“Sorry to disturb you. It’s ten, so we got worried, wondering if you were okay. Something told me you don’t normally sleep this late.”

“Ten?” I blinked in surprise. Because no, no the hell I didn’t sleep in that late. Alessandro, sure. Not me.

“I guess you needed it.” She licked her lips, and at this rate, my dick would never go down. Not with her standing so close with those innocent eyes pointed at my chest.

She was doubtfully thinking about my scars—no, this was a different kind of stare. Not sympathy, but one of passion.

“Colin was hoping we could go out to eat for breakfast.” She checked the silver watch on her wrist, which reminded me that I needed to return the locket to Colin for her birthday next weekend. “Well, brunch.” A hint of a drawl slipped through, reminding me of how she’d spoken last night.

“I see your accent is still hanging around,” I teased.

“Mm. Maybe I feel comfortable enough around you to let it out.”

“Good, the only way I want you to be.” Now, back to her question. I took a moment to contemplate the potential risks of going out in public. If I talked to Hudson and Izzy first and confirmed we were in the clear with threats, maybe we could manage a day out as a family. I was rather desperate for that, myself. “I think we may be able to do that.”

“Really?” She sat on the bed and reached for my hand. “Thank you.”

My dick jumped at her proximity. My heart did as well. “I’ll meet you two in a minute.”

“Okay.” She remained sitting, continuing to hold my hand, lighting up my room with her presence. I didn’t need to open the blinds for sunlight when I had her.

“I should probably get dressed without you in here. My patience . . .” was all I needed to say. I wanted her to know the rest of my backstory before we went all in. I didn’t want walls, or my skeletons, between us.

But with her sitting on my bed smelling so damn good, I was close to saying fuck it and asking for a taste of what I felt deep in my bones was going to come. Us being together. Our happiness.

Juliette licked her front teeth, which would be keeping my cock hard. “I’ll let you get ready.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, not ready to throw back the comforter until she was free and clear from my sight.

“I, um, am going now, promise,” she said with a light laugh, and God help me, that was enough to turn me on even more than I thought possible.

She retracted her hand, and I missed the warmth of her touch the second she was standing.