Chapter 3 - "Forbidden Passion"

Julian held Eve in his arms as they lay side by side on the smooth leather couch in his suite. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, smoothing her damp hair away from her eyes. Eve groaned contentedly as he did this, a warm smile on her face.

“Oh, Julian…” she said in her soft, sweet voice. “I can’t begin to tell you what I am feeling right now…”

“All good things, I hope,” her lover said, gently kissing the top of her head.

Eve turned to look at him, and couldn’t help but smile when she saw the glint in his eyes. He was in heaven, she could tell, and the last thing she wanted to do was ruin it for him. She felt like she could soar to the clouds – being with Julian always did that to her. In that way, nothing had changed since they had been together all those years ago. But in other ways, things were vastly different – namely, the fact that they were both married.

“Julian,” she said softly, rubbing her hand along his smooth chest. “I love you. You know that. And what we just experienced was incredible, but…”

He put his finger up to her lips to silence her. “No buts, Eve. Not now. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the time we have together today. It’s our time. This is our place. And within the confine of these walls, we belong to each other, totally.”

She started to respond to what he had just said, but Julian leaned in and claimed her lips with his own. Eve was swept away in the kiss, the taste of his mouth stirring up all kinds of desires in her once more.

Pulling away from his beloved after their magical kiss, Julian looked into her eyes and smiled at what he saw there. He could always tell when Eve wanted him by the dazed look that came over her invitingly chocolate orbs. “What do you say we move this little get-together into the bedroom? I think you will be more comfortable there. Of course, anywhere is fine with me…”

Eve wanted to shout that she had to leave, that there could be no more lovemaking between them. She yearned to tell him that this was a mistake; she was married. She even wished to get up and get her clothes on right then. All of those were good, sound intentions. Why then wasn’t her heart listening to her? Why was her body encouraging her to stay for more? “Julian, I…I have…”

“Yes, my love?” he said, leaning in and kissing her gently on the lips.

She kissed him back and sighed. “You know what you do to me, don’t you? You know that I should just stay away from you, that I am going to have to stay away…”

“Yes, dear,” Julian replied, getting up off the couch with her in his arms. “Let’s go in here and you can tell me all about it…”

He led her into the bedroom. It was as large as the living area, with a cherry king-size bed against one wall, and a matching dresser across from it. A leather couch was in front of the large window. The curtains matched the comforter on the bed; both were a lovely shade of burgundy.

Eve didn’t notice any of this as she was led toward the bed by Julian. She saw only him; wanted only to be with him. She knew that they were committing one of the earth’s oldest sins, but right then, she couldn’t help herself. And even if she could have gathered the strength to pull away, she wasn’t about to. This was their time, like Julian had said. And there was no place she would rather be.

Julian turned around to look at Eve, his face one big smile. She smiled back at him, grasping his hands in hers. She felt happier than she had in years as she stood with him there, her eyes locked with his, both of them knowing full well the pleasure that they would again be experiencing in each other’s arms.

Releasing his hands suddenly, Eve threw her arms around Julian’s neck and pulled him toward her for a kiss. As their lips joined in a fiery greeting, their bodies tingled with excitement in anticipation of what was to come. Eve finally released his luscious lips and stepped back slightly, her eyes scanning Julian’s unclothed body. A slight smile appeared on her face as she focused on the evidence that he was more than ready to begin another round with her.

Noticing her downward glance, Julian grinned devilishly and allowed his own eyes to roam the body of his one true love, the most beautiful woman in the world – his angel, Eve. The desire from the gaze alone overwhelmed him. He cupped one of her breasts in his hands, feeling it, loving it, and then used his mouth and tongue to show her just how fond he was of her. By the time he had moved onto the other breast, both he and Eve were so overwhelmed with desire that they couldn’t continue with their wonderful foreplay.

“I need you, Julian. I need you now,” she said, the emotions he was stirring in her proving to be too much to handle.

In lightning speed the covers were pulled back on the bed, and the forbidden lovers once again joined together as one.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Julian, I really have to go,” Eve insisted, laughing as he tried to prevent her from getting up with the exquisite touch of his hands. He succeeded, smiling like a schoolboy as he enticed her to stay in bed. “You are incorrigible,” she said, shaking her head at his antics.

“And you wouldn’t have me any other way,” he chuckled, grinning broadly as he pulled her in for a hug. “We already agreed that today was our time together – no one else’s…and the day is still young. I’m not ready to share you yet.”

“Oh, you’re not, are you?” She laughed. “You know, Julian, I don’t really remember saying that…” she began.

“You don’t, do you? Well, I am sure I remember you saying just that, before we came in here,” Julian said, grabbing Eve around the waist and tickling her.

Giggling, she worked unsuccessfully to free herself from his hands. “No, I distinctly remember that was you who said that. I was just going along to be nice,” she said.

“Hmmm…is that the way you remember it?” he asked. “Because I could swear you said that this was our time, our day. And look,” he pointed to the clock on the nightstand next to the bed. “It’s only two o’clock now. I’d say we have another three hours at least until we are needed elsewhere.”

“Three hours? Julian, I can’t stay here for three more hours. I’ve already been in here for…my goodness have we been here for two and a half hours already?”

“Yes, dear, time sure flies when you’re having fun!”

“Julian, we have missed lunch. Do you realize that?”

“Well, now that you mention it, we have worked up quite the appetite. How about I order us room service? We do need our energy,” he said, grinning at the expression on her face when she heard his last comment.

“I certainly could eat a horse right now…but do you think it’s safe here? The last thing I would want is for Rebecca to come back early and find you getting room service delivered for two.”

“I’ll be discreet. I don’t look for her for quite a while anyway, and when she does come back, she’ll go to her room and take a shower first. I’m not expecting her to show up here until at least six, to head down for dinner.”

“TC should be back by six too,” Eve said, her demeanor suddenly sobering. “Julian, I really think I should go…”

“No, Eve, you can’t. You have to let me feed you. See, I already have them on the line,” he said, picking up the phone and punching the required button in a hurry. After placing an order, he put the phone down and turned back to his lady love. “Room service says it’ll be here in about 20 minutes. I wonder what we can do to occupy ourselves in the meantime…” He leaned over and whispered something in her ear.

“Julian Crane!” she said, smacking him playfully on the arm.

“Come on, you know you want to,” he coaxed, pulling her on top of him and kissing her madly.

Eve returned his kiss, and coming up for air, sighed. “I had forgotten how…engaging you are,” she said. “My goodness, Julian, you are acting like you are still 24 years old.”

“I feel 24 when I am with you,” he said. “And you are every bit as spry as the 19-year-old I fell in love with.”

“I have to be spry to keep up with you,” she laughed.

“Hmmm….I like how you said that just now. Is the good doctor planning on more sessions with her favorite patient?” As the words escaped his mouth, Julian wondered if perhaps he should have waited with the question.

Eve took a deep breath. “Julian, I don’t know…” she started, averting her eyes. “I should say no, absolutely not. But I think I would be lying to myself and you if I said that. Right now, I don’t know what to think.”

“It’s OK, dear. I’m sorry I asked that. I don’t want to make you sad. You know that above all else, your happiness is what’s important to me.”

“I do know that,” she admitted, reaching up to play with his hair. “And I don’t know what I have done to deserve your steadfast support, Julian. Sometimes I wonder what you see in me.”

“You can’t be serious, Eve. You are the most remarkable woman I have ever met,” he responded, his hazel eyes shining brightly. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me – the most important person in my life. And having you here today, in my bed, is a dream come true for me.”

“I love you, Julian,” she declared warmly, deeply moved by his words. “I don’t think I ever stopped loving you, all of these years.”

Julian smiled at her revelation. “We are at a crossroads, you and I. In love and apart…and now, together like this. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give you up.”

Eve lowered her eyes and then quickly raised them again to meet the gaze of the man she loved. “Oh, Julian, I don’t think I could give you up either, not now. Not after this.” She sighed. “I am just so confused right now. Maybe I should go – to get some fresh air and think things through.”

“Not on your life am I letting you go now,” he said good-naturedly. “Room service isn’t even here yet. I can’t allow you to go without food; you could pass out. So, you see, you have to stay. And then after we eat, we still have two more rounds and…”

“Two more rounds, Julian?” she asked incredulously, chuckling at his high expectations. “I think you should have ordered a double round of lunches then…”

“Well, two and a half really. Don’t forget what you promised me,” he said, laughing as he pulled the covers over both of their heads.

Eve didn’t remember promising him anything, but then, having to be under the covers with Julian wasn’t exactly something she wanted to argue about…