Free Rose Blossom by Renee Travis Page A

what harm is there?” I asked.
                  “Yes, Julian, you’ve obviously chosen the girl, against the better judgment of your family,” Loretta looked at me with apology in her eyes, “but she seems lovely and smart.”  She looked back at Julian, a frown on her mouth and a hardness in her eyes, “you will just have to deal with it. She’s going to be family and you need to stop being selfish.”
                 I silenced Julian with a hand, as he opened his mouth to reply. I was irritated that they were talking over me, something my mother did all the time and I hated it, hated when people acted like I wasn’t there.
                 “Excuse me, but I have no idea what you guys are talking about, and since I have not yet received or accepted a marriage proposal please stop acting like I cannot think for myself!” I could feel my face flush and my heart palpitate.
                 Instantly, without seeing her move, Loretta was at my side, taking my hand.  I heard Julian’s warning growl but his mother just rolled her eyes and took my hand.
                 “Calm down dear, there is no reason for this upset. I am truly sorry,” she smelled like lavender and the same musky coppery scent that Julian did, that same sweet wild lavender in my nostrils, forcing a calm to take over my senses.
                 “Look,” I began, taking a deep breath and smiling, “I don’t have very many friends, and if it were not for my best friend Mel, I would never go anywhere or have any social skills at all. I would love to be friends with Avalon, especially if maybe you, Loretta,” I looked at her, “could talk to my parents about letting me out of the house to do so.”
                 Loretta beamed at me and gripped my hand a little tighter, I could tell Julian did not really like it but reached up and tilted my chin back and kissed me. His lips pushed on mine, hot and insistent, I could feel his teeth pressing through them, and sighed, my whole body warming. When he broke off the kiss I was a little embarrassed as Loretta was still holding my hand.
                 But she just let it go, gave me a large happy smile and looked over my head, “she is wonderful Julian, but it’s getting late and you should go.”
                 “Yes we should head back and finish out the school day,” Julian agreed.  He helped me stand and put an arm around my shoulder.
                 “Thank you for inviting me,” I said.
                 “Any time dear heart and I will talk to your parents,” Loretta blew us a kiss before turning to go and, I assumed, find her partner.
                 “Come on, I don’t want you to fall behind in school, nor do I want your parents to find out that you ditched today.”
                 I laughed, “Yes, gods know what they would believe we did all day, certainly not the truth.”  We walked outside and right before we got to the truck I stopped and turned to Julian, a nagging suspicion in my mind that needed confirmation.
                 “Julian?” I asked.
                 “Yes dear heart, what is it?”
                 “Am I prey?” I think it was the last thing he thought I’d ask. His whole body froze, as if he were made of marble, and his eyes darkened. Goose bumps broke out on my arms and a hint of fear was racing up my spine.
                 “Is that why you are so in tuned to my heart? Why your whole family could hear it?” I questioned him, trying desperately to narrow down what in the world he was while suppressing the instinct to run screaming away.
                 I watched as Julian slowly nodded, his eyes never left mine and I could not fathom what he was thinking.
                 “Have you changed your mind about being with me?” he asked, quietly.
                 I sighed,