SAFEHOUSE

I knew the filter was turned way off, before he even said anything. “No, I’m not exactly happy about it. Why would you get me something this? It’s too much. I just, I just don’t understand.”

Julien looked alarmed, clearly not expecting my

reaction. “I apologize if I offended you Amira. I just saw you standing there looking at it from the street, and I thought it would look nice on your wrist. I don’t really have a specific reason other than that,” he said slowly, trying to work through what had just transpired. “I can take it back, if you’d like… But I’d really like you to keep it. You’ve lost so much. You deserve a little beauty and grace.”

I just stood there, my jaw dropped, unable to figure his motive out. Who just goes and buys something like this for their maid? I had learned to trust him, learn to feel safe with him even… But now I was second-guessing myself again.

Julien's face softened. "You had something terrible happened to you, and it's left you with no one to trust. But Amira, please know that you can trust me. I will never let anything happen to you."

His words filled me up with something indescribable, something similar to hope but more.

He reached over and wiped away one of my tears with his thumb, giving me a sad smile. "I don't like to see you cry."

I giggled, obviously hysterical at this point. Who laughs and giggles at the same time, anyway? This crying, dummy of a girl, that's who.

"Can we just go back to before? Pretend like you didn't just give me an insanely expensive piece of jewelry?" Hey, I had to ask, right?

Julien smile faded as he took in a deep breath. "I'm sure you have your notions about me, I do not generally have such intense feelings for other people. I try not to let myself have them. Especially after what happened with Danica. I'm rambling, I apologize.”

Intense feelings? Oh God…

“I met you and everything changed. I’ve seen you smile despite everything that has happened… You have a sense of wonder that I thought I’d never experience again. You’re not just my maid… And that bracelet isn’t some meaningless trinket. If I had a coin for the well, do you know what I’d wish for?”

For the second time that day, I was speechless.

“You… I’d wish for you…”

“Take me home and I’ll grant that wish,” I replied, a fire burning hot inside me.

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Chapter 17

We parked the car in front of the château’s front entrance. Half of me wanted to bolt, to give myself time to properly go over what had happened back in town. The other half was curious. Oh so curious.

I unbuckled my seatbelt, calmly picking up my handbag before turning towards Julien, facing him right on. I could see it in his eyes... He really did care about me, and I knew for a fact that I cared about him, too. So there we were, two people who cared about each other, just sitting there looking at one another.

This needs something more, I thought. Let’s change it up a bit.

I leaned forward, happy to see Julien meeting me halfway as our lips gently pressed together. I had to force my eyes shut—all I wanted to do was look at him. His hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me even closer to him. I opened my mouth slightly, and felt his tongue graze against mine, waiting for permission. I deepened the kiss, pulling my arms around his neck, wanting to get closer to him, and wishing the damned gear-shift wasn’t holding me back.

Even though I wasn’t able to fully process it yet, my mind was catching up second by second. I was really kissing Julien. This was really happening.

What had started out as a slow and tender kiss, was starting to pick up more heat. I pressed myself up against him even tighter, knowing there would be no complete satisfaction until nothing was between us. He pulled back in surprise, his eyes darting between mine, trying to figure me out.

Oh no you don’t, I thought, leaning over further until I was practically in his lap, kissing him again. I always wondered why people made out cars, they were so cramped and there is nowhere to put anything. Never had that imagery in my head been clearer than now.

He ran his hands up the sides my arms, sending goosebumps all down them, among other places. When I ran my hand through the thickness of his hair he hummed, dragging his hands down to firmly settle on my full hips. His hands bunched the fabric so that my sundress was slowly riding up my thighs.

Everything was happening so fast, and it was taking my mind a few seconds to catch up with my body. I knew where this was going to lead, I wasn't that much of a dummy. But I had only done this once before, and I was afraid that I wasn't very good at it. And I damn sure wasn't going to do anything more in the small car.

"Maybe we should head inside?" I asked, pulling away to clear my throat and get some air. I had to drag my eyes away from Julien's lips — they were pink and swollen from me kissing them. I just did that to him. I smiled and reached up to touch my own, grinning even wider when I felt them.

Julien was in a daze, and when he snapped to he shook his head trying to clear out whatever was going on in it. "Perhaps you're right."

It took a moment for either one of us to finally move, but when we did we moved fast. I was practically sprinting up the front steps, my heart beating fast in my chest. Julien grabbed my hand on the way into the foyer, pushing me up against the nearest wall and cupping my face in both his hands. I looked into his soulful brown eyes, wishing that the moment would never end.

"Maybe a little further inside?" I breathed.