Be mine

Ethan

Mariana still didn't seem to appreciate my reply, but I lowered her finger with a stern look, and I pulled her into my arms, embracing her gently, pressing her body against mine.

"You need to rest, Mariana," I spoke as delicately as possible. "And I believe applying the compress to your eye, as the doctor ordered, will alleviate the situation a bit."

I could tell she wanted to protest, but I kissed her before she could say whatever she intended to, and our lips met softly, without the urgency that usually accompanies us.

Our kiss is different now, and I believe the concern and fear of what could have happened are responsible for the way we're kissing, filled with tenderness and affection.

I hold onto her slim waist and try to mold our bodies even closer, so she can feel everything she awakens in me with just a simple kiss, where desire and tenderness intertwine.

"Ouch!" Mariana moans, but I immediately realize it's not a moan of pleasure but of pain.

We pull away from each other, my heart racing like crazy, understanding that I have caused Mariana pain when all I wanted was to alleviate what she was feeling.

"My back is still hurting," she explains. "And you squeezed me."

"I'm sorry!" I apologize, filled with guilt and remorse.

"No need to look like that, Ethan. You didn't mean to hurt me."

"Not at all," I confirm quickly.

She smiles in response and takes my hand, pulling me towards the hallway.

"I'll accept the ice pack, and while I take a shower, maybe you could prepare one for me," she suggests, pointing towards what I imagine to be the kitchen in the house.

"I have a much better idea," I say, embracing her again, but with great care not to cause any more discomfort this time. "I'll help you take a shower, and then we'll figure out the ice pack situation."

"I can only imagine how helpful you'll be," Mariana rolls her eyes with boredom, but I can tell she appreciated my suggestion.

Soon she was pulling me into her room and then into the small bathroom, which was perfectly suited for the two of us.

"Oh my goodness!" she suddenly exclaimed, startling me abruptly.

"What happened?"

Before she could tell me, I understood what she was referring to when I saw that she had just found a mirror and was looking at herself in it.

"Well... it's quite swollen and bruised," I said, as that's what she was referring to.

"You look awful, Ethan! A real horror!" she points out rather dramatically " How can I go to the store, with a face like that?

Well, at least now she understood why I warned Matheus that she wouldn't be able to go to work for the next few days.

Artemis

My cousin didn't seem very pleased that everyone did exactly the opposite of what he wanted, but I knew Murilo well enough to know that he wasn't an arrogant man or someone who gets angry at others for such trivial matters, so everything was fine.

But if there was one thing I couldn't miss, it was the opportunity to talk to Joshua and be in the same car as him. I wouldn't be foolish enough to let that pass, no way!

I rarely found myself interested in someone, but that happened the moment I laid eyes on Joshua, and now I was accompanying him to the hospital parking lot to get his car and leave, with Murilo and Virginia walking alongside us, sharing the same goal.

"I need to talk to you real quick, Artemis," Virginia called me, holding onto my arm and letting the men walk ahead of us, making me stop a bit further away from them. "I know exactly what your intentions are with the kind gentleman...

Virginia was whispering, and the men were already reaching their respective cars, which is why I didn't reprimand her. Besides speaking discreetly, she was also absolutely right, I thought mischievously.

"I could never waste time, agree?" I replied, playing along. "After all, it's not every day that such a man appears—handsome, kind, sensible, charming..."

"I get it, Artemis!" Virginia cut me off with a laugh, but then quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry! I couldn't help myself."

I smiled too, mimicking Virginia's gesture and covering my mouth to conceal our laughter.

Even though we were trying to be discreet, the two men looked at us with intrigued expressions, and Virginia and I exchanged a quick understanding glance before each of us walked towards our respective cars, which coincidentally were parked almost side by side.

"Is everything okay?" Joshua asked as he saw me arrive by his side.

"Yes, yes," I nodded, smiling. "We can go."

"That's good," he approved, unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for me to get in.

While Joshua walked around the car, I took the opportunity to fasten my seatbelt. When he sat in his seat behind the wheel, flashing a beautiful smile at me, once again, I melted for that man.

Instead of driving out of the parking lot, Joshua stared at me attentively. Even though all I wanted was to keep admiring him, I ended up being the first to look away again.

"Sorry, Artemis, isn't it?" Joshua still had a smile on his face. "With all that commotion, we didn't get properly introduced."

"Yes, Artemis," I confirmed, still smiling, and decided to play along. "And you're Joshua."

"But that doesn't count, I introduced myself at the hospital," he teased. "But I also haven't asked yet where you live..."

"You're right!" I agreed, smiling. "I live in Jardim Paulista."

"How convenient! I live in the same neighborhood," he said.

That was quite useful information, and I was thrilled to know it.

"That's great," I replied, trying to conceal my excitement. "But have you ever thought about what if I lived on the other side of the city? It would be quite out of your way..."

"I would still take you home, and it would be a pleasure to have your company," he said.

Wow! That man wants to break down all my defenses at once. Not that I had any against him, but still, it would be impossible to resist.

"I'm glad to hear that," I returned his shameless flirtation, without any embarrassment.

"Well then, let's go."