‘So I’m not an exception after all. I really thought I was. He thought.

He gave Lana a polite nod, his eyes downcast. “I understand.”

bLana /bwatched him, her mind churning. She’d been with Hazel for years and had seen how differently she treated Julian. She couldn’t understand the refusal.

But Lustbane bwasn’t /bsome ordinary drug; it could cause irreversible damage to a woman’s body.

For once, she decided to defy a direct order.

The boss… she’s trying to fight off the poison with ban /bice bath, but the antidote isn’t ready yet,” Lana said quickly, her voice low. “Mr. bFord/b, Lustbane… it’s incredibly dangerous for a woman.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before Julian bolted past her, heading inside.

The guards looked to bLana/b, who simply shook her head. They stood down and let him bpass/b.

Reno saw himing, understood what Lana had done, and quietly retreated with her team.

Julian stopped short when he saw the pool Hazel’s long, ck hair floated around her like ink in the water. Her perfect shoulders broke the surface, a single, elegant arm resting on the edge.

The cold air brising /bfrom the water was so intense he could feel it from where he stood.

“bWho’s /bthere?” Hazel’s voice was rxed. With Lana and Reno on guard, she felt safe.

But in the next

her back.

the next second, a body pressed against her

A familiar scent enveloped her, merging with her memories, and she froze.

It was him.

Julian had slipped into the pool, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His hands slid over her impossibly smooth bskin/b, the contrast of his cool body against her feverish heat sending a bjolt /bthrough her.

He held her tightly, his voice thick with pain. “Let me help you. Please.”

Hazel didn’t speak. She could feel the chilling off him, a stark reminder of bher /bown burning heat. The desire she had fought so hard to suppress began to surge bback /bto life

She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry. I might not be able to give you what you want”

Julian’s warm breath was a whisper against her ear. “I don’t care. bYou /bknow I’ve never cared about that”

All he wanted was to be with her; the terms didn’t matter.

Hazel turned in his barms/b, her normally cool gaze now clouded with a raw, desperate need. Julian, do your love me?”

“More than anything, bhe /banswered without bhesitation/b..

“And if I told you to die for me tomorrow?”

Then I would die.”

bThat /bwas all she needed to hear. She grabbed bhis /bshirt, pulled him down, and crashed her lips against his. Julian swallowed hard, his arms tightening around her as he pressed her body into his.

The man she remembered as gentle was gone, reced by someone hungry and possessive, determined to devour herpletely.

bHazel /bwas shocked but quickly overwhelmed, her sweaty hands pushing weakly against his chest.

He bcaught /bher wrists, easily pinning them above her head as his assault grew more ferocious.

10:25 bAM /bc

A sound, half pain and bhalf /bpleasure, escaped her lips, which only seemed to fuel him further.

Julian she breathed.

His voice was a low, maic growl in her ear. “How’s this? Is this what you want?”

Her face was flushed, her eyes heavy–lidded and hazy with lust. She was pure

temptation.

Lifting bher /beffortlessly from the water, he carried her from the pool to the bed, their frantic passion never pausing for a breath.

His handsome, gentle face was now a mask of raw, untamed hunger, and he seemed impossible to satisfy.

Hazel bit her lip to stifle a cry, trying to push him away, only to pull him closer.

The night was long, and he never once stopped.