Chapter 49
He Actually Kissed Her
The next morning, dawn filtered through the screen window, falling across the two people tightly embracing each other on the bed.
Julian Sterling opened his eyes, and in the very first instant he noticed that his hand was covering something soft. He even moved his fingers a little.
A moment later, when he realized what exactly he was holding, his pupils contracted sharply, and he jerked his hand back as if shocked by electricity.
He stared at his own hand, feeling something indescribable. The soft sensation seemed to linger in his mind.
Soft and springy—he wanted to touch it again.
His gaze dropped downward, and he saw that his strong thigh was still draped over Claire Bennett's body.
Julian Sterling took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Claire Bennett really hadn't wronged him. When he slept at night, he truly was not well-behaved.
Julian Sterling quietly withdrew his leg. The moment he moved, Claire Bennett opened her eyes, and the two of them looked at each other.
"Good morning," Claire Bennett greeted him.
"Morning."
Julian Sterling had never thought that one day there would be a girl lying beside him, saying good morning to him every day. The feeling was genuinely pleasant, and his handsome face relaxed, his brows and eyes carrying an easy cheerfulness.
The two of them got out of bed together and went into the bathroom to wash up.
Claire Bennett casually handed him a cup, and Julian Sterling took it. "Thanks."
They started brushing their teeth in perfect sync.
Looking at the two of them in the mirror, Claire Bennett felt it was all too strange. They had only been living together for a short while, so how did it already feel like a long-married couple?
After a simple breakfast, Julian Sterling changed clothes and prepared to head out.
He put on a black dress shirt and black slacks. Once he was dressed like that, the cold, aristocratic air around him became even more pronounced.
To make a shirt and slacks that cost only a few hundred look this imposing, not only did you need a good body to carry the clothes, you also needed a perfectly handsome face.
Julian Sterling just happened to meet every one of those requirements.
Once he was ready, he walked toward the door. Claire Bennett got up from the couch, wanting to see him off, and followed closely behind him step by step.
Julian Sterling opened the door. He wanted to remind Claire Bennett of a few things, but when he suddenly turned around, he accidentally bumped into her.
She let out a startled little cry.
As she started to fall backward, Julian Sterling wrapped a big hand around her waist and pulled her back just in time.
Claire Bennett froze, actually forgetting to leave his arms. It wasn't until Julian Sterling helped her stand steadily again that she suddenly came to her senses.
Her cheeks instantly grew hot, tinged with a bit of shyness.
"I... I just wanted to see you off." She flashed a toothy smile and explained in a small voice.
Looking at the bright, captivating face before him, Julian Sterling's mind suddenly went blank.
He stepped forward, his tall body trapping her between the doorway and his chest as he looked down at her.
Claire Bennett lifted her eyes to stare at him blankly, feeling her heart start pounding violently.
He... what was he going to do?
Julian Sterling's handsome face slowly moved closer. Her body tensed up, and with nowhere to put her hands, she could only clench them tightly.
His warm lips came down on hers.
Claire Bennett wasn't all that resistant to it. If anything, she felt a little dizzy.
He actually kissed her? Her brain felt like it was about to explode!
Julian Sterling wrapped an arm around Claire Bennett's waist and pressed her against himself. The more he kissed her, the more carried away he became, and his hand couldn't help slipping under her clothes.
He did the thing he had wanted to experience again ever since waking up that morning, along with tasting the lips he had wanted to savor a few days ago.
It tasted every bit as wonderful as he had imagined.
Claire Bennett's lashes trembled, and her whole body went limp like a puddle of water. She leaned weakly against him and could only cling tightly to him.
"Wow!" a surprised voice came from the side, breaking the intimate mood between them.
Claire Bennett was startled and quickly shoved Julian Sterling away with force. She accidentally pulled at her injury, her brows knitting tightly as she sucked in a sharp breath.
Ruby Sterling stood at the stairway entrance, her eyes gleaming with eager delight at the spectacle. Smiling brightly at them, she said teasingly, "Go on, keep going. Just pretend I don't exist."
Claire Bennett was mortified. She had never expected her best friend to catch her kissing Julian Sterling—and he had even... even put his hands on her!
It was unbearably embarrassing. Her cheeks were as red as peaches.
Julian Sterling's expression turned cool as he stared at Ruby Sterling with displeasure, seemingly unhappy that she had shown up and ruined what he was doing.
So what if she had walked in on them? Couldn't she have quietly slipped away? No sense at all!
When Ruby Sterling saw Julian Sterling's look, she knew she had messed up. She shrank her neck and said, "Then I'll go first. I'll come back to find you after you're done."
"Come here," Julian Sterling said coldly.
Ruby Sterling had been about to slip away, but her steps turned and she came back again.
Seeing Julian Sterling cold and fierce as he barked at Ruby Sterling, Claire Bennett was afraid he might get fired for talking back to his employer, so she hurriedly reminded him in a low voice, "Don't be so fierce. Ruby is your employer, so you need to be more polite to her."
Only then did Julian Sterling remember that right now, he was merely a driver for the Sterling family.
He suppressed his displeasure and said to Ruby Sterling, "Young miss."
Ruby Sterling had just walked closer when she heard that astonishing form of address. She was so startled she nearly stumbled and pitched herself right in front of them.
Huh? Her brother actually called her young miss. This was way too entertaining.
From childhood to now, she had always been suppressed by bloodline. She had always been the one obediently admitting fault; never once had he lowered himself to her.
Now her chance for revenge had finally come!
Ruby Sterling gave a delicate little huff, looking smug, and bossily ordered Julian Sterling, "Say it again."
Julian Sterling's deep eyes swept over her lightly. Even without anger, he was naturally imposing, his presence powerful.
He didn't say a thing, and Ruby Sterling instantly chickened out.
Afraid Julian Sterling would settle accounts with her afterward, she didn't dare push it any further and hurriedly said, "Ahem, my brother seems really busy today. You should hurry and go pick him up."
"I'm leaving." Julian Sterling turned and left.
Claire Bennett felt awkward, so she quickly changed the subject and asked, "Ruby, why did you come to my place so early in the morning?"
"Oh, I heard you weren't feeling well, so I came to check on you," Ruby Sterling said casually. Actually, Julian Sterling had messaged her and asked her to come keep an eye on Claire Bennett, in case anything unexpected happened.