Chapter 35: Disco Dancing on My Own Grave
"It’s a great way to start! Think about it, a confession starts with a bouquet of flowers, and a relationship starts with a confession. It’s so romantic!"
"They’re just flowers. My own damn grave will grow them."
Leah Sinclair hung up the clothes. "Wait! Sheila Hughes, you better come clean with me. Is there something going on with you?"
"What the hell could be going on! I told you before, my department is full of old men. I’d love to be in a relationship, but I can’t bring myself to like any of them. Leah, if you’ve got any good options, don’t forget to introduce me!"
Sheila Hughes was exasperated. Why were there no young people in her department? Civil engineering had plenty of men, the construction industry had plenty of men, and when it came to her department, there were indeed a lot of men, but they were all married or had kids.
"Alright, alright, if I have any... Ah!" As Leah Sinclair was hanging up the second piece of clothing, she was suddenly swept into Asher Keating’s arms. He kissed her directly on the neck.
Asher Keating had come out and leaned against the sofa, listening, ever since Leah Sinclair and Sheila Hughes started talking about their junior and senior years of college. At that moment, Leah was washing his underwear, and he watched her with a smile, not making a sound.
Leah hadn’t noticed him. When she’d stood on her tiptoes to hang the first piece of clothing, her pajamas had ridden up slightly, revealing a small section of her waist. The sight had made him want to walk over and wrap his hands around it.
"Leah? Leah, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!" Sheila Hughes sounded panicked on the other end of the line.
Asher Keating lifted Leah Sinclair and set her on top of the washing machine, kissing her neck. Leah nervously wrapped her arms around his. "No... there was some water, and I almost slipped."
"Well, be careful then. Oh, right, are you really okay with that whole Henry Lowell thing? We were planning to go chew out May Coleman to get back at her for you."
Never mind that Leah Sinclair truly didn’t care; even if she did, she wouldn’t dare say so right now. Asher Keating bit her collarbone, startling a gasp out of her.
Leah Sinclair’s breathing grew unsteady. "I’m really fine, don’t worry. Sheila, I’m going to go shower now."
"Okay, I’ll hang up then. Bye."
Only after hanging up did Leah Sinclair dare to speak. "Third Brother, you scared me to death."
Asher Keating sealed her lips with a kiss, his hands never stopping. Leah’s body gradually went soft. Asher carried her back to the sofa. "Time to check on your progress from the last few days."
Leah Sinclair looked at him, a little bewildered. Asher Keating’s lips curved as he lifted his chin in a gesture. "Try me."
Leah Sinclair’s pretty face immediately flushed red. Asher didn’t speak, just watched her with amusement in his eyes. She squirmed shyly for a long moment before finally making a move.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was still a bit clumsy, but much better than before. She mimicked what Asher had done previously, her lips slowly traveling toward his Adam’s apple and collarbone.
Asher Keating held her by the waist. Leah’s ears turned red under his gaze. Unable to bear it, she buried her head in the crook of his neck and whispered, "I don’t know what to do next."
Asher Keating chuckled softly and pushed her down onto the sofa. "Looks like we need more practice."
Leah Sinclair buried her head in his chest, mortified. Asher stopped teasing her and focused on what he wanted to do. Listening to the woman beneath him cry out "Third Brother," he felt all the frustrations of the evening melt away.
After they finished on the sofa, Asher Keating carried her to the bathroom. Leah began to beg for mercy, but Asher wouldn’t let her off. "I have a business trip tomorrow, and you still owe me from last night."
Leah’s face was flushed. "Third Brother, my legs..."
"It’s fine. There are plenty of ways that don’t involve your legs."
In the end, he took pity on her since she had to work the next day, so Asher stopped after that round. Leah remembered he was going on a business trip and, after lying down for a bit, was about to get up to pack for him. Asher pulled her back into his arms. "Sean Yates will bring my clothes directly from over there tomorrow. No need to pack anything here."
"How long will you be gone?" Leah Sinclair asked with a soft yawn.
"Three or four days, probably."
"Then tell me when you’re coming back. Just bring your clothes home, and I’ll wash them."
"I’m not asking you to be my maid." Asher Keating pinched her waist, exasperated.
The pinch tickled Leah Sinclair, and she giggled. "Well, just bring them back! It’s only a few shirts, they’re quick to wash. I wouldn’t dare wash your suits, though. They’re too expensive."
After their playful banter, Leah started to get drowsy. She lay nestled in Asher Keating’s arms, her fingers unconsciously stroking his abs. ’They feel really nice,’ she thought. ’How on earth does this man maintain himself? His face is so handsome, his body is amazing, and his stamina is incredible, too!’
Asher Keating gritted his teeth, aroused by her touch. "Don’t want to sleep anymore?"
"Sleep, I’m sleeping!" Leah Sinclair immediately behaved.
Asher Keating looked on helplessly as the woman in his arms, who had been pretending to sleep, actually fell asleep in an instant. He recalled what she’d said on the phone—*They’re just flowers. My own damn grave will grow them*—and the corners of his mouth curved up. ’Why not just say you’ll go clubbing on your own grave?’
The next day, Asher Keating woke up early, and Leah Sinclair got up early with him. Asher told her to sleep in, but she couldn’t fall back asleep, so she got up too. Fortunately, the congee had been simmering since the night before. Asher had some and then left. Before he went, he looked at her obedient expression and couldn’t resist pinching her cheek. "Be a good girl while I’m gone."
"Mhm."
Leah Sinclair felt a little embarrassed in front of Sean Yates, but he remained silent, not even sparing them an inappropriate glance. ’He really is a professional assistant,’ Leah thought. ’This level of professionalism is amazing.’
After seeing Asher Keating off, Leah tidied up and left for work. She spent the entire day on the construction site, running up and down, recording data, and making marks. By the time she got on the subway after work, she was completely drained.
When she got out, she saw someone selling flowers at the subway entrance. Recalling what Sheila Hughes had said about flowers yesterday, she picked out a single sunflower for herself. ’Flowers don’t have to be a gift from someone else,’ she thought. ’You can buy them for yourself. What’s wrong with pleasing yourself?’
After buying the flower, Leah felt a bit more alive. ’Girls really do love flowers, after all. It doesn’t matter if someone else gives them to you or if you buy them yourself; they always brighten your mood.’
She hummed a little tune as she stepped out of the elevator, only to see a bouquet of flowers sitting by her front door. Puzzled, she walked over and picked it up. There was a card inside. "No need for your grave to grow them. Third Brother will send them."
Leah Sinclair stared blankly at the flowers in her hands. They were a very popular type of rose called "Versailles Vintage Red," and they were beautiful. She looked up the language of flowers for them: "You are worth showing off; a favored exception."
’Asher Keating definitely doesn’t know this,’ Leah thought. ’Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent them. He probably just thought they looked pretty.’
She took the flowers inside and searched for a long time but couldn’t find a vase, so she rushed out to the supermarket to buy one.
She gazed at the bouquet, her heart filled with a cozy warmth. She really wanted to post about it on her social media, but after writing and rewriting the caption, she finally gave up. Instead, she just sent Asher Keating a text: "Thank you, Third Brother. I love the flowers."
Asher Keating replied after a while with two words: "Oh, please."