And that kiss had been so like the vampires slithering over her. Their mouths had moved over her skin as they sought a place to bite her. They hadn’t raped her because she was to be auctioned off at the end of the hunt, and whoever bought her wouldn’t pay as much if their friends sampled the goods first.
No, they hadn’t raped her, but those vamps violated her in countless other ways. She’d never forget the feel of their hot mouths against her icy skin or the agony of their unwelcome bite.
Aida rested her hand against her forehead as she struggled to suppress her memories while her temper burned like the sun. Lifting her head, she leveled Owen with a stare. Even if she lost her job, she refused to let this continue.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out as her gaze settled on the front windows. There, on the street, stood a man who looked eerily similar to Julian, but it couldn’t be. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. She’d fully expected him to disappear, but he remained standing there with his eyes locked on her and Owen.
He barely resembled the boy she recalled every day, but she had no doubt the man before her was the one who walked away years ago.
“Julian,” she breathed.
Without thinking, she tore her arm away from Owen and raced for the door. She didn’t hear her purse hit the floor, didn’t realize she’d dropped her coat as she fumbled for the handle and threw open the door.
She plunged into the April night and gasped when goose bumps broke out on her arms and legs. The black pants and white blouse she wore were useless against the cold, but she didn’t retreat inside as she frantically searched the streets for him.
“Watch it,” someone muttered when she shoved past them, but she didn’t pay them any attention.
Running in her boots wasn’t exactly easy, but she weaved in and out of the crowd in search of the man who was at once so familiar and a complete stranger. Then, she spotted him with his hands in his pockets and shoulders hunched up as he stalked toward the bar where Cassidy and Kyle worked.
It was him, but it couldn’t be. He walked away years ago, why would he be back now?
She ignored the anger and catcalls as she bumped her way through more people. She imagined him, but she couldn’t get herself to stop chasing this stranger. She had no idea what she was going to do when she caught up to him. And then, he was at the steps leading down into the bar.
Before he could descend, she seized his wrist and jerked him toward her. She’d been afraid she was chasing a stranger who only resembled Julian. Someone who would think she was a lunatic—and maybe she was—but her heart slammed against her ribs when he turned toward her and his striking lapis-colored eyes met hers.
She barely suppressed a strangled cry as her hand flew to her mouth. It had been years since she looked into those striking eyes, but they’d haunted her dreams almost every night he was gone.
He’d grown into everything she knew he would. He was still lean, but his shoulders had broadened and thickened over the years. A neatly trimmed, black beard shadowed his square jaw and emphasized his stiff upper lip and full bottom one.
Those lips brought back the heated memory of his kiss. Her experience with Julian was so different than what happened with Owen tonight. He’d awakened her body and heart in ways she’d never dreamed possible, and then he left without so much as a goodbye, a call, or a text message to let her know he was alive.
And he’d never bothered to respond to her when she tried to talk to him—a fact that still caused her cheeks to burn with anger and shame as she buried her urge to kick him, hit him, or scream. She was so lost back then, and he was the rock who sat in the woods with her while she was losing her shit. Then, one day, her rock vanished.
When he first started joining her in the woods, he would sit beside her with his hand resting near hers on the leafy ground. He didn’t touch her because he knew the touch of another made her shudder.
Over time, his hand steadily crept closer until he could touch her without her recoiling. Then, one day, his hand had clasped hers, and eventually, she tolerated his arm around her shoulders while she leaned against him and cried.
And as time passed, she did less crying and more leaning against him while they talked, laughed, and studied the stars. They didn’t know any of the constellations; they could have asked Mia to help them, but they far preferred to make up their own shapes and names for the stars.
He’d been her best friend, but his kiss officially kicked him out of the friend zone and made him something she’d never figured out.
“Julian,” she breathed.
Julian couldn’t speak as he stared into her wide, golden-brown eyes. He’d recalled every detail of her repeatedly over the years, but time had honed and perfected her beauty in ways he hadn’t imagined. Her round, youthful face was thinner, and her cheekbones more pronounced. Slightly longer than when he last saw her, she’d straightened her hair, and it now dangled against her waist. Still the color of porcelain, her skin remained unblemished.
Her fingers burned into his wrist, and he started to reach out to cup her cheek, but he pulled his hand away. Just minutes ago, she was kissing another man. He’d set her free to live her life, and she was doing precisely that. He wouldn’t interfere.
He never should have gone to the gallery in the first place. He’d cursed and hated himself with every step he took toward the building, but he couldn’t get his traitorous feet to stop. And he’d paid the price for interfering in her life.
His jaw clenched as he recalled her kissing the other man, and he had to look past her to get his fury under control. He couldn’t kill the man, he wanted to, but he couldn’t do that to her. However, he couldn’t be near her right now either.
CHAPTER 6
“Aida,” he greeted.
The coldness in his voice startled her. Despite her astonishment over seeing him and her anger over his abandonment, her pulse thundered through her veins. She’d never been happier to see someone, and he couldn’t look more unhappy to see her. Fresh hurt tore through her, and she released his wrist. She didn’t know who she was angrier at, him for being such an asshole, or herself for briefly forgetting he was an asshole.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I came to see Kyle and Cassidy,” he said.
“Oh. They’re my roommates.”
She sounded pathetic, and she had no idea why she’d said it.
“I know,” he said. “I only came to see my family.”
She somehow managed to keep her face impassive while inwardly she recoiled as if he’d slapped her. The way he said it made it clear she was not family. She didn’t understand any of this. Why had he left her? Why was he acting so cold to her now? Who was this man she’d trusted with so much only to have him toss her aside as her father did?
What is wrong with me?
As soon as the question ran through her head, rage followed it. There was nothing wrong with her. Her father was a piece of shit who walked out of her life when she was two, and Julian wasn’t much better. She refused to let them drag her down. They were the broken and fucked-up ones, not her.
Okay… after the island, she was a little fucked up, but she wasn’t an emotionally stunted asshole for absolutely no reason.
“It was good to see you,” he said.
“Oh.” Realizing she sounded like an idiot by continuing to say, oh, she added, “It was good seeing you too.”
“Aida!” She turned to find Owen hurrying down the street with her purse and coat. His breath bloomed out of him as he stopped and held her coat out to her. He barely glanced at Julian before focusing on her. “I locked the door and brought you these.”
“Thank you,” she said.
She took her coat from him and slipped it on. It did nothing to ease the iciness encasing her, but she didn’t think anything would defrost the chill in her soul. For years, she dreamed of seeing Julian again. She’d never known what would happen if they ever did see each other aga
in, but she’d never imagined he would stare at her like she was a nuisance.
She didn’t know what she’d ever done to him, and she didn’t care. His issues were his own to deal with; her life was going perfectly fine without him in it. Still, she’d gone from almost slugging Owen to resisting the impulse to punch Julian. She had to get out of here and away from them.
“Owen, this is my…” She couldn’t bring herself to say friend when they weren’t friends anymore. At one time, she considered him her best friend; now, he was the same as every other stranger on this crowded city street. “This is Julian.”
Julian didn’t make any threatening moves toward him, but Owen stepped away. Every human recognized a predator on some level, and their instincts steered them away. Owen had a right to be nervous. It would only take him a second to tear out his throat and toss it aside. However, he couldn’t kill a man for having the woman he loved when he willingly walked away from her.
“How do you two know each other?” Owen asked.
“We were friends once,” Aida said. “But we haven’t spoken in years. Have a good visit with Kyle and Cassidy.” She barely glanced at Julian before she smiled at Owen. “Did you set the alarm?”
“No, I didn’t know if Nicolette changed it at some point,” Owen answered and glanced nervously at Julian.
“She did.” Nicolette changed the code whenever someone stopped working at the gallery. “I have to make sure everything is all set.”
“It would be appreciated,” Owen muttered. “I’m not in the mood to have my work walk away.”
Aida managed a smile as she started down the street with him. This time, she would be the first to walk away. She felt Julian’s eyes boring into her back, but she refused to acknowledge him again.
“Who was that guy?” Owen asked as they neared the gallery.
“No one important.”
When they returned to the gallery, Aida took her keys from Owen. He’d remembered to lock the door before leaving, but all the lights remained on. She unlocked the door and pushed the door open. He followed her inside and trailed her while she turned off the lights.
She was reaching for one of the switches but pulled her hand back when it trembled too much to work right. Clasping her hands together, she took a deep breath as she steadied the riot of emotions tearing through her.
For years, she wondered what became of Julian, if he was safe or thinking about her too. She repeatedly questioned why he left in such an abrupt, dismissive way and always assumed she’d run into him again one day and get her answer. It seemed the answer was that he couldn’t stand to be anywhere near her.
Now that she was away from him again, she didn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry more. She’d never cared for anyone as much as she did Julian, and she meant nothing to him. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to shed them as she threw back her shoulders and turned the light off.
It was one freaking kiss! Get over it, you moron!
Still, she found herself pondering how many other women he’d kissed since leaving her.
“I’m going home,” she told Owen as she finished turning everything off and met him in the middle of the room. One of the motion sensors remained on, and its dim glow spilled across the floor. “I’m exhausted.”
“Come on, getting out and having a few drinks will do you good,” Owen coaxed.
Alcohol was the worst thing to mix with her temper right now, especially if Julian was in the bar with Cassidy and Kyle.
“No, I’ve had enough of this day. Besides, I need some sleep before Nicolette calls,” she said.
His face fell, but for once, he didn’t try to push her. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah,” she muttered and ignored the protest of her stomach. Not even a cheeseburger could entice her into seeing Julian again. She’d make do with her leftover chicken parm.
She led Owen to the door, saw him out, and locked it behind him. Turning, she slid her keys into her purse and surveyed the paintings on the wall. Most of the time, they gave her a sense of calm, but that wasn’t working tonight.
Reaching into her purse, she felt the inner pockets to make sure she still had her pepper spray and knife. They remained safely stored in their proper place. Feeling stable enough to face the world again, she set the alarm and locked the gallery before moving to join the people on the streets.
CHAPTER 7
Aida rose from the couch when she heard the key turn in the door. Cassidy barely had the light on before Aida stood in front of her.
“Whoa,” Cassidy said and took a startled step back.
Aida glanced over her shoulder to make sure Kyle wasn’t with her, but he usually found somewhere else to stay at night. Satisfied Cassidy was alone, Aida blocked her from going any further into the apartment.
“Did you know your brother was coming?” Aida demanded.
Cassidy frowned at her before turning, closing the door, and locking it. “Do you mean Julian?”
“Yes, Julian,” Aida said impatiently. “Did you know he was coming?”
“No.” Cassidy shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the tall, wooden rack beside the door. “He decided to surprise us. You saw him?”
“I saw him.”
Cassidy’s eyebrows drew together. “What is it between you two?”
Aida realized confronting Cassidy like this had probably been the wrong move, but she’d felt ambushed tonight, and she’d hoped her friend hadn’t been keeping this information from her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he was a little, ah… surprised to learn you might be at the bar tonight.”
“You mean annoyed to learn that, not surprised, right?”
A hint of colored tinged Cassidy’s cheeks. “No, not annoyed, just…”
“Upset? Angry? Disappointed?” Aida suggested when Cassidy’s voice trailed off.
Seeming to decide it was better to evade Aida’s question, Cassidy changed the subject. “What happened between you two? I thought you were friends.”
“So did I,” Aida said as she ran her fingers through her hair and paced away from Cassidy. “I don’t know what changed.”
“Nothing happened between you two?”
She detected the skepticism in Cassidy’s voice and had no idea how to handle it. She’d kept their kiss a secret for so long, she couldn’t imagine revealing it now. Unable to meet Cassidy’s eyes, she stalked past the gray sofa where Kyle slept. The couch was one of the few new things in their apartment as Kyle refused to sleep on anything secondhand, and Aida didn’t blame him.
The small, two-bedroom apartment was all they could afford; almost everything in it was used, and they were a little cramped, but Aida loved the place. The old wood floors glistened in the sun shining through the windows; the cream-colored walls held some of her photographs, a couple of paintings, and one picture of dogs playing poker that Kyle found hilarious.
Aida and Cassidy were adamant the picture wasn’t coming home with them when he pulled it from a stack of other photos he discovered at a flea market. However, Kyle was already getting shafted by having a couch instead of a bed or a room, and after reminding them of this and telling them how uncomfortable the couch was with big, pleading eyes, they capitulated to him. Aida would never tell him the thing had grown on her over the years, and it amused her now.
The apartment was small, but they’d turned it into something cozy and theirs. And though the bathroom looked like something straight out of the seventies, the appliances in the galley kitchen were all brand new. The apartment underwent a renovation shortly before they moved in. Apparently, the bathroom hadn’t factored into the budget, but she’d grown used to the avocado tiling and pink sink.
The twins could have asked their parents for help or used their abilities to get a nicer place, but they were enjoying the struggle of making it on their own as much as Aida.
“Did something happen between you two?” Cassidy asked again.
Aida stopped before t
he window to stare down at the sleepy city street. With the bars shut down, there were a few stragglers on the road, but most were already home. The streetlights illuminated patches of the sidewalks, and the rumble of cars had dwindled.
“He kissed me right before he left,” Aida admitted.
“Julian kissed you?”
The disbelief in Cassidy’s voice caused Aida to scowl at her over her shoulder. “I’m not some hideous swamp monster.”
Cassidy chuckled. “Far from. It’s just that… well, it is or was Julian. Back then, I wasn’t sure he knew what a girl was; he barely picked his head up from his computer. But I don’t think I ever knew my brother as well as I thought. I definitely never expected him to take off the way he did.”
Aida wasn’t the only one Julian abandoned when he left. However, she was the only one he hadn’t contacted since he left, and he had not been happy to see her.
“So he kissed you,” Cassidy murmured. “That’s an interesting development.”
“There’s no development,” Aida said as she turned away from the window. “He kissed me and left. It was a real confidence booster.”
“It’s still strange,” Cassidy said as she made her way into the kitchen.
Aida plopped onto the sofa and stared at the blank screen of the flat-screen TV hanging on the wall across from her. The refrigerator door opened and plastic crumpled as she removed one of the blood bags from inside.
“In case you haven’t noticed,” Aida said, “your family dynamic is a little weird, or at least it is to every human on the planet.”
Cassidy laughed, and when she stepped away from the fridge, the TV screen reflected her as she moved about the kitchen. “I suppose that’s true, but Julian was always so into his computers that I figured he’d be the brother who hung out around the house for the rest of his life. I never saw him traveling the world, and I definitely never saw him with a girl.”
Forsaken (Vampire Awakenings, Book 10) Page 5