Chapter 81 DRUGGED
Julian’s grip tightened around Lovia’s wrist.
“You drugged me?”
Lovia froze for a second, but she pulled her hand back quickly, her expression shifting into something defensive, almost offended.
“What?” she said. “Julian, don’t be ridiculous.”
Julian’s eyes stayed on her, staring at her with obvious suspicion.
Lovia let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
“You probably overdrank,” she said. “That wine is strong. It’s imported— very expensive, by the way— and aged. Not something you just throw back like water.”
Julian didn’t respond.
She kept talking, faster now.
“It’s from a private collection. A very old batch. People underestimate it all the time,” she added. “You should relax instead of making wild accusations.”
Julian took a slow breath, his body felt hot for him to believe whatever Lovia was saying. He's not a newbie to drinking.
His chest rose and fell heavier than normal.
He gently pushed her away. “I have to leave.”
Lovia frowned. “Julian—”
But he was already turning away. His steps were unsteady as he walked out of the room.
Back in the sitting area…
His eyes landed on the couch.
And what he saw snapped something in him.
Desmond… leaning over Eli, one hand braced on the couch, the other gripping Eli’s arm. Eli looked dazed and confused, his body pressed into the cushions.
Desmond leaned closer, his lips near Eli’s ear.
“Relax,” he was murmuring. “Just let it—” He didn’t finish before Julian grabbed him, hard. Yanking him back.
Desmond barely had time to react before punches started raining down on him. The impact was loud and sharp.
Desmond stumbled back and fell to the floor.
Lovia rushed out from the room behind Julian.
“Desmond!” she called, dropping to his side.
She looked up at Julian, her face tight with anger.
“Why are you ruining the night?” she demanded. “Tonight is about my father. Do you not have respect for my father?”
Julian didn’t even look at her, he was already turning back to Eli.
Eli blinked slowly up at him.
“Julian…” he mumbled.
Julian didn’t waste a second, he lifted Eli into his arms. “Hold on,” he said quietly.
Then he walked out; straight out of the suite… down the stairs.
People turned, watching and whispering. But Julian didn’t stop to acknowledge anyone; not even his mother who was walking towards him to probably ask why he's leaving.
He walked through the hall like none of it mattered, like nothing else existed except the boy in his arms.
Outside, his driver immediately noticed the urgency. He rushed to open the car door.
Julian barely made it into the car before the heat hit him properly, and it wasn’t gradual, it slammed into him with immediate sharp and wrong force.
He shut the door hard, breath already uneven, and pulled Eli fully onto his lap instead of letting him sit beside him. It was instinct; control, containment, keeping him close where he could see him.
“Drive,” Julian snapped, and the car moved instantly.
Eli shifted in his arms, restlessly. His body couldn't settle; it pressed, moved, adjusted like he couldn’t find a position that worked.
“Julian…” Eli’s voice came out soft.
Julian looked down at him.
Eli’s eyes were glassy, with his lips parted slightly. His breathing was already off.
“How are you feeling?” Julian asked, voice tight.
Eli swallowed.
“I feel…” he paused, brows pulling together, “…strange.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“We’ve been drugged.”
Eli blinked slowly… “With Viagra?” he asked, genuinely confused, his voice dipping lower. “Because I feel—”
He cut himself off with a soft sound. A small, breathy one.
Julian’s hand tightened around his waist.
“I don’t know what it is,” Julian said, forcing his voice to stay steady. “But it’s not good.”
Eli shifted again closer again, this time, his hands came up, gripping Julian’s shirt like he needed something to hold onto.
“Julian…” he whispered again, voice dragging.
Julian sucked in a breath.
“Sit still.”
“I can’t,” Eli said immediately, almost helpless. “I can’t—I don’t—something’s wrong—”
His head dropped forward, right into Julian’s neck. Warm breath against his skin.
Julian’s entire body tensed. “Eli.”
“I feel hot,” Eli murmured against him. “So hot…”
Julian’s grip on him tightened. “I know.”
Eli shook his head weakly. “No— you don’t— it’s too much…”
His fingers moved, dragging slightly against Julian’s chest, gripping, releasing, gripping again like he didn’t even realize what he was doing.
Julian caught his wrist in a firm grip.
“Stop.”
Eli looked up at him, slowly. Eyes unfocused but heavy. “Why?” he asked softly.
Julian’s throat went dry. “Because you’re not thinking straight.”
Eli let out a quiet, shaky laugh. “I’m not thinking at all.”
That wasn’t the problem…
That was exactly the problem.
Eli leaned closer again, like something was pulling him there.
His forehead almost touching Julian’s jaw.
His lips just… too close.
Julian turned his head slightly, avoiding it.
“Eli,” he said, lower now, warning in his tone. “Control yourself.”
“I don’t think I can,” Eli whispered. And he sounded honest, not teasing… not even intentional. Just… gone.
His hand slipped free from Julian’s grip.
This time when it moved, it didn’t just grip, it lingered. Dragged. Unfocused, searching touch like his body was reacting faster than his mind.
Julian caught it again, harder. “Eli.”
Eli breathed out softly. “Why are you stopping me? You used to like doing this with me.”
Julian’s restraint snapped just a little. “Because you’re not in your right mind,” he said sharply. “And I am trying to keep it that way.”
Eli blinked up at him… then his expression shifted into something softer, looking almost hurt.
“You don’t want me?” he asked quietly.
Julian sucked in a frustrated breath. That question hit him wrong.
“Don’t say things like that.”
Eli swallowed. “But I feel like—” he stopped, breath catching, “—like I need something. Like if I don’t get it I’ll— why are you even like this? You used to like doing this with me. I want you to—”
He didn’t finish, he didn’t need to. Julian could see and feel it. The drug effect wasn’t subtle. It was designed for this. To push and strip control, to make want feel like need.
Julian’s hand moved to Eli’s jaw, holding his face steady.
“Listen to me.”
Eli’s eyes locked onto his. Barely focused, but locked.
“This is not you,” Julian said. “Do you understand?”
Eli shook his head slightly. “It feels like me.”
Julian exhaled slowly. “Wrong answer.” Dangerous answer.
Eli leaned into his touch. His voice dropped into a soft murmur. “Then why does it feel good?”
Julian’s control slipped another inch, his thumb pressed slightly harder against Eli’s jaw. “Because it’s designed to.”
Eli’s lips parted again, his breath getting more shallow.
“Then let it, I love it.” he whispered.
Julian’s entire body went still. “No.”
Eli frowned. “Why?”
Julian’s voice dropped, commanding and final. “Because I said no.”
That should have been enough. Normally, it would be. But Eli wasn’t normal right now.
He shifted again, this time more boldly and less unsure. Like the resistance was confusing him more than stopping him.
“You’re being mean,” he murmured.
Julian let out a dry, breathless sound. “You have no idea how much I’m holding back right now.”
Eli blinked. Then, softly, he said:
“Then don’t.”
And that was followed by heavy, dangerous silence.
Julian’s hand tightened at Eli’s waist, hard enough to keep him in place.
“Eli,” he said slowly, “if you don’t stop moving—”
Eli looked up at him again with that same look. That soft, open, ruined by the drug look.
“What?” he asked.
Julian leaned closer, just slightly. Enough for Eli to feel his breath this time.
“You won’t like what happens next.”
Eli didn’t pull back. If anything… he leaned in a fraction closer.
“I think I will,” he whispered.
Julian shut his eyes for a second. Breathing in… and out. Forcing control back into his system.
When he opened them again, his expression had hardened.
He grabbed Eli’s wrists, pinning them gently but firmly against his own chest.
“Stay. Still.”
Eli let out a soft sound, not quite a protest, not quite agreement, but he didn’t fight it.
When the car slowed to a stop, Eli looked up at Julian and with the most tempting tone ever, he said… “I've been good. Won't you reward me?”