Chapter 98: Daydream Believer
As Luca Hale drove toward Naomi Monroe’s house, he was still buzzing from his encounter with that seductive woman earlier.
He needed to clear his head before seeing Naomi. After all, when you have options and a soft spot for the woman waiting for you, the last thing you do is show up smelling like someone else.
That was just basic common sense, and Luca understood it well.
He made a quick stop at a flower shop and picked out a beautiful bouquet of roses. Their sweet scent reminded him of Vivienne, but Naomi would never suspect a thing. The plan was foolproof.
[The host spent 100 dollars on Naomi Monroe and received a critical hit: a garden villa in Rose City, New Orleans!]
’Another villa? In New Orleans, no less. Not bad at all.’
’Dropping a few dozen bucks and walking away with a Villa? What a steal.’
’Naomi Monroe, My lucky charm.’
Luca paid for the roses and turned to leave. The florist behind the counter watched him go, her gaze lingering with open admiration. ’He’s so handsome,’ she thought. ’What a shame those flowers aren’t for me...’
"Sis, if you keep staring like that a fly’s gonna enter your eyes. He’s already gone," a boy of about fourteen years old complained beside her. "Besides, I thought you liked that guy who can draw. Now you’re crushing on someone else?"
"Josh, don’t talk nonsense," she scolded lightly. "I was just appreciating the view. Mind your own business, you little rascal."
...
"Luca, is that you?" Naomi called out when she heard the door unlock. She stepped out of the small study, pulling the hairpin from her hair. She was still wearing the elegant traditional gown from her livestream.
"Ta-da!" Luca grinned, placing the roses gently in her arms. "These are for you. Do you like them?"
"I love them. Thank you," Naomi replied softly. She brushed a petal aside and leaned in, inhaling the fresh fragrance. A warm, genuine smile lit up her face as the scent relaxed her.
She set the bouquet beside a vase of Sunflowers and returned to the mirror to finish removing her headdress. One by one, the pins came out until her long, dark blue hair tumbled down like a silky waterfall, smooth and lustrous.
"So beautiful," Luca murmured, staring at the captivating woman before him. His breathing grew a little heavier.
Just as Naomi reached to loosen her gown, Luca stepped forward. He caught her delicate hand, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Don’t take it off yet. Let me admire you like this first, okay?"
Naomi blinked at him for a moment, then caught the heat in his eyes. Her cheeks flushed bright red. ’This big bad guy! This is the first thing on his mind the moment he gets home!’
Still, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she lowered her gaze, staring at her feet while her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
Luca knew her shy reaction meant yes. With a delighted laugh at her surprised squeak, he swept her up in a princess carry and carried her toward the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them with his heel.
Squeak... thump.
The door clicked firmly closed.
He set her down gently on the edge of the bed and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss.
Naomi melted into him, her fingers threading through his hair as soft moans escaped between their kisses.
Their breaths mingled, growing heavier and more urgent, until the room filled with affection and passionate sighs.
More than an hour later, the bedroom door opened again. Naomi had changed into her pajamas, her hair still slightly damp and carrying the fresh scent of shower gel. Her steps were a little unsteady as she walked to the living room and sank onto the sofa with a tired sigh.
From the kitchen came Luca’s cheerful singing.
"Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?"
Naomi gritted her teeth in mock annoyance. She had promised to keep the gown on during their time together, but the moment she stepped into the shower afterward, he had joined her anyway.
’I’m exhausted,’ she thought. ’And here he is, full of energy like nothing happened.’
Once her irritation faded, Luca brought two steaming bowls of tomato and egg noodles to the table. "Naomi my beautiful wife, dinner’s ready!"
Her stomach had been rumbling for a while. The fragrant, glistening noodles looked irresistible. They sat shoulder to shoulder and dug in happily.
"By the way, Luca, there’s something I wanted to tell you." Naomi suddenly remembered and picked up her phone. She opened a message and showed it to him. "Twitch invited me to an event at their New Orleans headquarters. Should I go?"
Since she was asking, it was clear she wanted to attend. Luca nodded without hesitation. "Go for it. You’re one of their top streamers now, you’ve already been to France, this is nothing compared to that."
"When is it?" he asked, tapping his chopsticks lightly.
"Mid-next month."
Luca gave a satisfied nod. "Perfect. I’ll come with you."
"Won’t that mess with your work schedule?" Naomi asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"It’s fine. You matter more than work," he replied, gently stroking her hair, his eyes full of warmth.
"Luca, you’re so sweet," Naomi said, touched. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Mua~"
That night, Luca lay in bed with Naomi curled against him, feeling utterly content. She rested her head on his chest as they watched an animated film together displaying on the TV Infront of them. Of course, his free hands weren’t idle, slowly wandering like an adventurous explorer.
Their breathing had just started to quicken when Luca’s phone started to ring.
BUZZZZZ
BUZZZZZ
Luca turned over his phone, the curious Naomi looking.
"Who is it?"
Luca’s eyes widened slightly, his heart skipping a beat. On the screen was Vivienne’s face.