Chapter 30 Stamina Tea
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Noah's voice came through my phone, carrying that familiar cocky lilt I remembered from high school. "Your secret's safe with me."
My fingers tightened around the phone. I glanced at the bathroom door, making sure it remained closed. Ethan was still showering, but I couldn't be certain how much longer I had.
"There's no secret to keep, Noah," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the anxiety fluttering in my chest. "He's my boyfriend. A proper one."
Noah's laugh crackled through the speaker. "Right. Ethan Bennett, CEO of Bennett Enterprises, just happened to fall for a scholarship student from Pacifica?"
"You don't know anything about us." My back stiffened. "We met at a UCLA alumni charity event. It was... natural."
"UCLA charity event?" Noah's voice dripped with skepticism. "And how long have you two been dating?"
I bit my lip, calculating quickly. "A while now. Look, I don't need to explain myself to you."
"Hey, don't get defensive. I'm calling as a friend. We..."
The water in the bathroom shut off. Shit.
"I need to go. Ethan's waiting," I said hurriedly.
"Olivia, wait—"
I hung up, tossing my phone onto the bed with enough force that it bounced off and hit the floor.
The bathroom door opened. Steam billowed out, carrying the scent of Ethan's expensive cedar and bergamot body wash.
"UCLA charity event? That's new."
My smile froze. Ethan stood in the doorway, a towel slung dangerously low on his hips, water droplets tracing paths down his muscled chest.
"What was I supposed to say?" I walked toward him, rising on tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck. I pushed my bottom lip out slightly. "I couldn't exactly tell him you strong-armed me away from your nephew..."
Ethan's mouth crashed down on mine before I could finish, cutting off my words. The kiss was hard, possessive, tinged with anger. His hands gripped my waist with bruising intensity as he backed me toward the wall.
When he finally released me, we were both breathing hard. He stared down at me, his eyes dark with something between desire and rage.
"Still thinking about Blake?" His voice was dangerous, low and controlled. His thumb brushed across my earlobe.
I shook my head. "No, I'm not thinking about him."
"No?" Ethan bent down, his mouth grazing my neck before biting gently on my earlobe. "Was Blake better than me in bed? Is that what you think about?"
The question caught me off guard. I stared at him in genuine surprise.
"I... when we first were together, didn't you realize? Couldn't you tell?"
Ethan pulled back slightly, studying my face.
I sighed, reaching up to touch his face, then moved my hand to the back of his neck, guiding his head to rest on my shoulder.
"I can't answer that question because apart from you, I've never been with anyone else. There's no comparison to make." I took a deep breath, deciding to give him something to end this insecurity once and for all. "Strictly speaking, you were my first real boyfriend. Blake and I were together in name only, and not for long. Beyond holding hands, I never had any intimate contact with him. My first kiss was with you. My first time was with you."
Ethan seemed satisfied with my answer. He turned his face to press his lips against my neck.
"Olivia," he murmured, his arms tightening around my waist, hands caressing slowly. "I don't care who you've been with before. But from now on, you belong only to me. Your body, your heart—they're only for me. For the rest of your life, you'll only be with me."
---
Two hours later, we entered "Pacific View," a private dining room on the hotel's second floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the dramatic coastline below, waves crashing against the rocks.
Three men stood as we entered—Victor Hammond, our host and investment mogul; Vincent Crawford, son of the Pacifica real estate tycoon; and Jake Thompson, whom Ethan introduced as a former Marine who'd served with him.
"Bennett! Right on time as always," Victor boomed, extending his hand to Ethan. His gaze shifted to me, a flicker of curiosity crossing his features before settling into a polite smile. "And this must be Olivia."
Ethan's hand pressed more firmly against my back. "Yes, this is my better half."
The phrase sent a strange jolt through me. Better half. As if we were married. As if we were equals.
"Please, take the seat, Bennett," Victor insisted, gesturing to the chair at the end of the ornate mahogany table.
Ethan pulled out the chair to his right for me, his fingers brushing my shoulder as I sat down.
A waiter appeared at Ethan's signal, ready to take our drink orders.
"She can't have alcohol," Ethan stated before I could speak.
Victor smiled smoothly. "I have just the thing. Ming, bring us the special blend." He turned to me with a conspiratorial wink. "It's a rare herbal recipe—botanical ingredients that promote health and vitality."
The waiter returned with a teapot and delicate cups. Victor personally served the first cup to Ethan, then took one for himself.
Victor lifted his cup with a relaxed smile. "Since we're doing tea tonight, here's to successful partnerships," he said, nodding toward Ethan. "And to finally getting that hospital wing funded."
Ethan lifted his cup but paused, turning to me with an uncharacteristically deferential expression. "May I drink this?" he asked softly.
I blinked in surprise. "You want to drink it, go ahead. It's not like I can stop you."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "If you say I can, I will. If not, I won't."
I glanced at the others, embarrassed by this display. They were watching our exchange with undisguised interest. "Just drink your tea," I mumbled, dropping my gaze.
I sipped my tea, noticing an unusual taste—slightly bitter with hints of cinnamon and something earthy. After my third cup, I heard Jake lean over to Ethan.
"How's the stamina tea treating you?" he asked with a smirk, his voice low but not low enough.
My eyes widened as understanding dawned. Stamina tea. The kind meant to enhance... performance. My face flushed crimson as I realized what I'd been drinking all evening.
Ethan caught my expression and smiled, unbothered. "Very well," he replied to Jake, his hand squeezing my thigh under the table.
---
By the time we returned to our suite, my embarrassment had faded into exhaustion.
I slipped into the bathroom to change out of my dress, which had a small tea stain on the hem. As I reached for the zipper, I felt Ethan's presence before I saw him.
His hands replaced mine on the zipper, slowly drawing it down. Our eyes met in the mirror.
"These look beautiful on you," he murmured, fingers brushing my earlobe. "They're the exact color your cheeks turn when you're embarrassed."
I swallowed, unsure how to respond. He helped me step out of my dress, his movements gentle now, almost reverent.
"Three o'clock?" he asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can we visit the hospital after three?"