The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

ARIA’S POV

My heart was still racing.

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The air between us felt too thick, too charged, like something invisible had wrapped around the room and refused to let either of us breathe properly.

Julian stood so close I could feel the warmth of his body.

The diary was still clutched tightly in my b

My diary. The one he had stolen. The one filled with embarrassing teenage confessions about Luca.

And now he was standing here telling me I was his.

I shook my head slowly. “You don

“I do.”

“No,” I insisted, my voice tremblin

mean that.” His brows pulled together slightly.

despite my effort to sound strong. “You don’t.”

distance between us, but the wall behind me left little room to

I took a step sideways, trying you

escape. “You’re only saying that

want to win.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed..”Win?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “You and Luca have always been like this. Competing. Fighting. Trying to prove who’s better.”

My chest ti as I forced the next words out.

“You don’t want me

crazy.”

cause you care about me.” His jaw tensed. “You want me because it would drive him

Silence fell between us. But I didn’t stop. “You want me so you can wave me in front of him and prove that you took something that belonged to him.”

His expression darkened. “And you think that makes you any better than him?” I asked bitterly. The words tasted harsh on my tongue.

“I’d rather go live on the streets than stay here and be a pawn in whatever twisted power game the two of you are playing” The moment the words left my mouth, the room went completely still.

Julian didn’t move. For a long moment, he just stared at me. Then he let out a slow breath. “You really

think that’s what this is?

His voice wasn’t angry. If anything. supposed to think?”

it

sounded… tired. I folded my arms defensively. “What else am I

C

T

III

14:51 Wed, May 13 Md.

Chapter 28

Julian ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. “You think I went through all this just to irritate

Luca?”

“Yes.”

“You think I brought you here for that?”

“Yes.”

“You think I’ve been protecting you because of him?”

“Yes.” The word came out immediately. Without hesitation. Something flickered in his eyes. Something wounded. For a moment he didn’t speak. Then he

he stepped closer again.

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“Aria,” he said quietly. My pulse jumped. “I gey want you.” The words hung in the air. Simple. Direct.

Dangerous. “I haven’t been myself since

I felt my breath catch. “You think it we separated,” he continued.

voice dropped lower. “You think it‘, sy watching someone you care about disappear from your life?” His

you every day?”

easy pretending you don’t care when they’re standing right in front of

My chest tightened. “I tried to move on,” he said quietly. “I tried to date other women. I tried to build

something serious with one else.” His lips curved slightly in a humorless smile. “It never worked.”

My fingers tightened around the

diary. “Because every time I tried… I kept thinking about you.” The confession made my stomach twist. “I’m not playing games with you,” he said.

I wanted to believe him. God help me, I really did.

But fear wrapped around my heart like chains. Love had already proven to be cruel. Unpredictable.

Fickle.

I had given my

Julian stepped to Luca once. And look how that ended. I shook my head slowly, “I can’t believe you.”

close

Before I could react, his fingers gently lifted my chin.

My breath caught instantly. “Look at me,” he murmured. I didn’t want to. But my body betrayed me. My eyes lifted to meet his. And suddenly everything felt dangerous again.

His face was so close. His chest rose and fell steadily beneath the thin fabric of his shirt. Without meaning to…My gaze drifted downward. The outline of his toned chest. The strong line of his collarbone.

For a split second, my fingers almost lifted. Almost brushed across his chest. Almost. Julian noticed. Of course he did. A slow, knowing expression crossed his face. “You feel it too,” he said softly.

My cheeks burned. “No.”

“Your body says otherwise.” His voice had changed now. Lower. Smoother. The kind of voice that made goosebumps crawl across my skin. And the worst part? It was working.

Every word he spoke sent a strange shiver through my body. My pulse raced. My breathing grew uneven. And I hated it. I hated that it was working.

“I don’t want to play games like this,” I whispered.

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Chapter 28

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Julian’s thumb brushed lightly against my chin. “I’m not playing.” My he

“I don’t believe in love anymore,” I said quietly.

His eyes softened slightly. “That’s okay”

My brows pulled together.

“What?”

“You don’t have to believe in it right now.” His gaze held mine

pounded harder.

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leaned in clow. “I’ll wait until you do.” My chest

tightened painfully. Before I could respond, he leaned in closer. Slowly.

My breath caught. His lips moved toward mine. For a split second, my body froze. Part of me wanted to close the distance. I wanted to know

Mi feel like. But fear slammed into me just in time.

I turned my head. His lips brushed softly against my cheek instead. The contact sent a warm shock through my body. But I stepped back immediately. My heart was racing wildly.

Without saying another word, I slipped past him.

Out of the room. The diary still clutched tightly in my hands. My feet carried me quickly down the hallway until I reached my own room.

Once inside, I closed the de

and leaned against it. My breathing was uneven. My chest was rising and falling rapidly. Slowly, I looked down at the diary in my hands.

The old pages. The messy handwriting. The memories of a girl who once believed love was simple. My fingers traced over one of the pages.

But my mind wasn’t thinking about Luca anymore. It was thinking about Julian. About the way he had looked at me. About the way his voice had sounded when he said he wanted me.

And the terrifying realization that my body had almost betrayed me. I pressed the diary against my chest.

my mind. Trying to calm the storm inside me. But one thought refused to leave

If loving Luca had broken my heart…

What would loving Julian do to me?

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