Chapter 41 Tangled Vows
POV Ethan:
Doing my series of exercises, with Scarlett’s persistent presence at the gym, makes me question if there’s something more behind it. In the first few days that she began joining Liam, Noah, and me at the gym, I thought she just wanted company so she wouldn’t feel alone. I know everything that happened with her father was heavy, and the fact that I hired a detective who uncovered everything about her didn’t help at all. I apologized to her, and since then, we’ve tried to be friends. Which is proving harder than I imagined.
Liam kissed her, Noah did too, and I kissed her as if she were the last woman on earth. I don’t know what’s happening with my brothers—or with me. Scarlett is going through a lot, and my brothers and I have been respecting her space. And ever since we kissed her, we’ve avoided any improper advances. Now that Damian is back, the three of us have talked and decided to let them sort things out. Even though the baby she’s expecting is mine, it’s clear she feels something for Damian—just as my brother feels something for her.
We don’t think what we did while he was in Chicago was right, and we don’t want to complicate what’s already complicated enough. That’s why…
“I’m thirsty.” Scarlett rises from the chair, her cheeks flushed. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”
She’s turned on again. Fuck.
I glance at Noah and Liam, who both take deep breaths and set their dumbbells down. Two days ago, we started to notice that Scarlett gets aroused around us. She tries to hide it, but it’s so obvious that we pretend not to notice so she doesn’t feel embarrassed. Reading some books about pregnancy, I learned it’s normal for women’s libido to increase during pregnancy—just as there are cases where it completely disappears. But to fuck with our sanity, Scarlett definitely has it. I’d even say she has it in spades.
“Why don’t you go in? Sit on the couch and rest a little,” I suggest, and Scarlett bites her lower lip.
“Damian is in the kitchen.” I frown, not understanding what that has to do with anything. “He’s only in his underwear,” she answers the question I didn’t even ask. Her cheeks redden even more, and the peaks of her breasts become visible through the thin fabric of her shirt. It’s official—I’m hard. “I... I can’t be alone with him.”
Now I get it. Scarlett’s been avoiding being alone with any of us. That’s why she only comes near when we’re all together. Fuck, it all makes sense now. I smile at her, letting that smile reveal what I’ve just figured out.
“Ah, shit.” She curses, avoiding my gaze. “I... I’ll go lie down to rest,” she lies blatantly, and I fight the urge to laugh.
“Do that. The appointment isn’t for another three hours,” I say, deliberately adjusting my shorts, letting them hang a little lower on my hips.
“If you’re still hot, take a cold shower—it’ll help.” I wink at her and go back to my workout, or else I’ll end up saying fuck it to the deal I made with my brothers to leave the way clear for Damian.
I’m tired of this game.
...
After showering and getting dressed, I grab my car keys and head to Scarlett’s room. I can’t believe we’ll see our baby on the ultrasound today. I thought it would take me longer to accept the idea of being a father, but it hasn’t. I’m anxious to know if it’s a boy or a girl, to choose the name, to see that little face for the first time. Since Scarlett took the test, I’ve been reading about motherhood and the first care a newborn needs. I’ve discovered many important things, and each day that passes, the happiness of being a father fills me even more.
Before I knock on Scarlett’s door to tell her I’m ready, I hear low moans. I frown, trying to figure out what the sounds mean. Is she in pain? They sound like pain. Without thinking, I burst into her room, and—
“Fuck!”
I freeze, shocked by the scene unfolding in front of me. Noah is between Scarlett’s legs, while Liam is sucking her breasts like a starving baby. Both are still wearing their workout shorts, their bodies glistening with sweat. They left training early for this?
“Would it have killed you to lock the fucking door, Noah?” Liam snaps, dead serious. Scarlett’s eyes are wide, staring at me, while Noah just shrugs, as if being caught with his mouth between Scarlett’s thighs is no big deal.
“You barely let me in the room—did you really think I’d worry about locking the door?” Noah shoots back. Liam stands up from the bed, avoiding my eyes.
Scarlett’s hair is a mess, her naked body exposed, and the towel that shows she’d just bathed lies on the floor near the bathroom door—where they probably ambushed her before she could retreat. I wait for anger to take over me, but all I feel is a throbbing in my cock. Shit. Scarlett sits up, the embarrassment of being caught in bed with my brothers clear on her face. I force myself to turn away, giving her the damn privacy she needs to compose herself.
“I’ll be in the living room waiting for you.” Before closing the door, I take a deep breath, trying to control the roughness in my voice. “I’ll call the clinic and let them know we’ll be late.”
I don’t wait for any of them to respond. I leave the room, my mind a storm of conflicting emotions. I knew Noah and Liam were at their limits with their feelings for Scarlett, but fuck—we had an agreement. We agreed to back off and let her sort things out with Damian. Apparently, my brothers don’t give a damn about the agreement—or about Damian. Honestly, I don’t even know what to think after what I saw.