Page 73 of Only If You Dare

“Always insinuates us being around each other longer than the duration of this trip. I think using that term is a little far-fetched.”

I pulled her close. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“What do you mean?”

“You speak as if you know things I’m not aware of. Do you plan to ditch me after we leave Dubai?”

“Ditch you?”

Desiree looked affronted, then her face softened, and she laughed.

“Ditch you,” she repeated shaking her head. “I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that our lives are two worlds apart. While you’re constantly on the move, I’m looking to settle down back in Chicago. We lead two entirely different lives, at most, we stay in contact through phone, but I mean, always?”

She frowned and took a step back from me. We watched each other silently for longer than a minute.

“I’m not willing to let you run, Desiree.”

Desiree sighed. “Stop saying that,” she held her arms up.

“I’m not Cameron, Desiree.” I wanted her to hear me, and believe me like her life depended on it. She folded her arms.

“I’m not so sure about that,” she said.

Her words stung, like a stabbing pain to my gut.

“You’re not so sure…” my voice was thick and laced with darkness.

“Julian, I don’t want to fight with you,” Desiree said. “What we shared here in Dubai was the best time of my life. I’ll admit, and I know I agreed to explore our attraction and we did. Now it’s over. Soon we’ll never see each other again, so why not start now.”

“It sounds like you’ve got your mind made up.”

“Am I wrong?”

I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a large walk-in closet pinning her against the closet’s door.

“You are absolutely wrong,” I said, standing so close I breathed in the oxygen she exhaled. “You’re going to stand there in my face and tell me, what I feel,” I touched my chest, “what you feel,” I touched hers, “is purely physical?”

“Julian this is crazy…” she mumbled, trying to escape my gaze.

“Yeah… that’s what I thought. What do you think happens when two people meet and fall in love? When they decide to be together, their lives, families, and friends join as one, also. It’s done every day, so don’t talk to me about leading different lives. That’s nothing that can’t be solved.”

“So, what,” Desire folded her arms defiantly. “What are you saying, Julian?”

I dropped my forehead down to hers and placed my hands on the wall on either side of her head.

“I love you girl, and I want to be with you, always…”

Desiree’s eyes widened and misted over with a glaze of fresh tears.

“Those better be tears of joy,” I said.

Desiree’s hand shielded her mouth. “Oh my God,” her voice was a high pitch whisper. “I love you, too,” she cried, and my arms fell around her. My heart knocked against my chest, and I kissed her temple, down the side of her face and across her tear stained eyes.

“Stay with me, Bella,” I said.

“I can’t,” she choked out.

“Yes, you can.”

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