The mental wall he had just rebuilt, brick by brick, mortar by mortar, fueled by the cold water and his memories of betrayal, began to tremble and crack in this brief moment of intimacy. It was as if there was a small, neglected child screaming inside Julian's soul, a child who had been starved of affection for too long. That inner child was greedy. It wanted to ignore the danger, to burrow deep into this warmth, to surrender to this gentle care, and to pretend, just for a moment, that he was truly safe.
Ethan reached the bed and deposited Julian onto the mattress with surprising gentleness, ensuring he was seated comfortably. Then, instead of sitting beside him or returning to his previous spot, Ethan did something that made Julian's breath hitch.
The imperious CEO of the Caldwell Empire, a man who held the fate of thousands in his hands, casually squatted down before him. Without a hint of hesitation, Ethan reached out and took hold of Julian's icy feet.
