From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 174

Laurinda hopped off Adolphus’s lap and made a quick escape to the kitchen before he could catch her.

Adolphus watched her flustered retreat, a soft laugh escaping him. He reached for the glass on the coffee table and finished the last of his water. The subtle taste of roses lingered, reminding him of her.

In the kitchen, Laurinda pressed her warm cheeks with her palms. She could feel herself getting bolder each day. Before, she only let her mind wander. Now, hugging him felt so natural, almost as if she’d crossed a line she never meant to.

Adolphus slipped in behind her, noticing how she stared off at the oven, lost in thought. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest.

He brushed a gentle kiss on the tip of her ear, his voice soft and low. “What’s on your mind?”

Laurinda fumbled for something to say. “I was just thinking… um… maybe I could share half a flatbread with you.”

Adolphus let out a laugh. “So you’re thinking about flatbread?”

She nodded, latching onto the topic. “Yeah, it’s really good. When it’s fresh out of the oven, it gets all crispy and smells amazing.”

Inside, Laurinda let out a shaky breath. She’d almost blurted out what she was really thinking. She muttered under her breath, half-annoyed with herself.

Adolphus is such a tease, always making it hard for me to think straight. He’s too much.

Adolphus seemed to read her thoughts. He laughed, his warm breath dancing over her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.

He decided not to push his luck, sensing she was about to get flustered enough to snap. He let go of her waist, stepping back a little, his tone gentle. “I’ll get the barbecue and flatbread. Go wait for me at the table.”

Adolphus couldn’t help but feel a little helpless at her words. Was he not making her feel secure enough? Why else would she think that?

His honest words made Laurinda’s heart flutter. She already knew how he felt, but she still wanted to hear it, to test him, just a little more.

She ducked her head and nibbled on her flatbread, not saying a word. Adolphus didn’t mind. He understood her hesitance. The more he learned about her, the more he wanted to protect her, to give her time to get used to him.

This was enough for now. She let him in, waited for him, even missed him. He couldn’t ask for more.

He picked up a piece of meat, holding it up to her lips with a teasing grin. “Come on, my little puppy, have some meat.”

Laurinda glanced up at him, catching his playful smile, and rolled her eyes at him. “You’re so annoying. Eat it yourself. I’m going upstairs to shower and get some sleep.”