Chapter 231
The words poured out sharper
at any moment.
13
han I intended. But damn it, I’m tired. Tired of being poked and prodded like some fragile thing that might shatter
For the first time, Ayumi looks
s caught
off guard. Her cold, unshakable demeanor softens–just a fraction, but it’s enough
to make me pause.
“Alright,” she says, her voice quieter than before. “I’ll see myself out.”
She turns on her heel and walks out without another word, leaving me alone in the silence of my
I exhale, leaning back in my chair and staring at the ceiling. What the hell was that about?
For mo
I decide not to dwell on it. Today’s a good day. I’m not letting anyone spoil it for me.
It’s 9:00 p.m. Luke’s calls have been going straight to voicemail. I try again anyway, holding my breath as the line ring
sorry, the number you’re trying to reach-
once, twice, then-
I throw my phone onto the couch, the s
lighting up momentarily before going dark, mocking me with its silence.
Staring out the window, I tap my
ers on the edge of the sill. He said eight o’clock. Luke is punctual to a fault. What could possibly b him? My mind races with worst–case scenarios, but I force myself to breathe.
be keeping
Maybe he’s stuck in
his phone died. Or–no. Enough.
I step away from the window and glance around the room, the evidence of my earlier optimism laid out like a scene from a romantic comedy:
of strawberries, artfully arranged, sits on the coffee table.
A bottle of sparkling juice–because wine is suddenly off limits–chills in an ice bucket.
Candles flicker softly on the mantle, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.
And then there’s me.
I tug at the hem of the silky one–piece lingerie I bought just for tonight. It clings to my curves in all the right places, a vision straight out of one of those glossy fashion spreads. But right now, it feels more like an elaborate joke.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, heading to the bar.
The bottle of red wine calls to me, its deep crimson hue promising a temporary escape. My hand hovers over it before I remember–pregnant. I’m pregnant. I can’t drink.
With a frustrated sigh, I grab a carton of juice from the fridge instead and pour myself a glass. The clink of ice cubes hitting the cup feels like the only thing keeping me grounded.
Then I climb the stairs, heading to my room.
Upstairs, my bedroom is bathed in soft, dim light. The scent of lavender fills the air from the diffuser I set up earlier. A romantic ballad plays softly in the background–something about forever love and dancing in moonlight.
I sink onto the edge of the bed, staring at the room I spent an hour preparing.
For what? To get stood up?
The carefully arranged rose petals, the neatly folded throw on the chair, the dimmed lights–all of it feels useless now.
Taking my juice, I slide open the balcony door and step outside. The cool night air brushes against my skin. I sit on the cushioned chair, pulling my legs up to my chest as I stare at the stars.
Why am I crying?
I don’t even notice the tears until I feel the wet streaks on my cheeks. I swipe at them angrily, but they keep coming, like some cruel faucet I can’t shut off.
“Stupid hormones,” I whisper, sniffling into the empty night.
I rest my head against the back of the chair, cradling the juice in my lap. The stars blur together as exhaustion and frustration weigh heavy on me.
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11:40 AM
Chapter 231
Somewhere in the distance, a dog barks. A car engine hums. And then-
Warm lips press against the side of my neck, soft and familiar.
“Julic.”
His voice is low, quiet, filled with something I can’t quite place. I open my eyes, and there he is.
Luke.
+13
He’s crouched in front of me, his face level with mine. His hair is messy, like he’s been running his fingers through it, a habit I know he reserves for moments of stress or anger. His tie is slightly askew, his shirt untucked at the edges.
“Nice of you to come,” I say.
“I’m so sorry.”
He looks tired, drained even, but I’m too angry to let it soften me. I sit up, setting my glass down with a little too much force.
“Luke, just leave me alone.”
“I can’t.”
“Fine, then stay here, I’ll leave.”
I push myself up, but before I can take a single step, I feel his hands on my
“Luke, what the hell-”
He lifts me effortlessly, and before I can protest, I’m pressed against the cool glass of the balcony door.
“Luke!”
feel the face
His hands are firm, holding me in place as he wraps my legs around his waist. His face is inches
from
Mine, his breath warm against my lips.
“I want you,” he says.
The words knock the air from my lungs.
“Luke, I-”
His forehead rests against mine, his eyes burning into me with an intensity that makes it impossible to
“I need you, Julie.”
look away.
He leans in, his lips brushing my lips, soft and tentative, as if he’s giving me the chance to pull away. But I don’t.
Instead, I kiss him back. My arms wrap around his neck as the anger and frustration melt into a deep hunger.
The kiss grows more fervent with each passing moment. My legs tighten around Luke’s waist, pulling him closer as he responds in kind, wrapping his arms around my back to hold me firmly against him.
As we kiss, our hands begin to roam. My fingers dig into Luke’s shoulders. My nails scrape against his skin. He groans into my mouth. Gripping my ass, he pulls me more tightly against him as he thrusts his hips, the bulge in his pants pressing against my core. The sensation sends a shiver of desire through me, and I moan. My tongue tangles with his as we continue to kiss. Our bodies sway gently against the balcony door.
He pulls back from the kiss to look at me. The intensity in his eyes makes my heart race. “I fucking love you, Julie,” he whispers.
The words send a thrill me, and I feel
smile spread across my face as I lean in to kiss him again.
“I love you too, Luke,” I reply.
He pulls me closer, his lips finding mine once more as we kiss deeply.
“Fuck me,” I say into his mouth.
He groans. Then he reaches down between us, his fingers teasing me as he inches closer to the heat between my legs. “You look so sexy tonight,” he says. “Was it all for me?”
I nod, unable to speak.
His gaze makes my skin tingle. “Good girl,” he says, bracing me against the glass.
2/3
11:40 AM
Chapter 231
With a sudden, fierce motion, he rips my lingerie. The sound of fabric tearing fills the air.
I laugh, surprised, as I glance down at the shredded remains of my underwear. “That was an expensive lingerie,” I say.
“Send me an invoice.”
He undoes his belt and zips down his pants. Once his erection is free, he adjusts me against the glass. His hands are firm on my hips as he positions himself at my entrance.
And then, without warning, he slams into me, the sudden invasion sending a jolt of pleasure through my body. I gasp, my eyes widening in surprise, as he begins to thrust, his movements powerful and urgent.
He thrusts into me again and again, his hips crashing against mine with an intensity that’s almost electrocuting.
“Fuck, yes,” I moan as he buries himself deeper inside me.
The glass of the balcony door shakes and trembles with the force of our lovemaking, but neither of us cares.
“Harder,” I say, my voice echoing through the night air. I pull at his hair roughly, and he groans. “Deeper.”
He obeys, his body slamming into mine with an animalistic ferocity. I’m out of breath. Fuck, it feels so good.
squeeze my legs tighter around his waist, pulling him closer as he continues to thrust. “Yes, yes, pleasure builds within me.
He slams into me once more, the impact sending a wave of ecstasy through my body.
yes,
chant, my
voice rising in intensity as the
“Come for me, Julie,” he urges, his voice raw with passion. “I want to feel you squeezing tire body
I arch my back, my body trembling as the orgasm builds. And then, suddenly, I’m there, my
name.
vulsing
I
out his
He follows soon after, his body stiffening as he finds his release. “Fuck,” he groans, his voice filled
- me. The orgasm washes over him. I feel the warmth of his release, and I’m filled with a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
As we catch our breaths, the cool night air brushing against our damp skin, Luke carries me away from the balcony glass. He sets me gently on the cushioned chair, crouching in front of me as if he’s anchoring himself to the ground.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says. His eyes scan my face like it holds the answers to every question he’s too scared to ask.
I want to smile, to let the warmth of his words wrap around me, but something feels… wrong. There’s a tightness in his jaw, a
“Luke,” I say, brushing a strand of his messy hair back. “What is it? What happened?”
He shakes his head, looking down at his hands. “Let’s g go back inside. It’s cold out here.”
Oh no.
I grab his chin and force him to look at me. “We’re not going anywhere until you tell me.”
J
shadow in his eyes.
His shoulders sag under the weight of whatever he’s about to say. “Julie…” He pauses, running a hand through his already tousled hair. “There’s been an accident.”
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