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I nodded shifting so he could have better access, suddenly breathless with anticipation. The slow drag of the zipper down my back was almost unbearable in its deliberate pace. The cool air against my heated skin made me gasp, and Julian's eyes darkened further as he took in the sight of me.

"Perfect," he breathed, his hands skimming over my shoulders as he helped me out of the dress completely. "Absolutely perfect."

I felt suddenly exposed under his intense gaze, my hands moving instinctively to cover myself. Julian caught my wrists gently, his touch firm but not restraining.

"Don't hide from me," he said softly, his thumbs stroking over my pulse points.

"You're beautiful, Lilianna. Let me see you.

" The reverence in his voice made my heart flutter, and slowly I let him guide my hands away from my body.

His eyes roamed over me with an appreciation that made me feel like something precious rather than something to be ashamed of.

"Better," I whispered, my voice barely audible as warmth bloomed across my cheeks. The way Julian looked at me—like I was something sacred, something to be cherished—made me feel brave in ways I'd never imagined possible.

His fingers traced the edge of my simple cotton bra, the touch feather-light but leaving trails of fire in its wake.

His eyes met mine, asking the unasked question.

I nodded, unable to form words as he reached behind me, unclasping my bra with practiced ease.

As the fabric fell away, I resisted the urge to cover myself again.

Julian's sharp intake of breath was worth the moment of vulnerability.

"You are exquisite," he murmured, his hands hovering just above my skin, as if he were afraid I might shatter beneath his touch.

I reached up, my fingertips grazing his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. "Touch me," I whispered again, more urgently this time.

Julian's control snapped completely. His hands cupped my breasts with reverent gentleness, thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks until I arched beneath him with a soft cry. The sensation was overwhelming—electric currents shooting straight to my core with each careful caress.

"So responsive," he murmured, his voice thick with desire as he watched my face. "I could spend hours just watching you react to my touch."

His mouth followed the path his hands had traced, pressing hot kisses along my collarbone before moving lower. When his lips closed around one sensitive peak, I gasped, my hands fisting in his hair as pleasure coursed through me.

"Julian," I breathed, my body writhing beneath his ministrations.

Every touch seemed to awaken something primal within me, something that had been dormant for too long.

The sensation of his mouth on my breast, his hand kneading the other, was almost too much to bear.

Every nerve ending felt exposed, hypersensitive to his attention.

His lips traveled lower, trailing kisses down my ribcage, across my stomach, pausing at the waistband of my underwear. Julian looked up at me, his eyes almost black with desire, seeking permission once more.

"Please," I whispered, lifting my hips slightly in invitation. With agonizing slowness, he slid the last barrier down my legs, leaving me completely bare before him. I should have felt vulnerable, exposed, but the reverence in his gaze made me feel powerful instead.

Julian's hands traced reverently up my legs, his touch gentle but possessive as he settled between my thighs. The anticipation was almost unbearable, my breath coming in short gasps as he pressed soft kisses to the sensitive skin of my inner thighs.

"Tell me if you need me to stop," he murmured against my skin, his breath warm and sending shivers through me.

I shook my head, beyond words now, my hands tangling in the sheets as he continued his slow exploration. When his mouth finally found me, I cried out, my back arching off the bed as pleasure crashed through me in waves I'd never experienced before.

Julian was patient, thorough, bringing me to the edge again and again before pulling back, his name falling from my lips like a prayer. By the time he finally allowed me release, I was trembling, tears of overwhelming sensation streaming down my cheeks.

Julian moved up my body with careful deliberation, pressing gentle kisses to my heated skin as he went. When he reached my face, he brushed away the tears with his thumbs, his expression tender despite the raw desire still burning in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice hoarse with restraint.

I nodded, still catching my breath. "More than alright," I managed, my voice shaky with the aftershocks of pleasure. "I never knew... I didn't know it could feel like that."

His jaw tightened, something dark flickering across his features. "They stole so much from you," he murmured, anger threading through his voice. "But we're going to give it all back. Every sensation, every choice, every moment of joy."

I reached up to cup his face, feeling the tension in his muscles. "I want more," I whispered.

Julian's eyes flashed with something primal at my words, his body going rigid above me. "Lilianna," he said, my name a warning and a prayer all at once. "If we continue, there's no going back. I won't be able to pretend this didn't happen, won't be able to keep my distance."

"I don't want you to keep your distance," I replied, my hands sliding down to the waistband of his pants. "I want you closer. I want all of you."

With a growl that vibrated through his chest, Julian captured my mouth in another searing kiss.

His hands roamed my body with growing urgency, mapping every curve, every sensitive spot that made me gasp and arch beneath him.

When he finally pulled back to shed the rest of his clothes, I watched with fascination as more of his powerful form was revealed.

I tried not to stare as Julian stood before me, completely bare and magnificent. The smooth planes of his muscles, the strength evident in every line of his body, the undeniable evidence of his desire for me—it was overwhelming in the best possible way.

"You're staring," he murmured, a hint of amusement cutting through the intensity in his voice.

"You're worth staring at," I whispered back, emboldened by the desire coursing through me.

He smiled then, a flash of tenderness amid the hunger as he rejoined me on the bed. His weight settled over me, careful not to crush me but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his skin. The sensation of his bare chest against mine sent sparks shooting through my veins.

"Are you nervous?" Julian asked, brushing his lips against my temple.

"A little," I admitted, glancing at him with a shy smile.

Julian's expression softened, his hand coming up to stroke my cheek. "We'll take this as slowly as you need," he murmured. "There's no rush."

I shook my head, surprising myself with my certainty. "I don't want to be slow anymore. I've been slow my entire life."

Something shifted in his eyes—understanding mixed with fierce protectiveness. "Then tell me what you want, omega. Let me hear it from your lips."

The command in his voice sent heat spiraling through me. "I want you," I breathed. "All of you. I want to feel alive."

Julian's control finally shattered completely. His mouth crashed against mine with desperate hunger as he positioned himself at my entrance, the blunt pressure making me gasp. He stilled immediately, his forehead dropping to rest against mine.

"Breathe," he whispered, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. "Just breathe with me."

I inhaled deeply, feeling my body relax as Julian's hands stroked soothing patterns along my sides. The initial pressure gave way to a fullness that stole my breath for entirely different reasons. He moved with infinite care, his eyes never leaving mine as he slowly joined us together.

"Perfect," he breathed against my lips, his voice rough with emotion. "You feel perfect."

The sensation was overwhelming—not painful, but intense in ways I couldn't have imagined. Julian remained still, giving me time to adjust, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped despite my best efforts.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concern threading through his voice. I nodded, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat. This wasn't just physical—it was emotional, spiritual even.

"Move," I whispered, my hands sliding up to grip his shoulders. "Please."

Julian began to move with careful precision, each thrust deliberate and controlled. The friction sent waves of pleasure through me, building steadily as my body learned this new rhythm. His name fell from my lips in breathless gasps, and I could feel his restraint wavering with each sound I made.

"Let go," I urged, sensing the tension coiled in his muscles. "I won't break."

His rhythm faltered at my words, his breathing becoming more ragged. "Lilianna," he warned, his voice strained.

"I trust you," I whispered, arching beneath him to meet his movements as I felt his knot starting to form. "Please, Julian. I need to feel you lose control too."

Those words broke the last of his restraint.

Julian's movements became deeper, more primal, his hips driving into mine with an intensity that bordered on reverence.

His hands gripped my thighs, adjusting the angle until I cried out, pleasure spiraling through me with each powerful thrust as his knot started to catch with each thrust.

"That's it," he growled, his eyes locked on mine, watching every flicker of emotion cross my face. "Let me hear you, Lilianna . Let me know what I do to you."

The command in his voice sent another wave of heat crashing through me. I couldn't have held back if I tried—every sensation was too new, too overwhelming. My nails dug into his shoulders as the pressure built inside me, coiling tighter with each movement of his hips.

"Julian," I gasped, feeling myself approaching the edge again.

"I've got you," he murmured, his voice a deep rumble against my ear. "Let go for me."

His words pushed me over the edge, pleasure exploding through me in waves that seemed endless.

I cried out his name, clinging to him as my body shuddered beneath his.

Julian's rhythm faltered, his own release following mine as his knot fully expanded, locking us together in the most intimate way possible.

"Mine," he growled, the word primal and possessive as he buried his face against my neck, his breath hot against my skin.

We stayed like that, trembling and breathless, our bodies still joined as the aftershocks rippled through us. Julian's weight was carefully balanced on his forearms, his forehead pressed against mine as our breathing slowly returned to normal.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, carefully shifting us to our sides without breaking our connection.

I nodded, still catching my breath as I adjusted to the fullness of being locked together with him. The sensation was strange but not uncomfortable—intimate in a way I'd never imagined possible. Julian's arms wrapped around me protectively, one hand stroking gentle patterns along my spine.

"How long?" I whispered against his chest, my voice still shaky from the intensity of what we'd just shared.

"Twenty minutes, maybe thirty," he murmured, pressing soft kisses to the top of my head. "Is it uncomfortable?"

I considered the question, taking inventory of my body. There was a pleasant soreness, a sense of completion I'd never experienced before. "No," I said softly. "It feels... right."

Julian's arms tightened around me, and I could hear the satisfied rumble in his chest. "You're incredible," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you," I whispered against his skin, the words slipping out before I could stop them. I felt Julian go still beneath me, his breathing hitching.

"Lilianna," he said softly, pulling back to look at me. His hazel eyes were intense but tender. "Are you sure? You don't have to say that because of what just happened—"

"I'm not," I interrupted, my hand coming up to cup his face. "I've been feeling it for days. Maybe it is too soon…I know I haven’t known you all long…but I know that I love you and the others. You make me feel whole. "

Julian's expression shifted, a raw vulnerability replacing his earlier intensity. His hand came up to cover mine where it rested against his cheek, and he turned his face to press a kiss against my palm.

"It's not too soon," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "Time doesn't dictate feelings, Lilianna. Some people search their whole lives for what we’ve found in weeks."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, overwhelmed by the tenderness in his gaze. "I just... I don't want you to think I'm saying it because of what just happened between us."

"I know you better than that," Julian said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You don't say things you don't mean."

His thumb traced the curve of my cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped.

"I love you too," he said, the words simple.

Julian's words settled into my heart like missing pieces finally finding their place.

I reached up to trace the line of his jaw, marveling at how this powerful, commanding man could look at me with such tender vulnerability.

"I never thought I could feel this way about anyone," I admitted softly. "My parents made love seem like a transaction, something to be negotiated rather than felt."

Julian's jaw tightened at the mention of my parents, but his voice remained gentle. "What we have isn't a transaction. It's a choice we make every day—to trust, to be vulnerable, to put someone else's happiness alongside our own."

Julian's knot began to soften, and he carefully separated us, immediately pulling me close against his chest. The loss of connection left me feeling momentarily empty, but his arms around me filled that void with warmth and security.

"Stay with me tonight?" I asked softly, suddenly afraid he might leave now that the intensity had passed.

"Try to make me leave," he murmured against my hair, his voice carrying a hint of his earlier possessiveness.

"I'm not going anywhere, Lilianna. Not tonight, not ever.” With those words I let sleep take me, the smell of wisteria and cloves lingering in the air around me lulling me even deeper into sleep.