Page 94 of Without You

Julian reluctantly complies while I enjoy the view of him sprawled acrossmycouch while I clean up afterourdinner.

He fits in. Like he’s always belonged, and I know, even after only a handful of days, my place will feel empty without him.

When I finish up in the kitchen, I dry my hands and join Julian.

Taking a seat on the rug, I keep my back up against the furniture; one of my legs straight, the other bent at the knee. Warm fingers slide up and down the length of my neck. “I would’ve made room for you,” Julian says.

“I’m fine right here,” I insist, enjoying how he’s touching me. “Did you pick anything to watch?”

“No.” He hands me the remote over my shoulder. “I figured it’s your place, and you can choose.”

I tug the control out of his grip and begin flicking through the different streaming services. “That feels like a cop out because you don’t want to be left making the final decision.”

He chuckles. “What can I say? I’m trying to make a good impression and I don’t need you to judge my TV choices.”

“Chicken,” I mutter.

I keep searching for something that could potentially interest us both when Julian shifts behind me. He’s sitting up now, his legs on either side of my body, and his hands massaging my shoulders.

My eyes fall closed at his touch.

His hands knead me like dough, releasing the tension, relieving the pressure, working the knots. I let my head roll back, lazily opening my eyes to look at him. “You’re really good at this.”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “It’s really just an excuse to touch you,” he admits.

“You know you can touch me any time you want.”

His hands slide over my shoulders and down to my pecs, his fingers teasing my nipples. As if they have a direct line to my groin, my cock responds almost immediately.

His lips press against my forehead, reverently moving and kissing every inch of my face. It’s so soft and delicate, I’m almost worried.

“Are you okay?” I ask before he finally lands his mouth on mine.

He doesn’t answer, he just keeps kissing me. I want to shove away the sudden sliver of doubt burying itself between us. Grabbing his face, I still his movements and move out from under his touch.

I rise off the floor, squeeze Julian’s shoulders, and push him back onto the couch, draping my body over his.

“What is it?” I probe.

“What’s what?”

Pressing the issue, I throw his own words back at him. “This honesty thing works both ways, doesn’t it?”

He chews on his bottom lip, thinking before he speaks. “I’m just so happy right now, here with you.”

My whole body deflates on a relieved sigh. “You’re happy?”

He gives me a small nod.Thank fuck.

“That’s not what I thought you were going to say,” I reply honestly.

He runs his fingers from my temple down my jaw. “I’m just trying to savor you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“But I am.”

But you’re coming back.

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