Roman and Julienne's heart desire

Chapter 195: Shared screen

The couple kept talking until well past midnight, yet neither of them said goodbye as if neither had a life waiting for them the next day.

The soft glow of their phone screens lit their faces in the quiet darkness of their separate rooms, the silence around them broken only by their gentle breathing and the faint rustle of sheets.

"Love, you have to sleep," Roman said softly, his deep voice calm and warm, like a quiet lullaby.

Julie pouted, her lower lip pushing forward as she hugged the pillow closer to her chest.

"But you won’t be here," she complained, her voice tinged with that small, fragile sadness she couldn’t quite hide.

Roman smiled the kind of smile that softened his eyes. "I will."

"How?" she asked quietly, tilting her head slightly, strands of her hair falling across her cheek.

"You think I will hang up?" he replied.

She nodded slowly, sadness creeping back into her eyes like a passing cloud over sunlight.

"I won’t hang up. I’ll keep looking at you until you fall asleep," Roman assured her gently.

Julie’s face brightened instantly, the heaviness melting away.

"I’ll do the same," she said, smiling warmly as she gazed at him with those beautiful, adoring eyes that always made his chest tighten.

"Now close those beautiful eyes," he murmured.

She nodded. Without another word, she adjusted herself into a comfortable position on the bed, the mattress dipping softly beneath her.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, Roman’s low voice stopped her.

"You forgot to cover yourself with the blanket, Queen," he said huskily, clearing his throat afterward.

"Oh yeah... now there’s no one to cover me with it," she teased softly while pulling the blanket up to her chest, the fabric brushing gently against her chin.

"Good girl. Now we pray before sleeping, right?"

She nodded again, calm settling over her features.

"Now to sleep," Roman added, winking playfully.

Julie quickly closed her eyes, but not before whispering, "How naughty."

Roman burst into quiet laughter, the sound soft, affectionate, and filled with love as the peaceful night wrapped around them both.

Gradually, he closed his eyes too, letting the quiet settle over him, but after a moment he opened them again, unable to resist checking on her.

The faint glow from his screen illuminated Julie’s face, soft and peaceful yet her eyes were still open, heavy with sleep but fixed on him with quiet devotion.

"Will you watch me until I fall asleep?" he asked gently, his voice low, almost hushed, as though afraid even sound might disturb the fragile calm between them.

She nodded slowly, her lashes fluttering. "We’ll do the same," she murmured, her voice thick with drowsiness but sincere.

"Okay... on three we close our eyes together," Roman said, trying to sound firm, though his smile betrayed him.

Before he could even begin counting, Julie spoke again, her voice suddenly a little more alert.

"I didn’t ask about your day. How was business? Did you get any rest? Did anyone trouble you? Because I’ll come there and scold them," she said, narrowing her eyes playfully, though the concern beneath her teasing was impossible to miss.

Roman’s smile widened, warmth spreading through his chest. Even exhausted, even half-asleep, she still worried about him.

"Don’t worry," he replied softly. "Everything is alright. I just need some rest tomorrow will be busy."

Julie inhaled sharply, the sound faint but clear through the speaker. Guilt flickered across her face.

"I kept you awake this long," she said, her voice carrying a fragile note of remorse.

"Shhh... calm down, Queen," Roman murmured immediately, his tone soothing. "It’s alright. Rest can wait forever, but I can’t let you miss me too much."

The words were half playful, half sincere, and they softened the tension in her expression. She nodded gently, the corners of her lips lifting in a small, sleepy smile.

The blanket rustled softly as she settled deeper into the pillow, her breathing beginning to slow.

"Now let’s sleep," she whispered after a brief pause. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added in a faint murmur, "Don’t talk again."

Roman chuckled quietly, careful not to disturb the peace that had finally settled over her.

"Okay, I won’t."

After all, when it came to his woman, she was always right — or at least, he preferred to believe so. A tender fondness lingered in his gaze as he watched her.

"Goodnight, love," he said softly, his voice wrapped in warmth.

"Goodnight... and good morning in advance," Julie replied without opening her eyes, her words slightly slurred by sleep but still carrying that gentle sweetness he adored.

Roman didn’t respond again. He simply watched.

Her breathing gradually evened out, each inhale slow and steady, each exhale softer than the last.

The faint rise and fall of her shoulders, the relaxed curve of her lips, the stillness that settled over her all told him sleep had finally claimed her.

The room around him was silent except for the distant hum of night, and the soft glow of the screen cast a muted light across his tired features.

Yet he didn’t look away.

There was something deeply comforting in simply watching her rest, even from miles away.

It eased the exhaustion in his bones, softened the strain of the day, and filled the quiet spaces in his chest with a sense of closeness that distance couldn’t erase.

So he stayed there, eyes lingering on her peaceful face, letting the silence speak for them both while the night gently carried them toward rest.

Still watching her, Roman gently reached for another pillow and placed it carefully behind his phone, adjusting it until the screen sat steady and upright.

He didn’t want the angle to shift, didn’t want anything to interrupt the quiet comfort of seeing her face.

The soft glow from the display illuminated her sleeping features relaxed, peaceful, almost fragile and something in his chest loosened at the sight.

Like that, eyes fixed on his beloved, exhaustion finally caught up with him.

His eyelids grew heavier with each passing second until, without realizing it, he too drifted off to sleep, his breathing gradually falling into a slow, steady rhythm that mirrored hers.

Two hearts resting together. Two souls quietly connected, even though hundreds of miles stretched between them.

Distance, in that moment, seemed insignificant compared to the invisible thread that held them close.

Hours slipped by unnoticed.

The dark hush of night softened into the pale stillness of early morning.

Faint light crept through Roman’s curtains, brushing across the room in gentle strokes, carrying with it the subtle freshness of dawn.

Then suddenly.Beep. Beep. Beep.

Roman stirred, brows knitting as the sharp sound of his alarm pierced the silence. His hand fumbled instinctively across the bedside surface until he grabbed the phone.

"Oops," he muttered groggily, quickly silencing it before it could ring again. His voice was low, careful, almost protective. "You’ll wake my sleeping beauty."

His gaze immediately settled on the screen.

Julie was still asleep, exactly as he had left her hair slightly tousled against the pillow, lips parted faintly, breathing slow and even. The calmness in her expression made him smile without thinking.

"Good morning, hubby," he whispered playfully, his tone light, as though she might somehow hear him even through sleep.Careful not to disturb the phone’s position, he slipped out of bed.

The floor felt cool beneath his feet as he stretched lightly, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness of sleep.

A quick glance at the screen again reassured him she was still resting peacefully before he finally headed toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water soon filled the quiet space.

Steam rose, curling softly in the air as he took a quick shower, letting the warmth chase away the last traces of fatigue.

Droplets clung to his skin when he stepped out, the cool air of the room contrasting sharply with the lingering heat from the water.

After dressing, the very first thing he did was look back at his phone.

Julie was still asleep.

Roman’s smile returned, softer this time, touched with affection and a hint of longing.

There was something strangely comforting about that simple sight her presence, even silent, even distant. It grounded him.

He walked closer, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed so the screen filled more of his view.

His fingers hovered near it briefly, as though he wanted to brush her hair back, then stopped. Some gestures didn’t translate through distance.

"Just wait a little..." he murmured quietly, voice warm and full of promise. "I’ll be back in your arms soon."

He didn’t know what the day ahead held.

Didn’t know what twists, responsibilities, or surprises waited beyond that peaceful moment.

But for now, the calm was enough — the quiet connection, the reassurance that even apart, they still found their way back to each other.

And so he stayed there a moment longer, simply watching her breathe, letting that gentle closeness carry him into the unfolding morning.