Chapter 18 Wet Adonis
The moment she saw him step out of the bathroom naked, Elena froze.
Her eyes bulged so wide she thought they would practically pop out of her head, and she felt her entire body heat up instantly.
Julian was there, standing tall, chest bare, legs bare and everywhere else smooth. His hair was wet and clinging slightly to his forehead.
“Oh my goodness!” she shrieked, turning her head quickly toward the window, trying to make herself disappear.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were naked!” Her voice cut off as her cheeks flamed red.
She couldn’t even form a full sentence without stuttering at the sight of his naked body.
Elena just stood there, frozen, rigid, hands gripping the window sill as though it could shield her from the sight before her.
Julian didn’t say a word. He simply moved quietly toward the closet and pulled out a fresh, thick white towel, wrapping it slowly around his waist.
“There’s no need to be ashamed,” he said in a low, calm voice. “We are married, Elena.”
She still did not turn around. Her body was stiff, trembling slightly.
Her eyes were closed and her lips pressed together so hard she thought they might split.
She could not speak. She could not move. She could not even breathe properly.
“Elena… Elena, are you okay?” Julian’s voice softened slightly, but there was that underlying edge of concern, a tone she had learned over the past weeks meant he was worried about her.
She jumped slightly when she felt his hand on her shoulder, warm and firm and completely solid. Her body stiffened and she jerked away reflexively, her voice high and brittle.
“Don’t touch me!” she hissed. “Please!”
He didn’t flinch. He simply stepped back a fraction, but the towel around his waist was secure now.
His chest still glistened, and she could feel her pulse race just from seeing it. She forced herself to speak, trying to sound strong even as her throat was dry.
“What are you doing?” she stammered, still unable to hold his gaze.
“I’m dropping you off,” he replied casually, as if he hadn’t just startled her half to death.
“I don’t need you to drop me off! I can take care of myself! I’m not a baby!” she shot back, her voice rising slightly. Her hands fisted in the fabric of her skirt, trembling from adrenaline and embarrassment.
Julian arched an eyebrow, his expression calm but authoritative. “Why is this even an argument?”
Elena’s eyes narrowed. “Because you think you get to decide everything about my life! I am not going to wait around for you to escort me everywhere like some guardian! You’re acting insane!”
He stepped closer, placing a hand on both of her arms, holding her still.
His touch was gentle, yet it carried undeniable strength. She froze again.
“Look at this,” he said, his eyes flicking down to her arm, the spot where a small bandage still covered the bruised area from the accident earlier.
“This is all the proof I need that you’re not feeling fine. The nurse will come around today to check on your injuries, just in case you hit your head again.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Oh, you think I hit my head and that’s why I don’t want you close to me. You think I’m going insane, don’t you?”
“No,” he said quietly. “A concussion can make people react in different ways.”
Elena’s hands flailed slightly in frustration. “With you, it’s always so robotic! It’s like you don’t feel anything! How can you be so indifferent after everything, after last night?!”
Julian blinked at her, looking clearly confused. “What did I do?” he asked simply.
“You know what you did!” she hissed, stepping back and shaking her head. “I can’t even deal with this! I’m going out, and if you try to stop me, I will scream bloody murder!”
He tilted his head slightly, unbothered. “You are my wife. Even if you screamed bloody murder, you would need lungs of a rhino to be heard outside this property.”
She threw up her hands. “Then I’ll call my father! I’ll tell him you’re trying to control me, that you’re holding me here against my will!”
He stepped closer, his eyes locking with hers, steady and unyielding. “As long as it’s for your protection, I think Marcus will understand.”
Her heart stuttered. “What is it with you and my father? You think because I’m married to you, he’ll just let you treat me however you want?”
“We had a deal,” Julian replied simply. “The contract is still in effect.”
“The contract?” she snapped. “The contract was for me to marry you, not to become your slave! I have the right to go anywhere I want!”
“Not when you live in danger,” he countered, his voice low but firm.
She spun on him, fists slamming against his naked chest in exasperation. “Fuck you, Julian! You’re not my master!” She made a sudden lunge for the door.
Before she could reach it, he moved with lightning speed.
His hands wrapped around her, pulling her off her feet effortlessly. Her body pressed against his chest, and she could feel the powerful warmth radiating from him.
Her heart raced, her breathing ceased and she struggled for a second but quickly realized her strength was no match for him.
He carried her to the bed, tossing her down gently before his hands grabbed both of hers and pinned them above her head.
Elena froze. She could feel his body close to hers, the scent of his aftershave mixing with the faint, fresh scent of shampoo in his wet hair.
Her chest heaved and she couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak.
He leaned slightly closer and for a second, her mind ran wild, thinking he'd kiss her.
But all he did was whisper. “You will wait for me, Elena,” he said softly. “I will drive you to wherever you want to go, or you are not leaving the Thorne Mansion today.”
She wanted to argue, to protest, but the force of his presence held her in place.
Somehow, she couldn’t find the energy or courage to fight him anymore.
She had just one choice. To agree with him and get this tempting specimen off her before she did something stupid.
Finally, her voice came out as a shaky whisper. “Okay.”