Chapter 54: Missing You

Sunrise and sunset, day and night alternating, the not-so-long journey finally came to an end amidst the repeated snapping of the shutter.
On the night before their return, Lawrence found Monica and invited her to sit downstairs.
There was a row of stone benches on the side of the road in front of the hotel. Lawrence took out a tissue and carefully wiped it before inviting her to sit down.
The night was quiet, with vast wilderness all around, the sound of the wind mixed with the rustling of leaves being stirred, and the lamplight cast mottled shadows on the ground.
"Did you enjoy this trip?" Lawrence turned his head to look at her.
"It was quite enjoyable."
He sighed and breathed in the cool evening breeze. As the car glided through the streets, Monica couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She had missed this place.
"So, how was your trip?" Eric asked, breaking the silence.
Monica leaned back in her seat and smiled. "It was amazing. Lawrence took me to some breathtaking locations and captured the most beautiful moments. I feel like I was in a dream."
Eric chuckled. "Well, Lawrence Liang is quite the artist. I'm glad you had a good time."
They continued to chat as the car made its way through the familiar streets of Siena. The city was bustling with life, and Monica couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. She had missed her friends, her family, and the familiarity of this place.
Finally, they arrived at Monica's apartment building. Eric helped her with her luggage and walked her to the entrance.
"Thanks for the ride, Eric," she said gratefully.
He smiled. "No problem. It was my pleasure. Welcome back."
As she entered the building, Monica couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for what lay ahead.
She had so many stories to tell, so many memories to cherish.
But most importantly, she was grateful for the experiences and the people she had met along the way.
Lawrence's friendship had opened her eyes to a whole new world of beauty, and she couldn't wait to see where it would take her next.
There was a small gap, and a cool breeze seeped in, blowing in a way that made one especially comfortable. The car was filled with a light fragrance, and the music was soft and pleasant.
She leaned back in her chair and gradually sank into a dream as the car continued to drive.
Her consciousness immersed in darkness. She didn't know how long had passed when she faintly heard a conversation entering her ears.
"She's asleep..."
"She's too tired. Let her sleep for a while."
"We're waiting. I'll go in first."
Listening to the voices, Monica's thoughts were pulled back. She blinked her eyes a few times, slowly adjusting to the light.
She was lying in the passenger seat, still wearing Eric's coat, while the driver's seat was empty. There was a man in black clothes leaning against the front of the car.
She thought it was Eric, so she lowered the car window and stuck her head out without thinking, calling out, "Brother?"
"Yes, awake?" The man naturally responded to her address, turning to look at her. "Do you want to rest a little longer?"
Monica clearly saw his face and was somewhat surprised. "Steven? What are you doing here? Where's my brother?"
"He went to the private room first. I'm waiting here for you."
Monica glanced around. The light in the underground parking lot was dim, and occasionally the sound of tires driving over speed bumps echoed in the quiet and chilly air.
"Where is this? Conrad?”
"Yes, we are at the Conrad. We booked a private room for tonight."
It was a famous five-star hotel in Siena.
She seemed quite satisfied with her arrangements. "It's quite grand."
Steven followed with an "Hmm" and didn't say anything more. He just kept his head down, looking at her, without shifting his gaze.
Sensing that intense gaze, Monica retreated into the car, sitting up straight, and took out a mirror to quickly tidy up her disheveled hair.
She paid attention to the details and, with a quick glance, saw that Steven was still standing motionless there, casually resting his hand on the car's hood.
His forearm had a smooth line, and a watch was wrapped around his bony wrist, mysteriously matching the silver-gray vehicle.
Monica stuck her head out again.
"Actually, you don't have to wait for me here. Just give me the room number, I'm not completely unfamiliar here."
She leaned against the car window and looked up at him. Steven stood outside the car as if he was waiting for this moment.
Suddenly, he reached out, palm cupping the back of her head, thumb pressing against her ear. He bent over, leaning down and kissing her.
"You..."
The words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed up. In an instant, her nose was filled with his scent, the light in front of her darkened, and her gaze was completely captured by him.
One of Steven's hands lightly held above her head, preventing her from knocking against the window edge, while the other hand firmly held her face towards him. He kissed her with a side tilt of his head.
Because of the awkward position, he didn't kiss deeply, but it was patient and meticulous enough. He nibbled on her lips lightly, teasing and entangling them.
His tongue flickered at the seam of her lips, gently pressing against them, not delving in, allowing her to gasp with parted lips. He stopped at a shallow touch.
The parking lot was quiet, so the entangled and chaotic sounds of their breathing floated clearly into their ears.
Monica's fingers rested on the window edge as she reached out to push him away, but as soon as her fingers touched his clothes, he gave her a deep and almost tongue-sucking kiss.
A bewitching sensation overcame her, and in an instant, she slowly released the strength from her fingers, which were gripping onto his clothes.
After the kiss, Monica frowned and complained, "You're so annoying, why did you..."
Steven didn't rush to back away, but instead kissed the corner of her lips again, his fingers caressing her soft skin on the side of her neck, their breaths intermingled, his voice low.
"I missed you."