Chapter 6
Chapter 6
ETHAN
I couldn’t refuse her. I hooked her long legs over my shoulders and slid a finger into her wet center. She moaned deeply, her body bucking to match my rhythm. The world disappeared, leaving only the taste of her lips and the pleasure coursing through my veins.
“Oh yeah!” she cried, her body jerking as the spasm of climax hit her. I felt her muscles constrict, her cries of ecstasy drowning out the sounds of the night. With a final moan, she went still, her body trembling in my arms.
“That was unbelievable,” she murmured as her eyes fluttered open. “I want more.”
I withdrew my fingers reluctantly, biting my lip to steady myself. I was stretched to the breaking point.
“I want to take you to bed. Let’s get out of here,” I said.
I helped her dress, wrapping her robe tightly around her body, and led her back to the apartment.
I had woken from a nightmare and gone for a swim to clear my head. Finding Claire in the pool had been an unexpected shock. Now, walking beside her, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Her sexy gait strengthened the spell of lust overtaking me. I wanted to ask her why she was swimming so late, but I didn’t want to ruin the magic of the moment.
Inside her apartment, she rushed into my arms before I could speak.
“Claire, are you sure about this?” I asked. My shorts were strained with the evidence of my desire, but a small part of me hesitated. Her father had hired me to protect her, not to get involved.
“I want you, Ethan.”
Her words silenced my doubts. I kissed her deeply, her body molding into mine, her hands roaming over my skin.
She stepped back and dropped the robe, revealing her enchanting body under the dim lights. My breath caught, my body aching with an inexplicable need. Slowly, she slid her panties down, making a show of it.
“Are you teasing me?” I asked, stepping forward.
She giggled and slapped my hands away. “Don’t touch yet.”
Blowing me a kiss, she started moving toward the hallway.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I asked, a grin spreading across my face.
“Catch me if you can,” she called, darting toward the spare bedroom I’d been staying in.
I chased after her, laughing. When I caught up, she was standing at the foot of the bed, grinning mischievously.
I groaned at the sight of her, my body tightening painfully. “I can’t keep waiting, Princess.”
She climbed onto the bed, her legs parted invitingly. It was all the encouragement I needed.
I rushed to her, settling between her thighs. Our kisses were fevered, her hands groping at my body. I stood to rid myself of my shorts, and her gaze zeroed in on me.
“You’re… magnificent,” she murmured breathlessly.
I joined her on the bed, taking my time to explore her body. My lips found her breasts, and she cried out as I lavished attention on each peak.
Her wild responses fueled me. I trailed my fingers down her body, teasing the sensitive nub between her legs. She writhed beneath me, begging for release.
“How much do you want me?” I whispered, flicking her again.
“Please, Ethan!” she whimpered, her voice desperate.
Her pleas sent a rush of heat through me, but I forced myself to pause. “Condoms,” I said, my voice tight.
“My bedroom. Chest drawer,” she gasped.
I tore myself away and ran down the hallway. Finding the pack under her lingerie, I hurried back. She lay in the same spot, her eyes heavy with need.
I sheathed myself quickly and climbed back onto the bed.
“I missed you,” she said, climbing onto my lap.
I rolled her onto the mattress and entered her slowly. Her eyes widened, her lips parting with a gasp.
We moved together, our bodies finding a perfect rhythm. Her hands gripped my shoulders as I thrust deeply, her cries spurring me on.
Her climax came in waves, her muscles tightening around me as she gasped my name. I followed moments later, the force of my release shattering the last of my control.
Spent, we lay tangled together, our breathing heavy.
“That was one hell of a ride,” I murmured.
“It was magic,” she replied softly, her voice laced with exhaustion.
I kissed her forehead, holding her trembling body close. “Go to sleep, Princess.”
She didn’t respond, her breathing evening out as she drifted into slumber. I stayed awake, haunted by what we’d just done.
I woke with a gasp.
The room was dark, the moon casting a pale glow outside. My heart pounded as I tried to steady my breathing.
It was just a dream. But not just any dream—the nightmare that haunted me relentlessly. I saw her again, mangled and bloodied, her swollen belly a stark reminder of what I’d lost.
“Not tonight,” I mumbled, wiping the sweat from my brow.
Claire stirred beside me, her naked body pressed against mine. The memory of our passion burned bright, but it couldn’t chase away the ghost of Olivia.
Carefully, I climbed out of bed and found my shorts. Moving to the kitchen, I grabbed a beer from the fridge, hoping it would dull the ache in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Olivia,” I whispered, the tears coming unbidden. Memories of her flooded back: her hazel eyes, her pixie cut, her laughter. And then, the image of her lifeless body, her blood staining our apartment floor.
“Shit,” I hissed, crushing the empty can in my hand.
“Ethan?” Claire’s voice broke through the haze.
I turned to find her standing in the doorway, wrapped in a towel, her face etched with concern.
“What are you doing out of bed?” I asked, my tone harsher than intended.
“You weren’t there. I heard noise and came to check.”
“What if it had been an intruder? You could’ve been hurt.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I snapped. “Just go back to bed.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Is this about the sex?”
“Claire, it’s late. Go to sleep.”
“Are you regretting it?”
I turned away, fisting my hands to hide their shaking. “We had sex. It was fun while it lasted.”
Her face fell. “Fun? That’s all it meant to you?”
“We satisfied a craving. Don’t make it more than it was.”
She stared at me, her expression unreadable. “You’re right. It was just fun. Goodnight, Ethan.”
With that, she disappeared down the hall, leaving me to sit alone in the dark.
It was going to be a long night.