No Strings Attached

lan seemed to think otherwise. He grasped Clara's chin firmly, his voice growing colder by the second. "Clara, can you really bring yourself to leave me here all alone? Have you thought about what I'll do after you go? Have you forgotten your promise that we'd stick together through thick and thin?"

The more he spoke, the more his heart ached. His eyes reddened with the effort to hold back tears. A mist of emotion clouded his eyes.

He bowed his head, his voice a low whisper. "Clara, please don't leave me, okay?"

He didn't wait for her to respond, capturing her soft lips in a kiss that was both aggressive and vengeful. The kiss left Clara gasping for air, nearly drowning in the intensity of his embrace.

lan gave her a moment to breathe, only to unexpectedly pry her lips apart and invade deeper into her mouth.

Clara was kissed senseless. Her body went limp with a mixture of weakness and desire. A soft moan escaped her throat involuntarily. "Ian."

of breathlessness and the huskiness of one who felt aroused. Ian felt a shiver run down his spine, his blood rushing in response. His kiss became even more reckless, and his hands wandered over her without restraint. Sᴇaʀch

faced him. "Ian, stop

her wet, emotional eyes, and reached out to gently caress the reddened corner. His voice

just words, he bit down on

Clara, and she pounded on his chest.

if you leave, I'll be even

was off with them. They must be hiding something from him. Since they weren't talking, he'd have

Casey have

as if it were all a game, then turned to go downstairs for dinner. As she turned, her eyes couldn't help but well up. Her hands rested gently on her belly as she silently whispered to herself. "Baby, let's have dinner

long time. After everything, lan looked at Clara somewhat reluctantly. "There's a festival tomorrow at Northbridge

readily. "Sure. It's