Page 43 of Heartless Pucker in Love

“Oh, wow.”

“It’s okay. I took the time to get the house warmed up a bit. I had my housekeeper come in to check on the place while I was gone, but it was a little chilly here earlier.”

I look down at myself again. Hence, the blanket he’d thrown over me. My heart warmed, picturing him wrapping it around me. “I didn’t notice the chill.” That’s because I’d been on fire for him. “Thanks for the blanket.”

He smiled. “I also took the time you were snoozing to make us something to eat.”

“You made us something?” My brows shot up.

Julian sniggered. “No need to look so horrified. I’m fairly competent in the kitchen. I won’t poison you, I promise.”

I laughed softly. There was no way I could pass judgment on his culinary skills when mine was zero on the competence scale. “I’m just surprised that’s all.”

“Thought I had a team of people doing my every bidding?” His lips lifted at the corner and his eyes danced with laughter.

“I did, actually.”

He chuckled. “I told you, I like my privacy. You still don’t seem to believe me. You refuse to believe that I’m not who everyone thinks I am.” His amusement faded and a frown formed between his eyebrows.

Swallowing, I squirmed a little and pulled the blanket tighter. I didn’t want to get into that, not right now. I was too uncomfortable with our current situation that felt way too intimate. We shared a passionate moment, I slept in his arms, and he made me something to eat. It felt right and wrong at the same time, if that was possible. What exactly were we doing here? Julian seemed to pick up on my discomfort because his eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest?his bare, manly, chest?as if he was ready to say something else.

I forced my eyes away from his body and changed the subject. “You have a lovely home, from what I’ve seen so far anyway.”

Sharp eyes on my face, he replied, “Thanks. How about I give you a proper tour and you can get settled in?” His lips kicked up at the corners in his usual teasing grin. “Although, you look pretty settled to me.” The fire in his eyes as he gave me a slow once-over, heated me to the core. My face flamed. I was sitting naked on his couch, covered by just a blanket after we made love. Yeah, I’d say I looked more than settled.

* * *

After the tour, a long hot shower, and dinner, we sat right where we’d made love. It was hard not to picture us naked with our bodies intertwined. It was also hard not to think about doing what we did again. Julian had become a bit of an addiction, and it was a little scary. He’d convinced me to come back here with him, but I’d leave eventually. It would be like it was in the beginning, being miles away from him and being unable to get him out of my head. Only, I wouldn’t resent him this time. I'd actually miss him. The thought had me blowing out a long breath.

Julian, lounging beside me, raised a brow. “So, how long are we going to carry on with this awkward silence?”

My lips twisted with humor. It was very awkward. Glancing at the empty plates and glasses on a tray in the middle of the coffee table, I chuckled. “I guess we could talk about earlier but that would only add to the uneasiness.”

“Yet, we need to talk about it.”

“Okay. How about we start with the fact that you like to cuddle? You know, I didn’t take you for the cuddling type,” I joked.

He laughed, but it was more of a grunt. “Yeah, I didn’t take me for that type either. Yet, I have no problem doing it with you.” My eyes snapped to his because of the hint of confusion I heard in his voice. He sighed and his expression became somber. The mood that I was desperately trying to lighten plummeted. “Look, April, I’m really sorry about earlier.” A small frown puckered his eyebrows. “What I said was foolish. I tend to say stupid shit when I’m frustrated. I behaved like an ass our entire trip here because you wouldn’t talk to me for weeks about…”

“Us?”

He glanced at me. “So, there’s an us?”

I sat taller and just about every muscle of my body tensed. Nice going, I told myself. Why was it so hard for me to avoid causing awkwardness? “N-no. I didn’t mean...not like we’re...I just meant…” I sighed and closed my eyes. Why was I like this? As if verbally communicating with someone was the hardest task ever.

“Relax.” He chuckled. “I know what you mean.”

My shoulders sagged. Like I’d told my sister, Julian somehow understood me. “It’s okay,” I said. “You, behaving like an ass, I mean.”

He laughed. “Since when is that okay?”

“Since I snuck out of your room the morning after our first time together and refused to talk about it for three weeks.” I peeked up at him through my lashes, feeling guilty.

He swallowed. “Well, it doesn’t excuse what I said. I really am a dick.”

“Julian, you know I only called you that because I was angry.”

He nodded and rubbed his jaw. “You had every right to be. I wish I could take back that comment. If I could take it back, I would, and if I could kick myself in the ass, I definitely would.”

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