V
<b>o </b>Willow’s surprise, Julian stopped.
As he looked down at her, his Adam’s apple bobbed, showing how hard he was suppressing his <b>desires</b>.
After a long pause, he moved off her.
“Go wash up,” <b>he </b>said.
When Willow got up, her legs trembled. After stumbling into the bathroom<b>, </b>she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was startled by her own disheveled
<b>state</b><b>. </b>
<b>In </b>the bedroom, Julian turned over onto his side.
After a few moments of steadying his breath, he reached for the nightstand drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes<b>. </b>He ced one between his lips. In the end/ he walked over to the floor–to–ceiling window in the lounge<b>, </b>cracked it open slightly<b>, </b>and <b>slowly </b>smoked there.
The soft glow of themp <b>cast </b>a mix of light and shadow across his <b>face</b>. Hisshes formed delicate shadows under his <b>eyes</b><b>, </b>making his chiseled features even more striking.
His fingers trembled slightly as he flicked the ash. The faint blue–gray smoke curled upward before the night breeze carried it away<b>, </b>blurring the sharp lines of his
<b>face</b><b>. </b>
He gazed out into the thick darkness, his thoughts <b>in </b>turmoil.
Jeffrey was the one with the one–sided infatuation. Willow felt nothing for him<b>. </b><b>So</b>, why <b>was </b>Julian losing control? He behaved like <b>a </b>jealous husband, desperate <b>to </b>keep his wife locked away, never to <b>see </b>another man.
Julian knew perfectly well that he didn’t love Willow<b>. </b><b>It </b>probably was just possessiveness.
He simply couldn’t stand the thought of another man coveting Willow. Maybe there was some guilt mixed in too<b>, </b>but that was it.
Willow wasn’t that important.
The moment he sorted out his emotions, the weight on his chest lifted. He stubbed out his cigarette and strode back into the bedroom.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
Willow <b>was </b>showering.
Amid the steam, she stood beneath the showerhead, letting the warm water <b>cascade </b>down her body. Clear droplets slid through her hair<b>, </b>tracing along her delicate red mole before disappearing into the curves below.
In the shower<b>, </b>she was unadomed, <b>yet </b>captivating.
Julian pulled open the ss door. Hearing the sound, Willow turned to look at him.
His gaze was dark and intense<b>, </b>burning with unmistakable desire. A shiver ran through her.
A moment <bter</b><b>, </b>he unfastened his shirt buttons and <b>stepped </b>toward her.
One hand cradled her face<b>, </b>the other wrapped around her <b>waist</b>. He lowered his head and kissed her.
The bathroom brimmed <b>with </b><b>a </b><b>sultry </b>warmth. A night <b>of </b>passionsted until dawn.
The next <b>morning</b><b>, </b>the first rays <b>of </b>sunlight filtered into the bedroom.
Even <b>through </b>the curtains, <b>Willow </b>found the light harsh. She instinctively buried her <b>face </b><b>in </b>the <b>pillow</b><b>, </b>but the <b>slightest </b>movement <b>sent </b><b>a </b>dull ache <b>through </b><b>her </b>
body<b>. </b>
“Morning<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Julian’s </b><b>voice </b>came from beside her<b>, </b>followed by the <b>sensation </b>of being pulled into a warm embrace.
Through the thin fabric of his robe<b>, </b>Willow rested her face against Julian’s <b>chest</b><b>, </b>breathing in his crisp <b>scent</b>.
His heartbeat was steady and strong<b>. </b>
For a long moment, <b>Willow </b><b>didn’t </b>know <b>what </b><b>to </b><b>say</b>.
After four years of marriage<b>, </b>intimacy between them was nothing <b>new</b><b>. </b><b>Keeping </b>her expression <b>calm</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>hummed </b><b>softly </b>and moved <b>to </b><b>get </b>up.
Julian, <b>however</b><b>, </b><b>tightened </b>his <b>grip</b><b>. </b>Looking down at her<b>, </b>he asked in a slightly husky <b>voice</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Did <b>you </b>enjoyst night?”
Willow kept her tone <b>neutral</b>. <b>“</b><b>It </b>was fine.<b>” </b>
The truth was, Julian had taken <b>her </b>four times<b>. </b>And <b>yes</b><b>, </b>she had enjoyed <b>it</b>. But she wasn’t about to admit <b>that </b>so bluntly. She had her pride.
<b>+25 </b><b>Bonus </b>
Her detached response didn’t seem to bother Julian. He chuckled while brushing his nose against hers. “Well, it was great <b>for </b>me.”
Their noses brushed, the subtle friction between them carrying an unmistakable tension.
Willow had never seen Julian so aroused. He had always been traditional in bed, restrained even. Butst night, he had been different, like a man who had thrown all caution to the wind.
His fingers traced lightly over her lower abdomen, lost in thought.
Willow could guess that he was thinking about a child again. But that was impossible.
Her mood dimmed. She lifted the covers and got out of bed. Momentster, her voice drifted out from the bathroom. “I’m not ovting right now. I won’t get pregnant.”