41 — Girls like you...

My eyes immediately find him. Even in the crowd, Julian simply stands out with his tall stature, big physique and dominating presence. And it didn't take long before his intense eyes landed on me, widening slightly, inspecting my broken heel and my pathetic appearance — then his gaze shifts behind me, to Eric.
Julian seems to take a moment to understand what's happening. But when he inflates his lungs, running his hand through his blonde hair…. I know things are about to get really ugly….
“Julian-” I try to speak, but he's already moving past me, ignoring me completely… And suddenly, he grabs Eric by the collar, pulling him tight.
I let out a high-pitched scream when Julian raises his right fist. It happens so fast that when Julian's fist hits Eric's jaw, everyone is already getting up and moving away quickly, startled by the sudden violence.
And I feel my blood freeze.
“No, no, Julian…” Even with a broken heel and a possibly sprained ankle, I practically drag myself to grab the arm that was rising for the second punch, “No…”
Julian looks over his shoulder at me and pulls Eric by the collar once more. He seems stunned by the punch and offers no resistance as Julian drags him around the club.
Unsure of what to do, I followed them, forcing my foot to touch the ground, no longer feeling the pain hit my ankle…. The adrenaline pumping inside me is so much that I can feel my heart pulsing in my throat.
“Julian-”
He pushes open an emergency door with a single hand and throws Eric out hard, making him fall to the ground bluntly.
“Wait-”
Julian steps through the door and allows it to close on its own behind him. The short moments when I can't see them is one of extreme agony, I just listen to muffled voices.
I approach as quickly and, just as I'm opening the door, I understand Julian's angry voice shouting, “I told you I'd kill you if you touched her again!”
Outside, in a small dark alleyway, Julian is holding Eric by the collar, pressing him against the wall, with his forearm under Eric's neck, applying such pressure that his face is turning red.
“JULIAN!” I shout — and my squealing desperation attracts his attention.
“Go inside, Angelee.” Julian orders, looking over his shoulder.
“Stop it!” I say firmly, taking a step towards him, “Stop it now.”
Julian stares at me for a few moments of extreme agony because Eric is choking from the pressure put on his throat.
“Please… Please stop this…” I say shakily, taking another fearful step towards, “Please let him go, Julian…”
Julian pulls his arm away, allowing Eric to fall to the ground on his knees, coughing, arching his body and spitting *blood* onto the ground….
Blood. Oh my god…
“Get out!” Julian points to the street beyond the alley. “Get out of here before I actually kill you!”
Eric lifts his head just to look at me, then braces himself against the wall to get up. With shaky steps, Eric follows the path Julian pointed out, leaving us alone, with only the muffled sound of the music playing inside the club hovering between us.
Julian brings his hand up to his face, his back still to me. He looks stressed, as his shoulders are hunched… I can tell by the wrinkle they make in his dark shirt.
“You should have let me hit one more punch.” He says it coldly… so coldly that it makes the tips of my fingers freeze, just like my chest that's taken by a harsh winter.
I swallow dry and step closer to him — and this simple act causes him to turn to me.
“What for? Do you want to get reported for assault?” I grab his hand fearfully and meet no resistance. My eyes are on his knuckles, slightly bruised from the punch. “Besides, I don't want you to get hurt because of me.”
I raise my eyes fearfully, noticing that he's looking at me too.
“What are you doing here?”
Oh, right… for a moment, I even forgot about Grace… I wonder where she is… I need to call her-
“This is no place for you.”
Wait… This is no place for me?
I laugh sarcastically and let go of his hand.
“But it's a place for you?”
Julian raises an eyebrow.
“Good to know.” I cluck my tongue, feeling the blood bubble up.
“I'm serious, Angelee.”
“I'm capable of deciding for myself.” I look away, my throat so tight that the air almost can't get through.
“Is that so?” He takes a step towards me, keeping a distance that still seems too long for two bodies that have been glued together for an entire night.
I bite my lips, “I'm not a kid anymore…”
“I know that.” He runs his thumb across my lip, unhooking it from between my teeth, “But here… it's not a place for girls like you.”
“Girls like me?” I blink slowly, trying to decipher the expression on his face.
I feel Julian's thumb slide up to my jaw, drawing it with his thumbprint. “There's too much innocence in girls like you…. And I'm not talking about just losing your virginity and getting on all fours.”
I hold my breath, feeling a tearing pain in my chest… a damn spreading pain.
“Okay, I get it. I'm boring.” I let out a humorless laugh, and disengage from his touch. “Fine, you can go back to your date with Cathy, I don't intend to ruin your nights anymore.”
Julian moistens his lips, remaining silent, watching me stumble over my words like a complete fool.
“I won't be going back to your hunting grounds anymore-” I let out a grunt as I stomp my injured foot and my body loses its balance; but then, Julian's strong arm supports me with annoying ease.
He pulls me against his body, making me crash into his strong abdomen, flooding my nostrils with the scent of his cologne that softens my legs. He slides his open palm down my back slowly, making me arch up, until finally stopping at my ass, which he squeezes.
Julian's eyes are burning into mine… so intense they set me on fire.
“It's pretty cute when you jump to conclusions like that.” He says slowly, a smile creeping up the corner of his lips, “Makes me want to tease you a bit more.”
“You're an asshole…” I say slowly, holding his shirt, “Isn't cute.”
“Yes, it is.” With his lips close to my ear, he adds in a husky tone, “It makes me want to take that innocence and turn you into another kind of girl.”
“What kind?” I ask, already feeling my body shudder from Julian's hands reaching for my face, his fingers tangling in my hair.
But he doesn't answer me… Just smiles — a mischievous smile that makes me completely melt.
Lifting my chin, Julian finally touches my lips with his own, sliding his soft tongue into my mouth, searching for my tongue to slowly entwine. I close my eyes, surrendering completely to his slow, intense kiss… letting him guide the rhythm and the way our tongues brush against each other, warm and soft.
And when Julian intensifies the kiss, sucking my tongue lightly, I feel a tickle in my lower belly. He slides his fingertips down my arms, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin, marking every inch of it with his fingerprint, and I burn with anticipation.
Making me tilt my head back, Julian pulls my bottom lip with his teeth, opening his green eyes to meet mine, which burn with lust and desire that's all over his face.
He releases my lip slowly and bites the tip of my chin… a bite that, though light, causes a brief pain that makes me arch. But his firm hand in my hair squeezes me to straighten my posture once more.
Julian's lips trail down my jaw, making me hold my breath, as his tongue slides, making a wet path across my sensitive skin, savoring my taste like it's his favorite dessert. And I can't help the low moan that escapes my mouth.
With my heart hammering heavily in my chest, I tilt my head, clearing the way for him to explore my neck further — but suddenly, the door opens abruptly, making me jump.
Julian embraces me, supporting my body, covering me completely.
A group of young people are coming out, laughing loudly and thoroughly ignoring us. The music becomes muffled again when the door closes, but our eyes remain locked on each other as they walk away.
“You should go back to Cathy.” I say firmly, trying to ignore the shivers that run through my body, swallowing that urge to scream… and I look away because saying it is painful enough, and I can't look at him. “You already have a date… I don't want to ruin your night more.”
He strokes my cheek softly, “You're really getting something wrong here, Angel.”
I raise my eyes fearfully again, but no sound escapes through my parted lips, even though Julian's finger is brushing against them.
“Cathy is my friend.”
“Oh… So you're really used to having friends with benefits huh…” His husky laugh makes me shut up immediately because I realize that, once again, I'm sounding like a fool.
“No, we're just friends, really. I mean, we had sex once, but it was a long time ago, and it didn't happen any other times. We're… *incompatible* — it's pretty clear to both of us. But we've been good friends ever since.”
I moisten my lips.
“You don't seem to believe me.” He tilts his head slightly.
“But, the message…” I say quietly, regretting soon after of having said anything and giving myself away like that.
Damn, I'm sure he'll be annoyed that I invaded his privacy like that….
“It's not what you thought.” His smile is soft but slightly teasing, “It's been a while since I've turned down her invitations…. She likes places like this a lot, but I’m not in the mood lately.”
I lower my eyes, staring at the floor.
Julian slides his thumb across my jaw to my chin again… “I have no reason to lie, you know.”
Because there's nothing between us for Julian to need to hide something, I know that.
“I believe you.” I look at him again, “Still, you should go back there. She must be waiting for you.”
Julian stares at the door for a moment, then shrugs and pulls me by the waist suddenly, lifting me up with extreme ease. I gasp, gripping his shoulders tightly, slapping him on the back while giving a high-pitched yelp, “Hey, wait-”
“Your ankle's hurts, right? I'm taking you home.”
“But Cathy-”
“Angelee, be quiet.” He says firmly, sending a shiver across my skin, settling me in his arms, “I'm taking you home now, and we'll take care of you.”