Chapter 185: Chapter 185 One More Chance
Joseph’s POV
I had been trying for days to explain myself to Ava, and her finding out that I was at the farm with Sophia last week only made things worse. I meant to tell her, but her discovering it by walking into the room while I was discussing it just complicated my already precarious situation. My day couldn’t possibly get any worse.
I was sitting in the reception area of Thorne Enterprises,contemplating how to approach Ava without her escaping or Eleanor threatening to rip my throat out again. After the chaos of the kidnapping and Howard’s arrest,everyone had gathered at Draven’s company headquarters to help sort through the mess. Despite the crisis being over, things were still really awkward between Ava and me.
What was I thinking when I fell for Sophia’s scheme? I was such an idiot.She came to my place saying she needed help, and trying to be a gentleman, I let her in.
Two bottles of wine later, with her provocative behavior and my judgment clouded by desire, I ended up in bed with a woman I don’t even like. As my mother often says, old habits die hard, and I’ve always been known as a playboy. But I genuinely care for Ava, much more than I’m comfortable admitting.
"Sweetie, I came on the first flight I could get! How is Draven doing after all this?" I heard that all-too-familiar voice. Yep, my day just got worse.
"Mom! What are you doing here? Weren’t you at a hot springs resort with your friends?" I asked as I stood and approached my mother, reluctantly allowing her to kiss my cheek.
"Sweetie, don’t be silly. Nothing is more important than family, and the Thornes are family! I came to show my support," my mother said, as if her presence was the most natural thing in the world.
When I glanced behind me, I saw a line of women, Eleanor, Kyle, Ruby, Nina, and Ava. They were all looking at me with half-mocking smiles on their faces. Eleanor, being the worst of them and knowing my mother well, was the first to speak.
"Heidi! It’s so wonderful to have you here!" Eleanor stepped forward and greeted my mother with two kisses on the cheek. "Maybe with you around, your son will behave better."
"Oh, Eleanor, I swear to the Moon Goddess that I tried to raise this boy well, but I don’t know what happened along the way," my mother made a look of disgust at me and I just sighed. My wolf growled in frustration within me.
"Heidi, it’s not your fault," Kyle, who also knew her, approached, repeating the same greeting as Eleanor.
"Now tell me, girls. Which one of you is Ava?" my mother asked immediately.
"Mom, aren’t you here to support Draven and Caroline after their ordeal?" I asked, trying desperately to divert her attention.
"But I have time to apologize to the young lady for you!" My mother gave me a stern look that would have made lesser wolves cower.
"I’m Ava, ma’am." Ava approached and introduced herself.
"Oh my, you are indeed beautiful, dear!" My mother gave Ava a huge smile. "Sweetie, you need to earn her forgiveness quickly, because such a pretty woman must have a line of suitors howling at her door." I was irritated by my mother’s comment,she didn’t need to remind me of the competition.
"I’d like to know how you know about this," I remarked, already having an idea.
"Oh, sweetie,your mother and I keep in touch quite regularly!"Eleanor smiled cynically at me.
"Of course!" I snorted and turned my back, walking away. "So, my dear friend, deal with my sweet mama."
I was leaning against the wall in the emergency stairwell, thinking about the disaster of my mother being here when Ava is furious with me. That’s when I heard Ava’s voice behind the door.
"Nina, I’m just going to grab a coffee. Won’t be long."
I opened the door and with quick reflexes grabbed Ava’s arm and pulled her into the stairwell. I pressed her against the wall and molded my body to hers. She was so startled by being snatched that she stood motionless, staring at me like I was a rogue wolf invading her territory.
"Ava, we need to talk," I said, looking into her eyes.
"About what, Joseph?About how I caught you at your place in your underwear with that bitch? Or about what you were doing at a beautiful farm with her? Either way, I don’t want to discuss that woman! And I don’t want to talk to you!" Ava had fury in her eyes.
"Ava, please..." I pleaded. "Let me explain."
"You really think what you did can be explained?" She couldn’t believe what I was saying.
"Yes. It may not be justifiable, but it can be explained. And you have to give me a chance to apologize." I was swallowing my pride and begging.
"I don’t have to give you anything!" She retorted. "And please, let me go!"
"Are you sure you want me to let you go?" I asked, pressing her even harder against the wall, my scent enveloping her. "Are you sure you don’t miss me? Don’t miss my kisses?"
I leaned in and kissed her before she could react. I kissed her deeply, and even though she tried to pull away at first, she eventually kissed me back just as passionately. When we broke apart for air, I spoke against her ear,"Are you sure, Ava, that you can stay away from my touch?" I sucked on the tip of her ear, making her moan softly. "Are you sure, Ava, that it’s not worth hearing me out, forgiving me, and giving me another chance?"
As I spoke, I unbuttoned her thin cream silk blouse and lowered the cup of her bra, capturing her breast in my hand, massaging it and teasing her nipple.
"Are you sure you’ll find another man who makes you feel the way I do?"
I teased a little more, knowing she was on the verge of an orgasm. Ava was very sensitive, and it was delicious. I held her hair at the nape of her neck and lowered my mouth to her breasts, starting to tease them.I kissed and sucked on her swollen nipples. I gave light bites and licked. Ava began to let out those small, low, delicious moans.
I could have fucked her right there, standing on those stairs, but that wasn’t my intention at that moment. All I wanted was to see her melt with pleasure from my touches, to remind her how good we were together.
I continued to tease her breasts and lowered my other hand to her legs, lifting her skirt just enough to slide my hand under her panties. Ava was already grinding against my fingers, completely wet and full of desire. She’s a woman full of passion and energy, intense, sensual, seductive. It drove me crazy.Just hearing her little moans already had me on the edge of orgasm, thinking about how delicious she is pulsing around me.
My fingers worked furiously at her entrance and Ava was wet, swollen and about to explode. I slid two fingers inside her and massaged her most sensitive spot with my thumb, while reveling in her breasts. It didn’t take long for Ava to reach her peak and come, pulsing around my fingers, her essence coating my hand.
She was panting, eyes closed, leaning against the wall. I withdrew my fingers and sucked them one by one, tasting what I considered the most exquisite nectar on earth. She opened her eyes wide seeing me savor her taste.
"You’re delicious, Ava!"
I put her skirt back in place, adjusted her bra and buttoned her blouse. I ran my hand through her silky hair and kissed her mouth lightly, squeezing her in an embrace that nearly fused our bodies together. My wolf howled within me, wanting to mark her as mine.
"Please give me a chance to try to fix the mess I made!" I was already begging. My days without this woman have been hell.
"You shouldn’t have done it." Ava pushed me away, wiped a tear, and left me there alone.
I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. How was I going to win this woman back to me?