Chapter 198

Annie's POV

"Knock, knock,knock."

I looked up to see Howard standing in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.

"Sorry to disturb you," he said softly. "May I come in?"

"Of course," I smiled, setting down my paintbrush. The squabble with Betty seemed to have disappeared.

Howard walked into the studio with that natural elegance that seemed effortless for him. He placed one of the coffee cups on my work desk. As he leaned down, I noticed his sleeves were casually rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. The muscle definition was smooth yet powerful, and a fleeting thought crossed my mind that they might be too thick to encircle with both hands. This sudden observation made my throat inexplicably dry.

Instead of turning to leave, he remained standing quietly,his gaze falling on the illustration I had just completed.

"It's beautiful," he said simply, his voice deep and sincere.

"Thank you," I replied softly, carefully picking up the coffee cup to hide the unexpected nervousness I felt. The hot liquid slid down my throat,spreading warmth through my chest, but the heat seemed to come from more than just the coffee.

The studio was unusually quiet, with only the sound of our breathing gently echoing in the space.

Howard walked toward the lounge area in the corner of the studio.His broad shoulders moved slightly with each step, his back straight as a shield. I suddenly had an urge to lean against it, to know what it would feel like to press my face against that solid back, to feel if his body heat would transfer through his shirt to my cheek. This unexpected thought made me blush to the roots of my hair.

After sitting down, he patted the empty space beside him. "Care to join me for a bit?"

I set down my brush and walked toward him. Each step made my heart beat a little faster.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as I sat down beside him, my voice softer than usual.

Howard shook his head, a simple and genuine smile appearing on his face.

"Nothing in particular. Just wanted to be with you like this."

That straightforward statement made my heart skip a beat.

The,everything in the studio fell silent. In this stillness, I suddenly heard a strong heartbeat. At first, I thought it was Howard's, but quickly realized it was my own heart pounding forcefully in my chest. The rhythm was unnaturally fast, almost making me dizzy.

Howard didn't speak, just looked at me intently, his gaze moving slowly from my eyes to my lips, then back to my eyes.

"Annie..." he murmured my name, his voice low and slightly hoarse.

I simply nodded slightly,

"May I?" he asked quietly, his voice clear in the silent studio.

"Mm-hmm..." my response was barely audible, but he seemed to understand.

He moved toward me slowly, his movements gentle yet determined.My breathing almost stopped, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. When his lips gently pressedl against mine, the world seemed to freeze in that instant.

His lips were warmer and softer than I had imagined, with the bitterness of coffee and a hint of indescribable sweetness.

The taste in his mouth was surprisingly pleasant, mixing with the coffee he had just drunk and a unique sweetness. The coffee flavor on my own lips blended with his, like fine chocolate-initially bitter, but becoming increasingly rich and sweet as it deepened. This taste was addictive,making me unconsciously move closer to him,wanting to explore more.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time," he whispered against my lips when we briefly parted, his breath warm against my skin.

"So have I," I responded softly, my voice trembling slightly with emotion.

At some point, I found my breathing had become rapid and shallow. A strange heat began rising from my core, gradually spreading throughout my body.

Howard seemed to notice my change; his gaze became even more focused.

My eyes involuntarily fell on his lips, those clearly defined lines now looking particularly attractive. I felt my body leaning toward him unconsciously.

Howard turned slightly, further reducing the distance between us. I could feel his breath gently brushing my cheek, warm and heart-quickening.

My heart was beating violently in my chest; I could almost hear the sound of blood rushing in my ears. Every cell in my body seemed to be awakening,responding,yearning. This feeling was both familiar and strange, making me both nervous and expectant.

My breathing became rapid, and my hand moved instinctively to Howard's tie, gently pulling to undo it, letting it slide fromn his shirt collar.

"Slow down, Annie." Howard grasped my wrist, his voice deep and firm.He took the lead, his long fingers brushing the hair by my ear, gently tucking it behind.

He leaned forward, kissing the corner of my lips,then my chin, and finally my neck. My hands restlessly unbuttoned his white shirt, and when I touched his warm skin, I could feel the powerful heartbeat beneath his chest. HowardI's breathing became heavier; his self-control was gradually being worn away.

He pushed me toward the sofa, his movements both urgent and restrained.My cardigan had somehow already fallen to the floor, and Howard's palm moved across my waist through my thin silk blouse, causing me to tremble involuntarily. I couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, a sound thatseemed to break Howard's last bit of rationality.

"It's just the two of us now," he whispered, his fingers skillfully unbuttoning my blouse, gradually revealing the skin underneath.

When his palm covered my chest, I arched my body to meet his touch.Howard's lips landed on my collarbone, his tongue lightly tracing the lines there, making my breathing even more rapid. My fingers threaded through his thick black hair, feeling its texture between my fingers.

Soon, my blouse joined the pile of clothes on the floor. Howard's gaze intensely scanned my half-naked upper body, the focus in his eyes making

me feel both shy and excited. His fingers hooked into my belt,both asking for permission and slowly unfastening it.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice husky.

My response was an initiated kiss. My lips and tongue intertwined with his, my hands moving across his back, feeling the contours and strength of his muscles. Howard carefully removed my last piece of clothing, his fingertips deliberately brushing the sensitive skin of my inner thigh,causing me to shudder.

"You're so beautiful," he gazed at me, his palm sliding up from my calf,lingering momentarily at the hollow of my knee, then continuing to explore my inner thigh.

I eagerly helped him remove his remaining clothes.

Howard's lips started at my neck and moved downward, lingering on my chest, the alternating use of his tongue and teeth making me tremble continuously. When his kisses continued downward, reaching my most private area, I couldn't help but gasp, my hands tightly gripping the sofa cushion.

His tongue skillfully teased my most sensitive spot, causing pleasure to surge like a tide. My thighs unconsciously tensed, my toes curled,feeling that gradually accumulating pleasure. Just as I was about to reach my peak,Howard looked up, meeting my gaze.

"I want to see your eyes," he said, slowly and firmly entering my body.

The feeling of completeness at that moment made me moan uncontrollably.Howard's initial movements were slow and controlled, allowing me to adjust to his presence. I could feel his shape and pulse inside me. As the rhythm gradually quickened, my legs wrapped around his waist,pulling him closer. One of Howard's hands caressed my chest, while the other supported my hips, making each connection deeper. His sweat dripped onto my collarbone, sliding down my skin toward my chest.

A wave of pleasure came unexpectedly, spreading like lightning from deep in my abdomen throughout my body. My back arched involuntarily,my hands seeking support on Howard's shoulders. My body wrapped tightly around him, as if unwilling to let him leave even slightly.

"Oh my god..." I gasped, unable to control my voice.

Howard didn't rush to seek his own release, but slowed his movements,focusing intently on my expressions. His thumb gently brushed over my trembling lower lip, as if recording every subtle reaction. This feelingof being treasured was intoxicating.

Just as my breathing began to steady, he suddenly changed tactics, one hand sliding to where we were connected, his fingertips lightly circling.This unexpected stimulation made me inhale sharply, my legs tensing involuntarily.

"You can take more," he said, not a question but a confident statement.

Howard began a new round of movement, this time with a more complex rhythm, sometimes slow and deep, sometimes quick and shallow. His palm lifted one of my thighs, changing the angle of our connection,making each contact rub perfectly against my most sensitive spot.

My senses were completely ignited, my thoughts becoming blurry. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff,both wanting to jump off to experience that ultimate pleasure, and wanting to stay forever in this sweet torture, Howard seemed to precisely control this balance, pushing me to theedge again and again, then pulling me back at the crucial moment.

"Howard, please..." I looed at him half-pleadingly, not even sure what I was asking for.

He bent down to kiss my neck, while suddenly speeding up the rhythm.My hands gripped his arms tightly.

This climax was more intense than the first, like wave after wave of ocean swells. My consciousness seemed to drift briefly, leaving only the most primitive feelings of my body and the warmth of Howard's close connection with me.

Howard's breathing also became rapid, his movements losing their previous composure. I could feel him pulsing and expanding inside me,followed by a warm release, accompanied by his deep, ragged breathing.This feeling of being completely filled made my inner walls contract involuntarily again, extending the aftershocks of pleasure.

"Yeah, it's different," Howard said softly.