18. Chapter 18
eighteen
J ulian was determined to haul all the groceries in one trip, but Annie insisted he let her carry at least one bag. She was glad he’d asked her to stay at his place for lunch. Work was calling, but she wasn’t ready to end the day just yet.
Winking, he said, “I’ll cook.”
“But–”
“You can cook next time, sweetness. And I got you parts for your kitchen sink.” When they made it to his front door, he set the bags down and got his key out to unlock it.
This man… Spoiling me but doing everything to not be spoiled himself. “Okay, Mister Even-Stevens…. At this rate, maybe you have a four-course meal coming your way?”
Her threat made him laugh. “Now you’re just trying to out-nice me, aren’t you?”
The day really had felt like they were struggling not to owe each other– like neither of them could bear to be caught holding a hot potato that didn’t need to be in play to begin with.
“A competition isn’t a competition unless there’s at least two people, wouldn’t you agree?
” she said. “And should I remind you… that you started it?”
He blinked, then shook his head and chuckled. “You may have a point.” He sighed and held out his hand. “Truce? ”
Smiling, she crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t agreeing to anything just yet. “What are the terms of this truce?”
He scratched the back of his head. “Er, this just got me wondering if in the spirit of not being tit-for-tat…”
“... That’s what ended up happening anyways?”
“Yeah. Sorry. So I call open season on treating each other. I think that will make us both… happier.”
Annie stuck out her hand and shook Julian’s. “Truce.” Inwardly she sighed with relief. Thank God, now we can just enjoy each other’s company.
While the TV dinners heated in the oven, Annie waited for him on the couch.
Julian rinsed off in the shower and changed his clothes before rejoining her.
She noticed that either his bath products were heavily scented…
or he’d actually spritzed on a little cologne.
It smelled peppery with a hint of bergamot.
He sat down next to her with his computer on his lap. After a minute, he narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
Annie raised a brow. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh... just checking messages quick. I’m waiting for someone to respond to the ISO ad I posted this morning.”
“ISO?”
“In search of.”
“Watchu in search of?”
“I want a pair of cross-country skis,” he said, then added that he’d had no luck finding a pair. “Maybe if not this winter, then next.”
“That sounds fun, though. The skiing is good up here.”
“Yeah?”
“Molly’s dad taught me. I fall down a lot, but that doesn’t bother me unless there’s people around. ”
The timer dinged on the oven. Julian grabbed a black tray, served on a plate, and set it down before her on the coffee table with a fork and napkin.
He went back for his tray. “Would you ski in front of me?”
“Maybe. If you don’t laugh.”
“I promise I wouldn't. And if you did fall, I’d sweep you back up. Maybe with a kiss for good measure.”
She gazed down at her food, trying to suppress a blush. He really couldn’t help but flirt, and it did something to her stomach.
“Did I make you blush?” he asked, leaning over her to get a better look at her face before he sat down on the coffee table.
Her face fired like a furnace. "Nooo, you're making it worse."
He grinned. "I think it's cute."
Another flush of heat. Clearing her throat, she set her food down. "Excuse me. I’m going to use the bathroom."
Julian smiled around his fork.
She closed the bathroom door and heaved out a breath.
When she looked in the mirror, her cheeks and the top of her chest were bright pink.
How embarrassing. While she splashed water on her skin, she couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes sparkled.
Perhaps lunch had been a bad idea. After a few slow breaths, Annie went back to join Julian.
She ate her TV dinner and was grateful that Julian was quietly enjoying her company while he searched online. His feet rested on the coffee table, and he'd put a random show on the television.
To her dismay, the longer she sat next to him on the opposite end of the couch, the more aware of his presence she became. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. All she wanted was to lean forward and kiss him again... To feel his lips upon hers, to taste him…
He’s cute, but you barely just got out of a relationship. And you’re homeless. No flings.
“Nothing like that good, good carnal lovin’ to cure your heartache and blues...” Serene Hallowbrew murmured.
“Stoppit.”
Julian looked at her and raised a brow, his mouth open and waiting for a forkful of corn.
She stared back at him, confused a second before it dawned on her.
Crap! I said that out loud!
“Stop what?”
Annie sucked in her lips. “Nothing.”
“No, you said stop it. Stop what...? Am I chewing too loud?”
“N-no.”
“Your face is turning red again.”
Annie bit the inside of her cheek. What should I say? What do I say?
“Serves you right, Annie. I always say what you’re really thinking.”
“Umm...” She heaved a sigh. Should she just lie?
“Okay... I’m not crazy, but I have… an imaginary friend.
N-not one I pretend exists like a real person.
Sometimes I just have conversations with her.
I’m not crazy. It’s embarrassing.” Was she rambling?
“I guess I was just daydreaming, and she had something to say. Only one other person knows about her.” Stop rambling!
“It’s silly. It’s… just something I came up with as a kid. ”
Julian smiled. “Must have been some conversation.”
“A bit.”
“She wasn’t telling you to murder me or anything... right?”
She laughed nervously, but forgot to say anything until the smile slid off Julian’s face. Her eyes went wide. “No! Oh, no, no, no. It wasn’t anything like that at all.”
“Okay... then what was it?”
“Tell him. Tell him. Tell him—”
The words echoed in her mind, over and over again. She had no choice. “I... was thinkin’ about... kissing you again. And she was very encouraging.”
“She?”
“S-Serene Hallowbrew... that’s her name.”
She wasn’t sure what she expected him to do– besides maybe calling her a childish freak– but leaning forward and kissing her was definitely at the bottom of her list.
The man really needed the scarcest amount of encouragement.
His mouth was hot and his lips pressed softly against hers several times before he pressed them firmly into her flesh.
She shivered when his smooth tongue brushed against hers, and a buzz of energy filled her breathless chest. She leaned further into his burning kiss—he let out a groan in answer.
He lovingly held one side of her face, and she lay her hand on his chest.
His kiss deepened. A small whimper escaped Annie. Tentatively, she rubbed his arms. Shoulders. When her nails grazed the skin of his neck he let out a soft growl and chuckled. Oh, his skin was so warm under her fingertips.
Then, he didn’t quite cup her breast, at first. Just grazed it with his thumb to spark a flame within her.
She leaned back into the couch and he followed.
He crouched over her, his stronger arm perpendicular to her neck, while he braced the weight of his body with his forearm on the couch arm above her head. His knees hugged her hips.
She pictured him stripping her, kissing her stomach... her biting his lower lip... and him sinking into her. Her breath quickened....
And against her demanding desires, she found logic and reason despite his wonderful, intoxicating kisses.
She couldn't take it anymore.
And her lust-filled heart hurt so much she wanted to cry. We can only be friends… I can’t rebound like this…
"J-Julian..."
"Hmmm?" He playfully ground his pelvis against hers, causing her to close her eyes and hold her breath. He brushed her hair from her face and gave a small smile. "You have no idea what I want to do to you."
I really want to let you...
As if he'd read her mind, he growled and ground harder before giving her another one of his deep kisses.
"I..."
"Yes?" His breathing was ragged and his eyes were half-glazed over with lust. “I did want to ask you to stay and watch a movie, but I’m enjoying this more...” he said. Confusion then filled his eyes. His smile went away. When finally he pulled back and sat on his heels, grief further darkened her heart, and she knew he’d seen it blooming on her face.
"What's wrong?"
Her heart grew heavier. His feelings were growing for her, just as much as hers were for him. If not more. Tears of frustration blurred her vision. She blinked them back. "I...
He watched her, patient, as the smile dropped completely from his eyes.
"I'm... I like you... but..."
"But?"
She swallowed regretfully. "I don't think it's a good idea. "
"Good idea?"
"I don't live here... And I still have to move out of my ex's."
When what she was getting at dawned on him, he sighed and dropped his head heavily. "Right. Yes. Makes sense."
"Not that I don't enjoy you getting clearly very turned on." She bit her lip. "I just have a lot going on."
"Right now is a bit complicated for you, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Not to mention that I broke up with Chris not that long ago… Their love had eroded the last few months, leaving little left to rekindle, but rebounding so quickly would never work.
His eyes were sad, but he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Her entire arm melted under his lips.
"Well." He grinned at her. "Nice to know you're just as parched as I am. I wasn’t going to stop."
Annie giggled and looked away shyly. I didn’t want to be the buzz kill... she thought regretfully.
After that, she thought it best to leave for the evening.
Hopefully, work would get her mind on more productive things.
Much like she had a couple of nights before, she gave him a hug.
This time, however, it wasn't meant to be a brief one. When she didn’t pull herself from his arms, he couldn't help himself as he ran his hands along her back. When she still couldn’t bear to pull away, he really couldn't help himself.
Julian's good hand traveled down her back, stopping at her belt.
He tugged on it playfully before he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight.
Annie sighed and gave his torso a firm squeeze in return before she cleared her throat and finally extracted herself from his warm arms. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Goodnight," she whispered.
Julian’s gaze lingered on her mouth before he looked up and smiled. "Goodnight, Annie. "
Back at the cabin, her groceries put away, she looked out the living room window and sighed. When she’d accepted Molly’s invite, she couldn’t have anticipated someone like Julian. He seemed so wonderful, but the timing was absolutely awful.
Leaving the mountain was going to be a bitch.