Page 30 of The Price of Mercy

Enzo let out a low, almost guttural sound, his fingers tangling in Julian’s hair, tugging gently at first, then with more urgency as he pulled him closer. Their bodies pressed together, chest to chest, heartbeat to heartbeat, the heat between them building with every passing second.

Enzo’s tongue brushed against Julian’s lips, a silent plea for more, and Julian opened to him without hesitation. The kiss deepened, becoming a feverish exchange of breath and longing, each movement of their mouths sending sparks through Julian’s veins. His head spun, his knees weakening as Enzo’s hands roamed down his back, pulling him even closer, as if he were trying to erase every inch of space between them. Julian’s fingers clutched at Enzo’s shoulders, his nails digging into the fabric of his shirt, desperate for something to hold onto as the world around them dissolved into a blur of sensation.

The argument, the tension, the fear; it all vanished, replaced by the electric current that surged between them. Julian could feel the rapid thud of Enzo’s heart against his own, the way his breath hitched whenever their lips parted for the briefest of moments before crashing together again. Enzo’s touch was everywhere; his hands in Julian’s hair, his lips trailing fire along his jaw, his body pressing Julian against the wall with a need that was almost primal. Julian’s breath came in short, ragged gasps, his fingers sliding up to tangle in Enzo’s hair, pulling him closer, deeper, as if he could never get enough.

Enzo’s lips left Julian’s mouth, trailing down his jawline to his neck, where he pressed a series of searing kisses that made Julian’s head fall back against the wall. A soft, involuntary moan escaped Julian’s lips, and Enzo responded with a low growl, his teeth grazing Julian’s skin in a way that sent shivers down his spine. Julian’s hands slid down to Enzo’s waist, gripping him tightly as if to steady himself, his body trembling with the intensity of it all.

But just as quickly as it had started, it was over. A noise from outside the study, a sharp knock, followed by Luca’s voice calling Enzo’s name, shattered the moment. Enzo pulled back abruptly, his chest heaving, his eyes wide with something Julian couldn’t name. Julian stared at him, his lips still tingling, his mind reeling as he tried to process what had just happened.

“Enzo!” Luca’s voice came again, louder this time.

Enzo stepped back, his expression hardening as he turned away from Julian. He ran a hand through his hair, his breathing still uneven, and Julian could see the way his hands trembled slightly before he clenched them into fists.

“We’re not done,” Enzo said, his voice low and rough, as he moved toward the door. He didn’t look back at Julian, but the weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and unshakable.

Julian slumped against the wall, his legs weak, his heart pounding as he watched Enzo walk away.

Chapter 21

The Pull

Julian couldn’t breathe.

The moment Enzo left the study, the weight of what had just happened crashed down on him like a tidal wave. His back was still pressed against the wall, his lips tingling from the force of Enzo’s kiss, his mind a whirlwind of chaos. He slid down to the floor, his legs giving out beneath him, and buried his face in his hands. His heart was racing, his chest tight, and no matter how hard he tried to steady his breathing, it felt like the walls were closing in.

It was a mistake,he told himself, his thoughts frantic.

It didn’t mean anything. It was just… heat of the moment. Anger. Frustration. Nothing more.

But the memory of Enzo’s hands on his face, the way his kiss had been so desperate, so consuming; it burned in Julian’s mind, refusing to be dismissed. He could still feel the heat of Enzo’s body, the way his touch had been both rough and tender, as if he were trying to claim Julian and protect him all at once. It didn’t make sense. None of it made sense.

Enzo was a criminal. A killer. A man who ruled through fear and violence. He wasn’t supposed to kiss Julian like that. He wasn’t supposed to make Julian’s heart race for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

Julian pushed himself to his feet, his hands trembling as he ran them through his hair. He needed to get out of there. He needed space. Distance. Time to think.

But even as he stumbled out of the study and down the hall, he knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Enzo wasn’t the kind of man who let things go. And Julian wasn’t sure he could face him again; not after what had just happened.

???

The next few days were a blur. Julian threw himself into his work, spending half of his time in the ER and the rest in the med suite in the manor. He avoided Enzo at all costs, slipping out of rooms when he entered, keeping his head down during meals, and locking himself in his room at night. It was exhausting, but it was the only way he could keep his thoughts from spiraling out of control.

But Enzo wasn’t having it.

Julian was in the medical suite late one night, reorganizing supplies for the third time that week, when the door opened. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was. He could feel Enzo’s presence like a storm rolling in, filling the room with an intensity that made Julian’s skin prickle.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Enzo said, his voice low and calm, but with an edge that made it clear he wasn’t asking.

Julian kept his back turned, his hands gripping the edge of the counter as he tried to steady himself. “I’ve been busy.”

“Bullshit.”

The word was sharp, cutting through Julian’s feeble excuse like a knife. He turned around reluctantly, his heart pounding as he met Enzo’s gaze. The mafia boss stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable but his eyes burning with something Julian couldn’t name.

“What do you want, Enzo?” Julian asked, his voice tight. “I’m working.”

Enzo stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The sound made Julian’s stomach twist. “You’re hiding,” Enzo said, his tone matter of fact. “From me. From what happened.”

Julian’s breath hitched, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Nothing happened.”

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