32 POWER

Julieb breathing altered as his heart raced again.

Thump, thump, thump—

He couldn't handle the heavy gaze of the man next to him and rushed out of the seat attempting to flee through the salon.

Lucius lunged at him and pushed him against the sofa in the middle of the room. Before Julien knew it, he had got both of his hands in one of the other's in a vice-like grip above his head and Lucius pinned him to the sofa bed using his hips. Lucius's other hand grabbed his longer hair on the back of his head and yanked it down, bringing his face up. The alpha's lips were on his. Julien unconsciously moaned into Lucius's mouth, giving his tongue an opening.

The man took full advantage of it, his tongue expertly explored omega mouth. His tongue tentatively stroked the other's in a slow dance that was all about touch and sensation. Bump and grind. He bringed his hand up to grasp omega chin and held him in place.

Julien had never been kissed like this. It was his first real kiss to begin with. He was helpless, his hands pinned, his face held and Lucius's hips were restraining him.

Julien felt Lucius's erection against his belly. In the next second, he found himself struggling out of his grasp, pushing him away. Fighting him: "Let go… no... "

The tears were streaming down his face. He didn't want to cry. It angered him that he was crying. Julien straightened and dashed the tears bitterly out of his eyes with the backs of his hands, glaring at Lucius: "You said, you won't touch me until you have my consent."

The couch shifted under Lucius's weight as he climbed in behind him.

Gently, the alpha pulled him into his arms, burying his nose in his hair. He whispered: "Your scent… I can sense it."

[System: You forgot to put on the inhibitor after a bath.]

At this moment, Julien felt that the world was too cruel: "What should I do now?"

Julien wanted to pull away from Lucius and move to the other side of the sofa, but he was paralyzed. He couldn't move and lied stiffly, not yielding at all.

He breathed softly against omega's skin. His voice was achingly sad: "Don't go, stay here."

[System: Although you aren't in heat right now the person with high pheromones compatibility is capable of smelling it and can be unconsciously attracted.]

This was new for Julien - some kind of harmony between him and the villain.

Was it because his scent was different from the previous one?

Julien's fragrance had the power to affect Lucius's mood and reduce stress, his muscles slowly relaxed. The alpha drenched himself in this gentle and clean scent that reminded him of cool rainy mornings with warm air and fresh breeze.

They lay together like this, neither saying anything for ages. The soft light got brighter as morning moved on. Lucius held him and very gradually Julien's aloofness and wariness was left behind the soft and tender kiss on his neck.

Lucius said after a long while: "I'm sorry, don't hate me."

Julien turned very slowly in his arms so he could face him. He was resting head on his arm. Lucius's eyes were flinty black and guarded. He gazed at the villain's beautiful face. Lucius was giving nothing away, but he kept his eyes on him, hardly blinking. He was so breathtakingly good-looking. Reaching up, Julien caressed his cheek and ran the tips of his fingers through the other stubble.

Julien breathed and said the first thing that came to his mind: "I used your toothbrush. I mean, we are even now?"

Lucius nodded and his lips quirked up in a half smile: "Yes."

Hearing the villain's word, Julien immediately heaved a long sigh of relief. He almost jumped up from the sofa. He grabbed his inhibitor and his mobile phone while watching Lucius's expression. Julien slowly retreated back to the large doorway. He put on a smile: "Then I'll go. So, goodbye?"

As if hearing the heartfelt hope hidden under the word of 'goodbye' from omega, Lucius asked: "What are your plans for the next few days?"

Julien was confused suddenly: "Why do you ask?"

Lucius took a look at him. His gaze was deep. Then, he sighed: "Now that we've talked up to this point, would you like to sign into 'Famous' Company?"

Julien raised his eyebrows in surprise: "If I say that it may not be appropriate..."

Lucius smiled faintly: "If you are willing, we will have friendly cooperation together."

Julien murmured, completely confused: "Let me think about it."

To this, Lucius explained: "My company doesn't lack the money to raise an idle person like you."

Hearing the man's words, Julien didn't feel much. His aspiration wasn't being in the entertainment circle, but to live freely and safely in society.

After all this was said, Julien immediately left.

Lucius was very efficient and he immediately asked someone to fax the contract.

When Julien got home, he saw that the contract indeed gave a very preferential treatment towards him. He had the right to choose his job independently and the deduction percentage was also very low. It simply wasn't something that someone in a rank like his could take a hold on.

After thinking about it through the day and half of the night, he didn't entangle himself any longer and signed the contract.

Julien took a large swig of his wine.

He was doing something much braver than he was actually feeling.

The wine had fine depth, with a great profundity for this level. The bouquet offered layers of red and dark berry fruit – quite vibrant and juicy with nice, filigreed minerality.

The principle with drinking wine was that it bringed him extraordinary joy and hedonistic thrills. Julien touched his lips, swollen from today's kiss.

Should he pretend that it didn't happen?

It definitely happened and he didn't feel any repulsion about it right now.

Meanwhile Lucius's scream bounced off the bedroom walls and woke him from his nightmare. He was smothered in sweat, with the stench of stale beer, muddle and poverty in his nostrils and a lingering dread of drunken violence. Sitting up, he put his head in his hands as he tried to calm his escalated heart rate and erratic breathing.

Clambering out of bed, he wandered down the corridor and into the kitchen. There, he filled a glass with water and caught sight of himself, dressed only in pajama pants, reflected in the glass wall at the other side of the room.

He turned away in disgust: "You wanted him and he turned you down."

Julien's crying face appeared in his mind without warning, taunting him.