The first thing Lloyd noticed- the change he zeroed in on the second he entered the Breakout King's loft office- was that her scarf was gone. Julianne had done away with her security blanket of a scarf, and the pale column of her neck was exposed to the world.
And he knew that it showed major psychological growth, and he was so proud, but quite honestly, he was more interested in the sight of Julianne's fragile skin and the slight pulse of an artery that he could make out.
A feral shiver ran down Lloyd's spine, the instant reaction he had to seeing her vulnerability exposed.
And it certainly was a vulnerability- her timid fingers found the hollow of her throat, massaging the spot that her scarf usually covered, much the way a tongue would move to the gap of a lost tooth.
The movement of her fingers, while comforting to her, was utterly mesmerizing to him. He followed the path with his eyes, yearning to follow with his mouth instead.
He could imagine the salty sweetness of her skin under his tongue- the way she would shiver at the nearness and change of temperature- the yielding elasticity of the flesh where her neck meets her shoulder.
He could imagine, but he really shouldn't. It would mean all kinds of hell for him if anybody happened to notice.
And there was no point in ridiculous fantasy. That perfect neck wouldn't ever be available to him, and he didn't deserve it, anyway. Lloyd's ignis fatuus obviously got him nowhere, as Julianne was interested in Ray.
The idea that she had done away with the scarf for Ray's benefit was surprisingly upsetting, and Lloyd scowled to himself.
He really shouldn't imagine. It would be better for everyone if he just stuck to the case.
