AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As I step out, I notice Gabriel joining the rest of the group. The image of him earlier on the phone, isolated from the others and engrossed in what seemed like a serious conversation, flashes back to me. It’s enough to pique my concern again—his behavior slightly off, a deviation from the norm that I can’t afford to ignore given the current circumstances surrounding the project.
I approach Gabriel directly, positioning myself between him and the rest of the group. “Gabriel, who were you talking to earlier?” I ask, keeping my tone casual yet firm enough to signal that I'm not just making small talk.
Gabriel looks up, and I just barely catch a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he masks it with a neutral expression. “Oh, it was nothing, just a personal call,” he replies, his voice too nonchalant.
I'm on high alert, relying on my instincts and training, trying not to give into my mounting agitation. Founded or not, something tells me not to let it go so easily. “Remember, no personal calls on site. It’s important to stay focused. We can’t afford distractions, not with everything that’s going on.”
“Understood, boss,” Gabriel says, a bit too quickly, his eyes shifting away from mine. He nods and turns back to his work, but the quick dismissal and his avoidance of my gaze lodge a seed of doubt in my mind.
I watch him for a moment longer, the unease settling heavier in my gut. My nerves are tangled, all my worries and emotions and traumas jumbled together into one inseparable knot. I know I'm fixating on Gabriel, but I'm not sure why. His actions today, possibly innocuous, now seem suspect in the light of recent events. But is that fair? Or am I desperately grasping for any foothold, any tiny sliver of control in the torrent of chaos?
Either way, I have nothing more to go on at the moment, so I force myself to return to my own tasks. The project demands my attention, and if I don't center myself somehow, I'm going to lose it again.
The last thing I want is to hurt one of the few people I know I can trust. Not again.
CHAPTER 23
NATALIE
The sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows across the empty construction site. The day's work is winding down, but light still spills from Julian's office window. It's unusual for him to stay this late; he always wants to get back to Aria as quickly as possible.
I've been worried about Julian since our conversation on Sunday. Maybe now would be a good time to check in, make sure he's doing alright, and support him how I can. It would benefit me, too, to focus on him, instead of the other concern literally growing inside me.
I make my way to the office, knocking lightly on the doorframe so as not to startle him. Julian looks up, his expression a mix of surprise and fatigue.
"Still going at it?" I ask, stepping tentatively into the room that's recently become our private little sanctuary.
He closes his eyes and leans back in his chair, sighing deeply. "Yeah, it's been one of those days. Since the police aren’t coming up with anything, I decided to look into things myself," he admits, his voice tinged with an unsettling determination.
“What do you mean?” I ask, shock and concern drawing me closer to him. “You're not going to do something rash, are you?” The thought of Julian taking on more than he should, of possibly putting himself in danger, ignites a sudden panic in me.
He gives me a half smile. "Don't worry, angel. I’m just researching right now.” Then he crumples, his face falling as he slumps forward in his chair. “It’s just... everything feels like it’s piling up."
His words cue me in, alerting me that he's rapidly approaching another breaking point. His effort to communicate with me despite how overwhelmed he must feel means a lot to me. I want to do my part, too, and be an anchor for Julian in times like these rather than another stress to add to the pile.
I step closer, kneeling down by his chair, leveling my gaze with his. "I owe you an apology for earlier," I offer, hoping to ease at least one small portion of his burden. "I didn’t mean to leave so abruptly. Or to toy with you. I’ve just got a lot on my mind."
Julian leans closer and brushes the hair from my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. "Hey, it’s okay. I understand," he says gently, his fingers tracing the length of my jaw before falling back to his lap.
The simple touch sends a shiver down my spine, rekindling the unresolved tension from our last encounter. "I want to make it up to you," I whisper, looking up into his eyes, finding his anxiety replaced by desire.
His response is immediate, his arms encircling my waist, pulling us both to our feet. "I think we can figure something out," he murmurs, his voice low and inviting.
My heart races as I tilt my face up to his, the magnetic pull between us undeniable. As his lips capture mine, the kiss deepens instinctively, the world around us fading into insignificance. His hands are firm on my back, drawing me even closer, and I respond in kind, my arms looping around his neck.
Julian's touch is both familiar and exhilarating, stirring a passion that had been simmering just beneath the surface since our lunch break. He licks my bottom lip, asking for entrance, and I grant it. He tastes of coffee, rich and earthy.
Eventually, we part, breathless. Our foreheads rest against each other, and he whispers, “I think we should make up more often."
With a playful smile, I reply, "But we’ve barely even started."
Julian's breath catches, his whole body still and hard against mine. And then a new pressure, low against my stomach, as his desire begins to grow. I grin, pressing myself harder against him, relishing in his response to my touch.
"Would you like to come back to my house?” I murmur, tracing the lines of ink on his arm. “I mean, I’m sure you have to get back to Aria?—”
Julian's response is immediate, his eyes darkening with anticipation. "Aria is at a friend’s," he breathes out, the words barely a whisper but heavy with desire. “I'll take you to mine.”
Julian never breaks contact with me as we make our way out of the building. He holds my hand, strokes my hair, runs his fingers down my spine and over my ass. At one point, he moves behind me, his breath warm on my neck as his teeth graze my earlobe. It's impossible to walk straight.
