I nervously peeked into the living room, but Julian was just clinking glasses with my husband. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

I must have been overthinking it.

Leo must have told him I liked octopus and asked him to get it.

But this tentacle was so thick… I struggled to pick it up with the tongs.

Finally, I just grabbed it with my hand. My fingers could barely wrap around it.

Just as it was about to slip from my grasp, another hand covered mine, holding it tight.

That hand wasn't wearing a wedding ring. It was darker than my husband's.

It was Julian's!

I tried to pull my hand away, but he squeezed harder. "Don't move. You'll drop it."

His voice was a low whisper right next to my ear. My face flushed, and I froze.

His body was pressed against my back, and he leaned in closer as he spoke!

His actions terrified me, and I let out a small cry.

"Sarah? What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Julian spoke up just a second before Leo walked into the kitchen.

I didn't want to be near him for another second. I threw myself into Leo's arms. "Honey, I…"

"Wow, what a huge tentacle! You love this stuff, don't you, baby? Julian, you're the best," Leo interrupted excitedly.

He then pushed me towards Julian. "Baby, what do you say?"

I didn't want to make a scene. Their friendship was obviously very important.

"Thanks, Julian," I mumbled reluctantly. My voice, soft with a hint of arousal, sounded like I was seducing him.

Hearing my tone, Julian's eyes scanned me from head to toe.

I swear he didn't have bad vision; he had x-ray vision. Under his gaze, I felt completely exposed.

Leo called Julian back to the table to continue drinking.

When I sat down, the tentacle was sizzling on the grill in front of me.

But with a guest present, all I could do was secretly squeeze Leo’s thigh under the table.

I picked at my food until both of them were dead drunk, slumped over and passed out.

Seeing how late it was, I got up to clean the dishes.

Just as I placed the last plate in the sink, a pair of hands wrapped around my waist from behind.

My sickness flared up instantly, a familiar itch crawling under my skin. I leaned back against the person behind me.

"Sarah, your body is still as amazing as I remember…"

It was Julian again. I thought he was passed out.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I tried to push him away.

He held me tighter. "Don't you want this? Your sickness… it needs to be treated."

That bastard Leo. He even told him about my condition.

"You… you… let me go…" I was on the verge of a breakdown, unable to form a complete sentence.

I looked at my husband at the table and called his name a few times, but he didn't stir. My mind was at war with my body.

Then, Julian spoke again.

"I know you're sick. So from now on, I'm going to be the one to cure you."

With that, he pulled out his phone, and with his other hand, he forced my legs apart…