Chapter 199:

Robert’s POV

When that "I love you" dropped from her lips, the blood frozen in my veins. I never expected her to carry that kind of feelin’ for me after everything I put her through. I’ve heard that word from countless women, and I’ve always treated it like cheap, dirty currency.

But when it came off Julie’s tongue, it hit different. It felt like a bullet through the heart, leaving me speechless. I didn’t know what to tell her; I don’t even understand the mess of my own feelings, and here she was, making it more complicated with that damn shocking honesty.

When I told her we were showering together, her eyes went wide. "Together?" she asked, stunned.

"Yeah," I rasped.

I took her small hand in my huge palm and we headed to the bathroom. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I turned on the warm water and we stood under it. The mist hitting her face made her look like a goddamn angel in the clouds. I couldn’t help myself; I pulled her in and kissed her deep under the spray. Damn it. What is it about this girl? It felt like I’d never touched another woman in my life.

We finished up, and I wrapped a towel around my waist while she wrapped one around her fragile frame. We walked back into the bedroom, and she avoided my eyes. "I’ll get dressed and go," she murmured.

I knitted my brows, my voice sharp. "What?"

"I’ll leave you to sleep in peace," she whispered.

I didn’t let her move an inch. I grabbed her hand gentle but firm and tucked her under the heavy covers. Then I got in beside her, pulling her trembling body against mine until she was flushed against my chest.

"You’re sleeping with me," I said, leaving no room for argument.

"But my hair is wet..." she protested weakly.

"I don’t care," I answered, burying my face in her neck and breathing her in.

In that moment, I didn’t want sex or lust. I just wanted to hold her so tight she could never leave. It felt like I was using her to protect myself from the rest of the world.

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Julie’s POV

I woke up in the morning still buried in his warm embrace. That had to be the best sleep I’ve had in my entire life. I felt a comfort I’d never known, so I wrapped my arms around his massive body, clinging to him like I was afraid he’d vanish or run away like a beautiful dream.

"Morning," his deep, resonant voice echoed in the quiet room.

I looked at him, a smile spreading across my face. "Morning."

"Sleep okay?" he asked, running a hand over my shoulder.

"The best," I answered honestly.

He pressed a warm kiss to my forehead. "Good."

Suddenly, Robert’s phone buzzed. He pulled his arm from under me a move that made me feel an instant sense of loss and answered coldly. "Hello, Daniel." My god. Even the way he answers a phone is breathtakingly hot. He listened for a second, then said, "Fine, I’m coming." He turned to me. "I gotta head to the office."

He rolled out of bed with total confidence, went to his closet, and pulled out a sharp black suit. Then, he let the towel drop to the floor. Damn. I froze, staring at his dick. It was still completely erect, just like last night! I remembered the first time I saw it; it wasn’t this size.

I realized now that during sex, it expands, becoming larger and more terrifying... but why does it still look like that now?

I shook the thoughts out of my head, got up, and started picking up my scattered clothes. I dropped my towel and started putting on my lingerie, feeling his eyes burning into my back. I slipped on my dress, struggling a bit with the zipper, then said, "I’m going to my room."

"Fine," he said shortly.

I walked out of his room feeling like I was on top of the world. I couldn’t believe Robert and I were finally together, and that I’d lost my virginity to him of all people. In my room, I changed into comfortable gym clothes and dried my hair.

On my way out, I ran into him in the hallway, looking lethal in his suit. "Going to train?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said, full of energy.

"See you later," he said, walking away.

I watched him with longing until he cleared the door that required the passcode. I went straight to Max’s room and knocked. "Come in," he called out.

I walked in with a bright face. "Good morning!"

Max looked at me like I was a different person. "What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked with fake innocence.

"You look way too happy," he said, stunned.

I laughed. "You want me to cry?"

"No, but you’re smiling so much your cheeks might snap," he mocked.

"You’re exaggerating," I said, brushing it off.

He grabbed my shoulder. "Admit it, what happened?"

"Nothing, Max! What’s wrong with you?" I said, avoiding his gaze.

He shook his head, not buying it. "Fine, let’s hit the gym."

We got to the gym, and before we started, I stopped. "Max, I gotta ask you something."

"If it’s like yesterday’s questions, shut your mouth," he snapped.

"Seriously? Why are you being like this?"

"Shut it, Julie," he said sternly, raising his pads. "Come on, kick here. Let’s see if your strength is as effective as the bullshit coming out of your mouth."

I lunged at him and shoved him with a sudden force that made him stumble. "I’m asking and you’re answering!" I insisted.

He looked at me, shocked by my boldness. I stammered a bit, then blurted out: "A dick expands and gets erect during sex... but what does it mean if it stays that way even in the morning?"

Suddenly, a voice behind me turned my blood to ice:

"It simply means... he still needs sex."