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Thalia’s face went scarlet in an instant. She turned away, attempting to deny everything with what little dignity she could muster. “What on earth are you talking about? I would never say something like that…”
The corner of Asher’s mouth quirked upward. “No?”
“Of course not!” Thalia’s voice grew progressively quieter, her confidence waning with each word. “I mean… I couldn’t possibly have… not in front of everyone…”
Bloody hell.
Fragments of memory were beginning to resurface.
Last night, she had… possibly… perhaps… Oh god, she really had said those things, hadn’t she?
“I was talking absolute rubbish!”
The soft morning light filtered through the windows, illuminating her crimson–flushed face.
Thalia bit her lip, utterly mortified. “You know I was completely sloshed. I was just babbling nonsense. You wouldn’t hold a drunk person’s ramblings against them, would you?”
She didn’t sound particularly convinced of her own argument and added in a small voice: “When
someone’s intoxicated, they can’t fully control or recognize their actions. In legal terms, that’s considered diminished capacity…”
Asher’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter.
“Are you giving me a legal lecture now, counselor?”
In reality, intoxicated individuals weren’t legally classified as having “diminished capacity” at all–Thalia
was merely grasping at straws.
Knowing she was on shaky ground, Thalia let out an indignant “hmph” and attempted to wriggle free from Asher’s embrace.
His arms remained firmly around her waist. “Trying to escape? Have you forgotten how thoroughly you teased me last night? You can’t simply wind me up and then disappear.”
The scent of shower gel lingered on his skin–Thalia recognized it as her own usual brand.
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Asher leaned in and claimed her lips, his elegant fingers threading through her hair. They kissed with urgent passion, like a summer storm or a howling winter gale–powerful and impossible to resist.
“Lia,” he murmured against her lips, “may I?”
The faint morning light gradually brightened, and even the air between them felt charged with electricity.
Thalia knew exactly what would happen next. Though she trembled slightly with nervousness, there was unmistakable anticipation in her eyes.
She loved Asher and yearned for this deeper intimacy with him.
Outside the window, birds sang sweetly in the trees. Everything felt utterly perfect.
It was a gloriously romantic morning.
Just as they reached the precipice of no return, a mobile phone rang suddenly.
In the quiet sanctuary they’d created, the sound was particularly jarring.
Asher’s eyes darkened with displeasure. He seemed inclined to ignore the ringing and continue, but Thalia had been startled back to reality. Blushing furiously, she broke free from his embrace and backed
away a few steps.
“Your–your phone,” she stammered, gesturing vaguely.
Asher’s gaze was molten, his voice low and husky with desire. “Why are you running, darling? I promise I
won’t ravish you completely.”
“You should… probably answer that first…”
Asher reached for his phone, the heat in his eyes cooling back to his usual composed gaze.
The caller ID showed Grace Bennett.
Why wasn’t she having a lie–in on this early morning? Why choose precisely this moment to call? Asher suddenly found his sister rather irritating, and his tone carried a distinct edge as he answered, “What is
it?”
Grace spoke excitedly: “Brother, the meteorological service just announced there’ll be a meteor shower tomorrow night! Fancy watching it together? The best viewing spot is at South Downs National Park. Let’s go hiking tomorrow!”
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Holding the phone to his ear, the man’s gaze drifted to Thalia standing nearby, his expression softening
instantly.
A meteor shower?
His Thalia would probably adore seeing something like that. She’d been working herself to the bone these past days, and tomorrow being the weekend–it was the perfect opportunity for taking her out to unwind.
Asher responded in a measured tone: “Alright.”
With this small interruption, the previous intimate atmosphere had thoroughly evaporated.
Thalia’s racing heart began to calm, and the flush gradually receded from her face. She cleared her throat strategically, feigning composure as she said, “I’m rather peckish. Shall we order some breakfast?”
Asher’s eyes held a mischievous glint. “I thought you were going to verify whether I have any… performance issues in the bedroom department?”
Thalia shook her head vigorously, quickly backpedaling. “I was wrong, completely wrong! I was just talking absolute rubbish, Asher. You definitely don’t have any… issues!”
Asher’s voice was deliciously husky and enticing, “How can you be so certain without proper empirical
evidence?”
The girl bit her lip and lowered her head to stare at her toes, the picture of contrition. “I just know I was being silly…”
Asher couldn’t help but laugh.
His Thalia was so delightfully modest–he’d stop tormenting her.
Asher didn’t press the young woman further and dutifully ordered breakfast.
After their meal, Asher told Thalia about going to South Downs National Park the next day to watch the meteor shower.
Just as he’d anticipated, Thalia’s eyes lit up brilliantly at the mention of a meteor shower. She responded with unbridled enthusiasm: “I’ve never seen a meteor shower before! Yes! Absolutely, we must go. I’ll
invite Charlotte and Victoria too.”
Asher smiled and agreed.
Heaven knows he’d only been thinking of spending time alone with her.
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But there was nothing to be done–his Thalia enjoyed having people around, and at the first mention of the meteor shower, she’d immediately thought of her two best friends.
Remembering that Grace and Thalia had experienced some unpleasantness at the riding grounds previously, Asher felt it necessary to inform Thalia that Grace would also be joining them.
Grace was his sister after all, and would be Thalia’s sister in law once they married. They couldn’t avoid each other indefinitely because of one uncomfortable incident.
“Lia, my sister will also be joining us for the hike tomorrow. Would that be alright with you?”
Thalia paused. “You mean Grace?”
Asher nodded slightly. “Yes.”
Recalling the incident at the riding grounds, Thalia lowered her gaze. Her excitement visibly deflated, and her voice lost its previous enthusiasm. “Oh, that’s fine. I don’t mind.”
Asher stroked her hair affectionately. “Good.”
He’d known his Thalia wasn’t the petty sort.
They spent the entire morning lounging on the sofa together.
Thalia was tasked with researching their trip on her phone, while Asher seemed determined to be a delightful nuisance–stealing kisses one moment, pulling her into his embrace the next, and deliberately teasing her by breathing warmly against her ear.
Thalia turned her head, pretending to be cross. “Asher Blackwood, will you behave yourself for five
minutes?”
Asher lowered his head, his warm lips finding the sensitive skin of her collarbone, lingering there with
deliberate intent.
“Stop it,” Thalia protested weakly, placing a hand against his chest to hold him back. “I’m trying to plan our outing properly. If we miss the meteor shower tomorrow because of your distractions, I’m not speaking to you for a week.”
Asher’s shoulders shook slightly as he laughed softly. “My, that’s rather severe, isn’t it?”
“Meteor showers don’t exactly happen every Tuesday. I absolutely want to see this one.”
Asher gently removed her restraining hand and leaned in again to trail kisses along her pale neck, his
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warm breath sending shivers down her spine.
Thalia shrank back slightly, laughing as she pushed at his face. He caught her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “Let my assistant handle the tedious planning. It’s the weekend–spend some time with me
instead.”
The man’s tone was unlike his usual aristocratic detachment. He spoke softly, almost plaintively–rather like someone deliberately being endearing.
Thalia looked at him with wide–eyed amazement, as if discovering something entirely new and unexpected. “Were you just flirting with me?”
Asher didn’t answer, simply leaning in to capture her lips once more.
His featherlight kisses traveled down her neck, sending delicious tingles throughout her body.
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