Julien’s POV“Julien,” she gasped, spinning toward me.Her back pressing against the door, my hand still braced beside her, trapping more than space. The air between us tightened, charged, electric in that dangerous way that comes right before ruin.Dammit.She was devastating. Not just beautiful, but composed chaos. Red satin catching the light like a dare. Confidence worn like armor, vulnerability flickering beneath it. She looked like a woman who had survived me and still carried the scar with elegance.I was unraveling.“Aurelia,” I said, my voice low, rougher than I intended. “Even if you don’t want me anymore, I still want you. Even if your feelings are gone… I’ll ignite them.”The words fell out raw, unpolished, honest to the bone.She looked at me then. Really looked. Something in her eyes shifted, softened, cracked just enough to let hope bleed through.I didn’t think. I couldn’t.I leaned in slowly, giving her every chance to stop me, until my lips brushed hers. The kiss was
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