Chapter 360 He’s Avoiding Me
His large hands swept me up without hesitation, and he kissed me back with a raw intensity.
The air around us began to thicken with heat. I held onto his neck tightly, pouring all my longing into the embrace.
The anxiety from my nightmares and the ache of waiting for him had left me desperate for reassurance. Feeling him solid and real against me was the only thing that could calm me down.
His hands slid down from my waist, and when they reached my hips, he lifted me easily into his arms.
He parted my legs and wrapped them around his waist. I instinctively clenched around him.
My breathing was ragged, and so was his. His blue eyes were deep and blazing, fixed on me with an intensity that was almost unsettling. I didn’t look away. We stayed like that, lips to lips, eyes locked, completely absorbed.
His gaze made my heart flutter, but I bit my lip and didn’t retreat.
After a long moment, our lips parted slightly, and we rested our foreheads together.
Ashton nuzzled me, his voice low and rough. ‘Looks like you really did miss me.’
He pressed his hips against me to leave no doubt that he’d felt the same.
My face grew warm, but I didn’t deny it. It was true. I’d missed him like crazy.
He let out a quiet laugh, the sound vibrating through his chest and into me.
His strong arms held me firmly, the heat from his palms spreading through my skin until I felt flushed all over.
‘Could you stop laughing?’ I finally whispered, biting my lip. ‘You sound like a lunatic.’
Smack.
His hand came down on my backside in a swift, punishing pat.
He’d done it again. It didn’t hurt, but the sheer embarrassment of it was overwhelming.
My eyes flashed with indignation. I wanted to retaliate, but my arms couldn’t reach, and my feet were dangling uselessly off the floor. I was completely at his mercy.
I leaned forward and sank my teeth into his lower lip.
It wasn’t the first time I’d bitten him, but something about it always seemed to get a rise out of him. His eyes darkened, the blue turning stormy.
He adjusted his grip on me, ready to carry me into the bedroom with this same koala-cling hold, when he suddenly froze.
‘What’s wrong?’ I felt every muscle in his body turn to stone. I released his lip and looked at him, puzzled.
‘It’s nothing,’ Ashton said, his voice regaining its usual composure as he seemed to snap back to the present. ‘I’ve just remembered there’s something important I need to take care of.’
He set me down on my feet.
I stood there on the carpet, staring at him in disbelief. My eyes travelled from his face down to the very evident bulge in his trousers.
That sceptical look made him react. ‘Have you forgotten what the doctor said?’
‘Said what?’ I genuinely couldn’t recall.
‘We need to avoid sex if possible,’ he gritted out. ‘It would be terrible if we accidentally hurt the baby.’
My cheeks flushed. I remembered now.
He put a little more space between us, his voice rough. ‘I’m going to go and deal with work.’
He turned and walked quickly towards his study, his strides hurried, as if he was desperate to escape the situation.
I watched his retreating back, feeling that something was off. The urge to go after him was strong, but I stopped myself.
***
After getting ready for bed, I slipped under the duvet. I’m not sure how much time had passed when Ashton finally came in.
The moment he lay down, I rolled over into his arms.
He wasn’t about to refuse such an offer. He opened his embrace and pulled me close. I rested my head on his shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of his neck until I found a comfortable spot. I gave him a look I hoped was meaningful, then dropped my gaze.
Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat to get his attention. ‘Ahem...’
Ashton glanced down. ‘What’s wrong? Is your throat sore?’
I stayed silent. My throat was perfectly fine, thank you.
But, remembering my goal, I kept my voice soft. ‘Well, you know... if we’re just careful, it shouldn’t actually affect the baby.’
His expression tightened.
‘Hm,’ he replied, deliberately non-committal.
A wave of frustration washed over me. I was being so obvious, and he was completely ignoring the hint. Did he really need me to make the first move?
I decided to try. I pushed myself up on one elbow and looked at him, my eyes wide and innocent. It was a blatantly inviting look, and I could see the immediate effect it had on him. His gaze deepened, turning into the same intense, hungry look I knew so well.
Encouraged, I was about to press further when a large hand came down, covering my eyes.
‘Sleep.’ The command was blunt and left no room for argument.
I was still processing what had happened when everything went black. He had removed his hand, but only after switching off the lights. The room was plunged into darkness.
I was utterly bewildered and more than a little annoyed. But Ashton didn’t give me time to sulk. He wrapped his arm around me, firmly tucking my head against his chest, and then... nothing. He just stopped moving.
There in the dark, pressed against the solid warmth of his chest, I blinked a few times before coming to the miserable conclusion that my rare attempt at initiation had been firmly rejected. With a silent sigh, I gave up and closed my eyes, eventually drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Ashton left for the office unusually early. I was starting to suspect he was deliberately avoiding me.
I went out for lunch and a shopping trip with Yvaine. When I returned that afternoon, Geoffrey met me at the door. ‘Mrs Laurent, a parcel arrived for you.’