Chapter Forty-One; Blush
THIRD PERSON POV
“Can I tickle you?”
Luke blinked once, then twice.
“What?” His brows furrowed in confusion, hoping he’d misheard her. He must have misheard her.
Aurelia’s cheeks deepened in color, and then she turned away from him, facing the painting she’d admired before he came.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
“Forget I said that.” She muttered under her breath, but Luke was not having it. He gently grasped her chin, forcing her to face him once more.
“What did you say, Aurelia?” His tone was soft yet firm, and Aurelia hesitated before speaking, gathering her thoughts. Luke didn’t think her cheeks could get redder, but it did.
Aurelia huffed, and Luke fought back the smile that crept up his lips as she pouted. He wondered what could be going on in that pretty head of hers, wishing he could somehow read her mind.
“I’m waiting darling,” he cooed, his fingers brushing against her skin to get her attention. It worked like a charm, and after what seemed like forever, she answered him.
“Can…I tickle you?” Aurelia asked in a small voice, internally cringing at the absurdity of her request. But she’d already said it, there was no going back now.
Luke, on the other hand, didn’t know how to respond. He certainly did not expect her to ask that, of all the things to do, she wanted to tickle him.
“Why do you want that?” He couldn’t fathom why she would want to use such an opportunity on something so trivial, but he couldn’t deny that he was intrigued.
Aurelia sighed, searching his eyes. Luke held her gaze, his hands unconsciously moving to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Just because.” She replied, confusing him further. Aurelia did not want to admit that she’d just wanted to hear him laugh, or rather make him laugh. to That carefree laughter she’d witnessed once, the smooth velvet sound that made her heart flutter. She knew it was strange, but the thought had lingered in her mind for quite some time now.
The CEO always sported a calculated smile on his face, in public and when he was with her. Was it weird for her to want something a bit different, a bit more genuine? Was it too much to ask? Or was she just trying to satisfy her curiosity?
Luke regarded her in silence for a moment, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes as he considered her request. Then after a moment, he nodded, moving away from her to sit on the sofa.
“Alright.” He said, his response shocking Aurelia. The enigmatic CEO sat with his legs spread and inviting, sporting a lopsided grin as he leaned back on the sofa.
Aurelia’s eyes widened, her heart racing with a mix of nerves and excitement.
“Really?” She’d expected him to turn her down, but here he was, welcoming her intrusive thoughts with open arms.
“I said I’ll do anything you want, I’m a man of my word,” Luke replied with a shrug of his shoulders, his hands working to loosen the belt of his robe, letting it fall open just enough to reveal a glimpse of his toned chest. “But you’ll have to find my ticklish spots yourself,” he added, his lips curving into a seductive smile.
Aurelia suddenly felt weak in the knees, but she kept herself up. Her heart thumped hard against her chest as Luke tapped the space between his legs, gesturing for her to come closer.
‘Well, it’s now or never.’ she thought as she approached him with slow yet deliberate steps. Aurelia shrugged her dress off her shoulders, letting it slide to the floor as she settled on the sofa between his legs.
Luke looked up at her, his eyes lowered sensually as his hands palm her ass, causing her to let out a soft moan.
“I’m all yours darling.” He whispered, his touch burning her skin like hot coal.
Aurelia swallowed hard. She raised her shaky hands, unsure of where to start from.
The intensity of her concentration was endearing, and Luke couldn’t help but find her cute as she focused on her task.
“You have ten minutes,” he announced, smirking. “Better make them count.”
Aurelia nodded, bracing herself. She started at his shoulders, tracing down his arms, then across his chest. Her hands moved with deliberate slowness, exploring his body with gentle touches, her fingers tentatively grazing his skin
Luke’s muscles tensed involuntarily, but he remained still, watching her with adept attention. He took his time to admire her face up close, noticing the things he’d missed; Like the little mole above the curve of her left brow, her small button nose, and the faded freckles that were sprinkled on her cheeks.
It made his heart rate quicken for some reason, a foreign emotion swirling within him.
He snapped out of his daze as her fingers brushed lightly against his sides, causing him to twitch slightly. Aurelia’s eyes lit up at the reaction, and she tried again. Luke’s eyes squeezed shut as he tried his hardest to suppress his laughter, Aurelia was quick to notice this, and her lips curved into a knowing smirk.
Her fingers brushed against the same spot, this time eliciting a genuine chuckle from him. Pride swelled in her chest.
“There?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with triumph.
“Maybe,” Luke replied, biting back a grin.
as his eyes fluttered open. “You’re getting warmer.”
Encouraged, Aurelia continued her exploration, her touch becoming bolder. She was so engrossed in her task that she didn’t notice the way Luke’s breath hitched or the way his eyes darkened with desire as he looked up at her. When her fingers trailed down his abdomen, Luke’s muscles clenched, and he shifted in his spot, swallowing hard.
Aurelia’s concentration was unbroken as she moved lower, her hands skimming over his hips and thighs. Luke’s arousal grew with every touch, but she remained oblivious, her focus entirely on the challenge at hand.
“Time is ticking.” He reminded her, and Aurelia huffed out an exasperated breath.
Luke threw his head back, suppressing the moan that bubbled in his chest as her knee pressed against his growing reaction, causing his chest to heave slightly.
With only a few minutes left, Aurelia soon grew anxious. Her palms flattened against his torso, and she tried her best to ignore the feeling of his hard abs as she continued her search. Finally, she found a spot just below his ribs, one that made him jerk forward.
Bingo. She thought, and in no time, her fingers played on the spot repeatedly. Luke couldn’t hold back, he laughed out loud, his shoulders quaking as he writhed under her hold, his rich laughter soothing her ears.
“Got you!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a mixture of victory and playful relief.
“Okay okay…” Luke started, but he was cut off by another round of uncontrollable laughter. “Aurelia….” his eyes burned with tears as he continued to laugh, but Aurelia didn’t stop, she was enjoying this a little too much.
Then suddenly, He sprung up, catching her off guard. Aurelia gasped as Luke moved her with shocking strength and haste, shifting their positions.
Soon her back pressed against the soft cushion of the sofa, her hands held high above her head as he pinned her down.
“That’s enough.” He snapped, trying to catch his breath. “Time’s up.”
Aurelia’s heart skipped a beat at the sudden change in his tone. The playful atmosphere vanished, replaced by an intensity that left her breathless. Luke’s hard gaze locked onto hers, the authority in his voice sending a shiver down her spine.
But even still, she smiled, her pulse quickening under his unwavering stare. His grip on her wrists was firm but not painful, the weight of his body pressing her into the cushions. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with unspoken tension.
“Your laughter is beautiful,” she stated, her eyes glistening with genuine warmth.
Luke’s eyes widened, his heartbeat ringing in his ears. His grip on her wrist faltered as he met her gaze. There was a fluttering in his chest, one that shocked him to the point he went rigid.
He averted his gaze from her, whipping his head to the side. But it was already too late, she’d seen what he desperately tried to hide.
The subtle pink tint on his cheeks
Aurelia couldn’t believe her eyes.
Was the almighty CEO…..blushing?!