That Lady’s Stalker - Chapter 8
Olivia found herself unable to say a word in Asher’s gaze and had to return to the carriage. From that moment, and even now, only one thought circled her mind.
Asher.
Was he always like this?
He had always blushed whenever he looked at her like a shy boy, struggling to hide his embarrassment… Yet in the lake, he only flushed without acting like a needy puppy, as he usually did.
Olivia pressed her chest down as it raced wildly. A tingling sensation stirred in her lower abdomen, and her head felt light, as if detached from reality.
It was truly strange.
Asher’s face kept popping up in her mind, his voice echoed around her. Perhaps because of that, that evening, Olivia had her first risqué dream. And it starred Asher.
In the dream, he was above her, breathing heavily, touching her in ways that made her flush with embarrassment as he gently explored her body, gradually delving deeper.
Though the unfamiliar sensations made her feel uneasy, she found herself responding to the exhilarating stimuli, arching her back. Just as Asher, with a contorted expression, was about to strip off his clothes, Olivia woke up.
She let out a sigh that was a mix of regret and relief, pressing her heavy head with her hand. Her forehead felt warm. Was it the heat from the dream that had made her feel this way? Trying to sit up, she found her dizzy head forcing her to lie back down instead.
As a consequence of her ill-conceived plan, Olivia ended up catching a cold. After hearing the news, Asher sent a variety of precious medicines to the Duke’s residence. However, he couldn’t bring himself to enter her room and instead stood outside like her watchful knight.
Oliver, claiming that her face looked better than Asher’s, insisted on returning the medicines they had received.
* * *
Olivia shot Oliver a glance as he noticed she seemed unusually cheerful after Asher returned from the conflict zone. She closed her eyes, feeling that the melancholic mood she had carried was lifting now that she knew he was outside.
Though she felt a twinge of disappointment that he hadn’t come to visit her despite hearing she was unwell, it also brought her a sense of comfort.
‘Back then, you embraced me without hesitation, so why are you keeping your distance now?’
While she had her complaints, there was a strange sense of reassurance in it as well.
After a full week of being ill, Olivia finally shook off the remnants of her sickness and got back up. The lady, who had been raised delicately and had only ever lifted teacups, had rowed a boat and even fallen into the water; it was only natural that she would end up bedridden.
Yet, despite all that Olivia had gone through, Asher seemed unchanged. No, he appeared to be unchanged on the surface.
As Olivia took a light walk, she noticed Asher intentionally walking slowly through the lush garden rather than the well-maintained path, keeping pace with her.
Though they were walking some distance apart, neither of them could take their eyes off each other. Even when he briefly disappeared behind a tree, Olivia felt as if they were still maintaining eye contact.
Asher’s gaze had deepened significantly. Olivia could feel the raw, profound desire emanating from him. His eyes seemed to want to topple her and indulge in her completely, yet his body remained restrained, at least in her presence.
Olivia abruptly stopped, still locking eyes with Asher. He halted as well, returning her gaze.
‘He’ll run away again.’
But now, Olivia knows how to handle him. As she smiled cheerfully, Asher flinched as if sensing something ominous. If Oliver had seen that smile, he would have surely thought it was an ill omen and run away.
“Ah! I feel dizzy.”
Intentionally loosening her legs, Olivia staggered and placed her hand on her forehead. She bowed her head, letting her long hair fall to cover her face. The corners of her mouth still curled up in a devious grin.
As expected, she caught sight of Asher approaching through her hair. She raised her voice a little louder.
“I think I’m going to fall!”
Her exaggerated gestures and the stiffness of her tone were obvious, yet, unfortunately for her, the act seemed to work on Asher. She pretended to lose her balance and slowly bent her knees.
Although she had no idea how one truly collapses, she clumsily lowered her knees to the ground.
Her appearance certainly wasn’t one of a person genuinely fainting, but Asher looked as if he had seen someone get hurt, paling as he rushed toward her.
“No!”
He approached her with a speed that matched the time he ran away from her. He wrapped his arms around her delicate shoulders and yelled at her as if he would burst her eardrums.
Despite her irritation at the volume that echoed around them, she couldn’t help but admire his voice.
She had never heard him speak normally, but it was still a captivating sound. Olivia’s eyes were glued to his lips.
“Are you feeling feverish again?”
As his full lips parted to spill forth more words, Olivia didn’t hear them. The dream she had a few nights prior kept swirling in her mind.
Those lips had let out rough moans and pressed against hers with fervor.
As Olivia stared at his lips with a dazed look in her eyes, it seemed Asher sensed her gaze, swallowing hard and unwittingly running his tongue over his lips.
Olivia tilted her head slightly, drawing ever closer to Asher’s face.
