“As long as you're not Zeus, and I'm not Europa?” I replied unabashedly, glad that his manner helped me to overcome my nervousness, even though his presence seemed to intensify this strangely pleasant yet exciting feeling in my stomach.

He stepped closer so that only half a meter separated us and lowered his voice. “If I wanted to kidnap you, I would have invited you somewhere else.” I had to look up at him to see his soft smirk. “And don't you ever compare me to Zeus again, unless you want to be disarmed by me in a discussion.”

Erik didn't like Zeus. And I liked teasing him about it.

“Maybe that's what I want?”

He stared at me, seeming to study me, before he smirked again, and I felt that pleasant sensation again, this time in my chest, and then his gaze traveled down me, over the dress.

God, Julie, don't hyperventilate now.

“If I told you how much your dress flatters you, would you accept the compliment?”

I drew in a sharp breath. His gaze traveled from my dress up to my neck, then our eyes met.

“God, you are beautiful. Even though I'm not even allowed to see all of you yet,” he almost whispered.

My heartbeat accelerated. I felt incredibly warm from his words, which I definitely hadn't expected. I didn't know what to say, but I tried anyway.

“Erik, I...”

He didn't let me finish, but put his arms around my waist and pulled me close. Just wrapped me in his strong warm arms, close to him.

“Sorry for the awkward compliment, J,” he whispered in my ear, and goosebumps traveled down the back of my neck. “I've missed you, too.”

His warm breath on my neck was enough to heat up my entire body.

I couldn't believe it was really Erik I was hugging. I felt so comfortable, so...wanted.

I cringed inwardly the moment I realized that this was my first hug in years. Automatically, my arms went around him and I pulled him tightly against me, my heart racing.

“You're so cold,” he whispered, breaking away from the hug that I would have loved to stay in for longer.

He took off his jacket and put it around my arms.

My cheeks began to glow because I was too overwhelmed to protest.

I wasn't cold, which must have been because I could hardly feel anything except Erik's warmth and my racing heart. It was so different having him in front of me, and it made me much shyer than I already was.

“We could also sit in my car and turn on the heater,” he offered, and the thought of the two of us in his car triggered two completely different feelings. Fear and excitement.

Damn it, Julie. He is your best friend. Where were these bundles of emotions suddenly coming from?

“If you want to kidnap me, go ahead...” I blurted out unintentionally, sounding more confident than expected. “But then you'll have to accept that I'll forever compare you to Zeus.”

Now he grinned.

“Why does it sound like you want to be kidnapped?” he joked, which put me at ease. “Haven't you had enough of my obsession with gods? I wouldn't talk about anything else all the time...”

This time I had to smile, which he replied.

How much I would love to see him without his mask now...

Erik's look became more serious. “But no, J, if you don't want to do that, we can stay here.”

He looked at me insistently.

If it hadn't been so dark, I could have seen the color of his eyes and maybe even hints of the rest of his appearance.

“I want to,” I said firmly and reached for his hand. Warmth flooded my fingertips, which seemed almost numb. He flinched almost unnoticeably, probably at least as surprised by my sudden touch as I was.

“Your skin...” he began in a hoarse voice. “So soft...and yet so cold.”

Instantly, I took my hand out of his, but he pulled it back and drew me even closer to him. And then he leaned forward.

“Next time, I will invite you to my fireplace, and you can have hot chocolate.”

Another wave of heat shot through my cheeks.

His words eased something inside me, the tension I seemed to go through life with. He destroyed it completely. It was the fact that he made me feel wanted. But I didn't know how to deal with it.

“You seem like a good host,” I laughed sheepishly and the right corner of his mouth turned upwards.

“Only with the people I kidnap...” He raised his hand, which held a key. “And while we're at it.” The lights of the large car next to us lit up dimly. “I'd like to take you to the underworld with this.”

He let go of my hand and opened the backseat door, only to gesture to the inside of the car.

“You can still escape from me, J.”

The tingling in my stomach intensified, making my knees go weak.

“I've always wanted to know what it's like down there...” I let myself in on his play on words and climbed into his car, not without the nervousness threatening to swallow me up.

Erik opened the front door, leaned in to start the engine, and pressed a button – the heated seats, no doubt – then he threw in his suit jacket, closed the driver's door again and got in the back with me.

Adrenaline flooded through me, and it felt...good.

I immediately felt the warmth of the heated seats and the soft, smooth leather beneath me. The car seemed rather new.

“It's okay... I'm nervous, too,” he laughed and turned to me, leaning into the seat and looking so incredibly relaxed. “May I?” He pointed at my hands. “I don't want you to freeze and have any negative memories of our first meeting.”

I nodded, and again he took my hands in his.

Damn, this man was warm.

“Trust me, the only thing I'd remember negatively would be a kidnapping where I didn't get the promised hot chocolate by the fireplace and a history lesson from your philosophy books at the end.”

The words came easily from my lips. It was as if we were in the chat and even though I was nervous, I managed to be J. And that felt...good.