next to him, resting his face against it. He legs tightly clasped the quilt in between, releasing the intense longing that rose in his chest, and murmured with closed eyes,"Edith, Edith..."
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On this exceptionally sunny afternoon, Raphael stood early atop the hill, gazing at the long-awaited maiden as she bounded up the hill with light and joyful steps. His lips couldn''t help but curl upwards.
As Edith approached, a pleasant and gentle sunlight enveloped her, leaving Raphael momentarily enchanted.
She only saw his figure alone and looked somewhat uneasy, hastily asking about Charlene.
"Charlene''s physical examination got rescheduled to this afternoon, so she won''t be able to come," Raphael explained to her.
"On such a beautiful day like today, Charlene isn''t here, it''s such a pity!" Edith expressed her disappointment."I think I''d just go back then!"
"I can also play with you, can''t I?" Raphael said.
Edith rolled her eyes towards him,"What''s there for me to play with you?"
Raphael raised the novel he had been carrying behind his back and smiled at her."We can read a book together."
Like in their childhood, the two sat side by side on the lush hill, bathed in the dense shade. They spread the book in between them, their heads leaning close to one another.
After a while, Edith let out a yawn and suggested,"Reading like this makes it too easy to feel drowsy. Why don''t we recite it out loud, just like we used to do when we were kids?"
"Sure, you recite a sentence, and then I recite one," Raphael responded with a smile.
Edith had not anticipated that, within moments of reciting, the plot in this romance novel would progress to a blush-inducing passage.
When it was Raphael''s turn, he read without a hint of change in his expression, his voice resounding with clarity,"And then Armand lifted Annette''s skirt, using his lips and tongue to savor the sweet nectar that dripped from her ripe peach..."
"Annette released his nightingale from his culottes, tenderly caressing it as one would a lovely bird..." Edith finished the sentence, yet unable to resist continuing,"Armand''s nightingale, under her inspiration, proudly raised