A Surprise Visit - Julian Kaiser's Office

Nicole was a little worried at Julian's reaction to the stairs. If he didn't think he could handle the stairs, what made him think he could handle apparition? Or, at least, the witch assumed that was the mode of transportation he was referring to. Julian hadn't produced a portkey... Obligingly she nodded, a little scared though she refused to allow it to show. 'Please be careful,' Nicole prayed, closing her eyes tight and holding onto Julian even tighter.

When Nicole next opened her eyes she was standing in Julian's bathroom. What's more, they were both still in one piece. The idea of getting splinched deterred Nicole from even attempting to learn that bit of magic. As Julian walked over to the sink Nicole followed, resting a hand on his back while he looked for the proper potion. She caught a stray vial that had fallen out of the cabinet, and placed it on the back of the sink.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Nicole asked, absently setting the files down and reaching up toward where Julian took a knock to the head.

"I'm fine, I promise," Julian reassured Nicole with a smile. In his earlier days as an Auror, he'd been used to having similar accidents all the time and as such was well-stocked with potions. Fortunately, they were pretty fast-acting and the dull ache in his temples was receding even as she reached for his head, giving the amusing illusion that it was Nicole curing his pain. He couldn't help but chuckle, and then slid a hand down to the small of her back and bent down, swiftly getting her back into the same position he'd been holding her in back at the office.

"I think this is where we left off, before we were so rudely interrupted?" he asked with a smirk, pushing aside the door to the bedroom. "Hmm...I notice I do seem to have a certain fondness for carrying you across the threshold, don't I, Ms. Archer?" The unusually formal name came with a wink as Julian shook his head at how nearly they were almost walked in on by Zolnerowich, of all people. He deposited her onto the bed and then stood back, looking at her admiringly.

"It's not my fault, you know. You just look very, very good lying there like that...you should just stay there all the time," Julian suggested, grinning wolfishly.

The usual smile from Julian helped reassure Nicole that he was in fact back to his typical self. It was proven when he semi-unexpectedly hoisted her back into his arms. The hand that had been sent to examine his temples instead caressed the features it found and traced the wizard's hairline up and around his ear. The trail came to a stop when Nicole arrived at Julian's neck, wrapping her arms around him. "Yes, I believe so," she snickered, leaning forward to place a kiss at the corner of Julian's mouth.

She laughed at the 'observation' he made. "It would certainly seem so, Mr. Kaiser," Nicole replied with the same tone. "I assure you: you won't be hearing any complaint of it from me." A pleasant feeling of deja vu overcame Nicole's senses as Julian laid her upon his bed. The tingling sensation that bolted up and down the witch's spine was pure anticipation.

"But if I did stay here all the time we'd both get bored," Nicole chucked, all play as she stretched in a manner that was provocative and cat-like. The emerald gaze never let Julian out of her sight, and a smirk to compliment his wolfish grin surfaced on Nicole's face. "And although you look absolutely dashing, all the way over there... I think you'd be even moreso over here." To emphasize, Nicole patted the bit of mattress directly next to her.

"Bored? Never," Julian disagreed, taking in the sight of Nicole stretched out alluringly with wide, hungry eyes. It was very difficult to imagine ever getting bored of that sight, or more specifically, that smile. She had a way of looking at him that said everything without requiring words -- and the smile she was wearing now said she knew where all of his weak spots were, and she intended to push every last button on the way down.

Merlin, I love that woman, he thought to himself, sighing contentedly as he made his way onto the bed. As he took her into his arms, Julian realised that if he had anything at all to say about it, he would marry her one day. It seemed like the most obvious thing -- who wouldn't want and appreciate the beautiful, smart, funny, strong woman currently tangled up in his embrace? Unbidden, the answer occurred to him, giving him a startling jolt of adrenaline and anger -- Brian Delaney, that's who.

The man must have been an absolute monster to do what he did, and Julian's arms suddenly turned protective as he hugged Nicole to his chest, pushing her hair out of her face so he could look into her eyes. Just thinking about laying a hand on her made him feel sick to his stomach -- so he pushed the thought away and began to kiss her, as though the tenderness of his lips could somehow atone for the harm that had been done to her so long ago.

Nicole chuckled. Or perhaps she giggled. The two sounds were almost interchangeable. Her smile turned into a grin as Julian joined her on the bed. Without thinking twice she wrapped her arms around him. The wizard was definitely different, in her opinion, from any of the other men she knew. Nicole almost couldn't help but think for one fleeting moment that perhaps Julian was too good for someone of such low magical abilities as her. On the other hand, she did have other certain skills to more than make up for that... and Nicole knew it.

She could almost sense the protective vibe Julian was giving. Normally the witch would pull away, determined to prove that she could protect herself, but this was different. Instead she held on to him tightly in an attempt to convey with actions what words were inadequate to express. Emerald eyes fluttered closed as they kissed. Nicole's hands instinctively went to Julian's hair. As much as Julian enjoyed the feel of her hair through his fingers, so too had Nicole become addicted to touching and playing with his. It was almost unfair that his hair was so short.

"I love you... Julian," Nicole murmured between kisses.

The words were like music to his ears, and as he left a trail of feather-light kisses down her cheekbone to her throat and down into her collarbone, Julian responded in kind, whispering the words into her skin like they were a secret.

"I love you too, Nini. Always will." Tucking one hand behind Nicole, he reached back and began to pull down the blankets, scooting them under and over until they were intertwined comfortably and warmly beneath them. Having made certain that she was comfortable, Julian began gently tugging at the top that Nicole was wearing, pulling it over her head with as little interruption to his kisses as possible. That accomplished, he quickly shed his own and started working on her trousers, kicking the clothes out from under the covers and off of the bed as they were removed.

To Julian, the mood was very different from even earlier in the day -- then, it was fiery, passionate, and fierce. Perhaps it was the raw newness of their confessions, of finally acknowledging out loud feelings that had been censored before. Whatever the reason, things were different, and that wasn't bad; in fact, Julian felt extremely pleased with it. It felt more real somehow, like they belonged to each other.