Chapter 74
Ava took a few deep breaths, her mind clearing a bit. She put her arm on his shoulder and pushed gently,
"William, get up."
If this kept going, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself.
Her weak willpower was only being held in check by the little one in her belly.
William let go of her and buried his face in her neck, breathing heavily,
"Ava, help me out."
Ava froze for a moment, then found her hand being guided by him to that burning place. She instantly understood what kind of help he meant.
In their three years together, she had never done this kind of thing for him. Whenever he wanted it, they just did it directly. He never held himself back.
"I... I don't know how."
Ava pulled her hand back, her voice trembling.
Just seconds after pulling away, her hand was grabbed back again,
"I'll teach you."
...
Time passed, who knows how long. Ava's hand was sore.
William carried her to wash her hands, and after washing, carried her back to the bed.
Ava listened to the sound of running water from the bathroom, her brain seemingly left behind in the downstairs media room. She couldn't think straight right now, the burning sensation still lingering on her palm.
She was clearly the one taking advantage of him, yet she felt so embarrassed she didn't know where to hide.
William came out after his shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, and seeing the person hiding under the covers with only the top of her head showing, too shy to look at him, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Don't you feel hot?"
He strode over and pulled her out from under the covers. Ava's face was still flushed an unusual red.
"So thin-skinned, how did you have the guts to seduce me in that sexy nightgown back then?"
He brought up their first time again, which was Ava's dark history. She whimpered, "Don't talk about it."
"Okay, I won't."
He got on the bed, pulled her into his arms, the corners of his lips refusing to drop,
"Don't stay in the guest room anymore, don't you think it's a waste not to sleep on a three-million-dollar mattress?"
"Nobody asked you to buy a three-million-dollar mattress."
William chuckled, "Then who was it whose knees got all red and bruised that time? If we don't get a comfortable mattress, will you even have legs left in the future?"
Ava wished she could disappear on the spot from what he said. Didn't he know perfectly well how her knees got red? And he had the nerve to blame the mattress.
That night, they slept soundly and contentedly.
The next day, Ava was woken up by a phone call.
William's shadow was already gone from the bed. He almost never slept in, no matter how late he went to bed. His routine was as regular as a programmed machine.
Ava rubbed her sleepy eyes, her gaze returning to her phone. It was an unfamiliar number that looked somewhat familiar.
"Hello?"
"Can you please sell this house or rent it out? The people living in your place were moaning all night yesterday, and started again at six this morning. I really can't take it anymore."
Hearing the angry voice of the downstairs neighbor from Jade Dragon Bay Residences, Ava was instantly wide awake.
She ran out the door with her phone and saw William drying his half-wet hair, looking like he'd just finished exercising and showered.
At that moment, her anxious heart settled. It wasn't him.
She found it somewhat ironic. Sarah kept saying she loved him, yet every day she was in his house with another man, wildly making love.
She looked at that distinguished figure downstairs, feeling secretly sorry for him.
He was so good, Sarah didn't deserve his love.
If she had hesitated before, at this moment, she was absolutely determined to hold onto this man tightly and never let him go to Sarah again.
"What are you staring at? Not even wearing shoes?"
She looked down and saw she had run out barefoot in her panic. She couldn't think of a good excuse to explain her strange behavior.
"Came out to find me?"
He walked up the stairs, still drying his hair.
Ava hummed in agreement, "I woke up and you weren't there."
William loved this unguarded, gentle state of hers the most, looking so easy to bully, ready to be at his mercy.
"So clingy? I only got up an hour before you."
He draped the towel over his shoulder, bent down to lift her up, and strode toward the bed.
"It's Monday today, gotta go to work."
"Mm."
"I have dinner plans with Mr. Jones from Jones Media tonight. Have dinner at home by yourself, tell Lily what you want to eat."
"Mm."
"So obedient?"
Ava nestled her face into his chest, breathing in his post-workout scent. She thought it was the scent of hormones.
"Why aren't you saying 'mm' anymore?"
"Okay."
William's chest vibrated lightly, "Why does it feel like I'm holding a robot girl?"
Ava's heart sank. Him holding her like this, and for the first time actively telling her his schedule - before, when she'd call asking, he wouldn't say anything, just find her annoying.
She felt like they were just like an ordinary married couple now, the husband telling his wife his schedule before leaving, making it clear he won't be home early, so she won't worry.
"Will you come back tonight?"
William laughed softly, "If I don't come back, where would I go?"
He carried her back to bed, his hands supporting him on either side as he leaned down to peck at those pink lips, one kiss after another, tasting lightly. His eyes full of affection, just like a man deeply in love,
"When does your period end?"
One hand rubbed her earlobe, "How many more days do I need to wait?"
Ava unconsciously licked her lips, thinking about finding a chance to tell him about the baby in her belly. But she felt uneasy, knowing he didn't like children, that children weren't in his plans.
She didn't know if he would welcome this pair of babies.
William waited a long time without getting her answer. His thumb gently stroked her eyes and brows,
"What are you thinking about?"
"I need to hurry and wash up, or I'll be late."
Only then did William let her go,
"Come down for breakfast after you're ready."
Ava nodded, staring blankly at his retreating figure.
William, would you like our babies?
As usual, Ava and William each drove their own cars and arrived at the company one after the other.
In the days Ava had been working at Morgan Group, she had barely received any real work, just department errands. Sarah didn't really want to mentor a newcomer - she just wanted to embarrass her and force her to leave.
This actually freed up time for her to work on the designs she owed SWAN.
Ava took a different approach and designed a necklace. This time, she saved all her drafts carefully and put them in her bag. She now felt that even home wasn't safe.
In the afternoon, Michael sent her a location on Facebook. Only then did Ava remember she'd promised to treat him to dinner on Monday.
Before getting out of work, she shut down her computer and left right at closing time as usual. At the parking garage, Michael was waiting by the elevator with one hand in his pocket.
"Michael, I'm not too late, am I?"
She checked her watch - only five minutes past closing time. She'd been pretty fast.
Michael adjusted his glasses,
"You're not late, I just got here early. Maybe I was really hungry today, been thinking about dinner all afternoon."
Ava followed him to his Maybach. Parked right next to it was William's limited edition Bentley. Getting into Michael's car, she was still thinking about the owner of that Bentley.
Michael chose a private restaurant not far from the office, with an elegant atmosphere, suitable for chatting and discussing matters.
Ava looked around,
"Michael, have you eaten at every private restaurant in Emerald City?"
Michael smiled, "I like quiet places."
After they sat down and ordered various dishes, the restaurant didn't have many customers. They prepared the ingredients fresh after ordering, so the food came more slowly than at five-star hotels.
After chatting for a while, their food still hadn't arrived.
"Michael, I'm going to the restroom."
Ava left the private room and asked a server - the restroom was at the end of the hallway on their floor. As she reached the restroom door, a woman coming out bumped right into her.
After seeing who it was, both were startled.
Sarah wore flame-red lipstick and had apparently just sprayed perfume, making Ava sneeze twice.
"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked.
Ava brushed past her clothes to enter,
"I'm in a restroom, naturally, I'm here to use it. What else would I be doing?"
Sarah huffed, "I'm asking what you're doing at this restaurant. Are you following me?"