Chapter Fifteen
WHAT ARE WE NOW? DO you still love Guilia? Do you love me? A part of Ethan had been waiting for Anah to ask these questions, if only because it was her right to do so. But days had already passed, and instead...
He was the one who had ended up asking questions.
Can I drive you to school?
Will you sleep with me tonight?
When will I see you again?
And always, Anah had answered him with a smile that made his heart ache. Of course, Ethan. Yes, Ethan. Anytime you want, Ethan. Words that he didn't deserve but she gave to him all the same because—-
I love you, Ethan.
She hadn't said the words yet. Never had to. He only had to look at her, and the words would be there looking back at him. It was in the way her lips curved, the way she kissed him back, the way her body sang every time his cock drove inside of her...
I love you, Ethan.
And in time, he realized that the words were always there because he was in her heart. Had always been there, too, only she had to hide it...until now.
I love you, Ethan.
Her love shamed and humbled him, but even so, Ethan also knew if someone were to ask him to give it up...he would never be able to do it. Just fucking couldn't. She was in his blood now—-
I love you, Ethan.
And he found himself craving for her in every way, every goddamn moment. Her presence brightened his day like the fucking sun, and even though the thought was sappy as hell, he knew it was the truth. She made him laugh when he thought he had forgotten how to be happy, made him smile so damn often he might as well swap jobs with a clown. She just made everything right , just made his life too goddamn perfect—-
I love you, Ethan.
He almost wished she didn't matter so damn much, just so he could lie and say the words in return.
I love you, too.
MAYBE TODAY'S THE DAY I can ask him. The words were always the first thing in her mind when she woke up, and always the thought would have Anah holding her breath, praying and hoping as she slowly turned his way. Maybe. Just maybe. And when their gazes met, it was only then she would know—-
Not just yet.
Because the bleakness was still there.
But soon.
Because it wasn't the same as before, wasn't just all bleakness and darkness now. Because things had changed, and now Anah had reason to hope.
It used to be that every time he entered a room, he would see her face light up, and that would be the end of the story. But it was different now. When he entered a room, her face would still light up, and in return...
Oh, in return ...
Anah knew it might just be wishful thinking, but she could almost sense Ethan's heart skipping a beat every time he saw her looking at him, stars in her eyes, and heart on her sleeve. Wouldn't that be the craziest, loveliest thing ever, if it were the truth?
And that wasn't all .
In the years they were friends and just friends, Ethan had always been meticulously careful not to touch her in any way that could be misconstrued. He had always been a gentleman. Always. But ever since the night they had made love...
He couldn't seem to get enough of her. Just seemed so hungry for her all the time, with the way he made love to her every chance he could get. Day and night. Every room of his apartment. His shop. His pick-up. And now—-
Oh God.
Anah was so embarrassed she felt like her face was about to burst like a freshly squeezed tomato at any moment. Tonight was their first time to go "public", and as expected, all eyes were on them the moment she and Ethan walked inside Redwood Cafe.
And it only got worse from there, with Ethan once again insisting that she make herself home on his lap. And when she ordered a vanilla shake that left a milk mustache over her upper lip, Ethan suddenly leaned forward and started licking it away...very...very slowly .
By the time he lifted his head, she could barely think straight, and sanity slipped further away when hazel eyes smoldered down at hers.
"Do you want something, little Anah?"
The wicked purr in her voice had Anah's senses reeling. "I..." His thumb touched the corner of her mouth, and she nearly whimpered. "I...want..."
Swoosh!
A particularly strong gust of wind blew the cafe's doors open, and the sound startled Anah back into her senses.
Ethan's lips pressed together when he saw Anah's gaze turn accusing.
"Stop seducing me in public!" Anah only meant for Ethan to hear the words, but when the whole cafe erupted in snickers, she realized too late that everyone had ended up hearing her instead.
Ethan, on the other hand, actually had the gall to smirk. "All the more to make it exciting, luv."
Aaaargh.
He knew what it did to her, every time he let his British accent slip out like that, and Anah's anger melted in an instant. All she could think about now was hearing more of it, preferably with both of them naked, which was why when Ethan whispered into her ear, "I want to fuck you..."
She could only nod. I want that, too.
Farica sent Ethan a dour look as he and Anah walked past the counter. "You are one lucky SOB."
Anah, who didn't quite catch the words, thought the older girl was speaking to her. "Sorry, what was that?"
Ethan quickly covered Anah's ears just before glaring back at Farica. "One more word, and I'll be introducing myself to Steel March and—-"
Farica threw a dishrag at him, but Ethan was able to duck this.
Anah couldn't help laughing when Ethan practically carried her out of the cafe in his haste.
"What did she say?" Anah asked curiously.
"Nothing you ever need to know," Ethan answered seriously.
"But..." Anah frowned when she noticed where they were heading, which was the opposite direction of home. "Where are we going?"
"This should do," she heard Ethan murmur under his breath as his steps came to a halt.
Anah followed his line of sight, and her jaw dropped. "Are you insane? Anyone could—- ah!"
But it was too late. They were already inside the phone booth, Ethan had locked the door, and he was already reaching under her skirt.
"Ethan—-"
"I like the way you beg," he purred. "Do it again." But because he had ripped her panties off while speaking, all she could do was moan and tremble. She saw him unzip himself, and another moan escaped her at the sight of his engorged cock slipping free.
Oh God. She could only be thankful that the town's phone booths had fully frosted doors, and only the outlines of their bodies would be visible to anyone outside.
When Ethan pulled her close, she was no longer capable of resisting, her legs automatically going around his waist as he lifted her up.
"You're so fucking wet," he whispered against her lips.
Anah could only whimper and close her eyes. There was no way for her to speak, with Ethan already stuffing her pussy with his long, thick, hard cock.
It was the longest, most embarrassing, and most exciting thirteen minutes of her life, and more than once, she found herself gasping, not just because of Ethan's forceful thrusts but because she was scared they would have the phone booth toppling over.
He was ramming into her with so much force every thrust had Anah feeling she was about to break apart, and it was just too, too good. Just too good, to have the man she loved—-
Her arms tightened around him.
I love you, Ethan.
Her eyes started stinging, her body arching as the pleasure reached an unbearable peak.
I love you, Ethan.
And every time her heart whispered this, it was as if he heard her.
His gaze clashing with hers, like it did now—-
"Come for me now, luv."
The roughness of his voice doing little to hide the emotions that simmered underneath—-
I love you, Ethan.
But unlike before...
Oh God.
She started cumming. Started crying. Started losing it. And throughout all this, she heard him utter her name in a hoarse cry just as his powerful body started rocking against her, his cock plunging into her in a series of fast, hard thrusts as he reached his own orgasm.
Oh God, please let it be true.
Anah's hands shook as she cupped Ethan's face.
Please God. Please.
Her heart thudded against her chest as she looked into his eyes—-
Oh God.
It used to be that Guilia was all she ever saw in his gaze.
But not anymore.
"Ethan." A choked sob escaped her. "Can I...c-can I ask you something?"
"Yes." He forced himself to say the word even as terror gnawed at his heart. "You can ask me anything." And he meant every fucking word. It was the very fucking least he owed her, after everything. The very least, even if it meant losing her just because—-
"Are you happy?"
Ethan whitened.
"Please don't lie," Anah whispered tremulously. "I just need to know."
He heard her voice catch, and the sound nearly ripped him apart. If she had asked him 'do you love me' ...he might not have known the truth. If she had asked him 'do you still love her' ...he might even have said yes.
But instead...
"Are you happy?"
She asked the one thing that suddenly made everything goddamn clear.
The one thing that Guilia had never asked—-
The one fucking thing that Ethan himself had never thought to ask.
"Yes," Ethan said rawly.
Her hands fell away from his face, and Anah started sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm happy," he heard himself say.
And it was true.
After a very long time, he was happy.
Because he was in love with Anah.
Had been in love with his Anah for a long time.
God. God. God.
And he had to realize this, only when it might be too late, and Ethan had already done something that might make him lose her for good.