ELLIE
I opened my eyes, staring into his brown gaze, fixed on my face. It held a glimmer of fascination, as if he had been watching me for a long time.
“Good morning,” I murmured with a smile, followed by a yawn.
“Good morning...” he whispered, propping himself up on his muscular arms and leaning over me to place a soft kiss on my lips. “My beautiful and delicious fiancée,” he concluded, making me melt.
“Say that again, and we’ll spend the whole day in this bed,” I teased, caressing his perfectly masculine face.
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine, his eyes filled with desire.
“How long have you been awake?”
“I don’t know. Watching you sleep made me lose track of time.”
“Okay. Who are you, and what have you done with my bastard?”
“Oh, he’s right here...” he teased, grabbing my thigh and positioning his hips between my legs. “Let me show you,” he whispered, making me laugh.
“Maybe later.” I held onto his shoulders. “Unless you don’t mind carrying me around for the rest of the trip.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Of course you don’t.” I rolled my eyes, laughing.
Slowly, our smiles faded into silence—a silence heavy with tension. The way his gaze moved between my eyes and my mouth was enough to make me lose the rhythm of my breathing.
His blond hair was slightly messy and damp, making him look even more breathtaking. His defined jawline, those brown eyes filled with desire, and those full lips...
I could hardly believe I was engaged to this man, that I would be marrying him soon. The thought of having him as my husband felt like a fantasy—so hot it ignited my desire.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, just as I was about to give in to the idea of being carried for the rest of the trip.
“Are we talking about food?”
“Who’s the one thinking only about sex now?” he teased, standing up.
I admired the muscles on his broad, toned back as he walked away. Going to the table, he returned with a breakfast tray and placed it on the bed in front of me.
“Eat,” he ordered, standing beside the bed.
“Wow...” I sat up, savoring the sight and smell of the tray.
It had bacon and eggs, buttered toast, and some fruit, along with juice and what appeared to be tea or coffee.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to get used to it. Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I need my girl well-fed. After all, we’re just getting started with our early honeymoon.”
“Actually, I was thinking it might be a good idea to start some kind of pre-wedding celibacy,” I teased, grabbing a piece of toast.
“Don’t joke about that.” His expression hardened instantly.
I held back a smile, trying to keep a straight face.
“I’m not.” I took a bite, relishing the flavor, the crunch, and the fun of teasing him.
“That’s not happening.” He leaned over the bed, resting on his arms. “And you know you wouldn’t last even if you wanted to,” he teased, staring at me intensely.
Delicious, arrogant, and full of himself, as always. *That’s my bastard.*
“Are you challenging me?”
“Enough. I’m not playing this game. There’s no way in hell I’m allowing that after all the time we’ve lost. Do you understand?”
“You know, you get even sexier when you act like a little boy afraid of losing his favorite toy,” I teased, struggling not to throw myself at him.
It was especially hard to resist when he acted like this—all serious and authoritative.
“And you’re still the same irritating and delicious scientist as ever. Now, eat,” he ordered, grabbing a slice of grilled tomato before straightening up again. “Have you ever tried traditional English breakfast tea with milk?” he asked, nodding toward the cup on the tray.
I shook my head.
“I think you’ll like it. There’s a balance between the subtle bitterness of the tea and the smoothness of the milk,” he said, moving around the bed until he was beside me. “That combination is what makes it delicious...” He leaned in, holding my chin. “Just like you,” he said with a wicked smirk. “Irritating and delicious... the perfect combination.”
“Okay.” I dropped the toast. “Looks like you really are going to have to carry me...” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.
Smirking devilishly, he removed my arms, leaving me confused.
“See? Like I said... you wouldn’t last even if you wanted to.”
“Idiot.”
“Eat. You also know it’s not a good idea to have me inside you on an empty stomach,” he teased with an arrogant smile.
“Oh, shut up!” I threw a pillow at him as he walked away, failing miserably at hiding my grin.
✽
When I finished my shower, Ethan had already gone to meet Jason and Neil for a run.
After drying my hair, I grabbed my phone and threw myself onto the bed, still in my robe.
Raising my hand in front of my eyes, I stared at the ring on my finger. I couldn’t even begin to describe what I was feeling.
I felt almost euphoric with happiness. And I could also cry from happiness. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, trying to convince myself that this was really happening.
*It’s not a dream. I’m engaged. I’m getting married. I’m going to marry Ethan. I’m going to marry the man I truly love.*
God! I laughed. I’m going to marry Ethan Morgan. The bastard who invited me to have sex after two minutes of conversation. Yes. My bastard.
Alright, now that I know this is really happening, I need to decide what to do. Starting with how I’m going to tell the girls.
I’d love to tell them all at the same time, but I know Anna will kill me if I don’t tell her soon. Yeah, that will have to do.
Unlocking my phone, I searched for her contact. My hands were shaking slightly with excitement as I tapped the video call icon.
A few seconds later, she appeared on the screen.
“Hey! How’s the trip?” she asked, fortunately in a good mood.
I was curious to see her reaction, given how crazy her hormones were.
“Incredible, but now more than ever, I wish you were here.”
“Why?”
“First, are you sitting down?”
Raising her phone, she showed me she was sitting on the couch; her belly looked even bigger, even though it had only been a few days since I’d seen her in person.
“It’s not like I have a choice,” she huffed, refocusing on her face.
“Just a few more months, you’ve got this,” I encouraged.
“Yeah. Now, tell me.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile any longer, excited to see her reaction.
“Are you ready?”
“For God’s sake, you’re going to make me lose the baby with all this suspense!”
“Alright.” Smiling, I turned the camera, showing her the ring on my left hand.
“What... Is that? Oh my God!” she screamed. “Are you serious?”
“Yes!” I confirmed, just as euphoric, laughing as my eyes welled up. “I’m getting married, Anna!”
“Oh my God! Did he really ask? I can't believe it.”
“Yes. I'm still trying to believe it myself.”
“Not that it wasn’t expected… but it’s Ethan. I mean, finally. I’m so happy for you.” Her tone shifted to emotional, and her eyes were glistening with tears—just like mine.
“You're going to make me cry again,” I said, sniffing.
“I'm sorry, I can't control it. You're getting married… Oh my God.”
We were both crying.
“I can't believe you're not here. I wish I could hug you, celebrate with you, and I wish I had seen the proposal too.”
“I wish you were here to celebrate too, but I don’t think you’d have wanted to be there at that moment,” I joked, wiping my tears.
“Okay, spare me the details. Wait, I mean, just the sordid details, because I’m feeling a little nauseous right now, but I want to know everything else. So, start talking.”
“Okay.” I sat down on the bed. “Where should I start? Maybe with the part where I ran off.” I laughed, remembering.
✽
During lunch, Ethan and I decided it would be best to share the news at dinner. So, we arranged to have dinner with the other two couples at the hotel restaurant.
After all, a Michelin-starred restaurant seemed more than fitting for announcing an engagement.
I really wished all our friends could be there, but I was sure we’d have plenty of opportunities to celebrate with them once we got back home.
I had also asked Anna to keep it a secret, though I doubted she’d manage to.
After the announcement—made by Ethan—there were plenty of hugs, smiles, and celebrations. Okay, maybe the girls were a little more excited than the guys.
However, Neil’s reaction was what caught my attention the most. He seemed genuinely happy for Ethan—to the point that I thought his eyes were glistening with something more than just happiness when they hugged. That made me like him even more.
After a toast, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and emptied a few bottles of champagne and wine before deciding to head to another pub we had spotted in the village.
Despite the nearly freezing cold, we walked, since it was only a few minutes from the hotel. The air was damp, and it felt like it could rain at any moment—just like the night before.
“Was it this cold last night?” I asked, tightening my grip around Ethan’s waist as we walked side by side.
“I think so. Why?” He pulled me closer, his arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“I just… didn’t notice.”
“Maybe because you were too turned on to care,” he whispered, a smug smile on his lips.
“Haha, very funny. It’ll be all your fault if we catch a cold.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” he whispered mischievously in my ear before kissing my temple.
When we arrived at the pub, live music playing. As we settled at a table in a corner toward the back, I noticed that the place was packed despite its small size.
There were people everywhere—standing, sitting at tables, in the corners, and on the bar stools.
After ordering a few drinks, we chatted for a while before Jason and Phillipa left the table, intending to dance to the slow song that was playing.
Neil wasn’t the type to dance, and as for Ethan—unless a Frenchman appeared out of nowhere to ask me to dance, I figured the same could be said for him.
I chuckled at the memory.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, taking my hand.
“I'm thinking that there's not much chance of you asking me to dance unless there’s a Frenchman around,” I teased, smiling.
It took him only a second to stand up, pulling me up with him.
“Hey, I was just kidding,” I said as he led me toward where the other couples were dancing.
“What are you doing?” I asked, laughing, as he stopped and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I'm trying to please my fiancée,” he whispered, his tone full of devotion, paired with a sensual gaze that aroused me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, surrendering.
*“Ethan?”*
A voice suddenly called out just as I was about to lean in and kiss him.
I felt his shoulders tense and his body stiffen against mine, and when I pulled away to see who was behind him, I understood why.
The same woman who had answered the door the day I went to his apartment was standing there.
*Charlotte.*