The rain outside was growing heavier, the drops smacking against the window with sharp, crackling pops, wrapping the tiny apartment in a damp, intimate atmosphere thick with suggestion.

Su Ming’s hand was still pressed against Tian Jing’s lower abdomen. The steady heat pouring from his palm was like a gentle current of warmth, slowly smoothing away the discomfort inside her body. Tian Jing closed her eyes in comfort, her long lashes trembling slightly. A pleased flush spread across her face, and the corners of her lips even held a faint, satisfied smile as a soft, unconscious murmur slipped from her mouth.

That little sound was like a feather brushing across Su Ming’s heart, making his whole body tremble. His heart pounded like a drum, faster and faster beyond his control. His gaze seemed to develop a will of its own, drifting up from her flat lower belly little by little until it finally settled on her chest, rising and falling gently with her breathing.

The top button of her work shirt had come undone. From Su Ming’s angle, he could vaguely catch sight of a pale white curve and the light-colored edge of her bra. That glimpse was even more stirring than any bluntly exposed flesh.