I say nothing. I have nothingtosay about that. Because I’d let him, I’d let Julian do whatever he wanted to me. But I fear that if I say that now, he’ll lose his mind.
I take in his messy dark hair, exhausted appearance, and heated gaze. He looks so deliciously fucked that I want to lick him all over.
“I liked it,” I tell him. “I liked it more than any other time.”
I don’t know why I feel the need to tell him, but I do. As if I don’t, he’ll never have sex with me again, and I’ll be left to cold intercourse for the rest of my life.
Julian licks his lips, his hands reaching out to knead my thighs gently, possessively.
“I’m going to find a way,” he promises. “I’ll find a way to stop that thing from touching you; that way, you’ll always be warm.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
I’m unsure if he means thathe’llbe the one to warm me up, but I am pretty certain this arrangement only lasts as long as I’m cursed. He’s being nice; Julian is a good guy, and he’s trying to comfort me.
“I’m not sure what the first steps will be, but we can figure it out together. Atlas,” Julian leans down, pressing his forehead to mine, “we’re going to figure out how to save you.”
Something hot and painful ignites in my chest, taking his kindness for somethingmore. I have to learn how to separate my heart from the physical side of our arrangement, how to take Julian at face value—otherwise, I’ll end up broken-hearted.
“Meet me in the main foyer soon; I have something to show you,” I tell him, and Julian nods, brushing his lips over mine.
“Okay. How will I know to meet you?”
“I’ll let you know,” I promise. “It’ll be our first move together. As a team.”
Julian grins, his fingers grazing my sides affectionately. “Yeah. Together.”
For a moment, I allow myself to believe he means it in the same way I do.
Then, I return to reality.
Julian
18
Cassie 8:00 p.m.
Heyy! Why am I just now hearing from Kimberly that you took your friends to Chastain Castle?! Jealous! Cam and I get dibs on going next, kay?
I STARE DOWN ATthe text notification, rereading the words slowly. I guess Susie told her fling about their time at the estate.
This isn’t the first time Cassie has mentioned wanting to visit, but I was given special permission for that. Plus, inviting them here feels a bit like treating the Chastains as a circus to show off. I’m just not sure how comfortable I’d be with that.
I pocket my phone, prepared to respond at a later time. Right now, I have something more important to do.
Earlier in the day, a note was slipped under my door, one that told me to meet in the main foyer at 8 p.m. sharp. There is only one person who has mentioned meeting in that location recently.
Atlas told me he’d let me know when he’s ready to show me whatever mysterious thing he’s hiding two days ago, right after we had sex.
Right after I told him I’d save him from the demon that touches him. Presumptuous? Yes. But the idea of something, orsomeoneelse touching Atlas, drives me nuts. In fact, I’ve thought about it the past two nights, wondering if it was up there screwing him while I lay in bed sulking.
But I can’t very well go up there and stop it—it showed me on New Year’s Eve exactly what it would do to me if I intervened again.
I slip on my sneakers and poke my head outside of my bedroom, checking that the hallways are clear.
We can’t be seen; I’m pretty sure that whatever Atlas is about to show me, I’mdefinitelysupposed to stay ignorant to it.
Of course, this only excites me more.