Satisfied, Anna gave up a silent apology to her friend, shot onest re at Julian, and then left the room.

    Julian’s POV

    I had some idea of what Anna had been worried about, leaving Amber here with me, and the thought that she could think so low of me as to assume I would do something like that made me ill. It was no trouble at all making a vow to prove I wouldn’t, other than the general insult at being suspected of being someone

    who would touch an unconscious woman.

    To protect Amber though, I supposed I could understand where Anna wasing from. In her ce, I probably would have done the same.

    I followed Anna to the door and then closed it behind her. Once she was gone, and I was alone with

    Amber, I turned to face the bed.

    Amber was resting peacefully, her face half–turned into the pillows, her bodyfortably stretched out over the mattress. Fortunately, she had kicked off her own shoes. I wouldn’t be able to help with her other clothing. I hoped it wasn’t too ufortable to sleep in.

    At the moment, she didn’t seem to mind.

    Her cheeks were still flushed, just as they had been before she passed out, when she had been rubbing her body against mine so seductively, while making such sweet whimpering noises.

    Thank the Gods I was a man of willpower and honor, able to hold myself back from the temptation of her body and her sounds, and the fire that had burned in those eyes.

    She’d been angry with me, yet she’d also wanted me. It had been a confusing, whirlwind mix of emotions, and I’d been at an utter loss on how to react.

    bIt /bmust have been the rum. Or the fast way she had downed that wine.

    I’d seen her drink wine before, and she’d never acted like she had now.

    It had been too long sincest I touched her in that way. With her rubbing against me, I had nearly embarrassed myself. I longed for her so desperately. Even now, I felt on edge.

    Perhaps the vow had been for the best after all.

    If she awakened in the night in a simr mood, reaching for me and begging, I wasn’t sure I would have been strong enough to turn her away a second time.

    Shaking my head, I tried to press the thoughts away. Yet, even as my desire slowly dimmed under the force of my will, bI /bcould not keep my gaze from being drawn toward her.

    She was beautiful, resting soundly, her facex with her peaceful slumber.

    So many times in the past, I would watch her sleep just like this. Well, no. I supposed it was different then, because I would have gotten to hold her.

    Now, I sat down on the ground beside the bed. My cheek in my hand, my elbow on the bed, I watched her.

    There was some hair over her face. Without thinking, I reached out to brush it away. When I came too

    close, my hand stilled as if someone had forcibly grabbed my wrist and kept me there.

    “Sorry,” I said to the Moon Goddess, and pulled my hand away.

    After watching her a few more minutes, I headed into the bathroom for a cold shower.

    Amber’s POV

    As I blinked my eyes opened, I immediately cringed against the headache pulsing in my brain. Lifting my hand, I was surprised to find that I was still wearing a long–sleeve. Usually I slept in t–shirts or tank tops. It hadn’t been that coldst night. I could tell because I still felt warm.

    After blinking a few times, I looked around. Where was I?

    This almost looked like… a hotel room?

    At once, images ofst night shed through my mind. Was this Julian’s hotel room? What was I still doing here?

    In a panic, I surged upright.

    Had I slept with Julian?!