Freed by You

by Danielle Fox

  We made our way across the vast space to the bar and Julian stayed close to my side, glancing at me at regular intervals. He spoke quietly to Natalie, the look of confusion was evident on her face and I noticed an unnamed emotion flash in her glimmering eyes as she glared in my direction. As I moved away from Julian, to cross to my usual side of the bar, his hand shot out, before even turning to see my departure, and grasped my wrist gently. My head snapped around as I instinctively assessed the hand that held me in my place.

  “I’m sorry,” he said instantly as his hand dropped to his side. “Where are you going?”

  “To carry on with my job, Mr Scott.”

  “It’s Julian,” he repeated through gritted teeth. “And no, you most definitely are not, Emily!”

  “Why? What do you want, Julian?”

  “I want to make sure you get home safely, if you don’t object? Do you really think I’m going to let you carry on as if nothing has happened and just leave you to get on with your work?” He leaned in closely, too closely. I could feel his warm breath as it rasped against my cheek.

  “Why not? What is it to you?”

  “Well, I’ve upset you and now I’d like to be happy in the knowledge that you’ve arrived home safely.”

  “My shift isn’t over yet, I still have half an hour.” Please don’t tell me he’s firing me, I begged silently. Maybe I shouldn’t have followed him out after all. My stomach twisted as I envisioned the scene had I not interrupted his attack.

  “No, but I think I can allow you half an hour, Emily. Don’t worry, you’ll still be paid. And besides, you’ve got mascara all over your face, I’m not sure that’s a good image for my club.” His lips turned up in amusement, his eyes dancing with humour as his gaze penetrated mine.

  I couldn’t even begin to think about how ridiculous my face must look, and quite honestly, I couldn’t care less. He was right, of course.

  “Fine, then. Goodnight,” I snapped as I turned away from him and began towards the exit.

  “I don’t think it’d be very chivalrous of me to allow you to travel home by yourself in such a state. I would much rather escort you,” he insisted as he appeared at my side once more.

  “So, now I’m a state? Thanks for the compliment!” I sneered back at him. “I can get my own way home, thank you.”

  “You know that wasn’t my meaning, I mean you’re upset, I’d like to personally ensure that you’re okay. Although Ryan has my car so I’ll have to walk you, unless you’d rather wait for a cab?” I could tell there was no point at all in protesting any further – it was obvious to me that he was walking me home, whether I liked it or not!

  “I’d rather walk.”

  I prayed that Samantha would be in bed when I arrived home. I could do without the lengthy conversation that would most definitely take place if she saw me walk through the door looking like this. My mind wandered involuntarily back to the man returning home, his face all bloodied and bruised and the look on his children’s faces as they absorbed the image. Of course I had no idea if he even had a wife, let alone children, so I shook the thought away with a shudder.

  “Are you cold?” Julian’s voice startled me. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I had forgotten he was still strolling next to me. “I would offer you my jacket but, I no longer seem to be wearing one.” His eyes dropped to the ground, the same flash of vulnerability clouding his expression once more. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to him, my arm moved before I even had a chance to register the thought. I placed my hand on his bicep, not intentionally, that just happened to be where my reach landed, and his spine stiffened at my touch just as I felt a surge of energy radiating through my core. Whoa! What was that all about?

  “I’m sorry,” I mumbled as I withdrew my hand quickly with my cheeks heating.

  “Please don’t apologise. You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

  For the next few minutes we walked in an awkward silence. I was desperately trying to make sense of what feelings I had for this man. How was it possible that I felt anything for him in such a short amount of time? It felt like there was an invisible current that constantly pulsed between us whenever we were in the same room. It was almost as if a bolt of electricity had shot out from his arm and into my hand when I had touched him through the thin material of his shirt moments before. I was right about his working out I was sure. In just that brief touch I had felt his solid, defined bicep beneath the linen.

  “I’m sorry about tonight.” He startled me a second time. “You were not supposed to see what you saw. I told you to stay where you were.”

  I twisted to face him and slowed to a stop. He looked confused as he stopped abruptly and turned to me, his eyes searching mine.

  “You’re sorry for what you did or you’re sorry I saw you?”

  “I don’t regret teaching him a lesson if that’s what you mean? But I’m sorry I went too far. I just snapped and I couldn’t stop. The thought of his filthy hands on you and the things he said to you,” he trailed off as his features twisted, seemingly in response to a private thought, before taking a deep breath and speaking again. “I’m glad that you interrupted when you did or I honestly don’t know how far I would’ve gone.” He looked down at the ground. Shame filled his eyes. His jaw clenched and his mouth twisted into a grimace as he closed his eyes and gently shook his head.

  My heart cried out to him. I wanted to hold him, to reassure him. He looked so pained, so troubled. With his eyes still closed, a tortured expression swept over his face. “My deepest regret is that I allowed such beautiful, innocent eyes to witness me behaving like a deranged animal. I’m sorry, Emily. You will never know how much so.”

  Tears pooled at the bottom of my eyes as he spoke. My heart wrenched. Could I go to him? Could I hold him? Could I stroke a light hand across his forehead? Could I kiss his frown lines away? No, I couldn’t. That would surely be inappropriate? Or maybe he’d like me to? I took a cautious step closer to him. I could feel that same electricity pulsing between us. I could smell his delicious aroma. The rain had begun to pour and, as a result, his crisp white shirt was now soaked through and clinging to his masculine chest. I hadn’t noticed before now just how tall he was, I’d guess he was at least 6 foot 2 inches, or possibly more, and his shoulders were broad and very well defined. A stray lock of hair clung to his forehead as droplets of rain rolled down his cheeks. He was beautiful. I had never witnessed such incredible beauty in a man.

  I slowly began to straighten my arm, my hand reaching upwards towards his face. I searched his eyes, looking for his permission as I paused. He gave a gentle, single nod, acknowledging my silent plea. As I cupped my fingers around his cheek, my palm resting across his squared jaw, I felt the current strengthen. It was like I was being pulled to him, like my hand was now frozen in place. I wasn’t even sure what my goal was, all I knew was that I had to touch him. I had to feel his skin beneath mine, like my body and mind craved it. As his perfectly green eyes burned into mine they revealed a pleading behind them and I knew what I needed to do to ease his pain and bring him back to sense. Back to The Julian Scott, successful and confident businessman instead of the poor, tortured soul standing in front of me now.

  “Thank you, Julian. Thank you for standing up for me, no man has ever done that for me before.”

  He visibly relaxed as my words sank in. He exhaled a long, heavy breath as his hunched shoulders expanded and straightened. He had stood up for me. He had put himself in danger to protect me. This fact I knew even if I didn’t understand why. That was a question that wasn’t worth asking.

  His heated gaze said what no words could as he raised his hand slowly, his eyes questioning as he delivered his own silent plea. My eyes narrowed in response, unsure of what he was asking my permission for but, admittedly, eager to find out. His hand circled my waist and stopped flat against the small of my back. Then he encouraged me closer to him, applying gentle pressure, his intense gaze holding mine sternly as if me
asuring my reaction. He coaxed gently until my body was flush against his. My breath caught in my throat as he sucked in an audible gasp as our bodies pulsed against one another’s. The electricity, the pull, the magnet was there with an incredible force. My thoughts became clouded as his face moved closer to mine. My heart skipped as I realised he was going to kiss me, or so I thought.

  As his breath grew close enough for me to feel the warmth brush across my face, his head turned to my left and his cheek stroked mine. My eyes flickered and involuntarily closed. His fine nose pressed against the hair above my ear and he inhaled deeply as he applied more gentle pressure against my back, pressing me closer into him still.

  “Thank you,” he whispered into my ear.

  My eyes opened as I felt his body withdrawing. He released his held breath in an audible sigh and stepped back, quickly releasing his hold on me. When I met his gaze his expression was that of The Julian Scott, impassive and hard. My eyes narrowed as I tried to read his emotions. There were none.

  “So, where is home, Miss Braxton?” he asked in his usual empty tone as he turned away to walk forward.

  Oh, so we were back to Miss Braxton then! I couldn’t keep up with this man’s ever changing moods and at that very moment, I decided I wasn’t even going to try.

  “Just the next street, Mr Scott.”

  This time he didn’t correct me.

  Chapter Six

  I awoke on Sunday morning feeling positive. I had spent half of the last night lying in my darkened bedroom, staring up at the ceiling as I tried to make sense of the evening’s events. Finally, I gave up. I was determined to be strong and not let Julian Scott get inside my head. I had enough on my mind already with my drama studies, work and raising my daughter. I simply didn't have any space left for deep thoughts and feelings, especially when it came to trying to figure out the mystery that was Julian. How could someone be so tender one minute and so cold the next? It didn't make any sense to me and I was certain that it never would. I forced him out of my thoughts as I vowed to spend every ounce of my attention on Maia today.

  After a hearty breakfast of coco pops – Maia’s choice – we shared a deep bubble bath. Maia spent her time blowing bubbles around the entire bathroom, giggling hysterically whenever one landed directly on me, which was often. I loved our bathroom. It wasn't very big but it was cosy and homely yet modern at the same time. Large stony tiles covered the walls from the ceiling down to the matching floor. It felt like my little block of heaven at times. Times when I had had a stressful day, I would run a hot bath with plenty of bubbles, place some essence sticks on the window sill to my left and spread small, tea light candles around the room on any surface available, including the toilet seat, and just lay back and relax for what seemed like hours sometimes. That was my escape.

  As much as we both loved our lazy Sundays I felt like I needed to get out, to clear my head out in the fresh air. Some sort of unease kept washing over my senses but I had no idea why. I assumed it had something to do with the previous evening and a certain someone who I wasn’t going to be wasting a single thought on from now on, so a distraction was just what I needed.

  “Maia, do you want to go to the park?” I asked her as I noticed through the window that the rain had stopped falling. Maia squealed in response to my invite and ran straight to the hallway to collect her shoes. Placing them eagerly on my lap, her little face beamed with delight. And again, my heart melted. “You are so beautiful, do you know that?” I squeezed her cheeks gently, distorting her tiny features as she giggled.

  She truly was beautiful. I know every mother says that about her own child but she really was. She had inherited my pale complexion but hers was flawless, her skin so smooth and soft. She also had my large, bright blue eyes but hers were even bigger on her smaller face, even deeper somehow. I often had strangers telling me that she was an absolute spitting image of me. This made me happy, ecstatic even. Of course, I would always adore her, no matter what, but I thanked The Lord every day that I didn't look at my beautiful girl and see him looking back at me. I was so relieved not to have that constant reminder.

  I ran around the park with Maia as if I were a child myself. We raced up the steps and down the slide. We swung side by side, kicking our legs in and out, in and out in unison as I tried to show her how to swing herself. We giggled loudly as we went up and down on the seesaw – although I was so terrified of her falling that I had to sit on the same seat and push the ride up and down myself so, needless to say, that one didn't last long before I challenged her to a game of hide and seek.

  Maia really was terrible at hiding. She rarely found a place that actually covered her and on the rare occasion that she did, she giggled so loudly that it gave her position away, but I didn’t let her in on this secret.

  “Is Maia under the slide?” I called out as I stomped as loudly as I could manage through the scatterings of fallen leaves. “Is Maia behind the tree?”

  “No, Mummy!” she shouted. “Maia in the house!” She came bouncing out of the small wooden house beside me, hugging my legs tightly as she reached me. “Your turn, Mummy!”

  I ran backwards, so as not to take my eyes off her, as she covered her eyes with her gloved hands and started to count. I stood slightly behind the closest tree, still facing Maia with my back to the small area of woods that surrounded us. I watched intently as she looked under the slide, in the wooden house, and then under the slide again. Just as I was about to giggle loudly to reveal my whereabouts, I heard the snap of a twig behind me. My stomach dropped and I froze in my place, not daring to turn around in case there really was someone there. It’s your imagination, I tried to convince myself. My eyes still fixed on Maia, now in the wooden house again, daring not to blink. Just a bird, I told myself.

  Then, there came the unmistakable sound of a slow, heavy footstep as it crushed the twigs and leaves beneath it. Without turning or taking my eyes of Maia I darted forward out of the trees and ran, as fast as I was able, straight for her.

  “Mummy!” she squealed in delight as she saw me coming, then I saw every ounce of that delight slide off her face as she recognised the fear in my eyes. If I had had a moment to think this would have shattered my heart. I grabbed her into a hug, swiping her straight off her feet without slowing and sprinted in the direction of the busy street without glancing back.

  As I reached the bustling street I stopped, panting hard. I spun around, my eyes scanning every face in sight. I recognised no one. Did I imagine that? Was my mind playing tricks on me? I was certain it wasn’t my mind. I was certain that someone had been behind me. It could have been an innocent dog walker for all I knew but I wasn’t taking any chances, not when it came to Maia’s safety.

  “Emily!” a masculine voice called, startling me so much that I yelped aloud and tightened my grip around Maia. I spun around quickly, my heart pounding hard against my chest. “Emily?”

  “Adrian. Hi, how are you?” I was so relieved to see Adrian standing before me that I almost wept. I blinked rapidly fighting against the tears that threatened to release themselves.

  “I’m okay, thanks, clearly you’re not though. What’s wrong?” he asked as he stroked a hand through my windswept hair, removing the stands from my face.

  I was still desperately trying to catch my breath as I placed a hand to my chest, as if this was somehow going to calm my racing heart.

  “Here, let me take Maia.”

  I handed her straight to him, scanning the faces of every passer-by as I did so. I trusted Adrian, I knew he’d never let anybody hurt Maia, or myself. Maia adored him; she called him Uncle Adian, the missing ‘r’ obviously much too troublesome for her little tongue to master. And Adrian doted on her. He caved in to her every request. Every time he visited he brought her gifts or very large packs of sweets – despite my constant nagging about her teeth falling out!

  I glanced at Adrian’s huge chest and noticed he was wearing his sweats. I assumed he must have been on his way home from
the gym. Great, he could walk home with me as he lived in the same direction. That was a welcoming thought that instantly eased my tension.

  “What’s happened? What’s wrong?” Adrian probed, his dark eyes filled with concern, his usually smooth forehead now deeply creased.

  “Fancy walking me home and I’ll tell you about it?”

  “Ooh, that sounds like fun, doesn’t it, Maia?” He tickled her sides before spinning her around and lifting her onto his muscular shoulders as she giggled hysterically.

  I replayed the event at the park to Adrian, unsure of whether I had imagined it or not. I must admit it did sound quite ridiculous when hearing it aloud. Adrian sensed my fear and walked with one arm wrapped across the front of Maia’s legs, securing her to his shoulders, and the other draped across my shoulders. He knew me so well, better than I knew myself sometimes and I had only known him just over a year. I mentioned how Samantha was out on a date tonight and so he insisted on spending the evening at home with me so that I wasn’t on my own.

  “Just in case.” He had insisted when I had tried to argue the necessity of his protection. Adrian knew enough about my past to be deeply concerned for mine and Maia’s safety, especially after what may or may not have happened in the park. And, although it was more than likely just a figment of my imagination, he was adamant that he wasn’t going to chance it. He wouldn’t leave us at home alone.

  I loved Adrian, deeply. Whilst I tucked Maia into bed, Adrian took a quick look around my apartment and secured the windows and doors. This really wasn’t necessary but he knew that by doing it I would be able to relax instead of insisting that Maia stay by my side for the remainder of the evening.

  “All clear, baby,” he mocked as I came down the stairs.

  “Thank you, Adrian. I’m really glad you’re here.”

  “Where else would I be when I have an angel who needs me?”

  I hugged him hard, squeezing my small frame against his muscular chest.