Chapter 124 Desire That Refuses to Stay Buried

Chapter 124 Desire That Refuses to Stay Buried
Her gaze softened despite herself.

What had he meant just now?

He’d said he thought the person he held in the study was her.

So Luna had taken advantage of that moment. That was why he’d rushed out in such a mess.

And yet… whether he’d touched Luna or not had nothing to do with her.
They were nothing more than a contractual couple on paper. She had no right to question what he did with other women.

And still—

That tiny spark of happiness deep inside her refused to be suppressed.

Cora undid the final button.

Julian’s powerful upper body was suddenly revealed in full.

She couldn’t help herself. Her gaze lingered for a few extra seconds, and she swallowed quietly.

This body… it’s absurdly unfair.

Julian didn’t miss the flicker of appreciation in her eyes.

If she’d looked up, she would have seen the unmistakable smugness on his face.

Yes. Look at me.
You can only be tempted by my body.
No one else compares.

He nearly said it out loud.

When it came time for his belt, Cora hesitated again.

Did she really have to help him take off his pants too?

That felt… inappropriate.

She was pregnant, for god’s sake.

Sensing her pause, Julian reached up with his left hand and loosened the belt himself. It came undone with a soft click.

Cora’s eyes dropped—

And landed squarely on the sharply defined lines of his lower abdomen.

Those lines were criminal.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Julian spoke calmly.

“The doctor said this hand can’t move. It’ll affect healing.”

…Was this man injured on purpose just to force her to help him?

With only one usable hand, he really couldn’t do much.

Cora bit her lip.

She knew one thing very clearly.

If she didn’t help him tonight, Julian would absolutely not let Luna touch him.

Heart pounding, she made her decision.

She reached forward and pulled down the zipper.

Julian felt the brush of her fingers and his throat tightened. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darkened instantly.

This woman—

Was she doing this on purpose?

His brows lifted slightly, his eyes deep and dangerous, desire barely contained.

He almost lost control right then.

He’d been with women before, but no one had ever pushed him like this. No one had ever made him bend his own rules again and again.

And yet this woman—

Why did she never know how to cherish what she had?

Soren.
What was that man worth?

Why had she still wanted to leave him for someone like that?

The memory of that photograph flashed through his mind, souring his mood.

By the time he refocused, Cora had already helped him remove his outer clothes and was hesitating, unsure whether to continue.

Julian suddenly reached up with his uninjured hand, clasped the back of her neck, and kissed her.

The woman he wanted would never be allowed to belong to anyone else.

Cora. You’re not going anywhere in this lifetime.

She froze, completely unprepared.

His grip was strong. There was no resisting it.

The kiss was forceful, possessive, an unmistakable declaration of ownership.

With his power and status, making someone disappear would be effortless.

Cora could only endure the kiss passively.

…Something hard was pressing unmistakably against her lower abdomen.

Acting on instinct, she grabbed—

They both froze.

Everything stopped.

The haze lifted instantly.

Cora realized exactly what she’d just grabbed and sobered up on the spot.

She hadn’t meant to!

She released him immediately and stumbled back two steps, covering her burning face with both hands.

She had just grabbed that.

What was wrong with her?

Julian glanced down at his arousal, then curled his lips into a wicked smile.

“Are you satisfied with the size?”

Her mind went completely blank.

The last shred of reason screamed at her—

She was being teased.

Seeing her flustered beyond words put Julian in an excellent mood.

So she was satisfied.

Cora refused to look at him and turned to flee.

“Hey,” Julian called lazily from behind her. “Aren’t you helping me bathe? Do you really think I can wash myself with one hand?”

What?!

Help him bathe?!

Touch him everywhere?

Cora nearly lost her mind.

Just imagining it made her feel dizzy.

Julian, do you even want this baby anymore?!

Her face was so red it looked ready to combust.

Finally, Julian relented.

He did care about the child, after all.

Teasing his wife could wait.

“Fine. I’ll have the butler help,” he said at last.

“Good,” Cora blurted out, fleeing the room.

The butler had already anticipated this outcome. When he saw Cora emerge, cheeks flushed, he smiled gently and handed her a glass of warm milk before heading into the bathroom.

After finishing the milk, Cora slowly calmed down.

She patted her overheated face.

Julian, you bastard.
Is teasing me really that fun?

…But she had to admit it.

That bastard’s body really was dangerously good.

This was bad.

If Julian ever decided to deliberately seduce someone, no woman on earth would stand a chance.

Cora forced herself back into the bedroom, picked up her book, and lay down, determined to calm her thoughts.

Not long after, Julian entered in his sleepwear and lay down beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She froze.

He was sleeping here?

Hadn’t he been gone for an entire week?

Julian raised a brow. “Problem?”

“You’re really sleeping here?” she asked, confused.

Luna was probably already washed and waiting in bed for him next door.

Was he expecting her to make room?

This was her bed.

“I don’t sleep here, where should I sleep?” he countered. “The study?”

Luna… just left alone in the guest room like that?

Cora couldn’t process it.

Julian turned off the light and pulled her into his arms with his left hand.

“Sleep.”

Why did everything feel so strange?

…She was suddenly very sleepy. That milk must have worked.

Watching her settle obediently against him, Julian finally relaxed too.

He hadn’t slept properly in a week.

The night passed quietly and peacefully.

Except for Luna.

She’d been listening the entire time.

From the moment Julian shattered the bathroom mirror, her expectations had soared.

In her mind, there was no way Julian and Cora would end up sleeping together tonight.

All she needed to do was comfort him gently, and everything would fall into place.

But she waited.

And waited.

Until the villa went completely silent.

Julian never came.

Nothing had gone according to plan.

Cora… what did you do?
How did you make him cling to you like this?
She grabbed a porcelain vase, ready to smash it in rage—

Then stopped.

This was the Rio family villa. She couldn’t leave a bad impression.

Clenching her teeth, she set it down.

I will never let you take what belongs to me.