Page 150 of Wisteria and Cloves

He leaned forward and brushed his nose against mine, his voice a teasing whisper.

“You’ll understand it when you see it. And trust me—it’ll be worth the wait.”

I let out a breathless laugh and rested my head against his shoulder, the scent of his cologne wrapping around me like a comfort I hadn’t known I craved. “You all are too good at this.”

“At what?” he asked, tone light but curious.

“At making me feel like…” I hesitated, words catching somewhere between my throat and my heart. I looked up into his eyes, letting him see the rawness I usually tried to keep buried. “Like I’m the center of something.”

Julian’s expression softened, all teasing gone now. He touched my cheek with the back of his fingers, his thumb brushing just beneath my eye. “That’s because you are.” The words hit me deeper than I expected. I blinked hard, fighting the sting behind my eyes. Not because I didn’t believe him—but because, for the first time, I did.

I leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to his lips, needing him to feel what I couldn’t quite say aloud. He met me with the same reverence, his mouth warm and familiar. It wasn’t urgent. It didn’t need to be. It was a connection—steady and grounding, like him. When we finally pulled apart, I let my forehead rest against his, breathing him in.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” I whispered, eyes still closed.

“You should be,” he murmured, his voice brushing against my lips. “Nicolaus has something special in mind.”

I pulled back slightly and gave him a look. “Still not going to tell me, are you?”

“Absolutely not.” Julian’s grin turned roguish. “He’d kill me. And more importantly…I think you deserve to be surprised.”

I laughed, settling back against Julian's chest with a contented sigh. "Fine. I'll be patient."

"That's my girl," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. His arms tightened around me briefly before he reached for his pen again. "I should finish this report before my conference call."

I started to move out of his lap, but his free hand caught my wrist gently. "Stay," he said quietly. "You're not bothering me."

So I stayed, curled against him while he worked, occasionally stealing glances at the neat lines of his handwriting or the way his brow furrowed in concentration. The scratch of his pen and the warmth of his body created a cocoon of peace that made my eyelids heavy despite having just woken up. I was content to just stay in his presence, and from the gentle touches he gave me every so often, he felt the same.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Lilianna

The rest of the afternoon went by quickly, I spent it with Julian. We talked quietly while he worked, his voice a comfortable murmur as he explained some of the business strategies he was reviewing. I found myself genuinely interested in his work—the way his mind moved through problems with surgical precision, how he could see patterns and opportunities that others missed. When his conference call began, I settled into the reading chair in the corner of his office with a book, content to simply be in his presence.

The call lasted nearly two hours, and I watched him work with fascination. This was Julian in his element—sharp, decisive, commanding respect with every word. When he finally hung up, he looked over at me with a slightly sheepish expression.

"That ran longer than expected," he said, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I hope you weren't too bored."

"Not at all," I replied honestly, setting my book aside. "I like watching you work. You're impressive when you're in command."

Julian's eyes darkened slightly at my words, a hint of that familiar heat flickering in his gaze. "Careful with compliments like that," he murmured, rising from his chair with fluid grace. "They might go to my head."

"Maybe that's the intention," I said softly, standing to meet him as he approached.

He reached me in three strides, his hands finding my waist as he pulled me against him. "You're playing with fire, sweetheart," he whispered against my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

"I'm just being honest," I replied, my fingers finding the collar of his shirt and straightening it unnecessarily. "Though I have to admit, there's something very attractive about watching you take charge."

Julian's pupils dilated slightly at my words, his grip on my hips tightening. "Is that so? Do you like it when I take charge?” Before I could respond, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, followed by Christopher's voice calling out a greeting. Julian sighed, pressing a quick kiss to my temple before releasing me.

"Saved by the bell," he said with a wry smile.

I laughed, stepping back with a playful swat to his chest. "We should go see them anyway.”

Julian adjusted his shirt and ran a hand through his hair, composing himself with that practiced ease I'd come to recognize. "Lead the way."

We found Christopher in the kitchen, still in his athletic wear, hair damp with sweat and a satisfied grin on his face. He looked up as we entered, his eyes immediately finding mine and warming with affection.

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