He smirked at me as our gazes met. "Sorry for this sort of surprise." He brushed off the last few dark feathers from his hair and arms.
All I could do was stare at him speechless.
"I take it from your silence that you are confused as to who I am?" He walked up to me and bent down to meet eye to eye with me since he was tall. "I'll give you a hint. I am he you have fallen for yet sat most of the time upon your shoulder." He holds up a black feather.
I blinked, swallowed and felt my knees turning into jelly. I began to breathe heavily as the emotions churned within my chest like a wild storm and fell on my knees with my hands covering my face. Slowly I began to shake my head. "It's-it's not possible," I whispered with a trembling voice. Slowly I dared to peek between my fingers and looked up to Julian. He looked at me concerned and knelt down. "How-?" The words escape me. I folded my hands at my lips and blinked at the floor between Julian and me. I took a deep breath and gave a scoff. "I must be dreaming, pinch me, will ya?" I held out my arm to him.
Julian blinked at me, puzzled for a moment and hesitated before he pinched me. There was pain; dread began to sink in.
Julian held my trembling hand with both hands. "Moira," he looked deeply into my eyes. "It is I, Julian. The raven you saved yesterday. I-I didn't mean to give you a scare or hurt you." He brushed a few hairs aside that fell over my face.272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXLDFfYrGw
I swallowed my fear to collect my words and voice. "But if you are Julian Devorak, how did you get here?"
Julian sighed and looked sideways away before facing me. "The curse brought me here. I've lost count of days since struggling to live another day; being a raven is no walk in the park."
"Curse?" I slowly began to piece together his story.
"By day, I'm a raven, and by night, my usual self."
"But why here?" I asked dubiously.
"I haven't figured that out yet." He looked away as if ashamed, but then a smile curved his lips and looked at me with genuine content. "Although I'd like to think I landed here to cross path with yours."
His smile and remark made me blush at that point. A soft snigger escaped his lips and cupped a cheek of mine; his large eyes soon wandered down to my lips and drew his face closer to me.
Quickly I retreated from him, yet my heart beats wildly within my chest. I gasped as my back met the wall. Julian said nothing, although I sensed his question in his concerned gaze. "A-all this time, I thought I loved a fictional character, and now here you are in the flesh. As a writer, I've dared to dream all the possibilities of encountering you and how the relationship goes. Yet here I am baffled! Fighting to find the right words to express. And-and I'm fully aware that love is unpredictable, and everyone deserves a chance but myself. I'm not the prettiest nor the smartest woman. I am a weirdo who has limitless imagination and dares to dream-"
My sentence got cut as Julian kissed me with closed eyes and cupped my face.
I blinked, surprised as I felt his elegant lips caressing mine. He's- Julian's kissing me! He's kissing me! A delightful weightless feeling blossomed from my chest; it washed my heart with joy, yet my mind wanted to suppress and distance this feeling. Then again, due to the fact, he is kissing me because he loves me. Slowly my hands wandered up to his arms and gripped his sleeves.
Julian stopped and looked at me, concerned. He grinned as he noticed I was trying to understand him, gazing deeply into his large eyes. "Apparently, I'm a weirdo too because I've fallen for you." He spoke softly.
I bit my lower lip. "But why me? What do you see in me?"
A snigger escaped from his grinning lips and leaned his forehead against mine. "I've noticed you quite some time earlier at the bus station, waiting, standing there in the morning. You look and smile at the birds with curiosity in their doing. As you smiled at me and tried to talk to me, I was baffled that a human would want to connect to birds, especially a raven." He closed his eyes as his smile slipped away. "Many only give a side glance, glare in disgust or ignore but you." Julian draws his head back and looks into my eyes with a content smile. "Your smile got stuck in my mind since." He paused and slid a hand beneath my skull to cradle it. "Yesterday morning, I wanted to appear like this, but I miscalculated the time and got hit by a car, as you know." He sighed and bit his lower lip. I sensed adoration from his large olive-green eyes. "I'd like to get to know you more and return my gratitude for saving me." His eyes wandered between my eyes and lips.272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0wHNdApXS
Cheese and crackers! This- this is for real! What did I do to deserve this? Am I the right person for him? I found myself staring at his smirking lips with an urge to kiss him. Slowly I drew closer with a tilted head to his face and looked up to his eyes as I halted. He sniggered and pulled his face closer to fill the space. His cool lips met mine, and I felt a hand resting at the small of my back. We closed our eyes to savour this kiss, mingle our breaths and merge our love. As I moved closer to him, I felt his heart beating wildly in his chest against mine. Julian pulled me closer as I trailed a hand through his short wavy auburn hair. He gave a satisfied groan as our lips parted. Julian looked at me with heavy-lidded eyes and licked the corner of his mouth. "Mmmh, you know how to kiss."
I giggled at his remark and rested my arms upon his shoulders. "Like the raven, I don't appear as I seem."
He sniggered and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Same can be said about me."
"Yet you're attractive, petit Corbeau," I smirked.
"Hmm, you're more attractive." He gave me a feather-light kiss on the cheek and lingers there. "What does petit Corbeau mean?"
"It's French for little raven."
He laughs. "Nice, but have you noticed my height?"
"Well, little John from Robin Hood was anything but little."
"If you say so, malenkaya Soroka." He smirked broadly.
"What does malenkaya Soroka mean?"
"It means little magpie from where I come from. Where did you learn to speak so?"
"You're not the only one who can speak various languages," I smirked. "I've travelled around a bit in my childhood. Can you say 'ich liebe dich'?"
"Ich liebe dich." Julian repeated and pronounced the 'ch' flawless.
"Wow! Many usually choke on the 'ch' part." I was astonished.
Julian sniggered. "In Tirivata, they speak a language that has these pronunciations, and it took me years to learn. I, too, did some travelling in my younger years." He kissed my cheek. "Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we are connected."
"I'd like to discover the other reasons that connect us." I smiled.
"Hmm, you took the words right from my mouth," Julian smirked and brushed his lips against mine.
I leaned in to kiss him.
He wrapped his arms around me tighter as if afraid that I may slip away.
I cupped his cheek as our lips parted. "Julian, wouldn't that curse of yours be lifted by true love's kiss?"
"Don't know, but if it were, shouldn't there have been magic lighting up or such by now?" He looked at me curiously and somewhat sheepish.
"I'm the wrong person to ask, don't know a thing about magic or curses."
Julian smirked roguishly and stood up, offering his hand to help me. "I have a feeling it's the other way around."
I took his hand and got up to my feet. "Either way, I want to help you and undo the curse you have."
"What?" He exclaimed, shocked in a false tone. "You don't like my raven form?"
I mirrored his smirk and went on my tiptoes as I leaned onto his chest. "I do, but you kiss better as your natural self."
"Fair point." He sniggered and kissed my cheek. "Your rosy cheeks are cute, my dear."
"They're always there, and if they are gone, I'm pale as a ghost." I looked away.
Julian drew his head back and glanced at me confused, there was a slight pinch between his eyebrows. "That sounded like you dislike having rosy cheeks." He brushed tenderly with his knuckles and fingers my cheeks. "It's a picture of health, and in some places, it is considered as a beauty trait. Many people would do anything to have rosy cheeks like yours. And if other people say otherwise, they are just jealous."
I chuckled at his adoring words and glance. I cupped his cheek, he placed his hand over mine. "I want to help and support you. If you want to be free of your curse, let me help."
Julian chuckled softly and leaned his forehead against mine. "Shouldn't it be the other way around since I owe you for what you've done?"
I mirrored his smile. "When in love, it doesn't need to be earned."
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. Slowly our hands interlocked their fingers. "Wise words, my dear Moira, but earlier on, I had a different impression from you about that. Doubting yourself to deserve love, yet here we are." He held both my hands in his and looked deeply into my eyes. "I carry doubt too but differently and want to support and help you."272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5nq9NrFkq
Joy overtook my mind, a broad smile curved upon my lips while being at a loss of words, and tears welled in my eyes.
Julian looked at me, concerned as he noticed tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Those are tears of joy," I whispered and threw my arms around him.
Julian embraced me with a soft chuckle and lifted me off the floor with his tall stature. He is so tall that my feet dangled in the air. "Are you sure you want to keep calling me petit Corbeau?" He teased as if he read my mind.
"I stand to my word." I gave confidently.
"Very well, moya malenkaya Soroka." He merely whispered, and I heard his broad grin in his tone. Soon his lips brushed my ear with feather light kisses but lingered at the ear lobe. I felt his heart hammering against my chest. As he sighed, he rested his cheek against mine. Gently he sets me down and opens the embrace. He cupped my cheek and smiled adoringly as our gazes met, whipping with a thumb away the last few tears.
"I love you," I whispered and cupped his hand.
His eye grew large, blinking owlishly at me for a long moment. His lips trembled before he could form the words. "Could you- Could you repeat that?"
I giggled to his baffled surprise. "I love you, Julian."
"Huh, then I did hear it correctly." Rapidly he blushes. "What I mean to say is- Well, I wasn't expecting this, and I love you-"
I cut his sentence with a kiss, just he did earlier to me as I was struggling. I don't care if I still am because deep in my heart, this feels right. Julian's eyes fluttered, surprised, but then he closed them as he melted into our kiss. His tensed shoulders lowered and eased as he groaned. Slowly a smile trickled its way across his lips as he drew back and looked at me.
We mirrored our smiles, and no further words needed to be said, for our eyes spoke loud and clear. We savoured the comforting silence and our embrace, feeling each other's hearts hammering in our chests. Is this love that many seek and yearn for? What I once secretly yearned for? I'd like to think so. Whatever this is, it is wonderful, beautiful; there is actually no suitable word to explain this moment. It is silent yet loud, calm yet exciting, terrifying yet comforting, complex yet simple...
Our lips kept meeting each other, and our hands trailed across each other's arms, backs, hair and faces. Like in the story, Julian is a sensual kisser and felt his urge to satisfy me. Waves to goosebumps ran through my body in his touch and kiss, waves of pleasure. I've never felt anything like this before. Is it love, magic or something else? However pleasurable this goes, it is too soon. We found ourselves looking into each other's eyes. As I opened my mouth to speak, my stomach rumbled and looked down, surprised at my stomach.
Julian sniggered. "Shall we make dinner, my dear?"
I smirked. "Sure, raven food for you, normal food for me."
Julian tickled me by the ribs that made me giggle and wince. "Ah-ha, not tonight, Soroka."
I laughed. "Love the nickname, but why magpie?"
Julian stopped tickling me. "You shine like its feathers, and your wit can't be missed."
I kissed him. "Hmm, you're sharper than me."
"Not from where I stand." Julian sniggered and brushed a few hairs aside from my face.
I cupped his hand and smiled. "Let's get dinner done; I hope you like Indian lentil soup?"
"Never heard of but am curious to try."
Together we managed pretty well in the small kitchen and got it done quicker than expected. As we sat at the table, our legs tangled, and we enjoyed our bowel of lentil soup. After a spoonful, Julian smacked his lips and blinked.
"How is it? I've tried to cut down a bit the hot spice for you." I wondered, slightly concerned.
"This-this is delicious. Never had something like this, and the spice is superb. You're a talented chef." He smiled.
"With thanks for your help." I mirrored his smile. "Glad you love it."
As we finished our soups, I was about to stand up to wash the dishes, yet Julian rapidly got to his feet and grabbed my bowel. "I'll do the dishes, my dear." He stole a kiss.
"But you're my guest!"
"Indeed, but I want to help. I feel spoiled by your smiles, laughter and your delicious food."
I giggled.
"Just like now." He beamed from ear to ear. I lingered on that joyful moment while my mind was wandering about his curse. As he was done cleaning the dishes, I dared to speak. "Julian?"
He hummed in acknowledgement and faced me with a grin.
"About the curse, how did it happen? Why are you cursed?" I asked and looked deeply into his eyes.
His grin slipped away as he walked up to me and crouched down to even eye level. He avoided my glance. "What I did was for the sake of everyone's safety in Vesuvia. The city was befallen with a strong curse that it would befall every nature catastrophe. There was drought, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards and more. I helped with whatever I had as a doctor, but it wasn't enough, and the people suffered. So I made a deal with one of the major arcana, the hanged man. He offered the curse to be lifted, but as a price, I would have to take a curse, a different one." He paused and bit his lower lip. "I-I was desperate and agreed without asking. Before I knew it was done, I was a raven in this world."
"You didn't get to see if the curse was lifted over Vesuvia?" I asked cautiously and brushed with a hand through his hair.
"Never got the chance to see it." He blinked and looked into my eyes intently. "I sense you have an idea?"
"Only a theory but will need more information to support it."
Julian looked at me owlishly, surprised.
"As a leisure writer and freight forwarder, you learn the tricks of finding the facts and putting the puzzle pieces together," I smirked. "But I hope that theory of mine is wrong." I looked away.
"Why? What is it?" Wondered Julian and tenderly stroked my cheek to make me face him.
I sighed. "You won't like it, and for now, with no facts to support or prove otherwise, I won't tell you. I don't want to cause panic or pain as it already is."
His eyes widened, and I sensed his dread. I gently squeezed his hand and forced a smile. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Find a way back and save Vesuvia if needed."
"But-" Julian stared at me at a loss of words. A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. "But how? Where would we start?"
"Where it started in this world, where you first appeared." I cupped his face and smiled.
Slowly a smile began to curve his lips, and he cupped my hands. "You really are something." He spoke softly with wonder and sighed as he leaned his forehead against mine. "I don't know the exact location, but it's close by the bus station that you wait for in the morning. Where you rescued me." He smirked at the last few words.
"Then we shall go there first thing in the morning. I can spare an hour from work." I winked.
Julian sniggered and looked at me with eyes of wonder and adoration.
I went to make myself ready for bed and prepare a few things for the morning. As I entered my room, I found Julian lying in my bed, smirking roguishly. "I've taken the liberty of warming up your bed." With a flourish of his arm, he removed the blanket partially, inviting me. He was still wearing his white shirt and dark blue trousers.
"So I see, petit Corbeau, but you sleep on the pillow." I smiled broadly as a tease as I approached.
He quickly grabbed my hand, pulled me into bed within his chest, and wrapped me in his arms. I yelped for a brief moment but promptly grew at ease as I was covered in his warmth and scent of musk. He giggled and kissed my temple. "Not tonight, malenkaya Soroka," Julian whispered into my hair.
I snuggled closer to him and sighed, letting our legs tangle. "This is nice," and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good night Julian."
"Good night, my dear." Whispered Julian with heavy-lidded eyes, mirroring my smile.
From there, I fell into a deep slumber. I woke up at times and could have sworn to feel Julian stroking my hair tenderly or hear a mutter beneath his breath. Still, I was too tired to acknowledge it, thinking it was a dream and fell back asleep.
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