The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 21

ARIA’S POV

Pain woke me first.

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A sharp, pounding ache in my skull that made my eyes squeeze shut the moment I tried to move. It felt like my head had been split open and crudely stitched back together.

I groaned softly and pressed my fingers to my temple. Bad idea. The movement sent another wave of pain through my body. My stomach hurt.

My ribs hurt.

Even breathing felt heavy. “What the hell…” I whispered hoarsely. Slowly, carefully, I opened my eyes. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar.

Dark wood panels. Minimalist lighting. Expensive. My brows furrowed. This definitely wasn’t my room in the apartment. For a few seconds I just lay there, trying to gather my thoughts. Everything felt foggy, like my brain was wrapped in cotton.

Then the memories began creeping back. The café.

The whispers. The accusations. The girl spilling the coffee. The rain. And then… My breath caught. The guys. The shove. The kick to my stomach.

Darkness. My eyes snapped fully open. My gaze dropped to the bed around me. Large. Soft. Dark gray sheets. My stomach sank immediately.

No. No, no, no. This wasn’t just any bed. This was Julian’s bed. My heart started beating faster as I pushed myself up slightly against the pillows.

That was when I noticed something else. I wasn’t wearing my clothes from yesterday. Instead, I was wrapped in an oversized, soft night robe that hung loosely off my shoulders. The sleeves were too long, the fabric thick and warm.

And it smelled…My face heated instantly. It smelled like him. Like Julian. A mixture of clean soap, leather, and something distinctly masculine that made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t want to analyze.

“What happened…” I muttered under my breath.

Just as the question left my lips, the bedroom door opened. I looked up. And immediately forgot how to breathe.

Julian stepped inside. Shirtless. His dark hair was slightly damp like he had just showered, and a faint line of moisture still traced down the side of his neck,

Morning light spilled through the windows behind him, outlining the broad width of his shoulders. His chest was bare. Strong. Defined.

My eyes froze there for half a second longer than they should have before snapping back to his face.

Relief washed across his expression the moment he saw me awake.

“You’re up.” His voice was calm, but the tension beneath it was unmistakable. He walked toward the bed holding a steaming cup. “You should drink this,” he said, handing it to me.

I took it carefully. The warmth seeped into my cold fingers immediately. “What is it?” I asked.

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Chapter 21

“Tea.” I brought it to my lips and took a cautious sip. It was warm. Soothing. My body practically sighed in relief as the heat spread through my chest.

For a few moments, neither of us spoke. He stood beside the bed watching me. I focused on the tea.

But halfway through the cup, the question that had been clawing at my mind finally pushed its way out.

“What happened last night?” Julian leaned slightly against the side of the bed, arms folding loosely across his chest.

“I found you on Ashford Street,” he said. My brows pulled together.

“On the road?”

“You were unconscious.”

A chil. crept up my spine. “I brought you here. Called a doctor.”

My gaze slowly lifted to meet his. “You carried me here?”

“Yes.” The image flashed briefly in my mind and I quickly pushed it away before my brain could dwell on it.

“So…, the doctor checked me?”

“Yes.”

“And I just… slept?”

“For hours.” I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. Then another realization struck me.

My fingers tightened slightly around the cup. “My clothes.” Julian didn’t react.

“They were soaked,” he said calmly.

“And?”

“They needed to be changed.”

I stared at him. “Who changed them?” He held my gaze without hesitation.

“I did.”

My mouth fell open. “You WHAT?” I nearly spilled the tea as I jerked upright. “Julian!”

“What?” he asked flatly.

“You…you-” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“You undressed me while I was unconscious?!”

His expression didn’t change. “You were freezing.”

“That’s not the point!” My face burned with humiliation. “You could have called someone! A nurse! A-

“There wasn’t anyone else here.”

“That still doesn’t mean you-

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Chapter 21

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He sighed faintly. “You’re not the first woman I’ve seen without her clothes on.” The words landed like a slap. I froze. Something sharp twisted painfully in my chest.

I didn’t expect that reaction. I didn’t understand it either. Why did that bother me? Of course he had seen other women naked.

Julian was rich, powerful, and attractive. Women probably threw themselves at him constantly.

So why did the thought make my stomach feel strange?

Why did it sting? I looked away quickly. “Oh.” The word came out quieter than I intended. Suddenly the tea in my hands became very interesting.

I didn’t say anything else. Neither did he. A strange silence settled over the room. Then Julian spoke again. “Show me your

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