a series of actions,” Stephanie stated.
“What?” he asked, tilting his head, mystified at what she said.
“A series of actions. First, you take off your belt. Second, you thank me for the ride. Third, you place your hand on the handle and open the door. And fourth, you get out of my car.”
He laughed at her instructions.
If only it were that easy, Stephanie.
“You’re missing five.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Five?”
Julian unbuckled his belt and said, “One.”
Then he leant forward so his face inched closer to hers and breathed, “Two, thank you.”
His hand was on the door handle before he pulled it open. “Three.”
Stephanie’s lips formed a fine line, as she waited for him to go through with four.
“But you have the order of things wrong,” he stated.
There was no grin or humour. Julian kept his eyes on those blue ones he had dreamed of for the past four years. Confusion swept the vibrant colour as the light from the roof illuminated them.
“I have?”
Julian leant in closer, not taking his eyes off her. Stephanie took a sharp inhale as he inched his mouth closer to hers.
“Julian, I don’t—”
His lips pressed to hers, silencing her.
Electricity ignited his body as his lips touched hers. Before he could pull back and make it a sweet chaste kiss, Stephanie’s hands cupped his jaw and she moved her mouth, kissing him back. Her lips moulded around his as a short kiss turned into a full-blown one.
He groaned and attempted to inhale oxygen as her mouth sent his heart into a frenzy. Sensations he hadn’t felt for years returned. Sensations only she could bring forth in him.
Stephanie pulled him to her as her back leant against the driver’s side door, shaping her body to accommodate his.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” she mumbled against him.
His tongue found hers, dancing in a series of movements he hadn’t known for a long time. Only her. Only with her.
“Please.” He had paused for a second before he placed a kiss on her lips.
“Don’t.”
Pause.
Kiss.
“Figure it out.”
Another pause.
Deep breath.
Another kiss.
“Just yet,” he whispered. He quickened the pace and tangled his fingers in her blonde hair.
“Okay,” she moaned her reply.
Her hands left his jaw and made their way down his neck, to his shoulders, and then down his chest. He shivered the moment her fingers made contact with the bare skin of his stomach. Light touches had his blood pumping, making his head spin. Stephanie’s hands resting on his hips had him snapping back to reality.
He broke their connection to see her lips swollen and red, her cheeks reflecting the same colour. Her blonde hair was messy from his exploring fingers. Then he witnessed her lick her lips and swallow hard.
“Are you comfortable like this?” he asked with a chuckle as he tried to comb her hair back.
“Hell, no!” Stephanie replied, her fingers digging into the side of him. “They make it look hot in the movies.”
“They never show the brake handle digging into the guy’s bits, do they?”
Stephanie laughed and pulled him closer to her. Then she gave him a soft, lingering kiss. “Your bits doing okay?”
Julian dropped his hands from her hair and let the pad of his thumb run against her lips. Stephanie pursed them, kissing his thumb.
“They’re in pain but not caused by car instruments. More like the ‘I want you’ kind of pain,” he explained.
Her eyes widened, and she cleared her throat; her hands immediately left his body. “That was, umm… thanks for helping me move into Clara’s apartment.” Stephanie sat up, causing him to pull back from her.
“No,” he said as his eyes left her lips and met hers. “That was number four.”
We’re going to have many number fours together, Stephanie.
He knew just what he had to do. He had to tease her as he had back in Thailand. Slowly draw her into more with him. Have her fall in love with him one more time… or for the first time. Whatever way had her loving him. Whether it was the first or second time—he knew it would be the last.
Julian took one last look at Stephanie then got out of the car. He bent his knees and peered back inside. The first thing he noticed was the conflicted expression on her face and the frown her mouth made.
“Stephanie,” he called, gaining her full attention.
“Yes,” she answered in an unsure voice.
“This, me standing outside your car, is number five. Number six is me saying good night. So good night, Stephanie.”
She swept her blonde hair behind her ear and said, “Good