Chapter 181 The unfamiliar sensations overwhelmed Sydney, and she no longer dared argue with him. "Jules..." Her voice, softened by his kiss, came out tender and submissive. The hand Julian clamped at her waist went rigid, tendons and veins standing out beneath his skin, his grip charged with explosive tension. "It hurts!" She hadn't expected that yielding would only make him tighten his hold. A moment ago, it had felt as though he wanted to crush her into himself. Julian snapped back to his senses. He released her and pressed a gentler kiss to her lips, his breath rough and uneven. "Sorry.
Did I hurt you?" When he drew back and saw her lashes still damp from his kiss, he nearly lost control all over again. "Shower." He tossed out the word and strode toward the guest bathroom. Sydney stared after him in a daze. Did he mean they would shower and then go to bed? The bathtub was nearly overflowing, so she hurried to shut off the tap. After a brief pause, realizing Julian had no intention of returning, she closed the bathroom door. Her toiletries were in her apartment, and when she finished her bath, she found only one snow-white towel hanging on the rack. No spares.
Julian's obsession with cleanliness made her hesitate. She didn't dare use his things without permission. Still dripping, she opened the door a crack and called softly, "Julian, do you have another towel? If not, could you grab one from my place?" "Use mine." He happened to be passing by. His voice was calm, though faintly hoarse. Through the narrow gap, he handed her a piece of clothing. "Wear this." "Oh, okay." She closed the door again. At first, nothing felt unusual, but as she dried herself, the faint sandalwood scent clung to her skin, unsettling in its intimacy.
She was using his towel. Lowering her gaze to the cloth in her hands, she tried to steady herself, yet she couldn't ignore the truth. This towel belonged to the man she had called "brother" for nine years. The forbidden feeling she had buried clawed its way back, threatening to consume her. It was a long while before she calmed enough to slip into the nightgown he had given her. She tried not to think about it. Aside from her underwear, she wore nothing beneath the thin dress. In the end, everything would be taken off anyway. Sydney had no idea why Julian kept women's sleepwear at his place.
Perhaps an ex had left it. It looked brand new, though. Maybe he had bought it for someone else, and they parted before she ever wore it. By the time she finished, Julian had already showered in the other bathroom. When she stepped out, his brows drew together. " Why didn't you dry your hair?" Sydney blinked. "I forgot." Her voice was flat. 1/2 The hem of the nightgown brushed her knees, baring her slender legs. Fresh from the bath, her skin glowed pale and smooth. "Wait for me in bed," he said casually, then walked back into the bathroom.
When Sydney sat down, Julian returned with a hair dryer. The man who was always distant and untouchable stood beside her, patiently drying her hair. His fingers combed through the damp strands, grazing her scalp. It wasn't the first time. She had always hated blow-drying her hair. As a child, Julian had done it for her. Her eyes dropped to the nightgown that clearly belonged to someone else. A sudden thought pricked her.
'Did he blow-dried that woman's hair as well?' When he finished, he caught her distracted expression and asked cooly, "Weren't you going to ask about Raymond and your bestie?" Sydney lifted her head. Instead of answering, she asked quietly, "Are we doing it tonight?" 2/2