Chapter 185

Julie’s Point of View

I was completely taken aback by his violent reaction; wasn’t the seduction plan supposed to work? Why does he look so angry, as if I’ve committed a crime? "It’s a nightgown," I said in a faint voice, trying to regain my balance.

"And why did you go outside wearing it?" he growled, his voice hoarse as he crowded my space with his body.

"There was no one outside," I replied, looking into his eyes which were saturated with sparks.

"And where were you going looking like this?" he asked sharply, gripping my arm.

"I went to your room, but I didn’t find you," I answered honestly.

"Did anyone see you?" he asked, the veins in his neck bulging from the intensity of the tension.

I shook my head. "No."

"Are you on a honeymoon?" he asked with biting sarcasm, scanning the details of the red gown. "What is this thing you’re wearing?"

My God! He didn’t like it? No matter what I do, nothing pleases him! I felt frustration seeping into me, so I said defiantly, "Why? Doesn’t it suit me?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, a heavy silence reigned as he gave me a long look.

His eyes scanned my body with a slow, suspicious gaze that made my skin crawl. "Why did you wear this in the first place?" he asked in a low voice.

"Because I’m going to sleep," I said, trying to stand my ground.

"You sleep like this?" he asked in surprise. "Since when?"

"Starting now," I replied stubbornly.

He moved closer until I felt his hot breath. "Don’t you ever do this again, Julie. You cannot wander around like this outside your room... is that understood?" he said in a commanding tone.

I felt like screaming; did I exert all this effort just to be scolded? But I won’t give up; I’ll finish what I started. "Do you know why I came to your room?" I asked in a softer tone.

"Why?" he asked curtly.

I immediately remembered the Google advice: Touch his shoulder or face... spontaneous touches.

I took a deep breath, approached him slowly, and extended my hand with a gentle touch, stroking his broad shoulder. Then I quickly pulled my hand away and said in a tender voice, "I wanted to thank you for the hamburger and pizza."

"No need to thank me," he said with a coldness that disappointed me.

Damn it! The touch didn’t work. Okay, what was the second tip? Curse it, I forgot it due to the stress! He noticed my confusion and asked, "Is something wrong?"

I had to improvise quickly. I walked toward the bed with measured steps and sat on its edge. Then I looked at him and said, "I want to ask you something."

"What?" he asked, watching my movements warily.

"Sit here," I said, slowly patting the bed beside me.

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Robert’s Point of View

When I entered the club and saw her looking like that, I was utterly stunned; my body froze in place. Damn it! How captivating she looked... She made the fire ignite inside me as if she were intentionally torturing me; in that short skirt this morning, and now in this provocative gown.

Despite that, a blind jealousy took hold of me at the thought of anyone else seeing her like this, and I lost my mind. I felt like I was fighting a fierce war with myself, restraining my body with immense force so I wouldn’t pounce on her, devour her lips, and strip that cursed gown off her completely.

I sat beside her on the edge of the bed, and the scent of her perfume filled my lungs. What? Did she bathe in perfume? Is she doing this on purpose to drive me insane? "What is your favorite type of woman?" she asked, interrupting my silence in a strange tone.

I knitted my brows in bewilderment; had I heard correctly or was I imagining things? "Why are you asking?" I asked hoarsely.

"I just want to know," she replied coldly, looking straight ahead.

"It’s none of your business," I said sharply, trying to regain my seriousness.

"Fine... can I ask you another question?" she asked with an irritating calmness.

I just wanted to get out of this cursed room before I acted in some crazy, irreversible way. "Yes, ask quickly," I said with annoyance.

"You told me that when I do something wrong, you’ll punish me..." she said, looking at me. "Are you going to punish me because I went out like this?"

I tightened my grip on the bedsheet. Damn it! I can’t punish you while you’re like this; I won’t be able to stop if I touch you. "I’ll forgive you this time," I said, trying to escape.

"Why?" she asked with sudden sharpness.

"What do you mean ’why’?" I asked in surprise.

She got flustered for a moment. "I mean... thank you for forgiving me."

I stood up quickly. "Alright, I have to go."

But she didn’t let me leave. "Stop!" she cried. Then she suddenly touched my hand, and I felt electricity coursing through my body at her touch. "I have something to confess to you," she said.

I froze in place. "What is it?" I asked stiffly.

"At the university... I met a guy who was attracted to me," she said in a hesitant tone.

I turned toward her, my eyes blazing with rage. "What?!"

"He told me he wanted to talk to me for a bit outside the university... and I agreed," she continued daringly.

I approached her with threatening steps. "Did you lie to me and say you couldn’t find my car while you were actually on a date?" I asked, my voice full of menace.

She backed away slightly in terror. "It wasn’t a date, we just talked... don’t punish me!"

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Julie’s Point of View

No matter what I did, I hadn’t succeeded in making him touch me. I was longing for his touch with a madness I had never known in myself before.

That’s why I invented this cursed lie; if he didn’t want to punish me for going out in this gown, I would force him to punish me for this betrayal.

"And you have the audacity to ask me not to punish you?" he said in a terrifying voice, clenching his jaw.

Yes, this is exactly what’s needed! He grew even angrier, so I decided to pour oil on the fire. "He just told me he was attracted to me... and he tried to kiss me, but I swear, I didn’t let him!"

My God, I’ve gone too far! I wished the earth would open up and swallow me when I saw the veins in his neck bulge and the glint of murder in his eyes. "Who is he? Tell me his name right now, Julie!" he said with a terrifying hiss.

I took a step back, flustered. "No, I definitely won’t tell you the name... he apologized anyway."

"Why did you go with him?" he shouted, approaching to corner me. "Didn’t I tell you to return to the car?"

"I thought it was a normal thing," I said, my voice trembling.

"You betrayed my trust," he said in a voice that was both sad and angry.

"No, no, I didn’t!" I replied quickly, terror taking hold of me.

"What do you call this, Julie? How do you explain what you did? Tell me his name now," he asked bitterly, locking his eyes on mine.

My lie was leading me to hell with steady steps, and I felt like I was going to lose control of the situation completely. "It’s a prank! Did you like it?" I asked, trying to force a pale, shaky laugh.

He looked at me in total surprise and stopped. "A prank?"

"Yes... I wanted to trick you with this silly lie," I said, barely catching my breath.

His reaction wasn’t what I expected. Instead, he approached me in a terrifying way that made my heart tremble. I backed away in panic until my feet hit the bed and I was forced to sit.

He leaned his massive body over me, forcing me to lie on my back against my will. He lay on top of me, though he didn’t put all his weight on me so as not to crush me. In that fleeting moment... his lips touched mine for just one second. Damn it! It was an electric touch that made my mind stop; I wanted it to last forever.

Then he placed his large hand on my bare thigh, which the gown had revealed, and squeezed it with a force that made me gasp. I felt my entire body trembling under the weight of his touch and the heat of his breath. "Do you find this funny, Julie?" he asked in a resonant voice dripping with a dark promise.