Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 351: Good Different

After the phone call with Dawn, Genevieve stood outside Stefan’s bedroom door for a long moment, her hand raised but not yet knocking.

She had just finished her shower when Dawn’s call came in, and she had been in the shower when Stefan returned from the office, so she was yet to see him.

Her hair was still a little damp. She had changed into a simple top and jeans. Her heart beat fast as she wondered how Stefan would interpret her request to go clubbing with Dawn.

Reminding herself that Stefan was someone she could talk to about anything without fear of judgment, she knocked on the door.

Less than a minute later, the door opened.

Genevieve’s breath caught when Stefan stood there wearing only his briefs and confidence.

His shirt and trousers were gone, and all that was in front of her was a beautiful male body, one that looked both toned and sexy.

Her eyes dropped before she could stop them.

His stomach was flat and hard, muscles defined but not sharp. A thin line ran down the centre, drawing her gaze lower. The brief left little to her imagination, judging by the mass in front of it.

A slow knowing smile spread across Stefan’s face as he leaned against the doorframe, clearly enjoying every second of her stunned silence and silent assessment.

She swallowed as her gaze lingered there, and then Stefan cleared his throat. She snapped her eyes away from him, heat rushing to her cheeks at the realisation that he’d caught her ogling him.

"Oh my God," she blurted. "I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare that way," she said without looking at him.

He smirked as he watched her swallow and struggle to look anywhere but at him. "Do I meet your requirements, or do I need to strip for you to decide?" he asked, voice low and amused.

Genevieve finally met his eyes, mortified—and then she saw the mischievous gleam there.

Realisation hit her.

She stepped forward and smacked his arm lightly. "Are you trying me right now?"

Stefan chuckled. "Maybe."

He enjoyed the way her eyes betrayed her, the way her composure slipped. He could have covered up before answering the door, but he’d wanted to see her reaction.

She tried to look offended, but when she saw the smile on his face, she shook her head, half laughing, half embarrassed. "Why are you like this?"

He studied her face, his smile softening. "Things have been tense between us since we got back," he said quietly. "I don’t like it. I want us to feel like we did before. Before everything came out."

Her teasing smile faded a little. She nodded. "Yeah."

"So," he continued gently, "I was thinking instead of making dinner or ordering a takeout, we could go out to somewhere private. Just us."

Genevieve looked at him for a long second, then smiled. "Actually, I came to ask you something too."

Stefan raised a brow. "Oh? Here I was thinking you came to see my body."

Genevieve laughed and slapped his arm. "Stop that, will you?"

"Fine," he said, happy that she was laughing. "I’m listening."

"I was wondering if you’d like to go clubbing tonight," she said hesitantly.

Stefan blinked. "Clubbing? That’s unexpected. Why do you suddenly want to go clubbing?"

"Dawn invited me. She said everyone’s hanging out tonight and she’d like me to be there. She said Jamal will text you the details."

He crossed his arms and looked at her for a moment. "So, do you want to go because Dawn asked you to... or because you want to?"

She didn’t hesitate. "Both. She asked me to leave my guilt behind."

He searched her face. "Can you do that?" he asked gently. "Or should we take a rain check?"

Genevieve stepped closer. "I want to go. I want us to go."

Stefan studied her for a moment, then let out an exasperated sigh. "I still don’t know what Jamal was thinking choosing to club on a work night. He didn’t mention this at work."

She shrugged. "Maybe it was Dawn’s idea and he’s going ahead with it like you’re going ahead with mine now."

That made Stefan laugh. "That makes more sense."

Genevieve smiled as she watched him laugh. This made him look at her again, more closely this time. "You seem different."

She tilted her head. "Good or bad different?"

"Good different. You’re smiling more now than you’ve done since we got to Ludus," he said. "And you seem calmer."

"Maybe," she replied softly.

"What changed? Is it because Dawn invited you to go clubbing with them?" he asked curiously.

She smiled. "Maybe that’s part of it. But I guess I’ve been feeling good all afternoon. I spent a lot of time with Callan’s Mom. We talked a lot. She’s wonderful."

Stefan raised a brow. "What did you both talk about?"

"Life. My mistakes. The past, the future, all of it. I’ll tell you more when you’re decent or maybe on our way out," she said, turning to leave.

Before she could take a step, Stefan caught her wrist and pulled her back.

She gasped softly, the sound barely leaving her lips before his hand slid to her waist and he drew her fully against him. There was no teasing this time, no warning.

His mouth came down on hers hard and demanding.

The kiss was fierce, hungry, like he’d been holding back for too long and had finally snapped. His lips moved against hers with intent, claiming, demanding, as if he needed her to feel everything he couldn’t say out loud. Heat rushed through her, straight to her knees.

Genevieve froze for a heartbeat, shock rippling through her, then she melted.

She kissed him back with equal force, rising onto her toes, her fingers curling into his hair as if she needed the anchor. Her body pressed into his without thought or restraint.

All she could think about was the taste of him, the warmth of his skin, and the way his breath hitched against her mouth.

Stefan’s arms tightened around her, one hand sliding up her back, the other cradling her head as the kiss deepened. It wasn’t gentle or careful. It was loaded with want, frustration, fear of loss, and the desperate need to feel close.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard, foreheads touching, lips swollen, hearts pounding like they’d just run a race.

Genevieve swallowed, her voice barely steady. "What was that for?"

Stefan’s mouth curved into a slow, crooked smile, his thumb brushing her jaw. "I figured... if you’re leaving soon, then I don’t want to waste what little time we have feeling miserable or worrying about what happens after you leave. I want to make the most of now. The present is what counts."

Her lips curved into a soft smile, then she leaned in and kissed him again, slower this time.

When she pulled back, her eyes gleamed, "Does that mean I can sleep on your bed tonight?"

Stefan laughed under his breath. "I’ll think about it. But on one condition."

She raised a brow. "You’re giving me a condition like I’m the only one that wants you? I guess you don’t want me. Let’s forget it then," she said, but Stefan chuckled and her back before she could walk away.

"On the condition that you leave your guilt behind tonight," he said. "And actually have fun as Dawn suggested. If you are making me step out tonight despite how exhausted I am, the least you can do is make it fun. Isn’t that fair enough?"

She grinned. "I suppose it is. I’ll see what I can do." With that she turned and walked away, making sure to sway her hips.

Stefan watched her go, a wide smile on his face. He could tell that whatever Callan’s mother had said to her, had lifted her spirit and it made him happy to see her that way.

When Stefan returned inside, he picked up his phone.

A message from Jamal stared back at him with the club details.

He shook his head, amused, and dialed Jamal’s number.

"Hey, I’m driving. Did you get the text?" Jamal answered as he drove.

"Yeah, I did. Was it your idea to have Dawn invite Genevieve?" Stefan asked, suspecting that Jamal had a hand in it.

"Does it matter whose idea it was? It was both of ours," Jamal replied. "Everyone’s hanging out. It would be weird if you weren’t there."

"Alright. Give my regards to Dawn. Tell her I said—"

"Nope," Jamal cut in. "Tell her yourself. The call is on speaker now," Jamal said, while Dawn raised a brow, wondering what the conversation was about.

"Hello, Dawn," he said warmly. "I just wanted to say thank you. For inviting Genevieve. It means a lot."

"She’s my sister. You don’t have to thank me for wanting to hangout with her," Dawn replied in a light tone. "I hope we all have fun tonight."

"So do I," he said sincerely.

After the call ended, Stefan stared at his phone for a second, smiling. He was pleased that Dawn had referred to Genevieve as her sister.

He whistled happily as he walked to his closet to pick out his clothes.