Chapter Fifteen
ETHAN
Anger fuels me as I slam on the brakes, the screeching sound echoing my frustration.
I’m stuck at the open gate, unable to move forward.
There’s no way I can leave the property.
My body physically refuses. The fuck did she mean it wasn’t real, that it never would’ve worked? Her words aren’t matching up.
It’s bullshit.
I replay the night in my head. From the amazing game to the devastating phone call that followed. Only, I don’t feel the hurt, anger, and numbness like I did then. I didn’t realize it then, but it never added up. Her words never fucking matched up.
I think about my trip back home a little before that night. Everything was normal, even better than that. I’d seen the way she looked at me because it was the same fucking way I’d always looked at her. Even more, it was the same way I caught her looking at me earlier.
It wasn’t nothing. It was definitely fucking something.
The days that followed the breakup were a blur.
I couldn’t concentrate in class. In fact, I’m pretty sure my professors only passed me because I was there on an athletic scholarship.
It wasn’t until the coach chewed my ass out after a horrible game, I refocused.
I needed it and would forever be grateful for those teachers and coaches who did more good than they realized.
Shortly after, my uncle called and told me what was going on back home. Daisy’s dad was sick. I’d tried to convince myself she just needed someone who was there with her. That long distance wasn’t physical enough. She’d already ended things and moved on with someone else.
Only, there was never anyone else. She just fucking admitted it. The realization slams into my chest and I back up my truck and haul ass back to her house.
There was never anyone else and never would be. She pushed me away when she needed me. Why the fuck would she do that? Didn’t she know she was my world? I would’ve given her anything. I’d have given up everything.
Brakes screech.
I scramble to turn off the truck and reach her. I storm over to the porch. The rain soaks me, but I don’t care. Nothing else matters but getting to her.
Knowing the truth changes everything. Daisy pushed me away, knowing full well what I would’ve done. All it does is piss me off. I wasn’t there when she needed me.
I would’ve been there for her, no matter how much she pushed.
So, she did the one thing that would’ve stopped me.
Well, it wasn’t going to work again. She would never get to push me away again.
I wouldn’t let her. Even if she wasn’t ready to hear it or admit it, there was still something here.
There was something here because those feelings never went away.
Love like that doesn’t simply go away or disappear.
Rational thoughts escape me as I run up the porch steps and throw open the door. I don’t bother with knocking, not when the door is unlocked. Then that thought angers me. Here she is, home alone, with the for unlocked for any psycho to storm in.
“What the fuck, Daisy?” I yell as I walk inside. “Leaving your door unlocked for any maniac to just waltz in here?” I slam the door shut and lock it behind me.
“Ethan?” Her voice comes out like a whisper as she rounds the corner.
My eyes zero in on her and the tears falling down her face. “Baby.” I rush towards her and pull her into my arms.
“You left,” she speaks as she sniffles.
I pull back and look down at her. “I’m never leaving you again.”
She shakes her head. “But—”
“I know,” I interrupt her. “I know you think you did what was best, but I disagree. I fucking hate that we’ve lost all this time.”
She shakes her head and tries to push me away.
“You can’t push me away this time, Daisy. No matter what you say.”
“You need to leave.”
“No.” I keep my arms around her. I refuse to let go.
She shakes her head. “This will never work.”
I drop to my knees in front of her. “Let me prove you wrong.” Why does she keep fighting this?
“Ethan.” she shakes her head as she closes her eyes. “Why are you doing this?”
“This is our second chance, and I refuse to let you ruin this.”
“Ethan,” she begs.
“No, Daisy.” My hands glide up and down her legs.
Slowly, trying to reassure her. I’m not going anywhere, not again.
“You got to make the choice for us last time without me. Now, it’s my turn.
” I wait to see if she’ll look at me, but she only squeezes her eyes closed tighter.
“You did what you did because you knew I would’ve given up everything.
I don’t like it, but I forgive you. Well, it worked.
I fucking made it. The only thing missing is the one fucking person I wanted to share all of that with. ”
Her body trembles and she shakes her head.
“Yeah, baby.” I stand slowly, my hands moving up her sides. I press a soft kiss to her jaw, her cheek, then her forehead. “You. It’s always been you.”
“But it’s over,” she argues as she opens her eyes.
I shake my head. “No. It was never over.” I press my lips to hers.
She tries to pull away. She tries to push me away. I don’t let her. If anything, I hold on to her tighter. It’s not up to her anymore. If that makes me the bad guy, oh well. She doesn’t get to push me away again. Never again.
I hug her tightly and kiss her softly. She relaxes slightly and I deepen the kiss, my tongue begging entry. Her hands tighten on my shirt and she finally kisses me back with urgency.
Her arms slide up and around my neck. I squeeze her ass and lift her. Daisy wraps her legs around my waist. Fuck, the way she feels pressed against me. It’s as if the rest of the world fades away. Doesn’t she know what she does to me?
She pulls back, her eyes staying on mine. “I…”
“Let me in,” I assure her.
My lips chase hers as I keep my arms wrapped around her.
I pull back, searching her eyes, but don’t move to let her down.
She doesn’t move to be put down either. My eyes stay on hers and she shakes her head.
I can see how she’s fighting it, fighting this.
She doesn’t want to fight it, but she won’t let go.
I need her to let me in, but she’s wound so tight.
Years of doing it on her own when she was never supposed to.
“I..” Her voice trails off again.
“Do you trust me?” My hand moves up her back and grip the back of her neck.
Her bottom lip trembles.
“Daisy.” I walk us out of the room.
Her brows push together.
“Let me take care of you.”
She shakes her head.
“Yes, baby.”
She shakes her head again, but doesn’t try to escape my hold. I walk us up the stairs and into her room. She will not like me in a bit, but I can live with that. I’ll make it up to her.
I’m the one in control. She needs it. I don’t know how I know, but it’s something I can feel deep in my bones. The need to control her. To give her everything. I need to do this, so she’ll just let it go.
I slowly put her down. She hesitates as her body slides down mine. I can feel it, her tense body. One wrong move and she’s going to slip away.
“I’d do anything for you, and we both know it.” I swallow as I back towards her bed and pull her along with me. My fingers lace with hers. “I’m going to fix this.” She shakes her head and opens her mouth to argue. “Yeah, I am.”
Her eyes close. I watch as her shoulders drop, then I act. I sit on the bed and pull her towards me. She gasps as I pull her across my lap.
“What the hell? Ethan!” She tries to lift herself off my lap, but I hold her in place.
I’m too strong for her. I hold her down, one arm draped across her back as the other rubs across the round globes of her ass. She tries to push herself up, but she’s not getting away.
“Keep pushing and I’m pulling these leggings down,” I threaten. Not that they’ll do much to protect her ass to begin with.
“You wouldn’t dare! Ethan, let me up!” She yells.
Bare it is. I move fast, pulling her leggings and underwear down with little effort. She pushes to let herself up more, but I don’t let her. My hand raises and comes down and she yells at me more.
I do it again. My hand coming down on her other cheek and she curses my name. I take my time, alternating between each cheek, back and forth a dozen times, before she stops trying to get up. I give her a second, stroking across her ass before giving one of them a hard squeeze, then start again.
This isn’t something I thought I would do. Never in even my wildest dreams did I imagine I would spank someone. Yet, it was the only thing I could think of. Let her feel pain so she could finally let it all go. My poor girl was so wound up, and it wasn’t sexual.
Fuck, I could easily turn things sexual. This wasn’t one of those times. This was for her. It wasn’t about me. It was about letting her release this need to be in control. I was going to remind her what it was like to have someone there to take care of her.
Her ass is nice and red and I become memorized with the sight of it, but I stay focused. Another. And another.
Then I hear the break in her scream. She’s almost there.
Another smack. My hand is feeling the burn. I raise my hand to come down again.
“I need you,” she cries out.
I lower my hand down, and gently rub. “I’ve got you.”
I would always have her. She’s mine.
Mine to take care of.
Mine to protect and cherish.
Mine to love. Forever.