Chapter 12
Mia
On the Uber ride back to my apartment, Ethan has his hands all over me. But he doesn’t kiss me. We don’t even look at each other. He slides his hand up my thighs and feels every inch of my exposed skin, forcing me to bite the inside of my cheek to be quiet.
When the car stops, Ethan forks over a wad of cash and thanks the driver. He helps me out of the car, and by the time he gets me outside, he has me over his shoulder. I burrow my face in the crook of his neck as he carries me over the threshold.
A narrow hallway to the right leads to a set of doors inside the three-story brownstone. Each floor has two apartments, with the smallest ones on the lower floors. The walls are painted stark white, with lights overhead that cast a yellowish hue around us.
Given Ethan’s athletic build, he has no problem taking the stairs two at a time as if it’s nothing.
He’s a big guy, and I feel safe and secure in his arms. Ethan manhandles me like I’m a doll.
He sets me on the floor to fumble with the keys, opening the door and kicking it shut before he lifts me again.
As Ethan pushes my back against the wall, I wrap my legs around his middle and slide my hands up his chest. Holding me tight, his lips crash against mine with fury.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed his touch until now—more like I craved him.
The second our mouths separated at the club, I wanted more.
Now, I have him.
All of him.
Ethan kisses me, our tongues working in harmony.
He invades my mouth with a vicious hunger, and ten years of pent-up sexual desire explode inside me.
I feel every second of those years. All the longing, the wanting, the need.
He tells me with his body how much he’s wanted this.
Claims me with each flick of his tongue.
After what feels like forever, our lips part, and we’re panting. Ethan cups the side of my face with his big hand and sighs. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this, Mia.”
“Me, too.” I can barely get the words out.
He shakes his head. “Too fucking long.”
We stare at each other, a beat passing before he pushes my panties aside to run his finger along my slick folds. Testing my wetness, Ethan slides his finger in and out of me and makes a hissing sound.
“So wet. So fucking tight. Damn, Mia, what are you doing to me? I can’t control myself with you.”
“Then don’t,” I whisper.
“Don’t say that. I want to fuck you on every surface of this apartment.”
I press my finger to his lips to silence him. “Will isn’t home. We get one night together. One night to get this out of our systems.”
“Your brother will never forgive me. He flipped out when I touched your leg during the interview.”
“He doesn’t need to know, E. It’s just you and me.”
We share a short-lived moment where it’s just Mia and E, the boy I fell in love with ten years ago.
This is the Ethan Waters I know. Deep down inside, knowing tonight can never be more than a fling hurts.
But having Ethan for one night is better than not at all, and that’s how I justify it to myself.
He kisses me again, but this time as if saying goodbye. Tightening my grip on his neck, I take all his anger and pain, absorbing his sadness and fear, his emotions mirroring mine.
We want more.
But we can’t have it.
Ethan carries me to the kitchen with my legs still around his back and my nails clawing at his neck.
We don’t bother to separate our lips until my ass hits the countertop. I work on the buttons of his navy dress shirt, flipping them open one at a time, and when I get to the last one, Ethan shakes it off.
He plucks a condom from his pocket before removing his pants and boxers and rips the package open. I push up my skirt, slide my panties down to my ankles, and let them drop to the floor.
Ethan wets his lips as he takes in the sight of me. Staring at me like a ravenous beast, he sinks to the floor in front of me, parting my legs with his strong hands.
He kisses his way up my thigh, taking his time. Burying his face between my legs, Ethan peeks up at me. His intense gaze sends a pang of pleasure throughout my body as his tongue connects with my aching clit. He massages me with his tongue, giving me lazy licks that drive me fucking insane.
His breath makes my toes curl, and my brain shuts down when his tongue finally slips between my folds. I can’t move or think straight when he shoves two fingers inside and spreads me open. My insides clench around him, his tongue bringing me to the point of convulsing.
I stare into his deep blue eyes, filled with hunger and passion, concentrating on finding my release as he manages to hit my sweet spot.
“Ethan,” I moan. “Yes… just like that.”
Gripping Ethan’s dark hair, I hold him tight and scream his name. I let out all my frustration and anger over this fucked-up situation. I communicate my feelings with each orgasm he rips from my body because they’re his to take. Ethan owns every last one of them.
He stops when I can’t take any more and glances up at me, his lips covered in my juices. He licks every bit from his lips before sucking his fingers clean. “Mmm… you taste good. But I’m nowhere near done with you.”
I release my grip on his hair and sink back against the cabinet to collect myself. “Good,” I whisper. “Because I want more.”
He places his hands on my thighs and pushes himself up. “What do you want, Mia? I want you to say it.”
I hook my leg around his back and dig my heel into his toned ass. “I want you to fuck me. I want that hate fuck I’ve been waiting years for.”
He snickers. “I don’t hate you. Never did.”
“Well, I’ve hated you for a long time, so give me what I want. Fuck every last ounce of hatred from my body. This is it. Your only chance. Give it to me, E. Fuck me like one of your puck bunnies.”
Ethan drags his thumb across my bottom lip. “You have such a dirty mouth for a goody-two-shoes. Do you know what I do to dirty girls?”
I shake my head. “No. Why don’t you show me?”
He tugs at my shirt, practically ripping it off my body in one fell swoop, the lace bra I’d worn for the occasion falling to the floor along with my top.
With my breasts exposed to the cold air, my nipples grow harder.
But it’s not until Ethan massages them between his fingers that the tiny buds become so taut a sensation of pure pleasure rocks through my body.
He bends down to suck on my nipple, taking it between his teeth and nibbling on it while massaging my other breast. A hint of pain washes over me in waves. But I don’t care. With each bite of my nipples, I come undone. I lose control of myself.
Ethan kisses his way up my chest and to my mouth, leaving soft kisses on my skin as he continues to navigate my body with his rough, calloused hands.
His massive erection digs into my thigh.
I reach between my legs to touch his sensitive skin, stroking his shaft with both hands.
He moans into my mouth, a few obscenities escaping his lips.
“I’ve gone easy on you,” he says between kisses. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
I nod. “Yes, give it to me. I want it all.”
He grabs me by the hips and pulls me off the counter so fast my head spins. I wasn’t expecting that. With a firm grip, he presses his fingers into my skin, burrowing so deep he could leave his mark on me.
“Turn around.” His voice comes off like a growl as he moves one of his hands to my shoulder and spins me around.
Without hesitation, I lean my forearms on the counter and lift my ass, giving him the perfect view.
He rubs his hand over each cheek, caressing my skin. “Good girl.”
Ethan pins me down with his muscular body, the tip of his cock teasing my opening. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes,” I mutter. “More than anything.”
He slides his hand beneath my chin and tilts my head back until our eyes meet.
Consumed by his hold over my mind and body, I block out the noise from the floor below us and the ambulance sirens blaring from a distance.
I even ignore the jiggling of the front door handle.
It’s not until a loud bang followed by Will’s voice that I come out of my Ethan-induced coma.
“Mia, open up.” Will slams his fist into the door once more. “I don’t have a key.”
“Fuck,” Ethan says under his breath. “He was supposed to be gone until morning.”
I stare up at Ethan in horror. “So much for having one night together.”
He looks as if he wants to jump out the window. I wish I could, too. We bend over to retrieve our clothes in a hurry, balling the material in our hands.
“Go hide in the bedroom,” I tell Ethan. “I’ll deal with Will. It’s better if he thinks you’re sleeping already.”
“Mia, C'mon,” Will shouts. “Open the door, baby sis.”
Ethan steals one last kiss, a quick peck that leaves me wanting more. I have to push him away so I don’t have the urge to kiss him again. He’s too tempting, intoxicating, an illness that has no cure.
As he walks away from me, I admire his perfect backside and the muscles that define every inch of his back and shoulders. My heart beats hard against my chest, the longing and desire still burning my skin.
Damn you, Will.
With my eyes on Ethan, I allow myself one last look as I slip my skirt over my hips and slide my panties up my thighs.
I skip the bra, hiding it in one of the cabinets, and throw my shirt over my head on my way to the door.
I give myself a once over in the mirror on the wall and smooth a hand down the front of my shirt and skirt. This is as good as it’s going to get.
The second I unlatch the lock, Will stumbles inside, reeking of sex and alcohol. Or maybe I’m the one who smells of sex. It’s hard to tell.
“About damn time,” Will hisses as he steps inside. “I was about to get an Uber.”
I lock the door and spin around to watch him stagger into the living room. “Where would you have gone? Your apartment is trashed.”
With his back to me, he shrugs. “A hotel. What difference does it make?”
“I thought you were staying with those girls.”
“Nah. They’re boring.” Before he hits the couch, he changes his course of direction. “I’m hungry. Got any leftovers from dinner?”
I follow behind Will and into the kitchen. He opens the fridge and peeks inside. The light casts a shadow in the darkness, drawing my attention to the condom wrapper Ethan left on the countertop.
Shit.
In full-on stealth mode, I slide the foil package off the counter. Will removes an extra plate of veal parmesan and spaghetti from the top shelf in the fridge, too busy contemplating his next meal to notice. Or so I think.
He narrows his eyes at me. “What are you doing? You’re acting weird.”
“Nothing.”
Will tilts his head to the side. “What’s in your hand?”
Fuck. How do I explain this? Oh, it’s no big deal, Will. I open condoms all the time for no reason. No, I don’t think so.
I tuck the condom into the back of my skirt and hold up my hands. “I told you. Nothing.”
“Meh.” He offers me a plate of food. “Want some? There’s enough for both of us.”
We dodged that bullet.
I shake my head. “Nope, I think I’m going to get some sleep. Ethan took the guest bedroom, leaving you with the couch.”
Will pops the plate into the microwave and hits a few buttons. “Whatever. I’m cool with the couch. I told E we can take turns sleeping in the bed.”
I glance at the clock on the wall and frown at the time. “I have to get to bed. Try not to make too much noise out here. My shift starts in three hours, and I need at least a nap to function properly.”
“Sounds good.” Will turns around with his back against the counter and folds his arms over his chest, waiting for the pasta to cook. “Night-night, baby sis.”
I suck in a deep breath, thankful Will didn’t catch me with Ethan or the condom.
Awkward.
“Night, big bro. Tomorrow, remind me to have a key made for you. I won’t be home until around eight o’clock. Go ahead and eat dinner without me.”
“You shouldn’t work so much,” he shoots back. “Some of the shit you do is dangerous. I’d feel better if you knew how to protect yourself.”
“I have to work hard to make a name for myself. If anyone should understand that, it should be you. Your life is anything but conventional.”
He nods. “I get it. Remember to have some fun every once in a while. Don’t work yourself to death. Be careful.”
I force a smile. “Always.”
He calls me all the time to check up on me.
With Will living in my apartment, he sees how dysfunctional I am.
I prioritize work above everything else.
That’s why tonight was so important. One night of fun with Ethan was all I’d wanted.
Too bad it went to shit before anything between us could even begin.
The microwave dings, the obnoxious sound echoing throughout the apartment. Will retrieves the hot plate and makes a hissing sound when the ceramic burns his fingers. He steps back, almost dropping his food on the floor, but recovers nicely. He sets the plate on the table and pulls out a chair.
“Enjoy your food.” I turn my back to Will and walk out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He mumbles something with a full mouth. I have no idea what he said, nor do I care.
I have to be alone. I need time to process what happened between Ethan and me. Time to process what tonight means for us.