Chapter 826 She bridged the gap
“You should focus on your own work now,” Juniper said, stepping back from her wheel. “What are you making?”
“A flower vase,” Denzel replied.
“You should make another one while you’re at it. I’ll be finished in a little while,” he suggested.
Juniper nodded and reached for a smaller lump of clay to practice with, while Denzel returned to his station and set his own wheel back into motion.
Three hours slipped by unnoticed. When they finally stood up, their hands were coated in a fine layer of dried grey slip. They moved to the wash station, scrubbing the residue from their skin under the running water.
“Once they dry and get fired, we can take them home,” Juniper said, glancing back at their creations lined up on the shelf. “I’m going to paint mine. It’ll be a nice souvenir.”
“Of course,” Denzel agreed, leaning against the counter.
Juniper moved to the air dryer as she rubbed her hands dry. She looked over at Denzel’s vase, it was perfectly symmetrical and elegant. “You made that vase like a complete pro,” she noted, impressed.
“I’ve been practicing for years. That’s probably why,” Denzel answered, a humble smile playing on his lips.
He stepped behind her, reaching for the hairband at the nape of her neck. With a gentle pull, he slid it free, letting her hair cascade down her back in a thick, dark wave.
Juniper instinctively tucked a few loose strands behind her ear, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the studio air, and walked with him to the front counter.
Denzel settled the bill for the studio time. “Uncle Sam, we’ll return in the evening to pick these up. The summer heat should have them dry enough by then,” he explained.
“Sure thing,” Sam agreed, nodding.
As they stepped out into the late afternoon sun, still hand-in-hand, Sam stayed by the doorway, watching them walk toward the car.
A smile playing on his lips. In all the years Denzel had been coming here to practice, he had never once brought anyone else. It was clear to Sam that this was different, that, Denzel was truly serious about someone.
Meanwhile, once they settled inside the car, Denzel turned the air conditioner on. Juniper was quick to pull out a moisturizing cream and applied it gently over her hands before passing some to Denzel’s hands.
“Rub them in,” she said, reaching into her bag to pull out a small compact mirror to check her hair.
“You must be starving,” Denzel said, glancing her way as he pulled out of the lot. “Let’s grab lunch. There’s a restaurant nearby that makes incredible food. I think you’ll really like it.”
“Sounds good,” Juniper replied, tucking it back into her purse.
He drove them to the famous restuarant he was talking about. When they reached over there, Juniper found the place wasn’t a fancy one. But it was well crowded.
“Let’s go in,” he said.
~~~~~
Since it was getting late, Denzel drove his house taking Juniper with him. He carried the box containing three small bowls and the flower vase, up to his door.
“That was a genuinely fun day,” Juniper said, stepping inside as he opened the door for her.
“Yeah, it was,” Denzel agreed. He set the box carefully on the table, and Juniper headed straight for the couch, collapsing onto the cushions with a tired sigh. Denzel walked to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a small tray holding a single glass of water. “Here.”
She thanked him, taking the glass and drinking it in long, thirsty gulps. Once the glass was empty, she set it down and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
“I’m glad I ordered pizza earlier,” she noted, leaning back into the cushions. “It should be here any minute.”
Denzel nodded, settling into the armchair opposite her. “Good call.”
“You can use the guest room,” Denzel stated. “I’ll freshen up too.”
“Sure,” she said and watched him go upstairs.
Juniper headed into the guest room to freshen up, taking her purse too. As she splashed cool water on her face and washed her hands, she replayed the day in her mind.
It was a quiet realization: she had never experienced this kind of fun before. She had spent so long in high-tension environments that she’d never really explored activities designed to calm her down.
Dabbing her face dry, she stepped out of the washroom. Her phone was buzzing from inside her purse, and simultaneously, the doorbell chimed.
She hurried to the front door, only to find Denzel already there, accepting the pizza box from the delivery driver. As he turned to close the door, he met her gaze. Juniper froze, her eyes instinctively trailing down his bare torso.
“He rang the doorbell twice, so I just grabbed it as I was,” Denzel said, clearly unbothered. He walked past her and set the pizza box on the table.
Juniper’s Alpha senses were always heightened around him. The scent she had ignored during her heat a few days ago was back, radiating from him now, distinctly earthy, like fresh cedarwood.
“Have a seat,” he said, turning toward her.
“Your scent is like cedarwood,” she noted.
Denzel stilled, his blinking ceasing entirely. He held her gaze. She could actually smell his pheromones.
Juniper pressed her palms to her burning cheeks, shaking her head to clear the fog. “Sorry, I just got a bit—”
The words died in her throat as Denzel crossed the space between them in a second, his lips brushing against hers in a brief contact. Her eyes widened, her breath hitching as she stared up at him, dazed by the suddenness of the gesture.
Denzel pulled back as he seemed to realize his own loss of restraint. He turned away. “I’ll go put on my shirt,” he murmured. “You should start eating.”
Juniper didn’t let him retreat. She reached out, her fingers tightening around his arm to anchor him before he could walk away.
With a firm tug, she spun him back to face her. Rising onto her toes, she bridged the gap and kissed him firmly, turning his hesitation into something far more deliberate.