The Exchange

Chapter 11- An (Un)Happy Accident

The morning was over and daytime had begun. It was sweltering outside heating the slabs of stone on the patio to a temperature that would burn bare feet.

The neighbours children were already playing in their pool and the sounds of them shouting at each other eagerly before splashing into the water carried over the fence. 

'England's never seen so many sunny days in its life!', Sasha thought contentedly to herself. The sun made everything better and seemed to put everyone in a good mood. Even Ben wasn't annoying her as much as he usually did.

So she'd had her highs and lows ever since Julien moved in, but right now she had never felt better. There was this warm, glowing sensation vibrating through her body. Even her eyes seemed to be brighter than usual.

Swinging her arms and humming under her breath Sasha headed towards her bedroom, eager to stick her nose into a new book. Walking past the guest bedroom on the way she noticed that the door was slightly ajar and she could just make out Julien's voice talking to someone in french.

Curious she peered in careful not to be seen, expecting to find Luis or another of Julien's friends from class. The room was low lit, the curtains still drawn so the sun couldn't enter and brighten the space. It was so dark she had to squint to see the furniture.

"Has he invited someone else over without asking?", Sasha muttered.

But when her eyes finally adjusted to her surprise she could see only Julien inside. Puzzled she leaned further into the room. He was clasping his phone to his ear with his back towards Sasha and seemed to have lost his shirt again. Instantly captivated by his naked torso Sasha raked her eyes over his sloping back, moving down to his narrow hips and onto his tight, peachy...

Julien growled sexily bringing Sasha out of her thoughts.

Sasha wasn't one to snoop. Or she hadn't been until now. But there was something about the scene unfolding in front of her that drew her in and wouldn't let her go. There was something about the way that Julien was talking down the phone that encompassed her, rooting her feet to the spot.

His voice was low and husky. She'd never heard him speak in this way before. His accent drawling the words in a sexy, slow manner. Sasha was captivated.

Was. He. Talking. Dirty?

Obviously Sasha had no clue what he was actually saying but that didn't seem to register because what really mattered was how he was saying it. His tongue worked loose in his mouth as he pronounced everything with a seductive delicacy. It was inviting but didn't sound crude. 

It did sound, however, like he'd done this before.

Sasha grabbed the door handle to hold herself up, her legs suddenly turning to jelloid beneath her. If she kept on listening she was going to become a pool on the carpet.

She could hear her heart thrumming in her ears and her whole body felt as though it were lit on fire and there was a burning sensation worming its way right through her. Her stomach clenched. 

She almost swooned when he turned around, revealing a smooth chiseled chest and those heavenly divots that sat just above the hip line. A suggestive grin covered his face.

Suddenly Julien looked up, noticing her in the door and his eyes instantly latched onto hers. 

She'd been caught red handed.

Mouth agape Sasha stumbled back, pulling herself out of her daze. Her face was flushed and her eyes were moist. If a hole could open itself up and suck her into the deep depths of the earth now would be perfect timing.

Julien was staring at her just as shocked with bulging eyes. He seemed to be processing the situation, a look of raw emotion frozen on his face. Suddenly he clenched his jaw so the cords in his neck became rigid. He seemed fuming as if boiling liquid were about to simmer out of him and burn Sasha all over.

"Merde (Shit)" Julien shouted before quickly turning on his heel and slamming shut the door right in Sasha's face.

The loud bang seemed to shake her from her perplexed state. She turned around, scampering up the stairs as fast as she could with her tail between her legs.

Sasha headed straight for the bathroom as it was the only room in the house with a lock on her door. Tugging open she door she fell inside and instantly slipped to the floor so her back was leant up against the wall. Slouching forward she cradled her head in her hands. 

Her body still seemed to be alight in flames and every part of her was tensed. What the hell had just happened?!

She hung her head letting her hair fall over her face deciding that she would not be leaving the bathroom any time soon.

----

After returning home from work Annette shouted up the stairs asking Sasha to meet her in the kitchen. Hesitantly, Sasha poked her head out of her bedroom door fearful that if she emerged too quick she'd get blown to smithereens.

She tiptoed to the top of the stairs desperately looking to see if Julien was there. There was no way she was going to bump into him right now. She still hadn't completely recovered from earlier.

Cautiously she took one single step down, waiting for the world to collapse around her. Nothing happened. She took another, and another, until she was standing at the bottom of the stairs. It was silent. Exhaling slowly she headed for the kitchen.

Annette finished placing the pizza's in the oven, slamming the door shut before turning to look over at Sasha.

"Hi darling", she began wearily, she looked very tired, "So there's pizza's in the oven for you and Ben. I'm going out for drinks with some friends in a second and...", she paused and rubbed her bottom lip with a finger.

Sasha walked over to her pulling Annette into a hug, and was instantly comforted by her mother's smell. She worked so hard for their family, it was incredible how she could juggle so much. Mother's really did make the world go round.

"Okay, thanks mum", Sasha said, gazing up at her, "thanks for everything".

Annette patted Sasha's head lovingly, before nuzzling her face closer and kissing her softly.

"Of course sweetie", she replied,"Got to look after my babies".

She pulled away, "I'm quickly going to change upstairs and then I'll be off. I'm taking Julien to meet his class on the way so don't worry about getting dinner ready for him".

Sasha watched her leave the room and sighed. Her mother was her rock. Without her she didn't know where she would be.

She was also starting to feel a deep sense of relief that she wouldn't have to face Julien tonight. Her body began to ease up and she stretched her arms over her head.

Suddenly a figure appeared in the doorway. A figure with glinting green eyes, divine lips and an elegant Roman nose.

'Whoops, spoke too soon', Sasha thought, her cheeks becoming red. Just looking at him made her want to go curl up in the middle of the woods and never be found.

Julien didn't smile. Brushing his eyes over Sasha once, he grabbed his bag from the kitchen counter and without uttering a single word he left.

'Back to square one', she thought unhappily, angry with herself for always messing everything up. He hadn't needed to build the walls back up, she'd done it for him.