Embarrassment flooded through her. Without thinking, she raised her hand and smacked his chest.
The blow wasn't hard, but it was enough to make the maids struggle even harder to hide their amusement.
Cassian didn't seem affected in the slightest.
If anything, the sight of her flushed face only appeared to please him more.
A satisfied look flickered across his handsome features as he watched her glare at him.
Juliet could have sworn he was enjoying every second of her embarrassment.
Around them, the workers and maids suddenly became very efficient. Within minutes, the remaining boxes had been moved inside, and everyone disappeared as quickly as possible, leaving the two of them standing alone in the middle of the living room.
The moment they were gone, Juliet's expression softened.
She hesitated briefly before taking a step toward him.
Then another.
Before Cassian could react, she wrapped both arms around his neck and tilted her head back to look up at him.
The movement immediately captured his full attention.
His gaze dropped to her face.
"What is it?"
Juliet bit her lip.
"I want to go back to my apartment."
The faint smile on his face disappeared instantly.
His expression darkened so quickly that it was almost impressive.
Juliet hurried to continue before he could interrupt.
"Just for a little while," she said quickly, tightening her arms around his neck. "Your people brought most of my things, but there are still a few things I placed separately. I need to go get them."
The atmosphere shifted almost instantly.
The warmth that had been lingering in Cassian's expression disappeared as though it had never existed, and Juliet watched the change happen right before her eyes. His jaw tightened, a hard line forming beneath his stubble, while the muscles across his broad shoulders visibly tensed beneath his shirt.
"No."
The answer came so quickly and firmly that Juliet blinked in surprise.
Cassian's eyes darkened as he looked at her, all traces of softness gone.
"I already told you."
His voice had turned noticeably colder.
"You're not leaving this house."
Without giving her a chance to argue, he reached up and gently but firmly removed her arms from around his neck before stepping away from her. Then he turned and walked straight toward the dining table where breakfast had already been prepared, his long strides making it clear that the discussion was over as far as he was concerned.
He pulled out a chair, sat down, and calmly began serving himself breakfast as though the conversation had already ended and there was nothing left to discuss.
