Chapter 175 Ava’s Embarrassment
"Go roll around somewhere else, and not in front of me. You're annoying me," Ava said, irritated.
"Samuel, give me a hand. Let's go and leave them to it."
Samuel, who had been completely overwhelmed by the pressure in the air just moments ago, quickly stepped forward and gently offered his arm to Ava.
Ava didn't spare them a single glance and walked away without looking back.
After Ava spoke, no matter how much they wanted to tear each other apart, neither of them could make a move. They could only glared at each other, as if they are trying to kill the other with their eyes.
Joshua let out a cold snort, turned around, and went after Ava.
Ryan watched Ava walk away, a trace of loneliness settling in his eyes. He let out a quiet sigh. "You're still going with him."
……
"Joshua, what are you doing?" Ava had been laid down on the bed. Joshua leaned over her, pressing his lips against hers, pulling her soft body into his arms. He easily parted her lips, teasing her tongue, breaking through her defenses.
"You're mine." He murmured between kisses, his voice low and husky.
Ava was struggling to keep up with Joshua like this. Her hands pressed against his firm chest as she gasped for breath between kisses.
"Joshua, stop. I'm still injured."
Her voice trembled slightly. Joshua noticed her nervousness and slowed down, kissing along her earlobe and down to her neck. "I want you."
Ava bit her lip, feeling the warm trail his lips left on her skin.
A wave of warmth spread through her body.
He lifted her leg and placed it around his waist, his hand slipping under her clothes to touch her soft skin.
His lips found her collarbone, kissing her wounds with such tender care. "Ava, can I have you?"
He wanted to possess her completely. He wanted so much of her, to leave his mark on her.
Everyday since she came back, he had been on edge, feeling like everyone was trying to take her from him.
He was terrified of losing her the moment he looked away, scared she would leave again like she did before, disappear from his life. He was truly afraid. So afraid.
Joshua looked at her with dark, intense eyes full of emotion. At this distance, nothing could be hidden from each other.
She could see the confusion, the helplessness, and the careful tenderness in his eyes. That carefulness made her heart ache.
Ava suddenly lifted her head and pressed her soft lips lightly against his.
Joshua paused for a moment, looking down at Ava, who gazed back at him with eyes full of feeling.
She hooked her arm around his shoulder, gently closed her eyes, tilted her chin up, and kissed him again.
Joshua's breathing grew heavy again as he leaned down and kissed her back deeply.
Her unbuttoned shirt slipped away. Held in his arms, her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she found herself naturally following his rhythm.
Falling deeper, step by step.
After their time together, knowing Ava was still injured, Joshua had been incredibly careful with every move.
"Ow!" Ava cried out in pain.
Joshua immediately tensed up. "Where does it hurt? Did I hurt you?"
"My shoulder."
Joshua pulled back and quickly checked her shoulder. Sure enough, there was a small spot of blood seeping through.
Joshua's expression darkened. He had already been so careful, but he had still pulled at her wound.
He cursed under his breath, grabbed her clothes and helped her get dressed. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
Ava let him dress her without protest. Once she was ready, he carried her out and told Samuel to get the car. Samuel immediately headed to the garage.
The attending doctor looked back and forth between Ava and Joshua, her expression shifting through a whole range of emotions. She hadn't missed the marks on Ava's neck. In the end, she let out a quiet sigh and silently got to work treating the wound.
When she finished, the doctor couldn't help herself. "Dr. Davis, you're still recovering from your injuries. Intense physical activity really isn't a good idea right now. You should take it easy for a while. Once you're healed, you'll have plenty of time. You young people really do have so much energy."
Ava wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Joshua nodded. "Thanks for the reminder." He reached out to carry Ava.
Ava shot him a glare. In the middle of the night, after sleeping together, they had rushed to the hospital to get her wound treated.
And now she had just been "lectured" by her attending doctor with that knowing look on her face. She still had to work here. How was she ever going to face anyone again?
Joshua didn't miss the embarrassed and indignant look Ava gave him. He sighed helplessly. "My fault. I'll be more careful next time."
Ava was put back in her old hospital room. Joshua gently pulled the blanket over her, then shamelessly climbed into the bed beside her.
Ava startled. "Hey, what are you?"
"I'm staying with you tonight."
"Nobody asked you to. Go home."
"It's late."
"It's only ten o'clock. That's not late."
"It's a long drive back. Don't you feel bad for me?" Joshua pulled her close, being extra gentle.
"You're not the one driving. If I have to feel bad for anyone, it's going to be Samuel."
Joshua's face darkened. "You better not."
"Am I wrong though? Samuel's the one driving. He had to bring us to the hospital in the middle of the night. Isn't that hard on him?"
If Samuel had heard this, he probably would have said: not hard at all, not at all — not when you're making several million dollars a year.
"I'm your husband. I'm the only one you're allowed to feel sorry for."
"Look at you being so petty." Ava laughed despite herself. "Alright, I'm done teasing you."
"Let me stay."
Ava pretended to think it over. Joshua watched her anxiously.
Seeing how nervous he was, clearly terrified of being kicked out, Ava burst out laughing. "You've already squeezed yourself into my bed. How am I supposed to kick you out now? If you want to stay, then stay."
Joshua smiled happily. Ava smiled too, curling up in his warm arms, feeling completely safe and at ease.
After everything that had happened, Ava was genuinely exhausted. She closed her eyes, resting against Joshua's chest.
Joshua slowly leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her brows, her eyes, the tip of her nose — as if he wanted to kiss every inch of her face and still couldn't get enough.
Ava buried her face away in protest, her voice muffled. "Kiss me one more time and you're sleeping on the couch."
Joshua let out a low laugh and ruffled her soft hair. "Okay, okay. Get some sleep."
……
The next morning, when Ava woke up, Joshua was already up. Samuel had brought fresh clothes, and Joshua stepped out of the bathroom in an expensive black suit, his handsome face carrying a warm smile, radiating an air of quiet authority.
He looked completely composed and restrained, as if he wasn't the same person who had been so wrapped up in her just the night before.
Joshua sat down on the edge of the bed and drew her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. "Sleep a little longer. We'll eat breakfast when you're up."
"Are you heading to the office?"
"I can stay and eat with you if you want."
Ava shook her head. "It's fine. If you're busy, go ahead. I don't want to hold you up — you'll just end up working late again tonight."
"My girl really does look out for me."
Ava smiled softly. "Alright, stop being cheesy. Go on."
"Mom, Dad, and Grandpa said they want to come visit. I told them not to — too many people would disturb your rest. Tonight I'll take you, Finn, and Cleo back for dinner with Grandpa." Joshua said, holding her close.
"Sounds good. I could use a change of scenery anyway. Staying in this room all day isn't great either."
"I'll come pick you up tonight then."
"Okay."
Joshua stayed with Ava for a while before she shooed him off to work. The moment he stepped out, Isabella came bursting through the door.
"Ava, are you okay? Finn and Cleo told me you and Joshua made another emergency trip to the hospital last night. What happened?" Isabella's face was full of worry.
"I'm fine, don't worry. My wound just opened up. Sit down and keep me company." Ava figured having Isabella around meant she wouldn't be bored today.
"How did your wound just randomly open up?" Isabella looked at her curiously.
Ava blinked. What was she supposed to say — that she and Joshua had been a little too enthusiastic last night and her wound split open?
She couldn't bring herself to say it. Isabella noticed Ava's conflicted expression, and her gaze quietly drifted to the marks on Ava's neck.
Isabella's eyes widened slightly. She blinked.
"You two didn't... sleep together last night, did you?"
She sounded shocked, but the moment the words left her mouth, her raised eyebrow and the knowing smile tugging at her lips basically had "obviously you did" written all over her face.
Ava was mortified.
Isabella covered her mouth, probably trying to hide the fact that she was laughing, but her voice gave her away completely. "So... did things get a little too intense and that's why your wound opened up?"
Did she have to be so direct about it?
"Hahahahaha." Isabella laughed without a shred of shame. "Sorry, I wasn't laughing that loud, was I?"
Ava pressed her lips together. "Not at all. I'm sure the people next door barely heard a thing."