CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: JENSON FORREST IS ADDICTED TO KISSING HER

Zinnia Lawrence was terrified, stomping her feet in panic.

But more hands seemed to emerge from nowhere, grabbing her pant legs and pulling at her calves.

Zinnia was so frightened she wanted to scream, stumbling as a dozen lecherous hands threatened to drag her off the stage.

A sudden force wrapped around her waist, pulling her into an embrace.

Then, Zinnia heard a series of shrill screams, and the hands clutching her vanished at the sound.

Chaos erupted below the stage.

She was spun around, pulled away from the edge of the stage. She was still shaken and instinctively looked up to express her gratitude.

"Thank—"

Before she could finish, her chin was seized. A man’s slightly rough thumb stroked her red lips.

An overwhelmingly masculine scent washed over her, sealing her voice in her throat.

Zinnia’s eyes widened. By the time she realized she was being forcibly kissed, a powerful pressure had already breached her lips, invading her mouth with a fierce, angry dominance.

"Mmm... nngh!"

Zinnia trembled all over, raising her hand to slap the man’s face.

Her wrist was seized in a powerful grip. Zinnia tried to knee him, but the man reacted with lightning speed, locking her securely in his arms.

He was so tall that when he lifted her slightly by the waist, her toes barely brushed the ground, leaving her unable to muster any strength.

Just as she was fearfully planning to bite him, the hand gripping her wrist moved, forcing her palm against his cheek.

Tears of humiliation welled in Zinnia’s eyes, but she froze when her fingertips registered a familiar touch.

Her trembling fingers traced the man’s high, strong brow bone.

He finally loosened his hold a bit. "It’s me."

The huskily familiar voice instantly dissolved all the strength from Zinnia’s body, and she went limp in his embrace.

He hadn’t pulled away completely. His thin lips brushed against hers, and it felt like a current was passing between their soft flesh.

Zinnia’s mind went blank, with only a single conscious thought remaining.

He was kissing her! Jenson was kissing her!

As if certain she had recognized him, Jenson hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her head up and crushing his lips against hers once more.

His masculine pheromones overwhelmed her, enveloping her completely.

He plundered and deepened the kiss, unrestrained, as if a long-held seal had finally been broken.

His breath was scorching, igniting her.

Zinnia’s body grew limp and tingly. Unable to bear it, she melted against him, clinging to him for support.

She closed her eyes, her lashes quivering, belatedly recognizing the man’s familiar embrace and scent.

It was the scent that brought her peace, that she craved, that made her heart flutter, that she dreamed of night and day. The one she had bitterly yearned for, but could never have...

This should have been a moment of sweet ecstasy, but for some reason, her nose began to sting. Her tightly shut eyelashes grew damp, and crystal-clear tears began to stream down her face.

Jenson tasted the salt from her tears, and it seemed to pull him back to his senses.

He stiffened, lifted his head, and released her.

Just then, the bar lights flashed on in bright clusters, and the music once again blasted through the speakers.

The dance floor stirred back to life.

Zinnia tilted her face up, the light illuminating her tear-filled almond eyes. Her small face, glistening with tears, looked utterly pitiful.

And yet, with her flushed cheeks and vivid, swollen lips, she was the very picture of pure temptation.

Jenson’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

He bent down, swept her into his arms, and strode off the stage.

Zinnia was exhausted, and her mind was a whirl of confusion as he carried her. If he was here, then who was with Crystal Sutton?

「Elsewhere」

Crystal Sutton furiously shoved away the person holding her, hissing, "Why is it you?! Get away!"

She turned and pushed through the crowd toward the stage, but by then, several people had already jumped up, and she couldn’t find Jenson anywhere.

She did, however, see Winston Forrest dancing intimately with a short-haired beauty. She squeezed over to him and asked loudly, "Winston, where are Jenson and my sister?"

Winston glanced at her. "What time do you think it is? They probably couldn’t wait and went home to get a room. If you’re so concerned, go find out for yourself."

The sultry girl dancing with Winston looked annoyed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, swayed her serpentine waist, and shoved Crystal aside.

"Who’s she?"

"Someone unimportant."

Crystal stumbled from the shove, and someone in the crowd took the opportunity to grope her chest. The humiliation was too much, and she completely broke down.

「In the car」

Jenson placed Zinnia onto the back seat and got in after her.

Timothy Cohen immediately started the car and, with a knowing glance, pressed a button on the center console to raise the partition.

The enclosed space seemed to be filled with the man’s scent.

The faint tingling on her tongue served as a vivid reminder of what had just happened.

Her face was still burning. She leaned against the window, wanting to press her cheek against the cool glass to hide her shame.

Jenson glanced at her, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

The man leaned back lazily, his features relaxed. He seemed to be in a good mood as he shot a sideways glance at the little ball she’d curled into.

"Do you have germs?"

Zinnia frowned, glaring back at him with shame and annoyance. "You’re the one with germs!"

What did he mean by that? He kisses her one minute and accuses her of having germs the next?

"Then why are you huddling so far away?" Jenson challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"If I had germs, you’d be the first one I’d infect!"

Jenson’s lips curved into a smirk as he suddenly leaned in.

"How would you infect me? Like this?"

He tilted his handsome face, his lips lightly brushing against her flushed ones.

Zinnia froze as if she had been struck by lightning.

"So emotional," Jenson chuckled softly. "First kiss?"

Zinnia felt mocked. It was her first kiss, but his clearly wasn’t.

His technique was too good; he was no beginner. He was so skilled that she couldn’t even lie to herself about it.

The thought that his skills were likely honed on Crystal Sutton made the blush drain from Zinnia’s face. She was so disgusted she could have cried.

She glared at him, her voice laced with angry sarcasm. "How amusing. We’ve been married for two years, and you’re asking if that was my first kiss? Don’t you think that reflects your own incompetence and shame as a husband?"

The undisguised loathing in her eyes pricked him.

The man’s expression turned icy. He pulled her over and settled her onto his lap.

"And your excuse for wanting me to kiss you is also quite novel," he said, his voice low. "You didn’t need to be so subtle."

As he spoke, he slowly leaned in. He cupped her face, pecking her swollen lips and the tear-stained corners of her eyes, again and again. His hot breath returned to her mouth, prying her lips open to deepen the kiss.

Away from the chaos of the bar, this kiss was quiet, lingering, and achingly long.

He finally released her when she grew breathless and began to push feebly against his chest.

The fabric of his suit trousers was wrinkled from her grip. Jenson rested his forehead against her shoulder, his breath heaving from his chest, hot and ragged like a stalking beast’s. A palpable sense of danger hung in the air.

Zinnia didn’t dare move, and Jenson said nothing. The only sounds in the enclosed space were their two ragged breaths—one shallow, one heavy.

After a long moment, Jenson finally lifted his head and looked down at the woman on his lap, her face flushed red.

"Silly girl. Don’t you know how to breathe?"

Mortified and annoyed, Zinnia tried to scramble off his lap, but Jenson gripped her waist, lowering his head to kiss her again.

Zinnia quickly turned her head to avoid him. Has this man become addicted to kissing? He used to act so disdainful. But now that her head was clearer, she was in no mood to play along.

"I’m not going back to Sovereign Court..." She raised her hand to block his lips. Before Jenson’s expression could change, she pushed him away, moved to the side of the seat, and added slowly, "...until we go to the hospital first."

Jenson glanced at her lips, kissed swollen and beautifully vibrant despite her pitiful expression. He was still in a good mood and decided to indulge her.

The man lifted his foot and tapped the partition with the toe of his leather shoe.

Timothy lowered the divider.

"Change course," Jenson ordered. "To the hospital first."

When they arrived at the hospital, Zinnia got out, and Jenson draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.

The temperature had dropped sharply, a change felt more keenly at night. Zinnia clutched the jacket tighter as Jenson put an arm around her, and they hurried into the inpatient building.

After confirming that Mason Lawrence’s condition was stable, the two returned to Sovereign Court together.

The bedroom had indeed been redecorated; both the sofa and the carpet were new. But Zinnia had lived here for two years. This sudden change served as a constant reminder of Crystal Sutton’s intrusion that night.