His honesty sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. I placed my hands on the armrests of his wheelchair, leaning down until our faces were inches apart, my body caging his without touching.
"All day," I continued, my voice dropping lower, "you've been looking at me like you want to devour me."
"And if I do?" he challenged, his breath warm against my lips.
I smiled, then lowered myself onto his lap, straddling him as I had in the hotel room. His sharp intake of breath was deeply satisfying.
"I believe I made you a promise about taking responsibility," I whispered, close enough that my lips brushed his ear.
Julian's hands moved to my hips, gripping firmly. "I recall something to that effect."
I pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, finding them dark with desire. The composed CEO who had commanded respect with his mere presence was giving way to something more primal, more vulnerable.
I closed the final distance between us, pressing my lips to his. The kiss started gentle, almost tentative, but quickly ignited into something hungrier. Julian's mouth was demanding against mine, his tongue seeking entrance that I eagerly granted.
His hands slid from my hips to my back, pulling me closer until our chests pressed together. I could feel his heart racing beneath the expensive fabric of his shirt, matching the rapid tempo of my own.
My fingers threaded through his thick hair, slightly mussed now from my attention. The soft strands felt like silk against my skin. Julian groaned into my mouth as I gave them a gentle tug, and the sound sent a bolt of heat straight through me.
"God, you're responsive," I murmured against his lips.
"Only with you," he replied, his voice rough with want. "Only ever with you."
The admission made my chest tighten with something that went beyond physical desire. I kissed him again, deeper this time, trying to communicate without words what his confession meant to me.
Julian's hands moved to the buttons of my shirt, deftly unfastening them one by one. His fingertips brushed against my skin with each newly exposed inch, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
When the shirt hung open, he pushed it off my shoulders, his eyes devouring the sight of my bare chest. "You're beautiful," he said, and the raw sincerity in his voice made me flush.
His palms slid up my torso, mapping the contours of my body with the same intensity he probably used to study financial reports. Each touch was deliberate, thorough, like he was committing me to memory.
I shifted in his lap, creating friction that drew a sharp gasp from both of us. Even through the layers of our pants, I could feel him hardening beneath me—a miracle, he'd called it, this physical response that medical science had declared impossible.
"Bedroom," I suggested, my voice so husky I barely recognized it.
Julian nodded, his eyes never leaving mine as I carefully shifted off his lap. I moved behind his wheelchair, my hands resting lightly on his shoulders as I leaned down to press a kiss to his neck.
"Lead the way," I murmured against his skin.
Julian guided his chair with practiced ease, navigating through the study doorway and into the hallway beyond. I walked beside him, my hand trailing along his shoulder, unwilling to break physical contact even for these few moments.
The journey to the bedroom seemed both endless and too short, charged with anticipation that made every second stretch. The wheels of Julian's chair made soft sounds against the polished floors, occasionally catching on the edges of plush area rugs.
When we finally reached the master bedroom, Julian paused just inside the doorway. The massive bed dominated the space, its pristine sheets a canvas waiting to be disturbed.
The room was bathed in the soft glow of dimmed lights, creating shadows that danced across Julian's face, highlighting the sharp angles of his cheekbones.
I moved to stand before him again, slowly dropping to my knees between his legs. Julian watched me with an intensity that made my skin tingle, his breathing visibly quickening as I reached for the buttons of his shirt.
"Let me," I said softly, and he nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
I unfastened each button with deliberate care, revealing his chest inch by inch. Unlike my own unblemished torso, Julian's was mapped with scars—some surgical and precise, others jagged reminders of the accident that had changed his life. They traced patterns across his skin, telling a story of pain and survival.
Julian's hands covered mine as I reached the last button, stopping my progress. In his eyes I saw a flash of vulnerability, of uncertainty.
"You don't have to do this," he said quietly.
I turned my hand to grasp his, bringing it to my lips to press a kiss against his palm. "I want to," I assured him. "Every part of you."
