Addicted (The Addicted Series, #1)(98)

"Mom," Krystal said, but Sandra held her hand up. Krystal closed her mouth and looked at her mother, worry on her face.

"I spent the afternoon walking around the grounds, thinking. Julian, I'm not trying to be mean spirited, but your history would make any mother worry about her daughter. But, I also trust Krystal, and know she can take care of herself. So if she loves you, then I'll accept it. I'm not saying I'm comfortable with it, or even okay with it, but I love my daughter, and I love my husband. So I'll accept it. Over time, if it all works out, I'm sure I'll be more comfortable."

Dinner was semi-relaxed after that, and pretty delicious, my father has a good kitchen staff at the manor. As we ate, the four of us talked, making sure to avoid the topic of our relationship.

"So Julian, where are you thinking of doing training?" Sandra asked as she cut her fish. "Gold's, Cross fit, what are you thinking?"

"To be honest, while I might get more initial meetings with clients that way, I don't think I could convert them very well, although Gold's and Powerhouse might be an option," I replied. "They'll have the members who might be looking for my type of build while aren't really hardcore. I've got a couple of independent gyms in mind as well, no names you'd know, but they're good. The challenge with those types of places is the trainers who work there really know their stuff. I'm going to be the total new guy, in a gym of trainers who I would hire if I needed help."

Dad nodded sagely. "It's an interesting conundrum. Have you thought about working in one place and doing your own workouts in another? No offense Julian, but that ink of yours would intimidate a lot of the housewives and office workers who have the disposable cash for your services."

"I'd thought of it, I'm not sure what I'm going to do," I replied. "In any case, I think I can work hard at it. I spent enough years partying at least."

Our conversation continued throughout dinner, and by the end, it felt like as regular a family meal as I'd had with my father in ages. Krystal and I kept our looks at each other to a minimum for Sandra's sake, and we finished dinner on a good note, some grilled figs with crumbly bits and something Krystal called a compote. I didn't know what it was, but I enjoyed it. In fact, I'd say it was the best meal of my life up until then.

After dinner, we went upstairs, finding that Yuki had moved Sandra's bags into my room. It made sense, the space was slightly bigger, and I did have a king sized bed in there. Closing the door behind us, I looked at Krystal, who was more beautiful than ever for me in the lamp light. "Well, this has gone a lot better than I expected," I said, coming over and hugging her. "Thank goodness for that."

"Hey Julian?" she said, returning the hug. "Would you dance with me?"

"What?" I asked, incredulous.

"Last time we were at the Manor together was our parents' wedding. I remember dancing with you then, and I could tell both of us wanted a little something more. So, would you dance with me here?"

"Of course. I'd love to," I said, going over to my old stereo. The CD collection was almost ten years old, but I didn't mind. "One rule though. No Steinman."

Krystal rolled her eyes and smiled. "Agreed. No Steinman."

I looked through what I had, and quickly realized I didn't have anything appropriate for dancing. "Damn . . . I'm not exactly set up in here for slow dancing. Fat Joe, Eminem, Ludacris, Linkin Park . . . huh. Guess I listened to a lot of overly aggressive stuff when I was in high school."

Krystal came over and looked through the old CD album with me before shaking her head. "Wow. You definitely had some anger issues based off of your choice in music. You don't even have a guilty copy of Nelly Furtado or something like that around."

"I have an idea though," I said, going over to our bags. I pulled out my laptop computer and turned it on.

I pulled up YouTube, and typed in the search bar "slow romantic dance songs," selecting a playlist that popped up. I didn't know the song, but the saxophone that came out was sweet and sensual.

I've never been much of a slow dancer, tearing up the floor in the club is more my style. When I'd told Krystal that our first night knowing each other, I wasn't lying, even if I did have nefarious intentions at the time. However, the feeling of her lush curves resting against my hands, the look of her black eyes looking into mine, and the glow of her skin in the bedroom lamp light let me get past it, and our bodies moved together in their own rhythm. As the bass guitar and the horns led us, we came closer and closer, her breasts brushing against my chest and her arms coming to circle my neck. "Julian?" she asked, as the first song ended and we were so close I couldn't feel any space between us.

"Krystal?"

She pulled my head down. Her lips slid over mine, and I could feel the soft warmth of her breath on my skin as she traced down my throat to the V of my shirt. She brought her hands to the buttons, sliding them free while she kissed and sucked at the skin that was exposed.

I couldn't hold back any longer, and I scooped her up into my arms, Krystal giving me a little squeak of surprise as I carried her over to the bed, tumbling into it with her. "I love you, Krystal Aksoy," I said as I ended up on top, pinning her wrists above her head.

"I love you too, Julian Castelbon."