Maria had been lost in thought for a while, and when she snapped back to the moment, the room had gone silent.Puzzled, she glanced over at Sidney.”Hm? Why did you stop talking?””I’m done,” Sidney replied, his tone cool.”Oh.” Maria nodded, handing the tablet back to him. “Got it. You did great. Keep up the hard work.”She even flashed him a harmless smile, then casually stood up.”I’m going to dry my hair. Feel free to see yourself out,” she said, grabbing her hairdryer from the drawer and standing off to the side as she began drying her hair.Her arm lifted, exposing the soft curve of her waist, while her long hair cascaded down, filling the air with a faint scent. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Sidney’s fingers twitched, his gaze fixed on her back for a long moment.Maria wasn’t paying attention to whether Sidney stayed or left.He clearly wasn’t interested in her, and she had shown him that she knew about his intention.Continuing to dry her hair, she assumed he would take the hint and leave.But after only a couple of minutes, she felt his hand gently wrap around hers, stopping the dryer mid-air.Maria turned, confused. “What are you doing?” Standing behind her, Sidney looked down, meeting her puzzled gaze. “I’ll help you.”Maria chuckled. “It’s late, aren’t you going to head out?””Drying your hair won’t take long,” he said evenly.”Alright then.” She let go of the dryer and stood still, letting him take over.Sidney switched the dryer back on, his fingers gliding through her hair as he dried it.The warm breeze from the dryer, paired with the gentle movement of his hands through her hair, made the moment unexpectedly calming. Maria’s eyes fluttered half-closed, her face relaxed in quiet contentment. Soon, her hair was dry, and Sidney turned off the dryer, setting it down on the table in front of them.”Thanks. Well, good night…” Maria began to say, but her words were cut off when Sidney suddenly pulled her close, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.Before she could process what was happening, he leaned down and kissed her.”Mmph?” Maria froze, completely caught off guard.She had never expected him to kiss her so abruptly!Without giving her much time to think, Sidney’s kiss deepened, fervent and thorough, exploring every inch of her mouth.Maria felt her body weaken under his touch.His kissing skills had only improved over time.Sidney’s arm tightened around her, holding her firmly in place as his kisses grew more intense. Their breaths mingled, thick with unspoken desire.He gently pushed her onto thecouch, his body following closely behind and their lips never parted. Maria’s arms wrapped around his neck, responding in kind. It was like a spark hitting dry tinder, igniting a fire that consumed them both instantly. Their breathing. became erratic, their bodies intertwined, moving together with an undeniable chemistry. Maria’s leg rested on his shoulder as she watched the tension in his face, his temple veins pulsing, her breath quick and uneven. She opened her mouth to say something, but at that moment, words seemed entirely unnecessary. So instead, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to the moment.Again and again…From the couch to the balcony, and finally to the bedroom…Their presence lingered in every corner of the room, a trace of their passion left behind. By the end of it all, Maria was utterly spent, drained of any energy.When everything finally settled, dawn was already breaking through the windows.In a haze, Maria found herself wondering what had gotten into Sidney tonight.He had been relentless, almost overwhelming.He now lay beside her, still breathing in her scent, occasionally planting soft kisses on her skin.Half-asleep, Maria muttered, “…Get me some pills…”Before she could finish her thought, she was already drifting off to sleep.She didn’t have any protection at her place, and she definitely wasn’t planning on getting pregnant, so the morning-after pill was a necessity.