I walked him back to his room. Down quiet hallways. Past security cameras I'd have to review tomorrow and make sure no one else saw.
At his door, I kissed him one more time.
"Sleep well."
"You too. And Elio?" He touched my chest where my heart was racing. "Thank you. For seeing me. For choosing me back."
He went inside. The door closed.
I stood in the hallway for a long moment. Trying to process what had just happened. What I'd just done. What this meant.
I'd crossed a line I couldn't uncross. Given in to desire I'd been fighting for weeks. Let myself have something I shouldn't want.
And I didn't regret it.
Not even a little bit.
I went back to my office. Sat at my desk. Looked at the evidence we'd organized against Winston Bianchi.
Tomorrow we'd move forward with destroying Julian's father. With making Julian permanently mine by ensuring he could never go back.
Tonight I'd claimed him in a different way. Shown him that intimacy could be chosen. That his body belonged to him. That pleasure was something he deserved.
My phone buzzed.
I can still feel your hands on me. Good night, Elio. Sleep well knowing you made me feel safe and wanted and seen. Thank you for that.
I stared at the message.
Then I texted back:Good night, Julian. Sleep well knowing you're mine now. I protect what's mine.
His response was immediate:Good. I don't want to belong to anyone else.
I sat in my office and smiled.
Matteo had been right. I'd stopped torturing myself and made a choice.
And Julian had been right too. This changed everything.
But for the first time in a very long time, I wasn't afraid of change.
I was ready for it.
CHAPTER 9: JULIAN
EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT.
I woke up the morning after Elio's hands on me feeling like a completely different person than I'd been twenty-four hours ago. My body felt awake in ways it never had before. Every nerve ending was aware. Alive. Singing with the memory of touch.
I got dressed and stared at myself in the mirror. Looked the same. But I felt fundamentally changed. Like Elio had unlocked something in me that couldn't be put back.
I touched my lips. Still felt the ghost of his kiss there. Still felt his hands on my skin. Still heard his voice sayingyou're mine nowlike a promise.
My phone buzzed.
Breakfast in my office in 30 minutes. We need to finalize the Winston strategy with Sandro. Professional meeting. Behave yourself.
I smiled at the last part.
