Contraceptives were routine in any doctor's eyes . Given their current relationship , the moment Julian told her to shower , Sydney's first instinct had naturally been to assume that . She had come to him and asked to be his lover . There was no point pretending otherwise . It was better to accept it early . Then , if he grew tired of her one day , she could walk away cleanly . Julian suddenly chuckled , scooped her up , and set her on the bathroom counter . He braced one hand beside her thigh , eyes glinting with amusement , and leaned close to her ear . " Didn't you say you're my lover ?
Since when do lovers need condoms ? " he deliberately teased her . His tone was careless to the extreme . Sydney had steeled herself for this , yet his words still made her flush . " That doesn't matter . You still have to be safe . " He adopted a mock - serious tone . " Safe from what ? I'm not sick . " Sydney flared . " Julian ! This has nothing to do with being sick or not- " He cut her off with a low correction . " Call me Jules . " In her memory , he had corrected her like this countless times . He insisted on it .
By their old pattern , if she did not comply , the conversation simply could not move forward . Thus , like handling a demanding client , she swallowed her feelings and said evenly , " Jules . " Julian glanced down at her , and his cool gaze betrayed a hint of dissatisfaction . " Sydney , when you were little , you weren't this insincere . " Sydney lost her patience and snapped , " Jules ! Happy now ? " That hit the right note . She was always like this with him : either impatient or coaxing when she wanted something .
Seeing the pleased arch of his brows , Sydney realized for the first time . ' Does he actually enjoy this ? ' She pressed , " This isn't about sickness . It's about life and death . " " Oh ? Death ? " Julian tilted his head , lips curling with feigned innocence , like a naive college boy . " Why would anyone die ? " Normally , Sydney didn't even bother posting public health knowledge online . For her as a doctor , this was basic as air . But Julian's deep , probing gaze made her breath falter . She glared at him . " When sperm and egg meet , tell me - doesn't that risk killing someone ?
" Her expression was serious . Under the bathroom light , her flawless skin glowed with a peachy flush of anger , her breathing quick and uneven . Suddenly , Julian lowered his head . Their breaths mingled . His throat bobbed once before his lips brushed hers . 1/2 It was the lightest of kisses . He leaned back slightly and watched her trembling lashes . " No one's dying . " He would never allow such a thing . If they ever had a child together , that child would only live a charmed life . Sydney's thoughts scrambled . She missed the hidden meaning in his words and grew even more flustered .
" Can you stop joking about this ? I know you've probably had plenty of women before ... Maybe even children- " Before she could finish , he silenced her by forcing her lips apart and claiming her mouth with a deep , unrelenting kiss . His desire and dominance blazed through , laid utterly bare . In the steamy haze of the bathroom , the air thickened with heat and intimacy . Every time his lips pressed hers , her legs went weak , her breath lost to him . She tried to lean back , but he anticipated it . His large hand locked around her nape , and he toyed with her at will .
Soon , she could no longer resist , her voice breaking into fragments . " Julian ... " " Call me Jules . " Even in the thick of passion , without once breaking the kiss , he never forgot to correct her .