Aria responded with a flat “Mm,” her tone devoid of warmth.
Owen asked again, “Will you need acupuncture for that?”
Aria said, “Yeah.”
Owen continued, “Can you teach me?”
“Hm?” Aria turned her head. “You want to learn acupuncture?”
Owen nodded. “Yeah. If I learn, I can help you too. Wouldn’t that help you heal faster?”
Aria smirked, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “I used to be inconsistent with applying the ointment. If you help me keep up with it, the scars will gradually fade.”
Aria smiled. “Pearl’s scar is on her face. Acupuncture should help it heal faster.”
Owen exhaled in relief. “As long as it fades, that’s good. You’ll be able to wear all kinds of beautiful clothes in the summer. Not that it matters, you look good in anything.”
With her tall figure and striking looks, she could pull off any style. She smiled. “Thanks for the compliment.”
After applying the ointment, Owen adjusted the straps of her nightgown. “Ready for bed?” he asked softly.
They’d shared a bed once before–last time in her room, but tonight, it was his.
Owen thought every night from then on, when he lay down, he would probably picture her lying right here beside him.
Aria adjusted her nightgown, shifted on the bed to face him, propped herself up, and leaned closer. “Just going to sleep? Shouldn’t you dance to liven things up first, my loyal admirer?”
She arched an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at her lips, her eyes reflecting only him–like he was the center of her world.
It was the first time Owen had seen this playful side of her. He couldn’t tell if she’d really misunderstood his meaning, or if she was just teasing him on
purpose.
He was more inclined to believe it was the latter.
If the woman he loved was sending such clear signals and he backed off, he wouldn’t be a normal man.
Owen bent down so their eyes were level. “I’m a terrible dancer, but I’ve worked hard on this physique. Wanna see?”
Aria straightened up. “Sure, let me see.”
Her gaze stayed locked on him, unwavering.
Owen felt a jolt of nerves, but kept his expression steady. He grabbed the hem of his pajamas, pulled his top off, and folded it neatly at the foot of the
bed.
Throughout the whole process, Aria’s eyes never left him for a second.
Last time, she’d only caught a fleeting glimpse of him changing–she’d long forgotten what he looked like.
This time, she could see everything clearly.
It was a real treat for the eyes.
1/2
09:44 Tue, 24 Jun
Chapter 460
Aria looked up and asked, “Can I touch it?”
Owen’s ears turned red, but he nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”
She reached out and poked his abs with her finger. “Soft.”
Owen replied, “Can get hard too.”
He tensed his muscles, and the lower four abs stood out, two veins popping up. With the ones on the side, four lines ran down his lean waist, disappearing below.
Suddenly, a hand cupped Aria’s chin, forcing her to look up. “Focus on the abs. Eyes stay above the waist,” Owen warned.
+38)
Owen had been prepared, and when Aria poked him, he hadn’t thought much of it. But as her gaze roamed boldly, his heart pounded fiercely, heat rising through him, and even his voice came out rougher than usual.
Aria just said, “Oh,” not noticing anything amiss, and pressed her whole palm against his stomach.
Owen tried to suppress the feeling, but the moment she touched him like that, his blood ran hot, every nerve on fire.
Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, pulled the silk blanket over his lower half, and held her wrist tightly.
Before Aria could really savor the feeling, her wrist was suddenly caught. She lord at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Then she felt a strange, burning heat encircling her wrist.
AD
