Here is another riveting chapter for your pleasure! Enjoy ;)
After a delightful breakfast with Barnabas, Julia returned to her room at Collinwood to rest. Despite her own desire (and love) for Barnabas, she was relieved to be out of his presence. She didn't regret kissing him at Widow's Hill. She wanted it as much as he did. But she was suppose to bring Vicki and him together so that her and Nicholas's plan could come to fruition. Yet, she didn't want Barnabas to be with Vicki, let alone die. And what about her dream of Eliot? If dreams were to be believed, he was giving her leave to be with Barnabas. He encouraged her to find a way to be with him and to be freed of Nicholas Blair's debt. But how?
Julia sat in front of her vanity mirror and looked at herself. Her mind drifted off to the three kisses she shared with Barnabas. Her fingers lightly drifted from her lips to grazing over her nipples as Julia remembered his hard chest pressed against hers as they reveled in their passion for each. There were no thoughts of Vicki, Nicholas, Roger, Josette, or even her beloved Eliot.
"Am I interrupting something, my dear?"
Instead of Julia's reflection looking back at her, Nicholas' face stared at her, smiling with the brightest smile that Julia could hardly stand. She jumped out of her chair, gasping, just to turn to the shifty warlock who suddenly stood behind her.
"You seemed to be...pleasantly distracted, Julia. Perhaps you were thinking of me?" asked Nicholas, grinning.
"I was thinking of my late husband, Nicholas. Why would I ever think of you?" asked Julia, indignant, crossing her arms.
"Just a thought, Julia. Is Barnabas cured yet?"
"He saw the sunrise today. After I witnessed his reaction to it, I concluded that the treatments worked," reported Julia.
"Good! I've always known that you were talented, my dear. Now, Phase Two: giving him the love of his life, and then taking her away right afterwards," he emphasized with his hand gestures.
Julia turned from Nicholas, not wanting to think about pairing Barnabas with Victoria Winters. Nicholas noticed.
"Julia, what is it? Are you losing your nerve again, doctor?" taunted Nicholas.
With her back still turned to him, she shook her head. "Victoria Winters has no interest in Barnabas Collins."
"What? Surely she must have some interest in the man! I used to watch her indulge in the legend of Josette DuPres at the Old House with that bastard."
"When was that?" asked Julia, turned to him, disturbed by Nicholas' seemingly creepy knowledge of everything.
"That is none of your concern, Julia. Just know that I know," he answered, with finality.
"Well, if you know so much, Nicholas, then where were you when Barnabas Collins nearly killed me?"
"He did?" he asked, unconcerned. "How awful for you, Julia."
"You don't seem to really care about your 'partner in crime's well-being, Nicholas. But then again, you had sabotaged my part of our supposed plans, didn't you?"
"Why, Julia!" he exclaimed, feigning shock. "What makes you think that I sabotaged your part in our plans for Barnabas Collins' demise?"
Julia folded her arms again, glaring at the warlock. "Because I tried to hypnotize Vicki Winters into being with Barnabas, but it didn't work. And I think you had something to do with that."
"Don't be ridiculous, Julia. Why would I want to sabotage our plans?"
"I don't know, Nicholas," she replied, omitting her dream of Eliot's warning. "Maybe to still get back at me for failing you the first time? Or to make sure I fail so that I could remain your slave forever perhaps?"
Nicholas clucked his tongue. "Julia, you shouldn't look at eternity with me as slavery. But perhaps, a partnership, like now, only that I will be senior partner and you, my junior partner."
"With no pay or fringe benefits," she snorted.
"You'll live forever as beautiful as you are," he said.
"Knowing you, I may just live forever looking like a toad in the face. Anyway, I still suspect that you have something else up your sleeve. I know I hypnotized Vicki Winters to go to Barnabas and to leave Burke Devlin alone. And to find out that none of it happened, makes me suspect your intervention."
"Maybe you lost your touch at the art of hypnosis, Julia," suggested Nicholas.
"Impossible! My father taught me well in it, so I know that I haven't 'lost my touch' as you say."
Nicholas shrugged. "Very well, Julia. Speaking of couplings, how are things between you and Roger lately?"
"It is strictly platonic, Nicholas. I am helping him to consider seeing his son, yes, but there is nothing more."
"It's a pity, Julia."
"Why is that?"
"Because from my understanding, you are going to break the poor man's heart in a moment."
"What are you talking about?"
Just then, the doctor and warlock were distracted by a knock on her door.
"Julia, this is Roger. May I speak with you please?" said Roger, outside her door.
Wide-eyed with panic, Julia said to Nicholas, "You have to leave now!"
"I can't meet him?" he asked, offended.
"Leave, Nicholas!"
"Ah. Very well, my dear. Until next time."
He disappeared as Julia opened the door.
"Hello, Roger, greeted Julia, pleasantly.
"Good morning, Julia. At the risk of violating decorum, may I come in?"
"Please," she said, ushering him inside. She cracked the door a little.
"I missed you at breakfast," he said, folding his hands behind his back.
"Uh, yes. I was with Barnabas."
Roger's eyebrow shot up. "Oh?"
"Willie informed me that he wasn't feeling well this morning, so I followed his truck to the Old House in my car," she neatly explained. "He's fine for now, but tonight I'm going to check on him."
"Of course. It's Wednesday," said Roger, impassively. "Julia, we have enjoyed each other's company for a while, haven't we?"
"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?" she inquired, rubbing her hands nervously.
"Do you still want to leave Collinsport?" he asked, ignoring her question.
"I have a life outside of this place, Roger."
He averted his eyes from her, rubbing his fingers through his blonde hair.
"Julia, this may be terribly selfish of me, but I don't want you to leave Collinwood, yet alone Collinsport."
First, Barnabas, now you. "I have a hospital to run, Roger, and I've been away long enough."
"Are you leaving soon?"
"No, I plan on leaving after Vicki's wedding."
Roger breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Then you will have time to think of my proposal."
Julia did a double-take at Roger. "Pro-pro-posal?"
"I know that it seems sudden for you, but I don't think I can live in this house without your presence. And I think that if I'm going to bring David back home, he will need more than a doctor to help him. He will need a mother."
Julia wanted to faint. "A mother?"
"Julia, I am asking you to be my wife. I know that you are not in love with me, but I am terribly in love with you, and I am a patient man when it comes to these things. If you need time to think, I will wait as long as I have to. Unbeknownst to you and Elizabeth, I have been speaking with David's doctor as of late, and he said that my son was coming to realize that Barnabas was not a vampire. Yes, he sucks the life out of my atmosphere, but he doesn't sucks blood. I want you to come with me to see David so that the two of you can get acquainted and bond, hopefully. We don't have to bring up my proposal to him yet, but I want him to get use to your presence. What do you think?"
Honestly, Julia didn't know what to think. Roger wasn't all that bad, but she didn't want him. She, in her whirlwind confusion of lust, love, and self-preservation, wanted Barnabas.
"Roger," she said, softening the blow, "I'm flattered, but I don't want to marry you."
Disappointed, Roger hung his head. "I asked too soon, haven't I? Considering that it hasn't been a year since Eliot's passing. I'm sorry, Julia."
"There's no harm done, Roger."
"But will you still consider it? I can wait until next year if I must. I just...want you here with us."
He took her hands in his. "With me."
Without warning, he kissed her. Despite the fact that he was a good kisser, Julia felt nothing for him, and he knew it. He pulled back and apologized. "I was forward, Julia. Forgive me."
"There's no harm done, Roger," she repeated.
"Will you still consider my proposal?" he asked, eager.
"I will consider it, but I can not promise that my answer will be in your favor."
"That's fine, Julia. I only want you to consider it. Thank you for not out-right rejecting me."
Julia smiled, relieving his embarrassment. "You're welcome. Let's have lunch to discuss David."
Roger was happier than she ever seen him. She hoped that she did not give him high hopes for a future between them.
"Yes, of course," he said, beaming from ear to ear. "We'll eat in town. I have a business call in my study at noon, so will you be ready by one o'clock?"
Julia nodded. "Yes, I will."
"Alright, Julia. I will see you then."
He bestowed on her one last smile and left her room. After he closed the door behind him, exasperated, Julia collapsed on her bed.
What am I going to do with Roger? How can I have dinner with Barnabas tonight and...explore our relationship when I have an offer to be a wife (again) and mother to his son? Damn you, Nicholas. Damn you, Barnabas. And damn you, Eliot, for not warning me about this before Nicholas!
"You do remember what to do, right, Willie?" asked Barnabas, combing his hair. He was wearing a dark blue lounging jacket with a black ascot and black pants and shoes, examining himself in his mirror. He then threw on some cologne and checked his appearance again, determined that this night will turn out as he wanted.
"Sure, Barnabas. Whatever ya say," mumbled Willie, hoping that Barnabas would fail in his endeavors tonight.
"What is the matter, Willie? Aren't you happy for mine and Julia's new relationship?" asked Barnabas, observing his servant from his reflection.
"Not really," answered Willie.
"And why is that?"
"Because I know what ya gonna do with her. And afterwards."
"Afterwards, Willie, is what I am hoping for with Julia. I decided a few nights ago that I will have her instead of Vicki."
"I don't believe ya, Barnabas."
Barnabas turned from the mirror to Willie's glare. If Barnabas was still a vampire, he would had knocked that look off the young man's face with his cane.
"Willie, if I intended to have Vicki, I would be still pursuing her instead of having this romantic evening with Julia. I know that you are quite fond of Julia, but I am fond of her as well, and more so because of how intimate we've become as of late. However, I suspect that Julia is reluctant to see where this proceeds, so I will be encouraging our mutual attraction, and you will make it impossible for her to leave this evening in case she changes her mind. After all, automobiles do intend to...malfunction on storming nights, correct?"
"Sometimes," said Willie.
Barnabas glared at him. "Willie, if you ruin my plans for Julia this evening, I shall have to revert back to my old ways of dealing with you. Would you prefer that instead?"
Willie shook his head. "No, Barnabas. But hearin' ya make that threat shows me how much ya really changed."
Willie stormed out of the room while Barnabas thought over what his reluctant servant said.
This time, Julia was on time. On this occasion, she wore a burgundy dress, with matching accessories and shoes as always, and her hair curled and hanging at her shoulders. When she arrived, the clouds were forming into a blanket of gray mass. Barnabas took her coat and hung it on the rack, and placed her umbrella next to his cane near it.
"You look rather stunning, Julia," he said, eyeing every inch of her body.
"Thank you, Barnabas. You're rather handsome yourself," she said, enjoying the scent of his cologne.
"Thank you," he said, proud that she thought so. "Would you care for a sherry? A brandy?"
"A brandy will do," she said, taking her seat by the fireplace, warming by the small fire.
Julia needed a drink. With everything that happened today, and going to happen, she was going to need it. Barnabas sat with her in his chair, toasting a brandy with her. Her bare legs were driving him mad! He wanted to take her on the rug at that moment, and kiss up and down her calves.
"How was your day, Julia?" he asked, diverting his attention away from her legs.
"It was long, Barnabas," she said, omitting Roger's proposal. "But at least there was no sibling squabbling today. And yours?"
"It was long as well, waiting for you to return," he said, silkily.
Both of them watched each other drink from their glasses in silence as the wood crackled in the golden hearth.
"I'm still looking for a place near Wyndcliffe. I plan to leave after Vicki's wedding."
"Really?" said Barnabas, offended. "Is Collinwood detestable to you? Am I detestable to you at this moment?"
"Of course not, but I am still a doctor, Barnabas."
"Why not be a doctor here in Collinsport, Julia? I'm sure Collinsport Hospital can use your expertise in psychiatry."
"Most likely, but I like being in charge of a hospital. I worked for years to get to where I am and nothing, and no one, will stand in my way."
"Dinner's ready," said Willie, from the corridor, frowning upon the couple.
"Thank you, Willie," said Barnabas, frowning at Willie. "Shall we, Julia?"
"Once again, Willie, you are an amazing chef!"
"Thanks, Julia," he said, serving a bowl of ripe strawberries with whipped cream. "Anythin' else, Barnabas?"
"No, Willie, thank you. Perform your...final chore for the evening and then retire at your leisure," instructed Barnabas, giving him a knowing look.
Willie nodded, returning to the kitchen to put on his raincoat to punch out one of Julia 's tires.
Julia bit into a strawberry, savoring the flavor. "Barnabas?"
"Yes?" He dipped his strawberry into the cream and bit off the cream-covered part.
"I'm not sure about us," she honestly stated.
"You were sure earlier when you kissed me, my dear," he countered, huskily.
"Yes, but I think that you want too much from me."
"Have I required much?"
"You want me to stay, but I don't want to give up my life as a psychiatrist."
"I don't require that from you at all, Julia. Remember when I told you that I was fascinated by the professional woman?"
"I thought that you were being sarcastic," she said, with a crooked smile.
"Perhaps a little since I was still adjusting to the twentieth century, but it is one of the traits that I found very intriguing about you."
"Hmm. Do you know what I found intriguing about you?"
"Do tell," invited Barnabas, leaning into his dinner companion.
His cologne seduced her senses."The mystery of Barnabas Collins. You were a mystery to me as you lived in a house with no electricity, but thank goodness for plumbing and gas lines, and you were immortal, which could had led to deadly consequences for me if you didn't accept my treatments. Furthermore, I felt sorry for you."
"I'm a man who detests sympathy, Julia," he said, biting into an unadorned strawberry.
"Not like that, but I knew that you wanted companionship, and I sadly despised Vicki for neglecting you although you took pains to see her.
"Surprised, Barnabas inquired, "You despised Vicki for that?"
"I'll do you one better," she said, sucking the cream off her strawberry, arousing Barnabas. "I despised Josette for not accepting you as you were.
"He was coming to love this woman more. "Why?"
"When she realized the gravity of your vampirism, she jumped off a cliff because she didn't want to be with you for eternity. If Eliot was in that situation, and with my knowledge, I would had searched to the ends of the earth to find him a cure. And if I couldn't help him," Julia paused to consume another creamed strawberry, "I would had sacrifice my mortality to be with him forever."
Won over by her words, he took her hand, sucking on her wrist again. Julia ended up dropping the strawberry in the cream as she moaned, head jerked backwards. Then, he kissed her hand, enjoying her reactions.
"Oh, Barnabas, what if something happens?" she asked, worried. "What if something goes wrong?"
With one last kiss to her wrist, he replied, "What could happen on such a night as this, my love?"
She looked at him with adoring eyes. Those doe-like, hazel eyes of hers. Their lips met, a mixture of strawberries and cream intertwined in their passion-filled moment. They'll worry about Julia remaining at Collinwood another day. They'll talk about whether or not it will work between them another day. She will bring up Roger's proposal some other time. For now, they needed each other to quench their loneliness and desire for each other.
"Come with me, my darling," Barnabas groaned, taking her by her hand, and taking one of the candelabras from the dinner table to maneuver through the darkness. He led her from the dining room to the parlor, then up the steps.
This is happening...this is actually happening..., thought Julia, over and over.
He led her down the second-floor corridor, realizing that they were on their way to Josette's room. Julia saw the room once when Barnabas showed her Josette's lifeless portrait. She stopped in her tracks, jerking his hand.
"Barnabas, that's Josette's room," she reminded him.
"It was her room, Julia. It was her room," he said, leading her onward.
He turned the doorknob, and allowed Julia to enter first. There were other lit candelabras in the room, giving the room a romantic atmosphere, rather than one of a sacred memorial. But there was something missing. Then she saw it, as the thunder illuminated the room with shocking-white light above the mantle: Josette's portrait was gone.
"Barnabas, where is Josette's portrait?" she asked.
"It's put up for now, Julia," he answered, locking the door.
Julia's heart raced as he set his candelabra on the table.
"You wanted to spare Josette the sight of us...defiling her bed?" she asked, annoyed.
"Josette is dead, Julia. Would it really matter to her what we do in this room now?"
She was about to answer when he took her into his arms, kissing her passionately. She returned the gesture, taking fistfuls of his hair as both moaned desperately into each others' mouths, darting tongues back and forth. Julia's hands quickly undid his jacket and buttons on his shirt, revealing a tanned, muscled chest, to her satisfaction. She began kissing him down his chest, exciting him as he tilted his head back, groaning in ecstasy. He pulled her back up as she was undoing his belt.
"Not yet," he breathed. "Turn around."
Julia did as she was told, and he moved her hair over her shoulder, finding the zipper. Barnabas slowly tugged it down, revealing a black slip and black brassiere straps. He pushed her dress off her shoulders, and shrugged off his jacket and shirt, and snatched off the ascot, tossing it to the floor. Julia stepped out of the crumpled dress, kicked off her shoes, and faced him. They embraced into a kiss again, this time, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, and then joined her, having his arm around her waist while his other hand caressed her face. They continued kissing as the storm outside raged on, but then, Barnabas pulled away, looking distressed. Julia caressed his face.
"Barnabas, what is it?" she asked, concerned.
"Julia, I...I know this may come at a very inconvenient time, but... I'm afraid of disappointing you. It's been...a long while for me, and..."
He looked away, unable to finish his sentence. Julia turned his face to hers. They both thought that the other was beautiful by candlelight.
"Sit up on the edge of the bed," she whispered.
After he did so, Julia grabbed a pillow and kneeled on it before Barnabas. She used his discarded ascot to tie up her hair, undid his pants, pulling them and his boxers off of him (being pleasantly surprised by his erection), and, smiling up at him, took in his full manhood into her mouth. Barnabas shuddered, enjoying the feel of Julia's lips and tongue on him, stimulating him, as leaned back on the bed, his arms bracing him. He haven't felt this good since his last encounter with...the witch.
He watched Julia at work, becoming more stimulated as she increased her pace. Once he felt that he was close, Barnabas pulled her up by her arms, helping her out of her slip, and inadvertently ripping off her panties and brassiere. Julia gasped, throwing herself on top of him, as he laid back on the bed. He put her on her back, confident of his ability, and stimulated her pleasure center with his finger. Julia writhed beneath him, twisting and moaning, her voice aspiring him to do more. They both got under the covers, and began kissing, fondling, licking, sucking, and nibbling at each other's flesh. And finally, the moment came when Barnabas pushed opened her legs, positioned himself, and thrust forward, making Julia yelp in pleasure. As he pumped into his former nemesis, Julia became saturated with pleasure, moaning, calling his name, wrapping her legs around him tight, and leaving trails of scratches down his back. After a while, Julia got him to lie on his back while she rode him into ecstasy. Barnabas had never known pleasure like this, not even with Angelique. Other women in his past had rode him as well, but Julia was a master at it. He craved more, holding on to her waist as she increased her stride. Finally, they came, and Julia collapsed into Barnabas' arms. Both of them panted and laughed through smiles of pleasure and satisfaction.
"Oh...Julia," panted Barnabas, kissing the top of her head, "that was...magnificent!"
"Thank you...Mr. Collins. Eliot used to say that I did my best work in bed," she chuckled.
He laughed, too, and the lovers settled in bed listening to the raging storm outside, before engaging into two more sessions of...lovemaking.