Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 42

“Are you awake?” Julie asked calmly.

But the man behind her did not respond. Kieran’s arm was draped over her waist, Julie gently lifted his arm and bit down hard on it, jolting him awake.

Releasing Kieran’s arm, Julie got up and slipped a robe over her nightgown.

Kieran sat up groggily, looking at Julie. She asked him expressionlessly. “Are you leaving on your own, or should I call Karl to pick you up?”

Kieran glanced at Julie, then looked down at his wounded arm. She didn’t hold back. His arm was now marked with a row of bloody imprints. Without waiting for his answer, Julie simply pulled out her phone and dialed Karl. “Your guy’s here, need me to find someone for you?”

On the road, Karl’s hand tightened on the steering wheel. Julie was the first to talk to Kieran like that.

Before Karl could finish talking, Julie hung up. Then she glared at Kieran. “Aren’t you getting up yet?”

This time the man obliged, got out of bed, and stood up.

Julie glanced at him, finding the sight of his naked body a bit too much. She casually tossed him a towel. Kieran must have really woken up this time. He wrapped the towel around himself and then, completely ignoring Julie, turned, and walked into the bathroom.

Just as Julie was about to speak, the bathroom door was slammed shut from the inside. Considering her phone was ringing again, Julie decided not to bother with him.

Answering Karl’s call, she heard him ask, “Did Mr. Hernandez have breakfast yet?”

Annoyed, Julie replied, “I don’t have dog food to feed him.”

“Alright…” Karl weakly responded, “Then would you mind opening the door for me later?”

“Mm.” Julie hung up. To avoid Karl ringing the doorbell later, Julie simply left the door ajar.

Kieran came out of the bathroom after washing his face. His wet forehead and stubbly chin made him look rather sexy.

Julie turned a blind eye and went into the bathroom. As she reached for the toothbrush, she noticed it was wet and not in its usual place. Clearly, someone had used it. Without showing any anger, Julie came out of the bathroom with the toothbrush and, in front of Kieran, threw it in the trash.

Kieran was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through emails on his phone. He made himself at home as if this was his workspace.

“Up.” Julie ordered Kieran.

He obliged and stood up. To his surprise, Julie stripped the bed of its sheets, pillowcases, and everything else, and tossed them in the washing machine. Was she not happy with him?

Kieran watched Julie’s back until she hit the start button on the washing machine. He then stretched out on the sofa, casually flipping through emails on his phone, and asked, “Does your sofa need to be cleaned?”

Julie rolled her eyes. Before she could answer, Kieran suddenly dropped his phone and quickly pulled her into his arms. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Caught off guard, Julie landed in Kieran’s lap, and he was only wrapped in a towel.

He forcefully turned her face towards him. His eyes were deep like the ocean, his fingers slender as they gently brushed her cheek. He leaned in, whispering in her ear, “What did we do last night?”

Julie hated his sudden insinuations. It felt like a thousand ants were crawling in the pit of her stomach, and she didn’t know how to make it stop.

Just as she was about to wriggle out of his grip, a familiar voice came from the doorway, “Are you there? I saw the door was open, so …”