Chapter 19: Kissing Back
Jared’s arrival was unexpected, casting an abrupt haze over the scene. His eyes bore a glacial intensity, fixated on Julia’s hand as it was held by another man. The frigid air seemed to emanate from him, shrouding him in an aura of cold detachment.
In that moment, a startling realization washed over Julia – her reason for coming here was for this very man. It suddenly dawned on her why she had agreed to accompany him to the event. Her heart quickened its pace as she connected the dots, realizing her true motivation.
Jared’s tense expression and the icy demeanor he projected sent an unspoken
message. The man before her had an uncanny ability to cloak his emotions, but the aura of frostiness he exuded was undeniable.
Yet, before Jared could make a move, Julia’s voice pierced the tension. “Darling, he bullied me.”
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The endearment “darling” seemed to shift the atmosphere, evoking a reaction from both men. As Julia nestled closer to Jared, Carter’s expression shifted from arrogance to anger. The usage of the word “darling” appeared to trigger something within him, igniting a flame of resentment.
Jared’s grip on Carter’s hand was commanding, his voice authoritative as he demanded, “Let go of her.”
The tension escalated as their clash of wills intensified. Carter’s puzzled gaze bore into, Jared, his curiosity mingled with apprehension. Jared’s aura exuded an imposing authority that was impossible to ignore.
Carter’s attempt to gauge his opponent was swiftly met with a jolt of pain. Jared’s grip tightened, and a sharp ache shot through Carter’s wrist. The involuntary release of Julia’s hand was a testament to the strength that lay beneath Jared’s composed
exterior.
Julia seized the opportunity to sidle closer to Jared, wrapping her arm around his possessively. The deliberate gesture was a silent assertion of their bond, intended to further provoke Carter.
“Julia! Who is he?” Carter’s enraged voice echoed, his frustration palpable.
Julia’s exasperation was tinged with sarcasm as she responded, “Are your ears failing you? Or perhaps your ego is just too massive to hear me call him ‘darling‘?”
Carter’s scrutiny shifted to Jared, an unspoken challenge exchanged between the two men. His gaze lingered, attempting to discern the identity of the man who had seemingly materialized out of thin air.
As the intensity between Carter and Jared lingered, Julia deftly deflected Carter’s scrutiny. Her words dripped with disdain as she dismissed his accusations. “Believe what you want, Carter. If you must know, my husband is standing right here.”
Carter’s skepticism remained unshaken, his doubts manifesting in his cynical
laughter. “Do you really expect me to believe this charade? Is he a hired model or some random farmer you’ve conjured up to provoke me?”
Julia’s eyes rolled in exasperation, her patience wearing thin. “Congratulations, Carter. Your narcissism knows no bounds. Just so you’re aware, I’m very much married to him.”
As she leaned into Jared, she brought her lips close to his, bestowing a light kiss. The audacious act was a calculated move, aimed at further stoking Carter’s jealousy.
A wave of emotions surged within Jared, his heart pounding erratically. The proximity of her lips sent his mind into a whirlwind, and the anticipation hung heavily in the air. Her soft touch lingered on his lips, leaving an electrifying aftermath that sent tremors through his core.
Julia’s voice pulled him back from the edge, her use of the endearment “darling” like a soothing melody. “Let’s go and ignore this narcissist.”
His response was a mere whisper, laden with magnetism. “Okay.”
The interaction had left Julia flustered, a faint blush painting her cheeks as she turned away from Carter. The intensity of the moment had caused her to momentarily forget the complexities of her relationship with Jared.
Carter seethed with anger, his face reddening as he struggled to process the turn of events. The woman before him had defied all expectations, her audacity leaving him both infuriated and intrigued.
As Julia and Jared moved away, Carter’s voice rang out, a last–ditch effort to reclaim the upper hand. “Julia!”
Julia paused, her gaze meeting Carter’s with a mixture of weariness and
determination. “Yes?”
Carter’s voice trembled with frustration as he grinded out his words. “You’ve changed, Julia.”
A ghost of a smile touched Julia’s lips, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. “Yes, Carter. We all change. Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons.”
With that final exchange, Julia turned away, her steps light as she walked beside Jared. The aftermath of the encounter lingered in the air, a maelstrom of emotions left in its wake.
The allure of the birthday banquet paled in comparison to the tangled web of emotions that had unfolded. Amidst the opulent surroundings, Julia and Jared navigated a maze of entanglements, each step forward a delicate dance between the past and the present.
Jared’s gaze stretched across the distance between him and the girl, his eyebrows knitting together in a subtle show of disapproval. A hint of displeasure lingered at the corners of his lips, barely noticeable yet undeniably present.
Julia, ever perceptive, caught the shadow of gloom that danced across the man’s
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features. She mentally scolded herself for her oversight – so wrapped up in the sight of the brooding Carter, she had momentarily forgotten about Jared’s unease around women. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach; she imagined Jared’s frustration at her obliviousness.
“Did I just make things worse?” Julia wondered silently. She had initially intended to ask, “Do you retaliate?” But the thought of suggesting, “Do you kiss back?” made her cringe internally. Surely, that would only fan the flames of Jared’s irritation.
In a rare moment of daring, Julia shut her eyes, her face tilting toward Jared’s. She offered herself up for an apology, for reconciliation, for whatever he needed. Her heart raced as she anticipated his reaction, her breath hitching as her lips unconsciously parted.
Jared’s eyes bore into her, their depths swirling with conflicting emotions. His chest tightened, an erratic rhythm echoing the turmoil within him. It was as though the obsidian ice that usually defined his gaze was suddenly set ablaze by some unspoken desire.
A palpable tension gripped the air, suffocating and exhilarating all at once. Then, as if guided by an unseen force, Jared’s hand ascended. Fingers, strong and warm, cradled the delicate curve of Julia’s face. His touch was surprisingly gentle, his palm dwarfing her features as if to protect her from the world.
He leaned in, his proximity enveloping her in a whirlwind of sensations. Their breaths mingled, a dance of closeness that bridged the gap between them. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only their suspended moment, heavy with anticipation.
And then, with a hesitance that betrayed the storm raging within him, Jared’s lips brushed against Julia’s. It was a fleeting connection, like a whisper of promise a taste of what could be. The kiss was feather–light, a tentative exploration that left an electric charge lingering in its wake.
Julia’s eyes fluttered closed, her senses overwhelmed by the novel experience. What was Jared doing? Was this his way of retaliating? Confusion and curiosity swirled within her, but she couldn’t deny the flutter of excitement that stirred in her chest. As the kiss deepened, Jared’s restraint crumbled. The once–cool facade shattered, giving way to an unbridled surge of longing. His hand tightened against Julia’s face, drawing her impossibly closer. Their lips molded together, an intricate dance of emotions – desire, vulnerability, and a hint of something unspoken.
