Chapter 220

Amber’s POV

I closed the door behind Julian and then followed him as he walked closer to the bed. When he was there, he stopped, turning to face me. Those eyes of his, so full of heat, sparked a fire inside of me that started to burn me from the inside out.

Feeling hot, I reached out to him just as he reached out to me.

Our mouths found each other’s before any other part of the rest of us did.

I buried my fingers in Julian’s hair, as his hands gripped my waist, hoisting me closer to him so that our chests were pressed together.

I was already set for bed, and wasn’t wearing a bra, so my soft curves met his hard, muscled chest with only two very thin shirts between us.

Those flimsy fabrics were still too much. I plucked at his shirt and he growled his agreement against my mouth, even as he licked his tongue past the seam of my lips.

Our kiss was so hot, we couldn’t bring ourselves to break it, not even for this. We waited until we needed air again. As we parted to breathe, both of our hands moved in a rush. I tugged at his shirt and he tore mine clean off my body. One way or another, those clothes ended up on the floor.

We crashed back together, and I moaned in delight at the feel of my naked breasts pressed against his burning hot, hard chest. The friction felt so good. Coupled with another deep, passionate kiss, and I felt as if my knees would give out.

At the same time, as glorious as this was, I wanted more. We were still wearing our bottoms, and until we were together at last, without any separation between us, I wouldn’t be satisfied.

I’d come to close to dying today, to losing him forever.

He had saved me once again, placing my safety before his own.

I loved him so much, so passionately. I wanted to show him how much, and to feel his love in return. Only then, would I be satisfied.

And even then, I was likely to want him again… and again… and again…

I grunted in frustration. How well he knew me, he knew at once what I wanted. Or maybe he just wanted it too.

The want seared through our bond, branding us both with red hot desire.

Clutching my waist again, he pushed me away from him. The back of my knees hit the bed and I crashed down onto it. His eyes locked onto my breasts as I bounced a few times before settling.

A low growl emitting from his throat, he reached down, grabbed my pajama shorts and panties and pulled both off of my body, leaving me naked and exposed for his hungry eyes. Those dark eyes took in their fill, and I allowed it, posturing slightly to give him the best view.

Quickly, he kicked off his own pants and boxers. And then, diving forward, he covered my body with his own. His mouth and hands were everywhere, touching and tasting my bare skin and my curves and then my most sensitive parts.

All I could do was hold on as he tasted me. I cried out his name on a loop, gasping as he pushed me over the ledge of pleasure twice in quick succession.

But he wasn’t done with me yet, and neither was I done with him.

As he crawled his way back up to me, kissing me full on the mouth, I surprised him by shoving him onto his back, eager to show him the same affection.

I kissed down his front before finding the hardness that drove him in these moments. I was only allowed a few minutes of fun though, before he pulled me away and pushed me back onto the mattress.

I guessed he didn’t want this to end too soon, and was eager for what came next.

Kissing me, he pushed apart my legs and sought out my center. When he found it, he drove himself inside, straight into my core.

Throwing my head back against the pillow, I clawed at his back.

He kept a quick, relentless rhythm, allowing his body to deliver a message of love with each punishing thrust.

You are mine.

I’ll protect you.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

“Julian!” I cried out, clinging to him in my pleasure.

He drove into me a few times more, before grunting my name, “Amber,” and finding his own release.

Later, after we had cleaned ourselves with a damp towel from the bathroom, we huddled together. Julian was on his back, with his shoulders and head up against the headboard. I rested on his chest, listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear.

As I counted the beats, Julian idly combed his fingers through my hair.

We didn’t say much in this moment, just reveled in each other and in our afterglow.

My eyes started to feel heavy, yet before I could fall asleep, Julian spoke, “Would it be alright if we slept in the same room from now on?”

I blinked the sleep from my eyes and looked up at him.

His face appeared almost shy, as he mostly avoided my gaze. Had he been embarrassed to ask this? After all we had done, he was scared to ask to stay in my bed?

“I sleep better with you beside me,” he said. “The nights without you… they’re cold. Sometimes I reach for you and…” He didn’t say the rest, but I knew what he meant.

I’d had nights like that too, where I would reach for Julian almost instinctively, and would be disappointed to find his half of the bed empty.

“You can stay,” I told him. I didn’t let on if that was just for tonight or forever.

I knew that was something I needed to think about when my mind wasn’t in this blissed out state. This was a big step for our relationship and I didn’t want to make it while addled as I was.

But, in my heart, I already knew what the answer was going to be.

Yes.

Undoubtedly yes.

Julian smiled at me. That smile was always so breathtaking, all I could do in this moment was lift my head and kiss him. It was just a soft kiss, our passion mostly spent.

After this soft press of lips, I lowered my head back down to his chest and in no time at all, feeling so safe and warm and happy, I drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke in the morning, I was still warm. We’d shifted slightly in our sleep, but Julian remained wrapped around me, his arm draped over my waist. We were facing each other, so as I awoke, I glanced up to see him waking up at the same time.

“G’morning…” he said groggily.

“Good morning,” I told him and kissed him lightly.

He smiled. “I could get used to this.”

Me too, I thought but didn’t say it aloud.

He lifted his head to check the clock. It was later than I usually got up, but still fairly early at quarter to 8.

“How about I make some breakfast?” he asked.

That surprised me. “You know how to cook breakfast?”

“I can make eggs,” he said, light offense in his voice. The smile let me know it wasn’t serious. “Come on, I’ll prove it.”

Right as we started to get up, Julian’s phone rang from his pants’ pocket. He scurried to retrieve it and then answered it.

“It’s Aunt Kathy,” he said as he accepted the call. Into the phone, he said, “Hello?” A pause. “Aunt Kathy, calm down. Tell me what’s going on.”

His voice turned serious suddenly, and I immediately sat upright, Healer mode clicking on. I moved closer to him, trying to hear.

Julian could see what I was doing. His eyes wide, he told me, “My mom is in critical condition.”