The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

ARIA’S POV

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After I chose the books, Julian paid and we headed back. My face was still heated from all the books I had taken and when I glanced at Julian, he was looking at his phone.

I removed my eyes quickly so he wouldn’t notice that I was watching him. The rest of the day passed by in a blur and then the rain started sometime during the night.

By morning it had turned into a steady downpour, the sound of water tapping against the large windows of Julian’s apartment like a quiet rhythm.

Normally I would have hated weather like this.

But today… It felt peaceful. After breakfast, Julian grabbed his keys from the table and glanced at me. “I have an appointment,” he said.

I looked up from the couch. “In this weather?”

“Yes.” He answered, glancing around for his watch.

“Is it that important?”

He slipped on his watch. “Unfortunately.”

I watched him walk toward the door. “When will you be back?”

He paused briefly. “Later. I’ll try to be quick. Take care.” Then he stepped out into the rain and the door shut behind him. The apartment suddenly felt quiet. Too quiet.

But not in a lonely way. More like… calm. I stretched lazily and glanced at the shopping bag of books sitting beside the couch. A slow smile crept onto my face.

Perfect.

I grabbed one of the novels from the stack and curled up on the couch, pulling a thick blanket over myself while the rain continued pouring outside.

The warmth of the blanket and the sound of the rain made the entire moment feel cozy. The book I had chosen happened to be one of the romance ones.

More specifically… One of the very romantic ones.

I told myself I was just curious. Nothing more. The story started innocently enough. But a few pages in… It wasn’t innocent anymore.

My cheeks warmed as the scenes grew more intense. The male character in the book was dominant, possessive, confident in ways that made my heart race as I read.

11:42 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 33

77

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And without meaning to…My mind started replacing the character’s face. With Julian’s. I shifted under the blanket, trying to shake the thought away. Stop it.

But the images kept forming anyway. Julian’s deep voice. Julian’s intense stare. Julian, standing close behind me the way he was standing in the bookstore.

My breathing grew uneven as the scene on the page became more heated. Heat pooled low in my stomach in a way that made me feel restless. My body reacted to the words in ways I hadn’t expected.

It had been a long time since I read books like this.

And apparently… My imagination hadn’t forgotten how they worked. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly.

“What is wrong with me…” I muttered under my breath.

The rain outside grew heavier. The room felt warmer. My body felt strange. A dull ache settled between my thighs that I didn’t quite know what to do with.

Embarrassed by my own thoughts, I shut the book quickly and left it open on the couch. Maybe I just needed coffee. Yes. Coffee would help. I slipped out from under the blanket and headed toward the kitchen.

A few minutes later, I returned with a steaming mug in my hands. But the moment I stepped back into the living room… I froze. Julian was standing there. Holding my book. My heart nearly stopped.

He stood near the couch, drenched from the rain outside. His hair was damp, dark strands falling loosely across his forehead. His shirt was gone.

Probably soaked from the rain.

Which meant he was standing there in nothing but dark pants, his broad chest still slightly damp. And he was reading. Out loud. “He pressed her against the wall, his voice low as he told her she belonged to him…”

My face burned instantly. “Julian!” He looked up slowly. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“So this is what you’re reading while I’m gone.”

I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.

“I didn’t know you were coming back!” I blurted.

“The rain ruined my appointment.” Of course it did.

My eyes darted to the book still in his hand.

“Can you please stop reading that out loud?”

Julian flipped the page calmly. “Why?”

My embarrassment skyrocketed. “Because it’s embarrassing!”

His dark eyes lifted to mine again. “And yet you were enjoying it.” My mouth opened. Closed. He stepped

11:42 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 33

closer. Slowly. Still holding the book.

My heart began beating faster with each step he took. “You’re blushing,” he noted calmly.

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