Chapter162 I wanted to wait until after the baby—

Chapter162 I wanted to wait until after the baby—
Chloe

I climbed off him and stared, equal parts concerned and furious. “Are you serious right now?”

Julian grabbed tissues from the nightstand, tilting his head back. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. This isn’t about you. You’re so fucking beautiful. I just—”

I wrapped the sheet around myself, the rejection stinging worse than any phone call. “What is it then? Am I not attractive to you anymore? You keep getting interrupted, you get a nosebleed the one time we actually start, and you still won’t tell me what the hell you’ve been so busy with. What is going on with you?”

Julian wiped his nose, looking miserable. He reached for me, pulling me against his chest even though I resisted.

“It’s not you,” he said quietly, stroking my hair. “You have no idea how much I want you. Every second of every day. But right now I need to take care of you in other ways. I promise I’ll explain everything soon—just let me finish what I’m working on first.”

He laid me back and slid his hand between my thighs. His fingers were skilled, circling my clit with just the right pressure, two fingers sliding inside me while his thumb worked me higher. I came with a broken moan, clutching his shoulders, but the relief felt hollow.

When I opened my eyes, Julian was already standing.

“I need a shower,” he said.

He was in there for over an hour. I lay in our bed listening to the water run, frustration and hurt twisting together in my chest.

I knew he was using the cold water to suppress his desire and handle the nosebleed, but I also suspected he was hiding in there to organize the last pieces of whatever secret plan he refused to share.

Whatever Julian was planning, it had better be worth it. Because I was running out of patience.

----

I decided to bring Julian lunch myself. The soft maternity dress I chose hugged my fuller curves, the fabric draping over my rounded belly while still accentuating the new heaviness of my breasts.

Pregnancy had changed my body in ways that sometimes made me self-conscious, but today I intended to use every inch of it.

When I stepped into his office, Julian looked up from his desk. His eyes immediately traced the gentle sway of my walk.

"Hey, you didn't have to do that," he said.

I closed the door behind me and turned the lock with a deliberate click. Julian's gaze sharpened. I set the paper bag on his desk, then slowly unbuttoned my blazer and let it fall open.

Underneath, I had already removed my dress in the hallway.All that remained was the black lace lingerie—barely-there cups that struggled to contain my swollen breasts, thin straps framing the curve of my belly, and a tiny triangle of fabric between my legs.

Julian's chair creaked as he leaned back. His pupils dilated instantly. I watched his throat move when he swallowed, watched his fingers grip the armrests until his knuckles turned white. A heavy breath escaped him, and I saw the front of his tailored trousers begin to strain.

"Chloe..." His voice came out rough.

I walked toward him slowly, letting him look. The lace stretched tight over my fuller breasts and the pronounced curve of my belly. I stopped just out of reach and ran my hands down my sides.

"You've been working so hard lately," I said softly. "I thought you deserved a proper break."

Julian's chest rose and fell faster. His eyes stayed fixed on the way the lace barely covered me. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his legs shifted under the desk.

I leaned forward, bracing my hands on the arms of his chair so my breasts were level with his face. "Those calls you've been getting... they aren't just work, are they? What are you really planning, Julian?"

His hands hovered near my waist, trembling. I could feel the heat radiating off him, see the obvious bulge pressing against his zipper.

"I..." His voice cracked. "Chloe, please—"

I dragged my fingertips down his chest, stopping just above his belt. "Just tell me a little. Is it something big? Something you don't want me to know?"

Julian groaned low in his throat. His hands finally settled on my hips, gripping hard. The bulge in his pants had grown fully rigid, twitching every time I shifted closer.

"You have no idea how hard it's been," he said, voice strained. "I've been trying so hard to keep this from you, but I can't resist you. Every time you look at me like that, I want to tell you everything. It's been torture."

I smiled and brushed my lips along his jaw without kissing him. "Then stop fighting it. Just tell me. Something for us?"

Julian's head fell back against his chair. His breathing was shallow. "Chloe... if you keep doing this, I'm going to tell you everything. I can't say no to you right now."

I rocked my hips forward just enough to brush against him through the layers of fabric. Julian let out a broken sound. His hands tightened on my waist, trying to pull me down, but I resisted.

"Then tell me," I whispered against his ear. "What's the plan? Why all the secrecy? Those calls at night, you've been planning something for weeks."

He was shaking now, completely undone. "It's... I wanted to wait until after the baby—"

"After the baby what?" I pressed, tracing one finger along the hard line of his erection again. "Julian, you've never been this secretive before. If it's something important, why can't you just tell me?"

Julian's eyes were glassy. "Because I want it to be perfect. Because I know how much you've been through and I—" He cut himself off with a groan as I leaned in and nipped at his earlobe. "God, Chloe, you're not playing fair."

I pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes. "I'm not trying to play fair. I'm trying to understand why my husband has been disappearing for mysterious phone calls and acting like he's hiding something from me."

Julian swallowed hard. "It's a surprise. A good one. I swear."

"Then give me one hint," I said, rocking my hips again, deliberately slow. "Is it something we'll do together?"

He nodded, almost desperately. "Yes. It's—"

A sharp knock at the door cut him off.

"Mr. Astor? Lena here with the contracts."

Julian closed his eyes, visibly forcing himself to breathe. He adjusted himself with a grimace before standing and opening the door just enough to take the papers. His voice was impressively steady when he spoke to Lena.

When the door closed again, he turned and pulled me straight into his arms.

I crossed my arms over my chest, the sting from seeing her still lingering. "Hard not to feel a little jealous when she shows up right in the middle of this."

"You don't need to be jealous," he murmured against my hair, voice still rough. "I'm all yours. Every part of me. And Lena has a boyfriend. Someone you would be very surprised to know about."

I looked up at him. "Really? Who is it? Is it someone from the office?"

Julian's smile was slow and wicked. "If you want to know, we should finish what we started."

I stared at him, then deliberately looked down at the very obvious erection still straining against his pants. Instead of giving in, I picked up the lunch bag, unlocked the door, and walked out.

"Chloe—"

I glanced back over my shoulder. "Maybe next time you feel like answering my questions."

On my way down the hallway, I ran into Marcus.

"Chloe, Mr. Astor has a meeting in ten minutes. Is he ready?"

I smiled lightly. "I don’t think he’ll be making that one."