Chapter 504: Accidentally
Manuel was silent for a long while. He rose from the couch and went into the bedroom. His leg had almost fully recovered, barring strenuous activity. He stood before her, watching her gasp, her face flushed. She was clearly intoxicated.
Hesitating, he leaned down. "Hey, you've got the wrong place…"
Before he could finish, Susan reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down onto the bed. To avoid falling and maintain his balance, Manuel pushed down on the mattress with both hands. Then, Susan kissed him.
Manuel swallowed. Susan opened her eyes, her gaze vacant. Her tongue explored his mouth. Clenching his fists, he neither enjoyed nor resisted. Her kiss intensified, growing passionate. She clung to him, her desire seemingly insatiable. She began to tug at his shirt, kissing his face, neck, and lower body. His fists unclenched. He buried his head in her neck, recognizing her familiar scent beneath the perfume.
Guided by her kisses, he responded. The tension in the room was palpable. Then, a soft moan broke the silence, "Henry…"
Everything froze. Manuel released her, her body still writhing with desire. Her blush deepened; her body seemed more alluring, yet to Manuel, she felt cold and repulsive. He disengaged himself. He felt fortunate to have stopped before things went further.
Once he was no longer on top of her, Susan reached out, trying to pull him back, but in vain. Her face registered anxiety; she writhed in the bed.
"Susan, I'm Manuel," he said emotionlessly, watching her. He wouldn't be Henry's substitute.
Susan stilled, a semblance of sobriety returning. She struggled to recognize the man before her. Finally, her gaze focused on Manuel's cold expression. She sat up, panicked. "Why are you here?"
"This is my home, my bed," Manuel replied.
Susan looked around, her awareness dawning. She was in Manuel's bed. How had this happened? The man she'd been with wasn't Henry, but Manuel. What had she done? She'd thought Henry had come to collect her. How had it become Manuel?
Manuel watched her expression impassively, his own earlier lust now a distant memory. No man would refuse a naked woman; he was no exception. But the situation was clear. He remembered hearing that it was Henry's birthday; Henry, who usually worked late, had left on time, leading to speculation he was with Susan. On such a day, she’d likely planned something special, but perhaps Henry had rebuffed her, leaving her upset and drunk. This explained her accidental arrival and her mistake.
After realizing the truth, Manuel remained emotionless. He watched her face pale, then turned to leave. Her gaze followed his back, finding him chilling. Yet, the memory of his earlier passionate response lingered—had it been a dream? The contrast between his current detachment and her memory was jarring.
Biting her lip, she was lost. How had she gotten into his apartment? Drinking was clearly detrimental. She contemplated abstinence.
As she berated herself, Manuel returned with her clothes, placing them on the bed. "Get dressed," he said.
Only then did she realize she was naked, her clothes scattered around. The quilt had slipped below her waist, further increasing her embarrassment. She quickly covered herself, but Manuel remained indifferent, his gaze seemingly unremarkable. She felt it unnecessary to hide. Manuel clearly had no further intentions.
Despite her discomfort, it wasn't the time to complain. "Get dressed and leave," he said, then departed, closing the door behind him.
Susan looked at her scattered clothes, overwhelmed by embarrassment. She hurriedly dressed and left the room.