No Strings Attached

The cigarette between his fingers had burnt down to a stub. The ash, glowing with its last embers, fell onto the back of his hand, but he didn't even flinch. Clara finished discussing matters with Anders and emerged to lan's solitary figure. She sauntered over, her voice a gentle whisper. "Ian, what's wrong?"

At the sound of her voice, lan's heart skipped a beat. He crushed the cigarette butt underfoot. A forced smile stretched across his melancholic face. "Nothing, just felt like having a smoke, sorry. I'll be more mindful next time."

He pulled her close, planting a tender kiss atop her head, his voice rough with weariness, "I'm going to check on Grandma Rose at home. You rest up. I'll be back soon."

Clara knew without guessing that visiting Grandma Rose was just a front. The real deal was settling scores with Leonora. No doubt, he had found out Leonora's connection to his father's critical illness. She watched him, her heart in agony. Her cool fingertips gently smoothed the furrow between lan's brows, her voice soft. "Ian, she and you are different. I won't hold her sins against you. That wouldn't be fair to you."

lan's icy heart was instantly enveloped in warmth, his eyes growing hot. Emotion surged in his dark eyes, impossible to hide.

it spilled over Clara's flushed cheeks.

whisper, "If

desire. She always knew his heart and always stood on neutral ground when judging matters. Despite the multiple times Leonora hac hurt

in his arms, their lips meeting in a kiss. He forgot his physical

had fallen to the floor. Ian's kisses were scattered over her body with tender passion. Every touch of his hot, moist lips sent shivers through her, making her tremble and moan

bloodshot, his voice a raspy

disarmed by his teasing. Ian guided

entwined, both breathing heavily,

lips again, a satisfied smile curving his mouth. "We can only do this much for the first trimester. After the risky period, I'll

him, her cheeks burning. Who was satisfying whom, after all? Her