Chapter 138

"You're really gonna stick to that, right?" His warm breath brushed lightly against her face like drifting feathers, making her skin tingle. Thump, thump, thump… Her heart was practically racing out of her chest. Julian held her face gently as she instinctively tried to turn away. He leaned closer, towering yet somehow right at eye level, his voice dropping into a velvety whisper that sent a chill down her spine. “Nice try. I’ll be watching you.” Claire could barely make out what he was saying. All she could hear was her own heartbeat going wild. Her eyes locked onto his lips… she caught herself gulping. Realizing where her mind had gone, her cheeks burned in his palm like a blushing peach. Sweet. Ripe. Totally giving her away. His gaze darkened, thumb brushing her skin. He leaned in slowly, breath warm and dangerously close— “Mr. Archer!!” Claire suddenly blurted, tugging his hand down, staring up at him with wide eyes like a deer in headlights. Words got stuck in her throat, scramble