Chapter 203

Annie's POV

The Long Island mansion felt unusually quiet after dinner. I nestled in the corner of the living room sofa, casually flipping through a design magazine,occasionally glancing up at Howard sitting across from me,completely absorbed in his company documents. A peculiar tranquility surrounded us-no Lucy's crisp laughter, no sound of her bouncing footsteps. This silence was both strange and familiar, reminiscent of those first few days after I moved in.

My phone's vibration interrupted my thoughts. Putting down the magazine,I saw a message from Eleanor. Opening our family group chat, I found Eleanor's brief update: "We've arrived safely."

Immediately after, a series of photos flooded the screen. I couldn't help but smile. In the first picture, mischievous Penny stood on a massive rock striking an exaggerated pose, her small body curved into a C-shape,golden curls flying in the sea breeze, looking like a little queen who had just conquered the world.

Meanwhile, our Lucy stood beside her, expression slightly reserved,hands properly folded in front of her, with just a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

So very Thompson, I thought to myself.

As I continued scrolling, the second photo caught me by surprise. Taken at dusk on the beach, Lucy looked like a completely different person-she and Penny were running hand in hand in the shallow water,blonde hair wet against her cheeks, her smile so wide it nearly reached her ears. What astonished me most was the sparkle in her eyes, that pure, childlike joy, an

expression I had never seen on her face before.

Without realizing it, I found myself staring at that photo, lost in thought.

"What's got you so captivated?" Howard's voice drifted from the other end of the sofa.

I looked up with a smile. "Look at Lucy, see how happy she is."

Howard set down his tablet and moved closer to me. I handed him my phone, my finger tapping the screen. "Look howbrightly she's smiling. I've never seen her like this before."

Howard's brow relaxed slightly, his gaze softening. "The Parkers understand children better than I expected."

I turned back to the group chat and quickly replied: "Playing so happily already? Lucy looks like a different person."

Eleanor didn't keep us waiting long: "Lucy was shy at first, but Penny quickly pulled her out of her shell. By the time we reached the beach, she had completely opened up. The little ones are exhausted now,they fell asleep right after their bath. Don't worry, I've made sure their hair is dry."

I was about to respond when a private message from Sue appeared: "This is the first time Penny's been away from me for so long since I got her back from Dave. Seeing her having such a great time gives me mixed feelings. You know what I mean?"

I sighed softly and replied: "Perhaps we should learn to let go a little from now on."

Sue responded quickly: "You're right. Parents who always try to keep their children close end up raising dependent adults."

I shook my head with a smile and put down my phone, only to realize Howard had moved very close, almost touching my shoulder. His presence subtly enveloped me, carrying the faint scent of cologne and whiskey.

"It's getting late," I glanced at the wall clock, which showed past ten, "I should get some sleep."

With that, I stood up and walked toward the stairs. Behind me came the sound of Howard rising, then his footsteps following mine. I didn't look back.but I could feel him not far behind me, like a quiet shaddow.

Upstairs, around the corridor, nearly at my bedroom door, I finally turned around: "It's just these few steps, is it really necessary to follow me the whole way?"

When I turned, I found him gazing at me, his eyes filled with honest desire and a touch of almost childlike stubbornness.

"Absolutely necessary," he said, his voice deep and resolute.

In that moment, I suddenly found this usually mature man somewhat adorable. He stood there, hands in his pockets, like a little boy waiting for praise.

"This is far enough," I teased, "Mr. Thompson."

Howard didn't shy away from my playful tone. Instead,he stepped closer:"Being able to spend even one more second with you is precious to me."

His words were like a small pebble gently tossed into the calm lake of my heart,creating ripples.

We stood there, looking at each other. A certain understanding spread between us.

"Perhaps," I pushed open the bedroom door, my voice softer than I'd intended, "you'd like to come in and look at more photos of Lucy?"

Howard's eyes lit up, but he quickly resumed his gentlemanly restraint."If you don't mind."

He followed me into the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him.I sat on the edge of the bed, opening my phone again, scrolling to the photo that had surprised me most: "Look how happy she is, like a completely different person."

Howard sat down beside me, his body slightly leaning toward mine.Strangely, though his gaze was on the phone screen, I could feel his attention wasn't there. His breathing was slightly uneven, his eyes occasionally drifting toward me before forcing themselves back to the screen.

"Are you even looking at the photos?" I couldn't help asking.

Howard paused, as if caught in the act. "Hmm? Of course..."

"Then what did you just see?"

"Lucy... she looks very happy," he tried to answer seriously,but his expression was clearly guilty.

I couldn't help laughing. "I didn't say anything specific, just asked if you were looking at the photos."

Howard Thompson, who commanded respect in the corporate world, now resembled a student caught daydreaming, pressing his lips together in slight embarrassment. This sight stirred an unusual feeling in me-this man who usually maintained perfect control over everything was showing such an unguarded side to me.

"Sorry," he admitted honestly, his voice low, "I wasn't looking at the photos."

"Then what were you looking at?" I asked,knowing full well the answer.

Howard looked at me, his gaze so intense it could almost burn: "You know what I was looking at."

"Tell me," I insisted softly.

Howard's gaze was direct and fervent: "At you. Always at you."

We stared at each other for a moment, the temperature in the room seemingly rising suddenly.

Before I could respond, Howard leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine.

I instinctively responded, my fingers running through his black hair.Howard's arms encircled my waist, pulling me toward him. In one fluid motion, he stood up, lifting me along with him. My legs naturally wrapped around his waist, surprised by his strength and decisiveness.

"Howard!" I exclaimed, though not in protest.

He didn't respond, just carríed mne a few steps to the wall, then gently pressed me against it. The coldness of the wall penetrated my thin nightgown, creating a contrast with Howard's burning heat that sent a shiver through my entire body.

"Cold?" Howard whispered in my ear, his voice deep and husky.

I shook my head, pulling him closer. "Not with you here."

Howard's hands supported my hips, holding me firmly against the wall.

His lips moved from my mouth to my neck, trailing downward,gently biting my collarbone. I tilted my head back, resting it against the wall,a soft moan escaping from deep in my throat.

I quickly unbuttoned his shirt, eager to feel his skin. Howard's chest was broad and firm, muscles tensing slightly beneath my fingers. He helped me remove my nightgown, and now the cold wall directly contacted my back,sending another shiver through me.

Howard still supported me with one hand while the other began exploring every sensitive spot on my body. His movements were both powerful and precise, knowing exactly how to elicit my strongest reactions. When his fingers slid between my legs, I instinctively arched my back,meeting his touch.

"You're ready," Howard whispered against my ear, his voice filled with desire.

"Don't make me wait," I commanded, my hands already unbuckling his belt.

Howard quickly adjusted his position, pressing me against the wall.I could feel his hot hardness at my entrance. He looked into my eyes as he slowly pushed forward. I drew a sharp breath, my legs tightly wrapped around his waist, fingers digging into his shoulders.

"Annie..." he called my name, his voice filled with longing and possessiveness.

Our bodies joined intimately, and Howard began to move rhythmically.Each thrust gently pushed my back against the wall, but the pain and pleasure intermingled, creating an extraordinary sensation. The coldness of the wall against the heat of his body created a conflict within me,making

each contact more intense.

His pace gradually quickened, and I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, breathing raggedly against his ear. Howard's breathing also became heavier, the muscles in his arms tensing as he held me securely in the small space between him and the wall.

As the waves of climax approached, I bit into his shoulder, initially intending to suppress my cries. The household staff had gone home,and no one else was around. I no longer held back my voice, letting it free.

My sounds ignited something in Howard. I felt his thrusts becoming more powerful with each movement.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice deep and firm.

I raised my head, meeting his eyes directly. In that moment, ecstasy completely overtook me, my body trembling uncontrollably. Howard reached his peak simultaneously, resting his forehead in the crook of my neck,releasing a satisfied growl.

"I've been wanting to tell you," Howard whspered in my ear, "when Lucy isn't home, we can do many things that aren't convenient otherwise."

I couldn't help but smile. "Like this?"

Howard smiled, kissing my forehead. "Yes, like this."