Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Julien just nodded. His gaze moved to the table with the candle Emory had picked up, and he frowned. He started to take a step then seemed to think better of it, though his gaze stayed on that candlestick.
Silence stretched out between them as Emory watched the man obviously resisting a powerful urge. He finally chuckled. “You really want to move that candle back where it goes, don’t you?”
Julien looked back at him, the frown still heavy on his face. “I like things in order.”
“And why is that?”
Julien didn’t answer for a few moments before he cleared his throat. “Because bad things happen when there’s chaos.”
And a candlestick out of place was chaos? Emory just blinked at him as he tried to make sense of that, coming to the conclusion that Julien had just shared an inkling of something in his past that had shaped him into this uptight man. Bad things. What bad things?
And why did the thought of something bad happening to Julien fill him with some pretty strong damn feelings?
The silence returned before Julien’s lips tightened. “I’m going to shower, then have breakfast. Are bagels okay with you?”
“You don’t have to feel responsible for feeding me.”
“You’re here, and you have to eat, too. There’s coffee already made. The mugs are in the cabinet above the coffee maker. Feel free to have some.”
With that, he turned and walked up the stairs.
Emory watched him, still wondering about what might have happened to make Julien say such a thing. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks and turned back to the window. So…there was a reason this man lived the way he did. This knowledge certainly changed the way Emory saw him. It also made him curious.
He could hear the shower running from upstairs, and he couldn’t help but picture that big, muscular body covered in water and suds. Then he pictured himself in there with him before a light shudder ripped through him. Emory was not a fan of lingering in water. He could retract his wings when necessary, but for some reason, water always brought them back out. He much preferred having his wings out, but he hated the heavy feel of them wet. So erotic showers were not his preference despite knowing that Julien probably looked fantastic all slippery and wet. Just the glistening sweat on his thighs had drawn Emory in. He did like a sweaty man.
The water shut off, and about fifteen minutes passed before Julien came down the stairs dressed in a black suit. He was adjusting a slim, black tie as he walked. His hair was still wet, combed back off his face.
“Did you help yourself to the coffee?” he asked as he got to the bottom of the staircase.
“I’m more of a tea drinker, so I wondered if you would be okay with us stopping by a store on the way to your office.”
“I have tea. Black, chamomile, and Earl Grey.”
“Black with a bit of honey would be great.”
Julien nodded and strode into the kitchen. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll have the kettle going, but there’s not enough time today.” He filled a mug with water and set it into the microwave to heat.
“I’m not picky on how it’s made, so this works for me. And thank you.”
“It’s not a problem.” Julien poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to rest his backside against the counter. He stared at Emory as he sipped the brew.
Emory waited for him to speak, but he said nothing. Just stared a couple more moments before turning to pop bagels into a toaster. He then took the mug out of the microwave and handed a tea bag, honey, and a spoon to Emory.
The silence felt truly uncomfortable as Emory fixed his tea the way he liked it. No words were spoken as they ate their bagels and cream cheese, and by the time Julien wiped down the counters and loaded their dishes into the dishwasher, Emory felt like he was going to crawl out of his own skin.
Julien was going to drive him absolutely nuts.
Chapter Seven
Julien
As Julien drove toward his lunch meeting, it was all he could do not to keep looking at Emory in his passenger seat. He was quiet, but Julien had the distinct feeling that wasn’t a normal state for him. As it had from the first moment, his presence affected Julien in a way he wasn’t familiar with. He was completely aware of the man. Of his body and his movements. Even the way he breathed.
There was a light about him, too. Like he was genuinely good. Like his very presence made Julien feel… happy. But then there was also a sort of sultry wickedness about him at times. A quirk of those attractive lips. A glint of sensual promise in his eyes. And for some damned reason Julien could make no sense of, he genuinely wanted to touch those wings.