Chapter 34 The Phone Call

Chapter 34 The Phone Call
He was so absorbed in his conversation on the phone that he hadn't realized that Moriah was in the room.

Moriah sat at the bedside and stared at her husband's broad shoulders.

"Alright, my assistant will send you the documents today... sure.... I'm with my wife... she needed rest... you're right... yes... bye"

Turning, Ethan smiled upon seeing his wife's eyes transfixed on him.

"You're here," he sauntered towards his wife.

Ethan's voice jolted her back from her trance. She looked around in a dazed panic, not certain whether her self- absorption had lasted seconds or minutes.

"What?" She annoyingly asked when she saw him, teasingly smiled.

"Thinking about me?" He brushed his knuckles on her blushing cheeks as he sat beside her.

"Why would I think about you?" she muttered evasively, getting up from the bed. He jumped up too, and caught her wrist to halt her progress.

Her heart picked up a tempo when he engulfed her with his strong arms. "What are you doing, Ethan?"

He liked the way his name rolled in her tongue. It flowed like smooth honey.

"Say it again," Ethan demanded in a husky tone.

Moriah frowned as she was confused. "What?"

"My name, I want to hear you say it again," he nuzzled her neck.

"Ohhh..." she was embarrassed to hear herself a soft sigh. Ethan went on to graze her collarbone.

"Ethan...," her eyes went wide as a saucer, shocked at her own reaction.

"Say it again, Moriah," as he grazed her collar bone.

"Ethan... you - you told me that I needed rest - remember?" She can't let herself get lost in him again. She hated having no control over herself whenever she's in his arms. He's making her mind a mess.

Ethan refrained from nuzzling her neck and put a tight leash on his desire.

"Yeah, you're right," pulling her close to him, he pressed her head on his chest.

Laid on his chest, she heard the thundering of his heart, somehow it pacified her.

"Have a nap, I'll go downstairs," he said as he started to step towards the door.

"Please, stay," Moriah whispered, unsure if he heard her.

He stopped in his tracks, looked over his shoulder. "What did you say?"

"Please, stay," she repeated a little louder, not too loud, just enough for him to understand what she said.

"Do you understand what you're asking?" If he stays longer with her in the room, he can't keep his hands away from her.

"Yes," she timidly replied.

Ethan turned on his heels and came near her. He stood in front of her, towering over her.

"Are you sure?" He asked again, giving a chance to change her mind.

"Mm," humming her reply while casting her gaze on the floor.

Pinching her chin, he lifted it to see her face. A growl rolled out of his throat looking at his wife's adorable face, her cheeks were tainted red.

Slowly his lips descended on her forehead, going down to her eyes, sliding down to her cheeks and he descended further.

Moriah hardly kept her eyes open as she was intoxicated by his touch and kisses.

Unlike their wedding night, she closed her eyes because she repulsed his touch. He refused to look at him because she didn't love him. But not today, she gloried in his touch. Her heart was now his.

Her heart completely belongs to him. She's Ethan's.

Ethan took pleasure in the way she sobbed his name while they were into it. Yielding herself to his touch without sorrow and revulsion, took away the painful memories of their wedding night.

"Thank you," he murmured, though he knew she didn't hear him as she was fast asleep.

Ethan ran his fingers through her long thick hair sprawled on the bed.

The sun had already set and the red sunset color spread through the skies when Moriah had woken up.

"Ethan," that was the first word she uttered when she opened her eyes.

"I'm here," Ethan was over the moon to hear her say his name the moment she opened her eyes.

He put aside his MacBook on the nightstand and laid beside her. He cradled her in his arms. "Did you have a good rest?"

"Yes," she looked up to him and caressed his jaw with her hand, Ethan groaned and closed his eyes. "What time is it?"

He craned his neck to check the time on the digital clock sitting on the nightstand. "It's 4 in the afternoon." She sat up, and slid back under the duvet in panic and embarrassment when she realized her state.

Moriah pouted her lips as Ethan's booming laughter filled the huge room.

"What are you laughing at?" She barely contained her exasperation.

"You're so cute," he took her into his arms.

"Ethan, I want to take a shower. Can you get a robe for me?"

Ethan got up from the bed. "You don't need the robe, we'll have a shower together."

"No, I don't like it," she's embarrassed at the idea of taking a shower together.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," he picked her into his arms.

"Ethan, you " Ethan sealed her lips with his.

There was no way Moriah could refuse him and they had to shower together.

Stepping out of the bathroom after showering, Moriah felt her legs numb and her kness began to tremble.

"Are you alright?" He held her arm to prop her up.

"It's your fault," she's really annoyed, blaming him for her condition right now.

"We'll have dinner here, I'll let the servants serve us food here," he said.

"No, we have to join your parents for dinner. What's the use of visiting them when we won't spend time with them?"

He steered her to the couch and said, "Sit and I'll massage your legs."

"No, I'll be fine. Anyway, dinner's not ready yet and by the time dinner is ready, I'm well rested," she refused his offer for a massage as she had a hunch that he won't be able to hold himself back again.

"I insist," Ethan held her leg and was beginning to give it a massage when a call came in.

The ringing of Ethan's phone was a reprieve to Moriah. Ethan strode to get his phone from the nightstand.

Placing the phone near his ear, Ethan stood near the French window.

"I'm in Manchester now," he answered the caller.

"I'll be back next week," Moriah frowned, at the ambiguity of the call.

"Yes, I will," another cryptic answer left Moriah thinking who was the caller.

"Be good," Ethan's last two words were like spears hurled at her, piercing through her heart. It was Hazel, who had called.

"Bye for now," Ethan ended the call. He stood there for an unknown time until a servant came knocking at the door. "Sir, dinner is ready," the maid said with her head hung low and left right after she had informed him.

Moriah didn't wait for him to fetch her, she rose to her feet and sauntered to the door.

With his long legs, just a several strides, he already caught up with her. He held her arm when he was walking side by side with her.

She looked up at her husband and smiled. But Ethan noticed that there was no sparkle in her eyes. He didn't give much thought about it as she didn't refuse when he held her arm.

"Did you have a good rest, dear?" Fiona asked Moriah when she was seated on the chair.

"Yes, mom," Moriah answered shyly.

"How long have you been married now?" Brandon asked.

"8 months," Moriah was still counting when Ethan answered.

"So you got married last spring?" Fiona forgot to ask the time she first met Moriah. She was too happy to learn that her son got married.

"When are you planning to have a baby?" Fiona had been longing to have grandchildren.

Moriah blanched a few shades, her skin was white as a sheet.

"Mom, we aren't ready," Ethan gave his short reply, as always.

Moriah winced at Ethan's answer. He wasn't ready for a baby. But he can't control his desire.

Brandon held his peace, he didn't want to ruin their first dinner with Moriah.

"How about your heir?" Fiona asked.

"I'm not ready to be a father," Ethan kept his emotions under control.