Chapter161 Blood was dripping from his nose

Chapter161 Blood was dripping from his nose
Chloe

The next morning I called in reinforcements.

Kim picked me up at ten. She looked nervous the moment I told her where we were going.

“A sex shop?” she whispered as we stood outside the discreet boutique on Melrose. “Chloe, are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” I said, pushing the door open. “I need props. Toys. Lingerie. Whatever it takes to make sure Julian cannot walk away from me again.”

Kim’s cheeks turned bright pink, but she followed me inside. We spent an hour picking out things: a sheer black babydoll that barely covered my belly, a pair of red crotchless panties, a small bottle of warming lube, and a sleek black vibrator I planned to use as backup.

Kim kept glancing at the price tags and muttering under her breath, but she helped me carry everything to the register without complaint.

As we loaded the bags into her car, I finally asked the question that had been on my mind.

“So,” I said, trying to sound casual, “how are things going with Ethan? You mentioned he asked you to dinner.”

Kim’s face immediately softened, the nervous energy from the sex shop replaced by something warmer.

“He’s been… really consistent,” she admitted, buckling her seatbelt. “We went out two nights ago. He took me to this little Italian place. He was nervous at first, kept adjusting his collar, but once we started talking it felt easy.”

I smiled, genuinely happy for her. “And? Did he kiss you goodnight?”

Kim laughed, cheeks flushing again. “Not yet. But he held my hand when he walked me to the door. And he texted me the second he got home to say he had a great time.”

I watched her face carefully. “You like him.”

“I do,” Kim said quietly. “More than I expected to. He’s different from what I thought he’d be. He’s funny, and he actually listens when I talk about my job. He asked me about the kids I used to work with in Seattle like he really cared about the answer.”

I felt a small pang of guilt. “And… does he ever mention me?”

Kim shook her head. “Not once. Not in that way. He talks about you like a sister—like someone he’s protective of—but that’s it. Chloe, I really think he’s moved on. What he feels for me feels separate. It feels real.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Good. That’s good. I was worried for a second there.”

Kim reached over and squeezed my hand. “I was worried too. But the more time I spend with him, the more I realize he’s not looking at you. He’s seeing me.”

We drove in comfortable silence for a minute before Kim spoke again, her voice a little hesitant.

“He’s been working a lot,” she said. “Julian asked him to handle some peripheral logistics—mostly family-related arrangements and confirming details for something he wouldn’t tell me about. I only know bits and pieces because he asked me to make a quick call once to double-check a hotel booking. It seemed like he was trying to keep me on the outside of the real plan.”

That caught my attention. “Ethan’s helping him?”

Kim nodded. “He mentioned it yesterday. Said Julian asked him to handle some logistics. He looked stressed about it, but also excited. Like it was important.”

I stared out the window, trying to piece it together. At least Ethan’s involvement made it seem less ominous. If Ethan was involved, I wanted to believe it couldn’t be anything dangerous.

Kim seemed to sense my shift in mood.

“Chloe,” she said gently, “I know you’re frustrated. But Ethan told me Julian’s been working himself to the bone on this. Whatever it is, it’s consuming him. He wants it to be perfect for you.”

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen.

That evening I sent Julian a text while he was still at the office.

Come home early. I need you.

He replied within seconds.

On my way.

I waited in the bedroom wearing the new babydoll and nothing else. When Julian walked through the door and saw me, his steps faltered. His eyes went dark, pupils blown wide as they traveled over my body.

“Chloe…” His voice was already hoarse.

I walked toward him slowly, letting my hips sway. “You’ve been working too hard,” I murmured, reaching up to loosen his tie. “It’s time you took care of something else.”

My hand slid down his chest and lower, cupping him through his pants. He was already hard. Julian groaned, his hands coming to rest on my waist.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” I whispered against his mouth.

I was on my toes, pressing my breasts against his chest, when his phone rang.

Julian froze.

I felt the exact moment the heat drained out of him. He closed his eyes, forehead pressing against mine, and for a second I thought he might ignore it. Then he pulled the phone from his pocket with obvious reluctance.

“It’s Jin,” he said, voice tight. “I have to—”

“Don’t,” I said, grabbing his wrist. “Julian, please. Whatever it is, it can wait five minutes.”

He looked at me like he was in physical pain. “I’m so sorry.”

Then he stepped into the hallway and answered the call.

I stood there in the middle of the bedroom, lingerie clinging to my skin, the ache between my legs sharp enough to make me want to scream. The call lasted barely two minutes, but every second of it felt like another piece of the same hidden machine Julian had set in motion. All of it seemed connected to the same secret project.

When he finally came back, his expression was already apologetic. I didn’t give him the chance to speak.

“Call Tiffany,” I said.

Julian blinked. “What?”

“Call her. Tell her I need to talk to her. Right now.”

He looked confused but made the call. Twenty minutes later Tiffany was at our front door with a bottle of wine and a knowing smirk.

“Trouble in paradise?” she asked as she followed me upstairs.

“Julian keeps getting interrupted,” I said bluntly. “Every single time we’re about to have sex, his phone rings. I’m losing my mind.”

Tiffany’s smirk turned into a full grin. “Oh, honey. You need a plan.”

She spent the next hour giving me a crash course in seduction. “Don’t wait for him to start,” she advised. “Take control the second he walks in. Use your mouth first—men lose brain cells the moment you’re on your knees. And if he tries to answer the phone, you take it from him and say, ‘It can wait.’ Confidence, Chloe. Own it.”

I took every word to heart.

Two nights later I was ready.

Julian came home late, tie already loosened. I met him at the bedroom door wearing the red panties and nothing else. Before he could say a word, I dropped to my knees.

“Chloe—what are you—”

I had his belt undone and his cock in my mouth within seconds. Julian’s head thunked back against the doorframe. His hand fisted in my hair, hips jerking forward as I took him deeper. He was already thick and heavy on my tongue, the taste of him making me moan around his length.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “Baby, you’re going to kill me.”

I pulled off just long enough to look up at him. “No phone calls tonight. Understand?”

Julian nodded, eyes glassy.

I stood, pushed him toward the bed, and climbed on top of him. His hands immediately went to my breasts, squeezing the heavy flesh with a groan.

I reached between us and guided him to my entrance, sinking down slowly. The stretch was perfect. Julian’s eyes rolled back as I took every inch of him.

We had barely started moving when Julian suddenly went still.

Blood was dripping from his nose.

“Shit,” he muttered, pressing a hand to his face. “I’m sorry—I think the stress—”

The mood evaporated instantly.