CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: THEY KNEW EACH OTHER BEFORE

The elevator space wasn’t small, but Stella Grant felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Silas Sutton’s approach was unexpected, his departure silent.

Exiting the elevator, Stella couldn’t help but grip the gift in her hand a bit tighter.

The gift bag contained a bracelet.

Friendship style.

One in sky blue, the other in burgundy.

Sky blue is Sue Woods’ lucky color, burgundy is her favorite color.

Silas Sutton asked for it, and she couldn’t refuse.

At eleven in the evening, Stella knocked on Silas Sutton’s door right on time.

Silas opened the door at a leisurely pace, wearing a deep blue bathrobe, his body misty with moisture, one hand braced on the door frame, the other toweling his damp hair.

Seeing Stella, Silas tilted his body slightly, his voice deep and magnetic, "Come in?"

Stella nodded slightly, entering with quick footsteps.

Silas looked down at her, knowing she was worried about being seen by others.

Silas’s room was much larger than Stella’s.

Although it was the same floor, Silas’s was the presidential suite.

Once inside, Stella took a few steps towards the sofa and placed the gift box on the coffee table.

Silas approached and pressed his body against her from behind, leaning down and encircling her waist with one hand and reaching for the gift box with the other. His actions seemed so natural and practiced, causing Stella to question herself, as if they were a couple deeply in love.

"What did you buy?"

"Bracelets."

Silas had taken a cold shower, his body full of coolness. As he got closer, Stella couldn’t suppress a shiver.

Silas raised an eyebrow, handed the gift box to Stella, "Open it and show me."

Stella accepted and opened the gift box.

Looking at the two bracelets lying inside, Silas scoffed softly, "Braided?"

Stella replied, "I chose the cords, the shopkeeper helped with the weaving."

Silas lowered his head, resting his chin on Stella’s shoulder, casually picking up the blue bracelet, a teasing smile playing on his lips, "Quite charming."

After speaking, Silas shifted his head and buried it in Stella’s neck, kissing her, his voice low and seductive, "Put it on me."

Stella, inexperienced in such matters, couldn’t withstand Silas’s teasing, her body trembling slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Silas’s lips curled into a smile, moving to kiss her earlobe.

First, he caught it with his lips, then traced and sucked with the tip of his tongue.

"Silas Sutton."

Stella couldn’t hold back, whispering, as her delicate, pale fingers touched the back of Silas’s hand wrapped around her waist.

Silas responded deeply, chuckling, "Already can’t take it? What about later?"

Stella pressed her lips, "Just this once."

Silas laughed lightly, "I never said once, just that if you spent the night with me, we’d be even."

A night and once, there’s quite a difference.

When Silas leaned down for another kiss, Stella didn’t dodge.

Or rather, she had nowhere to hide.

Silas held her chin and kissed her, then pressed her down onto the suite’s sofa in the living room.

The sofa was soft, Stella almost melded into it.

She thought Silas would be quick and decisive, but he was unexpectedly patient, kissing her and teasing with rough fingers under her dress, provoking but not extinguishing.

Stella’s waist was slender, the curve especially pleasing when arched.

Seeing the red tint in her eyes and the shimmer beneath, Silas propped himself up to view her fully, "Do you want it?"

Stella looked at him, biting her lower lip silently, the redness at her eyes deepening.

Silas raised an eyebrow, "Don’t want it?"

Stella, "Silas Sutton."

Silas’s voice was husky, "Yes?"

Stella, "You’re a bastard!"

Silas let out a chuckle, not waiting for Stella to continue, he lifted her waist, changing her position.

Kneeling on the sofa, Stella trembled.

Silas leaned in, his big hand covering her softness, kissing her shoulder, "If you feel uncomfortable, let me know."

Stella’s waist dipped, her skin a fair pink.

Silas meant what he said about a night.

Not a minute was wasted.

After this night, Stella realized it wasn’t a waste, having filled the knowledge void in her twenty-six years about romance.

Sofa, bathroom, floor-to-ceiling window.

Tie, red wine, and... hands.

Stella never knew a romantic encounter could be so varied.

At four thirty in the morning, the final act was by the floor-to-ceiling window.

The dawn light crept in, adding an indescribable romance.

Afterward, Silas helped with the bath and cleaning.

When Silas carried her back to bed, Stella was exhausted.

She intended to return to her own room to sleep, but her body couldn’t muster the strength; she fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed.

Once she was asleep, Silas got up to smoke, extinguishing the cigarette and preparing to rest when the phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up.

Silas glanced coldly, seeing a message from Ben Lawson flash across the screen.

[Damn, Mr. Sutton, I just remembered who Stella Grant is. She’s the university student you sponsored five years ago. Tsk tsk tsk, you sure played the long game.]