He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 77 - 70: Strawberry Flavor

Isla Prescott buried her face in Shane Sterling’s neck and said nothing.

Shane Sterling cupped her cheeks, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Isabelle, answer me."

"It’s exactly what you think it is."

Her soft, sweet voice sent Shane Sterling’s physical response to its peak.

He moved in forcefully, searching for her lips.

Isla Prescott grabbed his arm, her nerves getting the better of her. "Can we turn off the lights?"

"Okay."

Shane Sterling switched off the bedside lamp, leaving the moonlight filtering through the curtains as the room’s sole source of light.

Isla Prescott finally relaxed a little in the darkness. She saw Shane Sterling move over her, his long legs bending as he knelt on either side of her and took off his shirt.

Shane Sterling had a classic lean-muscle build. His body fat was low, with muscle lines that were distinct but not overly bulky. In the hazy light, what Isla Prescott saw was a well-proportioned, toned, and sculpted silhouette.

He leaned down to kiss her.

Having already decided to give herself to him, Isla Prescott was no longer shy. She wrapped her arms around Shane Sterling’s neck, following her instincts as they became entangled.

Amid their ragged breaths, Shane Sterling pushed up her nightgown.

A cool draft hit Isla Prescott’s chest, quickly replaced by the fiery heat of skin against skin.

In the darkness, it seemed every touch was magnified a thousandfold.

The contrast between his wet kisses and his dry hands was driving Isla Prescott to the brink of insanity.

She felt like an empty warehouse; every move Shane Sterling made on her body sent a shuddering echo through her. A strange and novel emptiness consumed her, and she felt a desperate need to be filled.

But just at the crucial moment, Shane Sterling suddenly stopped.

"What’s wrong?" Isla Prescott gazed at him, her eyes moist.

"Do you have any condoms here?"

Isla Prescott shook her head.

It was as if time had been put on pause.

They were both a little stunned.

Everything happening now was entirely unplanned. They weren’t prepared for this at all.

Shane Sterling was already aching with need, but without protection, he refused to take that risk with her.

"Not tonight," he said.

"Then what are you going to do?"

Isla Prescott could feel that he was about to explode.

"I’ll take care of it myself."

Shane Sterling pulled her tightly into his embrace, burying his face in her chest.

He wasn’t a man with a particularly high libido, and over the years, he’d rarely needed to relieve himself. But tonight, with her right there in his arms, her scent was like an accelerant. He was starting to lose control.

Wrapped together under a thin blanket, the quilt rose and fell in the moonlit shadows.

Isla Prescott didn’t dare move a muscle until his ragged breathing finally subsided.

After fifteen minutes of post-nut clarity, Shane Sterling held her and let out a sigh.

"You’re killing me."

"I didn’t even do anything," Isla Prescott said, aggrieved. ’He’s the one who took matters into his own hands.’

"Just you lying in my arms, breathing, is enough to make me lose control."

Her heart softened. She looked into his eyes and asked, "Do you really like me that much?"

"I really, really do."

It was physical, but it was emotional, too.

Isla Prescott was moved and tilted her head up to kiss him.

Shane Sterling nibbled on her lip. "Just you wait. Tomorrow, I won’t let you get away."

***

The next day, Isla Prescott was so busy that the incident completely slipped her mind.

That is, until Shane Sterling suddenly appeared at the dance studio around noon.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Young Mr. Sterling, here to inspect the mall again?" Annabelle Leighton couldn’t help but tease him the moment she laid eyes on him.

Shane Sterling’s gaze clung to Isla Prescott. "I’m here to see my girlfriend today."

Annabelle Leighton’s gaze darted back and forth between them. She suddenly nudged Isla Prescott with her elbow and whispered, "Did you two sleep together?"

Isla Prescott jolted.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because the way you look at each other... your whole vibe is completely different now."

An image of Shane Sterling holding her as he took care of himself last night flashed through Isla Prescott’s mind. Although they hadn’t gone all the way, it wasn’t that far off.

It felt like once you’d seen each other’s most primal side, things were truly different from when you hadn’t been physically intimate.

’Annabelle is scarily perceptive.’

"Everyone, help yourselves to some fruit."

Shane Sterling had brought several boxes of fresh-cut fruit platters and handed them out to the others at the studio. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Thank you, Young Mr. Sterling."

Everyone gathered around to eat the fruit.

Shane Sterling had saved a box just for Isla Prescott. He gestured toward the breakroom, indicating she should go eat in there.

Isla Prescott put down the file she was holding and followed him to the breakroom.

The moment she stepped inside, Shane Sterling shut the door.

"What are you closing the door for?" Isla Prescott asked.

"To eat someone!"

He moved in close, pinning her against the back of the door. His gaze was positively primal, as if he really was about to devour her.

Isla Prescott pressed her hands against his chest. "Don’t fool around. My colleagues are right outside."

He took her hands in his. "You haven’t forgotten what you promised me last night, have you?"

"Did you come all this way just to confirm that?"

"Mhm."

He’d been worried all morning that she might have changed her mind.

"Why would I change my mind?" Isla Prescott’s gaze swept over Shane Sterling’s lean, powerful waist. "I’d only regret it if I *didn’t* get to sleep with a man with a body like Young Mr. Sterling’s."

It was rare for her to say something so explicit.

Shane Sterling’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "Can you get out of work this afternoon?"

"What are you planning?"

"I want to spirit you away home right now."

"No way. I still have a lot of work this afternoon. If I skip out, my colleagues will have to work overtime."

Of course, Shane Sterling was just saying that. He had to meet a client that afternoon, too.

"I brought you some fruit. Have some." Shane Sterling opened the container.

The container was filled with all sorts of fruit: cherries, strawberries, oranges, watermelon, blueberries, star fruit, jackfruit...

Isla Prescott’s favorite was still strawberries. She reached for one first, then ate several in a row.

Shane Sterling watched her from the side with an "I knew it" expression.

Isla Prescott looked up. "Aren’t you having any?"

He shook his head, then suddenly leaned in and gave her strawberry-flavored lips a gentle suck.

"I’m already prepared."

"For what?"

"Condoms," he whispered in her ear. "Strawberry-flavored."