Chapter 20
KIARA
I bit my bottom lip, my fingers clutching my handbag tightly.
I told the taxi driver the directions to Ethan’s home.
I had been waiting for Ethan to pick me up when Liam had called me.
I was not expecting to hear that Ethan had injured himself.
He didn’t give me many details, just that he was alright, and the personal doctor was treating him at his home.
Tipping the driver, I rushed out of the taxi and entered the house. My heartbeat was pounding when I saw Liam and another man in a suit with a stethoscope around his neck sitting on the couch.
“Where’s Ethan?” I breathed, “Is he okay?”
Liam gave me a small smile as the doctor explained that he got a rotator cuff injury which was a common injury in swimmers.
He would have inflammation in his injured shoulder for a few days and wouldn’t be able to swim for a couple of weeks.
I thanked him when he took his leave after prescribing a painkiller and asked to ice his shoulder twice a day and call him if the pain worsened.
“Thank you for calling me,” I said to Liam, his grey eyes looking anywhere but at me. He nodded, sliding his hands in his pockets when he stood up. “You can stay for dinner,” I offered.
Liam’s eyes pierced mine, raking over my face. He looked the same as he had before, but his jaw and cheekbones looked sharper, his grey eyes darker. “I don’t want to disturb you guys,” he said. “And as much as I would love to stay and see you scold him, I have to take my leave.”
After locking the front door, I went to Ethan’s room, knocking before I entered.
I let out a sigh when I found him sleeping soundly on the bed, stacks of pillows under his right bandaged shoulder.
Sitting beside him, I brushed his hair back and caressed his cheek with my thumb.
His eyes stirred, and I took my hand away when he woke up, his half-lidded eyes landing on me.
“I am sorry I woke you up.”
He smiled at me and took my hand in his, his fingers enveloping mine. “You didn’t. Did you eat? I was going to buy you that kimchi you love, but I couldn’t.”
I poked his healthy side, frowning at him, “Why on earth would you over-train yourself like that, Ethan? The doctor told me this happened because you trained yourself to the point that your muscle tore itself.”
Ethan leaned up, sitting on the bed with the support of pillows despite my concern. He hushed me by placing his finger on my lips. “I needed to swim, Bella. This isn’t the first time I have hurt myself during training.”
My eyes went wide and before I could ask him, he continued, “You don’t need to worry, okay? It will heal in a week. But look at the bright side.”
I furrowed my brows when he grinned mischievously. “What bright side?”
Leaning close, his warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered, “You can role-play as my nurse.”
With my cheeks flaming red, I smacked him, “Is sex all you ever think about?”
He chuckled when I stood up from the bed. “Every time you are close to me, yes, sweetheart.”
“You are insatiable,” I muttered when I left his room with a small smile playing on my lips.
“Kiara,” Ethan moaned again while I focused on typing up the last paragraph of the chapter I was working on.
“Hmm?”
“Let’s fuck, I am bored.”
“Okay, you go ahead,” I answered aimlessly and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose. My fingers returned to tapping on my laptop keyboard.
“You didn’t hear what I just said, did you?”
“No, I will eat later.”
As I finished writing the last sentence, I felt his warm body heat radiating on my back. I smiled when he turned my chair around.
“Are you finished?” he asked, nodding at my laptop.
I murmured a small yes and wrapped my hands around his neck when he removed my glasses to press a soft kiss on my lips.
I opened up to him, our tongues meeting in a soft caress.
Aching desire clenched in my lower belly.
I leaned back, his warm breath fanning on my cheek as his stubble grazed my palm.
“You know we will not have sex, Ethan,” I tried to say that with a stern voice. But with him in front of me, looking delicious with his tousled hair and hazy blue-green eyes, my voice wavered.
His hands trailed on my waist. “Fine, let’s make a baby together.”
My thighs clenched, and blood rushed to my face. He was truly insatiable.
I stood up from the chair, maintaining the distance between us so he couldn’t seduce me. “Your shoulder is—”
“Healed. You talked with the doctor, and he said that I can even start training.” He gave me a mischievous smile, “Cardio to be precise.”
I sighed and pulled my hair free from the bun. “That doesn’t mean you are healthy enough to have sex—ah!”
I should have known better not to say that out loud. My back landed on the soft sheets and Ethan hovered above me. A soft moan poured out of my lips when he settled between my thighs, his hips pressing against mine. I felt the hard heat of his erection press into me.
Knowing he had to support himself on his hands, which might strain his muscles. I rolled us over, his eyes trailing down my top to the pebbled peaks of my nipples. Holding his jaw, I said, “We are not having sex . . . or making babies tonight. I don’t want you to hurt yourself, Ethan.”
He let out a defeated sigh, his warm hands stroking my thighs, “Okay, Bella. I will let you go. But only for tonight.”
I smiled at him and was about to leave his lap when he pulled me back. “I need to ask you about something,” he said, his thumb rubbing the pulse on my wrist.
“Remember your mother’s paintings? I wanted to ask if you would like to set up an auction for them. It could be for children with cancer, like the gala we attended, or any other charity you want to support,” he finished with a small smile.
I let his words soak in for a moment. A grin covered my lips, and I hugged him. “That’s a brilliant idea, Ethan! I think she would want this too.” I claimed his lips for a sweet moment. “But I would need to talk to my brother and father before we go further.”
“Of course, Bella. I know Mr. Stone and a friend of mine, Khalid, would love to help us.”
“What?” My breath hitched in my throat, “You know Khalid Al-Latif? The Khalid Al-Latif? The brother of the Sultan of Azmia? The artist who painted Limerence?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes at me. “Yes, I do. Don’t be so surprised. He was my and Rio’s roommate for a year. We shared an apartment when he was in New York.”
“I think I might faint.”
He rolled his eyes and pinched my ass, making me grin. “Talk to your family, and if they agree, we can plan the charity together if you want.”
“They will,” I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being so thoughtful, Ethan. I would love to plan this with you.”
The shy smile I received in return was one of the sweetest ones I have ever received, and I would cherish it in my heart. I went to my room and video called my brother and father. I told them about Ethan’s idea, and as I had suspected, they willingly agreed to it.
“So, you are living with Ethan?” my brother asked, crossing his arms.
“How are things with him?” Dad asked. Folding the newspaper he was reading, he removed his glasses to look at me.
I forced my cheeks not to flush and replied, “Things are great, Dad. You know how he is.”
They both nodded, narrowing their eyes at me. Karan asked, “Do you like him?”
“Of course, I like him.”
“Love him?”
Yes.
I cleared my throat, “I am not sure about my feelings at the moment, Karan.”
Dad pressed on, “If you could marry him, have kids with him, would you?”
You have no idea, Dad.
“Dad! You both need to stop whatever you are doing. I like him, maybe more than that, but—”
“She loves him,” Karan said to Dad.
My father agreed with a small smile, “She does.”
“When do you think they will get married?” Karan asked.
“By next year, I suppose.”
With my cheeks flaming red, I shook my head at them. “You both are unbelievable. I am going. Goodnight and take care of yourself.”
I ended the call and sighed, laying down on the bed. A small smile played on my lips and butterflies flapped in my stomach at the weird feeling in my heart. I giggled and hid my face with my hands.
I was so whipped it was embarrassing.