a little.
“I don’t know which one I prefer.”
I gaze in awe at the array of chocolate, fruit and cream that has appeared like the most delicious tempting feast.
“Try it all.”
I raise my eyes, and Julius grins.
“A little taste won’t harm, and as I said, there are many willing passengers to finish it off.”
“Who are they?”
I’m curious because I didn’t see anyone else, and he shrugs. “Associates of mine. They travel with me, and I run my business wherever I am in the world.”
“A moving office.” I shake my head. “Goodness, it must cost a lot of money to do business this way.”
“It does.”
I watch as he cuts through a chocolate dessert that makes my mouth water and then stare in surprise as he holds the spoon to my lips.
“Try this.”
I attempt to take the spoon from his hand, and he shakes his head and says firmly.
“Open your mouth, baby girl.”
“I’m not a baby.” I remind him, despite the fact I kind of like the way he says it. It’s almost intimate, a term of endearment that drips like honey off his tongue, leaving a warm sensation inside me.
“No, you are not, but you also have a lot to learn about life outside a convent, and as we have time on our hands, I’m happy to help.”
“To help.” I laugh out loud and grin. “You don’t strike me as a man who does this kind of thing very often, Julius.”
“What type of man do you think I am?”
He nods toward the spoon, and I hold his gaze as I slide it into my mouth, my lips closing around it, and the pleasure of the explosion of delicious decadence on my tongue almost euphoric.
His attention is rather unnerving as he openly stares with a strange gleam in his eye, and when I finish, I groan. “That was so good.”
“It appears so.”
His attention is all-consuming and I wonder if it would be rude to grab the dish and devour it without asking, and as if he reads minds, he pushes it toward me.
“Finish it.”
He leans forward, his gaze strangely hypnotic, and says in his husky whisper, “You never answered my question.”
“You are–” I cut into the dessert, and my spoon hovers between us as I whisper, “A man who likes to control situations.”
“You’re not wrong.”
His eyes flash. “What else?”
I glance down at the chocolate that is tantalizingly close to my lips, and the heady scent of cocoa beans curls around my taste buds, promising a decadent treat. I glance up and, melting under the scrutiny of his gaze, I whisper, “Strong, brave and yet kind and considerate.”
I guide the spoon into my mouth and as I swallow there is an undeniable energy building and I can’t look away and yet before he can react a man appears and coughs discreetly, causing Julius to say firmly, “Is there a problem?”
“I need a word, boss.”
Julius kicks back his chair and tosses his napkin onto the table, a blank expression settling over his face as he says softly, “Finish your meal, Rose. Amanda will be back soon and offer you coffee, tea, or something a little stronger. Make certain to ask for one of everything.”
My breath catches as his gaze burns into mine and he whispers, “Every experience, remember. You must try them all.”
I nod, my mouth slightly open as he leaves with the rather imposing man who cut out the light with his body and drove the heat inside me away with his cool gaze.
It’s only when they disappear that I allow the air to rush back into my lungs as my hands grip the edge of the table.
However, the most surprising thing of all is how much I already miss Julius now that he’s gone.