From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 119

**Chapter 5**

His hands, which had been resting limply at my sides, suddenly sprang to life, flexing with a newfound energy.

A soft laugh escaped his lips, yet his eyes shimmered with a glistening sheen that looked suspiciously like unshed tears.

“So, you don’t hate me anymore?” he asked, a hint of vulnerability threading through his voice.

There was a time when I had harbored nothing but disdain for Julian—his meticulous restraint, the way he clung to formality, and his unwavering commitment to rules and expectations had all grated on my nerves.

I had yearned to see that polished exterior shatter, to witness the cracks in his perfect façade.

But now, as I watched the flush of red creep up his collarbone beneath the crisp fabric of his shirt, and noted the subtle movement of his throat as he swallowed, I began to understand that this icy prince aesthetic held a magnetic charm all its own.

Perhaps what had captivated me most all along was the thrill of watching such controlled men tumble from their pedestals.

As his arms encircled me, closing the distance between us until there was no space left, Julian’s cool lips pressed against mine. For a fleeting moment, my mind faltered, caught off guard by the intensity of the kiss.

Then, a wave of desire surged through me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer with an unexpected fierceness.

In a burst of pent-up passion, I bit his lips, trying to pour all my repressed emotions into this stoic figure standing before me.

When Julian took charge, binding my wrists behind my back and pressing me against the steering wheel, I surrendered completely. My hair tumbled wildly over his shoulders, a chaotic contrast to the composed man I was with.

Just then, the phone I had carelessly tossed onto the console erupted into sound, ringing insistently.

I attempted to ignore it, but in my flustered state, I inadvertently hit the answer button.

Rhys’s cold, tense voice cut through the air: “Camden, you left your things at my place.”

“I’ll be in Northbrook for business in a couple of days. I can bring them to you,” I replied, my breathless gasps and the unmistakable sounds of our kissing echoing through the phone.

I pressed my forehead against Julian’s, silently pleading with him to end the call, when suddenly, we heard a crash of breaking glass from Rhys’s end.

“Camden, say something!” Rhys’s voice roared, filled with frustration.

With my hands still trapped behind me by Julian’s firm grip, I felt exposed, my body laid bare to the world. Julian’s fingers pressed against my lips, rubbing them with deliberate slowness, as if to silence me.

His smile was evident in his voice as he responded, “My lady is rather busy at the moment. I don’t think she has time for your call, Mr. Keller.”

Even with the evidence of my bite staining his lip, Julian remained an epitome of composure.

I slammed the door shut and coldly declared, “Tell them to get lost.”

Julian nodded quietly, but his fingers remained firmly pressed against the door, a silent barrier. “Camden, he’s here on business.”

His words were a clear signal that I needed to go downstairs. When Julian made a decision, it was as if the universe itself conspired to ensure it happened.

For reasons I couldn’t quite articulate, irritation bubbled within me. Still, I followed him down the stairs, maintaining a frosty expression.

Rhys spotted me immediately. The moment he saw me trailing closely behind Julian, his expression darkened, a storm cloud gathering in his eyes.

He dangled a piece of black lace lingerie from his fingertips, cutting straight to the chase: “Camden, leaving things like this at my place after a breakup would cause trouble.”

When Rhys traveled for work, he had developed a habit of taking some of my personal belongings with him, claiming he couldn’t sleep without something of mine nearby.

I recognized this particular piece all too well. When I had packed my belongings, I had searched for it in vain, assuming Rhys had discarded it long ago. Instead, it had likely been nestled in his luggage all this time.

The thought of him clutching my lingerie with reddened eyes made me feel suddenly nauseated. If he had already decided to end things with me, then why cling to my possessions?

Fighting back the tightening sensation in my throat, I coldly asked, “Rhys, was bringing this little trinket really worth you traveling all the way to Northbrook?”