The Queen's Back (Mona and Maxwell) novel Chapter 191

After Ava went upstairs, Joseph took a careful look around the living room where she lived.

The space was simply decorated, mostly in shades of white. After surveying it, he sat down on the couch and waited for Ava to return.

He touched his cheek absentmindedly; it was bleeding slightly—Bud had hit him hard.

But he thought it was worth it since Ava had brought him here.

When Ava came down with a first-aid kit, she noticed the corners of Joseph's mouth lifting into a small smile.

The sight made her guilt deepen just a bit more, and she hurried over to him.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know why he snapped like that, making you take a punch for nothing," she said apologetically, opening the first-aid kit and sitting beside him.

"What are you apologizing for? I took the punch, but I gave one back, too," Joseph replied, frowning slightly.

He didn't like it when Ava apologized to him. It made him feel like she was aligned with Bud, leaving him on the outside.

But Ava was his girlfriend, not Bud's.

"Alright, alright—keep still and lower your head so I can treat it," Ava said, dipping a cotton swab into antiseptic. She reached for his cheek.

Joseph tilted his face towards her hand as instructed.

They were sitting close, and Joseph could smell the fresh, clean scent that seemed to cling to her.

His heart sped up just a bit.

Ava dabbed the cotton swab on his injured cheek.

Perhaps it was because it was Ava's first time doing that, so it seemed she wasn't used to treating wounds gently. Joseph couldn't help but hiss in pain and leaned back a little.

Seeing his reaction, Ava quickly apologized and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was being rough."

"It's fine—I overreacted," Joseph said.

After the first attempt, Ava lightened her touch, and soon she was placing a band-aid on his cheek, completing the job.

She glanced at the band-aid, and a brief thought about Bud's injury crossed her mind.

She quickly dismissed it, though. There was no use worrying about someone who had other people to take care of him.

"Alright," she said, looking at the band-aid on Joseph's cheek. "But that band-aid does take away from your look a bit."

As a public figure, he normally looked impeccable, but now the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished.

"So, do you mind?" he asked with a faint smile.

Ava shook her head. "What would I mind? It's nothing. Do you want some water? I'll go get you a glass."

As she said this and prepared to get up, she noticed Joseph's face was too close to hers. The warmth of his breath brushed against her, making her a little uncomfortable.

Seeing Ava trying to get up, Joseph grasped her hand firmly, causing her to fall onto his lap. Her face instantly flushed, and she felt awkward in the situation.

Joseph's arm instinctively wrapped around Ava's waist, and his chin rested on the inside of her neck. "Don't move. I want to hug you," he said softly.

When he spoke, the warmth of his breath against her neck made Ava's heart race.

She avoided looking directly at their positions but was acutely aware of their extraordinarily intimate proximity. Her hands were tangled together, unsure of where to go.

After a few moments, Ava couldn't help but say, "Okay now?"

She wanted to get up. This position felt too intimate and somewhat uncomfortable.