Chapter 82: A Cold Shower
Olivia silently retreated from the balcony. Alexander rested his chin on one hand, watching Olivia's futile struggle like a cornered animal.
She turned the air conditioning to the lowest setting, but the heat coursing through her body refused to subside. The room was filled with Alexander’s scent, like an oasis in a desert, beckoning her closer.
Frustrated, Olivia rolled up her sleeves. Suddenly, Alexander stood up. She instinctively took a step back.
“W–what are you doing?”
Alexander raised an eyebrow but walked past her without a word, picking up a newspaper from the table. As they brushed past each other, Olivia couldn’t stop herself from sneaking a glance at him. Broad shoulders, a firm chest, and a tall, lean build without an ounce of excess weight. Alexander had removed his jacket, leaving him in a white shirt. The thin fabric clung to his toned muscles, faintly outlined under the cool breeze.
He looked like a walking embodiment of temptation, his presence teasing every nerve in her body. Olivia’s throat burned as though a fire had been lit within it, leaving her parched. Alexander’s gaze finally landed on her, his deep, dark eyes as mesmerizing as an icy lake. Yet his stare felt like a spark, setting her skin ablaze wherever it lingered.
Alexander was the epitome of perfection. His looks, his physique—flawless in every way. “I can’t take it anymore!” Olivia thought, feeling her control crumbling. Taking a deep breath, she abruptly announced, “I’m going to take a cold shower!”
Without waiting for a response, she dashed into the bathroom, filled the tub with freezing water, stripped down, and plunged straight in with a loud splash. “Stay calm. I need to stay calm.”
The icy water enveloped her heated body, cooling the feverish restlessness in her chest. Leaning back in the tub, Olivia was so overwhelmed she was almost ready to start praying.
Outside, Alexander watched her retreating figure and the sound of water splashing in the bathroom. A faint, amused smile tugged at the corners of his otherwise stoic face. Settling onto the couch, he flipped through the newspaper in his hands, waiting. But time ticked by, and Olivia still hadn’t come out.
Concerned, Alexander stood and walked toward the bathroom. Inside, he found Olivia sound asleep in the tub. Her cheeks were still flushed, her delicate limbs curled up in the cold water. Damp strands of hair clung to her face, and tiny water droplets shimmered on her skin.
Alexander bent down and scooped her out of the tub. Her skin was cool from the prolonged exposure to the cold water. As she instinctively felt the warmth of his body, she unconsciously nestled closer into his arms, nuzzling into his chest even in her sleep. Alexander’s dark eyes glimmered with an unreadable emotion as he carried her back to the bedroom.
Olivia, now peaceful and quiet, didn’t stir as he laid her on the bed and tucked her in. Alexander switched off the lights and got into bed himself. But barely five minutes later, he realized something.
“Quiet, my ass.” The cold shower and the blasting air conditioning had made the room freezing. Half-asleep, Olivia instinctively rolled toward the only source of warmth in the bed—Alexander. Her icy hand landed squarely on his heated chest.
Alexander’s brow twitched in irritation. He reached down to move her hand, but Olivia clung to him like a koala, her small hand gripping his side firmly while her legs followed suit, wrapping around him. “This woman is more absurd asleep than she is awake,” Alexander thought, staring at her in disbelief.