As soon as those words ended, Julian coughed again.
"Cough… cough… Okay, Mother… if you say so."
Olivia smiled gently, though the worry never fully left her eyes. She shifted on the bed, turning her body so she was sitting with her back partially toward him, ready to offer herself once more.
"So tell me," she whispered, her voice soft and slightly nervous. "How should we start?"
Julian's voice came out tired but clear.
"As before, Mother. Face away from me. Your back to me."
Olivia obeyed without hesitation, turning fully to present her back to him. The red gown clung to her mature figure, tracing the elegant line of her spine and the gentle curve of her hips. Her dark hair, pinned up with a bow, left the nape of her neck exposed—an intimate and vulnerable detail.
Julian raised his hands and placed them gently on her shoulders.
