Chapter 75: Soft, muffled moans

Andrew returned to his estate in the late afternoon. When he spotted Caroline standing beside the tall window, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

"I missed you," he murmured, burying his face in her hair.

Caroline quickly ended her call. "I’ll speak to you later," she told the person on the other end before hanging up. She then placed a hand over Andrew’s arm. "You’re holding me too tightly."

He immediately loosened his grip, though he made no move to step away. Instead, he rested his chin on her shoulder and glanced at the phone in her hand.

"Who were you talking to?"

"A friend from the Crystal Moon Pack," Caroline replied. "Jeremy helped me retrieve his number because I’d forgotten it."

She turned to face Andrew, and his hands settled on her hips as he drew her closer.

"Is this friend someone you’re close to? You’re welcome to invite them here if you want," Andrew offered.

"It’s a male friend," Caroline clarified.

"What?" Andrew blurted out, his expression changing instantly. "Who is he?"

"His name is Kalvin Gray. I knew him from my workplace," Caroline explained, noticing his sudden interest. "I wanted to contact him because I still owe him some money, and I intend to pay him back. He helped me financially once, and I haven’t forgotten his kindness."

"I see." Andrew’s expression grew more serious. "How much do you owe him?"

"Five hundred dollars. I was planning to transfer the money using the card you gave me. I wanted to ask your permission when you returned, and now that you’re here—"

She stopped when Andrew gently placed a finger against her lips.

"You don’t need to ask for permission," he told her.

Caroline’s heart skipped a beat at his words, but she tried not to let her feelings show. She attempted to step back, only for Andrew to keep his hands firmly around her waist.

"Are you not tired?" she asked, lowering her gaze for a moment as she caught her lower lip between her teeth.

Andrew brushed his thumb gently against her cheek. When Caroline looked up again, she noticed the faint pink hue spreading through his pupils. His attention remained fixed on her, and the familiar intensity in his gaze made her heart beat faster.

"We’re going out this evening," he announced.

"Where?"

"On a dinner date. You haven’t had the chance to explore much of the city yet, and I want to take you somewhere nice," Andrew explained.

Before Caroline could respond, he lowered his head and pressed a warm kiss against her exposed throat. His gaze lingered on the faintly glowing mate mark on her skin before he closed his eyes and kissed it again.

Caroline’s fingers curled around his shoulders as he continued placing gentle kisses along her neck. Then, without warning, Andrew lifted her into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, holding on to him as he carried her toward the bed.

He lowered her onto the mattress with care, keeping one hand around her waist to steady her. His fingers found the buttons of the blouse-like top she wore over her knee-length skirt, and he began undoing them one by one.

Every time they became intimate, Caroline experienced sensations she had never known how to describe.

It was as though her body responded to Andrew before her mind could catch up, sending unfamiliar jolts through her and leaving her struggling to make sense of the emotions stirring within her.

No matter how much time she spent with him, she never seemed to grow accustomed to the intensity of their closeness.

And then there were his kisses.

Caroline could never find the right words to explain what they did to her. Andrew could be gentle enough to make her feel cherished, coaxing her to respond at her own pace, only to deepen the kiss moments later with an intensity that left her breathless.

He seemed to understand how to draw her closer without needing her to explain what she felt, and each time, he left her feeling as though she had forgotten every worry beyond the two of them.

Caroline welcomed his lips as they met hers, and warmth spread through her body. She responded to his kiss, following his lead as their kiss deepened. Their tongues brushed against each other, drawing soft, muffled moans from her lips.

She felt his hand move from her knee to her thigh, slowly gathering the fabric of her skirt as his touch made her heart race.

"Mmmph."

Another soft sound escaped her as the kiss grew more intense. She tried to pull back to catch her breath, but Andrew held her close for another moment before finally allowing her to draw away. Caroline gasped for air, her breathing uneven as though she had just finished running.

"Ah!" She yelped when he playfully nipped her earlobe, the unexpected sensation making her flinch.

"Nnh..." Her protest soon faded into another soft moan when his hand moved to her breast and gently fondled it.

"This scent of yours... I’ve been fucking missing it all day at the office," Andrew muttered against her skin.

He had already unbuttoned her blouse, and he gently parted the fabric, his attention fixed on her. The sight of his intense gaze made Caroline’s heart pound even harder.

"Andrew," she whispered, his name leaving her lips almost like a prayer.

She remembered how he had made her feel the last time they had been intimate, and the memory alone was enough to make her nervous. She swallowed, becoming acutely aware of the way his body pressed against hers, his bulge evident through his trousers as it brushed against her inner thigh.

Andrew’s gaze suddenly shifted lower, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"You have a mole between your breasts," Andrew observed, his gaze lingering on the tiny mark.

Before Caroline could respond, he leaned closer and pressed a trail of kisses along her skin, his lips moving lower as he gently eased the fabric of her bralette aside. Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively gripped his shoulders as he showered her with affection.

A soft moan escaped her when his kisses reached her breast.