Chapter 6 - A Moment of Peace & Unspoken Vows
To celebrate the court victory, Julian arranged for a weekend getaway to his private estate on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin—a secluded timber-and-stone lodge surrounded by pine forests and calm blue waters, far removed from the noise of Chicago.
By Saturday evening, the sun was setting in brilliant hues of violet and orange across the lake.
Inside the cozy lodge, four-year-old Lily and baby Leo were fast asleep in the upstairs nursery after an afternoon spent playing near the water.
Downstairs, a roaring fire warmed the grand living room.
Sarah stood on the broad wooden deck overlooking the lake, wearing a soft cream cashmere sweater Julian had bought her, a glass of red wine held loosely in her hands.
The glass door slid open behind her.
Julian stepped out onto the deck. He wore a dark grey turtleneck sweater and dark jeans, looking relaxed and strikingly handsome in the twilight air.
He stepped up beside her, leaning his forearms against the wooden railing, looking out at the water.
"It’s quiet here," Sarah said softly.
"I bought this place eight years ago," Julian murmured. "I used to come here when the business in the city got too bloody. I haven't been back in three years."
He turned his head to look at her, the golden light of the sunset illuminating her soft features. "Until now."
Sarah turned to face him, setting her wine glass on the railing. "Thank you, Julian. For Victoria Sterling. For standing up in that courtroom. For everything."
Julian stepped closer, closing the distance between them until her front was pressed against his chest.
"I told you, Sarah," Julian whispered, his hands coming up to cup her waist, his thumbs resting on her hips. "You don't owe me anything. You gave me back my son. You brought life back into my house."
He leaned down, his lips brushing against her neck, right over her pulse point. Sarah gasped softly, her head tilting back, her fingers entangling in his soft dark hair.
"Julian..." she breathed.
He lifted his head, his dark eyes burning with a passion so intense it took her breath away. "I want you, Sarah. Not just for tonight. Not just as a nanny. I want you as mine."
Sarah looked up into the eyes of the man who had fought for her, shielded her daughter, and loved her when she was at her lowest point.
"I am yours, Julian," Sarah whispered back. "I’ve been yours since the moment I held your son."
Julian didn't wait. He leaned down, catching her lips in a deep, passionate, possessive kiss.
He lifted her easily into his arms, carrying her through the sliding glass doors and into his master bedroom, where the firelight painted the walls in deep gold.
May you like
That night, surrounded by the quiet hum of the pine forest and the warmth of the crackling fire, Julian loved her with a slow, consuming intensity that shattered every remaining wall between them. He touched every inch of her skin as if she were made of holy light, whispering vows of devotion into her ear until the early hours of the morning.
In the dark, resting her head against his broad, warm chest, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his heart, Sarah knew she had finally found her true home.
