Chapter 12

The bright morning light coming through the window woke Sia up the next morning. But with consciousness also came the feeling of warmth and comfort. She’d never experienced such feelings before. It felt oddly safe to be sleeping next to her bodyguard.
She turned her head to the side and saw Julian’s peaceful sleeping face. Warmth flooded her cheeks when she remembered the events of the previous night. She had liked kissing him and loved that he had kissed her back with the same fervor. His lips had been so, so soft yet firm and experienced.
She turned towards the clock to see that it was only 6:30 in the morning, so she turned back to look at Julian. She noticed how his long dark lashes fell and cast a shadow on his cheeks. His midnight black hair spread on his forehead like liquid silk. His lips were pink and full and now, she knew they were just as soft as they looked. Beautiful yet manly. There was no denying the raw strength that he emitted even when he slept. Sia had no doubt in her mind that he’d protect her when the time came, just like he had yesterday.
He hadn’t slept under the covers with her, however. He had slept over them. His body may not have touched hers but he was very close. She could still feel the heat of his skin on hers through the blanket. He seemed to have respected her personal space even after the mind-blowing kiss they had shared last night. He had one hand under his head and the other folded on top of his chest. It was the most relaxed she’d seen him to date.
She knew about his reputation: that he had had several women in his life before he came to her. No! She shook her head and changed her train of thought.
Julian wasn’t hers. He can never be hers.
Not only was she older by almost four years, but she also had a son who was half Julian’s age. If she went on to have an affair with someone, Leo would be hurt. Not only will the media take every opportunity they can get to scandalize her, but they will also ruin her son’s life. And once had been enough for the both of them.
No matter what, she can never subject her baby to such kind of harassment. That was the reason she had never accepted any relationshipeven after she had freed herself from Arthur. That and the fact that Arthur had made sure she’d never trust any man ever again. Looks can be deceiving and a smile can hold a thousand secrets.
Sia was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need any other man in her life but her son. She lived only for her son and she will continue to do just that.
So, with one last longing look at Julian, she got up from the bed carefully, and left the room.

* * *

Julian woke up alone in Sia’s bed.
He sat up and blinked. Looking around groggily, he searched for the gun he kept under his pillow before he remembered that he wasn’t in his room but in Sia’s. His sleep faded away instantly, and he looked around the room once again, this time with his senses on high alert, and found the clock.
9:17 AM.
“Shit!” He jumped out of bed and hurried out of the room.
Going down the stairs, he looked around the living room, the kitchen and even in the backyard, but found no one. Damnit! he cursed himself. How could he have slept through the morning when he always wakes up at the break of dawn?
It was a habit he had acquired when he still lived with his birthmother. He had to stay prepared in case some of her clients had a penchant for younger flesh. And even when he’d been adopted by the Turners, he hadn’t trusted anyone enough to think they won’t sneak up on him. That fear had slowly become a habit, which had never been broken once . . . until today.
Julian went back upstairs once again to check Leo’s room, in case Sia was there, but she wasn’t and Leo was fast asleep. And despite him being in a hurry to go find Sia, he took a moment to study the boy.
The room was flooded with light from the two large windows beside the bed. The color scheme for this room was like every other room in the house: dichromatic. Leo’s room was blue and white. It was a simple room with a study desk, closet, ensuite bathroom, and a queen-sized bed. Nothing special but it screamed Leo.
However, when he looked at little closer, the color that he’d first thought to be pure white wasn’t white at all. On close inspection he could see that it was indeed a very pale golden. But what interested Julian wasn’t exactly the room but its owner.
For some reason, Julian saw himself in Leo. Both of them have been helpless at a very young age. However, where Leo had his mother to protect him, Julian had had to fight his own battles by himself. Poor child had to endure a lot at such a young age and his suffering hasn’t ended yet. He was strong—stronger than what he had estimated. Even though he was soft on the inside and would rather read a boring mystery novel than play Call of Duty or some other slayer games, his ability to manage a situation calmly was indeed remarkable. He had to grow up way too fast without enjoying the joys of childhood and the protection of a father.
Julian’s heart thumped with a fierce need to protect this child, so Leo gets to experience all the things he had missed out on. Just like Christian had done for him.
He will. Julian promised to himself. He will do anything he can to ensure that this child didn’t suffer. Like he had to. He promised Leo he will never grow up in an unloving environment like he had.
With that, he slowly closed the door to Leo’s room and left in search of Sia.