Stranger From The Bar

Chapter 4 

Allison POV

—-----MY stepson julian 

The name left my mom's mouth with a bright smile, completely unaware of the devastating weight those words carried. I tried to say something, but the words were cut off in my throat. A buzzing sound filled my ear. I could hear my heart beating in my chest. I stood there, not able to move, my fingers locking tightly around the strap of my purse.

Julian 

The man that I had been dreaming about for months was standing right there looking at me. I echo his name in my mind, a cold sweat breaking out on my skin. That wasn’t the name I remembered. The name his friends had called him at the bar. He didn’t move; he simply stood there, his massive frame radiating a suffocating, arrogant aura that filled the entire room. In the light, intricate trails of the butterfly tattoo on the side of his neck looked stark, dark, and intimately familiar.

Slowly, his amber eyes slid away from my mom and locked directly onto mine.

The lazy, detached expression he had worn a second ago vanished. A dangerous, liquid heat flared in his gaze, followed by the slow, unmistakable smirk that I knew took well. As his eyes drifted deliberately down the length of my body, tracing the curves hidden beneath my skin had felt like beneath his hands two months ago, he smiled. 

He recognized me.

He remembered everything that night 

The air in the room felt heavier 

I wished the ground would open up and swallow me 

Before I could finish my thoughts, my mom's voice snapped me back to reality.

“Julian, sweetheart,” my mom said, turning her radiant smile toward him, completely oblivious to the fact that the color had drained from my face. “This is my daughter, Allison she going to be staying with us for a couple of weeks.”

While my mom was talking, I stole a frantic glance at Julie. Her expression mirrored my own absolute shock. If anyone had told us yesterday that the mysterious man from the bar, the one who has haunted my thoughts for months, would be starting in front of us as my new stepbrother, I would have laughed in their face. I forced my attention back to my mom right as she finished her introduction. I tried so hard to speak to force a word past my throat, but my vocal cords felt utterly paralysed. The ghost of Jake’s cruel insult, calling me cold, emotionless, and unfeeling, collided brutally with the roaring reality of the man standing in front of me. I wasn't dead inside. Looking at Julian, my blood was practically screaming. aming 

Julian walked forward to where we were standing, the sharp lines of his tailored black suit shifted over his broad shoulder as he closed the distance between us. “No need for a formal introduction

Julian murmured. His voice was a low, gravelly purr that sent a shiver straight down my spine, instantly taking me back to that night, the memory of his hot breath against my ear. 

He stopped right in front of me, hovering over my 5’9 frame easily . he smelled intoxicating-a blend of cedar and faints, underlying hint of oak, and lotus flower that had been burned into my mind for a month.s 

With agonizing slowness, Julian extended a hand towards me 

“It's a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said softly, his eyes darkened, filled with pure amusement. He wrapped his long finger around my hand, his grip unyielding. As he pulled away, his thumb deliberately brushed against the back of my wrist, which made my breath hitch 

His smirk deepened as he dropped his hands back into his pocket. “ sister.”

I froze 

The word echoes in my mind. I was drowning, desperately trying to gather my thoughts, but my brain had entirely short-circuited. 

Luckily, Julie stepped in.

“I’m Julie,” she said, her voice steady as she stepped into our line of sight us breaking the suffocating trance between us. “ Ally’s friend and co-worker, I will also be staying if that's fine with you, of course.”

Julian's eyes slowly drifted away from me, landing on Julie. The amused smirk stayed on his lips, but his gaze turned icy and calculating. He looked her up and down before giving her a knowing smile. 

“Of course,” Julian said, his gravelly voice dripping with mock politeness. “Any friend of my sister is welcome to stay”

My mom beamed, completely blind to the tension that surrounded her and the underlying threat in his tone. “Wonderful, come on, girls, let me show you to your room so you can settle in. I’m sure you’re exhausted from the trip.” She turned and began leading the way through the marble staircase, chatting happily about the house layout and how we would meet Julian's father during dinner. Julie grabbed my arm tightly as she leaned in. “Ally,” she whispered under her breath, her eyes wide with realization, “ is that-”

“Yes,” I breathed back, my voice barely audible as we followed my mom. I could feel Julian's eyes burning holes into my back the entire way up.

My mom threw open the doors to a massive, decorated bedroom. “Here we are! Unpack and get comfortable. But don't get too comfortable in those casual clothes,” she added with a mischievous wink, pointing towards the dress in the closet. “We're hosting a gala in two days to celebrate the marriage; everyone who is anyone will be there, and I need my girls looking perfect.”

Before we could process the news of the gala, my mom's phone rang. She excused herself with a quick laugh and hurried out.

We both froze as the door opened. Julian stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.

I think I should leave the both you to catch-up" Julia said as she walked out, shutting the door behind her. She had no idea who she just left me alone with.

He leaned his massive frame against the door. "Now,” Julian growled, a wicked, dangerous smile spreading across his face.

“Where were we……….Red?”