CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: WANT TO SLEEP WITH ME?

After dinner, the two of them left the restaurant together.

It was mid-autumn, the sky was clear and the weather brisk and refreshing.

The night sky’s moon was as wide as a platter, a rarely seen beautiful moonlight.

The steel jungle, often devoid of human touch, was also tinged with a layer of moonlight, appearing somewhat gentler.

Ethan Sterling lifted his face to look at the night sky, then glanced at the girl beside him.

"We’ve been drinking, so we shouldn’t drive. The apartment is close by, shall we walk back?"

Inside her sleeve, Seraphina Thorne flicked her hand, stinging, yet she remained obedient.

"Okay."

She remembered that there was a 24-hour pharmacy at the entrance of the apartment complex where she could buy some ointment for burns.

The two of them walked together to the intersection, just as the red light turned green.

Ethan Sterling extended his right hand, intending to hold her hand.

Seraphina was unprepared, and when he grabbed her bandaged hand, she inhaled sharply from the pain and pulled her hand back.

Grabbing her arm, Ethan looked at the blood-soaked bandage on her hand, his brows furrowing deeply.

"What happened?"

"I accidentally burned it a little."

Ethan rushed to the street and flagged down a taxi.

He hurried back, raised her injured hand, and ushered Seraphina into the back seat.

"To the nearest hospital, quick!"

The taxi drove into the hospital’s emergency center, and Ethan ran back and forth helping her register.

He escorted Seraphina into the emergency surgery room, carefully holding her injured hand all the way.

The on-duty surgeon examined Seraphina’s injury, frowning deeply with annoyance.

"What’s wrong with you family members, why didn’t you bring the patient earlier? What if it gets infected?"

Seraphina was about to help Ethan explain, but Ethan spoke before her.

"Doctor, can you use a painkiller?"

"Now you feel sorry, but where were you earlier?" The doctor picked up a surgical treatment pack, "This area is large, even with a painkiller, it’ll need several injections, which hurt even more."

This situation really wasn’t Ethan’s fault, and Seraphina felt embarrassed letting him take the blame, so she quickly chimed in.

"It’s okay, doctor, I can endure it."

With his left hand steadily holding Seraphina’s hand, Ethan drew her into his embrace, raising his hand to press her face against his chest.

"Don’t look."

The blood-soaked bandage had dried, sticking together with the wound on her hand, forcing the doctor to use medicine to wet the bandage and gently peel it off bit by bit.

The pain from the wound tearing made Seraphina instinctively grip Ethan’s shirt tightly.

Feeling her actions, Ethan gently patted her back with a child-like comforting tone.

"Don’t be afraid, it’ll be over soon... good girl!"

The man’s voice carried the resonance from his chest, appearing exceptionally gentle.

Such gentleness made one want to indulge in it.

Seraphina couldn’t help but raise her hand to glance at Ethan.

Did he really...

Feel sorry for her?

The doctor disinfected the wound, cleaned it, applied medication, and dressed it anew.

Bringing Seraphina outside to wait, Ethan followed the doctor back into the treatment room.

"My wife is a violinist, will it affect her playing in the future?"

The doctor looked at his concerned expression and softened his tone.

"Don’t worry, it’s only a superficial burn. She’ll be fine after a few days’ rest. Just make sure not to get the hand wet and apply ointment for a few days, it won’t leave a scar."

"Thank you!" Ethan breathed a sigh of relief, "Please also prescribe her an extra box of painkillers, I’m afraid it might hurt her sleep at night."

When the two returned to the apartment, it was already close to eleven.

Taking off her coat, Seraphina turned to go back to her room.

Having rushed out from the backstage, she was still wearing her performance clothes, with her makeup untouched.

Ethan took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.

"Come to my room."

Seraphina paused her steps and obediently followed him into the master bedroom.

Lifting his hand to loosen his tie, Ethan casually tossed both his coat and tie onto the small sofa.

He drew the curtains and walked into the bathroom.

Through the half-opened door, Seraphina heard the sound of him running bathwater.

"Come in."

The man’s voice came from inside the door, prompting Seraphina to walk in with her head lowered.

Ethan stood by the bathtub, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, bending to test the water temperature.

Turning off the faucet, he straightened up and walked to her.

Holding her shoulders, he turned her around, removing the hairpins that held her hair up, one by one.

Her long hair gradually loosened, falling over her shoulders.

Separating her long hair, Ethan reached up to grasp the zipper of her performance dress.

The zipper slowly slid down, the dress loosened piece by piece, and Seraphina’s heartbeat accelerated just as gradually.

Whether it was eating or coaxing her...

His gentleness merely served as foreplay; this was his true intention.

How could she have thought that he truly felt sorry for her?

The dress parted, revealing the girl’s slender, fair waist and back.

As his gaze settled on her parted dress, Ethan’s eyes reflected a deep gaze.

His fingers gently brushed over her back, placing his palm on her shoulder, leaning close to her neck.

A simple swipe from him and her dress would fall.

Seraphina’s skin tightened, every hair standing on end.

Noticing her tension, Ethan pulled his hand back.

"Take a good shower, remember not to get your hand wet!"

"Alright."

Seraphina’s tone was obedient.

After all, it was only a matter of time.

Ethan had told her that he didn’t like forcing women.

The fact that he’s willing to coax her, play the part of a loving couple in their drama, already showed patience; she couldn’t demand too much.

Ethan exited the bathroom, and Seraphina removed her dress using her one hand, immersing herself in his large bathtub.

The guest room didn’t have a bathtub, so Seraphina wanted to indulge a little while she had the chance.

Still, fearing Ethan might hurry, she didn’t dare linger for too long.

The bathroom only had replacement underwear; she picked up a bathrobe and wrapped it around herself.

After all, she’d have to take it off again soon, so why bother?

Drying her hair, she gathered her courage and walked out of the bathroom.

Ethan wasn’t in the bedroom, so Seraphina looked around, initially intending to turn off the main light and wait for him in bed.

With her shy nature, she sat wrapped in her nightgown on the edge of the bed.

The door made a soft sound as Ethan entered.

He must have showered in another bathroom; he wore gray loungewear, with slightly messy, damp hair, appearing lazy yet sexy.

Such a man, how many women must desire to climb into his bed?

Actually, she wasn’t losing out.

Seraphina thought wryly.

Cradling a cup, Ethan walked over and extended his right hand.

"Take the medicine."

In the man’s palm was a small white pill.

Birth control pill?

Seraphina furrowed her eyebrows, then felt relieved.

How could a man like Ethan possibly be bound for her?

Seraphina pinched the pill between her fingers, placed it into her mouth, and took the cup to swallow it down, sitting by the bed, awaiting his orders.

Like a docile kitten, the girl was so obedient and gentle, inviting mischief.

Ethan bent down, lightly stroking her lips with his fingers.

"What, you want to sleep with me?"

That bastard, clearly he was the one who wanted to, yet he teased her.

"If Mr. Sterling doesn’t want to, then should I head back to my room?"

Seraphina’s face blushed as she glared at him, her tone embarrassed and annoyed.

Her freshly washed hair was a bit fluffy, stacked messily beside her face.

The girl’s posture was just like a fluffy Persian cat ready to pounce.

Ethan finally couldn’t hold back, lowering his head to kiss her.