Natalie, still wide awake, could sense every one of his movements. When she realized he was inching toward her, her heart skipped a beat, but she stayed still, too nervous to move.
She felt his hand slide under her neck, his arm coming around her shoulder. His other hand rested over hers, his large palm enveloping her smaller one. His chest pressed firmly against her back, wrapping her in his warmth.
"Ju...stin..." she mumbled, her heart pounding in her chest.
"I just want to sleep," he murmured softly, his breath warm against the back of her neck.
Natalie calmed herself and didn’t protest. Instead her other hand moved to held his hand that was wrapped round her shoulder, assuring him she was fine it.
Assured of her willingness, Justine tightened his hold around her, holding her as close as he could. He inhaled her sweet scent at the back of her neck, finding it comforting to his sesnes and closed his eyes as if sleep was finally calling for him.
"Good night!" his deep, low voice echoed next to her ear, making her gulp. But she replied anyways, "Good Night, Justin."
His lips curved into a light smile. His name sounded perfect the way she said it. It almost tempted him to plant a kiss at the back of her neck, but he held back.
Natalie let go of any restrain and relaxed, assured that he was just sleeping.
She realised, she had always been reluctant to intimate closeness with men, but with Justin, she didn’t feel reluctant at all.
Even when she loved Ivan or she thought she loved Ivan, she could not bring herself to be close to him. She somehow managed to convince herself that once they were married, she would be able to be close to Ivan, but everything ended even before she could get the answer.
’Was Ivan unhappy because I never showed any intimate interest with him?’ Other than maybe holding hands and casual huge, she didn’t remember they ever did anything more. ’I thought he was being considerate and was waiting for us to first get married as well.’
Just then she found Justin’s hand that was resting over the back of her hand, now interlocked his fingers with hers as he nuzzled softly against the back her neck. She gulped but didn’t find it reluctant. But then he didn’t move as if he was asleep already, and that was his movement in sleep.
It made her forget about Ivan and she closed her eyes as well, drifting into a comfortable sleep. A light smile painted on her lips- now she understood what it meant to feel protected in someone’s arms.
----
The next morning when she woke up, as usual Justin was not in the room. Finding the bathroom empty already, she hurried to freshen up.
When she retuned, she didn’t find Justin in the drawing room or in the kitchen. ’Has he left already? It’s still so early. He could leave after having breakfast.’
Just as she thought, she spotted the shadow on the wall, that came from the deck. She went towards the deck, only to find a shirtless man doing pushups. She found herself frozen in her place, seemingly enjoying the view.
His perfectly sculpted torso, glistening with sweat, balanced over muscular arms that moved up and down with steady precision. His expression was focused, every muscle from his neck to his waist flexing with each movement. His damp hair fell forward slightly, brushing his forehead as he continued his workout. Sadly those long legs of his were covered in pants, depriving her the view of perfectly toned legs of a man.
Why did God have to make this man so perfect? she couldn’t help but wonder.
Sensing her presence, he turned his head slightly to look at her, all the while continuing his push-ups, making her stand there, frozen.
He eventually stopped and stood up effortlessly, as if he wasn’t tired at all. Grabbing a small towel, he wiped the sweat from his body, as he approached her.
Natalie boldly kept her gaze on him, now getting an even better view of his chest from the front. Damn, that’s the perfect body to draw. Should I ask him to be my muse for a day?
Justin stood before her, raising an eyebrow. "Had enough?"
She finally tore her gaze away from his chest and met his deep eyes, suddenly realizing what she’d been doing.
She stepped back quickly. "I... I didn’t mean to stare like that."
"Want to touch?" she heard him ask.
"Huh?"
"I wouldn’t mind if you did," he continued, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Might be better than leaving you curious about this perfect body of mine and letting me see your perverted self."
"What? No!" Her expression shifted to anger at being called a pervert. "I didn’t mean it like that! I was just..."
He took another step closer, his presence imposing. "Just what?"
She backed up until she felt the wall behind her. Trapped, she gulped. "I just thought... it would be good to draw you..."
His eyebrow lifted, intrigued. "You like drawing naked men?"
"No! Never! It’s just you... I thought..."
"So the artist inside you is a pervert wanting to draw my naked self?"
"You’re not entirely naked," she frowned.
"Want me to take off my pants as well?"
"What?!" She glared at him, her patience wearing thin. "I never said that! Stop shoving words in my mouth!"
Justin leaned in closer, his handsome face now level with her nervous one, his eyes locking onto hers. "I might take it off if you want me to," he teased, his voice low and suggestive. As his face moved even closer, she turned her head to the side, causing his lips to brush against her ear as he whispered in a husky tone, "Trust me, it’s worth drawing... all of me. And there are things far better than words that feel great when shoved in the mouth."
"Pervert!" she shoved him aside with a force of her hands against his chest and slipped away in hurry. "Jerk!"
Justin chuckled inwardly, watching her storm off, clearly flustered. After spending the night together, sharing a bed like a couple, he preferred keeping things this way—light, teasing, and normal—rather than letting things get awkward between them.
’Back to normal, feels better.’