Semua Bab The Rising Temperature between Me and My “Step-brother”: Bab 251 - Bab 260

This was downstairs at her apartment building, right?The midnight street was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat. The hazy yellow glow of the streetlights diffused in the damp air, outlining the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar silhouette of the building. Wendy dragged her suitcase, which felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead, her steps faltering on the final leg of the journey home. Over twenty consecutive hours of international travel, compounded by the aftereffects of days of intense work, made her temples throb. Her brain felt like a waterlogged wad of cotton—muddled and sluggish. All she wanted was to immediately collapse into that soft bed and sink into a deep, oblivious sleep.Therefore, when that tall, straight-backed figure leaning against the shadows by the unit door abruptly intruded into her blurry line of sight, Wendy's first reaction was that it was a hallucination born of exhaustion.Their eyes met.Time seemed to freeze

She couldn't control a furtive glance from the corner of her eye. What met her gaze was the exposed section of his forearm where he had rolled up his sleeves. The lines were smooth, the muscle definition clear, containing a quiet strength. Just looking at it, she could imagine how easily those arms could lift heavy objects, or... embrace someone.Thump, thump, thump! The sound of her heartbeat was amplified infinitely in the confined space, vibrating against her eardrums. Wendy was acutely aware: She was the one who had actively brought this man home! Into her private space, in the dead of night. This realization made her feel both somewhat apprehensive and stirred a hard-to-describe, secret thrill.Wendy's small apartment wasn't particularly spacious, but she had arranged it meticulously to be tidy and cozy. Warm-toned soft furnishings, greenery and delicate ornaments everywhere, brightly colored paintings on the walls—the whole space was brimming

Wendy only had time to let out a short whimper before all her unspoken words and thoughts were completely sealed by this sudden, scorching kiss. Her chin was gently lifted by his warm fingers, the back of her head pressed against the cool door panel, while before her was his solid, blazing chest and an invasion that brooked no refusal. This was not a gentle, tentative kiss; it was filled with long-suppressed desire, restrained anxiety, and intense emotion that finally erupted, urgently seeking to deepen, to possess, to confirm.Wendy's dark eyes, widened in surprise, quickly misted over with a layer of moisture. Held tightly in the iron-band circle of his arms, she could clearly feel that every muscle in his body was taut, poised for action, all his strength seemingly poured into the act of "bullying" her, stealing her breath. Simultaneously, the lake of her heart, which had been calm due to dejection, was thoroughly stirred by his sudden move, churning into turbulent waves.

"You..." Wendy was too flustered to form a complete sentence. She only felt that this position was even more intimate than before, leaving her with nowhere to hide. She could only turn her face away, avoiding his eyes that burned as if they could set her ablaze.Asher, however, would not allow her to escape. He leaned down, licking her still glistening, rosy lips, his voice low and hoarse with laughter. "Looking at your face... arouses me more." He loved watching every expression of passion she made because of him, loved capturing every subtle change in her eyes."..." Wendy was utterly mortified, and she tried to turn her face away again.But this time, Asher was faster. He gently cupped her face with his palm, turning her gaze back to him, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, Wendy," he demanded in a low voice, his eyes dark as night."Don't tighten up," he suddenly said, his breath catching with a hint of restraint."Mmph! Y-you, don't say things like that!" Wendy's face was re

Asher's Adam's apple jerked violently as he threw off the thin quilt covering them. The cool morning air prickled at their skin, but he immediately pressed closer, burying his face in the slender, vulnerable curve of Wendy's neck. His tall nose pressed against the soft, smooth skin at her nape as he inhaled deeply, greedily.Her scent instantly filled his lungs, and the fire that had been burning in his heart all morning roared, flaring higher and hotter, threatening to consume his reason entirely.A low, unrestrained growl came from the man behind her—a hoarse, guttural sound, thick with the restless agitation of a beast. Wendy's body stiffened, and she immediately froze. In the next instant, Asher's thick, muscular arm, corded with strength, hooked around her and hauled her back, locking her firmly into his scorching, hard embrace, leaving not a sliver of space between them....When Wendy regained consciousness, the bedroom was filled with a bright, quiet stillness. Judging by the