Chapter 104: Don’t Look Away...

Sylvia pulled away from me, leaving me breathing heavily as I tried to steady my racing heartbeat.

She reached for the door, pulled it open, and stepped out.

For a moment, I felt a little disappointed. I hadn’t expected her to leave me hanging like this, especially after everything that had just happened.

I watched her silently, still craving more of her warmth, her touch, and the closeness we had shared.

Then she turned toward me and stretched out her hand.

"Come on, babe."

My gaze dropped to her waiting hand. I picked up my bag before reaching out and placing my hand in hers.

She gently pulled me out of the car and closed the door behind me with her other hand.

I pressed the button on my key fob, and the car gave a soft beep as it locked.

Without saying anything else, Sylvia tugged gently on my hand and led me toward the front door.

I let her pull me along, my thoughts still scattered from what had happened moments ago.

She pushed the door open, and we stepped inside together.

We walked toward the living room, and the moment we stepped inside, I immediately noticed someone sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, casually scrolling through her phone.

I recognized her instantly.

Janina.

The moment we entered, Janina lifted her head from her phone.

"Hey, Sylv—"

She suddenly stopped when her eyes landed on me.

I looked her over.

She was wearing denim shorts that exposed most of her thighs and a brown sleeveless crop top that barely covered her stomach.

My eyes narrowed as I continued staring at her.

Is she seriously trying to seduce my girlfriend?

My free hand curled into a tight fist, and my jaw clenched.

"Ohh. You’re back," she said, forcing a sweet smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

My frown deepened.

Sylvia glanced at me and immediately noticed how uncomfortable I was. She looked back at Janina without saying anything.

"Come, let me take a look at you. It’s been a while," Janina said, getting up and walking toward me with her arms slightly open.

She was coming in for a hug.

I instinctively stepped backward.

The closer she came, the more my body tensed.

Then the memories came rushing back.

What she had done to me years ago.

My vision blurred, and my heart began pounding so hard against my ribs that I could barely hear anything else. My fingers went cold, and for a moment, I felt like I was no longer standing in Sylvia’s living room.

I didn’t even realize Janina was already right in front of me until Sylvia suddenly pulled me against her.

I blinked rapidly, trying to pull myself together.

When I looked up, Janina had stumbled forward from Sylvia’s sudden movement and nearly lost her balance.

"Amelia!" Janina exclaimed, catching herself. "I just wanted to hug you because I missed you, but it looks like you don’t want me here."

There she goes again.

Always making me look like the villain while somehow turning herself into the victim.

"Hey. Don’t call her name with that disgusting mouth of yours."

Sylvia’s voice cut through the room, cold enough to make me look at her.

She glared at Janina.

"I already told you to stay completely away from me because you irritate me."

Janina’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell slightly open.

She clearly hadn’t expected Sylvia to take my side.

"Sylvia," she called softly, almost as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. "I’m actually your cousin, remember?"

Sylvia simply looked at her for a moment before taking my hand and pulling me toward the staircase.

She stopped after taking a few steps.

"Hey, Janina—or whatever your name is," she said without turning around. "Change your perfume. It reeks."

I froze.

My eyes widened.

Did she really just tell Janina to use my perfume brand?

Oh, she was definitely stirring up trouble for me.

"You can check out Amelia’s perfume brand and get a better one while you’re at it."

I almost groaned.

Sylvia, what are you doing?

Before I could say anything, she tugged me up the stairs.

I followed silently, still processing what had just happened, as she led me down the hallway.

We reached the end of the hallway, and Sylvia finally slowed down.

She glanced over her shoulder at me before stopping in front of a door.

I was still distracted, my mind replaying everything that had happened downstairs.

Janina’s face.

Her voice.

The way she had tried to make me feel guilty for refusing her hug.

And then Sylvia’s reaction.

I swallowed hard.

"Sylvia..."

She opened the door and looked at me.

"What?"

"Why did you do that downstairs?"

Her brows lifted slightly. "Do what?"

I stared at her.

"You know exactly what you did. Telling her to use my perfume?"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"She was wearing something terrible."

I couldn’t help staring at her.

She pulled me inside and closed the door behind us.

For a moment, she simply stared at me, her eyes softening.

"You’re the only one who smells good to me."

Before I could respond, she leaned closer and captured my lips in a kiss.

The kiss was desperate, almost as though she had been holding herself back for too long. Her hands settled gently against me as she pulled me closer, leaving barely any space between us.

I melted into her warmth, my heart pounding as the kiss deepened, all the tension from downstairs slowly fading away.

She parted my lips with her tongue and deepened the kiss.

A warm shiver ran through me as her breath mingled with mine, and I instinctively leaned closer. Her tongue moved against mine in a slow, intimate rhythm, leaving me dizzy from the closeness and warmth of her.

For a moment, everything around us seemed to fade, leaving only the closeness between us.

She immediately pulled away from me, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into the room.

She stopped beside the bed and turned to face me, a smirk slowly spreading across her lips. I could see the raw hunger in her eyes, making my pulse quicken.

"Now let me make you remember only me," she whispered before gently pushing me onto the bed.

My back sank into the mattress, making it dip softly beneath my weight. The blanket brushed against my skin, its warmth and softness strangely comforting despite the nervous flutter in my stomach.

Sylvia climbed onto the bed and began helping me out of my clothes.

My chest rose and fell heavily as I felt the warmth of her hand against me, each touch sending a shiver through my body.

Sylvia’s gaze lingered on me, her expression softening for just a moment before that familiar smirk returned.

I swallowed, suddenly aware of how close she was. The warmth of her body radiated through the small space between us, and I could hear my own heartbeat pounding beneath the quiet of the room.

She leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. Her fingers lingered against my cheek, gentle enough to make me shiver.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I whispered.

"Because I like what I see."

Her words sent warmth rushing through me. She lowered her forehead against mine, her breath warm against my lips.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. We simply stayed there, caught in the quiet tension between us, until Sylvia smiled and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.

Her kiss lingered, soft at first, then more certain as I relaxed beneath her.

I could feel the warmth of her body through the thin space between us. My fingers curled into the blanket, the fabric bunching beneath my hands as my heartbeat grew louder.

Sylvia pulled back just enough to look at me.

Her eyes held mine, searching my face as though making sure I was still with her.

I nodded faintly.

A small smile touched her lips.

"Good."

She brushed her thumb across my cheek before leaning down again. This time, I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the warmth of the moment.

She pulled away slowly, leaving me with a strange emptiness where her warmth had been. Before I could gather my thoughts, she leaned toward my neck again, her hair brushing lightly against my cheek.

I instinctively tilted my head back, my fingers tightening around the fabric beneath me as I felt her breath against my skin. It was warm and unsteady, sending a faint shiver down my spine.

Then I felt the sudden warmth against my neck.

I flinched, my shoulders jerking slightly at the unexpected sensation. My heart seemed to stumble before picking up its pace again, beating hard enough that I could feel the pulse beneath my skin.

She didn’t rush.

Instead, she lingered close, watching my reaction with an amused smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Her hand settled against my shoulder, keeping me still as she slowly lifted her gaze to mine.

The room suddenly felt quieter.

I could hear my own breathing, uneven and shallow, while the warmth of her body remained close enough to make me acutely aware of every inch of space between us.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I managed to whisper.

Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a soft murmur beside my ear.

"Let me teach you something today."

My breath caught.

There was something in the way she said it.

It sounded confident, playful, and far too certain of the effect she was having on me.

I swallowed and tried to look away, but she gently caught my chin and turned my face back toward hers.

"Don’t look away."

The command was quiet, but the look in her eyes made my pulse quicken all over again.