The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

JULIAN’S POV

By the time I got to her school, I was already on edge.

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I didn’t like it. I didn’t like how things had been shifting lately. Didn’t like how often her name was getting pulled into conversations it had no business being in. And I especially didn’t like the fact that Luca was back on his feet.

That alone was enough to keep me alert. So when I parked and waited, I expected her. Five minutes passed. Then ten. And she still didn’t show up.

My jaw tightened. Something was wrong.

Immediately, my mind went to him. Luca. A dark wave of anger surged through me at the thought. Had he cornered her again? Filled her head with more of his nonsense?

At the same time, something else crept in. Worry. I pushed the car door open and stepped out, my gaze scanning the area quickly before I headed toward her lecture hall.

Empty. My expression darkened. I turned back without wasting another second and returned to the car, pulling out my phone.

I sent a quick message. A simple one. Where is she? The reply came faster than I expected.

She followed her professor to his office.

My grip on the phone tightened. My nose flared slightly as my eyes darkened. Of course she did. For a split second, instinct took over. I almost got out of the car again. I almost went to find her myself.

But just as I opened the door, I saw her. Walking toward me. Smiling. A real smile. Bright. Carefree.

And something about that made something ugly twist in my chest.

What the hell was she smiling about? What exactly had she been doing in that office? By the time she reached me, my mood had already shifted.

Sharpened. When I asked her where she had been, she answered like it was nothing. Like it didn’t matter. Like I was overreacting. Maybe I was.

But I didn’t like the feeling in my chest. Didn’t like the idea of her being alone with another man.

Didn’t like the way she brushed it off so easily.

Still, that kiss. It calmed me. More than I expected it to. The moment her lips touched mine, everything else faded. The tension. The irritation. Even the thoughts I didn’t want to admit I was having.

All of it, gone. For a moment, it was just her. And that was enough. By the time we got back to her apartment, I made sure she went inside first.

11:44 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 41

I waited. Watched. Until the door closed behind her. Only then did I leave. The drive was supposed to clear my head. It didn’t. My thoughts kept circling back.

To her. To Luca. To that damn conversation Blake had started. And just as I merged onto the highway. something caught my attention.

A car. Too close. Too consistent. My eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. Once, Twice. Still there.

Following. A slow breath left me as my grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

“Of course…” I muttered under my breath. I didn’t slow down. Didn’t speed up either. I just watched. Waited. And then, the SUV suddenly pulled forward.

Fast. Cutting in front of me before slamming to a stop. My brakes hit instantly, tires screeching slightly against the road as my car halted just inches away.

Silence followed. Heavy. Anticipating. Then the driver’s door of the SUV opened. And he stepped out. Luca. A humorless smile tugged at my lips as I stepped out of my car slowly.

“You never learn, do you?” I said calmly. He shut his door with more force than necessary and walked toward me like he had something to prove.

Like he wasn’t the one who ended up in a hospital bed the last time we crossed paths. “This isn’t about her,” he said immediately.

That alone told me it was worse. My brows lifted slightly. “Then you just blocked my car for fun?”

His jaw tightened. “There’s a project,” he said. “One your father is trying to get involved in.” I didn’t respond. Just watched him. Measured. “And it involves her father’s property,” he added.

There it was. My expression didn’t change. But something in my chest sharpened. “And?” I said flatly.

“And you

need to tell him to stay away from it.” A quiet scoff left me.

“You blocked my car… for that?” I tilted my head slightly. “That’s bold. Stupid. But bold.”

His eyes flashed. “I’m serious, Julian.”

“So am I,” I replied, my voice dropping slightly. “Get out of my way.”

His lips curled. “Or what?” A small smile formed on mine. Cold. Controlled.

“Or you won’t make it back to the hospital next time.” The air shifted instantly. Tense. Dangerous.

His expression hardened, but there was something underneath it now.

Something cautious. Good. “Careful,” I added, taking a step closer. “You’re starting to forget your place.” He let out a dry laugh.

“Big words.”

11:44 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 41

I didn’t blink. “Try me.” A brief silence stretched between us before he spoke again.

“And while you’re at it, remind your father too,” he said. “Stay away from that project.”

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