Chapter 10 Boyfriend #2
Like a man who no longer trusted himself to move without making a terrible mistake.
His heart was pounding so hard he could practically hear it echoing in his ears.
For years, he had dreamed about moments like this.
Dreamed about her looking at him with affection instead of anger.
Dreamed about her choosing to be close to him instead of treating him like an enemy.
Dreamed about her willingly sitting in his arms and smiling at him the way she was smiling now.
And now it was actually happening.
Juliet was curled up in his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck, her soft gaze fixed entirely on him as she pleaded with him in the sweetest voice imaginable.
The sight nearly destroyed every ounce of self-control he possessed.
It felt as though every impossible dream he had ever buried deep inside himself had suddenly come to life.
For the first time, Juliet wasn't looking at him with resentment, hostility, or defiance.
And as she sat there in his arms, gazing up at him with pleading eyes and a soft pout on her lips, Cassian found himself fighting a rapidly losing battle against the overwhelming urge to give her absolutely everything she wanted.
For a long moment, Cassian simply stared at her.
His dark brows slowly drew together as he struggled against the emotions twisting painfully inside his chest. The thought of letting her leave was enough to make every instinct inside him rebel, but the hopeful look in her eyes made it impossible for him to refuse her outright.
Finally, he released a slow breath through his nose and dragged a hand through his hair.
"Fine," he muttered at last.
His voice was low and reluctant, as though every word physically pained him to say.
"But come back on time."
His gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with her, silently making sure she understood exactly how serious he was.
"Or I'll drag you back myself."
Reaching toward the dining table, he grabbed the wallet lying beside his phone and pulled out one of his black cards. Without hesitation, he took her hand, pressed the card into her palm, and curled her fingers around it before she could protest.
"Use this to buy anything you want before you come home."
Juliet lowered her gaze to the card resting in her hand.
"It doesn't have a limit," he added casually. "Get whatever you want."
His eyes lifted to hers again, and something darkly possessive flickered across his face.
"I don't like repeating myself, Juliet." The warmth that had briefly softened his features vanished. His jaw tightened slightly. "If you betray me this time, I won't forgive you."
Juliet seemed completely unaffected by the threat.
Instead, her entire face lit up.
A bright smile spread across her lips, making her eyes sparkle.
"Got it, baby!"
Cassian froze.
For a second, it genuinely felt as though his heart had stopped beating.
The world seemed to fall completely silent.
Then his pulse slammed back to life with such force that he could feel it pounding through his entire body.
His chest tightened.
His ears rang.
His expression remained mostly calm, but beneath the surface, he was completely losing control.
A dangerous warmth spread through his chest.
If he died in that moment, he genuinely thought he might die as the happiest man alive.
Before he could recover from the shock, Juliet suddenly leaned forward.
Her hands slid up his shoulders, her fingers lightly curling against him as she pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
Cassian reacted instantly.
His arm wrapped around her waist almost on instinct, pulling her closer against him before she could move away.
The familiar scent that belonged only to her surrounded him, making his already chaotic thoughts even worse.
For those few brief seconds, the rest of the world seemed to disappear.
Nothing existed except the woman in his arms. Nothing mattered except the warmth of her body and the softness of her touch.
Then, just as suddenly as she had leaned in, she pulled away.
The haze clouding his mind disappeared. Juliet slipped out of his lap and stepped back.
The moment her body left his arms, Cassian felt an immediate sense of loss. The warmth that had surrounded him vanished, leaving behind an emptiness he instantly hated.
His jaw tightened.
Suppressing the urge to pull her back against him, he stood up and grabbed his phone and wallet before slipping them into his pockets.
"You're leaving for the office now?" Juliet asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
Cassian nodded.
The next second, she hurried toward him.
She threw her arms around his neck and rose onto her tiptoes, trying to make up for the significant difference in their heights.
A startled look briefly crossed his face before his hands immediately settled on her waist, steadying her.
Juliet smiled sweetly before pressing another quick kiss against his lips.
When she finally stepped back, she tucked both hands behind her back and rocked lightly on her feet.
A bright smile spread across her face.
"Have a good day." Her eyes curved warmly. "I'll wait for you to come home."
Cassian released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding.
For a moment, he simply stood there staring at her.
His gaze lingered on her face, greedily taking in every detail as though he could somehow carry the sight of her with him for the rest of the day.
Then he gave a small nod.
It was all he trusted himself to do.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.
Yet halfway outside, he found himself stopping.
Almost unconsciously, he glanced back.
Their eyes met.
Juliet was still standing exactly where he had left her.
Still smiling.
Still watching him.
The sight should have made him happy.
Instead, a familiar insecurity quietly crept into his chest.
A bitter thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it.
‘She's happy because I'm leaving.’
His expression darkened slightly.
The thought lingered with him long after he got into his car and drove away.