Chapter 145
Briar shook her head. “It’s okay. It sounds dangerous, but I’m not scared. Actually, I’m pretty brave.”
Ashton chuckled. “As long as you’re not scared. I’ll take you to see some other businesses later. You can pick the ones you like. Then I’ll gift them to your two uncles from the Grant family.”
Briar was surprised. “Gift them to my uncles?”
Ashton nodded. “Yes, to them. I want to steal away their beloved niece, so I have to show some sincerity.”
Briar frowned. It sounded like Ashton already had their wedding all planned out,
“That’s not necessary, okay? My uncles are all in legitimate businesses…” Briar struggled to get the words out after a long pause.
Now it was Ashton’s turn to choke. “Briar, aside from tonight’s shady business, I also have plenty of legitimate ones.”
Briar covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. “I know, but really, it’s not needed. No matter how many businesses you bribe them with, once they find out you’re trying to take me away, they’ll still be mad.”
In her uncles‘ eyes, no one could ever take her away.
Ashton kept quiet.
His expressions were too rich, which amused Briar even more.
By the time their car pulled into Ashton’s villa courtyard, Briar still hadn’t stopped laughing.
“Briar, stop laughing. We’re home now.” Ashton turned off the engine and looked at the girl, still giggling with crinkled eyes in her seat.
Briar barely composed herself and forced back her laughter. “Okay. I’m done laughing.”
But even though she said that, the curve of her lips just wouldn’t go down. It was harder to control than the AK recoil in her favorite game.
Ashton squinted, eyes complex as he stared at the smile she couldn’t hide. Then, under her startled and flustered gaze, he leaned over and kissed her
lips.
Success. Ashton had effectively stopped her from laughing.
Briar’s eyes widened. Instinctively, she tried to push him away, but he was faster. He grabbed both her hands and held them tightly.
Whether Ashton was gripping too tightly or she was struggling the wrong way, her hands were trapped. She was unable to escape, unable to move.
The entire car suddenly fell silent. So silent that Briar could only hear her own wildly beating heart. Ashton’s tall, burning body was getting closer and closer, until she was pressed completely into the seat.
It was a strange sensation. Their bodies were pressed so close there wasn’t even a sliver of space. Briar could feel that Ashton’s heart was racing just like
hers.
Tongues entangled, breaths intertwined, saliva exchanged. Occasionally, their noses would brush because of his clumsy but fiery kisses.
Briar felt like the air inside her was being drained at an indescribable speed. She couldn’t breathe. She wanted to escape, but she couldn’t.
In the end, all that came out was a helpless little whimper, or maybe just a soft sigh.
Finally, the weight on her body lifted slightly, and her hands were freed,
But the breath she exhaled through her parted lips was hot, shy, angry, and confused.
1/3
10.30 MON, 18 Aug
Chapter 145
Briar was completely confused about how things escalated. She had just laughed at him a little.
That little laugh somehow resulted in her being pinned down and kissed senseless in the car. Ashton didn’t just kiss her. He nearly made her faint.
There was no way she’d admit this was her first time being kissed like that. She also had no intention of admitting that she didn’t know how to breathe while kissing.
“Briar, still feel like laughing?” Ashton teased after taking advantage, his hand caressing her embarrassingly flushed cheek, eyes lingering on her brows, her eyes, and her slightly swollen lips.
Sensing danger, Briar immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth and weakly surrendered. “I’m not laughing anymore. Just don’t kiss me again.”
Any more and she really would pass out. Getting kissed until she fainted. If word got out, her reputation as a tough girl would be completely ruined.
Her panicked and embarrassed reaction was too adorable. Ashton laughed lowly, the sound echoing in the steamy, ambiguous car. He gently pulled her hand down and coaxed, “Okay. I won’t kiss you again tonight. Don’t be mad.”
Under normal circumstances, Briar would’ve immediately caught the meaning behind his words.
His implication was clear. Once midnight passed, the promise would be null and void. There were only minutes left before the day changed.
But right now, Briar’s brain had been turned to mush by that sudden and intense kiss. She just stupidly believed him.
Ashton got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and leaned down.
Looking at the nearly limp Briar, he reached out to tuck the hair beside her cheeks behind her ears and gently asked, “Briar, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep again tonight, Will you come and comfort me?”
Briar’s eyes widened, full of disbelief. Ashton was seriously asking her to comfort him after what he had just done.
First, he had taken liberties with her, and now he was acting like the victim who needed soothing. His shamelessness knew no limits.
Ashton stood tall, arms and legs long, blocking the door, gazing at her with deep, tender eyes. He looked genuinely sincere and tired, like a man who hadn’t rested in days.
Faced with his devastatingly handsome face up close, a face–obsessed girl like Briar couldn’t resist at all.
Besides, they had just shared such an intimate moment. Even if she was mad, she couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh. She raised a hand to cover his overly affectionate eyes and gave in, “Fine. I’ll comfort you. Just stop looking at me like that!”
Ashton smiled, letting her cover his eyes. “Alright. Then should take you home first? I think your legs… are probably still weak…” He obviously believed her legs had gone soft from the kiss.
“Ashton!” She snapped, her tone freezing over, “Try pushing your tuck one more time!”
Seeing her shame turn into anger, Ashton wisely stopped teasing her. He straightened up with a serious, restrained look on his face. “As usual, I’ll be in my room after I shower, waiting for you.”
Briar jumped out of the car and stormed off without looking back.
But the scorching gaze trailing her like a shadow didn’t let up. In the end, Briar broke into a run and rushed home.
Her actions made it perfectly clear. Her legs were absolutely not weak!
With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut/The force of it was like smashing it right into Ashton’s face..
‘How can she be this cute?‘ Ashton couldn’t help but think, watching Briar dash off.
Watching her from the yard, Ashton couldn’t stop the smile.
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10:36 Mon, 18 Aug
Aug j
C
