by Terri Lane
The worry nagged at her, robbing her of her sleep at all hours of the night, and sometimes, she found herself pacing the halls worrying, and wondering if she would ever be let back into the life of research that she loved.
She hoped so, but as the days dragged on, her hope started to fade into the distance. She tried to focus on Penny instead, on doing her job and doing her job well. She even let her mind stray to the snatched moments with James, seeing him in the hall, hearing his voice on a message.
A silly crush on her employer that meant nothing. Her job, though, that was another story. That was important—that meant a lot to her and she would be a fool to try and deny it, to deny it to herself, or to anyone else.
She had to survive, and she was growing both very fond and very protective of the little girl who she looked after. Eight years old, sweet as a button, and as beautiful as a nymph or sprite.
She was determined to succeed in this job, and she prayed she would succeed in the review.
***
A few weeks into her job, Julia was sitting in the kitchen, relaxing as the kettle boiled. It was later, far later than she would usually be awake and James said he would be away for a few days. It didn’t bother Julia, but a nice soothing cup of tea before bed would really hit the spot. She’d spent a few hours in the library, losing herself in the literary works while Penny was fast asleep.
Penny fell asleep quite easily, but Julia always waited up for a little while, just to make sure she was settled. Sometimes, she’d wander out, half asleep, asking for a glass of water, or feeling a bit frightened from a bad dream.
Julia didn’t have to be there. But she wanted to be. Penny was a sweet child, after all, and it wasn’t really a job to look after her. On this particular evening everything had gone quite well, and now Julia was looking forward to the remainder of her peaceful evening.
She poured the water over the tea bag, taking her time to let it brew, before adding a splash of milk. She was just about to take it upstairs, when she heard a dull crash coming from the library. Instantly, Julia’s senses prickled on high alert.
She swallowed, fear coursing through her limbs. For a moment, she could not move and then she thought of Penny, who was asleep in her bed, defenseless, and of James, who worked so hard and trusted her to look after the house.
With trembling hands, Julia set down her tea and hunted around for a weapon. Finding a large knife, she clutched it with both of her hands, moving through the hallways in slow, quiet steps. Most of the house was in complete darkness and it suddenly seemed terribly eerie, terribly scary with only two people in this huge mansion at night.
Three. Julia swallowed. She knew there was a security system, but it obviously hadn’t been enough. No dogs or cats. It could only be a person. Julia’s heart pounded, anxiety shuddering through her. She gripped the hilt of the knife tighter, biting her lip.
She steeled herself, determined not to let anyone hurt Penny or steal from James. Even though her resolve was hard, she felt silly, dressed in a silky dress, pretty but practical, hair in soft waves, waving around a knife in the middle of the night.
They were not going to be the least bit intimidated, but Julia was going to try anyway. Sneaking around through the house, her heart pounding in her chest, she slowly peeled back the door, opening it to take a slow peak through the library door. A shadowy figure was bent over and Julia gasped.
He turned and she flung open the door, holding the knife out in what she hoped was a threatening gesture. “Stop!” she hissed, hoping she sounded strong instead of scared.
Then he turned fully and Julia could see the familiar dark eyes and strong features. James looked shocked and, for a moment, neither of them knew what to say. They stared at each other with wide eyes, both looking incredibly shocked, as if they had been caught out.
Then James started to laugh and Julia backed up, feeling horrified.
“James! Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know, I mean, I thought…” she stammered over her words, flushing a deep red. She had just threatened the owner of the house, her employer, with a knife! She was horrified. There was no way she was going to keep this job now.
Why had she doubted the security? Of course the security system was good enough to keep out petty thieves. And who stole from a personal library anyway? She had jumped to a silly conclusion and let herself be paranoid. And now it was going to cost her—big time. If she lost this job, she would have no way to support herself anymore—none of the other job prospects had called her back, and she didn’t know what else to do. Julia felt sick with embarrassment.
James, however, was still laughing and his dark eyes seemed to sparkle. “Julia…wow…”
“I’m so sorry,” she repeated. “I just…I thought you were getting back in a few days, and Penny’s asleep…” She trailed off, mortification heating up her face. How was she going to recover from this? She had enough on her record with the review.
James chuckled, shaking his head and holding up a hand. Julia noted that he was still dressed in a suit and tie, as if he had walked straight out of a business meeting—and man, did it suit him. He looked sharp and handsome in the low light, not a hair out of place, and his dark eyes full of mirth.
He was gorgeous. The thought rose, unbidden and Julia wanted to kick herself. Honestly!
James was grinning, and he didn’t look as though he was about to kick her off the property in a fit of rage, which was a small comfort. Julia suddenly realized that she was still holding the knife and she panicked, putting it down on the closest table.
“You’re not in trouble for defending my daughter and my home.” He was grinning, but his eyes turned serious. “Julia, there is no need to apologize. You didn’t expect me back and you heard noises in the house. You did the right thing.”
He smirked and shifted his weight. “And I’m impressed. Takes guts to confront someone who you think is breaking into the house. Seems I made the right choice of nanny. Though maybe next time grab a cell phone and be ready to dial 911 when you go to confront somebody who is not supposed to be in the house.”
It took a long moment for his words to sink in. Not only was he not angry with her, and not firing her, but he was actually impressed! She had done the right thing and she wasn’t about to lose her job for pointing a knife at him.
Relief welled up in her so strongly that she feared she was going to cry right there and then. He wasn’t firing her—she still had a chance to support herself and succeed in this position, and Julia couldn’t have been happier. She felt giddy, dizzy with the relief of it all.
“Thank you,” she said, blushing because her voice was still a bit shaky, a bit breathless, and sounded altogether inappropriate when talking with her employer.
James nodded, shrugging his shoulders and sinking into one of the huge recliners that were placed around the room. “Would you care to join me?” He grinned, an easy smile. “Now that you’ve put the knife down.”
Julia was still blushing when she sat down on a chair beside his. Before she could apologize again, he leaned in a pressed a finger to her lips, his eyes meeting hers. Julia felt as if she couldn’t breathe. He was warm and he smelled amazing, spicy and masculine.
“No more apologies,” he said, and his voice seemed altogether too low, too husky. It sent shivers up Julia’s spine. He slowly pulled his hand back and took a look around the room. “Do you like the library?”
Julia smiled, though her heart was pounding in her chest from his touch. “Yes, I love it. There are so many books…” she said, stating the obvious. Julia blushed again, but James didn’t seem to notice.
Instead, he nodded thoughtfully. “Plenty of books. I don’t think one could ever get through them all…but I can have fun trying.” He smiled at her and Julia felt her insides tremble.
“Are these passed down in your family?” She gestured to the books, clearing her throat when she realized what a personal question that was. James seemed to consider it for a long moment.
“Yes
, most of them are. I’ve tried to add to the collection in my life time, but I am afraid that I have not made much of a contribution.” He shrugged his shoulders and Julia could see the way his muscles rippled even through the suit.
Julia nodded. “I love them, ” she said smiling, “I’ve read some of the classics—they never get old.”
His eyes lit up at the topic. “You’ve read Dickens then, of course?” He seemed excited at the prospect of having someone to discuss it with.
“Yes, I love his work.” Julia didn’t have to lie, didn’t even have to try to keep the conversation alive. It just seemed to flow so beautifully.
James nodded, “I love A Christmas Carol.” He smiled and looked around the room. “Sometimes I feel like Scrooge, hoarding the wealth of his house and not sharing.” He paused and then chuckled, “But if I was truly hoarding it, I’d be working more flexible hours.”
Julia could see the pained look that flashed in his eyes and her sympathy rose for him. He was just doing his best for his daughter, and Julia could not stay angry at him for that.
He seemed to perk back up quickly, but Julia didn’t know how much of it was genuine. He stood and made his way to the shelf. “There’s a passage that I am particularly fond of.” He hummed as he looked through the books. He chose one, and brought it back to the chair, settling back into it.
He skimmed through the pages, murmuring to himself, “Ah, here it is.” He cleared his throat and began to read.
“External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, nor wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often ‘came down’ handsomely, and Scrooge never did.”
His voice was so warm, so much like melted chocolate pouring over each word, rich and deep and oh so enchanting. She could listen to him read for hours and hours and never grow tired of hearing the words that rolled off his tongue.
He made Charles Dickens sound exotic, erotic and so much more inviting than Julia had ever known him to be. She shivered, a flush creeping up her skin. He was mesmerizing. It was lyrical, the way he read.
James sighed, a smile on his face. “It’s just…the change he undergoes is incredible. You see it later, in this passage. This one is my real favorites.” He smiled and read on.
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him.”
“Beautiful,” Julia whispered, and she was not sure whether she was talking about the book, or about James himself.
James seemed satisfied at her answer and he shut the book, gently stroking the cover. His hands were broad and strong, but he stroked the cover of the book with such care. Julia almost bit her lip at the sight. The shiver that ran down her spine was inappropriate to say the least.
“Classic work.” James smiled, leaning closer. Julia felt a thrill move through her. He was close, closer than he had been before, the spicy smell of him overwhelming her senses. She wanted to lean in, to kiss him, and the electricity that crackled between them was hot and sharp.
Then James slowly moved back. “Sorry, I’m keeping you up.” His voice was smooth and Julia found herself standing.
“It’s no trouble.”
“You’ll be up early tomorrow for Penny.” He smiled. “It’s not fair to you to keep you awake at all hours.”
“I don’t mind you keeping me up at all hours.” Something about her words sounded seductive, low in the dim lighting. Her heart raced.
James stood too, closing the distance between them. He brushed her hair with his hand, fingers pushing it back out of her face. She leaned in. There was a moment, heavy with the possibility of what could be, what might be, what crackled between them, burning the air up. She shivered.
Their lips met. And Julia forgot about everything else. There was nothing but the feel of his lips on hers, hot and warm and all consuming. The taste of him was in her mind, her body, her soul. She kissed him back, wanting to feel this, to feel more of it.
The taboo sizzled between them, the fact that they shouldn’t be doing this only adding fuel to the fire, only causing Julia to burn deeper with passion and pleasure, with a desire that she had not felt for so many years.
It lit her body up, burning through her. Her hands found his shirt and tangled in it. James’s hands came around, pulling her towards him, closing the distance between them. Julia gasped as she felt the heat of his skin through the fabric, felt the way he shivered, just as deeply as she did. She was lost in the moment, and more than happy to stay that way.
His hands stroked her hair, coming to rest in the silky strands that tumbled down her back. She parted her lips and their tongues met. He was holding her tighter, unwilling to let her go. His muscles felt hard beneath his shirt and Julia ran her hands along the fabric, wanting to see every part of him, wanting her hands on his skin.
He was her employer. There was no way she should be doing this, no way she should want him like the air she breathed. But she did, and there was no denying it.
When they finally broke away, they both gasped for breath. James was looking at her with his dark eyes burning, “Julia…that was…” He seemed to be fighting with himself. “You don’t have to…” He cleared his throat. “You’ll always have a job here.”
For a moment, Julia was confused, then warmth flooded through her body and mind. He was worried. He didn’t want to take advantage of her, and have her feel like she had to sleep with him in order to keep her job. He didn’t want to pressure her or use their working relationship to his advantage.
Julia couldn’t stand it. She kissed him again, all hesitance removed. She kissed him like she meant it and consequences be damned. She wanted him like she had never wanted anyone before. A sigh of relief shuddered out of him and he responded, shifting to pull them both onto the couch. She tumbled into his arms, onto his lap.
His lips were on her skin, her neck, down her throat. His hands were over her skin and Julia thought that she would lose it right then and there. His hands brushed the hemline of her skirt, stroking her legs, running up and down the skin. Julia gasped, her fingers finding the buttons of his shirt, struggling to tug off his tie. He obliged, shedding his tie, his shirt pulled open by her needful fingers.
Julia bit her lip. Oh, he was gorgeous. He was everything that she had dreamed he would be and so, so much more. Toned, hard muscles rippled down his chest, tanned and strong, the fine silk of his shirt hanging off him like it was no more than a cheap dollar store purchase.
So at ease, so confident. Julia felt warmth flooding her panties, felt the heat that burned in her chest and worked its way to between her thighs. She touched his skin and it was warm to the touch. She stroked, caressed, shivered when she heard the low moan that came from his throat.
It sent a thrill down her skin. Then he was on her, pressing her down onto the couch, lifting the hem of her skirt, letting it ride up. Julia shivered, and squirmed out of her dress, letting him all but rip it off her skin. She shivered as the warm air hit her, revealing the soft cotton and lace she wore beneath her dress. Pretty but practical. The black stood out against her skin and made it look so much more dramatic, so much bolder and
sexier.
Julia blushed. She hadn’t planned it like that, but by the way James was looking at her, she was doing something very, very right. She bit her lip and he smirked.
His hands circled around her, finding the clasp of the bra, unclipping it in a quick motion. She gasped, a blush on her cheek. “James…” She wasn’t sure if she was protesting, or asking for more, and she didn’t care. His lips found her breasts, her nipples and oh, he was so talented!
His tongue was hot and warm and made her squirm. Shivers ran up her body. Here she was, dressed only in her panties, on the couch in her employer’s library.
She gasped, she squirmed, she held on, her hands in his short, dark hair. Her skin was on fire. She was breathless, the way he touched her making her feel good in ways that she did not know she could. She trembled, she huffed and moaned. He pulled her panties down her hips, and she let him. She gasped as the air rushed against her skin when he parted her thighs in the low light.
He was breathing heavily, and he fumbled in his pocket, before undoing his belt with a confidence and clarity that made Julia want to melt. He slid his pants down and Julia gasped at the sight of him. He was big, strong, and she had a good feeling that he knew how to use it.
Shivers ran down her spine. He grabbed her hips, gently pulling her so that her hair spilled around her, her legs wrapping around him, and a blush spread along her cheeks and down the curve of her breasts.
He pushed against her slowly, but she could hear the arousal in his breath, the way it hitched as he softly caressed her skin, overwhelming her senses.
“James…more…” she moaned softly.
He didn’t need further encouragement. When he pushed within her, Julia thought that she as going to lose her senses. Pleasure jolted through her, blinding her to anything but the thrum of her heart, the smell of him; spicy, and rich, and masculine.
Just like him, she thought. Her mind was addled with the throes of pleasure that were fast beginning to claim her. She held onto him, gasping as he pulled out, grabbing at him, moaning when he thrust back within her.
