On the other side of the city, however, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
Fast asleep beneath the warm blankets, Juliet shifted slightly in bed before instinctively snuggling closer to Cassian. With a soft sleepy sigh, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest, seeking his warmth even in her sleep.
Cassian lowered his gaze to the woman curled up in his arms, and the coldness that usually filled his eyes immediately melted away.
His expression softened.
Tightening his arm around her waist, he carefully brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her face and tucked them behind her ear. His fingers then slipped gently into her silky hair, softly massaging her scalp in slow, soothing strokes.
Juliet relaxed almost instantly, unconsciously moving even closer until one of her legs draped over his.
"Who was it?" Juliet murmured sleepily, her words slurred with exhaustion. Without opening her eyes, she nuzzled deeper into his neck, her warm breath brushing against his skin. "Who called?"
Cassian looked down at her, unable to stop the slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Your ex-boyfriend," he said in his deep, rough voice. "He wanted to know where you were."
Juliet frowned adorably in her sleep and shook her head against his chest.
"Don't slander me," she mumbled drowsily, her voice soft and full of sleep. "I've never had a boyfriend except you. What ex-boyfriend?"
A smile spread across Cassian's face. Warmth and satisfaction flooded his chest.
He shifted slightly, rolling over until he was hovering carefully above her, one arm braced beside her head while his free hand gently caressed her cheek. His dark eyes remained fixed on her face as though he couldn't look away.
"Say it again," he murmured softly, his voice low and coaxing.
Juliet finally forced her eyes open.
Still half asleep, she blinked slowly up at him, her gaze unfocused for a moment before settling on his handsome face. Seeing the unmistakable expectation in his eyes, she let out a sleepy little huff.
Then, lifting her head slightly, she wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against his lips.
“You are my only boyfriend,” she repeated in a sleepy voice. Her tone was soft, warm, and drowsy, her words barely forming as she lay there half-asleep. Her body remained relaxed against the bed, unaware of how close he was.
He grew more agitated with every passing second, something dark tightening in his chest as he heard her voice again. His breathing deepened, uneven now, his control slipping further. The next second, something deep inside him snapped—and he didn’t let go.
He pulled her closer, his hand tightening instinctively as if afraid she would disappear. He kissed her breathless. His lipsmoved over her lower lip, then the upper one, again and again, unhurried but hungry, as if he was losing himself in her.
His hand stayed against her, steady but firm, while his mouth moved with growing intensity. The more he kissed her, the more starved he felt, like he couldn’t get enough no matter how much he took.
Then his kisses trailed down to her neckline. His grip shifted slightly as he followed, his forehead brushing her skin for a brief moment before his mouth continued. His kisses were slow, heavy, and consuming.
The sleep Juliet was in began to break little by little. Her brows furrowed faintly, her body shifting under him in small restless movements. She tried to stay still, trying to push through the haze of sleep, but it was impossible to fully resist the pull of his closeness.
His hand adjusted slightly against her as he continued, grounding her in place. His breath was warm against her skin, and every movement of his mouth made her more aware, dragging her slowly back toward wakefulness.
Juliet let out a soft, confused sound, still suspended between sleep and wakefulness. Her lashes fluttered as she struggled to open her eyes, her expression clouded with exhaustion.
He didn't stop. Instead, he brushed a lingering kiss against her skin and murmured in a low, rough voice, "You can sleep... but let me taste you. I won't be able to sleep without it."
His lips moved against her skin again, slower this time, more deliberate, while his hand remained firmly around her. Juliet's body responded before her mind could fully catch up—her breath hitched, and a faint gasp escaped her lips as a slight shiver ran through her.
Even in her half-asleep state, all she could feel was him. He was drawing her back to full awareness piece by piece.
The sleep was taking over, so she tried to stay still as he overwhelmed her little by little, her body slowly growing used to his presence as she shifted to her side. Her lashes fluttered faintly, her breathing uneven, as her fingers curled weakly into the sheets. He shifted with her instantly, his head lowering, staying close, refusing to let even a fraction of distance form between them.
He held her firmly, his grip steady but restless, as if grounding himself in her. The closeness between them was intense enough to make him lose control, his chest rising and falling more heavily as he stayed near her. The warmth of her against him drove him wild, his restraint slipping further with every second.
