Take all the time you need

Take all the time you need

Julian laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're not covering anything with those arms of yours," he teased, a grin spreading across his face.

Eleanor shot him a playful glare, her cheeks heating up. "You really are a pervert," she replied, trying to maintain a stern expression, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

"I should probably just leave you to your training if you're going to be like this."

Julian shrugged, still amused. "Oh, come on! You know you love the attention," he said, winking at her.

"Besides, it's not every day I get to appreciate such beauty right in front of me."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain her composure as she pointed to her eyes. "Keep your eyes here," she insisted, attempting to divert his gaze from her cleavage.

Julian chuckled, shaking his head playfully. "I can't help myself; my eyes keep wandering," he said with a smirk. "Those things need attention, you know!"

Eleanor rolled her eyes, a mix of exasperation and amusement on her face. "You're impossible, Julian," she said, though a smile crept onto her lips despite her efforts to sound stern. "Maybe I should wear a sign that says 'look here' just for you."

Julian stepped closer, closing the distance between them. Eleanor felt her heart race as she took in his handsome features and the commanding presence he exuded.

Standing taller than her, he towered over her, and the heat radiating from him made her acutely aware of their proximity.

"What do you feel?" he teased, his voice low and playful.

Eleanor swallowed hard, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as she gazed up at him, her cheeks flushing.

Eleanor's breath hitched as Julian wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer.

Eleanor frowned, her eyes narrowing. "You know exactly what I mean. What you said, and... what you did. Are you serious, or was that just more of your teasing?"

Julian chuckled softly. "A little of both, I suppose. But maybe you should tell me—how serious do "you" want it to be?" He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of playfulness and something deeper.

Eleanor's heart skipped a beat again, but this time, she held her ground. "Stop playing games with me, Julian. If you really mean something, you need to be clear about it."

His smile faded just slightly as he looked into her eyes. "Maybe I do mean it, Eleanor. Maybe I've always meant it." His words hung in the air, leaving her stunned as she tried to process what he had just said.

Julian laughed, leaning against the doorframe with a teasing glint in his eyes. "What will you do if I mean it, Eleanor?" His voice held a playful challenge, as if he were daring her to respond.

Eleanor's cheeks flushed, a mix of confusion and excitement bubbling within her.

"I... I don't know," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "You can't just say something like that and expect me to have an answer right away!"

Julian stepped closer, the playful smirk returning to his face. "Why not? You've been on my mind a lot lately. I just want to know if you feel the same way. What would it take for you to consider it?"

Eleanor shifted uncomfortably, her heart racing at the implications of his words. "This is all so sudden, Julian. We're siblings! It's not something that's... normal."

"Normal is overrated," he countered, his voice low and inviting. "Sometimes, the best connections are the ones that defy the norm. Just think about it—what if there's something more between us?"

She bit her lip, torn between the thrill of his proposition and the boundaries society had set. "I need time to think," she finally said, feeling both exhilarated and apprehensive.

"Take all the time you need," Julian replied, his expression softening. "But just know, the offer stands. I'll be waiting."

With that, he turned to enter his room, leaving Eleanor standing there, her mind racing with possibilities.