Natalie stood frozen in her place, and got back to her senses only when she heard the water from the shower running. She looked at the bathroom door and remembered Justin’s expressions from just a moment before.
’Is he angry that I pretended to forget it? Is he disappointed in me, because I was the one to beg him for it, but like an ungrateful person, I didn’t even acknowledge his help or thanked him for taking care of me?
I am such a terrible person.She buried her face in her hands, struggling to get the hold on her thoughts. What should I do now?
Her eyes landed on the T-shirt Justin had tossed aside before heading to the shower. She picked it up, and for a moment, it felt as though it still carried the warmth of his body. Her heart skipped a beat, memories of the previous night flooding back—of him, of them, and the way he had cared for her.
That intoxicating closeness, those passionate kisses, his warmth that felt more comforting than anything, his scent, and the deliberate care in his touch. Every intimate moment lingered in her mind, causing her breath to grow shallow.
What the hell? I’m not high on drugs anymore to be feeling like this again. She quickly folded the T-shirt, set it on a chair, and hurried out of the room before Justin could emerge from the bathroom.
She went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a chilled bottle of water from the fridge, and downed half of it to steady herself.
’It’s just that the weather is hot... and I am thirsty,’ she tried to reason out, breathed a few more times to calm herself and looked around the kitchen. I shall cook everything he likes to make up for what I did.
Natalie remembered what Justin liked as she could guess it from his reactions whenever he ate her cooked meal. She started preparing quickly. Everything has to be delicious. Once he sees the food, he’ll forget all his anger.
She was immersed in cooking when Justin entered the kitchen, now dressed in casual home clothes. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead as he ruffled it with his fingers on his way to the fridge to grab a drink. freewebnσvel.cøm
Natalie was aware of his presence but didn’t dare to look at him, unsure how to react. She could see through the corner of her eyes that he was drinking water and his gaze was on her.
"Dinner will be ready soon," she said, trying to sound casual.
Justin hummed and put the bottle aside, only to hear Natalie wince lightly in pain. He looked at her and found that she had cut her finger.
Damn it! Natalie cursed inwardly and grabbed a tissue to stanch the small cut on her forefinger.
Justin stepped out of the kitchen instead of going to her.
Natalie looked at the kitchen exit, and her heart sank. ’Well, it’s just a small cut so he doesn’t need to pay attention,’ she tried to reason out but could not deny that it felt worse to be ignored by him.
But Justin returned as quickly as he left, taking her by surprise. A bandaid in his hand.
"Let me see," he said, taking hold of her injured hand without waiting for permission.
Natalie looked at him in surprise at how worried he looked for just a small cut on her finger. He had the bandaid in his hand. Now she understood he didn’t ignore her but went to get the bandage. She was glad that he was back to her, her heart was jumping in happiness.
Justin held her finger under running water, then wiped gently it to dry it.
Natalie took this chance to talk about the things she had in mind.
"I pretended to forget... because I was embarrassed..." she murmured hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Justin remained silent, focused on carefully wrapping the bandage around her finger.
She kept her eyes downcast, unable to meet his gaze. "I was embarrassed by the way it all happened... I should have thanked you instead of pretending not to remember. I just thought it would help keep things normal between us. I know you didn’t really want to do it—it was just to help me in that moment. I kind of... forced you..."
"Who told you I didn’t want to?" Justin interrupted, his voice low but firm. His gaze locked onto her lowered face.
Startled, Natalie looked up, meeting his intense stare.
"Forced?" His gaze turned darker, his voice thick in desire. "You have no idea what I want to do with you whenever I see you. I’m no saint, Natalie. But I wasn’t going to do anything while you were drugged. If you were sober... trust me, I have all kinds of bad intentions toward you. I’m just waiting for you to feel the same toward me."
"Just focus on what feels good... on what you want," he whispered against her lips, his voice a sensual command.
With her eyes fluttering shut, Natalie let her instincts take over, trying to match his rhythm. Slowly, she found herself easing into the kiss, responding with more confidence.
Justin guided her hands to rest on his shoulders, the warmth of his skin grounding her. Then, his hands slid to her waist, firm and assured. In one smooth motion, he lifted her with ease, placing her on the cool surface of the kitchen counter, not breaking away from the kiss.
He stood between her parted legs, pulling her firmly against him, their bodies pressed so closely it left Natalie breathless. The intimacy of the position sent a rush through her senses, making it impossible to think of anything else.
What began as a gentle kiss now unraveled into something far more intense. Justin’s hand cradled the back of her head, tilting her face just the way he wanted. In that moment, all the restraint he had been holding back melted away.
His mouth claimed hers with raw hunger, drawing her into a kiss that was both passionate and overwhelming. His lips moved urgently, sucking and nibbling, leaving her breathless under the weight of his need.
Natalie clung to him, her fingers curling tightly into his clothes, struggling to keep pace with the fervor of his kiss. Soft, muffled moans escaped her lips, each one fueling his desire.
Taking her moans as encouragement, Justin deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He explored her slowly but thoroughly, stealing every breath of hers.
When she began to feel breathless, her fingers dug into his skin in subtle resistance. Only then did Justin finally release her, his lips reluctantly parting from hers.
Natalie gasped for air, her chest rising and falling heavily, her face flushed with warmth and emotion. Justin wasn’t much different—his breathing ragged, his pulse racing. Only he knew how hard it had been to stop himself, how much willpower it had taken to pull back before the kiss consumed them both entirely.
His hands remained on her cheeks, gently caressing her flushed skin in a soothing gesture, as if to comfort her from the intensity they had just shared. His face stayed close, his lips brushing her skin lightly as he breathed her in, savoring the lingering scent of her.
"Natalie," he whispered, his voice hoarse and dripping with seduction. The sound sent a shiver down her spine.
Her eyes, still hazy with emotion, fluttered open.
His face was so close, their eyes met, and in his gaze, she saw it clearly—he wanted more. Much more.
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