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“Oh, Holly, you look gorgeous. This one, this is the dress. Sexy without being slutty, exactly what Ethan likes.”
Even though I’m still worried the dress is too tight, showing the kind of cleavage I’ve never shown on purpose before, at Amelia’s words I know I’m giving in. I’m willing to do anything Ethan likes. For the last week he’s been by my side, yet his mind elsewhere. I can’t count the number of times I had to say his name more than once to get his attention. The only thing keeping me from freaking the fuck out is whatever is going on with Ethan during the day, at night his attention is still one hundred percent on me. If anything, he’s more ravenous than ever. Every night, as I drift off to sleep, his arms are wrapped tightly around me.
Giving in to the dress, I hand it over to a smiling Amelia then get dressed. I don’t want to know how much the dress costs. Ethan ordered Amelia to go with me to get what looked best and not look at the price tag. The more I was told about what she called a gala and Ethan called a party, the more I wanted to plead not to go. I’m afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing that reminds Ethan I’m just the cleaning woman. Yet, I don’t dare, as Ethan made it clear I was going. Amelia and I spend the rest of the day getting manicures, pedicures, and I get my hair cut while Amelia has them add highlights to her hair. When we’re done, I feel as if I’ve been buffed to a fine shine.
Despite Amelia’s reassurances, I’m still nervous the next day as I dress then very carefully do my makeup. Ethan had approved the dress last night when he got home. My stomach is still in knots as I step out of the bedroom. He’s having a drink while checking his phone, then he looks up. His eyes darken as he stands. “Holly, fuck, sweetheart, you make my cock ache. How the hell can you look as sexy in that as you do naked underneath me?”
“Ethan.” Did that breathy moan come out of me?
Shaking his head, he steps away. “If I touch you, we won’t make it out of here. We’re already fashionably late. Tonight, all night.” It’s a promise I hold onto all the way down to the car, and through the short drive to the venue.
We’re in a snarl of traffic, holy shit, it looks like a Hollywood red carpet. Flashes go off as cars stop in front of us. “Ethan?”
He grasps my hand tightly. “Don’t sweat it, sweetheart, you’re the most gorgeous woman who has walked through the doors tonight.”
His words make no sense to me. “How in the world can you know that?”
“Because I said so.”
I want to laugh, yet, I don’t dare. The look in his eyes tell me he means every word. Fighting the lump in my throat, I give him a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me for speaking the truth you ignore too often. Stay here, let me get your door.”
Taking a deep breath when he opens the door, I put my hand in his then paste a smile on my face. I follow Ethan’s lead, stopping when he does to give the photographers a moment to get our pictures. Then we move on, several people shout for my name, too many for me to count. Ethan’s voice is loud and clear as he gives them my name then confirms I’m the woman he’s been with before. More questions are asked, but Ethan ignores them, his hand at my waist leads me into the building.
Once we’re inside, I’m shocked at the amount of police officers in the crowd and metal detectors we have to go through. Back beside Ethan, my nerves settle as we go into a huge ballroom gleaming with crystal chandeliers and diamonds on the women everywhere we look. Almost immediately, Ethan is stopped by a client. Ethan introduces me as his partner, with pride. The man is pleasant, his date is not. I’m still reeling from the title of partner, not girlfriend, date, or friend. It felt as if Ethan meant it to mean much more than a relationship with a time limit. I melt a little into Ethan, he feels it, and smiles down at me.
While the evening doesn’t fly by, it’s not nearly as bad as I feared. Ethan doesn’t leave my side, always makes sure to include me in conversation, and moves us along before I even have time to get bored. I’m too nervous to eat, picking at my food which is good, because the chicken is dry and the salad wilted. Instead, I’m caught up in Ethan discussing a recent high court decision and why he didn’t agree with the interpretation. The whole table is looking at him, the women are enraptured, the men with equal parts respect and envy. Then he catches me by surprise, as soon as he’s done making his point he’s pulling me up with him. He excuses us by saying we had yet to dance before we left.
“Ethan, I’ve never danced like this before.” I mumble as I follow him to the dance floor.
Wrapping an arm around me, he takes me into his arms. “Just follow my lead, it’s like when we make love, all that matters is we move to the rhythm that works for us.”
My stomach somersaults when he says make love. I’ve never heard him use those words before. The dance goes by too fast, then not fast enough. He feels it, too, and begins moving us off the dance floor. We’re at the edge of the floor when we encounter the only female partner from his firm.
“Ethan, Holly, isn’t it?” The woman at her side is a stunning blonde. I nod dumbly. “I’m glad to see you both here. Leaving so soon?”
Although he stiffens beside me, Ethan is pleasant. “We are. We’ve enjoyed ourselves and made the rounds. Now, we’re ready to go home. Holly and I aren’t ones for late nights.”
The stunning blonde nods. “Thank you, it’s bad enough we woman have to stuff ourselves into these too-tight dresses while navigating in ridiculous shoes. The least our partners can do is keep the night relatively short. It’s one thing to stay up late in our cozy pajamas, and another in four-inch Gucci heels. You two have a good night.”
“You, too, Susan. Karen, I’ll see you on Monday.” With a short stop at our table to get my tiny handbag, only big enough to hold lipstick and refreshing powder, Ethan guides us out of the room. He pulls out his phone to let Ricky know we’re on our way out.
Opening the door, the heat of a sultry summer night hits us. There are still photographers hanging around the entrance as we step to the curb to wait for Ricky. Out of nowhere, a harsh laugh comes from close by. A rather large man is only a few feet away.
“Hey, Bishop, I didn’t know you were a chubby chaser. I guess it’s more cushion for the pushing. When you’re done with this one, I got a sister for ya, she’s built like a Buick. I think you can take her.”
I’ve heard the insults for so long they no longer mean anything to me. Ethan hasn’t, and the anger coming from him scares me. I don’t even see him move, everything happens in a blur. Holy shit, is he growling? Once, then twice he swings, connecting with the man’s nose, sending blood everywhere as the man goes down with the first blow. Grabbing the man by the neck Ethan shakes him hard. “The size of a woman’s dress has nothing to do with her beauty, you hypocritical fuck. You ever speak to her, or me again, and you’ll walk with a limp the rest of your life.”
Ricky is pulling Ethan away from the man as flashes go off, lighting up the night. Ethan pushes me into the car then slides in beside me, still trembling with rage as the car screeches off. “Oh, my god, Ethan! How could you do that? What’s going to happen to you? You could be disbarred! Why in the world did you let him get to you?”
I don’t even realize I’m crying until Ethan pulls me into his arms. “Fuck, Holly, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anyone talk to you like that. You’re a beautiful woman, my woman and no one fucking messes with what’s mine. I don’t give a fuck what the fallout is. All that matters to me is you. Besides, the fucker works for the Trib, he won’t press charges, if he does, he’ll never get another picture. He deserved it and I’d do it again.”
He couldn’t mean it, except the fierce hold tells me he does. A dam bursts inside me, causing me to sob uncontrollably. This man, so beautiful he still takes my breath away, brilliant, sophisticated, a man who could and has had any woman he wanted, was willing to throw away a career that meant everything to him before I met him—for me. Amelia was right.
Finally, the tears are coming to a slow trickle. I’m on our bed with no memory of how I got here. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I can’t stop crying.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand. You deserve a better man than I am. When you realized I love you, and you aren’t going any fucking where, forever, tears seem about right.”
Oh, my god, I was so sure there weren’t any more tears but they start again. “I love you, too! I don’t want to go anywhere, ever. Even though I deserve a better man, I don’t want him, I want you.”
He laughs, rolling me under him. “No more tears, sweetheart. They make my fucking chest hurt.”
His words stop my tears immediately. I trace his lips with my thumb, “Please, Ethan, please tell me again.”
Pulling out his pocket square, he wipes my tears away. “I love you, Holly. I tried to tell myself it was just lust that it would fade, only I knew I was lying. What I feel for you hasn’t faded. Every single day it grows stronger, deeper, under my skin, into my soul, you’re there until it doesn’t feel like I ever really lived until you. I was functioning, going day by day, and I believed I was happy, but it was empty. You came along and filled me full, you brought light into me. I can’t let that go.
“Whatever it takes to make you happy, I’ll do it.” He leans over into the bedside table, holy fucking shit, it’s a little box. “I’ve thought of how to do this, but nothing seemed right. I know this is shitty of me, but I was so disappointed you weren’t pregnant, because I knew there was nothing to tie you to me. I’m not proud about it, but I was too much of a pussy to actually say the words. I was sure you would use them against me. Then I realized it was cop out, you wouldn’t do it, and if you did you had every right. If I love you, then I need to make sure I’m doing everything to keep you happy and mine. Also, for a little bit there, I really got used to the idea of a baby girl with your smile. That was something I never thought I wanted until you. I’m not going to be the greatest father, but it doesn’t worry me, because I know you’ll be an amazing mother. You tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
I throw my arms around him as I fight back tears. How the hell did the ring get on my finger? Wow! It’s a huge emerald-cut diamond in platinum, simply elegant, and even though I never would have picked it, I love it. “All you have to do is love me and I’m happy. I don’t want to hear you sell yourself short, you are going to be a great father. You’re going to teach our kids to stand up for themselves, not to take crap from anyone, you’ll be the one to outsmart them when they try to get something over on us. I’m also very sure with a father like you, our daughter will have the most self-confidence of any girl her age.”
“I don’t promise not to be scared shitless until the baby is here and you’re both safe, but it will be my worry not yours. Along those lines, even though I really would like to have kids as soon as possible, I don’t want to do it until you’ve completed your Bachelor’s. It’s important to me you’re protected always, and even though the idea of us... fuck I don’t even want to think about it... but no matter what, no one can take your degree away.”
I hug him tighter. “And that’s exactly why I love you. The way you make sure everyone is taken care of, no matter what. I’ll do it, and since I can take summer courses, it won’t take nearly as long. If I keep on top of it I can finish in just three years.”
“Sounds like a plan. Do you think you can plan our wedding in three months? I really want a quickie wedding, but that won’t do for you, or expectations. It will need to big, don’t worry though, money talks, and it will get things done.”
Even though I wrinkle my nose at a big wedding, I don’t bother arguing. “Yes, lord and master Bishop. Whatever you say.
“I say I need you now.”
“Then take me. I’m all yours.” I whisper against his mouth.
Nimble fingers make quicker work taking the dress off than I did putting it on. When he pulls the dress from me, he finds I’m only in a black silk thong, the dress came with support built in. “Beautiful, the moment I saw you I wanted you. It shocked the shit out of me. You were nothing like what I wanted before. Then the first night I had you, it was then I realized you were everything I’ve needed.”
Head back, I’m barely able to form the words as his mouth teases and sucks my breasts the way he knows I like. “I kind of stupidly fell in love with you somewhere in the first week. I dreamed of you, my fingers itched just to touch you.”
My honesty is rewarded by a kiss that is deep, drugging, and soul touching, leaving me limp. “I know. When I looked at the contract, I knew everything. There was no way you’d have the guts to not only have it created, but offer it to me, if you didn’t. I’ll also admit, that day I would have taken you without it. My cock was going crazy for you, every time I told you no, my cock wept for you.”
“Ethan, now please, now. I need you inside me.” I’m frantic now, tearing at his pants.
“Slow down, sweetheart. I want this night to be right.”
“We have all night and hundreds of nights after this one. What’s right now is you inside me. Please, I’m about to combust.” I manage to free his thick cock and open myself to him. Body trembling, he drives into me without another word, his mouth captures mine again. Stroke after stroke pushes me towards the edge, his tongue mimicking his fierce pounding my senses are flooded with Ethan; nothing exists beyond him against me, inside me. Close, so close, I wrap my legs around his waist, bringing him deeper into me. Four, then five strokes, and an explosion of fireworks wrack my body. Still, Ethan moves inside me, faster now, finding his own orgasm as my body still shudders with mine.
Long after he collapses on me then rolls to his side, taking me with him, my body shivers with pleasure only Ethan can give me.