The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

ARIA’S POV

The moment Julian responded to the kiss, everything changed.

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The hesitation I felt, the fear, the uncertainty that he wouldn’t kiss me back… it vanished the second his hand came up to cup my face, holding me in place as he kissed me back.

Harder. Deeper. Like he had been holding back for too long. A soft sound slipped from my lips, muffled against his, as my fingers instinctively curled into his shirt, pulling him closer.

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t careful. It was everything at once. Messy. Heated. Overwhelming.

And for the first time… I didn’t think. I didn’t hold back. I just allowed myself to feel Julian…his warmth, his care and the way he wanted me.

“I hate him…” I breathed against his lips, my voice shaky, breaking between each word. Julian didn’t stop. If anything, his grip tightened.

“I hate him so much,” I whispered again, my forehead brushing against his as my eyes squeezed shut. “I never want to see him again…”

Something dark flickered in Julian’s gaze. Something dangerous. But he didn’t say anything. He just kissed me again.

Like he was trying to erase every trace of pain Luca had left behind. Like he was trying to replace it with something else. Something better.

My hands slid up, gripping his shoulders as I leaned into him completely, my body still trembling slightly from everything I had just let out.

The cold from the balcony hadn’t left me. I hadn’t even realized how much I was shivering until Julian suddenly pulled back.

His eyes scanned me quickly. “You’re freezing,” he muttered. Before I could respond, he lifted me easily like I weighed nothing.

A small gasp left my lips as my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, my body pressing closer to his warmth. “Julian, I can walk. You don’t have to carry

me.”

“Shh,” he murmured, his voice softer now. And just like that… the intensity shifted. From fire… to something calmer. Something protective.

He carried me inside, straight to his room, kicking the door shut behind him before walking over to the bed. The sheets were warm. Soft.

He set me down gently, pulling the covers over me before tucking them around my body like he was afraid I might slip away.

“You shouldn’t be out in the cold like that,” he said quietly, brushing a strand of damp hair

away

from

my

11:43 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 39

face. My chest tightened. Not from pain this time. But from something else entirely.

Something unfamiliar. “I’m okay,” I whispered.

His gaze softened slightly. “No,” he said. “You’re not.” I didn’t argue. Because he was right. I wasn’t. But for the first time… I didn’t feel alone in it.

Julian sat beside me, his hand resting lightly over

mine as his thumb brushed against my skin in slow, calming motions. “Don’t cry over him,” he said after a moment, his voice low. “He’s not worth it.”

My throat tightened. I nodded slightly. “I know…”

And I meant it. I finally meant it. The exhaustion hit me all at once. Heavy. Overwhelming. My eyes grew heavier with each passing second, my body sinking deeper into the warmth of the bed.

Julian didn’t move. He stayed right there.

Watching me. Like he wasn’t going anywhere.

Like he was making sure I was okay. And slowly… I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning felt… different. Peaceful. For the first time in a while, I woke up without that heavy weight in my chest. The sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, warming the room in a gentle glow.

I stretched slightly, blinking my eyes open. And that was when I noticed it. A tray. Sitting on the bedside table. Breakfast. My lips parted slightly in surprise as I pushed myself up, taking in the sight.

Toast. Eggs. Something that looked slightly overcooked… but still edible. A small smile tugged at my lips. Julian. He was trying, learning how to cook.

And somehow… that meant more than anything else. I picked up the fork, taking a bite. It wasn’t perfect. But it was warm. And it was made for me.

That alone made it taste better. By the time I finished eating, I felt… lighter. Stronger. Like I could actually face the day. After getting ready, I stepped out into the living room.

Julian was already there, leaning against the wall with his keys in hand. “Ready?” he asked. I nodded. And for once… I didn’t hesitate.

The drive to school was quiet. Comfortable. The kind of silence that didn’t feel awkward. When we finally pulled up at the school entrance, I reached for the door handle.

But before I could open it, Julian leaned closer to me. My breath caught slightly. And then his lips brushed against mine. Soft. Brief.

But enough to send a small spark through me. “Have a good day,” he murmured. I blinked, slightly caught off guard.

But before I could fully react, his expression shifted.

11:43 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 39

Something more serious. “And Aria…“

I paused. “Yes?”

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