Julien wasn't sure which was worse—the heat simmering under his skin, or the fact that Damien had insisted on staying in his room tonight.
The alpha sat casually on the edge of the bed, too close for comfort, his presence filling every inch of space. His scent, sharp pine and smoke, wrapped around Julien like a net. Every time Julien tried to focus, he found himself sneaking glances at Damien's broad shoulders, at the lazy way he leaned back like he owned the place.
"You're staring," Damien drawled, his lips curving into the faintest smirk.
Julien flushed instantly. "I'm not."
"You are." Damien tilted his head, leaning closer until his face was mere inches from Julien's. His dark eyes glinted with amusement. "Careful, Julien. You'll make me think you like having me here."
Julien's heart skipped, the words catching him off guard. He turned his face away, muttering, "Don't flatter yourself."
Damien chuckled low in his chest, and Julien hated how much the sound made his stomach flip.
The silence that followed was unbearable. Julien pulled the blanket higher around his shoulders, trying to ignore the pounding in his chest. But then Damien's hand moved—slowly, deliberately—until his fingers brushed against Julien's.
Julien froze.
"Relax," Damien murmured, his voice softer now. "I'm not going to bite."
"Y-You're doing this on purpose," Julien accused, his voice barely above a whisper.
Damien's lips curved into something gentler. "Maybe." His thumb brushed lightly against Julien's knuckles, a touch so subtle it sent sparks racing up Julien's arm. "Or maybe I just don't like seeing you shaking and pretending you're fine."
Julien's breath caught. No one was supposed to notice those cracks. No one was supposed to see through him so easily.
When he finally dared to look back, Damien was already watching him—closely, intently, like Julien was the only thing in the world that mattered. The weight of that gaze made Julien's pulse thunder in his ears.
"You… stare too much," Julien mumbled, trying to sound annoyed.
"Can't help it," Damien replied smoothly. His voice dropped lower, intimate. "You make it hard to look anywhere else."
Julien's stomach did a somersault. Heat rushed to his cheeks, and he shoved Damien's shoulder weakly. "You're ridiculous."
But Damien didn't budge. He leaned even closer, his breath ghosting over Julien's ear, and whispered, "Maybe. But you're smiling right now."
Julien blinked, startled. He hadn't even realized his lips had curved up. He snapped his mouth into a thin line, glaring half-heartedly. "I'm not."
"You are," Damien said, grinning openly now. "And it suits you."
Julien's heart felt like it might burst out of his chest. He didn't know whether to hit Damien or hide under the blankets forever. Instead, he muttered, "You're insufferable."
"And yet," Damien teased, "you haven't kicked me out."
Julien's retort died on his tongue when Damien's hand reached up again, brushing damp strands of hair away from his forehead. The gesture was so unexpectedly tender that Julien couldn't breathe. His body leaned into the touch before his brain could stop it.
Their faces were so close now that Julien swore he could feel the faint brush of Damien's lips when he spoke.
"Tell me to leave," Damien whispered, "and I will."
Julien's lips parted, but the words refused to come. He should say it. He should push Damien away. But the truth was there in his silence, in the way his body betrayed him by staying still, by wanting more.
Damien's eyes softened, a rare warmth flickering in them. He leaned in just enough that Julien could feel the tension stretch between them—so thin, so fragile, one move away from breaking.
And then, instead of closing the distance, Damien pressed his forehead lightly to Julien's, letting the silence speak louder than any words.
Julien's chest ached. His hands tightened in the sheets, torn between relief and frustration, sweetness and fire.
When Damien finally pulled back, he whispered, "Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
Julien turned away, hiding his burning face in the pillow. But even then, he couldn't hide the small, helpless smile tugging at his lips.
Because for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel alone.