Chapter 8

Eve looked at Julian, her heart beating in fear--something she'd never experienced with him. She never thought he was capable of doing this to her--he could be ruthless, yet never with her. Yet here she lay, bound to a bed in his cabin--what in God's name was he planning to do to her?

"Julian, you'd better let me go--this is ILLEGAL! How could you do this to me!?!" she demanded, trying to pull away from Julian as he caressed her cheek."Get away from me! You're insane!"

"Oh Eve....all I wanted was to talk with you. Yet you refused--and I couldn't lose you again. So many years have passed, my darling--I wanted to make you see reason," Julian told her. "You would have shut me out of your life, and I couldn't bear that." His hazel eyes moved over her. "I love you, Eve."

She stared at him, wondering if he had really lost his mind. "Julian, you tied me up--this is not what someone in love does!" She took a deep breath. Maybe calmly reasoning with him would win her freedom. "You know this is wrong, Julian--you're not a bad person at heart, really. Do you really want to risk everything--your freedom, your conscience, your self-respect -- for me?" Eve asked, hoping she'd appealed to Julian's sense of right and wrong.

Julian looked at Eve, his face serious, yet loving. He would not lose this chance to plead his case with her. and make her admit she still loved him as well.Leaning down over her, he was so close that he could see her eyes dilate in apprehension. He brushed a kiss on her cheek, then leaned back so she could see his determination.

"Yes, Eve. Worth that and more."

"Julian....think about this. You can't hold someone against their will. All the money you have wouldn't save you if you insist on doing this to me," she pleaded softly. "I don't want to see you go to prison for me."

He brightened a little. "I knew you still cared, my dear. I don't want to hurt you at all--I just don't want you to run away from the love we share. I need you to understand what I've went through without you." Taking a deep breath, he continued," My heart has been empty without you in it...I thank God that we crossed paths again."

If only, Eve thought, you knew what I went through when I left you. Missing pieces of my life still haunt me to this day. And part of you as well.

"Please, Julian. I can't stay tied up like this. Be reasonable--what about when I need to go to the bathroom?"

"Do you promise to not try to make a run for it?" he asked. When Eve looked away, Julian shook his head. "Then I'll carry you--I'm not letting you out of my sight until we come to an understanding."

"WHAT understanding? You've kidnapped me!" Eve snapped, wanting to kick Julian in his manhood. "How dare you try to bargain with me for my own freedom!"

"I want you to admit that you still love me....forgive me for not standing up for you all those years ago. And," he said meaningfully, "to tell me what secrets you are hiding from me." At Eve's shocked look, Julian smiled knowingly. "Oh my darling, I know you. You are keeping something from me. Don't you remember how our hearts were bound together all those years ago?"

Fear crept into Eve's mind.Could he possibly know? How could he? He hadn't seen her in all this time--and he wasn't there when it happened, though he was involved in every way.

"Tell me, Eve. The sooner you admit all, the sooner I'll release you," he told her, confident that she would tell him everything. Eve was fiercely independent, and he knew she would not be able to withstand being confined for long.

"Go to hell, Julian!" Eve shrieked, struggling anew with the cords that bound her. To her dismay, he held her in his strong arms, his face only inches from hers.

"I've been there my love--you drew me back," he whispered. He leaned towards her.
 

Down in Harmony, Ivy snarled into her cell phone, "Find out all you can about Dr. Eve Johnson. I want to know every skeleton she has in her past!" Hanging up, she smiled victoriously. "You little slut, you are going to help me take Julian to the proverbial cleaners!"