Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

For the past two days , Sydney had been phoning Alan each morning and asking about Eliana . The recovery was going well . It had been a scare , but nothing serious . She had just closed the refrigerator door when the doorbell rang again . Thinking Agatha had forgotten something , Sydney hurried to answer . The moment the door cracked , Yoyo squeezed in and pressed insistently against her legs . Holding the dog in her arms , she glanced down the hall . It was empty . Across the way , Julian's door remained firmly shut . She rubbed Yoyo's head . " Did he lock you out ? " " Woof , woof !

" After nuzzling her a few more times , Yoyo suddenly recalled something . It grabbed the hem of her skirt in its teeth and tugged her toward the hall . She laughed helplessly . " Where do you want to take me ? " She hurried into her coat , snatched up her phone and bag , and followed . Surprisingly , Yoyo did not wander . It went straight to Julian's home . The dog sat squarely in front of the door , lifted its dark , gleaming eyes to her , then stared at the doorbell . Yoyo was signaling her to press it . Sydney lowered her gaze . " You can't press it yourself ?

" The dog seemed to understand . It jumped , straining , but its paws fell short of the bell . Sydney froze , then realized that the one who had rung the bell at her own place earlier had not been Yoyo . She reached out and pressed the button . A moment later , Julian opened the door with an indifferent expression . He rested one hand on the handle , his stance casual . " Forgot the code ? " His voice was edged with frost . " I'm not as close to you as Ms. Lindstrom . " The words slipped out before she could stop them . His brow arched .

He leaned down suddenly , circled her waist with his long arm , hauled her inside , and snapped the door shut . Julian pressed her against the wall , his hand firm at her waist , and lifted her onto her toes effortlessly . His voice dropped low . " You were angry last night because Charlotte has the code to my place ? " Sydney's face flamed at how precisely he had cut to the truth . Forced so close , she dodged his burning stare . " I just think we aren't that close . " He bent lower , and their breaths tangled , " We lived under the same roof for nine years , and that isn't close ?

looked up , her eyes locked with his dark , fathomless eyes . Their faces were so near that his breath fanned across her cheek , his cedar scent wrapping tight around her . She opened her mouth , only for him to cover it with his . Sydney's body went rigid ,

urgent , and unrefined . It carried the raw hunger of a man who had endured too long and could no longer restrain himself . One hand pinned her to him , the other cradled the back of her head , leaving her no room to pull away

. A jolt shot through her , and her

The bell rang again , louder this time . Impatient fists rapped on the door , and muffled voices followed . " What's going on ? Did Jules forget we were coming ? " " No way . " That was Caleb's voice . Panic shot through Sydney . Her gaze flicked to Julian . " It's Caleb . They're here- " " So what ? " He kissed her again , a flash of cold cruelty crossing his face . Tilting her chin , he pressed , " Afraid he'll find out you're cheating on your husband ? " " It's not that- " Humiliation stung sharply

" That's ... What kind of