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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 3, 2016 1:43:43 GMT -5
"Of course," she said, lightly tracing the outline of the muscles beneath his shirt with her fingertips. "You didn't think I was going to let your assistance go unrewarded, did you?" She smirked playfully at him and batted her eyes.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 3, 2016 2:23:19 GMT -5
"Minx!" he accused her. Her fingertips and playfulness were wrecking havoc with his body. Only Lyra could relax with him one moment then make him crazy in the next. Perhaps he was driving himself crazy, but it was becoming more and more apparent the more time he spent with her, how badly he wanted to be with her at least in a physical sense. He was far too damaged to think he could be more with her.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 4, 2016 1:32:14 GMT -5
Lyra grinned at his reaction. When she had thought about it later she realized that Julian had watched her carefully when he presented her with gifts and explained how he was taking care of her debts. His eyes lit up as she smiled. He was reveling in her happiness then, and she wanted to do the same with him now. Her gift would be in no way comparable to what he had given her. She would fawn over him for the rest of her years to repay what he had done, and she would bask in every moment of it. She gestured for him to help her up. "It's back at your mansion."
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 4, 2016 1:48:02 GMT -5
He was eager to see what she had brought him, but not eager to leave the serenity of the pond. Still he offered her his hand and gently pulled her up to stand. He pulled a little too hard bringing her against his chest then paused and sucked in a breath.
It had been too long since he had been with a woman he realized quite firmly in that moment.
Courteously he stepped backward and led her to the horses, walking a little stiffly beside her.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 4, 2016 2:39:51 GMT -5
As her body fell into his, his excitement was unmistakable. Lyra smothered a grin by biting her lower lip, a chill running over her. As they walked to where the horses waited, Lyra admitted silently that Samantha had been right all along. She struggled to keep herself composed as they rode back to Julian's home, twilight setting upon them.
It was night when they returned and the lights from inside the mansion twinkled like stars against the inky black sky. If possible, his home looked bigger now than when she had arrived. The horses stabled, the pair entered into the foyer, Lyra's arms wrapped around Julian's. She turned with an almost childlike skip to face him and smiled broadly. "Wait here. I've left it in your guest room."
Turning, she made her way down the hall she'd traveled earlier. A few turns later and Lyra realized she was not where she had intended to be. She should have paid more attention when she followed the servant earlier. Now she was lost. Lyra wandered the halls, hoping to find her way or at the very least find a servant to direct her. She took the opportunity to admire the art that hung on the walls. As she had suspected, some of it was Julian's personal work. He was rather talented. His portraits were so life-like. She came upon a painting of a stunning young woman with dark brown hair and olive skin. Lyra stopped dead, her skin suddenly cold as though a ghost had passed right through her. The woman in the painting was dressed in the same riding habit that Lyra currently wore. Only, this woman filled it out much better. She stared at the picture, open mouthed, for a short while until a house elf appeared.
"Is Miss lost?"
Lyra jumped, her eyes watering slightly at the shock of being interrupted. "Umm...yes. I was looking for..." Lyra looked back to the painting. "Who is that, in the painting?"
"Miss Belle, that is. Master Julian's dearly departed betrothed."
Belle. Of course her name was Belle. She was the perfect embodiment of the name. There was a lump in Lyra's throat the prevented her from speaking momentarily. When she finally found her voice, it cracked as she spoke. "Guest room. I was looking for the guest room. My clothes are there." The house elf nodded as though he knew exactly which of the many guest rooms she would find her things and guided her back down the way she had come. When she finally made it to the room she shut herself in without thanking the elf, and fell back against the door. Lyra knew that Julian had been properly engaged. She wasn't sure what had happened, only that his fiancee died and he turned to a life of rescuing women. Lyra had been one of those women. Had been. Or still was?
Spotting her own clothes on the bed, Lyra quickly shed the dead woman's habit. She understood now why Julian had been so unsettled earlier. Her heart broke as she thought of the pain he must have been in. She dressed promptly and grabbed the wrapped package she had set on the bed before their ride. She thought of the gifts inside. A portable easel that shrunk and enlarged along with any canvas that sat on it, and a set of paintbrushes the clerk at the shop insisted were the best on the market. These would certainly not make up for what she had put Julian through today, but he was expecting her.
She wiped her eyes and forced a smile before she turned the corner to meet him. The sharp click of her heels announced her presence. She nervously smoothed her skirt as she held the package out to him. "You don't have to pretend to like it. I really had no idea what I was doing in the shop."
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 4, 2016 3:27:06 GMT -5
Without Lyra to distract him from his troubles they increased gradually until he was consumed by guilt, both for his betrayal of Belle and for the inappropriate thoughts he had toward Lyra.
He began to worry when she took a while to change, but needing a moment to compose himself he sent a house elf to look for her. He knew the estate could be overwhelming and she could have easily gotten lost.
When she returned his guilt eased and once again he was calm and happy in her presence.
"You really didn't have to -" he stopped talking when he saw her gift. It was a truly thought out present and it fractured a part of him.
"Lyra this is a wonderful gift, Thank you." he said putting his hand over hers.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 4, 2016 11:58:46 GMT -5
His words were sincere and the look in his eyes made her melt. She hadn't realized how much she needed that reaction. The heaviness on her heart lifted, if only temporarily. "Really?" Even if he was simply being polite, she beamed at him.
"Oh, Julian. I can't even begin to repay you. You deserve so much more than this." She wrapped herself around him, unleashing all the tension she had held within her body. He deserved the moon and the stars, and all she could muster was some painting supplies. She did not deserve him, and he was a silly man if he desired to be with her.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 4, 2016 14:47:43 GMT -5
He held on to her as she did him. It felt nice. It felt right.
"It's perfect love." he assured her.
He smiled at her other comment, though her words twisted through him. She deserved more from him than his earlier thoughts. He knew he could never give her what she truly deserved and she was too dear to him to use for anything else.
"We all get what we deserve pet, and if I deserve your presence here with me now, then I must have done something grand indeed."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 4, 2016 23:57:32 GMT -5
It seemed impossible, but his words made her heart soar and sink simultaneously. She wanted give herself over to him, in every way possible. She was now convinced he felt something similar for her. But the portrait of his dead fiancee haunted her thoughts and she knew Julian would feel immeasurable guilt if he betrayed Belle. He had told her before that he was not a "whole man" and couldn't love her. Belle was the reason for that, her death had shattered something inside Julian that no number of Lyras could fix. Not knowing what to say or what to do, Lyra simply hugged him silently, pretending everything was fine.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 5, 2016 0:35:26 GMT -5
Julian, the wretch he was, allowed it. He had "rescued" Lyra before, but even then the chemistry between them had affected him. Now that he knew who she was, now that he adored her, the chemistry was only stronger. He had congratulated himself on "getting out" without hurting her last time, but now he was in deeper than ever before.
He could pretend too. He was pretending that this was alright. That he wasn't ruined. That he wasn't going to ruin her too. He only hoped he'd be able to stop himself when the time came.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 5, 2016 1:03:39 GMT -5
A clock chimed from the other room and Lyra counted the tones wordlessly. It was ten in the evening. She had work in the morning. Work. That sounded strange, even inside her head. But she knew she couldn't stay much longer. Sam had made it explicitly clear that she was to look the part of a fashion editor, and that included bagless eyes and glowing skin. She had to be well rested, as it was very likely that she would be faced with an actual work-related task tomorrow. Slowly, Lyra released her grip from his waist and took a small step back. "I suppose I'm going to have to take a rain check on that tour."
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 5, 2016 1:25:49 GMT -5
Julian didn't want her to leave. He knew he'd be stuck with the demons that haunted him since Belle's death once he was alone, but he couldn't be selfish with Lyra either. He had learned that lesson and held to it before, but the temptation was so much stronger now.
"You're welcome here anytime, you know that."
But what he really wanted to tell her was to stay.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 5, 2016 1:33:55 GMT -5
"I expect to see some wonderful new piece on my next visit," she cooed, referencing the paintbrushes she had given him.
"Thank you for the lovely evening. Send me an owl, and we'll make proper plans the next time." Her lips curled and her eyes twinkled. She raised up to her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek.
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Post by Julian Faust on Oct 5, 2016 1:43:46 GMT -5
He agreed to her request, though the idea of showing her more of his art was somehow nerve wracking. He really needed to get in control of himself or things would end badly between them, and he couldn't handle that.
"I hope not too proper." he teased her.
His head turned slightly into her kiss and he kissed her in return for the briefest moment.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 5, 2016 1:57:10 GMT -5
This was hardly the first kiss they had shared. There had been plenty of kisses last year during their ruse at Hogwarts, many with much more fanfare than the simple peck now. But as his lips pressed against hers she could feel the substance that had been missing from all of their previous displays. It lasted only a moment and then it was gone. Smiling meekly, she stepped toward the door with slightly more sway in her hips than normal. Once outside of the large and somehow empty home, she disapparated.
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