Ethan

You would think my heart would have frozen at the sight of my best friend seeing his daughter at my house in nothing but a tiny robe. But, no. My heart stopped at the fact that my woman was standing in front of another person in a tiny, fucking pink robe!

I turned her around and urged her back towards our bedroom. “Go change, baby girl. I need to talk to your dad.” I deliberately ignored Samuel, who was sputtering on the front porch.

Lilah resisted the movement a little, looking at me over her shoulder with a stubborn glint in her eye. “But I—”

“Clothes first, Lilah,” I interrupted her argument, infusing my tone with steel. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, but flipped her head around and marched away.

“Ethan!” Samuel roared as he barreled inside. I stepped out of the way before he crashed into me. There was murder in his eyes, and I could practically see the steam blowing from his ears.

I gestured down the entry hallway to where my den was located, indicating he should go first. He glared as he stomped past me and I trailed after him. I was willing to admit it, I felt somewhat nervous, but I would be unbending in my resolve to keep Lilah.

We’d barely crossed the threshold before Samuel spun around and started shouting. “You bastard! Of all people, I would never have suspected this from you.” His chest was heaving and his face had become splotchy and red, but his voice lowered slightly. “She’s my little girl and what she’s gone through . . . You took advantage of a grieving child, Ethan,” he said sadly.

I had intended to let him say his piece, to hear him out before reasoning with him. I felt I owed him that. But, I couldn’t keep quiet when he spewed an accusation like that.

“She’s a grown woman, Samuel. And, I’ve never looked at her and seen anything but that. You need to get that through your head and stop seeing her as a kid. I know you lost out on her childhood, but it’s gone and the best thing for all of us is to look to the future.”

“A future with you?” he spat. “You’re seventeen fucking years older than her! She isn’t ready for the life you want.”

“I think that should be my decision, don’t you?” Lilah stood calmly in the doorway, thankfully dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

“Sweetheart, you’re too young to be getting married and settling down,” he pleaded. Then he threw me a disgusted scowl. “You should be going to college, dating, at least being with someone your own age.”

A growl rumbled in my chest when he talked about her dating. “Over my dead body.”

“Dad, you need to listen to me,” Lilah said gently, walking over to Samuel and taking his hand. “We haven’t had much time to really get to know each other, but I need you to trust that I am old enough to know what I want. College was never something I aspired to. I want a home and a family, and while there are other things I’ll pursue, they will always be my top priority.”

“Lilah,” he sighed. “At least come home with me and take some time to think things over.”

“My fiancée and baby,” I stressed, as I walked up behind her, “aren’t going anywhere.”

Lilah whirled in my direction. “I wasn’t ready to tell him that, Ethan!” she snapped. I just shrugged. I was tired of hiding things, and I’d only spoke the truth.

“You’re pregnant?” Samuel breathed in shock.

She turned back and shuffled her feet awkwardly. “Um, a little bit, yeah,” she said tentatively. I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Right, like being a little bit dead.” For my comment, I received a sharp elbow jab in my ribs.

Samuel’s gaze was bouncing back and forth between Lilah and I. Finally, his shoulders slumped and he took both of Lilah’s hands in his. “I want you to be happy, sweetheart. I don’t agree with your choice, but I’m here for you no matter what.” Eyes dropping to her stomach, his face softened. “And, my grand-baby.”

He let go of her and pointed a finger directly at me. “You and I are done. But if you put one toe out of line, if I feel for even one second that you aren’t treating her right, there is nowhere you can hide that I won’t find you and put your ass in the ground. Got it?”

I nodded, slipped an arm around Lilah’s waist, and pulled her into my side. I knew there was nothing I could say at the moment that would make a difference. This hadn’t gone as I’d wanted, but there was a spark of hope that he would come around and we could salvage our friendship.

“Dad—” Lilah started as tears spilled from her eyes, but he held up a hand to stop her.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek, before stepping back and away from us. “Come and see me soon, sweetheart. I love you.” Looking at me once more, he lifted his chin, indicating he wanted a private moment in the hall.

I kissed Lilah on the top of her head and whispered, “Give us just a minute, baby girl.” Samuel’s face reddened at the use of my nickname for her and he streamed out into the hall. Yeah, that might not have been the best time to use it. Again, though, I was done tiptoeing around my relationship with Lilah.

“Why?” Lilah asked suspiciously. “I don’t want you two to fight anymore.”

“We won’t, Lilah. It’s business related.” I kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose. “Why don’t you go and get a snack?”

“Promise you won’t fight,” she demanded.

I laughed and her brows furrowed, clearly miffed at my amusement. “You’re so fucking adorable when you try to order me around, baby girl.” She grumbled something under her breath, making me smile even wider. “I promise.” My agreement cooled her ire, and she nodded before traipsing off to the kitchen.

I joined Samuel in the hall where he was pacing. He stopped when he saw me and folded his arms over his chest, staring at me darkly. “I actually stopped by to tell you that Marcus will be here tomorrow. I’d called him about changing my will the day after Lilah arrived anyway, so I simply told him there was an urgency that I’d explain when he arrived. I know you’ve been digging into him, so bring anything you’ve found to the meeting.”

I mirrored his stance, though I kept my expression neutral. “Text me the time and place.”

Samuel nodded and headed for the front door. I held it open silently, watching him step outside and wishing there was something I could say—wait. There was something. “Samuel.” He paused. “I love her. She’s my Bonnie.”

His head whipped around and he looked stunned. Then confused. “I don’t know how to digest that, Ethan,” he mumbled. “It’s a lot to take in.” He held out his hand, and a trickle of relief floated through my veins as we shook. At least it was something.

After he was gone, I shut the door and turned to look for Lilah. I didn’t have to go far. She was standing right behind me, her face masked with the same shell-shocked expression Samuel had been wearing.

“Were you telling him the truth?” she rasped.

I prowled over so I was standing practically toe to toe with her and cupped her face in my hands. “It just hit me that I haven’t told you, baby girl. I’m so sorry, those words should have been for you first.” I kissed her lips softly.

“You love me?” she parroted.

“More than anything.” I slid my hands down, over her tits, down her flat belly, around her waist, and they landed on her ass. Gripping her cheeks, I hoisted her up so her legs came around my hips, and she grabbed onto my biceps. “I love you and our little one more than words could ever say,” I whispered before sealing my mouth over hers.

Our kisses were drugging and I was addicted, I knew I would never get enough of her taste. I stumbled around for a moment before finding a wall to press her back against and ground my erection into the juncture between her legs.

She tore her lips away and I growled in protest, seeking them out again. “I love you too.” I stopped and lifted my hooded gaze so our eyes met. Her crystal blue pools were overflowing with emotion and it spread warmth throughout my body. Since I was already on fire for her, it blew my desire up by epic proportions.

I dropped her to the ground and fell to my knees. Making quick work of her button and zipper, I had her bare from the waist down in seconds. With lust controlling my mind, I spread her legs and dove in to lick between the folds of her pussy. She was wet, so fucking wet. I latched on to her clit and sucked hard while plunging two fingers inside her. A few thrusts and she was screaming my name. I kept at it, holding her tight when her knees buckled.

She was practically tearing my hair out with her grip, and it was sexy as fuck. I surged to my feet, whipped out my cock, lifted her and yanked her down as I pumped up. She cried out, and I felt my eyes roll back in pure bliss.

“Fuck! You are so damn tight every time, baby girl. But you’re drenched and I slide right in. Yes! Take it, Lilah.” I braced her securely against the wall and drove in, over and over.

“Ethan! Oh yes, I’m—oh! Yes!”

I fucking loved it when she got loud.

“I’m going to—”

I halted abruptly, though it took everything in me to do so. “What’s the rule, Lilah?” I snarled.

“I can’t hold it back, Ethan!” she whimpered.

“You will,” I commanded, then resumed fucking her, hard and fast.

“Please, please, please.” She was chanting, writhing with the effort to hold back.

My balls tightened and drew up, a tingling spreading from the base of my spine. “Together, baby girl,” I grated. A few seconds more, and I roared, “Now!”

Color and sensation burst in front of my eyes. Shudders of pleasure wracked through my body, and I could feel the same tremble from Lilah. The walls could have come tumbling down and neither of us would have noticed.

“I love you so damn much,” I whispered when I was finally steady on my feet.

“I love you too, Ethan.”