Love By Design

A Gentle Touch

Asher strutted through the corridor, his confidence radiating like an aura around him. He stopped in front of a room and pushed open a beautifully carved door, revealing a room that seemed frozen in time. Inside, a stunning grand piano dominated the space, its polished surface reflecting the light that filtered through the windows.

As I stepped inside, my eyes widened in awe. The room was a testament to Asher's impressive achievements. Trophies and medals lined the shelves, each one telling a story of triumph and hard work. I saw swimming championships, academic awards, and medical achievements, all bearing witness to Asher's incredible talent and dedication.

I felt a pang of admiration for Asher, mixed with a dash of self-doubt. Here I was, a struggling author with only one moderately successful novel to my name, while Asher had achieved so much more at such a young age.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Asher's approach until he snapped his fingers in front of my face, breaking the spell. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. Asher's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Sorry again about my mom," he said, his voice low and gentle. "She can get a bit...carried away sometimes."

I smiled back, feeling a flutter in my chest. Asher thought I was still embarrassed about the childhood stories but the truth was, I was embarrassed for entirely different reasons. Reasons that had everything to do with the way Asher made me feel.

"No, it's fine," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Asher's gaze lingered on mine, his eyes searching for something. I felt like he could see right through me, like he knew I was hiding something. But then, his expression softened and he nodded.

"This is my favorite room in the house" he said, his voice filled with a sense of comfort. "I spend most of my free time here, just relaxing and playing music."

He walked over to the piano, his fingers trailing over the keys. "Would you like to hear me play?" he asked, looking at me with a hint of nervousness.

I nodded, intrigued by the prospect of hearing Asher play. His face lit up with as he settled onto the piano bench. He paused for a moment, his eyes closing as he took a deep breath. Then, his fingers began to move, coaxing a beautiful melody from the piano.

As I listened to him play, I found myself becoming increasingly mesmerized. The music was beautiful and it seemed to speak directly to my soul. I felt like I was floating on a sea of sound, with his fingers guiding me through the waves.

But as I stood there, awestruck and entranced, a small part of me couldn't help but feel a twinge of insecurity. Was there anything that Asher wasn't good at? Anything that I could compete with? And then, it hit me - there was one thing. My own awkwardness and total shyness. I was the one who turned into a nervous wreck, with wobbly legs and a mouth that sputtered nonsense. That, at least, was something Asher couldn't top.

His fingers stilled on the keys and he looked up at me with an expectant gaze. I felt a jolt of surprise, this man was seeking my approval?

I opened my mouth to speak but my words got tangled in my throat. "It was...beautiful" I stuttered, feeling like a clumsy fool.

Asher's face lit up with a warm smile, and he leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with pleasure. "Really?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

And then, disaster struck. My brain and mouth seemed to disconnect and I blurted out the truth. "You're...very dreamy" I said, my face burning with embarrassment.

Asher's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked at me with a surprised expression. Then, to my horror, he started to laugh. "Dreamy?" he repeated, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

"Well, I guess, thank you for the compliment" he said, still trying to catch his breath.

Asher patted the space beside him on the piano bench, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "Sit down" he said, moving a little to give me space.

As I sat down beside him, our legs touched, sending a shiver down my spine. My breath hitched, and I felt a flutter in my chest. Asher's eyes met mine and he smiled.

"Tell me about yourself," he asked.

I hesitated, unsure where to begin. "I'm just an ordinary writer" I said, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I'm still working on expressing myself through my writing, since I'm not very good at speaking...as you've probably already noticed."

Asher chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think you're selling yourself short" he said, his voice filled with encouragement.

I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "My childhood was relatively unremarkable" I continued. "I was an ordinary student, got good grades, but not good enough to stand out. Nothing like your impressive achievements."

Asher's expression turned thoughtful, and he leaned in closer, his voice taking on a more intimate tone. "I think you're underestimating yourself, Julien" he said, his eyes locked on mine. "There's more to you than you're letting on."

His words sent a shiver down my spine. No one had ever looked at me with such intensity. It was as if he could see to the very heart of who I was.

"I want to know you, Julien" Asher said, his voice low and husky. "I want to be the person you show your true self to."

My heart skipped a beat as I met Asher's gaze. There was something in his eyes that made me feel like I was drowning, like I was sinking into their depths and couldn't find my way back.

And then, his expression changed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "After all" he said, his voice turning teasing, "I'm your fiance. I think it's time I got to know you."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as his warm breath tickled my ear. I pulled back, trying to compose myself.

"Okay fiance, soon-to-be fiance" I said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Asher's face lit up with excitement. "Fire away with your questions, Julien."

I took a deep breath, trying to think of something witty to ask. But all that came out was, "Um, what's your favorite color?"

Asher chuckled. "Wow, Julien, you really know how to start with the tough questions."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but he just grinned and said, "My favorite color is blue. But not just any blue – the blue of a clear summer sky."

"That's beautiful"

His gaze met mine, and for a moment, we just looked at each other, the air between us thick with tension. Then Asher said, "Okay, my turn."

He leaned in closer, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done, Julien?"

I felt a surge of excitement at the question, and a mischievous grin spread across my face. "I once snuck out of the house at midnight when I was 10 and went to the park to watch the stars"

Hi eyes widened in surprise and he let out a low whistle. "Wow, Julien, you're a rebel," he said, his voice filled with amusement.

I laughed, feeling a sense of joy that I hadn't experienced in a long time. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here," I said, winking at him.

"I think you're going to keep me on my toes, Julien" he said, his voice filled with excitement.

As we continued to talk, I found myself feeling more and more at ease with Asher. He was easy to talk to and he listened with a genuine interest that made me feel like I was the only person in the world.

At one point, he asked me what my favorite book was, and I launched into a passionate speech about "Pride and Prejudice." Asher listened intently and when I finished, he grinned and said, "I think I'm going to have to read that."

I smiled, feeling a sense of joy at the prospect of sharing my love of books with him. "I'll lend you my copy," I said, my voice filled with excitement.

As the afternoon wore on, I found myself feeling more and more comfortable with him. He was charming and witty, and he had a way of making me feel like I was the only person in the world.