Chapter 287: A Soothing Voice

Cassidy woke up in the middle of the night.

At first, she only stared blankly at the wall before realizing that she was sleeping on her side and in someone's arms. Her eyes trailed down to the huge, warm hand that is lying loosely on her tummy. She then turned around slowly to find her husband fast asleep.

Seeing how peaceful Adrian looked in his sleep, Cassidy could not help but smile.

Whenever she got this close to him, she never failed to point out that not a single blemish was marring his stunningly immaculate frame. Nothing seems out of place - not even his messy bed hair. She can't keep herself from smiling as she traces his features with her gaze. 

He is really one beautiful creation.

Cassidy sighed. She wanted Adrian to take better care of himself, though. 

Even when they've finally settled down, he couldn't change his habits at work. She recalled that he didn't even eat enough for dinner last night because he was rushing whatever it was he's doing. If he was like that now, she could only wonder how he used to be like before they got back together.

'Silly Adrian,' she thought with another sigh. 

Slowly, she began to sit up, but as she did, she heard a low groan. 

The arms around her didn't want to budge. He was most definitely sleeping. Yet, he showed no signs of having the intention of letting her waist go. He even snuggled into her lap and let out a whine.

'So adorable,' she mused in silence, grinning. 

With that, she just decided to lean back against the headboard of the bed and adjusted their bodies before stroking his hair gently. She continued her ministrations and let her other hand cradle his nape, but some minutes later, he suddenly began to stir.

In slow motion, Adrian used his arms to prop his upper body up. He then sleepily came face-to-face with Cassidy. 

For a moment, he only stared at her with a blank, sleepy expression. She quietly looked back at him while smiling sweetly before placing her hand on the side of his face.

"Sleep," she said softly.

Adrian stared at her and blinked listlessly, not getting what she said. Cassidy giggled at this before pulling him closer to her chest, which forced his arms to give up from under him. 

He then found himself leaning comfortably on her chest. 

"I'm awake, I'm awake," he yawned.

"Sleep," she ordered again, running her hand up to his forehead and holding his bangs away from his face.

"But I'm awake now, love."

"You can still fall asleep."

"But I've already woken up. How can I?"

"Hmmm… I've been told I have a soothing voice." 

"It's a lie. I heard you sing before. It's a lie."

"Oh, now you've hurt my feelings."

"No, I'm sorry. You do have a soothing voice. It's like an electric blanket and warm zero-fat milk."

Cassidy only giggles again, deeply endeared. She then rubs his temple and lets her other hand do the same thing on his back. Adrian nuzzles in her chest, loving the gesture. 

"You really need to sleep now," she said once more.

"You do it too," he retorted again.

"Only if you sleep first."

"That's not fair, my lady. My fair lady is being unfair." 

"Sleep and I'll forgive your pathetic humor."

"Sing me a song, and I'll forget that insult to my hilarity."

Cassidy smiles and rests her head on top of his. That's when Adrian gets to hear her melodious, saccharine voice again after a very long while. 

He should've asked for this before. She always sounds so calming and pleasing in his ears, and though she doesn't seem to be that proud of it, he will forever adore it. 

What makes Adrian even more pleased is the fact that Cassidy sang him a love song in the form of a lullaby. 

"I don't know if I'm just hearing things or what. But if I was not sure that you were flirting with me before, then I'm almost certain that you're hitting on me now...." he told her with the giddiest of grins, making her chuckle. 

"But that was the most beautiful thing I've ever had the honor of hearing. Thank you."

She slightly blushes as he grabs her hand and kisses its back – she has forgotten that she still manages to blush around him. His lips firmly press on her skin, a loving gesture. He then pulls her back down into his arms and nuzzles her nose with his. 

It always feels like heaven every time he's this close to her.

"You have to sleep now, dear."

"If that is what you wish, love."

Adrian kisses Cassidy on her forehead then to her cheek and to her nose before cuddling her closer and falling asleep once more. 

---

"I have a theory," Charles began, picking a card from Olivia. 

In turn, she took a card from his hands. She then glanced at him and asked, "Oh? What is it?"

At the moment, they're at the porch of the retreat house where Cassidy and Adrian temporarily live in. 

Since it's supposed to be a surprise visit, they've got to face the consequence of not giving the occupants any prior notice – and that is, by waiting for them to answer the door. However, even after ringing the doorbell several times, there's still no response.   

Bewildered, they'd both just decided they'd sit down and wait until someone opened the door for them. Luckily, Charles had a deck of cards in his car. With that, he and Olivia went to play a card game while waiting to try and entertain themselves.

They've been there for so long.

"I don't think Asher is really looking for a girlfriend…" Charles said casually. 

"I think he fell for Ma'am Irish and was trying to get her attention."

"Huh…?" Olivia blurted out, surprised and baffled.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember when she got stuck to the headboard? He asked to come with me then began flirting with her as soon as we got to her condo. It was hilarious. But for some reason, my instincts were telling me to play serious and not to get involved."

"Oh, I myself wouldn't want to be involved if it's those two. It's like getting caught up in the middle of two blazing balls of fire."

He nods at that, seconding the motion, before he places a card on the pile between them.

In fact, after seeing Irish and Asher's interaction that evening, he couldn't agree more. He even had to flee in the end since he couldn't understand what's with them anymore.

"Wonder how we're going to get them to confess," Charles muttered.

"By brute force?" Olivia suggested humorously.

"That's always an option."

"That's a joke, you know."