Chapter 14
 

Julian joyfully cut the bonds at Eve's wrists. She loved him! he thought ecstatically. The end justified the means, even though he still was not proud of the method. Regardless, she loved him, and he thought it all well worth the effort.

A minute later, Eve gave him such a resounding slap to the face it nearly knocked him off the bed. "Arrgh!" he yelped, holding his hand to his cheek. "Was that inherently necessary?"

"Yes, it was. Julian, you didn't think you could do this to me and come away entirely unscathed, did you?" Eve smiled, enjoying his reaction in spite of herself. "You actually got off very easy." She stretched out her arms, which allowed Julian to get a tantalizing view of her cleavage, so that he quickly forget the pain of the slap.

"Oh Eve, I do hope you meant it when you said that you forgave me, " he said as he released her ankles, making certain to stay at an angle where she could not kick him again. "I couldn't bear it if you didn't." His hands faltered a moment as he remembered the sweet curves of her breasts peeking over the V-collar of her violet dress. Stoically he finished untying her, then stepped back, a penitent look on his face.

Eve held his gaze, and hers softened when she saw the love and self-reproach in his eyes. "I can't help but forgive you. Even after all these years, and everything that has happened, I can't stay mad at you. Your reasoning is something I'll always have trouble understanding though."

"I couldn't lose you again. The emptiness would have been too hard to deal with a second time." Julian thought back on the misery that he had felt when he was married to Ivy. "I knew deep down that I was wrong to treat you as I did back then...I did it anyway. I was too afraid of being booted out of the family and the family fortune." He took a deep breath. "If only I had stayed by your side, we could have had a wonderful life and family together."

"Perhaps, Julian," Eve said pensively. She thought of Whitney, and what would Julian's reaction would have been to learn they shared a daughter. Yet the threat of TC hung over her head, and she decided to refrain from revealing Whitney to Julian just yet...she wanted to be sure of her daughter's safety.

He walked towards her, his eyes searching hers. "You are still keeping something from me. We may have been apart for a long while, but your eyes give you away--I know something is not right. Won't you tell me what it is so I can help you?"

"Everything's fine."

"I beg to differ, my dear. I can sense that you're troubled, and I venture to say that amazingly enough, it's naught to do with my abduction of you." Julian reached out and tilted her chin up. "I wish you would confide in me."

"I told you, everything's fine. I do need something from you though," Eve admitted.

"You have only to ask, my darling,"he assured her. Eve gave him a slightly embarassed smile.

"Where's the bathroom in this charmer of a cabin?"she asked, causing Julian to laugh delightedly.

"I'll show you, and if you'd like to take a bath or shower, I can get you a towel and soap and whatever else you might need,"he offered. He was rewarded with a wide smile of gratitude.

"I'd like that very much--you have to admit, it's been a whirlwind of a day," Eve grinned at him.

"I think that I would give my entire fortune just to see that beautiful smile for the rest of my days," he sighed happily, as Eve took his arm as he led her to the bathroom.

Eve admired the room--it had an gigantic old fashioned tub on claw feet, a fireplace, a towel warmer, and even a refrigerator. "This is breathtaking, Julian. It looks like a hotel room rather than a bathroom!"

"Well, you know that I love comfort wherever I may be," he said, walking over to the bathroom vanity and pulling out a bottle of bubble bath. "This is for you--I'll be right back with your robe, soap and towels." As Julian left the room, Eve started the bathwater running, pouring the bubble bath in, then explored the room. Opening the refrigerator, she had to laugh as she viewed the dozen or so bottles of Dom Perignon that were in there.

"How Crane of him," she mused, closing the door. She turned as Julian reentered, his arms full. "You're well stocked here, Julian, all the comforts of home and hearth."

Julian shrugged as he put his bundle down on the vanity chair. "I like to be prepared, that's all." He shut off the water for her, then turned back towards her. "If you don't need me, I'll give you your privacy so that you can bathe in peace."

"I'd appreciate that," Eve said, feeling strangely disappointed. Julian nodded at her, then left the room. When he was on the other side of the door, he wiped his forehead with his pocket hankerchief. How he wanted to be with her! He could see her even now in his mind's eye surrounded by bubbles, her lovely, wet body glistening.

"Dear God," he breathed, "All I want is to be with her." He bit on his knuckle to keep from groaning aloud. "I know I don't deserve even to look at her after all I have out her through, but I would give anything to be at her side right now...showing her how much I love and adore her. I'd spend the rest of my life making it up to her," he vowed silently. So deep was he in thought, he was startled to hear Eve call out to him.

"Julian--can you come here for a moment, I forgot the soap on the sink," she called. Julian opened the door, and walked toward the sink, keeping his eyes averted.

"Of course my dear," he told her, his eyes on the floor. He walked towards her, holding the soap out, when Eve placed her hand on his.She had known he was right outside the door all along, and knew that she wanted him as much as he did her. "Eve?" he questioned shakily, as she stood up, the water streaming down her curves as she slowly smiled at him. "What-what are you doing?" His large hand closed around hers, as he suddenly found that he was having trouble breathing. Julian finally looked directly at her, and was transfixed by the vision of Eve, clad in nothing but bubbles.

"I did need something, Julian. I need you," she cooed, as she stood before him, her eyes inviting and shining with love and desire.

" I need you."