Page 197 of Scandalous Contract

My heart swelled. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope. That night, I lay in bed, heart pounding, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I'd pushed too far. He didn’t comment on my post, nor did he call me.

I went to sleep wondering if he’d truly moved on from me. Sometime past midnight, the mattress dipped beside me, waking me up. I gasped, turning to find him there, eyes dark and intense.

"Julian," I whispered, reaching out to touch his face just to make sure he was real. He was. "How did you get in? I changed the code."

He smirked. "Did you really think you could keep me out after declaring your love for me to the world and tagging me?"

Tears welled up. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I hope you can forgive me. But if you can't right away, I'll wait. I'll earn back your trust."

He cupped my face, thumb brushing away a tear. "It was hard as hell not responding to your gifts and messages and not coming over. My cousins told me to wait until I was sure you were ready. That post... it told me you were."

He leaned in, lips hovering over mine. "I love you, Stefanie. I never stopped. But I'm not just coming back for a while. If you accept me, I'm here forever. No overthinking, no takebacks. Just me in your life until the day I die."

I nodded, voice trembling. "That's what I want, Julian. I want forever. No takebacks."

"Tell me you love me," he murmured.

"I love you."

He kissed me, slow and deep, then pulled back slightly. "Say it again."

"I love you."

His lips trailed down my neck, each kiss igniting a fire within me.

"Again," he whispered, voice hoarse with desire.

"I love you," I breathed, over and over, as his hands explored my body.

I gasped into the kiss, fingers clawing into his hair, dragging him closer, moaning when his weight pressed me into the mattress.

“I should’ve never let you walk away from me,” he growled against my lips. “I should’ve fucked you into the floor until you forgot your own damn name.”

My thighs clenched. “Do it now,” I whispered.

That broke him. He pulled back just enough to strip his shirt over his head, and I stared, hungry, missing the sight of him. That chest, those abs that looked like sin sculpted in marble, damn, this man was a work of art. He tossed the shirt and tore the blankets away from my body. I was already naked underneath.

“Fuck,” he hissed. “You knew I was coming.”

“I hoped,” I said, voice breathy. “I wanted to be ready just in case.”

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he growled, climbing over me, eyes locked on my pussy. “And I’m so fucking hungry.”

His hand slid between my legs, two fingers sliding into me without warning.

“Already wet,” he said with a dark grin. “Damn, baby... this pussy missed me.”

“Julian,” I whimpered.

He kissed me hard, then pulled away. “Tell me who this pussy belongs to.”

“You,” I gasped.

He pumped his fingers faster. “Louder.”

“You, Julian, fuck, it’s yours! I’m yours.”

He kissed down my neck, teeth nipping my shoulder before he said, “That’s right. And now I’m gonna remind you.”