Chapter 15

Stella tugged at the corner of her mouth and politely responded, "Hello." Rowan smiled, clearly pleased with the way Joseph and Conner addressed Stella. He casually said, "Make yourselves comfortable." He then turned and walked toward the kitchen.

Joseph didn’t think much of it. He just nodded and pulled Connor toward the couch. He casually asked Rowan, "Hey, did you get bitten by a dog or something?" Before he could continue, Connor suddenly tugged at his sleeve and coughed awkwardly.

Joseph turned his head. "What—" He froze in place. The moment he turned his head, he saw what was happening in the kitchen. Rowan had both hands braced on the counter, caging Stella between his arms. Then he... Even though Rowan’s back was facing them and Stella was completely shielded from view, the scene was pretty obvious. They were kissing.

It was as if Rowan had opened the door and invited them in solely to witness him making out with Stella. It felt like that was his strange fetish. Both of them stiffened and exchanged a glance. Their eyes flickered with shock, clearly caught off guard by Rowan’s actions.

Stella was just as surprised by Rowan’s sudden move. She had just finished washing the cups and was putting them away, thinking about whether she should offer Joseph and Connor some drinks, when Rowan walked into the kitchen. She thought he was coming to serve them water. She turned around to grab the cups, but then he pulled her by the waist and faced her toward him.

Rowan positioned himself between her and the counter, trapping her in place, and leaned down to kiss her. Stella’s eyes widened in shock. Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, trying to push him away. But Rowan wasn’t letting go. He held onto her soft lips, kissing her as if he wanted to absorb her completely.

Stella’s face flushed with embarrassment. Just the thought of the two men not far away, watching them, made her feel suffocated. It was so embarrassing. Earlier, when Stella had been the one initiating the kisses, it was because she had just returned to this life and was eager to confirm Rowan’s feelings. At that time, she hadn’t thought much about it. Besides, those earlier kisses had been quick and light. He hadn’t given her a chance for a deeper kiss, so she hadn’t really experienced the full weight of embarrassment. But now, things were different. Being kissed in front of others was humiliating, especially with two people sitting there watching. It wasn’t just about what they thought. It was what she felt.

Stella tried to push him away, but when that didn’t work, her fingers moved to his shoulder, digging in slightly with her nails. Rowan’s throat moved as he swallowed, and he finally let her go. But he didn’t step back. His lips were still dangerously close to hers as he murmured, his voice rough and low, "Still think I just want to have an affair with you?"

Stella shook her head quickly. No, no. You’re being very public about it, extremely above board! she thought.

Rowan traced a finger along her lips and murmured, "If that’s still not enough for you, and you’re having second thoughts, we could always head to the living room. Let them see it up close." Stella immediately slapped a hand over his mouth. He was teasing, just as crazy as he had been in her past life.

She glared at him, looking almost pitiful. Her voice was barely above a whisper, meant only for him. "That’s enough. Seriously. Really. More than enough."

They locked eyes for a couple of seconds before Rowan finally softened and said, "What are you so afraid of? They didn’t even see your face."

It’s easy to figure it out. They could imagine exactly what had just happened, she thought helplessly. She tried to act unfazed, but even though Joseph and Connor were quiet, she could feel their presence. She sighed in defeat. "I think I should probably just get my rabies shot now."

Seeing her genuinely embarrassed, Rowan decided not to tease her anymore. "Alright, let’s get the shot. Instead," he told Joseph and Connor, "wait a bit longer. I’ll go downstairs and grab you some drinks." He went into the bathroom to set everything up for her, then turned to Stella as she followed him in. "Go ahead and shower, I’ll hang your clothes on the door once you’re done." Rowan smiled and pinched her cheek. "Relax." Then he left, giving her some privacy.

Stella reminded him, "Can you bring up my skincare stuff too? It’s on the vanity in my bedroom. Just grab the boxes—it’s all there."

Back in the living room, both Joseph and Connor were sitting on the couch. They had their arms crossed and wore the same weird look on their faces. Rowan walked in and leaned against the doorframe. He paused, then looked up casually. "What are you staring at?"

Connor just shook his head with a small laugh. But on the other hand, Joseph let out a dramatic sigh and clutched his fists. "Rowan, I never realized before. You’re wild." He paused and added, "You’re way more shameless than I thought."