Chapter 30

The bed shifted suddenly. Claire hadn’t even gotten the chance to sit up before a large hand pressed down on the back of her head. And then—bam—her lips accidentally brushed against his jawline. Her pupils practically exploded. That smooth skin, that surge of masculine scent—warm, clean, a little intoxicating—it all crashed into her senses like a tidal wave, every tiny detail etched into her mind. Julian froze for a split second. He released her, tilted his head back slightly, then put his hand back behind her head and nudged her away. Their eyes locked. One stunned, the other unreadable. God knows how long they stayed like that before Claire finally “rebooted.” She quickly pulled his hand away, sat upright, ran her fingers through her hair, and tried to collect herself. “It’s five-thirty. You really need to get up now.” With that, she basically sprinted out of the room like she had rockets on her feet. Julian: “…” After a moment, he slowly dragged a hand over his eyes and let out a mu