Chapter 194: Just a Little Longer
Luca and Arabella lingered on the balcony, quietly enjoying each other’s company as the pleasant evening settled around them.
He had no idea that Raven had witnessed their passionate kiss, or that she had already urged Naomi to leave him.
Fortunately, Naomi’s feelings for him never wavered. Otherwise, the peaceful life he had always dreamed of might have fallen apart before it had truly begun.
"It’s getting late." Arabella tilted her head just enough to avoid Luca’s next kiss, then rested a palm against his chest, her breathing slightly uneven. Looking up at him with those clear, beautiful eyes, she held countless emotions she couldn’t quite put into words.
Luca smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before brushing the back of his fingers across her warm, delicate cheek.
His gaze lingered on her.
"You’ve had quite a bit to drink." His voice lowered. "Why don’t I stay here tonight?"
She looked at him for a moment before asking, "Don’t you own a house here? And... didn’t you pick me up with a car?"
"I’ve rented them all out."
She stared at him for another second.
"You’re lying."
Her voice was quiet, almost gentle.
Even though she saw right through him, she didn’t ask him to leave.
Instead, she silently chose the option she had already decided on.
"So..." Luca smiled. "Where am I sleeping tonight?"
He lightly cupped her face, his thumb brushing the corner of her lips.
Arabella wrapped an arm around his neck and met his eyes.
"With me, of course."
She said it so matter-of-factly that Luca almost forgot to breathe.
"Otherwise... what would be the point of letting you stay?"
The words sent a wave of excitement through him. Even in the dim light, the smile spreading across his face was impossible to hide.
"But..." she continued, her expression becoming serious again, "we have an agreement."
She held his gaze without blinking.
"I’m letting you sleep in my room because... I want to hold you while I sleep."
Her ears turned faintly pink.
"That doesn’t mean I’m ready for anything else."
She took a slow breath before finishing.
"So... don’t fool around, okay?"
Luca hadn’t realized she’d already planned to let him stay.
The last time they spent a night together in the car, she’d secretly wanted to fall asleep in his arms.
Back then, though, everything had happened too quickly. Even if they were deeply attracted to each other, they had only just met.
Today was technically only their third time seeing each other.
But that wasn’t the whole story.
Every day, they chatted online, shared the little moments of their lives, confided in one another, and exchanged sweet messages that neither would admit they reread.
She wanted to make up for the regret she still carried from that night.
She wanted to curl up beside him and drift off in his embrace.
At the same time, she knew she wasn’t ready to go any further.
That was why she had told him in advance.
Deep inside, she still held onto one small hope.
The day she truly accepted him would be special.
There wouldn’t need to be luxury cars, yachts, or expensive jewelry.
All she wanted was for him to hand her a single Ecuadorian Rose, pull her gently into his arms, and whisper a few sweet words meant only for her.
Looking into her earnest eyes, Luca smiled.
"I’ll wait."
He squeezed her hand gently.
"I’ll wait until you’re ready."
"Okay."
Her jewel-like eyes sparkled.
Before she realized it herself, the corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly.
Happy that he understood, she stood on tiptoe and stole a quick kiss from his lips.
The instant he tried to deepen it, she slipped away with surprising speed.
"Luca..."
A second later she disappeared into the living room.
He blinked in confusion.
The curtain shifted softly.
A delicate face peeked out from behind it, happiness dancing in her eyes.
"It’s time to sleep."
Before he could respond, she hurried toward the bedroom, leaving only the curtains fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
Luca stood there for a long while.
Only then did he realize what had stunned him.
She had smiled.
Not just the tiny lift of her lips she occasionally showed.
A real smile.
Small, fleeting, almost impossible to notice.
But unmistakably genuine.
He finally understood.
It wasn’t that Arabella couldn’t smile.
She simply kept every emotion locked deep inside herself, revealing almost nothing to the outside world.
That was precisely why her smile felt so precious.
On her breathtaking face, even the faintest smile had the power to stop someone’s heart.
Luca walked back inside.
A neatly folded light-blue bathrobe rested on the sofa.
It looked brand new.
He picked it up, running his fingers across the soft fabric. It carried a faint floral fragrance remarkably similar to Arabella’s own scent.
Knowing she was showering in the master bathroom, he grabbed the robe and headed into one of the guest bedrooms.
Golden Water Bay apartments all shared the same layout. Every bedroom had its own bathroom.
Men finished showering much faster.
About fifteen minutes later, Luca emerged wearing the bathrobe, casually drying his hair with a towel.
As he entered the master bedroom, the steady sound of running water still echoed from the bathroom.
If it had been Vivienne or one of the others inside, he probably would have joined them without a second thought.
But this was Arabella.
There was no reason to rush.
He leaned comfortably against the headboard, picked up his tablet, and idly scrolled through it.
Another fifteen minutes passed before the water finally stopped.
A soft rustling came from behind the bathroom door.
Click.
The door slowly opened.
Luca looked up casually.
Then froze.
Arabella stepped out wearing nothing but a thin, milky-white nightdress over her undergarments.
The hem stopped just above her knees, revealing a pair of smooth, fair legs.
The hot water had left a rosy blush across her originally pale skin, making her seem even more radiant.
Usually, she resembled a snow lotus blooming atop a lonely mountain, distant and untouchable.
Now...
She looked as though an angel had descended from the heavens.
Not as naturally seductive as Vivienne.
Yet somehow just as captivating.
"Well?"
She twirled lightly in place.
"Do I look nice?"
Luca took a slow breath before answering honestly.
"Beautiful."
He laughed helplessly.
"You completely stole my attention."
A hint of satisfaction flickered through her eyes.
"Thank you."
She had noticed the way he’d stared at her from the moment she stepped out.
Still, hearing the compliment directly from him made her heart race.
She liked hearing him praise her.
Every compliment filled her with a strange mixture of happiness and shyness she’d never experienced before.
Those feelings only ever appeared when she was with him.
She walked over and sat beside him before patting the blanket.
"You sleep over there."
Luca blinked.
"Huh?"
She looked at him seriously.
"What do you mean ’huh?’ Move over."
"...Alright."
He obediently shifted aside.
As she settled beneath the blanket, Luca glanced toward the bedside table.
"Your phone’s on this side."
"You usually sleep here, don’t you?"
"I do."
"Then why make me move? It’s not winter. You don’t need me warming up the bed."
She couldn’t help laughing softly.
"No."
After a brief pause, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"I just wanted to see what it feels like."
"Like what?"
She looked away, suddenly sounding a little embarrassed.
"The way married couples sleep in TV series."
Luca slipped an arm around her shoulders.
"So... does it feel like that?"
She thought for a few seconds before shaking her head.
"Not really."
Then, after another tiny pause, she whispered,
"But..."
"It does feel a little like newlyweds."