No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)
Chapter 268

Upon hearing those words, Clara was so scared that she immediately got out of bed. She might yearn for a baby, but even her body had limits with this kind of roughhousing. When she stumbled into the bathroom, lan watched, with a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. Since that day, their room had often been filled with the sweet sound of bell. Sometimes, the bell would ring all night long.

Lately, Clara had been swamped with a divorce case, working nonstop for a week. When she came home, she was playfully tormented by lan without end. She felt like she was falling apart.

Waking up in the early morning, she lay in bed, shifting her sore and aching body, then burying her head deeper into the covers.

The cheery winter sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, spilling over the bed and bathing Clara's exposed calf in a golden glow, making her already dazzling skin shimmer. The silver anklet on her ankle sparkled, and its tiny bell tinkled melodiously.

lan approached the bed, pinching Clara's smooth cheek with a touch of reluctance in his voice.

"Sweetheart, I've got to go on a business trip for a few days. Be good and wait for me at home." He bent down to kiss her lips.

He intended to give a light kiss, but the thought of not tasting her for half a month made him deepen the kiss.

Clara was kissed into a daze, yet she clung to the useful bit of news. This man was going away on a trip. Finally, she could catch her breath.

With that thought, her eyes snapped open, clear and bright. There was a hint of sleepiness in her voice. "Will you be gone long?"

"About a fortnight or so. I'll hurry back. What would you like for a gift?"

lan's eyes were deep with affection as he kissed her forehead. Since reconciling with Clara, lan had spent nearly every spare moment with her. If they weren't making love, they were on their way to. To him, Clara's body was like an addiction; once touched, he couldn't get enough.

Clara's heart leaped at the news, but she kept her face calm. She wrapped her arms around lan's neck. Her voice was muffled. "Going away for so long? What if I miss you?"

Clearly, her insincere words worked like a charm on lan. He lifted her chin. His lips curled into a smile as he gazed at her.

"If you miss me, just video call me. Take the bodyguard when you go out. Eat well, sleep well. Don't lose the weight you've finally put on, got it?"

Clara nodded obediently. "Got it."

lan lectured her a while longer, sealed his instructions with a five-minute passionate kiss, and finally managed to leave the room.

Ian walked to his car. Dawson quickly got out to open the door for him.

Just as he was about to get in, he looked up to see a graceful figure standing on the balcony, waving goodbye.

lan felt his breath catch at that moment. He gazed up at the little woman on the balcony. Watching her beautiful smiling face, he almost wished he could rush back up and claim her fiercely. Only then did he understand the true meaning of reluctance. He curved his lips at Clara, then bent down and got into the car.

Dawson, catching the scene, chuckled, "Mr. Hayes, I feel like Attorney Clara has changed a bit. Don't you think?"

lan's smile deepened. "Yeah, I've noticed. She loves me more now."

Dawson teased, "Mr. Hayes, that sounds a tad narcissistic."

Watching the car slowly drive away, Clara excitedly picked up her dog, Snow, and hugged it tight. "Snow, Snow, that jerk finally took a trip! We've got the whole half-month to ourselves. You stoked or what?"