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I can't help but smile, charmed by this rare glimpse of vulnerability. "I could say the same," I reply, stepping further into the room. "You have a beautiful voice, Nat."
The compliment deepens her blush, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth despite her flustered state. "Thank you, but I'm sure the building's acoustics are doing most of the work."
The air between us is charged with a new energy, the awkwardness of our previous encounters giving way to something lighter, more playful. "Don't sell yourself short," I tease, closing the distance between us with a few measured steps.
Before she can protest, I reach past her to turn the speaker back on, silently noting the way her every muscle stiffens at my closeness. The room fills with music once more, vibrant and fast-paced, so different from the classical pieces I might have expected. The rhythm is infectious, compelling, pulling at something deep within me.
Natalie's initial surprise gives way to a hesitant acceptance, her body relaxing and swaying ever so slightly to the beat as she turns and continues her work. The music seems to build a bridge between us, the notes weaving around and drawing me closer.
"I didn't think you liked this kind of music," she remarks, eyes still on her work.
"There's a lot you don't know about me," I respond, my throat suddenly feeling hoarse.
The space between us diminishes with each passing second, the music a backdrop to the rising tide of attraction. Before I know it, I'm right beside her, imposing but... I can't walk away now.
Natalie stills, her brilliant blue eyes cutting away from her work and locking with mine, a silent question passing through her gaze. In answer, I lean in, the world narrowing down to the space where we meet.
Our lips touch, tentative at first, but gaining confidence as the music swells around us. It's a kiss born of days of tension and repressed attraction, a crossing of boundaries we've both been wary to breach. In this moment, with the vibrant beats echoing around us, nothing else matters but the undeniable connection that binds us, a promise of something new and exhilarating unfolding between us.
CHAPTER 7
NATALIE
The kiss is a revelation, a release, a clash and melding of everything we've been circling around this past week.
Julian tastes like coffee and something so completely him, a hint of mint mingling with the warmth of his skin. His lips are firm yet yielding, moving against mine with a gentle insistence that sends a thrill racing through me. The roughness of his stubble grazes my skin, sparking tiny fires wherever it touches.
As we part, I'm left breathless, my heart pounding against my ribs like it's trying to escape. The world seems to tilt slightly, and I have to steady myself against the nearest wall. The excitement coursing through me is tinged with a flicker of something deeper, something that both exhilarates and terrifies me.
Julian watches me, his gaze intense, a question lingering in the air between us. The moment stretches, filled with the electric afterglow of our kiss and the vibrant pulse of the music still playing in the background.
"That was..." I start, struggling to find the words that can encapsulate the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.
"Unexpected?" Julian offers, a half-smile playing on his lips.
I nod, a laugh escaping me despite the shaking of my hands. "But not unwelcome," I admit, the truth of the statement ringing clear even as I grapple with the implications.
His cheeky grin is devastating and sets fire to my nerves all over again. I want more of him, so much more. But the shadow of my past looms large, casting a pall over the newfound brightness Julian has brought me.
If there's ever going to be more of this—whatever this is—I have to tell him.
"I... I should tell you," I begin, my voice faltering as I delve into the memories I've kept at bay. "I was engaged, until recently. I know I kind of told you that already —" The words spill out in a rush, a confession that leaves me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Julian's expression shifts, a flicker of surprise giving way to a deeper understanding. "Natalie, you don't have to?—"
"No, I do," I insist, needing him to understand the weight of my hesitation. "I... caught him sleeping with our neighbor, so I bolted, and—" I take in a ragged breath. "I'm scared. Scared of jumping into something new and finding myself back in that same toxic place."
This is the first time I've let myself say those words out loud. Until now, they've been bouncing around inside of me, wounding me every day since I found Hayden and Jade naked in our bed. Telling Julian this, letting out my most protected insecurity, is like ripping those wounds open again, leaving me raw and bloody.
Julian's confusion is clear, but he doesn't back away. With the slowest of movements, he tucks my hair behind my ear, and the desire to melt completely into his touch is almost overwhelming. "Why are you telling me all this?" he finally asks, his voice soft.
The sincerity of his gaze compels me to be completely honest, to lay all my cards on the table. "Because that kiss was incredible, and it’s not fair to you," I confess, the words bitter on my tongue. “I think... I think I need to work on myself before getting involved in… this."
He opens his mouth, perhaps to offer reassurance or to downplay my concerns, but I gently press my hand to his chest, needing space to get this out without interruption. "Please, just let me say this. I have baggage—a lot of it. And it's not yours to carry.”
There's a moment of heavy silence as the balance between us teeters dangerously. Julian looks away, the lines of his face etched with a complexity of emotions. When he speaks, his voice is laced with a vulnerability I hadn't anticipated.
"I haven't been great in relationships either," he admits, his gaze meeting mine once more. The confession seems to cost him, each word a labor to get out. "I was married, once. It didn't last."
