A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

“You are so beautiful,” Julian drawled, then gave a small cough. “Red, I have missed you so damn much, so much that I stayed up at night thinking about you. It was never just about sex for me”.

Nina smiled up at him, tracing lines on his chest with the tip of her finger. “I have missed you too. I’m so sorry that I hurt you, Julian. I didn’t mean to push you away like that. I cared but I was just so worried about what people thought so much that I didn’t know I was torturing myself, and hurting you too, but now…. With the baby, I don’t care so much anymore. My priorities has changed all of a sudden”

He laughed-and it sounded so good. To see him relaxed, smiling, was like glimpsing somehow a different man, and all she knew was that she wanted more of this. He ran his hand over her warm, naked body and she squirmed with pleasure, couldn’t believe she was lying naked in his arms in the middle of the day and feeling only beautiful.

“Am I one of those priorities now?” he asked her.

She smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry it took so long for me to realize that”

The sun must have gone behind a cloud, because suddenly his face darkened, his body that had been so yielding, so in tune with hers stiffening, and Nina wasn’t sure if it was because of what she’d said or because he’d heard it first.

The sound of tyres crunching on the gravel had them both jumping like scalded cats, suddenly aware of her lack of attire and Julian’s trousers around his knees.

She hated the intrusion, wanted so much to just be there with her, the glimpse of his tumescence as he hastily pulled his trousers up and tucked himself in nowhere near enough for Nina.

“Julian!” Abby’s voice pierced the still afternoon. Completely flustered, somehow Nina managed to dress in record time, zipping up her shorts and almost falling over as she pulled on her boots, until, with her heart pounding, the footsteps drew closer and the gate was pushed open.

Nina did not even look over as Abby approached and bluntly addressed Julian. “I saw your car-what on earth are you doing home? I thought you said you were going to be busy all day”

“I am actually, just trying to catch up on some reading,” Julian said casually, but it didn’t wash with Abby and after a long pause he elaborated. “I thought I’d just come home, and rest a little bit”

Abby didn’t say anything at first, suspicious eyes swiveling from Julian to Nina. “I’m not even going to ask what you guys were up to,” she finally said slowly. “Cos I honestly don’t think I want to know…. So I’m just going to take these inside.”

“I’ll come and help,” Julian offered, but Abby had already gone, walking out of the garden without a backward glance.

Nina stood with her cheeks flaming, her anxious eyes swinging to Julian, hoping for reassurance.

“Do you think she knew?” she asked.

Julian grinned. “Knowing, Abby, I think she did so I’m going to say yes”

And then he laughed when he saw the embarrassed look on Nina’s face.

—————–

“Are you alright?” Nina asked Julian for the hundredth time that evening as they walked into his house.

They had just returned from a dinner date, and throughout the meal, Julian hadn’t been his usual chatty self… And he looked like he was thinking about something… Something that was bothering him. Nina was worried at his attitude because it was unlikely for Julian to be that way. He always seemed to have something to say. Some jokes to make her laugh…. Or even tease her. But tonight it was different. They talked, the dinner was nice, but Nina knew something was up.

They had been back together for three weeks now and everything had been going well with their relationship and the baby. And now his attitude out of nowhere bothered her so much. She found herself wondering if she did something wrong, but she couldn’t think of anything.

“I’m fine” he replied, and walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine. Nina kicked off her shoes and followed him. Then she watched as he poured out two glasses and handed one to her, which she took.

“Fine?” she repeated, “Fine? Julian, you have been acting weird all night. What is the problem? If I did something why don’t you just come out and talk to me about it instead of behaving this way”

Julian shook his head and looked at her in surprise. That was the last thing he wanted her to think, not tonight. Because she had done nothing wrong.

“What? No baby, you didn’t do anything. I’m sorry, it’s just…. There is something on my mind. Something I want to tell you, I just didn’t know I would be this nervous… And a little scared I have to admit”

Nina dropped her glass and moved towards him. She placed her hand on his arm. “Scared of what, Julian?” she asked. “You can tell me anything. You know that right? What’s on your mind?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He smiled at and grabbed her hand gently. “Fine” he said, then he took her hand and led her towards the balcony.

When they got there, Nina looked around at the beautiful scenery. The lights, the fresh air mixed with his cologne, her hand still in his. She smiled up at him. “Well, this is romantic,” she said.

“I’m glad you think so,” Julian said. “Because I need all that romantic stuff to say what I want to say. I wanted to say it during dinner, but for some reason it didn’t feel right to do it there… And I was scared of what you would say”

Nina’s eyebrows lifted. “Julian….” she began, but he hushed her by placing a finger on her lips, then he went back to holding her hands.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “For a while now, I have been thinking a lot… About the both of us. About everything that has happened between us. You have to know that you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. You are beautiful, independent and strong … And you have my heart. You are the only woman who has ever made me feel the way I do. You make me so happy… You motivate me… You drive me crazy but that’s fine too. You’re perfect… Perfect for me. I guess what I’m trying to say, Red, is that I love you. I love you so damn much that the thought of being apart from you again scares the shit out of me. I don’t ever want to lose you again. I have loved you since we were little and I will keep on loving you. You deserve the best… You deserve anything you want… Everything you need, and I will gladly be here for you as long as you let me… I was crazy for waiting so long to tell you how I feel about you”