Chapter 14

Flustered, Stella kept her face buried in Rowan’s neck, unwilling to lift it. Rowan’s fingers gently squeezed her earlobe, rubbing it softly as his voice dropped to a husky whisper, "Should we keep going?"

Stella mumbled, "You can still kiss me even after others have seen us? I’m so embarrassed…!"

Rowan chuckled, his lips brushing her ear. "Are you really embarrassed now? You weren’t shy at all when you kissed me in front of many people. Now, you’re embarrassed just because Joseph saw us?"

Stella’s voice came softly from where her head rested on his shoulder, barely above a whisper. "That’s different. There’s no reason to be embarrassed about kissing openly in public." But now, with the two of them at home, in such an intimate embrace and kiss, being caught by someone else only made it feel strangely shameful.

Rowan didn’t quite grasp her logic. He found it somewhat amusing. With his hand still on her earlobe, he moved it to cup her head, tilting it slightly. "So, now we’re not kissing openly? Are we sneaking around?"

Stella bit her lip and finally lifted her head from his shoulder. Perhaps because of the kiss, her cheeks were flushed, and her clear, watery eyes met his. Just one look made Rowan’s throat tighten. He was about to lean down to kiss her again when Stella softly said, "I think we really are sneaking around to kiss, like it’s some secret kiss or even an affair."

Rowan was almost amused by her reasoning. He clenched his teeth and said, "So, Stella, do you just want to have an affair with me?" As he spoke, the intensity in his eyes deepened. He realized she still didn’t quite trust him. Otherwise, the thought of having an affair wouldn’t even cross her mind.

But Stella shook her head. "It’s not me. It’s you." After all, when she wanted to kiss him openly, he would always pretend to be reserved, pushing her away. But when no one was looking, he was the one being so proactive. That was exactly like he wanted to have an affair with her.

Stella tilted her head, looking at him with a slightly aggrieved expression. "If you didn’t want an affair, why didn’t you let me kiss you when we were outside? How many times today did you push me away when I tried?"

Rowan didn’t expect her to flip things around like that. She had started the day complaining and then suddenly thrown herself at him, kissing him without any warning. He hadn’t dared to kiss her back wholeheartedly. He still hadn’t figured out the reason for her sudden change, but he knew he had been using the excuse to hold her in his arms. No matter the reason, she was the one who had jumped into his arms and kissed him, claiming that he just wanted to have an affair with her. Now, she was accusing him of not letting her kiss him.

Rowan couldn’t help but laugh through his frustration. He gripped her slender waist in his arms. "So, you mean, if I call everyone in here right now and give you a deep kiss in front of them, that’ll prove I don’t want to have an affair with you?" Without waiting for Stella to respond, Rowan nodded. "Alright." He pinched her cheek gently and added, "Don’t be shy."

Stella was a bit surprised. She turned, and he had already walked into the living room. She raised an eyebrow, not believing he would kiss her in front of Joseph. So, she didn’t stop him from opening the door. It wasn’t polite to keep someone waiting outside for too long—it could be misinterpreted. Stella grabbed the full glass of water she had left. By the time she was done, Rowan had opened the door.

Without waiting for Conner and Joseph, who were outside, to say anything, he turned and said, "Come in." Stella was confused, still processing Joseph’s cryptic "cat and dog fight" comment. The mention of dogs or cats fighting piqued her curiosity. She glanced at Joseph, who had an odd expression.

Rowan asked Conner, "Joseph said you had a cat and dog fighting in there. When did you get them?"

Rowan hadn’t noticed Stella, still washing cups in the kitchen. He shrugged. "I have no idea what he’s talking about. I don’t have any pets."

Joseph, still standing awkwardly by the door, shot Rowan a look. What did he know? After seeing Rowan so passionate with her, calling her Stella felt right. There was no need to be formal.

Conner remained silent and then turned to Stella with a smile. "Hello, Stella."

Stella stared blankly at them. She had known Joseph since she was young. Although they weren’t close, she had seen him around with Rowan often. As for Conner, she had seen him recently at the hospital, where he diagnosed her with "love-struck syndrome." To be honest, hearing them call her "Stella" suddenly made her a little embarrassed.