Olivia Young’s lips pressed against his. Soft, gentle, with the faint sweetness of strawberries—sweet, tender, and addictive. No matter how much they kissed, it never felt like enough.
Fortunately, the baby was still so young, clueless about what Mom and Dad were up to, only staring blankly with wide eyes. Otherwise, Olivia Young would be truly embarrassed.
Her lips were reddened from the kisses, shimmering with a tempting sheen. The little one gazed at her with big, dewy eyes.
Covering their daughter’s eyes, Olivia Young whispered, “Baby, remember, no peeking when adults are busy~”
Frederick Fairfax’s gaze was hazy, his slender lips brushing her cheek as he murmured huskily, “The baby doesn’t understand. Let’s keep going.”
“Let’s wait a bit. I’m hungry.”
“Alright, let’s fill you up first. Then afterward, you can return the favor and feed me. Deal?”
His teasing tone, the suggestive rasp of his voice, and the heat of his breath so close sent tingles across Olivia Young’s chest.
“Be serious.”
“How am I not being serious? Do you know how long I’ve waited, honey? Don’t you feel sorry for me…”
She retorted, “Frederick Fairfax, haven’t I cared for you enough already? How many times have I helped you, hmm?”
He rested his chin on her shoulder, voice gentle. “My wife is the best to me.”
They lingered in the room for a while before heading out, their little one in their arms.
After dinner, Frederick Fairfax carried the baby to the nursery and told the nanny, under no circumstances should she disturb them tonight.
The nanny knew the drill—a seasoned veteran. She understood instantly what the couple wanted. She promised not to set foot in their room. Such understanding deserved a bonus.
Frederick Fairfax gently stroked the baby’s cheek, “Sweetheart, Dad will come see you tomorrow. Have sweet dreams and good night.”
The little one giggled, as if finding it hard to part ways. But a moment later, Frederick Fairfax thought of his wife waiting for him in the shower—the important priorities in life.
He walked into the nursery and immediately spotted Quentin Young leaning against the wall, a sense of foreboding rising in his chest.
“Brother-in-law, I just want to ask you…”
The air caught in Frederick Fairfax’s throat. “Ask me tomorrow!”
“But seriously, brother-in-law, I can’t take it. Why does Grace Gordon get away with everything?!”
One name and Frederick Fairfax froze. Maybe a few words wouldn’t hurt...
An hour later, Frederick Fairfax slipped open the bedroom door.
“Get out!” Even before he saw her, Olivia Young’s voice rang out.
“Honey...”
Olivia Young, dressed in a black slip dress, hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, glanced at him with cold, proud eyes. “Out.”
He refused! She was speaking in opposites; he couldn’t take her words at face value. If he actually left, he’d have no hope of winning her favor tomorrow—time to be thick-skinned.
He sat beside her, pulling her legs onto his lap. “Are you tired? Want a massage?”
“Don’t touch me!”
“Frederick Fairfax! I said get out!”
He pulled her into his arms, gaze burning. “Sorry, I made you wait too long.”
Olivia Young was angry at first, but now she just wanted to laugh.
“Was I really that impatient? Clearly, you— Every time you say one thing and do another…”
“If you think I’m the impatient one, then tonight, you sleep alone.”
Frederick Fairfax nuzzled into her, lips finding their way to the delicate skin unveiled by her slip dress. Just the right spot for a kiss.
“Mmm…”
The moment his lips touched her skin, Olivia Young’s heart skipped. “Hubby~”
“Lily, just relax.”
“I’m not nervous!”
Wiggling in his lap, she teased, “Why would I be nervous? If you mess up, I get to laugh at you…”
“Don’t make fun of me—give me a few more chances to practice, will you?”
He sounded like he doubted himself, but more like he just had a greedy eye for her body and wanted more. Either way, Olivia Young was weak from his kisses, her mind foggy—the rest she’d worry about later.
Lounging together on the sofa, their kisses grew heated, the room humming with sweet intimacy.
Just as his slender fingers slipped beneath her dress, her phone buzzed beside them.
Frederick Fairfax’s hand froze on her thigh. Both their eyes, hazy with desire, shifted to the glowing phone screen.
The caller ID: Grace Gordon.
Calling at a moment like this—now that’s a true nuisance of a childhood friend.
Olivia Young immediately regretted removing Grace Gordon from her blocklist so soon. He called as soon as he had the chance.
Burying herself in Frederick Fairfax’s shoulder, she muttered, “Hubby, turn off my phone.”
“Not answering?”
“You want to?” Unimpressed, she bit his neck. “Frederick Fairfax, I didn’t realize you were into that sort of thing.”
Into what? The only ‘thing’ he was into was her. There were plenty of ways to make Grace Gordon jealous—this wasn’t one of them.
Frederick Fairfax powered off the phone, pulling Olivia Young into his arms and carrying her toward the bed.
“Honey, the sounds you make—I want them for me alone. I’m not sharing with Grace Gordon. Not even a little bit.”
Olivia Young melted into the mattress, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Should we turn off the lights tonight?”
“No!”
Frederick Fairfax’s nose brushed against hers. “I want to see you.”
Last time, leaving the lights off had cost him dearly—it had taken forever to find her. She’d stood right in front of him, calling him ‘the kid’s dad’ just to mess with him. He’d naively thought she meant stepdad, never realizing Olivia Young’s every word pointed to the truth.
The night was steeped in romance and heat, passion blazing like wildfire.
The next morning.
Quentin Young passed the master bedroom, little one in his arms, and tried opening the door. It was soundly locked. Disappointed, he shuffled back to the nursery to drop off the baby before heading out to work.
Inside, Olivia Young was curled up in Frederick Fairfax’s arms. She lifted her arm, only to let it fall weakly.
Dog! Frederick Fairfax was born in the Year of the Dog—he really could stand to be gentler.
Kiss marks were scattered on her arm.
“Baby…” Frederick Fairfax nuzzled her neck. “Let’s sleep a little longer.”
“I want to check on our daughter.”
He was holding her far too tightly—excuse enough for a getaway. Suddenly, he released her, and an image from the nursery’s baby monitor popped up in front of her.
The little one was sleeping soundly in the crib.
“See? Now can you stay with me a bit longer?”
Does that even count as seeing...?
“I’m wide awake. Could you get my phone, hubby~?” she pleaded sweetly.
That one ‘hubby’ melted Frederick Fairfax’s resolve. He dashed to fetch her phone from the sofa, handed it to her, and slipped back under the covers, pulling her close. Eyes closed, he asked with a sated smile, “Honey, did I do well last night?”
In romance novels, the male lead is always exceptional. Only the villains are, well, lacking—and Frederick Fairfax certainly wasn’t a villain.
“You hesitated. You actually hesitated!!”
Frederick Fairfax looked crushed. “Was I really that bad? Olivia Young, tell me the truth! Put down your phone and answer me. Turn around!”
Olivia Young was forcefully rolled over to face him.
“Speak!”
She smiled slyly, fingertips tracing his collarbone. “Didn’t I answer you last night? You did fine. If technique is lacking, just step up the foreplay. Keep working hard next time~.”