No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 285

lan dipped his head and pressed a kiss to her lips, chuckling, "Missed you, so I came to check on you."

To see her sooner, lan had barely caught a wink of sleep these past few days. His eyes still bore the crimson threads of fatigue.

Clara gently caressed his chiseled jawline, her voice tinged with concern, "You must be exhausted, aren't you?"

lan's nose brushed against her cheek as he whispered in her ear, "Yeah, I'm beat, but it's nothing compared to how I spend time with you in bed."

His words sent a blush scurrying across Clara's face. She playfully thumped his chest, feigning annoyance. "Cut it out, will you? People can hear us." lan let out a low chuckle, "Can't I steal just one kiss, then?"

Before Clara could react, he leaned in and captured her lips again. The crisp scent of mint, laced with deep desire, swiftly drew her into its spell. Soft moans escaped between breaths. lan's kisses grew more fervent as if they carried days of longing. His cool fingertips caressed Clara's cheek, and his voice was husky with emotion. "Clara, I've missed you so much." Her cheeks burned under his lips, her eyes slightly reddened, and her voice was hoarse with emotion, "I missed you too."

They were entwined in a passionate embrace in the yard when, suddenly, Casey's voice came from inside the house. "Clara, what's taking the barbecue so long? Is everything okay?" Clara pushed lan away, her voice still shaking from their heated moment. "It's all good. I'll be right there."

With that, she took lan's hand and led him inside. "Grandpa Reed, Dad, lan's here."

Reed, spotting lan, waved with a smile. "Ian, haven't had dinner yet? Come and join us. Clara, grab lan some cutlery, will you?"

With a smile playing on his lips, lan walked over to the bedside, glancing at Reed's leg with concern. "How's your leg doing, Reed?"

"Much better, doesn't hurt much, and I can move it on my own now."

"That's great to hear. I brought some ointment for muscle and bone injuries. It's in the car. I'll bring it over tomorrow morning."

Reed beamed with pride at his granddaughter's husband - so handsome and always so considerate. He bustled about, "You must be starving. Come eat."

lan nodded, taking a seat beside Brodie, his expression suddenly turning cold. "What are you doing here?"

Noticing lan's jealousy, Clara quickly explained, "I ran into a nasty dog outside. Mr. Brodie saved me from a bite, so I invited him over for dinner."

lan ruffled Clara's hair with a smile. "Why so nervous? I was just asking. Isn't it a bit too coincidental to bump into him in this secluded little village?" "He's here on business. Stop overthinking and eat." Clara served him a piece of savory pot roast, shooting him a look that told him to drop it. lan praised proudly, "Clara's cooking gets better every day."

He played the host to perfection, offering Brodie a piece. "Mr. Brodie, have some more. My wife's pot roast is top-notch. Try it while it's hot." He then turned to Casey with a polite offer, "Have a taste of this wine. It's been in my collection for years, too good to open until now." With just a few words, he established his place at the table.

Brodie's eyebrows lifted imperceptibly, and his gaze clouded with unspoken thoughts. He leaned in close to lan, his voice a low murmur. "Mr. Hayes, you're in such a hurry to marry Clara. Are you afraid she'll leave you if she finds out how her mother died?"

At these words, lan's expression faltered, his eyes dark with menace. He poured Brodie a glass of wine with deliberate slowness, a meaningful smile on his lips. "If you so much as whisper a word to her, you won't live to see another sunrise!" His words were harsh, but his face was a mask of amiability.

Brodie, too, raised his glass with a smile, clinking it against lan's, his tone cool but laden with threat.

"If you make Clara unhappy, you'll answer to me first."

"Don't worry, she's my wife and not your concern."

"She's been under my watch since she was little, and I won't allow you to hurt her."

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