Julian stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. His mind raced with images of the failed skydiving attempt.
Solana had saved him. She saved him. And for the life of him, he couldn't understand how. His plan had been flawless, his setup meticulous. But then she had come swooping in like some kind of guardian angel when it was supposed to be her whom he would have tried to save.
It confused and frustrated him. To clear his chaotic thoughts, he splashed cold water on his face. Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair. "I got time," he muttered.
When he caught his reflection again, Julian let out a shaky breath. "Get your shit together mate," he clicked his tongue. "For now, let's keep her entertained."
Grabbing his suit jacket on the countertop, he walked out of the bathroom and headed downstairs where Solana waited for him.
The soft music, a hint of an old tune, immediately infiltrated his hearing, followed by the scent of roasted lamb and fresh herbs. Solana had gone all out, setting the table with an array of flickering candles that cloaked the room in a dim light.
Standing at the head of the table, dressed in an emerald-fitting gown that hugged her curves at the right places and his back to him, she smirked. She sensed him watching, drinking the beautiful sight before him. Satisfied that he had gotten the message, she turned, smiling sweetly as she eyed him from head to toe.
"There you are, darling," Solana announced, pretending to have only noticed his presence. "I was starting to think you had fallen asleep and stood me up."
Julian picked up his jaw from the floor and immediately approached his wife, claiming her lips as he came by her side. "I could never do that, especially when you look absolutely stunning."
She chuckled softly, purposely grazing his ear with her lips. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
Julian rewarded her with another kiss, deepening it. He was ready to do more than just that, his hands stroking her back. However, Solana planted a hand over his chest, halting him.
"Later," she promised. "The food is getting cold."
Planting one last kiss before reluctantly pulling away, Julian grabbed and pulled a chair for Solana, waiting for her to get settled before reaching for the bottle of wine that sat in the ice bucket. He expertly opened it with a soft pop.
Solana watched him pour the wine into their glasses, filling it just enough for a toast. After handing her share, her husband sat beside her, raising his glass. "To us and to a happy, fruitful marriage."
"To us," she murmured, clinking her glass against his. They held each other's gaze as they sipped their drink, the air becoming thick with tension.
It was Solana who first broke eye contact, clearing her throat as she remembered something. "I have a question, Julian."
The latter raised a brow, fighting to keep a straight face as the atmosphere at the dinner table somehow shifted, turning serious. His heart began to race, his mind already formulating possible answers to a potential question.
Sensing every ounce of emotion coursing through him, Solana bit her lower lip, swallowing back the boat of laughter that threatened to burst out of her. To further distract herself and Julian, she picked up the knife beside her plate and started cutting a piece of the lamb. "By 'fruitful marriage', did you mean children?"
He had thought of every plausible question she could ask but what it turned out to be was the least he had expected.
"Isn't that what a marriage is about? Creating and raising a family?"
Solana brought the small piece of meat to her mouth, carefully chewing it. "Huh," was the only response she could utter.
"Does that have something to do with what you were going to tell me?" Julian asked and waited patiently, copying her movement and started eating his food piece by piece. A few more minutes of heavy silence passed, but Solana continued to eat and so did he. It wasn't until they had the last bite that she appeared ready to talk.
Putting the cutlery down, she looked at Julian, her expression devoid of any emotion. "Yes," she answered, her voice almost a whisper. "If that's something you want now or in the future, I'm afraid, I can never give that privilege to you."
She allowed him to process this, letting the silence stretch. In their six months of dating and courtship, this topic had never been explored. Solana had evaded it, changing the subject at the mere mention of babies and children. She had long accepted one of the inevitable facts among her kind regarding procreation. By natural means, it was not possible for her to conceive, leaving her barren for the rest of eternity.
Julian's curiosity was piqued. However, he knew better than to probe this seemingly sensitive subject. Instead, he reached out, his fingers hovering above Solana's hand. Looking at her now sullen expression, he moved his chair closer, clasping her hands as he drew circles with his thumb, hoping to soothe her worries away.
"Don't ever worry yourself about children, Solana," he assured her, looking into her eyes to show sincerity. "I only need you and no one else."
The silence that followed after his remark was unlike before. It sparked a fire of desire, softening Solana's gaze. She purposely leaned in to brush her lips against his. It was a playful, subtle touch. But it was enough for Julian to feel the heat rising from the pit of his stomach, the sudden, overwhelming pull of her presence, and the unbridled desire to consume every piece of her.
Driven by such wanting, Julian closed the gap between them and kissed her. He felt her hand slipping to the back of his neck, her grip tightening. In one swift, fluid motion, he pulled her onto his lap, his hands instinctively finding the curve of her hips, pressing her against him. The contact was electric, every inch of his body aching for more.
Solana let out a soft gasp, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. The air between them grew thick, the room fading as the rest of the world disappeared, leaving only the two of them in this moment—raw, intimate, and all-consuming.
But just as she was about to let herself get lost in the heat, a flash of something primal made her pull back, seeing red dots in her vision. Releasing him with a slight tremor in her hands, she noticed his crazed expression and the tiny marks she left by his neck.
Using his dazed state to her advantage, Solana whispered in his ears. "Forget about the things you couldn't explain, darling. They were nothing but a trick of the mind. We simply shared a passionate kiss and maybe more. "
Giving him a light peck on the lips, she watched Julian slowly return to his senses, his brows furrowed with confusion.
"I love you, Julian Mikael Zielinski," Solana confessed, her voice low and steady, but her eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down Julian's spine. It left him pondering a situation he never once thought of until now. The way his heart beat erratically against his chest, he was no longer certain if he was the hunter or the hunted.