Chapter 9
KIARA
A gasp escaped my lips when Ethan wrapped his hand around my throat, his lips pressing against mine.
He swallowed my moan. The intensity and passion of his kiss amazed me, rocked me to my core, making my toes curl in pleasure.
I pulled him closer until there was no space between us and kissed him until I felt dizzy in my head.
I wanted him to know how much I had missed him for all these years.
I wanted him to know that I still remembered our teenage days.
The last night of the prom. And the way we had made love during that night.
I wanted him to know that I could never forget that or him.
I felt heady after the kiss when he pulled away. My breathing was heavy and my eyes hazed. Ethan’s hair was tousled, his shirt ruffled, but his blue-green eyes were light and clearer than ever before. They were staring straight at me, making my legs tremble.
His thumb brushed over my cheek and he whispered, “Why are you crying, Bella?”
I blinked up at him. Ethan. I kissed Ethan.
“I kissed you.”
“You did.”
My eyes widened, and I looked at his handsome face, his sharp jawline, and cheekbones which I was cradling in my palm moments ago. A shiver spiraled down my body and I pressed my back on the cold wall. I touched my lips and felt the tingles of his lips when they kissed me, biting them.
I shook my head, “I kissed you. Oh, God.”
Ignoring the sudden dizziness, I pushed him away, rushing to my room. He followed me, “Kiara, what happened?”
“I am sorry,” I said and closed the door behind me, my heart pounding in my ears. I stared at the reflection in the mirror. My face and neck were flushed. I cupped my mouth where I could still feel the lick of his tongue, the delicious pressure of his lips on mine, and the soft bite of his teeth.
“Bella.” His voice was soft and almost pleading, “Tell me what happened, what’s going on in your head?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I am sorry, Ethan.”
“What are you apologizing for? Was the kiss that bad?”
My cheeks heated thinking about moments ago. That kiss was electrifying and had rocked me to my core. I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me.
“That kiss was . . . everything, Ethan,” I replied, not knowing how to put it in words.
“Open the door, I want to see you,” his voice was firm, all the softness gone.
Nerves balled up in my stomach as I unlocked the door and looked anywhere but his face.
But I should have known that Ethan wouldn’t want that.
He made me look at him, his hand on my jaw, holding my face.
His face looked sharp with rough edges under the dim hallway lights, which made him look much more intimidating than before.
I licked my lips, waiting for him to say something or do something.
Ethan gave me one last look before tucking my hair behind my ear. I took a sharp intake of breath when he leaned closer, his lips pressing on my forehead. I missed the warm heat of his body when he pulled away.
“I am taking you out on a date tomorrow. Be ready at seven.”
My eyebrows raised and before I could stop him or ask him about the date, he turned and went to his room, closing the door shut.
I stayed there, my lips parted, as I stared at the closed door of his room. Closing my door, I leaned back and exhaled the breath I was holding. I knew that he meant it. He would take me on a date tomorrow.
What am I going to do?
The date was in the evening, but Ethan had to meet his agent at the last moment, so he had called me and told me he wouldn’t be able to pick me up.
I searched for the address of the restaurant he had sent me, and my nerves tightened.
He was pulling all the strings right. If his plan was to woo me then so far, he was succeeding.
The restaurant was Italian and luxurious where you had to make a reservation a week in advance to get a terrace view table overlooking a beautiful lake.
I didn’t know how to dress up for it. I was confused, conflicted, and overwhelmed. Ethan was pushing me out of my comfort zone, breaking my walls, and pressing all the right buttons. Two hours left till the date, but I wondered if my plan was going to fail or not.
But he was Ethan, he would understand. Or even try to understand. He would do it. He would agree with me. I trusted him.
Take a deep breath, Kiara. It’s all going to work out.
For the first time in a while, I grinned to myself and couldn’t wait for it.
I was excited and scared. In the next two hours, I showered, pampered myself, and washed my hair, giving it a blow-dry.
I changed into a short black dress with a neck deep enough to show my little cleavage.
The dress fabric was thick enough for me to skip wearing a bra, so I did.
He wouldn’t be the only one pulling all the strings tonight.
As the hem of the dress ended on my mid-thigh, I wore black sheer stockings and hooked them with lace garter belts.
With black sandals, gold earrings, and bold red lipstick, I was ready. I felt and looked great even though I was a nervous mess on the inside. I tugged the dress lower and pushed my wavy hair over my shoulder. I closed my eyes and counted to ten.
I was going to do it. No matter what happened, I would ask Ethan tonight.
When I entered the restaurant, the waiter led me upstairs where Ethan had reserved our table.
I noticed a bar in the lower level when I walked to the stairs to go up.
The interior was warm with extravagant details in the paintings hung on the dark red wallpaper.
All the lights were muted and glowed with a soft light, making the cadence of the restaurant cozy.
My mouth dried when I noticed Ethan. He was wearing a black suit over a crisp white shirt with two buttons undone, revealing a tanned neck.
I licked my lips and thanked the waiter when he left us.
Ethan stood up. His eyes were hard to read when they roved over my body, staying far too long on my legs and chest. He loomed over me, his face inches away from me.
I clenched my jaw, breathing in the musky scent of his cologne, and tried my best not to lean up and lick his throat.
I balled my hand in a fist, trying to stop all the dirty thoughts.
He leaned down, brushing his lips against my ear as he whispered and pulled the chair for me.
“You look fucking beautiful, Bella.” I took a shuddering breath at his deep voice, “And if we were alone, I would want you laid out as my personal feast.”
My cheeks warmed with blood when he pulled away. I watched him sit across me, looking calm and reserved while I was clenching my legs and already wondering if I should bailout.
No, Kiara. Ask him.
Clearing my throat, I asked him about his meeting with the agent.
We both fell in a smooth conversation about work and colleagues while he also talked about Liam.
Even though the main course was delicious with the sweet white wine, I couldn’t ignore the low thrumming in my stomach.
My legs clenched at the way Ethan looked at me, like he knew I was wet. For him.
But my mind was on something, noticing his good looks, his manners, and the relationship he has with his family. It was confirmed when I spent the day with him and his family yesterday, and that kiss last night was only the beginning.
I took a sip of wine, relishing the sweet burn in my mouth and throat for one last time. I looked at my empty plate and decided that it was time.
My mind went back to my mother, the pain of losing her, the pain of leaving Ethan alone, the pain and hurt of being in London alone.
I clenched the fork in my hand and decided that I didn’t want to be alone anymore.
I wanted something much more. Especially after the breakup with Jake, I did not want to be alone.
Not anymore.
There was only one way I could achieve it, by having something, someone of my own.
Taking a deep breath, I looked at Ethan. “I want to ask something from you.”
His eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded, his eyes intense.
“I want your baby, Ethan.”