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Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Biting Return Kiss

Lynn Winslow continued her supportive applause.

Ian Sterling said impatiently, "Stop showing off to every customer and just get the food on the table."

The owner chuckled. "Alright, alright. You must be starving."

Ian was left speechless. Lynn, on the other hand, giggled at the owner’s remark.

Steam billowed from the bubbling hot pot, causing beads of sweat to form on the tip of Lynn’s delicate nose.

Ian pulled a napkin from the dispenser and held it out to her. Lynn couldn’t free her hands to take it. Instead, she naturally leaned her face toward him, her meaning obvious: she wanted him to wipe it for her.

Ian hesitated for a moment before gently dabbing the sweat from her face with the napkin.

Lynn said, "This really is delicious. No wonder even someone as picky as you is a regular."

Ian grunted in agreement, then added seriously, "The owner was good friends with Jasper Jennings. He opened this place later on."

Lynn nodded, then thrust her face toward Ian again. "Quick, wipe it for me," she whined playfully. "Some oil splattered on my face. It hurts."

Alarmed, Ian quickly turned her head, cupping her face in his hands. He gently dabbed at the oil splatter with a fresh napkin and saw that it had, indeed, left a red mark.

A pang of worry shot through him. "It’s a red mark," he said in a low voice. "Let me take you to get something for it, okay?"

Lynn pulled out her phone and used the screen as a mirror. "Oh no," she cried in mock horror. "Am I going to be disfigured?"

Ian pressed his lips together, murmuring awkwardly, "No. Even if you were, you’d still be beautiful."

At his words, the corners of Lynn’s lips curved up. Completely forgetting her "disfiguring" injury, she leaned closer to him and asked, feigning innocence, "What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you."

"Nothing," Ian said, turning his head to avoid her gaze.

"You definitely said something you don’t want me to hear. Come on, tell me, tell me!" Lynn was like a piece of taffy, sticking to him and pestering him relentlessly.

Flustered, Ian snapped, "Aren’t you worried about your burn scarring over anymore?"

Lynn grinned. "You said I’d still be beautiful even if I was disfigured, so I’m not scared at all."

Ian’s neck flushed red. Seeing that he was genuinely getting annoyed, Lynn relented. "We can just get some burn cream. That should be fine."

Ian snorted, then stood up and headed for the exit. Lynn followed, sneaking glances at his face as they walked.

He was trying to ignore her, but her staring was too blatant. Ian finally frowned and shot her a look. Lynn gave a sheepish laugh and looked away, heading for the register to pay. "Miss," the cashier said, "your bill has already been taken care of. It was charged directly to the card on file."

Lynn understood. She looked over at Ian, who had been pulled aside by the owner for a hushed conversation.

The owner had a firm grip on Ian and wouldn’t let go. Ian was growing impatient, but the owner, seemingly oblivious to his scowl, asked curiously, "What’s with the new hair color? Trying to be a peacock spreading its tail feathers?"

"Don’t worry about it," Ian said, displeased.

The owner gave a sly grin and glanced at Lynn by the register. "So that’s the ex-girlfriend Jasper Jennings was talking about, huh? She’s a real stunner, and she’s got a way with words. Nice. Have you won her back yet?"

Friends always knew exactly where to stick the knife. Ian’s expression turned cold. "Why would I need to ’win her back’? You’re all in your thirties. How are you still so obsessed with gossip?"

With that, he turned and walked toward Lynn. Lynn offered a polite smile to the owner behind him before saying softly to Ian, "Let’s go."

Outside the restaurant, Lynn said, "I went to pay, but the cashier told me it was charged to a card on file. I was supposed to be treating you."

"Yeah, it’s fine."

After buying a tube of ointment at a nearby pharmacy, they sat on a park bench. Lynn held up her phone, using the camera as a mirror, and tried to apply the cream with a cotton swab. But she misjudged her strength and poked the burn too hard, making her hiss in pain. After that, she couldn’t bring herself to put the swab near her face again.

Seeing this, Ian couldn’t resist. He took the cotton swab from her, tilted her chin up, and began to apply the ointment himself.

Lynn stared, mesmerized, at the face just inches from her own. Every single one of Ian’s features was perfectly tailored to her tastes. His cool, pale skin; his long, narrow, deep-set eyes; his high, straight nose; and the shape of his lips—they all seemed designed to tempt her, begging her to lean in and kiss him.

And so, she did. She leaned in and kissed him. Ian was caught completely off guard, his eyes wide as he stared back at her. When he didn’t react, Lynn tentatively traced the seam of his lips with the tip of her tongue.

Ian closed his eyes, surrendering to his own desires. His hand moved to cup the back of her head, and he returned the kiss with a devouring intensity.

Lynn let out a soft moan, her hands fisting in his shirt. Their kiss was less a tender caress and more a battle.

His red hair was conspicuous enough on its own, but combined with their stylish clothes and striking appearances, they were an incredibly eye-catching pair.

The phone, lying on the bench beside them, started ringing. The sound snapped Lynn back to reality. She pushed Ian away, grabbed the phone, and glanced at the caller ID.

It was the veterinary hospital.

Lynn answered, and a gentle voice came through the line. "Miss Winslow, you can come pick up Kiki now."

Her mind felt sluggish. The kiss seemed to have drained the very soul from her body, and it hadn’t all returned yet. She just gave a dazed "uh-huh."

After hanging up, Lynn looked at the man beside her, whose ears were once again bright red. Biting her lip, she said, "Why do you look like I just took advantage of you?"

Ian didn’t say a word. He silently clenched his sweaty fists, inwardly cursing himself for reacting like some inexperienced kid.

"I need to go pick up Kiki now," she said. "What about you? Want to come with me? You didn’t get a proper tour last time."

Ian hesitated, so Lynn thoughtfully provided him with an excuse. "The driver took Mrs. Sterling home, so it’ll be a while before he can get here. Why don’t you give us a ride, and you can see the place then?"

Ian nodded. ’I’ll just take a quick look and then leave,’ he thought.

But would Lynn really let him just ’take a quick look and leave’? After getting Kiki settled, she dragged Ian all around the house, giving him a tour that lasted until dusk, never giving him an opening to say he had to go.

The chef had already prepared dinner, and Lynn pulled Ian down to eat with her. The red wine in their glasses was refilled again and again, until Ian started to feel dizzy.

Lynn pursed her lips and shot a look at the maids standing by. Once they had all left, she leaned close to Ian, her voice a low, seductive whisper. "Baby, are you drunk?"

Ian looked up at her, his eyes tinged with red, and hummed in confirmation.

Lynn’s heart skipped a beat. "Then let me help you upstairs to rest, okay?" she coaxed. "You can leave once you’ve sobered up."

Again, Ian just hummed in agreement.

Lynn helped him up. Ian draped an arm over her shoulder, and with unsteady steps, they took the elevator to the second floor. Lynn guided him into the master bedroom.

Her objective was clear. After helping him onto the bed, she bit her lip and began to gently unbutton his shirt.

The moment their bodies pressed together, Ian’s eyes shot open. He looked up at Lynn, then suddenly rolled over, reversing their positions.

Lynn blinked in confusion, staring up at the man who, just a moment ago, had seemed completely out of it. Now, he was pinning her beneath him.

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