I stood very still, confused and surprised both by the very presence of Julian’s lips on my cheek as well

as the tenderness of the affection he was showing me.

Julian had always struck me as something of a pl ayboy, and while I understood that much of how he

acted was an act, he never seemed to connect with any woman, in any relationship, beyond a fleeting fancy.

In our school days, he strung along many hearts, leaving a trail of broken ones behind him. He never

seemed to care about the mess he made of girls’ emotions.

Even Nicholas had warned me that Julian was a love them and leave them kind of guy.

So the gentle way he kissed my cheek, and the way his hands hovered over my shoulders, close but not

touching, was so bizarre to me, I was stunned speechless.

Then he pulled away, walked around me, and continued up the stairs. After a few steps, he stopped to

at me.

formulate words, and hurried along

of the way to my

had a familiar saunter to his

smug, so I couldn’t correlate that with the

like the kiss hadn’t happened at all.

which seemed

more in line with what Nicholas

my door, the guards greeted us both. When Mark saw me, he

phone in his hand. I imagined he was texting with Nicholas.

flesh, just to

said. He barely gave me a glance

from. “Goodnight, Piper.”

I said, but he was already walking away. He waved his hand up, but did not look

him until he

Mark. “How is

every fifteen minutes,” Mark said. “She’s been sleeping soundly all

“Thank you, Mark.”

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