Chapter 76 Give Me Your Heart
Ethan's fingers traced the outline of my face, his touch feather-light yet somehow heavy with intent.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I could feel sweat forming at the nape of my neck despite the perfect temperature in the suite.
"I don't know," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "This is between you and him. It has nothing to do with me."
Ethan's eyes darkened with amusement, his thumb pressing against my lip slightly harder. "Very good. That's exactly how it should be."
His phone suddenly rang, breaking the tense moment.
"I have a meeting to attend. Dinner will be delivered soon. We'll go out after my meeting is finished."
I nodded, forcing a small smile. "That's fine. You focus on your work. Don't worry about me."
His eyes narrowed slightly, something dangerous flickering in their depths. "Is that 'don't need to' or 'don't want to' worry about you?"
I genuinely wondered how someone like Ethan Bennett—born with a silver spoon, raised with adoration, successful beyond measure by his twenties—could be so sensitive and suspicious.
A single throwaway comment from me, and he'd extract dozens of possible meanings.
I gave up trying to reason with him. Breaking the pitcher meant paying for it, as they said. "Okay, I'll wait for you."
How long could this tightrope walk continue?
---
I finished the meal that had been delivered, then started searching the drawers for the TV remote. With my phone confiscated by Ethan, television was my only entertainment option.
Opening a drawer, I froze. Inside was an assortment of adult items—not just condoms, but two bottles of lubricant and a fluffy pink fox tail with what appeared to be a silicon plug at the end.
I picked up the tail, examining it curiously. What was this supposed to be? I gave it a gentle shake, wondering about its purpose.
As I contemplated returning it to the drawer, the door opened. Ethan walked in, his eyes immediately locking with mine, then dropping to the fox tail in my hand.
My fingers went limp with shock, and the pink tail fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Ethan crossed the room, picked up the fluffy accessory, and a smile curved his lips. "Want to try it?"
Though I didn't fully understand the tail's purpose, the predatory gleam in Ethan's eyes triggered an instinctive fear. I backed away unconsciously, my body responding before my mind could rationalize.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked, yanking me against his chest in one swift motion. He lowered his head until his nose brushed against my cheek, his breath heavy. "Do you even know what this is?"
I shook my head, whispering, "No."
He pressed me against his chest, his lips grazing my ear, his voice dropping to a provocative rasp. "Then why are you afraid?"
I wanted to say "I'm not afraid of the tail, I'm afraid of you," but those words would be like striking a match near a powder keg. Once spoken, they'd detonate Ethan's temper, and the explosion would leave me in pieces.
Instead, I remained silent, head down, playing possum.
Ethan didn't press the issue. He tossed the tail onto the bed and slipped an arm around my waist. "Have you eaten dinner?"
"Yes," I answered softly. "What about you?"
"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.
---
The Grand Place of Brussels was breathtaking. Gothic architecture gleamed in the fading sunlight, golden details shimmering against the darkening sky. Ethan held my hand as we strolled across the cobblestones.
Ethan pointed out architectural details with the ease of someone well-educated in history. "The Town Hall was nearly destroyed by French artillery in 1695," he explained. "Almost everything around the square had to be rebuilt."
I listened, wondering about the man beside me. Watching his strong profile against the historic backdrop, I couldn't help thinking: if Ethan had respected my feelings from the beginning, I might have fallen for him naturally.
Born into privilege, blessed with intelligence and ambition, successful in everything he touched—was it any wonder he was arrogant? His character was probably formed by his environment, by the constant affirmation that he deserved whatever he wanted. In some ways, maybe the core of him wasn't evil; he simply didn't understand boundaries or rejection because he'd rarely encountered either.
"Lost in thought?" Ethan's face suddenly appeared inches from mine, a playful smile hovering on his lips.
I startled, my cheeks warming with embarrassment as I looked away.
He extinguished his cigarette and embraced me from behind, resting his chin on the top of my head. Then, to my dismay, he exhaled the last lungful of smoke directly in front of my face.
The acrid cloud enveloped me, making me cough and sputter. I covered my nose and mouth with one hand, frantically waving away the smoke with the other.
I quickly stepped away, maintaining a safe distance. "Could you please not blow smoke in my face? It makes me uncomfortable."
Ethan leaned elegantly against the railing, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "Alright."
Relieved by his easy agreement, I offered him a soft smile.
His eyes caught the expression, and something shifted in his face. His Adam's apple bobbed sharply, and he beckoned to me with a subtle gesture. "Come here."
I had barely reached him when he pulled me forcefully into his arms. His muscles tensed, powerful and unyielding, pressing me against his chest so tightly I could feel his heartbeat.
I attempted to create some space, but his grip only tightened. Confused by this sudden intensity, I looked up at him questioningly.
Ethan reached into his pocket and produced a small candy, placing it in my palm.
"I don't like sweets," I admitted.
"Feed it to me," he commanded.
I unwrapped the candy and held the small, round sweet to his lips. Ethan's gaze remained fixed on me as he opened his mouth, taking both the candy and the tips of my fingers between his lips. His tongue swept across my fingertips, warm and wet.
I jerked my hand back, a shiver running through me.
Before I could step away, he encircled me in his arms again, backing me against the railing. His mouth descended on mine, tasting of tobacco and candy—sweet and bitter.
When we broke apart, I was gasping for air, my eyes glazed with unwanted response.
Ethan's breathing had accelerated too, his chest rising and falling against mine. "Reddy," he murmured, cupping my face in his large hand, his dark eyes intense and searching. "Commit your heart to me. Will you?"