Chapter Five
Christine tapped her foot nervously on the hardwood floor while Keira put the finishing touches on her makeup.
“Will you stop that? You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry, I can’t help it.”
Keira growled in frustration. "Just keep still, woman." She ran a brush over Christine's lips and stepped back. "My masterpiece is complete!"
Christine turned around to look at herself in the mirror and let out a gasp. Was this really her? “Thanks, Keira, this is perfect." She would never have been able to make herself look this good. The only thing she knew how to do was apply lip gloss.
“I know it is. And you missy look absolutely stunning in that dress. Your date just might have a heart attack.”
“I hope not,” Christine murmured. She blew out a breath, “I think I have to pee again. I’m so nervous.”
Keira rolled her eyes. “Don’t be, everything will work out just fine. I’m just glad you’re finally getting back into the game after Justin.” Her voice dripped with contempt when she mentioned Christine’s ex.
“Okay, let’s not even go there. That subject is a total mood killer. So what do you think I should do with my hair? Up or down?”
“Hmm, up will go better with the dress and jewelry. You are just exuding sexy elegance right now.” Keira proceeded to brush her hair into a stylish updo.
Christine glanced at the time nervously. “Oh my God! He’ll be here any minute. I think I’m going to have a panic attack.”
Keira picked up Christine’s clutch purse and shoved it in her hand. Pushing her out into the living room, she ordered, “Just sit here and wait.”
But she didn’t sit for long. As soon as she took her seat, her cell rang.
“Hello?” She said, her voice sounding as if it didn’t belong to her.
“I’m outside.” The deep baritone voice made her heart jump.
“I’ll be right down” she answered. She took a deep breath and marched to the door. “Well, here I go.”
“I won’t bother to wait up,” Keira said with a grin.
Christine stepped outside and drew in a breath when Ethan unfolded himself from his car. He looked as handsome as ever in casual wear. She tried to stabilize her breathing as he walked toward her.
“Good evening, Mr. Blackwood.”
He smiled, his eyes moving hungrily over her. “You can call me Ethan, Christine.”
She swallowed, “Ethan.”
“You are gorgeous, as always.” Her brows shot up. “Yes, always. I have been watching you,” he said answering her silent question. She ducked her head, in an attempt to hide her blush. He opened her door and she slid into the car.
“Oh my God, this is really happening,” she whispered, watching him through the window as he walked around to the driver’s side. The vehicle felt much smaller with his large presence.
Sensing her tension, he glanced at her with a wicked grin. “You can relax, Christine. I don’t bite… all the time.” Her eyes widened slightly and she shivered. Something feral and carnal reflected in his gaze. She gulped as he drove off.
***
Christine lifted her wine glass to her lips and took a long drink. She was going out of her mind with the way Ethan stared at her. Every smoldering gaze he gave reduced her to a quivering mass of yearning. “Are you always this intense?” She asked.
He grinned sexily and shrugged. “I have been told that I am.”
She looked down and tried to focus on her meal, trying not to feel out of place in the ridiculously expensive restaurant. “So, what are we really doing here, Ethan?”
He cocked a brow, “Eating.”
Blushing, she said, “I mean why did you ask me out? What’s going to happen after this?”
“I like you and to be honest... I was hoping I could get you into bed to finish what we started in my office earlier.”
Christine gawked at him. He sure was straightforward. In a moment of insane and unusual bravado, she whispered, “Well, then why are we still here?” The words left her lips before her mind registered what she was saying.
Ethan blinked. He obviously wasn’t expecting such a response from her. Quickly recovering, he stood up and extended a hand. “Alright then. Let’s go, Christine.”
She studied his outstretched hand for a few second before placing hers in his. They walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. Christine stole glances at him, wondering if she should go through with spending the night with him. I’m doing it. It would probably be her only chance to do something impulsive and have a bit of fun.
***
The drive to Ethan’s place was quiet. The sexual tension between them surged through the atmosphere. He sent her heated glances every now and then and had to silently remind himself to stay focused on the road. His Wolf moved beneath his skin, the anticipation to claim his mate mounting. Turning into the underground parking lot of his penthouse apartment, he jumped out of the car and opened her door.
Ethan led her into the elevator and immediately pulled Christine to him, unable to wait much longer. His mouth devoured hers, the passion between them flaring. The elevator came to a stop, forcing him to lift his head. He led her to his door and he fished in his pocket for his keys.
Feeling brave, most likely because of the wine she had consumed, Christine stood on the tip of her toes to trail kisses along his jaw and his neck. She could hear his sharp intake of breath as he struggled to open the door. Finally inside, he pushed the door closed and leaned toward her. "Let's not waste any more time.” Lifting her to him, she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Ethan took long strides to the bedroom and put her down. He unzipped her dress and watched it fall to the floor, leaving her in scraps of lace. In an instinctive motion, her hands lifted to cover herself but he grasped her wrists. “Let me look at you.” He removed her bra and moved on to slowly roll her panties down her thighs.
Christine’s breathing pattern increased and nervousness started to seep in. She was beginning to think that she couldn’t go through with it after all. “Um, Ethan…”
Sensing her apprehension, he stood up to meet her gaze, “It’s okay, we’ll go slowly and I will stop if you want me to.”
She nodded and watched in amazement as he removed his shirt and stepped out of his pants. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his sheer perfection. “Wow, you’re beautiful,” she whispered. A blush spread across her cheeks, realizing that she uttered the words aloud.
He grinned, “So are you.”
She almost protested but he found her hand and pulled her toward him. Her naked body pressed against his felt natural. She found herself relaxing. His head dipped to graze his lips across hers lightly, teasingly, while gently pushing her backward until the back of her knees hit the mattress. She fell back with a startled shriek and propped herself up on her elbows. Her eyes widened when Ethan kneeled before her and began to kiss his way down her abdomen, getting dangerously near to her mound.
“Ethan, what are you- oh my,” she gasped as his tongue flicked across her sensitive bud. He grasped her thighs, pulling her closer to the edge of the bed. Christine kept her eyes tightly shut. She was half embarrassed by what he was doing but enjoying the shockwaves of pleasure that darted through her. Her back arched as he brought her to the peak of ecstasy. Before she could recover, he loomed over her, his hardened length hovering at her entrance.
“You’re mine,” he said softly.
Christine stared into his eyes, slightly confused by the possessive look he gave her. He didn’t give her much time to think about it as he entered her in a swift motion. A moan escaped her lips and her nails dug into his arms. He set a steady rhythm, moving with slow strokes.
“Tell me you’re mine." He clenched his jaw, trying to maintain his self-control as his Wolf threatened to emerge.
“Yes.”
“Say it,” he commanded.
“I’m yours.” Her pulse rate sped up. For reasons unknown to her, she suddenly felt like she really was his.
The pace of his hips increased, bringing her to the edge once more. She cried out his name while wrapping her arms around his neck, wanting him closer. But much to his horror, Ethan’s fangs erupted and his eyes transformed. He ducked his head into her shoulder so that she wouldn’t witness the frightening changes in him.
She let out a cry as her body shuddered beneath his. With a few more thrusts he found his release. Fully human again, he let out a long groan and collapsed beside her, pulling her to him. Their heavy breathing filled the otherwise silent room.
“That was incredible,” Christine breathed.
With a smile, Ethan agreed. “It most certainly was. I’m hoping we will do it again soon.”
She lifted her head to peer at him. Searching his face, she asked, “So you are seriously interested in me?”
His brows furrowed. “I wouldn’t be in bed with you now if I wasn’t.”
“Oh, I just thought you and Nancy were involved.”
He let out a laugh. “Why the hell would you think that?”
"She said... Never mind. I guess I jumped to conclusions." She placed her head on his shoulder, wearing a small smile. The thought of seeing Ethan more often, outside of the office was rather nice.
He reached a hand down to grasp her chin, lifting her head so that she looked at him. "I want more than a one-night stand, Christine. You might find it strange since we know nothing about each other, but that’s the way I feel.”
She gaped at him, speechless. Swallowing, she continued, "Well, since I'm not a one-night-stand kind of girl that is perfectly fine with me." Her lips stretched into a smile, noting the pleased look on his face. Her smile quickly turned into a frown.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan inquired.
“I’ll have to quit my job. I can’t work for you if we’re… you know.”
“I don’t give a damn.”
“Of course you can say that, you’re the boss. No one will give you the side eye when you walk into the office.”
He sighed, “If it makes you feel any better, we can keep things a secret for now. Don’t leave your job.”
She let out a breath. Good, because I really need it, she mused. “Hmm, a secret office romance, how thrilling,” she murmured. “Okay, we’ll keep it a secret.”
Ethan wrapped his arms around her tighter. A tinge of worry settled in the back of his mind. He was well aware that he was moving too fast. But he couldn’t resist the powerful need he had of the woman in his arms. He was treading dangerous ground. She had no idea what he really was. Would he ever be able to tell her? He might just lose her if he did.