Chapter 349: A Volatile Lady

Oliver’s hand on April’s waist was heavy and unyielding, pinning her comfortably in place while his dark eyes burned through his glasses with unvarnished hunger.

"Demonstrate?" April asked, recovering her breath just enough to let a soft, taunting smirk curve her lips, even as her heart drummed wildly against her ribs. "You’re supposed to be preparing for the afternoon ceremony, Dr. Baxter. Not taking liberties in the library."

"The ceremony begins in precisely two hours and fourteen minutes," Oliver murmured, his raspy voice dropping into a dangerous, low rumble against her skin. He didn’t back off an inch. Instead, his long fingers traced a searing line up from the back of her knee, gathering the rich emerald silk of her dress just enough to hold her thigh securely against his hip. "That is more than enough time to collect data on a new hypothesis."

"Hypothesis?" April tilted her head back slightly, her dark eyes glittering as she looked up into his unraveled gaze. "And what, exactly, are you testing?"

"Whether a woman who spends her morning tormenting a man..." Oliver’s lips brushed the sharp angle of her jawline, sending a fresh wave of electric heat straight down her spine, "...can handle the exact consequences she provoked."

Before April could tease him further, Oliver took her mouth.

It wasn’t a tentative, gentle probe. It was deep, possessive, and shockingly fierce, his tongue sweeping past her lips to taste the sweet, lingering warmth of her tea. His hand at the small of her back tightened, pulling her so close against his broad frame that she could feel the rigid, frantic thrum of his heartbeat echoing her own.

A quiet, breathless hum escaped April’s throat, her fingers instinctively sliding off the edge of the desk to tangle into his dark hair, pulling him closer as she kissed him back with matching heat. The sheer contrast—the cold, calculating doctor losing every shred of his control over a single pair of legs and a teasing smile—was intoxicating.

When he finally pulled back just an inch, both of them breathing hard, his forehead rested against hers. His wire-rimmed glasses were slightly askew, his eyes dark and heavy with a devotion that went far beyond mere physical lust.

"You are a terrifyingly volatile variable, Miss April," Oliver whispered rasply, his thumb gently tracing her lower, swollen lip. "And I have no desire to ever stabilize you."

April let out a low, victorious chuckle, adjusting his glasses with two slender fingers. "Remember that, Doctor. But right now, I believe you have far more important things to address," she said, her tone softening into something surprisingly gentle.

Oliver looked at her with a questioning gaze, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to decipher her shift in intent.

She didn’t offer a lengthy explanation. Instead, she smoothly untangled herself from his grip. Oliver almost didn’t let her go, his long fingers instinctively tightening on her waist, until she offered him a reassuring, warm smile.

She reached down, taking his hand in hers, and led him toward a plush, velvet bench resting in the corner of the library.

She sat down first, smoothing the emerald silk of her dress, and then as he sat down, she gently brought his head down into her lap.

Oliver froze, utterly confused by the sudden change in dynamic. He shifted slightly, turning his head on her lap to look up into her face. "Why?" he asked, his voice rough and laced with quiet bewilderment.

April reached down and gently removed his wire-rimmed glasses, setting them carefully on the small side table within her reach.

"Samuel told me you came back at four in the morning after your surgery, and then you immediately dove straight into medical records," April murmured, her long fingers brushing a stray lock of dark hair away from his forehead. "You haven’t had a single minute of sleep. If just for an hour, close your eyes, Oliver. You’re the doctor, and yet you disregard your own health."

Oliver blinked up at her, his dark eyes searching hers.

"Then, I could simply go to a room," he murmured, his logical mind still trying to protest. "Why your lap?"

"Because it’s the part of me you love most about me, isn’t it?" April laughed softly, a light, melodic sound that echoed through the quiet library. "If it puts you at ease, then it’s bound to work faster than any pillow in the world. Besides, I need to make sure you actually fall asleep, so I’ll be watching you."

She hadn’t consciously realized she was capable of caring for him like this, but before she knew it, she was blending effortlessly into the role—doing exactly what she believed she would want if she were in his shoes.

She had cared for someone deeply before in her past, so the act of nurturing wasn’t entirely foreign. Only now, her care was backed by far more intent and calculation.

Oliver didn’t argue further. Instead, he reached up with one broad hand, his fingers gripping the back of her neck firmly, and pulled her face down.

His lips met hers in a simple, brief kiss—sweet, soft, and completely devoid of his earlier frantic hunger.

He release her, a faint, breathtaking smile curving his lips as his dark eyes crinkled. He closed his eyes, his breathing evening out almost instantly as he surrendered to sheer exhaustion, falling into a deep, heavy sleep within a minute.

April sat completely still, her heart racing so hard she could hear the blood thumping against her eardrums. She slowly brought her hand up, two fingers lightly touching her own lips where his mouth had just rested.

Seriously, this doctor is completely unpredictable.

In her peripheral vision, the translucent blue System panel flickered into full, golden brilliance:

[Client Tab Activity]

—Slot 4: Oliver Baxter [Trust Value: 100%]

—Status: Maximum Trust Threshold Achieved — Class Appointment Ready

The glowing 100% notification hovered silently in the air, announcing that he was officially ready for his class assignment.

Yet, April didn’t touch the screen. She didn’t look at the screen yet, nor did she think of the appointment. She simply rested her hand gently on Oliver’s dark hair, listening to his steady breathing while looking out at the morning sun filtering through the high library windows.

For now, she just wanted to cherish this rare, quiet moment of absolute peace before the impending chaos returned.