Absolute Lovers (Absolute #2) (2 page)

But I was getting ahead of myself. Nothing had been resolved
and for all I knew Julia would leave after breakfast, never to return to my bed
or my life. The notion made my heart clench. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how
much her absence from my life would hurt, and pushed the unwelcome thought
away. She was here now, and I knew I had to make every moment count. Somehow, I
would be able to win her heart. I had to believe it was possible because the
alternative was simply too depressing.

I rummaged through my fridge and cupboards to see what I
could make her for breakfast. Luckily, I had gotten into the habit of doing my
grocery shopping for a week at a time and my kitchen was fully stocked. I
decided on blueberry waffles, eggs, bacon, toast, and fresh fruit. I knew that
I was going completely overboard, of course.

As if a breakfast buffet could make her love you.

But I had to do something. If I showed her that I could take
care of her, then maybe she would consider staying here with me for a longer
period of time. She was here and I wasn't about to make it easy for her to
leave. Furthermore, I simply wanted to do things for her. Julia was used to
being the caregiver for her grandfather, and she deserved to be the one on the
receiving end for once. I had never really had anyone to care for before, and I
hoped that Julia would want me to be there for her.

Admittedly, I was also being selfish. I loved having her
here and it made me happy. I wanted happiness and she was the one who brought
it to me. I couldn't get around that, but I hoped that I could bring it to her
as well.

I set the table, and while breakfast was keeping warm in the
oven I snuck back into my bedroom and gazed at the girl in my bed. I knew that
I should wake her so she’d have time to eat, but I didn't know if I would ever
get a chance like this again and so I joined her under the covers. She was on
her side, facing away from me, and I wrapped myself around her, pressing against
her warm body so that we were lying close to each other just like spoons in a
drawer.

This is why they call it spooning. I like it!

I placed soft kisses on her neck and stroked up and down her
arm. She shivered lightly and when I peeked over her shoulder I could see her
nipples hardening. I couldn't stop my hand from reaching under her arm and
cupping her breast gently. I traced circles around her puckered nipple with my
fingertip, which caused Julia to sigh and rub her naked thighs together.

Is she becoming aroused? Maybe she wants me to keep
touching her?

I felt slightly perverted caressing her while she was
half-asleep, but I couldn't make myself stop. I brought my hand down over her
stomach and thighs, hoping that Julia wouldn't suddenly be adverse to my touch.
Lifting her top leg back over my hip, I took a deep breath before slipping my
fingers in between her folds. Her skin was warm and slick from our previous
encounter and my fingers slid easily over her. She let out a long moan, which I
took as a very good sign, and I wedged my free hand under her body to gently
massage her breast. I tugged on her nipple and ran my fingers over her wet,
sensitive skin a few times.

"Stephen," she moaned. "Mmm…what are you
doing?"

"I'm waking you up," I whispered, kissing her neck
while I kept touching her.

"You're doing a very good job," she said, sounding
a little out of breath. "Fuck, that's so…"

Her words turned into moans as I reached a little lower and
slid two fingers inside her. She arched her back and I sucked on her earlobe. I
stroked her slowly and rubbed her with my thumb. She gasped loudly when I
pinched her nipple and pressed against her sensitive little mound at the same
time.

"Do you like that?" I whispered, giving her ear a
gentle bite.

"Oh, yes," she moaned. "I love the way you
touch me. You always…oh, fuck, you make me feel so amazing."

I was flying on the inside at the sound of her words and
kept rubbing, stroking, and pinching until she was panting and moving her hips
with my fingers.

"A-almost," she gasped.

"I know. I can feel it," I murmured.

I watched as she closed her eyes and drew a deep breath
before her body tensed in my arms. She pulsed and contracted around my fingers,
and I was sure that I was watching her with my mouth hanging open like some
sort of simpleton. I had made Julia climax before, but I was usually too
preoccupied with my own impending orgasm to really concentrate on her when it
happened. She was spectacular, her skin flushed over her chest and face and her
head thrown back in ecstasy. Or what I assumed was ecstasy. It was always
ecstasy for me.

She relaxed in my arms and I carefully extracted my fingers
from her before pulling her closer in a tight embrace.

"Are you awake now?" I asked, smiling widely.

"Definitely," she said, chuckling.

"Good. Breakfast is ready," I said, kissing her
cheek.

She turned and reached down to palm my erection. "What
about you?"

"I'm fine," I promised. "Let's go eat."

"If you're sure," she said uncertainly, eyeing the
bulge in my pants.

"I am. This was just for you.”

I helped her out of bed and couldn't prevent a disappointed
sigh from escaping when she started to pull on her dress. I went back into the
kitchen and washed my hands before I took the plates from the oven and carried
them to the table. I had just poured the coffee when Julia came in, looking
very uncomfortable in her conservative dress. But her expression changed
drastically when she saw the dining table.

"Holy shit!" she exclaimed, holding her hands up
to cover her mouth. "Stephen, you shouldn't have done all of this,"
she said, although the smile on her face told me that I had definitely done
something right.

"I wanted to," I said immediately. "Sit down
and eat."

I fought the urge to pull out her chair for her and watched
as she sat.

"You made waffles!" she said excitedly. "Real
ones. Not just the ready-made frozen kind."

I nodded and smiled while I joined her at the table.

"Wow," she said with a grin. "Sex
and
homemade
waffles. This is the best B&B in town. I may need to stay over more
often."

Here's your chance.

"Um, uh, Julia?" I asked, as if I was in the
seventh grade asking for a date to the dance.

"Yes, Stephen?" She smiled as she lowered her
fork, still loaded with food.

"I was thinking that if you want to, um, come by
tonight… I mean, you have a long day today and maybe you want some dinner
afterward and you don't really cook and since I do and I'm not doing anything,
um, maybe you want to come over…maybe? If you want," I rushed out.

What was that? The most poorly constructed sentence in
the history of the English language?

Julia regarded me for a moment, probably trying to make
sense of my jumbled words. "Are you inviting me over for dinner?" she
asked.

"Yes. I just thought…if you didn't want to be alone
after dealing with the lawyer and everything else, I'm here, you know?"

That was a little better.

"I'd like that." She nodded. "Thank you. What
time and can I bring anything?"

Really? She said yes?

"Seven? And you don't have to bring anything," I
assured her.

"Not even a nightie?" she grinned. "I assume
you'd like me to spend the night again?"

"I like you in my pajamas," I blurted out.

"Is that so? I guess I can accommodate that
request," she said with a wink. She smiled and eagerly dug into her
breakfast and I found myself gazing at her with an idiotic grin on my face.

"What do you have going on today?" she asked after
a few minutes of me watching her inhale her breakfast.

"Not much. I think I'm going to the gym with Matt, but
that's about it, really. I always have articles I’m writing that could use some
attention, but nothing specific now that the semester is almost over."

"Must be nice," she said with a sigh. "I
still have finals to worry about."

"You'll do great," I assured her.

"I guess. I just want them to be over and the holidays
to begin. I need some time off."

"You've had a tough semester.”

"Yeah. It wasn't all bad, though," she said,
giving me a sexy smile.

"Oh…do you mean me?"

"Yes, Stephen, I mean you," she laughed. "You
were definitely a pleasant surprise."

"So were you.” Never in a million years would I have
been able to predict the effect Julia was having on my life, especially
considering how off-putting I had found her at the beginning of the semester.
I’d never been so happy to be wrong before.  She smiled again and we
finished our breakfast.

"Thank you so much. That was the best breakfast I've
ever had.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed again. “I hate to
eat and run, but I have to get going now."

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, thanks. I have Pop's—I mean,
my
car.
I need to go home and change first. And possibly burn this fucking dress,"
she mumbled.

"But you'll be back tonight?" I asked, failing
miserably at keeping the blatant hopefulness out of my voice.

"Definitely," she said, and stood up to clear the
table.

"Leave it," I told her. "You don't want to be
late for your appointment."

I walked her to the door and watched her put her shoes on. Even
though she was still right in front of me, I felt a pang of longing.

"Thank you, Stephen. For everything," she said
softly.

"Don't thank me," I whispered, cupping her face in
my hands. I looked into her eyes and smiled before I leaned down and kissed
her. Her eyes fluttered closed and she wrapped her arms around my waist as the
kiss deepened.

"Stephen," she sighed, as she pulled away slowly.

"I'll miss you today," I murmured unthinkingly.

Uh-oh. Should I not have said that?

"You will?" she whispered.

I nodded and caressed her cheek while my heart thundered in
my chest.

"Me, too," she whispered, so softly that I hardly
registered it, before she kissed me again, this time even more passionately. When
we finally broke apart we were both breathing heavily and I was more than ready
to take her back to bed.

"OK, I
really
need to go now," she
chuckled. "But I'll see you tonight?"

I nodded and leaned down for another quick kiss before she
walked out. She jumped into the expensive vintage car that I now knew had
belonged to her grandfather, and I smiled when she honked the horn as she drove
off, feeling giddy as a schoolboy, knowing I would see her again in just hours.

After cleaning up, I gave Matt a
call to see when he wanted to meet at the gym. Surprisingly, he wasn’t
available because he was taking Megan out to brunch. I’d never known my brother
to put this much effort into pursuing a woman, and I hoped he wouldn’t suddenly
change his mind and return to his former pattern of one-night stands. I liked
Megan. She’d stuck up for me at the gay club and urged Julia to give me a
second chance.

Matt was happy to hear that Julia had spent the night and
was coming over for another date tonight, and he assured me that I just needed
to keep sleeping with her as much as possible and she would fall for me soon
enough. I still wasn't entirely sure of his theory that women naturally fell in
love with their sexual partners, but it was certainly an experiment that I
would enjoy conducting.

Later, after hitting the gym by myself, I thought about
Julia coming over for dinner, and realized that I didn't know her favorite meal.
She’d liked the other things I’d cooked, but I wanted it to be special tonight
and it wouldn't do if I served something that she didn't care for.

Her friends will know. Megan is out with Matt, so maybe I
could give Sophia a call? She’s nice and she’ll probably help me.  

Luckily, her cellphone number was listed on Facebook. I took
a deep breath before I dialed.

"I’m studying for my finals, so this had better be
good!”

Who answers their phone like that?

"Sophia? Hi, this is Stephen…err, Worthington…Julia's—”

Oh God, what am I to her? Her professor? Her friend? Her
lover?

"Oh, hi, Stephen," she said cheerfully.
"Sorry about that. I didn’t recognize your number so I thought it might be
someone selling something.”

“Oh. No, not selling anything. I do need your help, though.”

“Shoot.”

"I'm making Julia dinner tonight and I was wondering if
you knew what her favorite food is. I want it to be nice for her because today’s
such a hard day for her."

"Oh my God, you are just the cutest!"

"Um, thank you?"

"I knew that you were good for Jules the second I met
you," she confided. "I love being right!" Her voice turned more
serious. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s sad, of course, but I think she’ll be all right. Were
you at the funeral with her?”

“Oh, good. She did tell you, then. Yeah, we were there,
Megan and me. I’m really glad she went to your place last night.”

“Me, too,” I said.

"Well, about your question: I don't know if it's her
favorite food, but she's tried to make lasagna quite a few times."

"Tried?"

"Yeah, she never seems to get it right." She laughed.
"One time it was really soggy, and another time, the noodles were
undercooked."

"She did mention that she isn't much of a cook," I
said, although Julia had used a cruder expression for her lack of skills in the
kitchen.

But she sure can make a turkey sandwich.

"That's an understatement," Sophia said, chuckling.
"I can't tell you how many times Megan and I had to try her stuff before
she finally gave up."

"Do you know how to cook?" I asked curiously.

"I'm decent," she said. "Not great like you
with your fancy Italian chicken or anything like that, but passable."

"She told you about that?"

"There isn't much she hasn't told us," Sophia
said. "Frankly, we're getting a little sick of hearing about you."

"R-really?" I was grinning so widely I was sure
that I looked like a caricature.

"Yes," Sophia said simply. "She likes
you."

"I like her, too," I said, suddenly feeling very
gossipy. "So lasagna is the way to go?"

"It's a good choice," she agreed.

"What kind should I make? Does Julia like
sausage?"

Sophia started laughing.

"What?"

"Don't you know the answer already?"

How would I know if…oh, come on!

"Real mature," I sighed. “Good-bye, Sophia. Thank
you for your help.”

"Sorry, Stephen. I think I'm sleep deprived. My sense
of humor’s usually a little more sophisticated. OK, maybe not. Ha! Anyway, good
luck with dinner, not that you'll need it. I have a good feeling about the two
of you."

"Thank you," I said sincerely before hanging up.

While grocery shopping, I thought about how I might
entertain Julia after dinner. She would probably feel sad after spending the
entire day going through her grandfather's belongings and also tired since she said
she hadn't been sleeping well before last night. I decided that I would suggest
a movie for us to watch since that would be relaxing. I remembered Sophia's
lame joke. Was that really the kind of humor that young people enjoyed? A
comedy might be good for tonight—something silly to get Julia’s mind off
of her day.

When I got home I started making the lasagna, a recipe with
minced hamburger meat and Italian sausage that I had found online a while ago,
as well as a salad. At the store, I’d decided to go all out and bought the
ingredients to make tiramisu for dessert. I had always enjoyed cooking, but it
was even better now that I had someone special to do it for.

While the lasagna was in the oven, I grabbed a quick shower
and changed into a white T-shirt and the jeans that Shawn had made me buy to
wear to the club where I’d gone to win Julia back. I set the table, lit a few
candles, and put on the Leonard Cohen album that Julia had picked out the last
time she had dinner here. I realized that while I was excited to see her, I
wasn't very nervous about her coming over, as I had been in the past. It felt
so natural all of a sudden. Like she was just supposed to be here with me. I
was opening a bottle of red wine when the doorbell rang and a surge of
excitement rushed through me.

She's here! God, I've missed her!

I practically skipped to the door and pulled it open with a
smile on my face. Julia was standing outside looking like she had been through
hell. She was pale and her shoulders were tense.

"Hi," she said quietly and walked inside. She hung
her coat and put her bag on the floor before I ushered her inside with my hand
on her lower back.

"Dinner’s almost ready," I said. "And I picked
out a ridiculous-looking comedy to watch afterward. We should just relax
tonight. You've had a rough day."

She looked up at me and burst into tears.

Oh no! Did I say something wrong?

"We don't have to watch it," I said quickly.

She leaned her forehead against my chest and I took that as
an invitation to hug her. She wrapped her arms around me and sobbed quietly
while I stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry," she said after a few minutes.
"It sounds great. Really, it does."

"Then why are you crying?" I asked softly, kissing
the top of her head.

"You shouldn't be so nice to me," she sniffed.

"Why not?" I made her look up at me and wiped
under her eyes with my thumbs.

"I might get used to it," she whispered, looking
anxious as she said it.

"I want you to. I'm not going anywhere," I
murmured and bent down to kiss her. She clung to me and kissed me back while
her hands went under my shirt, caressing my skin. Normally, I would welcome her
advances, but there was something desperate about her kisses that I didn’t
like. Tonight, Julia needed to be taken care of, and not sexually. Of that I
was sure. It was time to show her that I had more to offer her than merely my
body.

I pulled back and stilled her hands gently.

"Sorry," she whispered. I shook my head, leaning
down to brush my lips against hers. I didn’t want her to think I was rejecting
her.

"Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Sorry for attacking you
like that. I don't really know how to do…this."

I wasn't sure what she was referring to. Did she mean grieving
for her grandfather? Or maybe—just
maybe
—being more than
simply sex-buddies? Was this as new to her as it was to me?

"No more apologies," I said, giving her a smile.
"Are you hungry?"

"Starving. It smells really good."

I poured her a glass of wine and carried the food to the
table. She smiled when she saw the tray with the lasagna.

"Wow, that looks great. Did you make it yourself?"

"Yes. Sit down and have some."

She filled her plate and I smiled when I saw her blowing
vigorously on her forkful, eager to taste it.

"Oh my God!" she moaned when she did. "This
is incredible."

"Thank you. I'm really glad that you like it.”

"Like it? I fucking love it!" she exclaimed.
"This is so good."

I was happy that she enjoyed the food and that it had been
able to cheer her up. "I can teach you how to make it sometime," I
offered.

Her face lit up. "Really? That would be awesome. Just
don't be too disappointed if I can't learn. You're a great teacher. I just
really suck at cooking."

"I'm sure you'll do fine.”

We ate dinner and talked about her finals, which she was
stressing about. While her dedication to her studies made me proud, it did
worry me that she put so much pressure on herself, and I found myself wishing I
could ease her burden.

"It's a good thing you made enough for seconds,"
she said with a grin, helping herself to another plateful. "I need to load
up on some real food before the madness begins."

"What do you mean?"

"Once exams start, I won't really have time to go out
for dinner and stuff," she explained. She hesitated and looked at me. "And
there won't really be any time for you either, I'm afraid," she added.

I won't get to see her at all? No!

"You could stay here!" I yelled, obviously having
completely lost my mind.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "What? I couldn't do
that, Stephen,” she said after a few seconds.

That's not a definite “no.”

"Why not?" I asked. I was starting to realize the merits
of my impromptu invitation.  "I don't have that much work right now,
so you can have my office,” I explained. “You'd get three square meals a day
and you wouldn't have to worry about going out to eat or, you know, starving as
the alternative. And I could help you with your studying if you needed."

She was still staring at me like I was a loon, but now she
was smiling a little. "But what would you get out of it?" she asked.

A chance to win your heart.

"Well…I…um, I would get to see you every day and I like…having
you. I mean, having you
here
," I managed to stammer.

"I like being here," she said with a smile.
"And you
are
an awesome cook."

"So…is that a yes?" I asked nervously.

"Yes, if you really don't mind me crashing your perfect
apartment," she answered, motioning around my place. "I'm a little
messy, you know."

She said yes! Wait—she said yes. Why did she agree
to this?

I couldn't believe it. Julia had actually agreed to stay
with me during her finals. What had changed that she was now so willing to let
me into her life? Was this a reaction to the devastating loss she’d suffered,
or was there more to it? Regardless, I was ecstatic at the prospect of having
her here for an extended period of time. She was smiling at me and I realized
that I hadn't answered her last question.

"N-no," I spluttered. "I don't mind at
all."

I will take her, mess and all!

Julia gave me a brilliant smile and dug into her food again.
She enjoyed eating so much that she was a pleasure to cook for and I looked
forward to doing it many, many times in the near future.

After dinner we had our dessert with coffee and watched the
comedy that I had chosen. I had been right when I assumed that it would be ridiculous
with lots of sexual innuendos and physical humor. But it made Julia laugh, so I
was more than happy to watch it. Toward the end of the movie, she started
yawning and moved closer to me on the couch. Hesitantly, I lifted my arm and
looked at her. She seemed to deliberate for a second before she put her head on
my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her waist. My heart pounded in my chest
when I felt her lace our fingers.

God, I love her.

She pressed the side of her face against my chest for a few
seconds before looking up at me.

"Your heart is beating really fast," she
whispered. I swallowed thickly and nodded while I brushed a strand of her hair
behind her ear. Her eyes were unreadable as she lifted our joined hands and
placed my palm over her left breast. I jumped a little when I felt her heart racing
like a…like mine.

She feels something, too!

"So is yours," I murmured.

She nodded slowly, seeming vulnerable all of a sudden. I
cupped her face with my free hand and brushed my lips against hers until she
responded, kissing me back.

"Stephen?" she whispered.

"Mmm?"

"Do you mind if we don't have sex tonight?"

"Will you still sleep in my bed with me?" I asked.
"Can I hold you?"

"Yes," she breathed out.

"Then I don't mind at all," I said, kissing her
again.

That night both of us wore pajamas and I held her and
stroked her hair until she fell asleep in my arms. It was the best night of my
life, and now that Julia was here with me I had a feeling that there would be
many other great nights to choose from in the future. I might even have to
start a top ten list. I smiled at the thought and held her tighter.

"Stephen," she mumbled. "Don't leave."

I wasn't sure if she was asleep or awake, but I answered her
just the same. "I won't, Julia. I promise."