Chapter 15

Julian could hardly breathe. "Eve," he whispered,"What....what did you say?" His eyes took in her lovely body, wet and covered in bubbles. Surely he hadn't heard her correctly.....

"I said that I needed you," she said softly, her eyes glowing with the love she had long denied even to herself. "Does a lady have to ask twice?"

He needed no further urging as he hugged her close to him. His shirt immediately became soaked, but he cared little as he was overwhelmed with feeling. "My darling, you have made me the world's happiest man." He bent his head towards hers, and took her lips with such tenderness, that Eve grew weak-kneed with pleasure. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gently fell back into the water, taking Julian with her.

"Oomph!" Julian cried out as he landed on top of her. "Darling, did I hurt you?" At her bright smile, he relaxed as he viewed the vision that lay beneath him. "Your beauty remains unchanged even after all these years...I could never grow tired of looking at you. You are an angel." Suddenly, his face fell, and he got up off of her and stood up.

"Julian, what's wrong?" Eve sat up in the tub, her eyes troubled as she saw Julian's own gaze fill with tears. "Julian?" she asked again, growing more worried by the minute.

He turned away from her. "I don't deserve to even look upon you, Eve. All those years ago, I chose money over you, and then when you come back into my life, I abduct you because I couldn't get my way." He swallowed hard. "And you now telling me that you need me...I don't deserve to have such a precious gift."

Her heart went out to him. "I forgave you Julian--I think now it's time to forgive yourself." Standing up, Eve stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her body. "Julian, look at me." He wouldn't, so she continued, "You know what you are to me, Julian? You are a diamond in the rough....something precious that may not be seen at first or even second look, but deep inside--you are something, someone too precious for words."

"How can you be so wonderful to me," he murmured, turning to face her. Eve's wet hair was hanging around her face, and he was hard pressed not to run his fingers through the strands. Eve moved closer to him, wanting to make him understand that she truly loved and wanted him. Quietly she began to sing to him, pouring out all the love and yearning she had for him in the lyrics.

 
"If I never feel you in my arms again
If I never feel your tender kiss again
If I never hear I love you now and then
Will I never make love to you once again
Please understand if love ends
Then I promise you, I promise you
That, that I shall never breathe again
Breathe again
Breathe again
That I shall never breathe again
Breathe again.....

And I can't stop thinkin' about
About the way things used to be
And I can't stop thinkin' about
About the love that you make to me
And I can't get you outta my head
How in the world will I begin
To let you walk right out my life
And blow my heart away

And I can't stop carin' about
About the apple of my eye
And I can't stop doin' without
Without the center of my life
And I can't get you outta my head
And I know I can't pretend
That I won't die if you decide
You won't see me again

If I never feel you in my arms again
If I never feel your tender kiss again
If I never hear I love you now and then
Will I never make love to you once again
Please understand if love ends
Then I promise you, I promise you
That, that I shall never breathe again..........."

Eve saw the realization wash over his handsome face, and she smiled so that her entire face glowed even as she had started to shiver a little from still being a bit damp from the tub. Julian's lovestruck countenance again changed to one of concern. "My dear, you're shivering--would you like for me to get your robe?" Eve shook her head, so he queried, "Then what do you need? Anything you desire, my heart."

She loosened her grip on the towel that covered her, so that it dropped to the floor. Once again, Julian was struck dumb by Eve's loveliness as his eyes devoured her. "My God," he mumbled reverently, "you are the most beautiful woman that I've ever known." His eyes went to her golden brown breasts, to her inviting hips, and her long legs. "How I have wanted to see you like this...I hardly dared believe I ever would again."

"I love you, Julian. I do love you, with every fiber of my being," Eve declared as she moved even closer to him. She ran her hands down his arms, then over his chest. With a sharp tug, she ripped his shirt apart at the collar, sending buttons flying everywhere. "And I want to show you how much," she informed him, her voice grown husky with passion. Eve began spreading kisses over Julian's chest, making him groan loudly. "I love you this much," she said as she stood on tiptoe to nuzzle his neck, then pulled his head down to breathe in his ear. "And I love you even more than that," she purred as her tongue outlined his ear, nearly driving Julian insane with wanting her.

He pushed her away gently, panting. "Eve, you cause me to lose all reason when it comes to you," he rasped. At Eve's come-hither expression, he ripped his damaged shirt completely off, then quickly shed the remainder of his clothing. He as well had kept in shape all of this time, and Eve's appreciate and hungry gaze made him want her all the more.

Julian held his arms out to her, and Eve ran into them, their mouths fusing instantly as they kissed almost desperately, in their urge to become one. Julian ran his hands down her back, and then caressed her stomach. He moved his hands upward, where his thumbs teased her breasts, causing Eve to throw her head back in passion. Julian then took advantage of her exposed neck, his lips burning a path along her pulsing vein that displayed her body's reaction to his passionate onslaught.

Eve was drunk with the pleasure of Julian's skillful caresses and kisses, and she grabbed his waist and began backing towards the tub. Feeling Eve's body flush against his, Julian lost what little control he had left, and buried his face in her neck, murmuring words of love and promise that she barely heard. Her hands at his waist, she pulled Julian in after her, Julian being careful to break his fall so he would not land on her with his full weight. Again their lips met, water covering their bodies as they gave into the love that had haunted them both for what had seemed an entire lifetime apart.
 

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TC glared at the driver on his left who had almost cut him off. "You sorry SOB, you're lucky I'm in a hurry!" he snarled, as the other driver sped ahead, fearful of the hostile look in TC's eyes. TC glared at the road ahead. "Yeah, I'm coming to see you Eve, you guttertrash whore. Your beloved husband who you made a damned fool of is on his way!"

He peered at the highway sign. "Harmony--52 miles."