Chapter 94

Stella's POV

I gazed out the window at the swiftly passing city lights, when suddenly a flash of green caught my eye.

I blinked in surprise. There, next to Adam, was a deep green hand-knitted scarf-the one I had gifted him, the one he had thrown into the trash during an argument.

Impossible. Did he really retrieve it from the trash? This didn't seem like something Adam would do.

Without hesitation, I reached for the scarf, the familiar texture confirming it was indeed the one I had given him. "You kept it?" I asked in astonishment, "I thought you had thrown it away."

Adam glanced at the scarf in my hand, his expression carefully composed. "Joseph rescued it."

"Joseph?" I examined the pattern on the scarf closely.

Stop pretending, Adam. Is it so difficult to admit that you retrieved it yourself? Why can't you acknowledge that you care about certain things?A hint of challenge flashed in Adam's eyes,"Perhaps Joseph bought it?" I turned the scarf over, "I knitted this myself. See this pattern?"I pointed to a intricate design at the edge of the scarf. "I hid your initials A.L. in it."

Adam's expression changed instantly, his eyes widening slightly.suddenly showing a new interest in the scarf. "You knitted this yourself?"

"Yes," under his gaze, I suaddenly felt a bit uncomfortable,"

What did you think? I bought it?"

I had spent weeks learning to knit, my fingers even blistered.

Adam remained silent, but I could see a subtle change in his expression-the softening of his eyes,the relaxation of his jawline. He reached out to take back the scarf, his fingers lightly brushing against mine.

"Give it back to me," his voice softer than before.

A mischievous thought suddenly crossed my mind. I pulled the scarf out of his reach, a playful smile playing on my lips. "Why? You already threw it away once, obviously you didn't like it."

Idiot,throwing it away once and now wanting it back.

"Stella..." his tone carried a warning, but not anger. Adam suddenly leaned in, pinning me against the car door, his face inches away from mine. The scarf was forgotten,his weight pressing down on me, the leather seat emitting a slight creak.

"Adam!" I gasped, the cramped space of the car suddenly feeling more suffocating. "What are you-"

A rare, genuine smile appeared on his lips, momentarily rendering me speechless.

Oh, he looks so handsome when he smiles. Like a completely different person. HIe can easily catch me off guard, it's so unfair.

This thought flashed through my mind, leaving me momentarily disoriented. Before I could regain my senses,Adam took advantage of my distraction and snatched the scarf back.

"Tell me," his voice lowered to that dangerous tone that always made my heart race, "why did you refuse to accompany me to the economic forum, but had time to have supper with James?"

The sudden change in topic caught me off guard. "I didn't refuse because of James-"

"Then why?" Adam narrowed his eyes slightly.

I sighed,suddenly tired of these constant misunderstandings." That night, James did a favor for Sam. The dinner was just a way to thank him."

Why are things always so complicated with him? I couldn't tell him about Victor, that would betray Sam's trust, but if I didn't explain, he would continue to think the worst.

Adam stared at my face for a long moment. "And what about the pearl hairpin James gave you? The one you wore at his mother's birthday party?"

"What about it?" I asked defensively, "You took it, remember?"

Oh, here we go again. This man's ability to hold a grudge is unmatched.

"You didn't ask for it back," he pointed out.

I rolled my eyes, "I thought you threw it away, just like the scarf."

"You seem to cherish James's gift," Adam said in a feigned casual tone.

"That's ironic coming from you," I retorted, "When Susan gave you that box of imported chocolates, I immediately saw through her intentions, so I took it. But James had no ulterior motives. We had just started to get along, hadn't even spoken before. These two situations are completely different." How can such a smart person be so dense? Susan practically threw herself at him with the chocolates, while my relationship with James is purely platonic. Adam's expression unexpectedly softened. He reached out and gently ruffled my hair, a gesture so unexpected and full of warmth that it momentarily made me forget my annoyance.

"Move," I weakly pushed at his chest, "You're crushing me."

Instead of moving away, Adam leaned in and kissed me, a decisive and swift kiss that stole my breath away. Before I could react, he had pulled back, leaving me blinking in surprise.

"What was that for?" I asked, my voice awkward and breathless.

"Do I need a reason?" he countered, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at my reaction.

Steam filled the bathroom as I stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash away the day's stress. Just finished washing my hair, I heard the bathroom door open.

"Adam?" I called out, reaching for the towel next to me,"What's wrong?"

Instead of a response, I heard firm footsteps approaching the shower. When the glass door slid open, my heart skipped a beat as I saw Adam standing there in a perfectly tailored suit. "Adam!" I exclaimed, instinctively shielding myself with my arms, "I'm showering! What are you doing coming in?" Seriously? He had to choose this moment to come in?

His gaze roamed appreciatively over me. unashamedly admiring."I know you're showering," he replied calmly, "Why else would I come in?"

I tried to reach for the towel hanging outside the shower,but Adam intercepted my hand, pulling me into his embrace. The sudden movement caused my wet feet to slip on the marble floor, but Adam's arm securely wrapped around my waist kept me steady.

"I haven't finished," I protested weakly as his lips neared mine.This is ridiculous. His suit is getting soaked, and I'm covered in shampoo.

"It's okay," he whispered against my lips, the expensive suit quickly getting drenched in the mist, "We'll finish together."

His lips claimed mine in a kiss that made my bones melt, more effective than the steam in making me dizzy. I felt his hand glide over my wet back, the water still cascading down,leaving a trail of hot marks.

"You're suit," when he finally released my lips, I managed to say.

He casually removed his jacket and tossed it on the floor,unbuttoning his shirt one by one, revealing his sturdy chest. then his pants slid down, his hard, erect member exposed to the steam, thick and full of power