The endearment sent a shiver through me. "Maybe I want to burn…alpha."
With a growl that sounded almost pained, Julian leaned down, capturing my lips again. This kiss was deeper, hungrier, his tongue sweeping into my mouth with a possessiveness thatmade heat pool low in my belly. His hands found the zipper of my dress, pausing there.
"May I?" he murmured against my lips.
I nodded shifting so he could have better access, suddenly breathless with anticipation. The slow drag of the zipper down my back was almost unbearable in its deliberate pace. The cool air against my heated skin made me gasp, and Julian's eyes darkened further as he took in the sight of me.
"Perfect," he breathed, his hands skimming over my shoulders as he helped me out of the dress completely. "Absolutely perfect."
I felt suddenly exposed under his intense gaze, my hands moving instinctively to cover myself. Julian caught my wrists gently, his touch firm but not restraining.
"Don't hide from me," he said softly, his thumbs stroking over my pulse points. "You're beautiful, Lilianna. Let me see you." The reverence in his voice made my heart flutter, and slowly I let him guide my hands away from my body. His eyes roamed over me with an appreciation that made me feel like something precious rather than something to be ashamed of.
"Better," I whispered, my voice barely audible as warmth bloomed across my cheeks. The way Julian looked at me—like I was something sacred, something to be cherished—made me feel brave in ways I'd never imagined possible.
His fingers traced the edge of my simple cotton bra, the touch feather-light but leaving trails of fire in its wake. His eyes met mine, asking the unasked question. I nodded, unable to form words as he reached behind me, unclasping my bra with practiced ease. As the fabric fell away, I resisted the urge to cover myself again. Julian's sharp intake of breath was worth the moment of vulnerability.
"You are exquisite," he murmured, his hands hovering just above my skin, as if he were afraid I might shatter beneath his touch.
I reached up, my fingertips grazing his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. "Touch me," I whispered again, more urgently this time.
Julian's control snapped completely. His hands cupped my breasts with reverent gentleness, thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks until I arched beneath him with a soft cry. The sensation was overwhelming—electric currents shooting straight to my core with each careful caress.
"So responsive," he murmured, his voice thick with desire as he watched my face. "I could spend hours just watching you react to my touch."
His mouth followed the path his hands had traced, pressing hot kisses along my collarbone before moving lower. When his lips closed around one sensitive peak, I gasped, my hands fisting in his hair as pleasure coursed through me.
"Julian," I breathed, my body writhing beneath his ministrations. Every touch seemed to awaken something primal within me, something that had been dormant for too long. The sensation of his mouth on my breast, his hand kneading the other, was almost too much to bear. Every nerve ending felt exposed, hypersensitive to his attention.
His lips traveled lower, trailing kisses down my ribcage, across my stomach, pausing at the waistband of my underwear. Julian looked up at me, his eyes almost black with desire, seeking permission once more.
"Please," I whispered, lifting my hips slightly in invitation. With agonizing slowness, he slid the last barrier down my legs, leaving me completely bare before him. I should have felt vulnerable, exposed, but the reverence in his gaze made me feel powerful instead.
Julian's hands traced reverently up my legs, his touch gentle but possessive as he settled between my thighs. The anticipation was almost unbearable, my breath coming in short gasps as he pressed soft kisses to the sensitive skin of my inner thighs.
"Tell me if you need me to stop," he murmured against my skin, his breath warm and sending shivers through me.
I shook my head, beyond words now, my hands tangling in the sheets as he continued his slow exploration. When his mouth finally found me, I cried out, my back arching off the bed as pleasure crashed through me in waves I'd never experienced before.
Julian was patient, thorough, bringing me to the edge again and again before pulling back, his name falling from my lips like a prayer. By the time he finally allowed me release, I was trembling, tears of overwhelming sensation streaming down my cheeks.
Julian moved up my body with careful deliberation, pressing gentle kisses to my heated skin as he went. When he reached my face, he brushed away the tears with his thumbs, his expression tender despite the raw desire still burning in his eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice hoarse with restraint.
I nodded, still catching my breath. "More than alright," I managed, my voice shaky with the aftershocks of pleasure. "I never knew... I didn't know it could feel like that."
His jaw tightened, something dark flickering across his features. "They stole so much from you," he murmured, anger threading through his voice. "But we're going to give it all back. Every sensation, every choice, every moment of joy."
I reached up to cup his face, feeling the tension in his muscles. "I want more," I whispered.
Julian's eyes flashed with something primal at my words, his body going rigid above me. "Lilianna," he said, my name awarning and a prayer all at once. "If we continue, there's no going back. I won't be able to pretend this didn't happen, won't be able to keep my distance."
"I don't want you to keep your distance," I replied, my hands sliding down to the waistband of his pants. "I want you closer. I want all of you."
With a growl that vibrated through his chest, Julian captured my mouth in another searing kiss. His hands roamed my body with growing urgency, mapping every curve, every sensitive spot that made me gasp and arch beneath him. When he finally pulled back to shed the rest of his clothes, I watched with fascination as more of his powerful form was revealed.
I tried not to stare as Julian stood before me, completely bare and magnificent. The smooth planes of his muscles, the strength evident in every line of his body, the undeniable evidence of his desire for me—it was overwhelming in the best possible way.
