章 18: Asking her out

Their official engagement was only sealed by the senior La Roche yesterday. Erick hasn't forgotten Thea's face since that day. The strength of his desire to her made him feel odd. His heart started to pound loudly every time he saw Thea, as if it were about to escape from his ribcage.

When Thea noticed Ericks staring at her blankly, she furrowed her brow. "What brought you here?" she repeated.

Erick rubbed the back of his head in shame as he came to his senses.

"I wanted to drop by; I hope I didn't interrupt your sleep?"

Thea grinned at him as she walked alongside him and continued to talk.

"Erick, you're always welcome here."

Erick was happy that Thea was his fiancée because he now finds it impossible to picture himself being committed to anybody else. Is it the fact that she was the only lady to have Erick's interest?

But every time he considered the basis for his decision to accept the engagement, he felt guilty. But, he has already changed tack and committed to sincerely accepting Thea without reservation.

He walks closely behind Thea, only a few inches away. He kissed the back of her palm while holding her hand. Who would have believed that the stoic Erick had such a passionate side to him? Thea was surprised by Erick's action.

She teasingly smiles at him, "Your especially brazen today General Erick." She tries to hide her excitement at Erick's behavior, but she can't help it.

Erick smiled at Thea's rosy cheeks. He was successful in stirring her in his presence. He had the impression that Thea was purposely seducing him and enjoying making fun of him ever since they first met.

Should I give Nick credit for this? ' He pondered.

Erick was aware of what Nick had said to him the previous evening regarding the woman's distant observation of him; he does not want Thea to be put off by his stern demeanor. The only thing keeping him conscious is the idea of Thea ignoring him. He only complied with Nick's dating advice because of this, even though some of it made him uneasy.

In Thea's eyes, he appears dashing as he says, "I'm just doing what my instinct was telling me."

She paused to think, then a bright smile of mischief appeared on her face as if she had anticipated Erick's change in conduct.

She folded her arms over her chest and said, "And what would be your instinct was telling you about," encouraging Erick to be more assertive.

Thea was aware that Erick does not behave in this manner even if they are not close before she noticed how he behaved in front of everyone. To Thea, Erick is a stoic and cautious individual. She now deduced that someone on Erick's side had instructed him to behave in this manner in front of her.

Who taught you this kind of stuff, Erick? She smirked, so she had to confess that she was loving his bravado today. 'Let's see how far your mentor teaches you.'

Erick smiled at Thea's playful attitude and joined in with her antics.

He handed her a bouquet of red roses and said, "My instinct was telling me to give you these flowers," making Thea beam from ear to ear.

Thea happily accepted the red roses; she had no idea that Erick would one day present her with a bunch of red roses.

She inhaled the revitalizing rose aroma and said, "It's gorgeous, Erick."

Thea jumped into a tight embrace with Erick and froze him in place because she was so overcome with excitement. That was his first time being embraced by a lady, and now that his hand is frozen in midair, he is unsure of what to do.

Erick can't get enough of the delicate vanilla aroma she gives out; it fills his senses and makes him want more. While he enjoyed Thea's pleasant aroma. His arms automatically extended to give Thea a firm hug.

Under the chilly breeze on the balcony, the two embrace one another. Thea grasped Erick's arms tightly. Although they only met in person yesterday, they are immediately attracted to each other.

From Thea's viewpoint, who had previously led a wretched life. She's always anticipated and dreamed of this moment with Erick. Now she can see it taking place.

She buried herself in Erick's arms, thinking, 'If this is a dream, please don't wake me up.'

"This is the first time I've received such gorgeous flowers, so thank you so much, Erick."

He smiled and said with pride, 'The first flowers she received were from me.'

Thea was now cuddling against Erick's chest, and Erick dipped his head to have a glimpse at the side of her gorgeous face. He couldn't protest that he was liking her petite, soft body pressing up against him since he just let her do what she wanted.

This is why Erick doesn't take Nick's warnings about Thea being the alleged evil member of the La Roche Family seriously.

'Why is this sweet lady evil?'. As he tightened his grasp on Thea, he thought, 'Don't worry Thea, I always protect you.'

Erick affectionately patted Thea's head. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his strong, warm palm on her head. Thea delighted in Erick's embrace, feeling his warmth touch her longing heart and ease it.

After they had been in that position for some time, Thea gently asked, "How did you know that red roses are my favorite flower?" without releasing her grip on him. Thea burrowed her face into Erick's chest, savoring the body's invigorating mint aroma.

In stark contrast to the rumors, she was like a domesticated kitten, Erick grinned as he continued to tenderly touch her head.

He responded genuinely, "I saw your mansion yesterday, and I observed the red flowers placed on every corner of the mansion, and I automatically assume that you adore red roses.

Thea flashed him a mischievous smile as she looked up and released him from the hold. "General Erick, you definitely have a keen sense"

Erick nodded in agreement as she continued, "Come let's get inside it's freezing out here, I'll ask Anne to prepare a snack for us."

Erick was accustomed to Thea's comforting touch and was dragged into the living room as soon as she grabbed his hands.

On the sofa, they are currently seated side by side. Erick was now thinking of a way to ask Thea out. It was the first time he had asked a woman out.

Then he recalled Nick's dating advice. The next piece of advice is to be assertive and prove your manliness on the date because women dislike men who lack communication skills.

In between sighs, he wondered whether he should be bolder because it didn't fit him.

Thea worriedly questioned after observing his depressing face.

She kept asking him, "Are you alright, Erick? Do you feel sick? Wait here, let me ask Anne to bring you some medicine." Erick took Thea's hand and prevented her from getting up to retrieve the medication herself.

Thea's expression of perplexity was evident as she turned to face Erick.

"Is there something you want to say?" she asked, cocking her head?

Thea the issue is-" he hesitated and sent a worried glance in her direction.

He sucked a lot of saliva from his throat to relieve the strain, knowing that if Thea won't agree to go out today, he could only blame Nick.

He spoke in a single breath as if reporting to his superior in the military, "I'm here to ask you on a date, I was hoping that we could eat outside if that's okay with you.

Thea wasn't sure if she should cry or laugh when Erick made the date request. Who in their right mind would spontaneously ask a girl out on the same day? She also doesn't have a lot of dating experience, but plenty of guys have asked her out, and she always says no.

Erick's pleading expression made him feel as though his heart would break. She secretly chuckled at Erick's purity.

She wondered, 'Your the cutest Erick, is that the reason you're depressed; are you worried I'll reject you?'

Apart from that, she was thrilled that Erick had finally asked her out. They never had the chance to date or enjoy some alone time in her prior life.

'Thank you, whoever sent me back, for allowing me to share this special moment with Erick.'

Unaware of Thea's absorption in thinking back on her prior experiences, Erick wondered why she hadn't responded to him yet and grew anxiously impatient.

'Oh! He thought as he clicked his tongue, "I shouldn't believe him. I knew Nick's dating advice is useless. She must have been busy.

Thea interrupted Erick just as he was going to speak.

She teasingly says, "Alright because it's a date.

As Erick heard Thea's response, he immediately sprang up in the excitement and quickly responded.

"Indeed, Thea, it is a date."

Thea grabbed his hand and entwined it as she immediately flushed a mischievous smile. Then Erick was again taken off guard. but accompanied her and gripped her hand as he spoke.

"So let's go, my Erick," she murmured with assurance.

When Thea said the word "Mine," Erick laughed as his heart leaped for excitement.

"Let's go, my Thea."