Chapter 4
Ana slipped into the room just ahead of Ethan and rushed past the two queen beds, through the dressing and bathroom area into the living space.
She grabbed a plastic container from the fridge, snatched up a fork, and hopped up on the counter by the small sink.
Her heart thumped, and chills broke out on her skin as Ethan strode into the room. He didn’t look at her, but walked straight to the huge slider and pulled it open. He stayed there, hands hanging loose at his sides as he focused on something outside.
What was he thinking? If he dared to change his mind now, she might just push him off that railing outside the sliding door. Ana wasn’t up for another rejection. But she had an idea of how to regain his attention. After popping open the plastic lid, she dug her fork into the rich pie that just happened to be Ethan’s favorite.
He spun around. “What are you doing?”
“Eating.” She shrugged, trying to appear casual. “I got hungry.”
He stalked toward her. “Is that key lime pie?”
Ha, she had him now. “What, this?” She stuck the fork in, gathering a creamy piece along with a bit of whipped cream and crust, and held it up between them. “Why yes, it is. I always heard Florida has the best, so I thought I’d try it.”
“Right now? While I was standing there at the window, trying to keep from ripping off your suit and fucking you blind, telling myself to slow down because you haven’t had sex in a couple years and might need a little tenderness…you got hungry?”
Did he just growl that last part? The realization that she hadn’t lost his attention, but rather he’d been struggling for some control, sent a wave of triumph through her. And affection that he’d thought he had to slow things because of her dry spell.
“Yep.” She slid the small chunk into her mouth. It really was excellent pie.
His eyes heated to pure blue, like the center of a gas flame. He slapped his hands on the counter, bracketing her hips. “Are you going to share?”
“Nope.” She scooped up another bite and got it halfway up, when he caught her wrist and tugged it to his mouth.
Damn he moved fast. Before she could recover, his lips closed over the forkful. A low sound of pleasure vibrated in his throat.
Ana couldn’t tear her gaze from him as he slowly savored the morsel. Heat radiated from the pit of her belly. “That was mine.”
He dipped his finger into the whipped topping and spread cool, sweet cream over her mouth. “And this is mine.” He swiped his tongue over her lips, lapping the treat.
The warm, wet licks sucked the air from her lungs.
Ethan tangled his fingers in her hair, holding her still as he cleaned off the whipped topping with an intensity that shivered through her. Not enough, it wasn’t nearly enough. After dropping the pie on the counter, she sank her fingers into his thick hair and darted her tongue out to meet his.
Ethan groaned and deepened the kiss. Sliding his hand to her jaw, he tilted her head back and demanded she give him full access to her mouth. Wild need surged, and she couldn’t get enough of his taste or the feel of his skin still hot from the sun.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, almost climbing up him.
His chest heaving, Ethan gripped her sides, pushing her back onto the counter. Breaking the kiss, he glared down at her. “No you don’t. You’re done teasing. I’m barely holding on to any restraint. We’re doing this slow.”
“I don’t want slow.” She wanted to just lose control and wipe out her ability to think or worry.
“Tough.” He settled his hands on her bare thighs and skimmed his palms up. “I’ll give you what you want if you tell me you’re sorry for teasing and promise to be good.”
The bastard was goading her. Paying her back. Given his massive hard-on, she knew she could push him over the edge of control. Reaching behind her back, she released her strap and yanked her top off.
Her freed breasts tingled from the cool air and Ethan’s heated stare.
“Or, I could do this.” She sank a finger into more of the whipped cream. She’d never done this kind of thing. But now? She had nothing to lose and could be as bad as she wanted. There were no emotional consequences. It didn’t matter if he secretly thought she was asking for it. Hell she was begging for it.
And it was amazingly freeing.
Ana painted the dollop of cream over her nipple, making it pebble and her belly tighten.
Ethan grabbed her hand and closed his mouth over her finger to lick it clean. A second later he had both wrists pinned behind her hips, forcing her into an arch. “You’re so going to be pay for that. I’m going to make you beg me to fuck you.”
The helpless feel of his fingers locked around her wrists caused an excited rush straight to her core. She squirmed as her entire body pulsed with anticipation. She’d never been this needy before. But Ana loved it.
Ethan latched on to her nipple and sucked, his tongue lashing the sensitive tip.
Ana bowed at the sensation, struggling to free her hands. But it was useless, he was too strong. That thought made her clit swell and ache. She squeezed her thighs around him, desperate for relief.
After releasing her nipple, Ethan took her mouth, tangling their tongues in a frantic dance. His free hand clamped on her hip, dragging her to his hard cock and rocking against her.
“Let go.” She wiggled, attempting to free her hands so she could touch him. Maybe push those boardshorts down and—
His dark chuckle sent shivers along her spine. “Nope. Not unless you really want me to release you, and we both know you don’t.” A smile curved his mouth, and his tone gentled. “You’re beautiful, Ana. You always were, but like this? Hair wild, your skin glowing from the sun and desire. Nipples wet and puckered from my mouth…”
The tenderness in his voice breeched her defenses, causing something thick and scary to grip her throat. His gaze on her was too much. Too intimate. She tried to twist out of his hold. “Ethan.”
Catching her chin, he kissed her then said, “Are you going to be good? Let me take you slowly? Lay you down, pull off those bottoms and make you come? As many times as it takes, to get you ready for my cock?”
A voice in her head tried to tell her to say yes. Stop this wildness. But she didn’t want to back down. She wanted to drive them both higher. “Not a chance. If you can’t handle it, then you know where the door is.”
His fingers tightened around her wrists. “Bad Ana.” Kissing a path along her jaw, he said, “Ask me to fuck you.” He slicked his tongue along the shell of her ear. “Nicely.”
Who knew Ethan could be so evil? She liked it. But she wasn’t surrendering that easily. Instead she sank her teeth into his shoulder.
When he jerked, she laughed. “I don’t surrend—” Before she could finish, his mouth was on hers, fierce, demanding.
She dropped her head back as he licked down the curve of her neck.
A noise echoed in the room. With her heart slamming in her chest, her body humming and needy, Ana struggled to focus. “What’s that?”
“My phone. I have to check it. I’m technically on duty.” Letting go of her hands, he strode to the table, snatched up the device and read something. “I need to go back.”
The cold air chilled her overheated skin. Ana slid off the counter, found her top and retied it. Disappointment weighed her down. “Okay.” What else could she say? Work came first. Looking around the room, she realized she hadn’t planned this very well anyway. Franci and Chelle could return at any time.
“Ana.”
He stood right in front of her. She’d been so fixated on the thoughts, she hadn’t heard him move. Steeling her spine, she got over her frustration and smiled. “Operation Kiss 2.0 is thwarted again. Some things just aren’t meant to be.”
“It doesn’t have to be over.” He leaned closer. “I’m not ready to call it quits. Come with me.”
“With you? Where? To the venue?”
“Back to where I’m staying at Bayside Manor. Come to the show with me tonight. I’ll get you VIP tickets again, and then after the show, we’ll go back to the manor. Spend the night with me.” He laid his hand on her cheek. “We’ll have more privacy in my room there. And more time to explore this need of yours to be my bad Ana.”
The enormity of the invitation left her spinning. He was giving her more than she’d even hoped for. They’d actually spend real time together.
But was this smart? What if she couldn’t really handle having sex and sleeping with him?
Really? Ethan’s giving you what you wanted, and now you’re getting cold feet? What did she think would be better? Have sex, then him walk out? That wasn’t what she wanted either. Yeah, she accepted that they weren’t going to have a future romantically. But if she truly wanted to be bad with Ethan and make some memories for both of them, why not take this opportunity and enjoy it to the fullest?
She could do this, and more importantly, she wanted to. Ethan was making a sincere effort for her.
“I’d like that.” The logistics of the plan took shape in her mind. “I need to tell Franci and Chelle where I am. Are you sure it’s okay if I stay? Is it a hotel?”
“Private manor we rented. Let me check with Hank, but I’m pretty sure Franci and Chelle can stay at the manor too. That way you won’t be alone at the concert, and you’ll have more fun with them around.”
A million thoughts skidded through her head, but one stood out. “I’m not sure we can afford the cost. The tickets, the rooms at the manor…maybe we should just—”
“There’s no cost. I can get you the tickets free, and the manor’s already rented.” He leaned down, brushing his mouth over hers. Raising his head, he said, “Say yes. The place is huge, right on the bay with a boat and watercrafts. There’s a big home theater, a game room, walking trails, you guys will love it. You don’t have to rush back here. We can have some fun.”
The fact that he actually desired to spend time with her stirred something that had gone cold and sad the day she’d sat alone in her doctor’s office, waiting to hear whether or not she was sick. For the first time in a while, Ana felt wanted.
But it was only temporary. She couldn’t forget that as she had no intention of getting her heart broken.
Again.
* * * *
She hadn’t been sure what to bring, but finally she and Ethan were out the door and heading down in the elevator. Franci and Chelle had returned right after she texted them, and they’d all been running around the room, changing and packing. The two girls would drive the rental car to the manor once they were all set to go.
Ethan’s voice cut in to her thoughts. “Is it always like that?”
She glanced over at him. “What?”
“That…chaos?”
Chuckling, she said, “Three women trying to pack and get ready in one contained space? Yep, that’s usually how it goes. I’m guessing you don’t have any sisters?”
“Nope.”
Ana peered at him as the elevator stopped and opened to a courtyard. “Do you have any siblings?” All he’d ever told her was that before Sloane found him, he’d run away from home, lived on the streets and sometimes did underground fighting to survive. But he’d shut her down if she asked anything else.
“No.” He laid his hand on her back as they walked, hauling her suitcase behind him.
There he was, quiet Ethan. She could feel the second he pulled away from her. When he withdrew like that, it burned. Worse, she could sense the pain that he held onto with an iron fist. It tugged at her need to fix things.
Despite his hard jaw and straight-ahead stare, she asked softly, “What happened to—?”
“Ana!” a male voice called out.
Surprised and confused, she spotted a dark-haired man dressed in tan slacks and a polo shirt striding up to them. He shot a quick look at Ethan then settled his brown eyes on her.
It was so unexpected, it took Ana a second to place who he was. It clicked finally, and despite the slightly humid air, goose bumps rose on her arms. “Gregory? What are you doing here?” She barely knew him, and she really wanted to keep it that way.
A grin tilted his mouth. “I’m as surprised as you are. In fact I wasn’t even sure it was you when I called out your name. I’m here on a business trip and staying at the Guy Harvey Outpost. What are you doing here?”
Business trip? And why was he practically bouncing on his toes like a two-year-old waiting for a cupcake?
Because he was waiting for you.
Ana rubbed her arms, suddenly cold despite the blazing sun. What were the chances that the man she’d been trying to avoid for the last two weeks had shown up in another state the exact same time she did?
“You knew I was coming here. You were in the bakery the day I booked the flight.” She remembered it because Gregory had overheard her on the phone and commented on her trip. You can use the plane ride to Florida to read my book.
Gregory waved a hand. “Oh, right, you’re on vacation. Actually that’s a lucky break then. You’ll have time to discuss my mom’s book and a contract to write your dad’s biography. Why don’t we meet for drinks and—?”
“Ana doesn’t have time. She’s with me.”
She stiffened at Ethan’s ice-cold voice. Shooting him a glare, she said, “Quiet.” It was bad enough she hadn’t handled things with Gregory as well as she should have. Okay, she’d been avoiding the problem. But she didn’t need Ethan taking over. She’d fix it.
“Who are you?” Gregory asked.
“Her date.”
Gregory eyed the suitcase, then shifted to Ethan. “Ana and I are friends, and we’re working together on a project.” He returned his focus to her. “You’ve read the book, right? And my proposal? We should get started right away on your dad’s story. I know I can get a big publisher to pay attention to a story about Roger Kendall, the home run king.”
Unbelievable. It was like Gregory had rewritten reality into a version he liked. Time for her to be absolutely clear. “We’re not working together. I told you no, and I meant it. I’m not going to read the book you wrote or hire you to write my dad’s biography.” She didn’t know how to be more specific than that.
He stopped bouncing. “But you said you would. This is my big chance. Publishers wouldn’t even read my mom’s biography, but they’ll fight for your dad’s. This will get me in the door. You have to—”
“Stop.” She’d had enough. “The answer is no. It’s not changing, and you need to leave me alone. Don’t email, call, text or wait for me in the bakery.” Frustrated, ticked and a little frightened that Gregory had actually arranged to show up where she was on vacation, she stomped away.
“Listen to her, or you’re dealing with me,” Ethan added.
Ana struggled to calm down and think. She’d talked to Gregory twice before he sent her his book through email. That was the moment she’d realized that he’d mistaken her casual chatter as something more. She’d told him she wasn’t interested and avoided him after that. Ignoring him hadn’t worked, so what should she do next? Should she call her dad’s lawyer that had helped Ana and Linda settle his estate? Absolutely, she’d do that today. What about notifying the police? But Gregory hadn’t made any threat, so…
“Who is that?”
Ethan’s sharp question slowed her spinning thoughts. “Gregory Yates. He calls himself a sports biographer, but I think the only thing he’s written is a book on his mother, who was a professional tennis player before he was born.”
“So this guy’s been bugging you, and you didn’t say anything? What the hell, Ana?”
Like she wasn’t concerned enough? Yeah she’d seen that Gregory continued to hang around the bakery, trying to talk to her. But Ana had been sidetracked and a tad more worried about the lump in her breast than a customer who didn’t understand boundaries. She didn’t need Ethan in her face about it now.
She walked faster, her irritation ramping up. “Why would I tell you? And what was that back there with you acting all caveman proprietary? ‘She’s my date. She’s with me.’ You don’t get to lay some claim on me when it’s convenient but ignore me when I need…” Her eyes started to sting. Shut up. Just shut up. He hadn’t even known, so she didn’t get to lay that on him.
And jeez, get over it already. She’d had a little scare. Big fucking deal. People out there had real problems. Right now, she needed to focus on her more pressing issue of Gregory, not her self-pity because she’d faced a tiny ordeal alone.
“That wasn’t a coincidence back there,” Ethan nearly shouted back. “He was waiting for you to walk by. I saw him before he called out to you. He was watching, Ana. Are you hearing me?”
She’d already figured that out for herself, but he didn’t give her a chance to answer.
“A man followed you from San Diego to Florida, and I’m supposed to stand there and let him believe you’re unprotected? I don’t think so. I need to figure out if he’s dangerous. Hell, what am I saying, he fucking followed you. He’s a stalker. Jesus, how did you get involved with him?”
“I didn’t get involved. I talked to him in the bakery because he looked lonely. His mom died, my dad had died, and we talked about it. He told me he’d written a book. It was two conversations and suddenly he emails me a book and a proposal to write my dad’s biography.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You gave him your email address?”
The aggravation in his voice snapped the last of her patience. “It’s on my business card.” She stopped walking, realizing they were already in the parking area. “I’m not explaining myself to you. I didn’t do a damn thing I should have to defend, but even if I did, it’s none of your business. Either you want a few days of fun, or we call it quits right now.”
His hard face softened. “How about a two-for-one deal? A few days of sexy fun and a friend who’s concerned. Because that shit that just happened with Gregory has stalker written all over it. The guy followed you on your vacation. Let that sink in. Followed you from California to Florida, checked into the hotel right next to you and hung around until he saw you.”
A chill rippled down her spine. “It’s creepy.”
He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him. “Stay at the manor for a few days. He should get the message. And if he calls or texts, ignore him. Don’t feed whatever delusion he has going on.”
That was very sound advice. “All right. Thanks. I’ll call my dad’s lawyer once I’m settled in. He’ll know the best way to handle this.” Ignoring Gregory hadn’t worked, so she had to get proactive. It sucked to deal with it on her vacation when she’d hoped to get away from responsibility for a week.
Ethan opened his mouth, but Ana cut him off, done with Gregory. “I’ll take care of it. Up to now, he’s been annoying, but he crossed a line today. I’ll give everything to my lawyer and handle it. Gregory will soon learn I’m no one’s victim.”
Nope. She’d lived through that once, and when she’d asked for help from her mom, all she got back was accusations. Yeah, her dad and stepmom rescued her, but at a high cost to them, one she wasn’t really able to pay back.
So now? Ana rescued herself.
* * * *
Ethan glanced over at Ana in the passenger seat of the Jaguar convertible. With the top down, the wind blew her hair, and she was struggling to tame it into a ponytail.
A gust tore the band out of her hand.
As she reached into her purse, fishing out another one, Ana’s laughter pealed out.
That sound went right to his dick. So much better than her earlier worry and the sudden harsh withdrawal from him when Gregory confronted her. Ethan had automatically stepped in, making it clear she was his to protect. He didn’t care if this was temporary. Someone threatened Ana, they dealt with him. It was that simple, except to Ana. She’d shut him down hard. Yet she’d had no problem letting him touch, kiss and restrain her wrists. That thought unleashed another torrent of lust. He’d always been attracted to her, but this? Christ, she was hitting all his buttons, the ones he purposely ignored.
His fantasies about forced seduction weren’t a bad thing, but he avoided the intimacy that kind of sex game would require. It’d take real trust for a woman to allow him to hold her down, force her to climax for him and then bury his cock in her, wringing more orgasms from her, proving she wanted him.
“Your knuckles are white.”
Her soft voice dragged him out of his introspection, and he loosened his hold on the steering wheel. He was too worked up. When he’d gotten the text calling him into work, he’d had the urge to ignore it. Turn off his phone and focus on Ana. He couldn’t walk away from her again, not like he had eleven months ago. When she’d agreed to come to the manor with him, it had been an instant relief to know they’d have more time together. But right now, he had to distract himself from thinking about getting her naked.
Casting around, he searched for another subject. “You don’t wear your glasses anymore?”
“Nope, I got LASIK.”
She’d been cute in her glasses, but he liked her either way. “So are you still living in the condo? Or did you use some of your inheritance to buy another place?”
She sighed. “I’m so tired of everyone thinking I’m suddenly rich. Everything went to Linda. It’s her money, not mine. Why don’t people get that?”
He’d assumed Ana had inherited at least a portion of her dad’s estate. She was his daughter, after all. “Some people might resent their stepparent getting all the money. Does it bother you?”
“No. I wish he’d lived. That bothers me. But Linda was the love of his life and more of a mom to me than my biological mother. I knew what was in my dad’s will. None of this is a surprise or feels wrong to me.”
Ethan studied her in between watching the road. She tucked the flared skirt of her sundress—the same one she’d been wearing earlier—tighter beneath her thighs to keep the wind from catching it. A bit of sadness clung to her, the grief for her dad.
But she really didn’t care about the money.
Something else nagged at him. “Who else is bugging you about the inheritance?”
Her face twisted. “After years of near silence, my mom’s been calling and texting me.”
He never quite understood what happened with her mom. He knew Ana’d lived with her until around fourteen, then went to live with her dad. “Your parents never married, right?”
“Nope. That part of my mom’s plan failed. My dad wouldn’t marry her when she got pregnant. So she went to plan B, soaking him for child support. He paid, getting only minimal visitation in the deal.”
“You don’t like your mom much, do you?” Something he understood all too well.
“She’s a gold digger. She married another rich guy just before I turned fourteen and moved us to Washington, making it even harder for me to see my dad.”
“Why’s she contacting you now?”
“Because she thinks I’m suddenly wealthy. Her latest thing is pressuring me about going up there for her husband’s fifty-fifth birthday party.”
“You going?”
“No.” She fisted her hand on the leather seat.
Hmm. “You don’t like him?”
“I’m not getting within a hundred feet of him.”
The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Ethan steered around a truck then turned to her. I’m no one’s victim. She’d said that a few minutes ago in reference to Gregory, but had she been her stepfather’s victim once? Rage simmered along his nerve endings. If that bastard had hurt her… “What did—?”
“I don’t want to talk about my parents.” She forcibly relaxed in her seat and raised an eyebrow at him. “Unless you want to tell me about yours?”
Hell no. He didn’t ever want Ana to know about that. He shut up and drove.