"Can you please tell me again why you were discharged from the hospital this soon?" Ivy grumbled as she fed the soup she had prepared the moment they had returned to their mansion. The clock was yet to strike five in the morning when Joshua had woken up the sleeping beauty and had got himself discharged. Even after asking several times, Joshua had not given her an answer, frustrating the girl. 

She had not stopped glaring at him all the while when they had driven back home. Though Ian had requested for Joshua to return to Noah's mansion, he had insisted on returning to his own, for he wanted some privacy and lone time with his girl. With the number of guards around in his mansion, nobody would dare to barge in and attack him or Ivy.

Joshua smiled at the girl in amusement as he drank the soup from the spoon. Though he was capable of drinking the soup himself, Ivy had prohibited him from doing all strenuous work, and eating was one among them. Why would Joshua miss such an amazing opportunity to stay close to Ivy and get her complete attention on him?  All Joshua had to do was stay on the bed and enjoy Ivy's utmost attention and love. 

"Are you still not going to tell me what is happening?" One moment, Ivy had been sleeping peacefully, and the next instant, Joshua had woken her up and had forced her to leave the hospital with him without giving her any reason.

"I wanted some privacy with you, darling. Isn't this reason enough?" Ivy narrowed her eyes at the man who had become shameless after he had woken up from his coma. It was as though he was hellbent on showering her love and affection and make her diabetic with his sweet words ad gestures.

"Oh, it's more than enough." Ivy gave him a smug smile, and Joshua was suddenly having an ominous feeling about it. "Since you are alright, I can return to work too. Some issues have popped up, and my colleagues need my help." 

Ivy tried to scramble away from his bed. But Joshua was quick enough to stop her, and he pulled her back. The next instant, Ivy fell on him, her lips just above his chest. Joshua gave her a knowing smile and a wink. "Ivy, naughty girl, are you that desperate to kiss me and..."

Ivy slammed her palm on his lips, shushing him from speaking any further. "What nonsense are you spouting?" Joshua knew how to get on her nerves, and he used this knowledge to his advantage to rile Ivy up. "I am not interested in kissing you, nor am I interested in..in.."

"In what, darling?" Joshua mumbled even though Ivy had covered his mouth.

"Ah, nothing. Nothing at all." Ivy pulled back her hand when she felt his hot breath on her palm. Also, the man had licked her lightly, making her shudder in excitement.

Ivy tried to move away from him again. However, Joshua pulled her close, not allowing her to budge even an inch. "You are not leaving until you tell me what you were talking about. You are not interested in kissing me, nor are you interested in..." He urged her to continue, coaxing her softly with his low, seductive voice. And to his delight, Ivy fell for his trap.

"Having Sex." She whispered, her cheeks heating up in a frenzy. She did not have the guts to face the man whose eyes were shining with amusement. As soon as Joshua heard Ivy's reply, he started laughing, stunning the girl who was blushing furiously. She lifted her head as she stared at him in confusion.

"Ivy, darling, did you think I was talking about having sex with you?" Joshua teased, and Ivy's jaw dropped when she realized that she had overthought. She had shot herself in her foot, and all she wanted was to bury herself. She did not have the courage to show her face to him.

"I was talking about you touching me. I never expected that you were this bold and a step ahead of me. You want to have sex with me. Sure. Wait for me until I recover, and we will have sex as much as you want, all day all night, without any breaks. Even if you squeeze me dry, I will not complain. I will comply with all your wishes and try to satisfy you with all my might. Don't worry, darling. I will satiate you completely."

Joshua continued with his shameless talk, and Ivy did not know how long she could take in his words. Her ears had turned red after listening to his brazen words, and she was sure that soon, they would start to bleed. She glared at him, silently ordering him to shut up.

"Oh, are you still not satisfied with my services, sweetheart? Do you want me to do anything else?" Joshua gave a puzzled expression as though he was seriously thinking about what more he could offer.

"Are you done?" Ivy asked coldly and folded her hands as she donned a domineering attitude. "Or do you still want to continue?"

"I am not done until you say we are done, and I will continue as long as you want me to continue." Joshua winked at her, making Ivy roll her eyes in frustration.

"You are unbelievable." Ivy raised her hands and gritted her teeth in anger.

"Thank you, darling. But I would love it if you say the same when we are having sex. It would make me more energetic and happy."

Ivy was done entertaining the man. So, she briskly moved away from him, avoiding him completely. "You can continue with your fantasy. I am leaving from here. I cannot hear any more of your words." With that, she pretended to leave the room, and this time, it was Joshua's turn to fall for her trap and he fell in it brilliantly. 

"Ivy, don't go. Please don't go. I was just joking. I was just..." Joshua panicked as soon as he saw Ivy leave the room. "I was only teasing you. Don't leave me alone. Don't..." He did not have the opportunity to continue, for Ivy returned and burst out laughing.

"Did you just trick me?" Joshua jaw's dropped before he composed his expression. However, he could not stop himself from narrowing his eyes at her.

"Do you have any idea how cute and adorable you look right now, sweetheart?" Ivy did not go anywhere near the bed as knew that the man was ready to eat her alive for playing a prank on him. "Just like a small, puppy abandoned by its master." She returned his long-overdue wink with a playful smile.

"Do you find it amusing to play with an injured man?" Joshua sneered, trying to guilt-trip Ivy. However, the girl was not falling for his schemes again.

"Injured man? Who are you talking about?" Ivy searched around her, trying to find an injured man before her eyes fell on Joshua. "Are you talking about yourself?" Joshua just nodded at her. "Are you sure you are injured? If I am not wrong, you are fully capable, and your injury is not as worrying as you claim it to be."

"You are right, darling." All of a sudden, Joshua smiled, his eyes twinkling with unknown joy. "I could easily devour you. Do you want to give it a try?"

"If you don't stop with your nonsense, you will live the life of a monk until I say otherwise." This shut Joshua up, and he gave her a pitiful look.

"Do you like to bully me, Ivy?"

"Who started it?" Ivy's came back strongly. 

"Weren't you the one who wanted to kiss me?"

"Weren't you the one who pulled me back?"

"Who was the one who wanted to leave me and return to work?"

Ivy threw daggers at him through her eyes after hearing his absurd words. "If you had replied to my question, I wouldn't have thought of leaving."

"I just wanted to have fun with you. Was that wrong?" Joshua did not stop with his pitiful act.

"And I just wanted to tease you. I think we are even."

"I guess so too."

"Now, tell me. Why did you get discharged this early?"

"Because I did not want you to deal with Amber and spoil your mood. After seeing Amber's behavior yesterday, I am definite that she will visit the hospital again, and I do not want her to interfere with our time."

"Oh," Ivy did not know what to say. The man had definitely kept his promise, and she was touched by his thinking.

"Yes, rest assured I will never let Amber come between us."