CHAPTER 411: CHAPTER 411 JULIAN’S NEW SIDE

Ruby’s fingers twitched at her sides before she slowly raised a hand, pressing it against his chest. His heartbeat was wild—fast, uneven, desperate. The tension coiled between them like a string pulled too tight, neither of them knowing whether it would snap or drag them closer.

Julian pulled back just slightly, his lips hovering a breath away from hers. His face was red, his eyes searching hers with a mix of fear and longing. "Wife..." he whispered, his voice rough, uncertain, like he was confessing everything he’d ever kept inside.

Ruby’s lips parted, her chest rising fast as she stared at him, caught between the shock of what just happened and the intensity of his gaze. The air between them burned, heavy with everything unspoken, the kiss still lingering like fire on her lips.

"You... you want me?" Ruby asked softly, her voice low and husky, her dark eyes fixed on him.

Julian’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his cheeks flushed red. He gave the smallest nod, shy but certain, his gaze never leaving her.

Ruby’s lips curved into a faint smile, half tender, half teasing, and before another word could be said, she leaned forward, closing the space between them. Their mouths met again, this time slower, deeper, her hand sliding to the back of his neck as he kissed her with nervous eagerness.

In the next breath, their robes slipped away, tumbling together onto the floor by Ruby’s bed. The sound of fabric falling was barely noticed over the pounding of their hearts. Their bodies pressed close, heat meeting heat, skin brushing against skin in a way that made Julian gasp quietly into her lips.

Ruby broke the kiss for only a moment, her forehead resting against his, her breath warm and uneven. "Julian..." she whispered, and the way she said his name made his chest ache. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer, his shyness melting into need.

Their bodies moved together, tentative at first, then with a growing certainty, the world outside her room fading until only the two of them remained. The tension of unspoken feelings gave way to closeness, every touch, every kiss sealing something they had never dared to say aloud.

The robe on the floor was the only witness to how their hearts and bodies finally joined as one.

****

When Julian finally stirred awake, the light in the room was no longer soft morning—it was already afternoon, warm rays slipping through the curtains and spilling gently across the bed. His body felt heavy but deeply satisfied, a calm ache lingering that made him remember every moment from the night before.

His gaze shifted, and there she was. Ruby. Lying beside him with her hair spread across the pillow like fine silk, her breathing steady, her bare skin glowing under the sunlight. For a long moment, Julian simply watched her, his lips curving upward in a smile he couldn’t hold back. His chest swelled with something so full, so overwhelming, it almost scared him.

Seeing her like this—so close, so real—his heart hammered all over again. His eyes traced her perfect form, his wife, his Ruby, and he thought to himself that he could never have enough of her. Finally having her like this, finally being hers, was more than he had ever dreamed.

Quietly, almost reverently, Julian reached out and slid his fingers into hers. He lifted her hand slowly, pressing his lips to the back of it with a tenderness that spoke louder than words.

Ruby stirred at the touch, her lashes fluttering open. She blinked against the afternoon light, and then her gaze found his—soft, affectionate, overflowing. For a second, she stilled, caught off guard by the way he was looking at her, as though she was the only thing in the world worth seeing.

"Wife..." Julian whispered, his voice hoarse but filled with warmth.

Ruby’s lips curved faintly, her eyes softening as she whispered back, "Jules..."

His lips trailed slowly over her stomach, leaving a soft warmth on her skin as the blanket slipped down. Ruby’s fingers slid into his hair, holding him closer, her breath catching when he moved higher. He pressed his mouth against the tip of her breast, and a soft moan escaped her lips, her body arching in response. His tongue circled teasingly before he began to suck, deeper, hungrier, drawing out another helpless sound from her throat as her grip on him tightened.

"Jules..." Ruby whispered breathlessly, her voice trembling with heat. The sound of his name on her lips only pushed him further, and he finally claimed her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. Their breaths mingled, her soft moans swallowed by the urgency of his lips moving against hers. Ruby’s hands slid over the firm lines of his bare back, her palms caressing the warmth of his skin, pulling him even closer as if she could melt into him completely. His body pressed against hers, strong yet trembling with desire, and the kiss deepened, growing slower but more consuming, until every part of her was tangled with him.

Ruby lay against him, her cheek resting on his chest, the rise and fall of his breathing steady beneath her ear. For a moment, there was only warmth, the kind that lingered after being too close for too long. Then she tilted her head up, her lips curving with a mix of teasing and disbelief.

"Jules... I thought you were so gentle," she said, her eyes glimmering playfully. "Clearly I haven’t seen this side of you."

Julian blinked, his cheeks reddening, though the smile tugging at his lips didn’t fade. He tightened his arm around her waist, holding her closer. "Huh? My side? Which side?" he asked with mock innocence, though the grin gave him away.

Ruby’s laugh was soft, her eyes narrowing as she whispered, "Sensual."

That one word made his ears burn, but instead of shrinking back, Julian leaned down, brushing his nose lightly against her temple. "I think you like it, wife," he murmured, his voice low and warm, as his hand slipped under the blanket, his fingers trailing along her thigh.

To be continued... 🪄