Chapter 57
Aria's POV
I caught his wrist, trying to stop him. "I'd rather wait."
He chuckled, using his free hand to brush my hair back from my face. "Always the good girl, aren't you? At least in public." He leaned in to kiss my neck, his lips hot and wet against my skin. "But we're engaged now. Some things don't need to wait for the wedding night."
We'd been engaged for less than two hours, but Ethan was already treating the ring as a deed of ownership to my body. When I tried to stand, he pulled me back down, his grip surprisingly strong. He reached behind me, finding the hidden zipper of my silk blouse.
"Ethan, stop," I said, my head clearing rapidly as adrenaline began cutting through the champagne fog.
He didn't. Instead, he pressed me back against the sofa cushions, his body heavy against mine. "It's my birthday, Aria. Don't I deserve a special gift?" His fingers worked the zipper down, exposing my back and bra clasp. "Besides, now that you're wearing my ring, there's no reason to keep playing hard to get."
He unhooked my bra, and my breasts were nearly fully exposed to the air. Ethan's breathing grew heavy as he murmured, "God, Aria, you're perfect." His palms covered my breasts, thumbs brushing across my nipples. "I've wanted to do this for so long."
The alcohol made my limbs heavy, and I pushed weakly against his chest, but he just laughed softly, pinning my hands above my head. "Don't be like that, Aria," he whispered, bending to lick at my nipple. "I know you want this. You don't have to pretend to be so untouchable anymore."
As his mouth moved across my skin, I closed my eyes, wanting to escape the moment. In my alcohol-muddled brain, a different face flashed—gray eyes instead of blue; a more pronounced jawline; considerate touches instead of greedy pawing. Devon.
The fantasy brought shame but also temporary escape from reality. When Ethan's hand slid under my skirt, caressing my inner thigh, I murmured weakly, "Please don't, not now."
"You're so sexy when you're drunk," he said breathlessly, ignoring my protest. "Cheeks flushed, lips parted... like a virgin begging to be fucked." His hand moved to my lace underwear, fingers rubbing through the thin fabric. "You should have surrendered to me ages ago, Aria. Look how wet you get for me so quickly."
I knew my body's response was just alcohol and friction, but the shame came anyway. He pushed my skirt up to my waist, unzipped it, and his fingers slipped inside my underwear, roughly exploring my entrance.
"So tight," he mumbled, inserting one finger inside me. "Need to get you ready first. Tell me you want me, Aria."
I felt sick and humiliated, but the alcohol made effective resistance impossible. His finger moved inside me, his thumb working against my most sensitive spot, forcing my body to respond.
"Look at you, already ready for me," he said triumphantly, unzipping his own pants.
It was then that he said the words that snapped me out of my drunken compliance: "Kane will never know how amazing you are in bed. You're mine, Aria. Always have been."
Devon's name was like a bucket of cold water. I suddenly saw it all clearly—I was a trophy to Ethan, a territory to be conquered, merely to prove something to Devon Kane.
As he positioned himself to enter me, I found all of my strength, driving my knee sharply into his groin. He doubled over in pain, and I slipped out from under him, quickly standing and fumbling to secure my bra and blouse.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he groaned, hands covering his injured area.
"Enough!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the room. "Who do you think I am? Your property? Some object that anyone can 'steal' from you?"
Ethan slowly stood, anger flashing in his eyes. "You're my fiancée—"
"I'm a person!" I shot back. "Not an acquisition. Not a merger deal. Not a chess piece in whatever game you're playing with Kane Technology."
He stepped toward me, but I stepped back, maintaining distance, straightening my rumpled skirt. "Aria, baby, I'm sorry. I've had too much to drink. I didn't mean—"
"Yes, you did." I straightened my shoulders, finding strength in my anger. "This is supposed to be the night you proposed. Instead, you're acting like a entitled frat boy who can't handle rejection."
His expression shifted, anger giving way to calculation. "You're right. I'm sorry." He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up in what I recognized as a practiced gesture of vulnerability. "It's just... seeing Kane there, the way he looked at you... I got jealous. You know how much I care about you."
Once upon a time, I might have fallen for this act. Now, I saw it for what it was—manipulation, plain and simple.
"I need some air," I said, walking toward the door. "Don't follow me."
"Aria, wait—" He grabbed for my arm, but I evaded him.
"If you touch me again," I said coldly, "I'm calling security. Fiancé or not."
That stopped him. Image was everything to Ethan Blake. The thought of being escorted out of Pantheon by security was evidently worse than letting me walk away.
I left the suite, closing the door firmly behind me. The hallway stretched before me, eerily quiet after the noise of the party below. My heart was pounding, adrenaline finally clearing the last of the alcohol from my system. I headed toward the elevators, my heels clicking against the marble floor.
Behind me, I heard the suite door open. "Aria!" Ethan called, his voice echoing in the empty hallway. "Don't be dramatic. Come back here so we can talk."
I quickened my pace, turning the corner toward the elevator bank. Before I could reach the call button, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me sideways through a door I hadn't even noticed.
I found myself in another suite, similar to Ethan's but with different furnishings. A hand covered my mouth, silencing my startled cry. I inhaled sharply through my nose, catching the familiar scent of cedarwood and sandalwood cologne.
Devon.
His gray eyes met mine in the dimness as he released my mouth but kept his arm around my waist. He quietly closed the door and locked it. I could hear Ethan's footsteps growing closer, his voice calling my name with increasing frustration.
"Don't make a sound," Devon whispered, his breath warm against my ear.
The footsteps paused just outside the door. There was a moment of tense silence, then a loud knock. "Aria? Are you in there?" Ethan's voice was tight with anger.
Devon and I remained perfectly still. After another knock and no answer, Ethan cursed loudly. His footsteps continued down the hall, and soon I heard the distant chime of the elevator.
Devon's arm remained around my waist, his body solid and warm against mine in the darkened room. I should have pulled away. I should have been angry at his presumption. Instead, I found myself leaning into him, the night's events catching up to me all at once.
"You're shaking," he observed quietly, his voice a low rumble I could feel against my back.
I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. "It's been a long night."