The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 231

Joseph was pleased with her reaction, seeing how deeply she had already fallen for him.

When he noticed she had even forgotten to breathe, he smiled and pulled back just a fraction of an inch, giving her a moment to catch her breath.

Vivica came to her senses and stared into his eyes, feeling as if their inky depths were melting into an irresistible tenderness. He was seducing her, chipping away at her defenses bit by bit.

Realizing this, Vivica flushed with a mix of shame and anger. The hand resting on his chest suddenly pushed with force. “Joseph, let me go… mph.”

She had just tried to shove him away, but he leaned in and kissed her again. This time, he cupped the back of her neck, pulling them even closer.

“Joseph, you… you jerk, let… mph.”

“My injuries haven’t healed yet. If you push me again, I might start bleeding internally,” Joseph murmured, feigning a wince of pain.

Vivica froze, her resistance instantly weakening.

Joseph smiled with satisfaction, his kisses growing softer and deeper.

An intimate atmosphere enveloped them like a bubble shimmering with iridescent colors. Neither of them uttered the word “love,” yet their hearts pounded with the intensity of it.

The long kiss finally ended.

Vivica’s legs felt so weak she could barely stand.

Joseph wasn't much better off. His heart was racing, his breathing was ragged, and his body felt as hot as if it were the middle of a summer heatwave, even though it was the dead of winter. The villa’s climate control kept the temperature comfortable, but this heat was coming from within.

As they both recovered from their daze, their eyes met.

Joseph’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Your kissing technique is terrible. You need more practice.”

Vivica’s mind went blank for a second before she snapped, “Pervert!”

He just chuckled, unfazed by the insult.

Losing all courage to face him, Vivica gave him a light shove and scrambled out of the room, not even noticing that the villa’s deed had slipped to the floor.

For the rest of the afternoon, Vivica couldn’t focus on work. No matter where she looked, all she could see was Joseph’s flawlessly handsome face. The kiss replayed in her mind over and over, pulling her deeper with each recollection.

It was almost laughable. Despite a four-year engagement, she’d had very few intimate experiences. After discovering Fletcher’s impotence and the fraudulent nature of their marriage, she had been so angry that she’d started sleeping in a separate bed. When Chaim was born, Fletcher’s affection for his son led to a slight improvement in her attitude toward him, and they moved back into the same bed to make it easier to care for the baby at night.

But Fletcher’s problem remained, and with a child in the room, Vivica’s interest in anything physical dwindled to nothing.

She remembered Joseph asking her how she had endured four years of a celibate marriage. The truth was, it hadn't been difficult at all. Without deep love, there was no desire.

Joseph picked up the minutes, glanced at them, then suddenly frowned at Roderic, who immediately straightened up, ready to listen.

“What kind of gifts do you usually get for your girlfriend?” Joseph asked after a moment of silence.

Roderic’s face lit up with excitement. He was right! The boss’s strange behavior had to be about Ms. Lynn!

“Well, sir… are you sure you want me to be completely honest?” Roderic asked, a sly grin on his face. He and his girlfriend were very close.

Joseph’s expression darkened. “What else? Are you going to lie to me?”

“Of course not,” Roderic said, waving his hands defensively. He then looked a bit bashful. “My girlfriend and I have been together for three or four years, and we’re planning to get married next year. At this stage, the gifts we exchange are a bit more… adventurous.”

Joseph gave him a strange look. “Adventurous?”

“Yeah. Probably not appropriate for the stage you and Ms. Lynn are at right now.”

Joseph stared at him, realization dawning, and his expression grew even more peculiar. “I never would have guessed you were so… kinky.”

Roderic blushed. “Well, I mean… it’s the modern age. We just do what feels right.”