Freed by You (8 page)

“I sure will, baby. I won’t pretend to understand the sudden urgency but, if you want to inform me sometime, I’ll be listening. I won’t let anyone hurt either of you, Emily. Not as long as I can help it.” He pulled me into a hug and squeezed me hard as he kissed my cheek. “Have a good night, I’ll see you later,” he said as he released me and began to back away.

“See you later, don’t wait up!” I added with a cheeky wink.

I turned towards where the two men had stood and noticed that there was now only one man. Julian. He was watching me intently, his elbows resting on the railings beside the door, as I made my way towards the steps. His green eyes were narrowed and intense as he followed me with his glare.

“Good evening, Emily,” he greeted me through a strained jaw.

“Good evening, Mr Scott.”

“Julian,” he replied. “Call me Julian.”

“Good evening,
Julian
. And how are you today?” I asked, my voice thick with sarcasm.

“Was that your boyfriend?” His eyes burned into mine as a furrow appeared between his fine brows.

“I’m sorry? What business is that of yours?”

“Is he your boyfriend, or not?” His voice sounded urgent now, desperate somehow. And I couldn’t help but be honest with this man.

“No, Julian, he’s not my boyfriend. Why?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Good, just so I know I won’t be stepping on anyone’s toes.” He flashed his dazzling, full smile at me and I had to remind myself to breathe.

“Why would you be stepping on anyone’s toes exactly? We’re just talking, Julian.”

“That’s not exactly all I have in mind.” One side of his mouth turned up into a deliberate, seductive smile as he held the door open for me and gestured me inside.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? This man was so aggravating! Couldn’t he just deliver a normal sentence without all the riddles?

“What exactly did you have in mind?” I asked as I noticed a gleam in his eyes, his mouth grinning wickedly at some unspoken thought.

“I’m afraid I called you here on false pretences, Emily. For that, I apologise, but I didn’t know of any other way to get you alone for the evening. Well, almost alone.” He smiled tightly. “Of course, you’re welcome to work your shift if you’d prefer, but I was hoping you’d join me for a drink, my way of apologising for my behaviour the last time we met, you know.” He spoke quickly, never allowing a break to enable me to interrupt him. “Understandably, you may wish to decline my offer but I’m very much hoping that you won’t.”

There was the vulnerability again, comparing to that of a frightened child. And that, I couldn't resist.

“I would much rather you had just asked me outright, Julian, instead of feeling the need to deceive me. Do you know how difficult it was for me to drop everything and come here tonight?”

“So, there was something to drop then? I thought I wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes?”

“You’re not. Well, not in the sense that you’re referring to anyway.”

“Well, what sense then, Emily?” He paused by the door whilst awaiting my answer.

“I’ll explain later,” I said as I reached for the door. A wide smile spread across Julian’s perfect mouth as he took the handle from my grasp.

Julian led me up a spiralling staircase to
The Attic
, as he conveniently called it. I had never been up here before. This area was kept free for the most important of guests. In order to guarantee privacy, only one member of staff was allowed up here, this being Ryan. In my opinion, the only people who would need to make use of this room were the ones who were up to no good. Or, the ones sharing secrets that no one could ever be allowed to discover. After all, why else would even the staff not be allowed up here?

The decor perfectly matched that of the club downstairs but the furnishings were much more luxurious. Surrounding the tables up here were large, deep armchairs rather than the horseshoe sofas, and in the centre of each table was a crystal, chandelier-styled lamp that added an extra touch of class and sophistication to the setting. Music played softly in the background as opposed to the loud beating downstairs.

“Please, take a seat, Emily. Make yourself comfortable,” Julian said as he pulled out the plush velvet chair that I had not been aware I was stroking. I nodded and smiled nervously as I sat down, my pulse racing as my stomach knotted in anticipation.

“I have a bottle of fine champagne on its way up, or would you prefer something else?”

“No, champagne is great, thank you.” The nerves in my stomach were beginning to make me feel sick; I needed a drink and fast.

I had no idea why he had felt the need to bring me here to apologise. A phone call would surely suffice.

“So, how come I’m allowed up here then?” I asked in my best sarcastic tone.

“Because you’re my guest, Emily,” he replied with that dazzling smile of his.

“I thought only the most important of members were allowed up here? Not even staff.”

“True, Ryan and I are the only staff permitted to be up here, but tonight you’re not staff. Tonight you are of utmost importance because you are
my
guest.”

There was a firm knock on door and Ryan entered carrying a silver bucket with a champagne bottle emerging from the top. I felt as if I had been left teetering on the edge of an invisible cliff, desperate to know whether his latest statement held a hidden meaning. Or maybe he treated all of his female staff to an evening of surprise luxury.
That
, I was eager to find out.

“Good evening, Emily,” Ryan beamed. “Mr Scott,” he added with a single nod in Julian’s direction.

“Thank you, Ryan,” Julian replied with a replica nod that held about as much enthusiasm as a dead animal. Ryan placed the bucket on the table where I sat and poured two glasses of champagne, handing one to me, and then the other to Julian.

“Can I get you anything else, sir? Miss?” As Ryan addressed me I was sure I could read concern showing behind his brilliant blue eyes.

“No, thank you, Ryan,” I replied with a confident smile. A subtle yet noticeable frown formed across his handsome features as he glanced at Julian and then back at me. I noticed a feeling of anguish between the two men, the atmosphere between them seemed tense. I wondered briefly why and then realised that it was absolutely none of my business so I shook my suspicions away. I saw a stern glance that passed between the now silent men in front of me.

Although I hadn’t known him long, Ryan struck me as a deeply considerate and caring man. He was older than me, maybe late thirties I’d guess, but his face didn’t show many signs of his wisdom, just a very small collection of very fine lines underneath his soft eyes.

Ryan’s exit startled me as he slammed the door behind him; I hadn’t even noticed his movement and hadn’t paid any attention to their quiet conversation as I was too involved in my own silent questions. Julian sat down beside me shaking his head, a frown masking his beauty, or possibly exaggerating it.

“Sorry about the interruption.”

“No problem. Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

“Yes, everything is fine,” he replied with a deepened frown.

He raised his gaze to mine; all frown lines vanished, and flashing his winning smile at me. I blushed as my eyes were drawn to his extremely inviting lips that covered his perfectly aligned teeth. “So, for what do I owe this pleasure, Mr Scott?”

“Oh, so my invitation has pleased you? And please, call me Julian.”

“I’m just wondering why you’ve brought me up here,” I stated as I took a large mouthful of champagne.

“I told you, I wanted to apologise for my previous behaviour.”

“Surely you could have said sorry last night when you called and saved yourself this inconvenience.” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

“It’s no inconvenience, Emily, believe me. And, apologising over the phone would not even nearly make up for my actions.”

“But buying me a drink in your own bar would?” I smirked, feeling somewhat confident all of a sudden.

“I take it by your tone that I’m not forgiven.” He actually looked gutted as he spoke; his eyes held their contact with mine but it looked as though this was a struggle. Maybe I was having an effect on him after all, although I wouldn’t count on it.

“I don’t need to forgive you for anything, Julian. It wasn’t me who you attacked. And besides, I told you I was grateful for you taking a stand for me.”

“I wasn’t so much referring to that incident, Emily, more to the encounter in the street. We shared … something, and then I clammed up and acted like a petulant teenager. I’m sorry.”

Oh!
This was news. I hadn’t even realised he thought of the moment as
something,
I would never have guessed that it would be troubling him now. I looked down at the floor, my mind trying to form some words to pass on to my mouth.

“Say something,” he pressed.

“What do you want me to say, Julian? I honestly haven’t given it much thought.” Of course, that was a lie; it was the single thought that had been dominating my mind for the past two days.

“I don’t believe you, Emily,” he breathed. “You see, I felt something between us in that very moment, as brief as it was, and I’m certain that you felt it too.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“I heard your breathing alter, I felt your heart quicken, and I happened to notice that you stopped breathing altogether when I whispered close to your ear.”

Oh god
, I wasn’t expecting that. How could someone who barely knew me read me the way he obviously did. Was I an open book to him? I felt the warmth spread as my cheeks glowed with humiliation.

“And you’re also blushing again, Miss Braxton. You do that a lot when I’m close to you.” He leaned in towards me, his face so close to mine that I could feel the heat radiating from his skin to mine. “And I’m sure as I lean in closer I’ll notice those very same reactions now.”

He was right about my body’s reaction to his presence but I had no idea how. I resisted the overwhelming urge to pull away from the intensity of his heated gaze.

“You’re very sure of yourself, Julian,” I whispered, trying to hide the fact that his assumptions were correct and my heart felt like it was actually in my mouth.

“That’s where you’re wrong, very wrong. I’m not sure of myself, but I am certain of how your body reacts to me. I can see the effect I have on you, I can feel it.”

I froze. I had absolutely no clue of what I could possibly say to this man in reply. And I was sure that even if I did have the words, my brain wouldn’t actually function long enough for me to speak them aloud with his face so close to mine. The electricity pulsating between us was incredible. Every part of him was drawing me closer. The depth of his eyes as they narrowed slightly whilst staring deeply into mine seemed to hold me in place, while his dark caramel hair that swept lightly across his head made me want to reach up and pull my fingers through it. His scent was delicious; I longed to press my nose against his chest, to bury it in the crook of his neck.

My eyes lowered to the beauty of his mouth. His lips perfectly defined and perfectly tinted in a gentle rose pink. Then his lips parted slightly as he inhaled deeply before the tip of his tongue ran across the width of his lower lip.
Whoa!
That was the single most erotic sight I had ever seen. My breath hitched in my throat and it wasn’t until that moment that I realised I had stopped breathing again. Julian must have
somehow
noticed this as I heard his sharp intake of breath. I blinked rapidly, trying to compose myself, and met his gaze once more. His strong, steady hand cupped my cheek as his head tilted slightly to the left.

“May I?” His voice was husky with desire. Desire for
me!
I gave a very slight nod and drew in a deep breath. Then those lips, so perfectly inviting, were pressed to mine.

Wow!
His lips were firm but somehow deliciously soft and full. I could smell the sweet odour of champagne as he released his breath, slowly. As his fingers twisted gently into my hair he inhaled loudly and his lips grew more urgent, kissing me firmly but slowly. Agonisingly slowly. I held back the urge to push him further and matched his pace. His second hand found my waist and he squeezed gently as his sweet tongue entwined with mine. Now I could taste the champagne, his tongue still held its chill from his last sip. I sensed the passion pouring from him as I kissed him back, eagerly, still wanting more. Then he slowly came to a stop and planted one last chaste kiss against my swollen lips.

As he pulled away and assumedly straightened himself, my body desperately tried to respond to my brain’s orders.

“You can open your eyes now, Emily.” I could hear the smile in his soft voice. I opened my eyes slowly and my stomach clenched at the sight of the heated, wanting expression set on Julian’s face.

“For what did I owe that pleasure, Mr Scott?” I grinned at him, blushing again.

“Oh, Emily. You have no idea.”

“Enlighten me,” I challenged.

“I wouldn’t know the words to say.”

“Try starting with what you’re thinking. What you’re feeling?” My voice was shaking slightly, I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear the answer to that.

“Honestly, Emily? I have no idea what I’m feeling or what I’m thinking. This is new to me.”

“New? You mean to tell me that you don’t regularly bring young women up here, make them feel special and then try to have your wicked way with them?”

“Absolutely not!” he snapped, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not saying I’m an angel, Emily, but you are the very first woman I have brought up here, I can assure you. And I am absolutely
not
trying to have my wicked way with you, if I’d wanted to do that I would have done it by now.”

Whoa!
That was low!

“Oh you would, would you? That’s where you’re very wrong, Julian. I’m not in the habit of sleeping with guys I barely know. No matter how gorgeous or how rich they are! I’m sure you’re used to that sort of behaviour from women but I’m not like most women!”

It hurt me deeply that he had just stereotyped me typically with the sort of women who visit
The Lounge
. They generally
were
on the prowl for a rich man who could apparently give them the flash lifestyle they so badly craved, but I wasn’t like them! And I had never shown him a single sign that I might be!