Perfect Strangers

“You’ve arrived then?” Avery asked when she arrived back to the table and set about uncorking the latest round of champagne bottles.

“I am here, aren’t I?” He muttered as his eyes panned around the entrance way to the make-shift gallery.

“Mr. Baxter,” greeted a tall, grey-haired man. He was of slim build and dressed impeccably in a slate grey suit, completing his look with a cane and a monocle.

“Lord Galloway, how are you?” Kai asked, grasping his outstretched hand with both of his and shaking it firmly. “I’m so pleased you could make it.”

“When your father told me about tonight, I just had to pop along and see what’s had you nonexistent for the best part of this year, and I must say, I’m impressed.”

“Thank you, that means a lot to me,” he replied with an ear-to-ear grin.

“I’ve purchased two of your paintings, both for the parlor at the Manor.”

“You have?” Kai gasped. Excitement tore through his body at selling not one, but two of his works.

“Yes, the one I was most interested in buying, to my dismay, is not up for sale, is there any particular reason for that?”

Kai knew exactly which painting he was referring to. It was the first picture he had painted, and that one held the most special memory for him. That painting was for Myla. “I’m sorry that Juliet isn’t up for sale. It’s personal to me.”

“Aah, I understand,” he winked, “whomever this woman is in all of your paintings, she is a beautiful creature. Anyway, I must be off, I’ll be seeing you soon, I want to commission you for a portrait of Mrs. Galloway for her seventieth birthday.” Without giving Kai the chance to respond, he turned and marched from the warehouse.

Kai turned around to the others and jumped as he fist punched the air. “Holy shit, did you hear that?” He squealed, like that of a five-year-old.

“Yes dude, congratulations. Now back to work, we can celebrate at the club after. There is someone else interested in buying a painting, but she wanted to talk to you about it first, she’s waiting in front of Juliet,” replied Brody with his ‘I am serious’ face.

“This is going to be one hell of a night guys,” sang Kai as he walked away. He felt like he was floating on clouds.

“Now we need to get the fuck out of here and hide, Myla is going to be pissed when she finds out we’ve set her up,” Cass said, as she knocked back a flute of bubbly.

“Kai isn’t going to be too happy either, I’m a dead man walking,” replied Brody, grabbing a bottle of champagne from the floor and heading towards the nearest exit.

Feeling elated, Kai rounded the corner and came to a sudden halt, his whole bod

y froze to the spot and the childish grin that had been prominent on his lips automatically disappeared. He blinked rapidly several times hoping his eyes were deceiving him, but there she remained.

Prickles of goosebumps danced along his skin, his body temperature rose instantly to a dangerous level and his gaze stayed fixed on the back of her. “Juliet,” he whispered. His pulse quickened as his eyes, seeming to be the only working part of his body at this moment in time, flickered over her. She stood tall with her shoulders pushed back and her head held high, her poised stare remained on her painting.

It’s her? It’s really her? He watched as her hand came to her face and tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, then she huffed out a deep sigh, before checking her watch. Is she waiting for me? He gazed at her intently from her side profile as her tongue slithered out of her mouth and brushed across her lips, then she took a step back as though she was about to leave. Don’t let her leave, Kai. This is your chance.

Forcing his lead weight legs to finally move, he shuffled towards her and before he knew it he was inches away from her. His eyes roamed over the back of her elongated, bare neck, the neck he wanted nothing more than to devour with his mouth. He closed his eyes as the scent of her perfume hit his nasal passages. Say something to her, dickhead.

He could feel the heat from her body radiating onto him, and he could hear the soft pants as she breathed. “Juliet,” he finally whispered. He noticed her body suddenly tense and her soft pants quickly changed to that of heavy breathing. “Don’t turn around,” he instructed when he caught her body slowly start to twist its way around to face him.

His hand went to her neck and he watched his fingertips brush lightly over her skin, a feeling of static electricity sizzled up his arm and a gasp flew from her mouth. I still have that effect on her.

“Kai?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he replied quietly, his fingers still trailing across her skin.

“The painting …is …of me?” she stuttered as he watched her body tremble beneath his touch.

“Every painting here is of you, Juliet.”

Her head moved to the left and her eyes looked properly at some of the other works adorning the wall, then it moved to the right and she did the same thing. “All of them?” she whispered.

His hands went to her shoulders and carefully, he turned her around. His breath caught in his throat and words failed him when he found himself locking eyes with hers, looking deep into her soul. Within seconds he saw them flash with all the same emotions he was feeling, before she closed them, cutting him off. “Yes, all of them. You were my muse, Myla. My Juliet,” he replied quietly brushing the back of his hand across her cheek. She moved her head and nuzzled her cheek closer to his hand. “It’s so good to see you, Myla. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you,” he added as his thumb grazed gently across her bottom lip.

Her eyes flew open and she took a step back from him, a low growl reverberated in his chest when he lost his contact with her. “You missed me? It’s been eight months, Kai. Eight months! Why didn’t you come and see me?”