<b>Chapter </b><b>473 </b>
Owen pressed closer, marveling at how impossibly soft Aria’s lips were. As sweet juice seeped from between them, he caught it with his mouth<b>, </b>gently sucking on her lower lip. The sweetness washed over him, sending a thrill straight to his heart.
His tongue slipped in and imed the strawberry from her mouth, his forehead pressed against hers as he chewed and swallowed. “That’s sweet.”
Owen thought, ‘The strawberry is sweet, but she’s even sweeter.‘
Aria blinked in a daze before shooting Owen an incredulous look. “Did you have to snatch it from my mouth? Are you out of your mind?”
Before Aria realized it, Owen’s arm slid around her waist, drawing her flush against him. In a husky voice, he murmured, “This is forey.”
He had her all figured out by now.
‘She can be terrifyingly blunt sometimes,‘ Owen thought, ‘like asking me point–nk if I brought <i>condoms</i>. But sometimes, she’s adorably clueless, analyzing whether I’ve lost my mind mid–kiss.‘
As the movie climaxed with a spine–chilling score, Aria instinctively turned toward the screen, only to be pulled back by Owen.
He asked, “Is the movie better than me?”
At that moment, his eyes gleamed with desire, lips glistening with strawberry juice. He looked even more alluring than the beautiful demon on screen.
Aria answered him with action, leaning in to kiss him and taste the sweetness on his lips. With a yful glint in her eyes, she murmured, <b>“</b><b>Are </b><b>you </b>seducing me on purpose?”
Owen answered truthfully, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her onto hisp. “Did my little seduction work?”
Aria smirked and said, “Yes, it worked.”
Owen teased, “So, will you sleep with me tonight?”
The position had them pressed so close they were almost glued together.
Aria didn’t feel the least bit shy. After all, they’d already done things way more intimate than this.
Owen knew all about the dark possessive streak Aria kept hidden deep inside, just as she saw through his reserved exterior to the innocence and passion
beneath.
“Of course, I could sleep with you tonight, but we’re watching a horror movie, not a romance. The mood’s all wrong. Maybe next time, darling,” Aria said.
‘Should’ve picked a rom instead,‘ Owen thought, then added with a yful grin, “It’s still early. How about we switch to a rom now?”
Aria couldn’t help butugh at his earnest expression. “You’re so adorable now. Let’s skip the movie and read something instead.”
Owen replied softly, “Alright.”
He grabbed the remote and turned off the movie. As Aria started to slide off hisp, he scooped her up, one arm supportin <b>her </b>back<b>, </b><b>the </b>other cradling her hips, and rose to his feet. “Let’s go to my study room,” he murmured. “I’ve got plenty of medical books there <b>you </b>can
Aria looped her arms around his neck with a yful grin and said, “Alright, but don’t you dare drop me.”
Owen stopped mid–step at her words, giving her a yful look. “You think I’m that weak<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Not only are you weak, you’re also not up to the task.” Aria met his gaze teasingly. “That’s what you call forey.”
Owen was <b>at </b><b>a </b>loss for words at that moment.
se.”
<b>10:54 </b><b>Wed</b>, <b>25 </b>Jun
He let out a softugh, clearly helpless against her. “Alright, whatever you say.”
He walked toward the study, releasing one hand to adjust his grip, then effortlessly hoisted her up with an arm under her <b>thighs </b><b>and </b>caught her Heddens toward the shelves, he said gently, “These are all medical books. Pick whichever you like.”
His voice was as calm as still water, showing no sign of exertion.
He used his actions to refute her im that he was “weak.”
Aria let him carry her and began scanning the shelves intently. “Lower,” she instructed.
Owen did as she asked, watching as Aria pulled out a book. “Done,” Aria said.
He shifted her into a bridal carry and asked, “Desk chair or sofa?”
“Sofa,” Aria replied,
Owen settled Aria onto the sofa. She leaned back naturally and opened the book to the first page.
Owen also picked up a book and sat beside her, cing two pens within easy reach. He said gently, “Feel free to take notes. None of these books is for collection.”
Aria replied, “Okay.”
They read inpanionable silence, each absorbed in their respective books.
An hourter, Owen received a call from Emma.
That afternoon, Emma attended a gathering where Zoe was also present. Zoe subtly probed about Owen and Aria’s romantic rtionship, asking how serious things were between them.