Chapter 15: Forced to the Bedside, Step by Step

This time, however, the force softened.

It was no longer a conquest, but a patient consolation.

Julian tenderly brushed her lips, sucking slowly, his tongue tracing their shape as if confirming something before intruding bit by bit—gentle, yet undeniable.

Clara’s mind went blank. Her hands clutched the lapels of his shirt helplessly, leaving herself at his mercy.

Her submissive posture only fueled the long-suppressed fire in the man’s heart.

The kiss soon became fierce and urgent again.

Clara could not withstand such an onslaught; her breathing grew shallow, her nostrils flared, and she pushed against him with her palms, trying to break free.

But Julian pinned her hands, raising them high against the door panel behind her. She struggled to turn her head away, gasping out, "I... I can't breathe..."

Julian looked down at her.

That look was deep enough to swallow someone whole.

He finally released her lips but did not pull away. Instead, he lowered his head to kiss her smooth, delicate face, her earlobes which were red enough to bleed, and the slight trembling of her neck.

She was entirely imprisoned in the small space between him and the door.

The full-length mirror behind them clearly reflected their figures: one tall and cold, the other slender and soft.

Black and white, loss of control and blurred desire—entangled without boundaries.

When she couldn't help but tilt her neck back, a faint moan escaping from between her teeth, Julian’s hand on her waist suddenly tightened.

He kissed her lips again, and as he did, he forced her to retreat.

Her steps were disorganized as she was forced to the bedside, step by step, their lips never parting.

Until she fell back onto the soft bed, the man’s figure followed, covering her. His body temperature was scorching, his breathing hurried and dangerous.

A dense rain of kisses fell from her forehead down to her collarbone.

An unfamiliar tide of passion surged within her. Clara’s body instinctively softened, her eyes shimmering with moisture. She squeezed her eyes shut, her wet lashes trembling slightly as a single physiological tear slowly slid from the corner of her eye.

Julian lifted his head. The desire in his eyes was heavy, yet the moment he saw that tear, it faded inch by inch.

He propped himself above her, the veins on his neck bulging.

She was crying; she was shaking.

She was... resisting.

This realization was like a sharp arrow piercing straight into Julian’s heart.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he rolled over to lie beside her, creating distance between them.

Feeling the mattress sink beside her, Clara opened her eyes in a daze.

Why did he suddenly stop? Before she could clear her thoughts, the phone on the nightstand suddenly rang.

Clara snapped back to reality and turned to look. The caller ID: Leo.

She grabbed the phone, her peripheral vision sweeping toward the man beside her. Julian lay on his back, his arm draped over his forehead, masking the emotions in his eyes.

The ringing stopped.

A few seconds later, it rang again persistently.

Clara hesitated for a moment and explained in a low voice, "It's my friend. He might have something urgent. Sorry, I have to take this call."

She walked quickly out of the bedroom, answering in a hushed tone: "What is it now?!"

On the other end of the line was a wail of misery. "Clary, help me! Save me!"

"What happened?" Her temple throbbed.

"I'm at the hospital. Come quickly." Leo’s voice was weak, punctuated by groans of pain.

Clara asked urgently, "Where exactly? Be specific!"

The other party hesitantly gave an address. Once she heard it, her pulse quickened, and she almost cursed aloud. "Got it. I’m coming right now."

Hanging up, she stood still for two seconds before turning back to the room.

The air inside still held a lingering trace of intimacy. Clara didn't dare look at Julian, keeping her head down as she said, "My friend had an accident and is at the hospital. I have to go there."

Julian sat on the sofa, his eyelids half-drooped. His right hand loosely held an unlit cigarette, while his left thumb slowly rubbed the flint wheel of a lighter; the faint metallic click was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

After a moment of silence, he spoke: "Do you have to go?"

"...Yes." Clara cursed Leo again in her mind. "You go to sleep first. Wait—"

She wanted to say "Wait for me to come back," but then realized she didn't know when she would return from the hospital.

Besides, the phrase "Wait for me to come back" was too intimate—it crossed a line.

She turned and went into the walk-in closet.

When she came out changed, Julian was standing at the door. His tall frame blocked almost all the light, casting a shadow completely over her.

"I'll go with you."

"No, no need." Clara refused immediately. "I can go by myself. The hospital isn't far."

"It's too late. It's not safe."

Clara still shook her head, her voice dropping. "Really, it's fine."

"Reason." He stared at her, his gaze obscure.

Clara didn't dare meet his eyes, her fingertips unconsciously twisting together. After a long while, she squeezed out: "...It's not convenient."

Julian’s thin lips pressed into a tight line. He didn't ask further.

"I'll message you when I get to the hospital. Don't worry." She brushed past him and almost ran out the door.

The moment the door closed, silence returned to the room.

Julian stood still. After a moment, he walked to the balcony.

The pink Mercedes-AMG she usually drove emerged from the garage, piercing through the deep night and disappearing quickly around the corner.

He sat on the bench, legs apart, arms resting casually on his knees, and lit a cigarette.

The spark brightened and dimmed; smoke rose slowly.

The man’s gaze was hidden in the darkness—deep and cold, like a lion lurking in the shadows.

He rarely smoked, usually only when he felt a blockage in his heart he couldn't dispel. A pack of cigarettes could last him months.

But tonight, the long-empty ashtray soon held two cigarette butts.

Half an hour later, the phone vibrated twice.

【Clary】: I’ve arrived.

【Clary】: You should sleep. Goodnight.