Juliette's heart pounded against her chest as Gaël led her up the stairs, and she could barely breathe when they were finally standing in front of his bedroom door.

He glanced at her, and she knew he was giving her one last chance to back out. Are you certain about this?

Juliette nodded, and a storm of emotions assailed her heart as her guardian drew her in.

This was really happening...wasn't it?

Gaël's bedroom was massive and masculine, and its furniture subtle in its elegance with its mix of dark wood and black leather. It was a perfect reflection of her guardian's personality, but she had no time to think beyond this with Gaël suddenly sweeping her up in his arms.

Ah!

Her back hit the door as he started kissing her, and her legs automatically locked around his waist as she kissed him back. Whereas he always used to be gentle and tender, this time his mouth was moving over hers with rough hunger, and oh, how she loved it. He seemed just a little wilder and less controlled, and that was exactly what she needed, in order to carry out her plan.

His tongue dove into her mouth as he lifted her off the door, and she sucked on his tongue as he started to walk.

A breathless laugh escaped her when he let her tumble down and bounce on his big, soft bed, but the sound quickly turned into a moan that was just as breathless when he started undressing her.

"You're so damn hot, my darling."

A whimper slipped past her lips at the desire-thickened sound of his voice, and she could only whimper yet again when he had all of her clothes on the floor in moments. Just like that, she was completely naked under him, but when he started to move down her body, Juliette quickly shook her head and rose to her knees.

"It's my turn now." While Juliette somehow managed not to stammer, she couldn't help blushing when she saw the way Gaël raised a brow as she placed a hand on his bare chest.

"What are you planning to do?" he purred.

"Pleasure you," she tried to purr back...but she ended up croaking in the end, and Juliette's heart skipped a beat as laughter gleamed from his icy blue eyes.

Oh, how she loved him!

"You're full of surprises tonight," Gaël murmured.

"Is it bad?"

"I love it."

"Then..." Her heart started thudding at the thought of what she was about to say. "You'll probably love it even more if I tell you..."

Gaël's gaze narrowed.

"That I've been dying to taste you?"

The answer was completely unexpected, and it had Gaël groaning as his body became hard as rock. "If you keep this up," he warned gutturally, "I won't be accountable for what I might end up doing to you."

"I don't care. I just want to pleasure you." Doe eyes searched his. "Will you let me?"

"Yes."

Oh God, this was really happening!

Fear and excitement exploded inside of her, and it made Juliette barely able to hear her own thoughts over the ruckus her heart was making. She knew she was about to take the biggest risk of her life, but it was now or never, and she didn't want to spend the rest of her life tormenting herself with unanswerable what-ifs.

Rising up on her knees, Juliette reached for his shirt with trembling fingers and started unbuttoning them. It took her a lot longer compared to how much time he needed to undress her, but she did get to take his shirt off eventually, and she was now left swallowing at the bronzed, muscular wall of his chest.

Oh God, my guardian is so hot!

Gaël could barely keep himself still as his ward worked on his jeans next. She had such a look of serious concentration on her face it nearly made him smile. It was just so fucking adorable, the way she was treating the whole thing like it was a test she had to pass, and he was tempted to laugh and groan at the same time when Juliette visibly jerked as her fingers accidentally made contact with the twitching beast under his jeans.

Another minute passed before she was finally down to his last piece of clothing, and he saw her gulp at the sight of his briefs.