Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 45

Kaelani’s eyes snapped back to Julian, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.

He ignored it and started sweeping, long deliberate strokes that made it painfully obvious he had no idea what he was doing.

She crossed her arms, watching unimpressed. “You’ve never swept a day in your life, have you?”

She stepped closer and reached for the broom, but he lifted it just out of reach.

Julian’s mouth twitched. “I’m not completely helpless.”

“Is that so?” She shot back, “You know, you left my refrigerator door open for goddess knows how long. Blew the damn motor. I had to buy a new fridge.”

He straightened, meeting her eyes. “I can compensate you.”

“I don’t want your money,” she countered, voice sharp. “I don’t need your money. It’s the principle… and a prime example that you’ve probably never even had to open a fridge door in your life. I know very well that you’ve got omegas for that—ones who make sure you never have to lift a finger.”

Julian’s expression didn’t waver. “Didn’t have any trouble finding what I needed,” he said evenly. “I was hungry, and you had some damn good leftovers.”

Her brows drew together. “Yeah, leftovers that were supposed to last me a week—and you devoured them in days.”

He smirked. “Loved the lasagna. Was it homemade or store-bought?”

Kaelani paused at his question, searching his face for mockery but seeing genuine curiosity. “I make everything myself. From scratch.”

Julian watched her for a long moment, something flashing in his eyes she couldn’t quite name.

“I loved it all,” he said quietly. “Every dish you left in the fridge—especially the one with the spicy gravy labeled Tuesday night.”

“Chicken Katsu with Japanese curry.”

His mouth curved faintly. “That’s what it was?” He took a step closer, voice dropping low enough to vibrate between them.

“It had heat. The perfect amount. The kind that lingers—warm, savoring… the kind that stays with you long after it’s gone.”

Her breath hitched. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if he was still talking about food.

Julian’s gaze traced the curve of her face, down to her lips, deliberate and unhurried. The silence that followed pulsed between them—uneasy, electric.

Her heart stuttered. For one suspended beat, she forgot how to breathe.

Then his eyes zoned in on the bandaid peaking out from the edge of her collar. She quickly adjusted her shirt and shook the moment off like a spell. Moving around him, she kept her back straight, her voice cool.

“Why are you here?”

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