o Willow’s surprise, Julian stopped.
As he looked down at her, his Adam’s apple bobbed, showing how hard he was suppressing his desires.
After a long pause, he moved off her.
“Go wash up,” he said.
When Willow got up, her legs trembled. After stumbling into the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was startled by her own disheveled
state.
In 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. He placed one between his lips. In the end/ he walked over to the floor–to–ceiling window in the lounge, cracked it open slightly, and slowly smoked there.
The soft glow of the lamp cast a mix of light and shadow across his face. His lashes formed delicate shadows under his eyes, 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, blurring the sharp lines of his
face.
He gazed out into the thick darkness, his thoughts in turmoil.
Jeffrey was the one with the one–sided infatuation. Willow felt nothing for him. So, why was Julian losing control? He behaved like a jealous husband, desperate to keep his wife locked away, never to see another man.
Julian knew perfectly well that he didn’t love Willow. It probably was just possessiveness.
He simply couldn’t stand the thought of another man coveting Willow. Maybe there was some guilt mixed in too, 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 was showering.
Amid the steam, she stood beneath the showerhead, letting the warm water cascade down her body. Clear droplets slid through her hair, tracing along her delicate red mole before disappearing into the curves below.
In the shower, she was unadomed, yet captivating.
Julian pulled open the glass door. Hearing the sound, Willow turned to look at him.
His gaze was dark and intense, burning with unmistakable desire. A shiver ran through her.
A moment later, he unfastened his shirt buttons and stepped toward her.
One hand cradled her face, the other wrapped around her waist. He lowered his head and kissed her.
The bathroom brimmed with a sultry warmth. A night of passion lasted until dawn.
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered into the bedroom.
Even through the curtains, Willow found the light harsh. She instinctively buried her face in the pillow, but the slightest movement sent a dull ache through her
body.
“Morning.”
Julian’s voice came from beside her, followed by the sensation of being pulled into a warm embrace.
Through the thin fabric of his robe, Willow rested her face against Julian’s chest, breathing in his crisp scent.
His heartbeat was steady and strong.
For a long moment, Willow didn’t know what to say.
After four years of marriage, intimacy between them was nothing new. Keeping her expression calm, she hummed softly and moved to get up.
Julian, however, tightened his grip. Looking down at her, he asked in a slightly husky voice, “Did you enjoy last night?”
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