Chapter 76
“Sometimes, I like to endure the cold.”
“…”
He inhaled sharply.
Why did it feel like his chest was tightening so intensely?
Was she enduring even the cold of the North to tempt him?
Having a woman who desired him this much in front of him, he thought he might be swayed.
However, Louise quickly dispelled that illusion as she spoke.
“Since tonight is the first night in the North, I wanted to fully experience the cold.”
“…”
“We must love even the weather of the place we are meant to rule.”
“…”
Louise’s voice was reverent yet calm.
In a different sense, Alec had to take a deep breath.
His tension eased a little, but at the same time, he was overwhelmed by a strange feeling.
That was a reason he hadn’t even thought of.
“…I see. If you love it too much, you might catch a cold.”
Alec replied, feigning indifference as best as he could.
Still, he didn’t look at even the hem of Louise’s dress.
She was close enough to touch if he reached out his hand, but Louise didn’t come any closer, which only made it more tantalizing.
Suddenly, Louise shivered.
“Hah, it really is too cold.”
She hugged her arms and rubbed her body. It seemed she was genuinely cold.
She hunched her delicate shoulders and turned away from him.
As he unconsciously raised his head, thinking she might put on more clothes, he was met with a shocking sight once again.
Her hips drew a round, graceful curve like a perfect apple.
In a completely different way from her front, her figure captured all his senses.
Could a human body really form such smooth, beautiful lines?
Alec marveled, but at the same time, felt desire rising inside him, so he took a silent deep breath once again.
His shirt strained as if it would burst, and his tightly clenched jaw jutted out.
Louise picked up a soft shawl from the sofa and wrapped it around herself.
“Come and sit, Alec.”
Could he even move?
Alec finally managed to take a step toward the sofa on the other side of the room, but he still couldn’t bring himself to look at her face.
As he sat across from her, Louise poured him a drink.
“This is hot mulled wine. It seems people in the North spend much of their time half-drunk to endure the cold.”
“I see. Thank you.”
He forced himself to speak calmly as he took the glass.
“But it seems like there aren’t as many types of alcohol as I expected. There are many strong drinks, but I wish there were more delicious ones.”
“You seem to have done a lot of research about the North.”
“Well, of course. I even went to Kanak while you were away.”
“Pardon?”
Alec finally raised his head and took in Louise’s face.
With her long legs crossed and one arm draped over the armrest while holding a glass of wine, Louise looked like an elegant bird.
And the way the fallen shawl blended with her body made it seem like an extension of her being.
He had never seen anyone so flawless in his life that it made his eyes blur.
Still holding his gaze, Louise parted her lips.
“It wasn’t too difficult. I took a short tour. I was too curious not to go.”
“…”
Louise finished her sentence with a slight, charming smile.
Her gaze was so captivating that the air around them seemed perfumed.
Alec already knew through Gideon that she had been to Kanak.
He had been quite surprised when she rode out to Kanak herself.
He hadn’t ordered Gideon to watch her constantly, as it felt intrusive, but he couldn’t help worrying.
“Still, it’s best not to make long trips alone.”
“How did you know I went alone?”
“Pardon?”
Alec flinched at Louise’s softly smiling question but quickly responded.
“Eloise and Mother wouldn’t have wanted to go anyway.”
“That’s true. But it was fine. When you’re alone, you can look around more freely.”
“…”
Instead of replying, Alec sipped the warm mulled wine.
The sweet yet rich liquid coated his tongue and filled his mouth, its sensation heavy yet smooth.
It felt just like kissing Louise…
‘Hah, I’m going mad.’
Frustrated by the heat in his head, Alec downed the wine in one gulp.
The warm sensation flowed down his throat, stimulating his blood vessels.
It felt like every muscle and vein in his body was swelling and tightening.
“We can do it here.”
Would Louise try to make a move on him again?
There didn’t seem to be any lack of temptation in her calling him to her room.
If she kissed him again now…
He would cross a line he could never return from.
He wanted to feel what lay beyond that line, to experience it. After knowing her lips, he craved more.
But then, Louise suddenly stood up from the sofa.
As Alec tensed up, the muscles in his perfectly balanced abdomen contracted.
At this point, even her simple act of standing from the sofa was enough to provoke him.
Was she coming closer to him?
Alec imagined Louise sitting beside him, locking arms with him, tilting her head back slightly as she closed her eyes.
If he captured her lips and held her body tightly…
[From: Cold-hearted Novice Husband → To: Novice Husband Awakened to Desire]
He had wondered why such a title had been given to him, but now he had no words.
“Yawn, I think I’m already getting tired.”
But suddenly, he heard her yawn.
Louise headed toward the bed instead of the seat beside him, and then she looked back at him.
“Then, Alec, you should head back. I need to sleep early.”
“…What?”
Alec, still seated on the sofa, blankly stared at Louise’s back.
Was she really telling him to leave?
“Aren’t you tired?”
Louise asked plainly, her eyes genuinely a little weary.
“Ah…”
What had he been imagining all this time?
He had thought that Louise, who had always approached him first, would do the same this time.
But Louise stood far away, like an untouchable, ethereal goddess, only watching him.
“Oh, I see.”
Alec tried to respond as nonchalantly as possible before standing up from the sofa.
He hadn’t expected this, but he couldn’t just stay there any longer.
As he headed toward the door, Louise graciously opened it for him.
“Take care on your way back, Alec.”
Looking into her eyes, Alec replied.
“Sweet dreams, Louise.”
“Thank you.”
“…”
They exchanged a lingering glance. Then, Alec finally turned his gaze away and twisted his body toward the exit.
It took less than a second to step outside.
Yet, his chest felt strangely warm and unsettled.
Was it really okay to just leave?
Each second felt drawn out, and his steps felt unsteady.
Even as he walked down the hallway, he never heard the door close behind him.
Like a hallucination, Louise’s voice echoed in his head.
“..How about we share a room from now on?”
“If your reflexes are better now… doesn’t that mean we could do that at night too?”
“We could do it right here.”
His body had left Louise’s room, but it felt like his heart was being dragged back inside.
He paused and took a deep breath.
This was the first time his desires had overtaken him to such an extent. It didn’t even feel like his own will.
However, he was certain that Louise wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
The door that had yet to close.
Was she trying to make him more impatient by sending him away?
If that was her plan, then it had worked—his chest was about to burst with the urge to devour her.
As if time had stopped, he turned around.
The way back wasn’t far.
A few steps, and he’d be back inside her room.
“Louise.”
“Alec.”
When he re-entered the room, Louise was still standing there, looking up at him.
Her face was otherworldly and mysterious, her lips melting him.
Her eyes were fixed intently on him.
“Phew.”
With a hurried breath, Alec quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to hers.
“Mmm.”
As her head tilted back, a soft moan escaped from Louise’s lips.
Her delicate hands clung tightly to his back.
Her small lips were crushed and molded by his roaming tongue.
Louise, with a subtle turn of her body, pushed the door shut with her fingertips.
Alec pressed her against the wall, running his hand deeply along her back.
Through the thin dress that clung to her body, he could feel her soft skin underneath.
When he pulled her closer, her slender chest pressed warmly against his firm body.
Their tongues tangled and fought with an intensity far beyond anything before.
“Ha, Alec.”
“Ha… Ha…”
TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
AyraRedwood
I was getting so worked up about Alec always assuming Louise has to do all the work. But I’m so glad he finally took charge 🥰
Louise deserves to be swept off her feet