by Amelia Shea
Ethan turned around, grasping her hand and walked over to Jonah.
“Sorry to bother you, just need a signature on a few things. We can start on Monday, weather permitting.”
“Perfect.” Ethan took the papers and read through them.
She smiled brightly at Jonah who was smiling back but a bit suspicious. He would be perfect for Roxanne.
“Let me grab the plans from my car. Line Eighteen doesn’t sound right. Just let me double check,” Ethan said as he walked away.
“No problem.” Jonah had his hands in his pockets, his thick muscles flexing again. He didn’t make eye contact with her, instead looking over at the building.
“So, Jonah, you own the construction company?”
He looked over and she saw the light hitting his green eyes. Oh hell yeah, this guy was definitely Rox’s type.
“Yeah.” His voice was deep and gravelly.
“For how long?”
“About five years.”
“Wow, you must have been young when you started it.”
He eyed her again suspiciously, squinting his eyes. His face tensed and she got the impression he didn’t enjoy her questions. She folded her arms over her chest, rocking on her feet.
“You married?”
“Excuse me?”
“Married as in, do you have a wife?”
“No.”
This was great. He was gorgeous, owned his own company and he wasn’t married. She was going to love this guy!
“What do you do for fun?”
“Emory, I don’t mean to be rude but Ethan and I aren’t just business partners, I also consider him a friend.”
“So?” She was confused, how was that rude?
“So, I don’t appreciate you coming onto me when it’s obvious you are with him. He’s a good guy and he deserves better than that. And I’m not into women who are taken.”
Her breath hitched, her mouth opened—she was stunned. She looked over to Ethan, then back at Jonah who was glaring at her. What?
She burst out laughing, “Oh my God, you think I’m hitting on you?” She bent over, pain in her side from laughing so hard. Her eyes teared up and she tried to speak but couldn’t get the words out.
“You…” she pointed at him still laughing “…think I’m…” she inhaled a breath trying to regain her composure “…trying to get with you?” She wiped the corners of her eyes.
His scowl deepened. “I know when a woman is coming onto me.”
She snickered. “Obviously, you don’t.”
His lips tensed into a straight line. He looked a bit scary when he was mad and it was apparent he was angry. Emory held out her hands.
“To give you the abbreviated story, Ethan is the love of my life and while you seem nice when you’re not glaring, and extremely handsome, you can’t compare to Ethan. No one can.”
“Then what’s with all the questions?”
“I have a friend and I thought…”
He held up his hand, the tension draining from his face. He smiled. “While I’m relieved to hear that you’re not hitting on me, I’m not interested in being set up.”
“But she’s awesome.”
“I’m sure she is but I have a very complicated life. Trust me, you are doing your friend a favor not trying to fix her up with me.”
Movement from her left brought her attention to Ethan. He walked over, handing Jonah the papers. “I made the adjustments, we are good to go.”
“Great, I’ll call if I have any questions, if not, I’ll see you Monday.” He shook Ethan’s hand and turned to Emory, “It was nice to meet you, Emory.” Then he was gone.
Emory wondered what was so complicated briefly but her mind went straight to Ethan when he wrapped his arms around her shoulder, pulling her into his side and whispered, “I owe you a makeout session.”
* * * *
Hours later, she was exactly where she wanted to be—on Ethan’s couch, making out with him. The reality proved so much better than the fantasy, which she thought would be impossible. She was lying on her back, Ethan on top of her, kissing.
His hand caressed her midriff where her shirt had slid up teasing her bare skin. She gripped his neck in her hand pulling him deeper into their kiss, tasting him and wanting more. Dragging her mouth to his chin, she licked his neck, getting the response she wanted when his hand glided up her shirt, his palm covering her breast.
She moaned, arching her back and pressing his hand further into her breast. Screw this making out, she was over it.
“Okay, fantasy fulfilled. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.”
Ethan looked down at her. “Aren’t you supposed to be playing hard to get?” He smirked.
“Baby, news flash, I’m a sure thing.”
His laugh rumbled, echoing through the apartment. He pulled down the cup of her bra, sliding a finger over her nipple, sending a wave of heat straight to her core. “Well, in that case, do you want to see my room?” He teased.
“Hell yeah.” She laughed, pulling his lips down to her, thrashing her tongue inside his mouth and kissing him hard.
At that exact moment his phone rang.
She pulled away from his mouth, scowling up at him, “I hate that friggin’ thing.”
He leaned in kissing her mouth before pulling back, removing his hand from under her shirt. “Right now, so I do.”
He backed up from her onto his knees, throwing a leg over her and onto the floor, getting up from the couch and walking into the kitchen where his phone continued to ring on the counter.
“Hey.”
There was a pause.
“Where?”
Another pause. Emory pulled herself up, looking at him from over the couch. His face was hard, as though he was angry.
“I’ll come with you. I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes.”
Emory dropped back on the couch, frustrated. He was leaving? In the middle of their make out session? This was not how her fantasy ended. She looked up from the couch to see Ethan standing at the end of it, his face regretful.
“You have to go, I know, I heard.” She pouted, not hiding her disappointment.
“I have to meet up with T. It’s business.”
“And I’m assuming it can’t wait?”
Ethan tightened his lips, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, no.”
“Damn!”
Ethan walked over to her, leaning down. “I’ll be late, probably not back until morning. I do have an open calendar tomorrow.” He kissed her slowly, his lips skimming across hers. “How about you and I spend all day,” his tongue poked out, stroking the seam of her mouth, “in our bed.”
She gave him a teasing glare. “All day?”
He kissed her again. “Yes.”
“No phones?”
“No phones.”
“And you promise to make me come at least five times?”
He grinned and winked, then whispered, “At least.”
* * * *
Ethan pulled in front of the small cape house. The lights were on in the living room, and Ethan could see T walk past the window before the front door opened. He walked out turning to Cassie, who had her arms folded wearing what looked like pajamas and ridiculously large stuffed animals on her feet. Ethan smirked.
T wrapped his arm around Cassie’s waist pulling her up his body and off her feet, taking her mouth. Her arms curled around his neck. Ethan turned away from their kiss, scanning the neighborhood. It was nice—small homes, families in most of the houses.
Gazing back to the porch, he saw T walking toward him and Cassie in the background waving. He smiled waving back at her before T folded himself in the front seat.
“We picking up Stone and Bogs?”
“No, just us,” T answered.
Ethan drove down the street making a left at the corner and heading to the highway. If they were lucky they’d be at the cabin by ten-thirty.
&
nbsp; “What did Trent say?”
“Nothing. Talked to fucking Declan. He said they got her and they’re handling it.”
“Then, why are we going up?”
“’Cause I didn’t like that fucking answer!” he gritted out tensely.
“T, what exactly do you hope to accomplish by going up there?”
“Turn the fuck around, drop me off. I’ll go by myself.’
“It was just a question, T. Calm down.”
“That bitch put Cassie’s life in danger, then she fucking pulled a gun on us? Fuck now, I want answers from her, and I’m not leaving until I get them.”
Ethan sighed. He could understand T’s fury. The idea that Roxanne could be in danger scared the hell out him. He’d be twice as freaked if Emory were involved.
“Tell me this.” T looked over at him. “Do they know we’re coming?”
T just stared at Ethan. Ethan turned back to the road and got on the highway.
“Well, this should be interesting.”
They drove the rest of the way in silence with only a few words spoken. They arrived about fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Ethan pulled up, parking next to a black Jeep. The dim lights were on in the cabin and he saw a shadow pass by the window.
Ethan followed behind T up the porch steps. The door opened before they reached it with Trent standing in the doorway, his face difficult to read. His usually carefree laidback attitude was in place but his eyes were guarded.
“Evenin’.” Trent backed up from the door, opening it wide in invitation. “C’mon in, you guys want a beer?”
T didn’t answer as he passed Trent. Ethan put out his hand to Trent. “How are you, Trent?”
Trent shook his hand, his eyes lighting. He smiled. “Good, Ethan, and you?”
“Fine, thanks.” Ethan lowered his voice. “He isn’t going to leave until he talks to Evie.” Ethan wanted to let Trent in on what they were dealing with in the situation.
Trent nodded his head but not in agreeance. “Well, there’s no way in hell Dec is going to let him, so I’d say you and I will probably be playing referee to the fight of the century.”
Ethan sighed. “You know T.”
Trent raised his eyebrows. “But you don’t know Declan.”
“Where is she?” T asked, walking into the middle of the living room, turning back to the door. Ethan walked toward T, thinking of a way to diffuse the situation. He felt a presence from the hallway and looked over.
Declan stood in the doorway, his arm resting on the frame. He was a big man to begin with, somehow seeming even larger where he stood. He was as tall as Stone, about six feet four inches, and he was solid.
“Declan,” Ethan said, receiving no response except for a head nod in acknowledgement.
T stalked to Declan and stood about two feet away.
“Where the fuck is she?”
“I told you it was handled. You drove all this way for nothing, brother.” He ended with the usual endearment he used with T and Stone, but his tone was anything but endearing. His voice was eerily calm and the room grew more tense.
“I wanna talk to her.”
“No,” Declan answered, his scowl locked in place, his eyes never drawing away from T.
“Fuck you, Dec, get me that fucking girl now.” T was enraged.
Ethan stepped forward, knowing better than to touch T. He warned, “T.”
T and Declan were locked in a glare and one of them was going to have to stand down. Unfortunately, Ethan didn’t think either man had any idea how to even do that. Trent stood next to Ethan and tried to reason.
“We all need to calm down. T, she’s here, and as Dec told you on the phone, we are going to handle it. You just take care of things on your end with Roxanne and your girl. You run into any problems, you know we got your back, man, even the girls. You need us, we’ll be there.”
T turned his gaze to Trent. “I wanna talk to her.”
Trent shook his head. “That is not possible.”
“Why the fuck not?” T raged, his head shifted to Declan, who remained standing in the door, seemingly calm except for his rigid body and the twitch in his temple.
“Because she’s no longer your concern. She’s mine, and I’m telling you…” His tone was harsh and possessive. He walked up to T, inches away from his face. “There’s no fucking way I’m letting you near her.”
Ethan peered to Trent tilting his head. Trent responded by smirking.
“She’s yours?” T asked, holding his rage together, lifting his eyebrow in question.
Ethan watched Declan, his scowl growing deeper. He nodded.
With that nod, it was over. T backed away
“Well, that went a hell of a lot better than I thought it would,” Trent said, turning to Ethan. “Beer?”
“Got anything stronger?” Ethan asked.
Trent barked out a laugh and walked into the open kitchen. Ethan turned back to see T and Declan by the fireplace in what looked like a deep conversation. He turned back following Trent and started talking about the bonds company.
T and Declan joined them shortly after and they spent the following hour discussing how to erase Evie. There was a chance that the girls would never come into contact with these men looking for Evie.
“These guys want to stay as far under the radar as possible. When they come looking, they’ll probably do their surveillance, see she’s not there, and move on.”
“And what if that’s not good enough?”
Declan folded his arms over his chest. “You make sure they know what’s going on, T, they give the same story, there’s no reason for these guys to doubt she got spooked and quit. Just didn’t show up one day. Have the girls say she was a flake. Her old boss is already going to say she was a horrible worker. Have Cassie and Roxanne back that up.”
“And what do we tell the girls?” Ethan asked.
Declan looked at T and back at Ethan, obviously confused. “What do ya mean?”
“Declan, to Roxanne and Cassie, especially, she’s not just some girl who works for them. They’re friends, they care about her.”
“Your call, how you handle that,” Declan answered.
“And if Cass wants to see her?” T asked. “She may be small but she’s a fucking hard ass. You do not want my woman showing up here, Dec. You’re a scary fuck, but Cass when she’s pissed? You don’t want that at your door, man.”
Declan’s hard face broke out in a smile.
“We’ll work something out down the road, when all this shit is handled.”
Ethan finished his bourbon and they left the cabin shortly after. He dropped T off at his house and headed home.
Chapter 19
EMORY was aware of his lips on her neck before she fully woke. She shivered from the sensation as she curled deeper into her side, curling the pillow into her body.
His lips dragged down her neck to her shoulder, grazing his teeth. His hand skimmed her waist and glided down to her pussy, circling her tight sensitive nub. She moaned in a raspy sleepy voice, “You’re home.”
His mouth, attaching to her neck, sucked her skin then bit her gently. “And you’re ready for me.” His finger penetrated her folds, sliding into her body. She craned her head back and was immediately greeted by his lips in a kiss that could only be described at passionate.
His finger pumped into her with her hips matching, his mouth devouring her, sucking her tongue between his lips. She reached behind her, following the muscle of his leg, leading up to his erection. Grasping her fist around him, she moved slowly.
His hand continued to move against her core, his finger deep, pumping slowly, his thumb grazing over her clit, forcing a groan from her lips. With every move of his hand, she jerked him harder, tightening her grip on his cock.
His body came over her and she lost her hold on him. His body covered hers as he slid down her body, pecking lingering kisses to her breast, down her stomach, before
latching onto her throbbing clit. His mouth consumed her, fast swift flicks of his tongue making her body quiver. She raised her arms above her head, gripping the barred headboard.
“Feels so good.” She groaned.
With his finger still gliding inside her, he gripped her knees, pushing them up. His grasp was hard, which only made her wetter. His tongue swiped her clit. She could feel the graze of his teeth and she gasped. His deep growl made her body tremor, her nipples bead, and she moaned in uncontrollable arousal.
She dared a look down. His dark hair was between her legs and those blue eyes stared up at her with a glint. The rumble of his growl sent a shock wave straight to her clit and she arched into him. His tongue flicked over her sensitive bud while his eyes locked on hers. Without a doubt, this was the hottest thing she’d ever seen. She licked her lips, feeling her orgasm rising. She rocked her hips against his mouth, his eyes still on her, watching. This was so hot. Adding another finger to her pussy, he pumped harder inside her, his tongue lashing her clit harder. Her breath hitched, feeling her orgasm roll through her body, her hips moved quicker grinding into his mouth.
She gasped, moaning, “Fuck. Don’t stop…Right there.” She came hard—her body shivered at the sensation, her lips tightly pressed against each other, and she rode the wave of the best orgasm anyone has ever had.
Her body tried to pull away as his tongue swiped over her clit.
“Too much, too much.” She gasped breathing hard, her body relaxing into the soft bed, her eyes closing as he pulled back from her.
His lips skimmed her hip, up her stomach, onto her breast, licking gently at her nipple sending shivers again through her body. Her arms wrapped around his back bringing him into her body.
“Good morning.”
“Yes, it is,” she huffed in a low sleepy laugh.
His lips traced her jaw. She felt the head of his cock roll over her sensitive nub, down to her opening, sliding in slowly. She was so wet he slid in effortlessly.