Chapter 195: A Good Night’s Sleep
The two leaned against each other beneath the warm glow of a single bedside lamp, chatting in low voices.
Normally, Arabella would have been asleep long ago.
She had even drunk a little wine that evening, yet sleep refused to come.
Part of it was because she’d already dozed off for nearly an hour in Luca’s arms while they watched TV that afternoon.
The other reason was much harder to ignore.
Being pressed so closely against him, surrounded by his warmth and the faint masculine scent that lingered around him, made it impossible to stay completely unaffected.
If she was being honest...
She was a little excited.
As for Luca, sleep wasn’t even an option.
Any man holding a breathtaking woman like Arabella in his arms, with her graceful figure tucked against his chest, would struggle to keep his thoughts under control.
They spent the night wrapped around one another.
Sometimes they talked.
Sometimes they simply enjoyed the silence.
And every so often, they would end up kissing again.
Thankfully, the air conditioner kept the room cool. Otherwise, the warmth between them would have been enough to leave them both restless.
It wasn’t just Luca who was struggling.
Arabella was too.
She had never been this close to a man before, and kissing someone she genuinely loved while lying together in bed stirred emotions she had never experienced.
Whenever she accidentally brushed against his warm body, her whole body trembled, and for a brief moment, her mind would go completely blank.
Still...
She knew herself.
If she crossed that final line tonight, she might not regret it...
But she would always feel that something was missing.
She had never asked for extravagant romance.
All she wanted was a moment that felt meaningful.
A little sense of ceremony.
Hours slipped by unnoticed.
By the time the first hints of dawn crept through the curtains, Arabella finally felt drowsy.
She yawned softly, hugging one of Luca’s arms.
"Luca... I’m getting sleepy."
"Then get some rest."
He whispered beside her ear, gently stroking her back in slow, comforting motions.
"What about you?"
"I..."
He paused before smiling helplessly.
"I’ll stay awake a little longer."
"Oh..."
She lowered her eyes, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
She understood perfectly well why he couldn’t fall asleep.
She had noticed it more than once throughout the night.
And...
She knew she was the reason.
Luca cared about her.
He respected her.
He would rather endure the discomfort himself than pressure her into something she wasn’t ready for.
The thought warmed her heart.
"Luca..."
She bit her lower lip.
"Hm?"
"You... let go for a second."
As she spoke, she gently pushed against his chest.
Luca loosened the arm around her waist.
"You need the bathroom?"
He assumed she was about to get up.
Instead, Arabella remained exactly where she was, lying on her side and quietly facing him.
The bedroom was dark enough that he couldn’t make out her expression.
He had no idea her slender neck had already turned pink, or that her eyes shimmered with nervous anticipation.
Without warning, she leaned forward and kissed him.
Their lips met softly.
"Arabella... weren’t you about to sleep..."
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a small, delicate hand slip beneath the blanket.
"Mm..."
She lightly traced the edge of his lips with the tip of her tongue.
Her voice, usually calm and composed, had become surprisingly soft.
"Luca..."
"I want you to sleep well too."
She hesitated, her face burning.
"So... teach me first."
He understood. She wasn’t ready for more...
Just this.
He smiled and kissed her deeply. She tensed at first, then melted into it, her tongue sliding against his as soft moans slipped into his mouth. His hand traced slowly down her arm, deliberate enough to make her shiver.
They broke apart, her cheeks flushed.
"What do I do... to help you sleep?" she whispered.
"Lick your hand. Get it wet."
Confused but willing, she dragged her tongue over her palm and fingers until they glistened. Under the sheets he freed himself... thick, hard, already leaking. She still hadn’t looked, but she felt the heat of him when he guided her slick hand around the shaft.
Her eyes widened. The size of him filled her entire grip.
’God... it’s huge.’
He chuckled low at the look on her face and closed his larger hand over hers, guiding her fingers into a slow, steady rhythm.
Up and down, twisting slightly at the tip where he was slickest, teaching her the exact pressure that made his breath hitch.
She followed carefully at first, eyes half-lidded, then found the pace on her own. Confidence bloomed with every stroke. Her saliva-slick fingers glided over the thick, throbbing length, the heat of him pulsing against her palm, the ridges of veins sliding under her touch.
He pulled her into another deep kiss, swallowing the shy little gasps that escaped her each time her thumb brushed the sensitive head. Her fist worked him faster now, tighter, the wet sound of her hand on him soft beneath the sheets.
He groaned into her mouth, the vibration running straight through her. His free hand slid up her back, fingers splaying between her shoulder blades, holding her close while his hips began to rock into her grip.
His breathing roughened, turning ragged against her lips. She felt him swell even thicker, harder, the first warning pulse under her fingers. His hips jerked once, twice, losing the careful control he had kept. She stroked him through it, curious and bold, watching his face from so close... brows drawn, jaw tight, eyes dark with pleasure.
He broke the kiss just as he came hard. Thick ropes of hot cum spilled over her pumping hand in heavy pulses, coating her fingers and wrist, dripping down her palm in sticky trails.
She kept moving through every spurt, fascinated by the way his body shuddered, by the low, broken sound he made against her cheek. Only when the last pulse faded and he finally stilled did she slow, her hand still wrapped around him, slick and trembling.
They stayed like that a moment, her hand still wrapped around him, sticky and trembling.
...
A long while later, the room finally became quiet again.
"You..."
She avoided looking at him.
"Go wash up."
"You’ll help me?"
His shameless request earned him a helpless glance.
"...Fine."
She was already heading to the bathroom anyway, so she silently accepted.
He followed close behind, still half-hard and sticky from earlier. Inside the small space he leaned against the sink and held his hands out slightly, waiting.
"Help me rinse it off," he said, voice low and easy.
She hesitated only a second before turning on the warm water. Her fingers closed around him again, gentler this time, guiding the stream over the thick length.
The mess washed away slowly. She watched, openly now, eyes tracing every ridge and the way he twitched under the water. A small, amused smile tugged at her mouth.
When he was clean she didn’t stop. Her hand kept moving, slow and deliberate, stroking him back to full hardness with tireless curiosity.
She studied him up close, the heavy weight of him, the way the head flushed darker with each pass of her palm... and the quiet amusement in her eyes only grew.
A sudden splash of water flicked across her eyes, snapping her out of it. She blinked up to find him watching her with a thoroughly smug expression.
Her face burned red all over again.
...
A few minutes later, she walked back out, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment.
Luca, meanwhile, looked noticeably more refreshed.
She picked up the bathrobe lying nearby and tossed it onto the chair.
Keeping her back to him, she asked softly,
"Luca... should I get you another bathrobe?"
The one he’d been wearing was no longer suitable.
Besides being uncomfortable, it wasn’t exactly clean anymore.
He chuckled.
"No need. Let’s just sleep."
"But then you..."
"What?"
He asked with an innocent expression.
"...Nothing."
She puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Go to sleep."
With that, she switched off the bedside lamp, slipped beneath the blanket, and turned her back to him.
Not long afterward...
"Luca."
"Hm?"
"What now..."
His voice carried unmistakable amusement.
"...Can you... not ask again tonight?"
She muttered quietly.
"...Alright."
...
The next afternoon.
Arabella stepped out of the bathroom with her usual composed expression.
Only the faint blush around her delicate collarbone, along with the occasional shake of her slightly sore wrist, betrayed how exhausted she felt.
A moment later, Luca emerged after changing clothes, looking completely refreshed.
His satisfied expression made everything painfully obvious.
She looked at him for several seconds before speaking firmly.
"You’re not staying here tonight."
If he spent another night here...
Who knew what shameless ideas he’d come up with next?
It was safer to stop while she still could.
Seeing her serious face, Luca immediately walked over and wrapped an arm gently around her waist.
"Don’t be mad."
"I’m not angry."
She rested her forehead against his chest and sighed.
"I’m just worried that if you stay another night, my hands will be so tired tomorrow I won’t even be able to hold a paintbrush properly."
Despite the complaint, she still stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
When they finally separated, she looked into his eyes with unusual seriousness.
"Go home."
"I have an exam the day after tomorrow."
"Please understand."
Luca smiled helplessly.
"Alright."
Since she’d already said that much, there was no reason to insist.
He could only agree.
The two lingered by the doorway for a while longer before sharing one last lingering kiss.
Only after watching him disappear into the elevator did Arabella finally close the door.
A trace of reluctance flickered across her face.
She leaned lightly against the wall and murmured to herself,
"Luca..."
"What am I supposed to do with you?"
Just then, her phone rang.
The cheerful ringtone pulled her back to reality.
Seeing the caller ID, she answered immediately.
"Mom."
"Bella."
A gentle, elegant voice came through the phone.
"Your birthday’s coming up. Have you decided what you want to do this year?"
"I’ll celebrate at home."
She paused.
"But... this year I’ll be bringing someone."
There was a brief silence.
"A man?"
"...Mm."
"Your boyfriend?"
"I haven’t agreed yet."
Her voice remained as calm as always.
On the other end, a quiet laugh sounded.
"But you like him."
If she was willing to bring him home, then the answer was already obvious.
Mrs. Windsor knew her daughter far too well.
"...Yes."
"I like him."
The woman on the other end let out an emotional laugh.
"That’s wonderful."
"Bella, your father and I don’t have many expectations."
"As long as he truly treats you well, that’s all we could ever ask for."
A gentle smile appeared on Arabella’s face.
"Thank you, Mom."