The Heir's obsession-Chapter 60: Chaos On Hold

Chapter 60

JACE MARINO

Julian’s breath was still warm on my neck when I finally let myself pull back. He kept his hand wrapped around mine as we walked up the porch. His fingers were cold, but he held on like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.

Marco stood at the top of the steps with his arms crossed like he’d been waiting for a punchline.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So this was the plan you had today?"

Marco smirked, shrugging one shoulder. "What can I say? Sometimes the universe needs a little... encouragement."

I stared at him.

He grinned wider. "Relax, I gotta stay loyal. If your boyfriend’s miserable, you’re miserable. And when you’re miserable, I’m the one who has to deal with you."

I felt Julian stiffen beside me then his hand slid into mine.

Marco clocked it immediately and let out a soft, victorious, "Yeah. That’s what I thought."

Julian flushed. I pretended I didn’t hear him.

His friends were all standing there on the porch, staring at us like we were some rare animal in a zoo. All except Liam, who was looking way too pleased with himself.

"I knew something was going on," Liam said. "From the way you used to look at him in class. In the hallway. Anywhere actually."

I raised a brow. "I thought I was discreet."

"You were," he said, shrugging. "But I’m smart. I see what normal people can’t see."

I let out a short breath of a laugh. Smart wasn’t the word I’d use for him, but fine. I gave him that one.

Julian squeezed my hand like he wanted me to be nice. Fine again.

I turned to the other two. "How are you doing, boys?"

Rico stepped forward like he had something to prove. "First of all, professor... Wait, how do I even address you? And second, I am not a boy. Maybe Luka is."

Luka snapped his head toward him. "I’m twenty. I’m not a boy."

The front door pushed open again and Mateo stepped out, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Damn right you’re not."

Luka froze. Just stopped breathing. Then he hit Rico in the chest and whispered loudly enough that I could still hear him, "That’s the Greek god that saved us from Liam’s party."

Liam mouthed I’m sorry at Luka, who glared at him so hard I thought his face might fall off. Then Luka looked back at Mateo, actually looking him up and down like he was on some runway.

"Now that I’m getting a better look..." Luka said slowly. "He looks good. More than a Greek god. Are you by any chance single?"

He even pushed his hair behind his ear like he was in a commercial.

Mateo smiled. Not a polite smile. A real one. A big one. I blinked. Mateo didn’t smile like that. Not for anyone. Definitely not for strangers.

Rico grabbed Luka’s arm. "Inside. Before you embarrass us."

Then all three of them froze right at the entrance. Stopped like they hit a wall.

"What the hell..." I muttered, walking forward.

Julian stepped in beside me. The second he crossed the doorway, he stiffened. His hand tightened around mine.

"What’s she doing here?" he asked quietly.

Before I could answer, Aiko stood from the couch and walked straight toward him, smiling like she’d been waiting.

She took Julian’s hands without hesitation. "You are so beautiful up close."

Julian blinked, then shot me a look. "Uh... thank you?"

He slid his hands out of hers so fast I almost laughed.

I cleared my throat. "Let’s go to the living room. Looks like we’re going to talk for a while."

Aiko nodded and stepped ahead of us. Rico and Luka followed, whispering things I really didn’t want to know.

We all sat down. I stayed close to Julian because I could feel the tension rolling off him. Aiko sat across from him and folded her hands like she was preparing for a confession.

Julian’s friends sat down on the rug. Marco leaned against the wall. Mateo took the armchair but kept glancing toward the hallway.

Aiko breathed in, and started.

"First... I want to apologize to you, Julian. For everything you’ve heard. Everything that looked like something it wasn’t."

He didn’t respond, but he didn’t turn away.

"My father forced the marriage," she continued. "I never wanted it. I didn’t..." She hesitated, searching for a word that didn’t hurt. "I didn’t want to be anyone’s wife. But I had to make it look like I did. For my safety. For my boyfriend’s safety."

She gestured toward the hallway.

Her boyfriend stepped from the corner. I didn’t even know he was here. A quiet guy with soft eyes who nodded politely.

"This is Daichi," Aiko said. "He’s the person I chose. Not Jace."

Julian visibly relaxed by a degree. He didn’t smile, but the tension in his shoulders softened.

"I have never had feelings for Jace," Aiko said. "Not then. Not now. Not ever. I promise you that."

"Julian blinked. "Okay but this is... a lot."

Liam raised his hand. "Some real drama is going on here, and I was busy binging ’The Summer I Turned Pretty.’ I’m missing a lot."

Luka elbowed him. "Shut up."

Aiko bowed her head once. "I just needed you to know the truth, Julian."

Julian nodded, finally meeting her eyes. "...Okay."

And Aiko looked relieved enough to cry.

"Alright," I said. "Enough for now."

I picked up Julian’s small bag from beside the couch. He barely packed anything. Typical.

"Come on," I told him.

He followed without hesitation. Up the stairs. Down the hall. Into our room.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, every muscle in my body unclenched, like a tight spring finally giving way. I dropped Julian’s bag onto the bed with a thud, my fingers already itching to touch him, desperate for the warmth of his skin against mine. Julian didn’t hesitate, he stepped right into my space, like he’d been waiting for this moment all day.

I pulled him close, wrapping my arms around him until our chests pressed together, feeling our heartbeats sync. His scent, soap mixed with something uniquely him, hit me, grounding me in a way nothing else could.

"You know you’re acting like a baby," he murmured, lips curling into that smirk I couldn’t resist. Heat flared in my cheeks despite myself.

"A baby?" I shot back, trying to sound defensive, but my voice sounded hollow even to me.

Julian poked a finger into my chest, light but insistent. "Outside, you’re all cold and tough and... whatever you are. But in private? You cling."

I bristled, though I knew he was right. "I do not cling."

He raised an eyebrow, that piercing look I could never escape.

I sighed, admitting it before I even meant to. "I might... hold you sometimes."

"Baby, that’s called clinging," he teased, playful, but there was something softer underneath it, something that made my stomach twist.

I closed the distance, crowding him back a step, my hands settling on his hips. "It’s only for you," I whispered, low and rough, and the words felt like truth I couldn’t hide.

The room went silent, thick with unspoken tension. I caught the shift in his eyes. Darkening, tender, something blooming I wasn’t ready for. And then he leaned in, quick and gentle, pressing a kiss to my lips.

It was over before I could process it, and I was left breathless, heart racing.

"What was that?" I asked, hoarse.

"A kiss," he said, simple, like it was obvious.

I rolled my eyes, frustration mixing with desire. "That wasn’t a kiss. I’m going to show you what a real kiss is."

Before he could answer, I tilted his chin up, my fingers tangling in his hair and I kissed him. No softness this time. No hesitation. Hungry, demanding, like I’d been starving for him and only him.

Julian’s breath hitched against me, fingers digging into my shirt, holding me like he’d been waiting all morning. Like he had been really waiting.

I lifted him slightly, pressing him against the wall, flush with him, refusing to break away until he was gasping for air. His legs wrapped around my waist, nails digging into my back, and I groaned, the sound vibrating against his lips. This was the part of me only he got to see. The raw, desperate side that no one else ever would.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing hard, his forehead fell to mine. His chest rose and fell like he’d run a marathon, cheeks flushed, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite his effort to hide it.

"You okay?" I murmured, brushing my lips against his temple.

He nodded, voice thick with desire. "Yeah. Better than okay."

I kissed the corner of his mouth, sliding my hands down to grip his ass, pulling him tighter against me. "Good," I growled, "because we’re just getting started."

His eyes widened, a mix of surprise and anticipation. "Oh yeah? And what’s next?"

I smirked, teeth grazing his earlobe. "You’ll see."