The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

ARIA’S POV

For a long moment after Luca’s car disappeared, I just stared at the empty road. The sound of his tires screeching away still rang faintly in my ears.

The cold wind brushed against my face, but I barely noticed. My emotions felt… tangled. Relief. Anger. Fear. And something heavier I couldn’t quite name.

Julian stood beside me in silence. I could feel the heat of his presence even without looking at him.

Then his hand came to my back. A slow, steady pat. Grounding. “You’re safe,” he said quietly.

The words should have calmed me. Instead, my eyes drifted down to his cuff. Blood stained the crisp white fabric. Luca’s blood. My throat tightened.

Julian noticed immediately. He exhaled softly and began wiping the stain with a handkerchief from his pocket, his movements controlled and precise. “Don’t look at me like that,” he said.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re afraid of me.”

I hesitated. “I’m not afraid,” I said slowly. But I was shaken. Julian’s jaw flexed slightly as he finished cleaning the cuff.

“I shouldn’t have hit him that hard.” My eyes lifted to his. “But I would do it again,” he added calmly. “Every time.” Silence hung between us. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry you had to see that side of me.”

I blinked. “You’re… apologizing?”

“Yes.” The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. “I didn’t do it because I lost control,” he continued. “I did it because he put his hands on you.” His eyes hardened slightly. “And because I needed him to understand he stays away from you.”

My chest tightened. There was something frightening about how calm he sounded. But there was also something strangely reassuring.

Julian turned toward the building and nodded toward the entrance. “Come on. You shouldn’t be standing outside.” I followed him inside. The warmth of the apartment wrapped around us as soon as the door shut.

My legs still felt a little weak. Julian noticed. He always noticed. “Sit,” he said, guiding me gently toward the couch.

“I’m not helpless.”

“You’re still sick.”

“I’m better.”

You fainted yesterday.”

“That was yesterday.”

He gave me a look. “Sit.” I rolled my eyes but obeyed. Julian moved toward the kitchen, loosening the buttons of his sleeve. The fabric had wrinkled where Luca grabbed it earlier.

Without ceremony, he pulled the shirt off. My breath caught. Oh. Right. I hadn’t actually processed what Julian looked like

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Chapter 14

without a shirt before.

His shoulders were broad and sculpted, muscles shifting under smooth skin as he moved. Defined abs. Strong arms. The kind of body built from discipline and strength. Not vanity. I tried not to stare. I failed.

Julian definitely noticed. A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Well,” he said casually, tossing the shirt onto the counter, “if you’re going to stare, you might as well enjoy the view.”

Heat flooded my face instantly. “I wasn’t staring!”

“You absolutely were.”

“I was not.” He leaned against the counter, arms folded across his chest.

“You’ve been looking at my torso for twelve seconds.” My mouth opened. Closed. “Thirteen now,” he added thoughtfully.

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. He caught it easily. “Childish,” he said.

“Arrogant.” He chuckled softly and turned back to the kitchen. “I’ll make you something to eat.”

I frowned. “You?”

“Yes.”

“You cook?”

“Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “You’re lying.”

Julian grabbed an apron and tied it around his waist

with surprising confidence. “I’ll have you know,” he said smugly, “that I can make an excellent meal.”

I leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “Oh really?”

“Yes.”

“Prove it.” He reached for the cabinet. Then paused, opened a drawer and closed it. Then he casually picked up a cookbook. My eyes narrowed. “You said you could cook.”

“I can.”

“You’re reading instructions.”

“That’s called precision.”

That’s called cheating.” Julian ignored me and began assembling ingredients. For the first few minutes, he looked umpressively competent.

Chopping vegetables. Boiling water. Seasoning steak. Then things started… deteriorating. The soup pot began bubbling violently. Julian frowned at it like it had personally betrayed him.

“Why is it doing that?”

“Because you turned the heat too high.”

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Chapter 14

That seems unlikely

“It’s literally boiling over.” He turned the heat down.

Too late. Soup spilled onto the stovetop. Meanwhile, the toast began smoking. I pointed.

“Your bread is on fire.” Julian cursed under his breath and flipped it. Now it was black. Charcoal. The steak wasn’t doing much better. He sliced into it confidently.

It was practically raw. I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Ten minutes later, he placed a tray in front of me with dramatic flair. “Your meal, madam.”

I looked down. Watery soup. Burnt toast. Barely cooked steak. Then I looked up at him. “Are you

trying to poison me?” He frowned.

“That’s harsh.”

“This is a disaster on a tray.”

Julian scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Okay… maybe it needs refinement.”

“Refinement?” I repeated. “It needs a funeral.”

He sighed. “Fine.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m ordering you actual food.”

I laughed softly. “You’re giving up?”

“Your safety is my priority,” he said seriously. “And feeding you this would be reckless.”

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Real food arrived. Proper soup. Fresh bread. Perfectly cooked steak. I smiled as I picked up my fork. “Finally.”

I lifted the first bite toward my mouth and then my phone rang. The name on the screen made my stomach drop. Mrs. Moretti. Luca’s mother. I hesitated before answering. “Hello?”

Her voice came through sharp and furious. “Aria.”

My spine straightened. “Yes?”

“My son is in the hospital.” My heart stopped.

“What?”

“He was involved in an accident.”

The fork slipped from my fingers. “What happened?”

What happened?” she repeated bitterly. “You happened.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Don’t play innocent with me. Her voice turned icy.

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