Body Guard

Julie:
I didnt take my eyes off him for a second. "Oh please." I laughed. "That is the face of someone who is up. To. Something." I said, poking his cheek on each of the last three words. "You forget how well I know you." I told him.

With her hand already in my space and poking my cheek it gave me the perfect chance to twist towards her and tug at her neckline while dropping the ice down the front of her top. I tried not to let my fingers get hooked in her neckline as I tugged my hand away and tried to lean away.

Julie:
I let out a squeal as the ice slipped down the front of my top. In an effort to push his hand away, even though the damage had already been done, I pushed my forearm towards him, trying to block him. Of course, I used the arm that was currently holding a wine glass. I watched the red liquid slosh over the side of the glass and wet the front of his shirt.

"Damnit!" I yelled, hurrying to put the glass down. I grabbed a napkin off the table and pressed it to his chest, trying to soak up the wine. It was an effort I knew was in vain. The wine would inevitably stain the shirt. I tried to stop the giggle as I rubbed the napkin up and down. "Thats one hundred percent your fault," I said, looking up at him.

I should have expected this kind of reaction. But between my playful mood and the alcohol I wasn't prepared for the wine to dash against my chest, and in the process I sloshed some of my own onto my shorts. Cursing I set my own glass down but she was already rubbing my chest with a napkin. Picking up my own I scrubbed at my shorts. I shortly gave up and looked up when her giggling ended. "My fault?" I protested. Reaching out I poked her chest, "You started this knowing I'd retaliate."

I moved my hand to grab her own, stopping her from scrubbing at my chest. "Either way I'm sure this shirt is done for. No need to scrub what's already doomed." I looked down at her hand in mine then followed it up her arm and back up to her face.

Julie:
He didn't let go of my hand after he grabbed it and suddenly, it wasn't so funny anymore. The warmth in my cheeks spread down to my whole body as I watched his eyes trail up to mine. A long moment later, my eyes dropped to his mouth and all at once, I knew exactly what was about to happen.

I without giving myself a chance to think, I used the hand that was already joined to his to pull him a little closer and then I leaned in and pressed my lips against his.

Cody:

I hadn't fully realized how close we were until I was gazing into her eyes. I hadn't realized that the color in her cheeks wasn't just from the wine now until her eyes dipped down to my lips. I hadn't realized how good and soft her lips felt until they were pressed against mine.

I kissed her back, leaning into the feeling. My eyes slid closed and I released her hand to cup her face. I couldn't help myself, it was like months or years of repressed feelings all bubbled up and wanted to come to the surface. And it wasn't until I felt my chest press against hers that I caught myself. I broke the kiss and leaned back, trying to catch my breath. I dipped my gaze down and then cursed softly, "I'm sorry...you should...I..." Words failed me for a moment and I gestured towards her stomach where the left over wine still soaked into my shirt. "We should change...your shirt might still be saved."

Julie:
The most surprising part of kissing Cody didnt have anything to do with actually kissing him. It was how right it felt. How not weird it was when his hand cupped my face. How natural it felt to slide closer and part my lips with his. Why hadn't we started doing this sooner?

Just as I was about to tilt my head to really sink into it, I felt him pull away. I took me a minute to figure out what he was saying before I glanced down at my shirt. There was now a bit of wine on it, but I didn't care. "W-what? Oh...don't...it's fine," I said, pinching the fabric and pulling it slightly away from my skin. "Honestly, I dont even really like this shirt," I shrugged, looking back at him. Only, he wasn't looking at me anymore. We were still close, but there was a lot more distance than there had been a minute ago.

It was a battlezone inside my head. Duty, desire, my job, Jules. They kept me running in circles and eventually I had to stand up. "I'm....I'm going to go take a shower. Clean up the wine and change." I feared looking at her. It felt so easy to sit back down, grab her and resume right where we'd just left off. I didn't doubt she could convince me to do just that with a look. "Damn it..." I muttered with a shaky sigh. "Why do you have to be so good at kissing? Better yet why does it feel so..." I trailed off and moved towards my guest bedroom without another word.

Julie:
I watched him walk to the guest room from my spot on the couch. I didn't understand why he stopped. Did he feel what I felt? I heard his muttered words and felt even more confused. I wanted to stand up and yell at him for walking away from me right now. I wanted to grab him and kiss him until i couldn't breath.

I didnt do either of those things. I just watched him walk away. I didn't move for several minutes but when I did, I stood on shaky legs and started cleaning up. I made sure all the alcohol was put away before retreating to my room, taking a minute to slam the door when I shut it. I stripped my stained shirt off replaced it with a clean one before sitting on the bed and gently touching my lips. They were tingling.

I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to get myself in order. When I heard her bedroom door slam I flinched and finally pushed away from the door. Rationally I knew this was a mistake. I had gotten too close to her, it was against everything in my training to get personal with my charge.

But at the same time it felt so right. There had been real feelings. My real feelings in that kiss. And as I stepped into the bathroom and stripped I could still feel her lips on mine. "What am I doing...she's the daughter of a man who is going to be president. I'm her bodyguard....she's my best friend too." The details of the kiss were too fuzzy. I couldn't tell if she'd kissed me or I kissed her.

Stepping into the shower I leaned agaisnt the wall and raised my face up into the spray. "Tomorrow will be like tonight never happened...it has to be." Sighing I rubbed my face then laughed softly at myself. "I'm a fool...but...that was something amazing." I knew I was going to linger in the shower. And I gave myself until I got out to think about the kiss...and what could have been had it kept going.

Julie:
I flopped myself onto my bed, my head was swimming and I knew it wasn't just from the wine. I couldn't help but wonder if that had all been a terrible mistake. I really only had to think about it for a moment before I decided that no, nothing that felt like that could possibly be a mistake.

I just wish I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

I laid there for what felt like a while before I succumbed to the drunken sleep that was threatening to take over since I had laid down. I fell asleep on top of the covers and knew I was in for a restless night.

I tried laying in bed. But it wasn't enough. I went back out into the living room only to find my eyes gravitated towards her bedroom. "I'm so sorry Jules...I wish...I wish things could be different." I went hunting for the alcohol. Morning would find the bottle of rum on the table, missing a few extra glasses before I finally made it to the bed and fell asleep.

I woke up early the next morning, wincing as my muscles protested my movements. Surprisingly my head didn't hurt though my mouth felt full of cotton. I took a cold shower to wake myself up before ordering breakfast to be brought to the room and to check the various emails and messages I'd missed.

Ben was arriving at lunch, there were various meetings I needed to deal with, people to talk too, and the guest wing to check on. It was going to be a busy day.

Julie:
I woke up to a slight headache and a feeling like something big had happened that I just couldn't quite remember. I laid in bed for a few minutes before I sat up abruptly and touched my lips. There was just no way I had dreamed that.

I knew it wasnt a dream for two reasons. The first being that my lips were still tingling from it and the second being that dream me would have never ended the kiss like that.

I sighed and shoved the covers off my legs, deciding on a warm shower to clear my head. When that was done, I dressed up a little bit, remembering at the last minute that there was going to be a....guest today.

When I finally left the room, there was a knock at the door. I looked around and seeing Cody no where in sight, I pulled the door open. It was breakfast.

I thanked them before shutting the door with my hip and putting the tray down on the counter. I lifted the cover to take a peek at the food and snagged a piece of bacon. I took a bite and looked around again. Codys bedroom had a closed door so odds were that he was in there. But he just as easily could have left. I doubted he would do that without telling me though.

Cody:

I dug around the closet and drawers after ordering, leaving my towel tossed on my bed while I did so.  I dressed in one of my guard suits, including a tie.  It was in the process of tying it that I opened my door and stepped out.  I didn't look up until I'd finished and I smiled at Jules when I spotted her.

"Good morning."  The previous night came flooding back.  A heady mix of emotions and feelings.  But my smile didn't waver.  "No hangover I hope?  I don't know about you, but I certainly drank far too much last night."  Walking over I snagged up an apple from the breakfast cart and took a bite before looking at her again.

(( He's just going to play it off like he doesn't remember it. Too much alcohol. ))

Julie:
I paused mid chew to look at him. He certainly wasn't acting that we had kissed last night. He wasn't acting like anything out of the ordinary happened at all. I slowly took another bite of the bacon and then wiped the grease off my hand with a napkin.

"I didn't think you drank that much," I said, watching him as I opened the fridge to grab a water bottle. His smile, the carefree apple eating...he was faking it, I was sure.

Just like last night, with the ice, he really must forget how well I know him. I set my jaw and unscrewed the top the bottle. He was really just going to pretend that nothing happened? How did he expect that to work? I took a sip from the bottle and set it down on the counter. I was angry. I was a little hurt. I wanted to kiss him again. I felt my cheeks heating up but I forced a smile anyway. if he wanted to pretend, i could pretend too.

"We should probably get everything ready for Ben's arrival," I said, dropping my gaze from his. "He should be here soon, right?"

“Latest word is that his plane lands in an hour. And there was talk about him doing some shopping before he arrived. Our best estimate is he will be joining us for lunch.” I checked my phone and took another big bite of my apple. “I have a meeting in ten minutes, if you’d like I could escort you to your father first. I’m sure he wants to speak to you about all this.”

Julie:
I grabbed a banana off the tray and stepped out from behind to counter. I smoothed out my dress, making sure I was wrinkle free and presentable. "Okay, I'm ready to go then," I said. I brushed past him, to grab my sweater and my purse that was behind him and then stepped back to unpeel my banana. It was to-go food.

Sending out a quick text I snagged a muffin then lead the way out the door. I knew I should say something, anything. But I didn’t know what to say that could make it better to explain last night. I didn’t even know what I wanted myself. So instead I stayed quiet under the guise of checking my phone and answering texts. “Your father is in his study.” I finally got the location and turned us down the maze of halls until we arrived at the door.

Julie:
I paused with my hand on the door knob and sighed. "I guess I'll see you later?" I asked, looking up at him. I had eaten my banana on the walk over and the peel was still in my hands, until i found a garbage. I knew today would be really busy for him, but I hoped it wouldnt be used as an excuse to create more distance between us

"I'll be there for lunch, it'll be a working lunch for me though. And I'll visit you whenever I can Jules. If nothing else..." I wiggled my phone at her. "You could text me any time." Slipping my phone into my pocket I offered her a faint smile.

Julie:
I gave him a small smile back and took a deep breath before waving and opening he door to the fathers study.

He looked up from his work and smiled, beckoning me inside as he finished up his phone call.

----

The morning hours passed by rather quickly as I spent some time with my father. We rarely got to do this since the election and I hadn't realized how much I missed him. We talked some about Ben and his arrival and even though I knew nothing was set it stone and I wouldnt be forced to do anything, I had to make it clear for my father to not have any expectations. Especially after what happened with Cody last night. Not that I told him that part.

When it came time for lunch, I started getting nervous butterflies. When I sat and waited for instructions, I took Cody up on his offer to text him. He still wasnt here yet.

Can we have a safe word for if things go horribly wrong and I want to leave? -J

A couple meetings turned into almost half a dozen. Strategies, manpower, posturing, diplomacy. They ranged from informative to dreadfully dull. This current one was discussing responsibilities and who was going to run point once the Prince was finally here and he started spending time with Julie. I was trying not to doze off during this one as the guards for the Prince, the Queen's Guard they called themselves, tried to bully and take control.

It was all so pointless. They were guests. Jules was my responsibility. I was in charge. Everyone in the room knew it except them. I hadn't bothered introducing myself, they hadn't either. Besides they were the lower level guards. I was waiting for their leader. But he was still with the Prince.

A soft buzz on my side woke me up enough to actually move for the first time since sitting down and propping my feet up on a spare chair. Pulling out my phone I smirked slightly, having to reread the message two times before I tried answering.

A safe word? Tells me so much about what you like behind closed doors...still what kind of word would you like? -C

Julie:
I looked at my phone when it buzzed and rolled my eyes with a smile. Only he could make me smile after whatever happened last night and this morning.

You dont know anything about what I like behind closed doors. And the safe word is Pickle. If I say pickle, we gotta go. -J

My father stood and looked at his watch. "Are you ready to leave? The Prince is waiting in the dining room," He said. I bit my lip and nodded, standing and smoothing out my dress for the second time today.

I'll share if you share. -C

I looked up as the doors burst open and a man walked in. I appraised him in a single look. The way he held himself, his build, his demenor. Finally the man in charge.

"Nice of the Prince to show up. I'm Cody. I'm running point if ever his royal highness decides to take Julie out of the manor grounds."

Silence pervaded the room as all eyes turned to me. The men who had been trying to bravado and take control for this man started sputtering until he raised a hand to stop them. He asked only a single question, "Why should you be in charge?"

I smiled and stood with a slow stretch. "Because I'm her head guard. You and your charge are a guest. So you follow our rules, our lead. I'm not above sharing, but everything runs through me and I get final say so."

"Are you just cocky yourself? Or is this an American trait? Fine we'll play it your way Cody. But I am not afraid to put you in your place if the Prince's life is threatened in any way." He offered a hand out, one I gladly shook. "The name is Duncan. The Prince and the young Lady should be meeting for Lunch right now, shall we?"

I nodded and lead the way, making small talk on the way, mostly sharing credentials and various stories. I pulled out my phone on the walk sending another message to Jules.

On my way. Working lunch however so behave yourself. -C

Julie:
Stop making jokes! You didnt agree to Pickle!!- J

I sent off one more text before grabbing my dads arm as he started walking towards the grand dining room. "You aren't leaving, are you?" I asked, squeezing his arm a bit.

He looked down at me and smiled. "I cant stay the whole lunch, but I'll stay long enough to have a word with the Prince and not seem rude," he said. "Cody will be there the whole time," He assured me. But I had already known that.

We got to the huge set of double doors and he pushed them open. There were already quite a few people standing around, but I knew the Prince when I saw him. He was...handsome. Maybe a little older than I was, but I hadnt expected him to look so normal. I smiled faintly as my father dropped his hold on me to shake hands and make introductions.