“This time?”
I’ve turned into a parrot around this guy, sheesh.
“There’s gonna be a next time?” I ask, trying to hide the shake in my voice.
“I hope so.” He leans in close and brushes his fingers down my forearm to the back of my hand, which is resting on the countertop. My eyes go wide before I can stop them as a trail of electricity zings through my arm where his skin touched mine. I take in a breath through my nose.
“Do you feel that too?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Feel what?” I whisper back, my gaze glued to his hand.
“I’ve never touched you before. I knew that once I did, I would want more.” He pauses, staring at me with the same blistering intensity as he had before, in this very kitchen. Perhaps I hadn’t imagined his interest after all. “I knew that once I did, you would want more too.”
My eyes must be as big as saucers as I stare helplessly at him. My heart takes off at a gallop.
Is he saying…? What is he saying? This is nuts. He’s so young. I’m friends with his mom, for crying out loud. I must be hallucinating.
“Julian, it sounds like… I don’t… I don’t understand what you’re saying.” I trip over my words as I pull my hand away and rub my arm where he touched me, where I can still feel the tingling.
“I’m saying I want you, Chelsea,” he states firmly. “Iwantyou.”
I sit there, blinking, as buzzers and alarm bells go off all throughout my body. “That’s crazy. You can’t possibly. Maybe… Are you swept up in the moment? Just being impulsive?”
A dark smile spreads across his face. “It’s not totally spur-of-the-moment. But even if it were, is there something wrong with being impulsive?”
I scoff, trying not to sound breathless. “Well, yes. Yes, of course there’s something wrong with being impulsive. For something like this, at least.”
“Like what?”
Flusteredescalates toscandalizedas I sputter, “Well… I mean, it’s… it’s dangerous. Reckless. You can’t just follow whatever urge—I mean, desire…” I pause and try to stop digging my hole deeper.
He just watches me, not bothering to hide his growing smile.
“I’m not sure why you’re saying this, Julian. You barely know me.” I cock my head at him with a huff.
“I’ve been around awhile, and I know what I’ve seen. I know you’re caring, generous, selfless. Protective.”
All I can do is stare at him in amazement.
“Beautiful,” he adds, his eyes sparkling.
My cheeks blush as I study my lap.
“I also know you deserve to be happy. A little less lonely.”
I stiffen. Rob and I let ourselves rot in a loveless marriage for years before we finally pulled the plug. I had never known loneliness could be so acute, even when your partner still lived with you. But that was far worse, in fact. Those feelings didn’t ease much once I was on my own, but I wasn’t aware they were so obvious.
I clear my throat awkwardly. “Well. I’m fine, I assure you.”
He locks eyes with me again, with that laser focus. “I know you are. But you could be good. And I could be the one to make you feel good.”
“You…?” I say, almost too quiet to hear over my heart thrumming in my ears.
“Me,” he murmurs, reaching over to cup my cheek.
His hand is so warm, so big and warm, and comforting. I close my eyes and exhale, savoring his touch.
Want more, indeed.
