No Strings Attached

Elle gazed at him with an impassive expression. "Where's my mom?"

"She had to leave for a bit. Clara sent me to pick you up. Orin has already gone ahead with Eddie."

Anders gently coaxed Elle into the car with an arm around her shoulders.

Casually reaching into the back seat, he pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "Your favorite apple turnovers from that bakery you love. See if they taste like the real deal." Elle stared at the apple turnovers in her hand, with a faint smile flickering across her features. "Did Orin tip you off?"

The question hit Anders squarely in the chest. Indeed, it was Orin who told him that his mother's favorite dessert was apple turnovers, and her favorite dish was simply grilled fish.

immense guilt for a long time. While abroad, Elle indeed brought home a box of apple turnovers once, offering him a taste. Without a second thought, he had refused. He also

hearing his words, Elle threw the entire box of turnovers in the trash, which were never

once and burned her hand in the process. While he applied medicine to

disliked were Elle's favorites. Reflecting on this, Anders couldn't help but mentally chastise himself as a

out, gently stroking Elle's hair. His voice was husky. "From now on, I'll like anything that you like." After saying that, he plucked an apple turnover from the box and held it to Elle's lips. "Go on, give it a taste. They're still warm. Won't be as good once they cool off," he said gently. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ

bit into it. The sweet flavor of cooked apple filled her palate, while the flaky, soft

the turnover from Elle's hand. His tongue

staring at her fingers that Anders had just licked. Her cheeks

memory, Anders was always the epitome of a gentleman, never one to flirt so openly. In the past, faced with her

to keep her composure, looking at him with a neutral expression. "Anders, you don't have to do this. If you don't like it, you don't have to force