Chapter 18

The pain was real. Conner couldn’t take it any longer. Even as a single man, he could feel the unusual tension in the air. Hence, he hurriedly left after administering the vaccine, explaining the aftercare, and scheduling the next shot.

Soon, only Stella and Rowan remained in the house. She blinked and cocked her head to look at Rowan. He was leaning against the sofa, his head slightly turned toward her, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"Rowan, what’s wrong?" Stella asked, puzzled. It wasn’t just Conner, because she could feel that something was also off with Rowan’s emotions. He had been fine before she went to take a shower, but now…

He didn’t respond. Instead, he lifted his fingers and softly twirled the damp ends of her hair as he whispered, "Didn’t I tell you not to rush? Why did you come out with your hair still wet?"

"I didn’t want to keep Dr. Pierce waiting too long," she mumbled.

Rowan let go of her hair, stood up, and entered the bathroom to get a hairdryer. He motioned for her to turn her back to him before sitting behind her, taking her wet hair in his palm and slowly drying it, strand by strand. The room was quiet except for the steady hum of the hairdryer.

He only turned off the dryer when her hair was entirely dry. His fingers brushed through her soft locks as he called out to her in a low voice, "Stella."

She turned her head. "What is it?" Perhaps it was the warm air from the dryer, but her cheeks seemed flushed, giving her a soft and seductive glow. Her eyes were still glistening, and under the warm lighting of the room, they shimmered like a galaxy filled with countless floating stars.

Rowan grabbed the back of her head, lowered his own, and gently kissed her eyelids. Slowly, his lips drifted lower, pressed her cheek, then the curve of her ear. Stella shuddered slightly as it tickled. But the minute she moved, he leaned forward and gently pinned her down on the sofa.

His lips remained by her ear, leaving featherlight kisses on her delicate skin. At the same time, his long fingers hooked onto the zipper of her black jacket, slowly pulling it downward. The faint sound of the zipper in the quiet room was incredibly suggestive. Stella’s fingers twitched slightly as she pressed her lips together. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer. Her voice was soft and gentle as she called him, "Rowan…"

She wasn’t sure what he wanted to do or whether it was what she was thinking. But she would let him do whatever he desired. The moment the zipper of her jacket was pulled down completely, the cool air brushed against her shoulders and arms, making her shiver. In the next second, his palm landed on her arm.

It was the same spot where she had just received the vaccine. He rubbed it gently before whispering near her ear, "Does it hurt?" Stella answered hoarsely, "A little."

As soon as she spoke, he pressed his lips against her earlobe and kissed it lightly. "Darling." His voice was just as husky as hers as he called her by a more intimate endearment. She had been the only one in his heart for over a decade. But he had never dared to call her that until now.

Rowan’s voice was raspy as he murmured the word, but his heart ached to the point of numbness. He would lay bare his heart and show her how precious she was to him if he could. He wanted to ask her why she couldn’t truly love him and what Randy had that he didn’t.

Stella’s arms tightened around his waist, her voice filled with longing as she answered, "I’m here, Rowan."

His Adam’s apple bobbed as his hand caressed her smooth arm. His voice grew deeper as he asked, "Will you marry me?"

Her eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes in surprise. She met his dark eyes and stayed clear, fearing he’d see a trace of rejection and disdain in them. She took a deep breath and murmured before adding, "Right now?"