TEMPTRESS

XXVIII.

ANGÈLE JOSÉPHINE MONET LAURENT CHASTIN - PARIS, FRANCE 1968

"T'es beau." She compliment Julien, her fingers were busy arranging his hair. Having just woke up with the sound of birds chirping around them, the sun beaming through the thin white curtains. The sunshine hitting their bare bodies perfectly. Their clothes from last night were scattered across the room, decorating the floor. Julien awake, his eye still closed as he smiled, feeling her toy around with his hair. Her finger twirling his hair around, observing his features. "You haven't shaved in a while." She pointed out, smoothly running her hand across his jaw where a stubble was growing.

"Do you want me to?" He pondered, grabbing a hold of her hand and placed it on top of his chest.

She shook her head. "No, I like it like this." She smiled, feeling his heartbeat underneath her palm. "Just... Don't let it get too long." She smirked.

"Why not? You don't think I'll look sexy with a full beard? I could hide small things in there like a lighter."

"Gross." She jokingly hit him as he softly chuckled.

"Well, good morning to you too." He beamed, pecking her shoulder, brushing his lips against her smooth skin, inhaling her scent, a smell he couldn't get enough of.

She rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Good morning." She pushed back, staring at his face; his blue eyes, his brown hair that began to hide his beautiful eyes due to the length, his perfectly shaped lips.

He observed her face in return, his fingers tracing her skin where the shard of glass had hit her a few days back. He still felt awful that he had done something like that. "It's gone." She told him, knowing exactly what he was thinking about. In an instant, his eyes met hers except he looked down with guilt.

"I still can't believe I did that do you." He whispered. His hands caressing her cheeks, feeling the softness of her skin against his fingers.

"It's okay. You didn't do it on purpose." She wistfully smiled, she knew he didn't and that he'd never do anything to hurt her.

"Did you cry a lot?" He asked in a hushed tone, shifting in the bed, resting his head against the pillow he opened his arms for her rest her body against his.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Almost everyday."

He brushed her blonde hair out of her face, pecking her forehead. "I'm sorry I put you through that."

"And I'm sorry I hid something like that. I should've told you, but I was so scared of your reaction." She drew circles around his stomach, giving his waist a subtle squeeze. Her leg laying across his legs, she just wanted to feel him close to her.

"We've been together for four years... Yet, we've kept such big secrets." Julien pointed out.

Angele nodded. "But it doesn't mean we love each other any less... Or that we don't trust each 

other. We managed to push it so far back that we never felt the need to talk about it."

"I think we also needed to figure it out before anything and I'm glad we finally did. Without seeing Alexandre or your father you never had to think of your situation. And I got triggered." He smiled, letting out a dry laugh.