Roman and Julienne's heart desire
Chapter 43: Acknowledging herself as his

Chapter 43: Acknowledging herself as his

It was a peaceful night in the mansion where Julie and Roman dwelled. The silence was soothing, the kind of quiet that only expensive walls and well-guarded gates could afford.

The soft light inside the house made everything look warm and calm—like nothing in the world could ever go wrong.

"Get changed. We have to go," Roman said, standing near the doorframe, a subtle smile resting on his lips as he looked at Julie.

"To where?" Julie asked, her voice soft, almost teasing. She licked her lips absentmindedly, a habit she didn’t even notice—but Roman did.

His smile faded just slightly, his gaze sharpening as he watched her.

"Why do you do that?" he asked, the question escaping him casually—but even he was surprised the words came out. A beat later, he shook his head. "No... it’s okay."

He didn’t mean to ask, but the question had slipped out too naturally.

Roman wasn’t used to questioning his thoughts or his words, but things had changed.

Over the years, he’d changed. And that small moment left him unusually unsettled.

Julie tilted her head to the side, her expression caught somewhere between amusement and confusion.

"What?" she asked, her tone light, curious.

Roman fell quiet, his gaze still on her. He didn’t move. For a moment, he seemed lost in something. Then he spoke again—softly, as though the weight of his thoughts dragged the words out.

"Why?" he repeated. Then paused. "Why did you lick your lips?"

This time, he didn’t glance away. He didn’t even blink. He let the silence stretch between them, and Julie felt herself hold her breath.

"Why?" she echoed, raising her brows slightly. What kind of question is that? she wondered silently, staring at him like she was trying to read his mind.

"Why did I lick my lips?" she repeated, more to herself now, surprised that she was even having to explain something so small.

"Because I felt like doing it," she said finally, her tone playful but honest.

Roman smiled then. A real one. Slow and unguarded.

"Why did you ask?" Julie asked, curious now.

"Because," he said simply, "it distracts me."

He held her gaze, his voice calm—but his eyes said much more than his words. They flickered with something she knew well by now: desire, admiration, affection. And maybe a little confusion too, the kind only she could stir in him.

Julie smiled, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she looked away. She didn’t say anything, but her silence spoke volumes. It was the kind of smile she gave when she didn’t want him to see how much she liked what he said.

Roman noticed, of course. He always did. He shook his head lightly, a knowing expression on his face, amused by her reaction.

A few minutes later, they were both ready. Hand in hand, they descended the stairs together, the air between them filled with a quiet warmth. Smiles touched both of their faces as they stepped out of the house.

Waiting at the front was a sleek black car, and a row of guards stood alert nearby. Roman’s eyes flicked over them briefly before he waved a hand.

"You can go. Do your chaos," Roman said, his voice dismissive.

The guards blinked in confusion. One even furrowed his brows. What?

This was the first time Roman had ever told them to stay behind while he went out. The idea of Roman stepping out without his usual circle of protection didn’t register immediately. So they remained rooted in place, still standing in two perfectly straight lines on either side of the walkway.

Roman’s expression darkened slightly at their hesitation. When he spoke again, his voice dropped an octave—deep, cold, and commanding.

"Didn’t you hear me?" he said, his words sharp like glass in the quiet night.

In an instant, every guard bowed.

"Yes, Master," they responded in unison and turned sharply, disappearing without another word.

"Let’s go," Roman said, turning to Julie, who had watched the entire exchange with silent surprise. She opened her mouth to ask something, then thought better of it. She’d save her questions for later.

"Good day, sir. Good day, ma’am," Enoch said respectfully, the middle-aged driver stepping forward to open the car door—until Roman raised his hand.

"There’s no need. Give me the key," Roman said calmly.

Enoch froze, his hand mid-air, mouth slightly open in disbelief. He stared at Roman, unsure if he’d heard him correctly.

"You heard me," Roman said, snapping his fingers at the stunned man.

"Excuse me?" Enoch asked, tilting his head slightly, trying to make sense of what his master just said.

"The key, Mr. Enoch," Roman repeated with a low frown. The fact that he had to repeat himself was irritating. What were they all thinking, making him talk twice?

"Madam," Enoch said quickly, turning to Julie for confirmation.

"Yes," Julie replied without hesitation, standing beside Roman.

Roman’s gaze shifted to her. That one word, that small act of acknowledgment, meant more to him than she probably realized. She had answered as his—and that was enough to light something up behind his cool expression.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Did he hit his head somewhere?" Enoch muttered under his breath as he took a cautious step forward, genuinely concerned.

Roman raised a brow, but said nothing. Instead, he waited, curious to hear how Julie would respond.

Julie chuckled lightly. "No, he didn’t. But I think today... something is especially different," she said, shaking her head with a knowing grin.

"There must be," Enoch mumbled, still reluctant, as he finally handed over the key to Roman. He was clearly unsure what was happening tonight.

Julie, watching the exchange with growing amusement, covered her mouth to hold back laughter. Roman’s expression as he took the key—half irritated, half triumphant—was priceless.

"Sir, are you sure you can drive?" Enoch asked timidly, clearly nervous now.

Roman’s jaw tightened. The peaceful smile that once graced his lips was gone, replaced by a cold sharpness.

"What do you take me for?" he asked, giving Enoch a deadly glance. His voice was like frost, and Enoch flinched.

Just because he hadn’t stepped out alone for years didn’t mean he had forgotten how to drive.

Julie couldn’t hold it anymore. "Hahaha!" she burst into laughter, her hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking from trying—and failing—to hold it in.

Enoch had fled like a rabbit, startled by nothing but the cold steel in Roman’s gaze. It was too much. Too funny.

Roman turned to her with that same icy expression, but the moment his eyes landed on her, something in him softened.

The corners of his mouth twitched upward. He took one slow step forward.

Julie was still laughing when her back met the cool surface of the car.

Before she could even catch her breath, Roman closed the small space between them, placed a firm hand at her waist, and leaned in.

His lips caught hers mid-laugh, swallowing the sound.

At first, it was gentle. Warm. His kiss was slow, precise—like he was savoring the taste of her, not just her lips but the laughter still lingering on them.

Julie’s body stilled, breath caught, as her laughter melted into a quiet hum of surprise.

Her hands moved instinctively, sliding up his chest, fingers curling lightly over his shoulders.

Roman tilted his head slightly, deepening the kiss.

His other hand rose to cradle the side of her face, thumb brushing her cheek as he drew her in completely.

It wasn’t rough—it was reverent. Possessive in the way his body leaned into hers, shielding her from everything but him.

Their lips moved in sync, slow and intoxicating, like they were the only two people left in the world.

Julie sighed into him, her knees weakening slightly as she leaned into his chest.

Her fingers tightened against his shirt, and she let herself get lost in the moment—heart racing, thoughts scattering, the rest of the world falling away.

But the rest of the world didn’t fall away.

The guards—those who had just bowed and stepped a respectful distance back—had not yet left completely.

Some paused at the gates, others hovered near the entrance of the mansion, all trained to be alert in case their master changed his mind.

And what they saw made every single one of them freeze.

Roman. Their cold, ruthless boss. The man who barely spoke more than a few sentences at a time.

Who had never smiled at anyone longer than two seconds. That Roman was now kissing a woman outside, in full view of all of them.

Not just a kiss—a real kiss. The kind that said she was his.

Mouths dropped. Eyes widened. One young guard nearly choked on the breath he was holding.

Another, older guard, elbowed his partner and whispered under his breath, "Did he drink something today?"

"Shut up!" someone hissed. "He’ll hear you!"

They all stood rooted, unsure if they should look away, salute, or walk backward into a wall.

"Turn around! Turn around!" one of the more seasoned guards whispered, spinning on his heel and dragging his partner with him.

Still, a few couldn’t help but glance over their shoulders—until the heavy voice of the lieutenant snapped, "Eyes forward! Do you want to die?"

Back at the car, Julie stirred slightly under Roman’s touch, pulling away just enough to breathe.

Her lips were red and soft, eyes a little glazed. Her breath came shallow as she whispered, "Peo... uh... ple are... watching..."

Roman didn’t move right away. He looked into her eyes—those wide, watery eyes with just a glint of amusement and something softer beneath.

His hand still held her cheek, fingers lingering just below her ear.

"Should we stop?" he asked, his voice low, deep, the kind that made her tremble—not from fear, but from something far more dangerous.

Julie hummed softly in response, nodding—but the truth was, she wasn’t sure if she meant yes... or no.