Chapter 349

Early morning.

Julian hadn’t slept a wink, yet he was buzzing with energy. He traced the lines of the woman in his arms, his finger gliding from her brow to her nose, then down to her chin. He punctuated the journey with a soft, adoring kiss on her lips.

He could kiss her forever.

If it weren’t for the daylight streaming in, he wouldn’t have stopped at all.

After last night, he finally understood. He’d been living on bread and water for twenty-eight years without even realizing what a feast tasted like. It was barely a life.

He pressed another kiss to her smooth cheek. His eyes were soft, his lips curved into a smile that made him look completely revitalized. He’d shed his emotional inhibitions overnight.

Sienna had never been so exhausted. Every bone in her body ached. A tickling sensation on her face made her frown, and she lifted a hand to brush it away.

But her hand was caught, her fingertips gently nipped before being pressed against his bare chest.

“Too hot,” Sienna mumbled, trying to push him away.

Julian relented, shifting back a little but keeping his arm wrapped around her.

An hour later, Sienna still showed no signs of waking. Julian slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of black silk pajama pants.

Julian tucked the blankets around her, placed a final kiss on her brow, and quietly left the room.

Lana and Reno saw him emerge and instinctively took a step back.

“I’m going to make her something to eat. She’s fine now,” Julian said.

“Okay,” Lana replied.

As Lana led Reno away, Reno shot a fuming look at the bites and scratches marking Julian’s neck. Men were all animals.

“If the boss didn’t need a man, I could do the job just fine,” Reno thought bitterly.

“Hey, watch where you’re going,” Reno snapped.

Reno, who had been sulking by the door, was knocked to the ground. A sharp pain shot through her backside.

She glared up at the person who’d run into her.

Clark offered an apologetic grin. “Sorry, my bad. I didn’t mean to. I’m looking for my boss. It’s urgent.”

He hurried past her and into the room.

Reno was seeing red. She shook her fist, but Lana stopped her. “Calm down. He’s with Mr. Ford.”

“My ass hurts. I bet it’s bruised,” Reno grumbled.

“I’ll put some cream on it for you. Come on,” Lana said with a sigh.

Reno’s eyes lit up. “Really? Oh, Lana, you’re the best. Let’s go, it really, really hurts.”

“Sir, we might have overdone it with the drug. Thorn Noir is still out cold,” Clark said.

Clark watched Julian carefully, his stomach churning with anxiety. He worried his boss would think he’d been reckless.

But Julian didn’t look displeased at all. In fact, he seemed happy.

Chapter 319

Clark felt a strange sense of dissonance. His boss was different. It was like he was a new man, though Clark couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed.

“Sir?” Clark called out again, noticing Julian was lost in a smile.

Julian finally snapped out of it, his mind still replaying scenes from the night before. He cleared his throat.

“You were saying? Thorn? Let him sleep for a few more days. You’re in charge of watching him. Just make sure nothing looks suspicious,” Julian said.

“Yes, Sir. And… Sir… what about my bonus this month?” Clark asked carefully.

“Double it.”

Clark was ecstatic. “You got it, Sir. I’ll make sure the job gets done.”

Julian prepared a light porridge and carried the bowl back to the bedroom.

He set it on the nightstand and leaned over the bed. “Sienna,” he whispered. “Are you hungry? How about you get up and eat something? I’ll feed you.”

Sienna’s eyes fluttered open. As consciousness returned, so did a full-body awareness of every sore muscle.