Chapter 177: One More Time?
His deliberately lowered voice carried that lazy edge unique to him, incredibly sexy and seductive.
The suggestive movement of his fingertips and the burning gaze on her face made Mia involuntarily recall some scattered fragments from yesterday afternoon.
Every scene made her blush, her heart race, and her whole body tingle.
Mia was completely speechless.
Deep down, she was annoyed at herself for being so easily affected by him, her whole body heating up.
Blushing, she raised her hand to push James away, dodging his teasing hand and stepping back to create some distance.
Pressing her lips together, Mia tried to stay calm as she spoke: "James, thank you for yesterday."
If he hadn't shown up to save her yesterday, she didn't dare imagine what she would have gone through.
And waking up today, how would she have faced it all?
She was truly grateful to him.
As for what happened after he saved her—them having sex—Mia really didn't know how to deal with that right now.
Hearing this, James's smile deepened noticeably.
His large hand, which Mia had just pushed away, circled her waist again, gently squeezing the soft flesh there. "Just verbal thanks?"
Maybe yesterday's drug was too strong—her body still had traces of it.
His touch felt electric. Just that light squeeze sent what felt like a current through her body.
Her whole body tingled and went numb. The familiar physical reaction made Mia's brain heat up.
Her mind wasn't very clear, and her body's reaction made her speak without thinking: "One more time?"
But the moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it!
She froze completely, her face full of regret.
What was wrong with her!
What was she saying!
Not just her—James was shocked by her words too.
When he asked that question, he wasn't actually asking for much.
He just wanted to use her gratitude to try and get a chance to pursue her again.
Last night, when Mia lost her senses, the only name she called out was his.
Over and over, she kept calling "James."
Never before had he felt his name sound so beautiful.
When she was slightly conscious but didn't recognize him, she instinctively resisted and tried to avoid him.
But the moment she realized it was him, the smile that curved her lips—that was a smile of relief.
Mia still only had him in her heart, her instinct was still to get close to him.
These things gave James, who thought he had completely lost his chance, a bit of confidence.
"I—"
Mia tried to backtrack.
But as soon as she opened her mouth, James interrupted: "I'll take a rain check."
He was beaming.
This benefit, a thousand times better than what he'd hoped for—how could he pass it up?
"What?"
Mia couldn't believe what she was hearing!
What was he saying?
A rain check?
For what?
He was shameless!
Last night he saved her, served as her antidote, but he didn't lose out either!
Look at that smug expression on his face.
And he had the nerve to respond!
After responding, he shamelessly continued with a straight face: "Mia, it's not that I want to refuse you, I'd love to go again too."
"But last night you already made me do it so many times, your body can't take it. So, be good, wait until your body's had some rest, then I'll..."
Mia's understanding of James's shamelessness reached a new level. Unable to bear it anymore, she interrupted: "James, shut up!"
Furious and embarrassed, she grabbed the thin blanket and pressed it against his face.
After covering James's very punchable face, Mia bit her own lip in frustration.
The regret in her eyes deepened.
She'd shot herself in the foot.
But once the words were out, there was no taking them back.
All she could do was vent by roughly rubbing his face through the blanket before shoving it away in disgust.
She didn't want to deal with him anymore.
She got up, preparing to get out of bed and take a bath.
James let her vent her frustration. He was in a great mood.
The gloom that had hung over him for more than a month had been torn open last night, with sunlight pouring through.
This time, he truly saw hope.
Mia had given him a legitimate reason to pursue her again.
His heart was happy.
James's lips kept that smile.
After being pushed away, he got up too.
He came up behind her again, wrapping his arms around her waist, planning to carry her to the bath like he used to after their intimate moments.
After embracing her, his voice gentle by her ear: "I'll carry you to the bath."
When it came to intimacy, except for when he deliberately misunderstood that she'd aborted their child herself and deliberately tormented her—
Usually, whether during or after, he was pretty much the perfect partner.
Before, when she was too tired, she'd take advantage of his help when she could.
But now...
"No need, I'll go myself."
Mia directly refused his offer to carry her.
Very firmly pulling his hands away, she got out of bed herself.
Her whole body felt uncomfortable right now. She wanted to go to the bathroom and soak in a bath to feel better, and also to calm down and think about what to do next.
As Mia was calculating in her mind, the moment her feet touched the floor, the pain made her lose her balance and stumble forward.
Her waist tightened as James pulled her into his arms, preventing her from falling flat on the floor.
Getting out of bed, he easily picked up Mia and strode toward the bathroom.
Mia knew when to yield and didn't struggle anymore about going to the bathroom herself.
Lying in bed, she hadn't felt it so much, just that her whole body was a bit sore.
For now, she couldn't walk properly on her own.
Rather than slowly shuffle to the bathroom in some weird position in front of James, she'd rather let him carry her.
...
James had already used the smart controls in the master bedroom to fill the bathtub. Entering the bathroom, he placed Mia directly on the edge of the tub.
Mia's fingers touched the water, her face satisfied.
The water temperature was perfect, exactly what she liked for a bath.
She squinted contentedly, then opened her eyes and said to James standing nearby: "You can leave now."
She couldn't wait to enjoy a comfortable hot bath.
Crossing the river and tearing down the bridge—that described Mia perfectly.
As soon as she finished speaking, not only did James not leave, he put his hands on the edge of his only piece of clothing.
Mia was speechless.
He wasn't going to—
James showed her with his actions.
He pulled down.
It was his only piece of clothing, and he took it off right in front of her.
Mia wasn't prepared and saw everything directly. She immediately closed her eyes and yelled at him again, furious and embarrassed: "James!"
Even though she was very familiar with it, what was their relationship now!
James looked at Mia's instantly flushed face and chuckled.
"How can I shower with clothes on?"
Mia was speechless.
"Go use another bathroom."
Mia tried not to look, but his presence was too strong. Just that one glance had already burned itself into her mind.
She couldn't chase it away. That image had stimulated her so much that even the skin behind her ears turned red.
"Mia, you owe me once anyway. Using me a bit more now, you're not losing out."
James stepped forward, getting into the bathtub first himself, then wrapped his arms around Mia's waist and pulled her in.