A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

Julian smiled. “Well, if it makes you feel better, your plan worked out fine”

Nina smiled back and withdrew her hand slowly from his, missing the feeling instantly, “I should go now” she said, trying to unlock her car. “Did you bring your car”

“Yes, but I will follow you home”

Nina grinned at got into her car, and she could see him through the mirror as she drove home. ”

—————Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Home!” she said, when they were at her place and both got out of their cars.

He didn’t leave then, but followed her up.

“Should you be climbing the stairs everyday? Now that you are… You know.”

She laughed.”I’m not paralyzed Julian” she said, “Besides, it’s good exercise”

They were at her front door now. “I know what I said before, but thank you for coming, Julian. It’s been, er… pleasant. I mean… Having you there with me helped relieve me of the tension a bit”

“Really?” Julian asked, smiling and raised a quizzical eyebrow. “I’m not sure that I believe you.”

“I was actually attempting to be polite,” Nina responded smiling at him, “as you were by seeing me to my door.”

She was standing there, staring at him, willing him to just go, reluctant somehow to turn her back on him, not scared exactly, but on heightened alert as still he just stood there. Surely he didn’t expect her to ask him in? Wasn’t that too soon after everything that had happened? They were just starting to get along again.

Surely she couldn’t ask him in. Abby wasn’t even in the apartment. She wasn’t sure she could spend a lot with him when this little time spent with him left her a gibbering wreck?

She had to get a grip, had to bring things back to a safer footing, had to let him know that it was strictly business, or baby stuff from now on. Pretend that he didn’t intimidate her or affect her, pretend that he didn’t move her so.

“Thank you for coming home with me too, Julian. I’m beginning to think that if we continue to get along, like this, maybe I can consider staying.” She offered her hand. Direct, businesslike, Nina decided, that was how she’d be-a snappy end to whatever this was. But as his hand took hers, instantly she regretted it.

It was only the second time they had made physical contact since he came to the hospital. As his hand tightened around hers she was brutally reminded of a fact, that despite the days that had passed, despite all the fights, disagreements and the anger he evoked in her, she was still very much attracted to him. She still wanted him… Craved for his touch.

it was only the second time they had touched today, And the result was even more explosive than the first time, and many times more lethal. She could feel the heat of his flesh searing into hers, as his large hand coiled around hers, the pad of his index finger resting on her slender wrist, her radial pulse hammering against it. And this time she was reminded that throughout this time, she wasn’t the only one who had been hurting. Reminded her of the depths of him, the pain that must surely exist behind those indecipherable eyes.

“You are a very special, interesting woman, Red.” he said, softly.

It was such a curious thing to say, such a hazy, ambiguous statement, and her eyes involuntarily jerked to his like a reflex action, held by his gaze, stunned, startled, yet curiously reluctant to move, a heightened sexual awareness permeating her.

She smiled, “Oh really, to be honest, at one point, I thought perhaps I annoyed and bored you.” she said.

“Oh, no.” Slowly he shook his head and she started back, mesmerized, his sensuous but brutal features utterly captivating. “Why would you think such a thing?” he asked.

“I just…” Nina’s voice trailed off. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if it was her destroyed self-confidence that made her vulnerable or the man who was staring at her now, the man who was pinning her to the wall with his eyes.

“I really hurt you, didn’t I?” he asked her. It was as if he were staring into her very soul, not asking her but telling her how she felt. “You were hurting that our relationship got out. You were hurting because it was like going through the same thing all over again, that was why you wanted us to pause, but I wasn’t listening. I got mad when I shouldn’t have. I should have been more understanding.”

He understood her now, she thought. She wanted to stop him from going further-wanted that mouth that was just inches from hers be silent, to kiss her…

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I should have explained everything to you instead of being so damn mysterious about it. I was just ashamed. Didn’t know what you would think”

“It’s okay. Lots of things have gone wrong between us, but I don’t think our baby is one of them. I don’t care if we didn’t plan for it to happen, all I know is that I want it, and I’m going to be here for the both of you… In anyway possible”

She smiled. “I’m happy about it Julian, I want our baby”

“I know. Me too,” Julian said softly, and she held her breath as that cruel, sensual mouth moved in towards hers. Lust rippled between them, yet his expression was completely unreadable. The same quiver of excitement that had gripped her in the parking lot of the hospital shivered through her now, but with dangerous sexual undertones, and it was inevitable they would kiss.

Nina acknowledged it then. The foreplay she had so vehemently denied and pushed away was taking place. It had started an hour ago, before they’d even gotten to her apartment.

He gave her time to move away, ample time to halt things, to stop this now, and she should have.

With everything that happened she knew she should have stopped him. But still she didn’t. Logic, common sense, self-preservation told her that to end this with a kiss was a foolish move, that for the sake of her sanity she should surely halt this now. But her body told her otherwise, every nerve prickling to delicious attention, drawn like a magnet to his beauty, anticipating the taste of him, the feel of him in a heady rush of need, of want.