by Pavan Kaur
“Hi, I have an appointment. It’s under the name Lexi,” I say to the man behind the desk.
“Hello, Erin will be taking care of you today,” he replies, smiling at me.
“Do you have time for a manicure and pedicure after my hair appointment?” I ask, and watch him look at the computer screen.
“You’re lucky. We had a cancellation this morning, and Erin will be yours all afternoon,” he says, pointing to the woman walking over to us. “Erin, this is Lexi.” I smile at her as the man tells her about the added treatments.
“If you would like to follow me,” Erin says as she walks in front of me.
Spinning the chair around for me, I place my bag on the floor and take my phone out to see Ethan has sent me a message.
Ethan– Sorry, it won’t happen again.
Looking at Erin from the mirror I tell her, “All I want is a trim to shape it up, please.”
“Nice and easy.” She smiles at me. “So, are you here for long?”
“We go back on Sunday. My boyfriend had a meeting today. I’m hoping he’ll be free tomorrow so I can plan something, but the way the meeting is going he might get stuck there again tomorrow,” I tell her, letting out a little laugh as I begin to think this might just be my life with Ethan. Him being busy with work, and me traveling with him, but being alone.
“Well, if he’s free, do you have anything planned?” she asks as she begins to wash my hair.
“No, I just wanted to walk around the city, to be honest, we’ve been here since Monday and we’ve been doing so much,” I tell her as I feel the phone vibrate in my hands. I lift my phone to see the message.
Ethan– Just taking a little break. Do you miss me?
Lexi– No, I’m having too much fun without you.
Ethan– Will you ever give me a straight answer?
Lexi– It’s more fun if I don’t.
Sitting back up, I follow Erin to the chair, and she begins cutting my hair.
Lexi– How is the meeting going?
Ethan– How about you not worry about that. Why should both of us stress over it?
Lexi– Well, I'll let you carry on so you can finish and get into bed with me ;)
Ethan– And what do we have planned?
Lexi– Sleep, what else?
Ethan– Tease. See you tonight.
Putting the phone away, I get back to my conversation with Erin. We talk about our time in Washington, how long Ethan and I have been together, and since I don’t like talking about myself, I start asking her questions. I ask what her favorite things are to do in the city, about her family, or her boyfriend. Anything to get the subject off me.
I enjoyed my afternoon. Erin did a fantastic job on my nails, and I love my hair. I haven’t heard anything from Ethan at all after the message he sent while I was getting my hair done, but I’m hoping that's a good thing.
Pulling the covers up, I grab my dinner that I ordered, and hit play on the movie. Ethan hasn’t called about what time he’ll be here, and I want to try and stay awake for when he does come back.
***
Moving around in bed, I smile to myself as my hand touches Ethan’s chest. I move closer to him. “What time did you get back?” I ask, still half asleep.
He wraps his arm around me. “A lot later than I wanted.” He kisses the top of my head. “But, they signed, and now I can pass it on to the legal team,” he says, pulling me closer to him.
“Well done. So, now you will be shouting at a lot more people for not doing the work right,” I look up at him with a smile. “It’s a good thing I find it sexy when you get all bossy with them.” Leaning up my forearms, I plant a kiss on his lips.
As I go to pull away from him, he pulls me closer, his lips brushing mine. “You do?” He rolls me around so he’s on top of me. “What else do you find sexy?” He starts kissing my neck, and he does it so well I can’t help but moan.
His phone rings and I start laughing. “The sexiest thing is when your phone always rings at the wrong time,” I say. It stops ringing but then starts back again.
“This better be fucking important,” Ethan shouts into the phone. I walk over to the bathroom to get dressed, and Ethan watches me. Blowing him a kiss he winks back at me. “What the fuck are they doing? It’s two fucking days… Get me a flight back today and tell them to come to my mother’s tomorrow… The sooner they can fuck off, the better.” I hear Ethan slamming the phone on the table and wonder what’s the best thing to say to him.
Leaning on the door frame, I watch as he stomps around the room, then grabs his phone, putting it to his ear. “I’m coming back today. They’ll be there tomorrow… I've no idea, but I’m not giving them any money, and the sooner I can tell them to their face, the better… I’m going to tell Selena to have them at your place by ten, and if they're late, I’ll leave… Okay, see you in the morning.” Ethan ends the call and looks at me.
“I don’t mind hitting her if you want,” I say, still leaning on the door frame. “Shall I start packing?”
“Sorry.”
I walk over to him. “Looks like you’re making dinner tonight.” Putting my hands on his shoulders, I contemplate my choices. “I fancy something extravagant, but then I think sex might be better,” I say, giving him a sultry look.
“I’m sure I can find something that I can eat,” Ethan says, “or maybe even lick.” I look over my shoulder at him with a smile. Now that sounds very interesting.
Getting the last of our things together, I look at Ethan talking on the phone to Selena about our flight back. His mood with me has been excellent, but everyone he has been on the phone with is getting the angry Ethan. I feel terrible for them. On top of it all, Ethan isn’t happy with Travis for changing something, and all I can think is how stupid can Travis be? Why can’t he just do what Ethan wants and do a kick-ass job of it so Ethan won’t be so angry.
“We all ready to go?” Ethan asks.
“You know, I think Selena needs a pay raise since she's now doing three people’s jobs.” I look at Ethan putting something into the bag. “And how long are you going to be mad at Travis? Are you punishing him for making your sister happy?” I ask him. I know I’m the last person that should be saying anything, but I know Tanya and Travis are happy, so why not just be happy for them?
“Until I can trust him to keep it in his pants with other women, and before you say anything, I’ve seen him with women at the clubs, so sorry if I don’t believe he’s been faithful to my sister,” Ethan tells me as I shake my head at him. “You don’t know what it's like to have a little sister that wants to date your best friend, that you know for a fact has fucked more people than you and me combined.”
“If you ever have a daughter, I feel sorry for her,” I say, teasing him.
“I think you mean if we have a daughter. I think I see a different future for us, and when we do have a daughter, she’ll be homeschooled. I'll be doing a full background check on all possible boyfriends, and she's not allowed to wear anything I think shows too much skin,” Ethan says, and I start laughing at him.
“And your son can date anyone?” I look over at him as I zip up the bag.
“Our son will be too busy working and studying to have a girlfriend. If he wants my business, then he has to work for it, just like everyone else.” Ethan wraps one arm around my waist. “Our kids aren't going to be given everything. They'll learn how to earn their own money,” he says as he kisses me.
Do I see a future with Ethan? I've no idea. I’ve never really thought about things like this before. I always thought I would be running for the rest of my life, so why would I bring kids into the picture? Maybe now, with Ethan, I can start thinking about things like a family, a future…
***
As soon as we got back, Selena came over with work stuff and there was no way I wanted to sit and listen to all that. There are so many other things I could listen to, like Joe. I haven’t spoken to him all week. There must be something interesting happeni
ng in the building.
“I’m going to talk to Joe. I won’t leave the building,” I quickly add before Ethan tells me that I can’t leave. Shutting the door behind me, I head down to the lobby. “Look at the most handsome man in the building,” I say to Joe as I lean on the desk to kiss him on the cheek. “So, I’ve been away for a week, what have the neighbors been up to?” I pull a chair close to him.
“Well, before we start that, you need to tell your man that the penthouse is looking fantastic.”
“He said we’re going to look at it once this meeting is finished. So, what’s happening? Anything new with apartment twenty-eight?” I ask. Joe and I think the woman that lives there is a cougar. There are always young men walking in and out of there.
“There were three this week. One was in and out within thirty minutes, then another followed an hour later, so I think she's a high-class escort instead,” Joe whispers the last part and I can’t help but laugh at him.
“You know, I never thought about that. Or, she could be a sex specialist, helping men that find it hard to please the women in the bedroom,” I tell Joe who gives me a look of horror.
“People do that?”
“Yeah, all the time.”
“What happened to romance? What happened to a guy buying a girl flowers and chocolates? What happened to making the girl feel like she's the only one in the world and without them nothing seems right?” Joe looks at me, and I feel all warm inside, thinking about how he must have been with his wife when they first started dating.
“I've no idea. But, now that I think about it, Ethan has never bought me flowers or chocolate, but he does make me dinner every night,” I tell Joe as I look over to see Ethan walking over to us. “I've no idea what happened to old romance, it seems to be all about sex these days, Joe,” I say, but look at Ethan.
“What’s all about sex?” he asks, moving closer to the desk.
“Joe and I were just talking about romance in the old days and how no one ever does the whole flowers and chocolate thing. I told him it’s all about sex now,” I say.
“I can be romantic, and I don’t think our relationship is all about sex,” Ethan says, and I start laughing and look over at Joe. “What? I don’t believe it is.” Ethan turns to Joe, “Joe, when you and your wife got together, what was the longest you… I mean…”
“He wants to know the longest you went without sex with her,” I finish Ethan’s question. For someone so confident, he sure is shy when it comes to certain things.
“Well, there was the war, but when I was home it was probably no longer than three days,” Joe says as he looks at Ethan.
“We’re lucky. Because of men like you, I don’t have to take time away from her because of a war. Thank you, Joe, but I can go three days without touching her.” Ethan looks back over at me, and I start laughing even more.
“Do-do-do you not remember... How we met?” I ask him through my laughter.
“Yeah, but I have you now, and I know in three days’ time you will be in my bed. When we first met, I was trying to get you in there and then stay in there,” Ethan tells me. He has a point, but the worst part is I’m not sure I'll last three days without him touching me. “Before you, I didn’t have sex for a while, so I think I’ll win this round.”
“Oh, please. You will crack before me. Let the teasing begin,” I tell him, watching as Selena exits the elevator.
“It’s on,” he says, before looking at Selena. “I have to go to the office, because it seems like I took one too many days off and they have fucked everything up. Please don’t leave the building,” Ethan says, looking at me.
“Leave, I have to work on a game plan,” I tell him with humor in my tone. There's no way I’m losing this fight.
“I’m regretting it already.” He leans over to kiss me. “I'll be back in an hour.”
I continue my conversation with Joe as if there was never an interruption. “So, what about the couple in apartment ten?” We know they're having some trouble because Joe hears them fighting all the time.
“Well, I’ve not seen him this week—”
“Do you think she has murdered him?” I ask, cutting him off.
Joe starts laughing. “You are a little different, aren’t you?” Joe asks, and I smile at him.
I enjoy Joe’s company. If he weren't here during the day when Ethan works, I would be so bored. I’m not sure how I would get through the day, but I’m happy. He’s so nice and caring.
Ethan
Why the hell did I make this bet with Lexi? How the hell did I forget her teasing when first met? The worst part about it now is we sleep in the same bed, so last night was fucking painful.
Plating up breakfast, I look over as I see Lexi walking over to me. She stops for a moment and looks at me, and I can’t help but smile.
“I know what you’re doing.” She starts walking over, looking at the table. “You’re walking around without a top on, and a beautiful breakfast set out… Are you romancing me, Mr. Knight?” she asks as she sits down, pulling her chair into the table.
“I’m only showing you how much I love you,” I reply, sitting down in front of her.
She nods her head at me. “So, the loving words and lovely breakfast is just to show me you love me, not to get me all,” she licks her lips, “wet, and excited?” She whispers the last part.
“Oh, and you just had to sleep naked last night,” I reply.
“It was hot last night,” she says with a smile. It was not hot last night, and the fact that she kept bringing her ass closer and closer to me did not help me at all.
“Of course it was,” I say, filling her mug up with coffee.
This girl is the biggest tease I think I've ever met, but she's a tease that tows the line, but doesn’t cross it. She plays to win every single time.
I watch her undoing the top few buttons of my shirt that she's wearing. “I think that it’s getting a little hot again,” she says, looking up at me through her eyelashes. She bites her bottom lip to keep from smiling.
Leaning on the table, I look at her as she eats her breakfast. “You make me happy, and when you lose, I’m going to show you just much,” I tell her, and she starts laughing.
“I’m not losing.” She dips her finger into the whipped cream and brings it to her lips. “Why haven’t you licked this off me yet?” she asks, licking her lips very slowly.
My eyes follow as her finger moves down her neck to her collarbone. When she suddenly stops, I look up at her face and see at her grinning at me.
“I’m going to get dressed,” I say as I stand up. I haven’t eaten yet, but I would rather do without food than have a fucking hard-on all day.
“The fun was just beginning,” Lexi shouts over to me, causing me to stop and look back at her. “I was about to cave.”
Shaking my head, I continue to walk over to my room. There's no way she was about to cave; that woman is a lot stronger than I am. I’m the one that will cave tonight if she keeps going like this.
I take my phone out of my pocket as it begins ringing. “Hello, Mom.”
“Ethan, please tell me you haven’t forgotten, and that you aren’t leaving me with them?” she asks as I walk into the closet.
“No, I've not forgotten. How can I forget our happy family reunion?” I say, letting out a little laugh.
“I just want to let you know that Tanya has asked Travis to be here, and before you say anything, I've told him to stay away from you.”
That’s all I need right now. Two people I don’t want to breathe the same air as me, and then my best friend—who I’m still unhappy with. My sister wants him there, so what can I say?
“If she wants him there, then that’s fine.” I end the call, not wanting to hear anything else at the moment. I’m already worried about what today will bring and I don’t need to hear my mother tell me how she’s proud that I’m not taking my anger out on him.
Sitting on the bed, I rub my forehead, trying to ease the tension.
“Let’s put a pin in the teasing for a minute,” I hear Lexi say as I feel her hand on my back as she moves in front of me. I move back a little so she can sit on my lap, as she slides her finger along my cheek. “What are you thinking about?”
I look at her for a moment. She said no teasing, which means she wants to talk, but I don’t know how to talk about today. I don’t even know what I’m going to hear.
“I’m thinking I’m about to see a man that I’ve hated for years and a woman that only wanted me for my money, and I how I don’t think I can face them.” I rest my head on her shoulder. “I know it makes me sound weak, but—”
“Ethan, that doesn’t show you as weak. It shows a man with a heart who got hurt and isn’t about to let them do it again,” Lexi cuts in, and I look at her. “You don’t always have to be this strong man in front of me. I love the strong Ethan, and I love the soft Ethan.”
I never thought I would meet someone who wanted to be with me no matter what. Money or no money, strong or not, she wants to be with me.
Pulling her in for a kiss, I tangle my hands in her hair. “I think you have seen the real me from the start,” I tell her. My phone takes this opportunity to start ringing. Looking down I see Selena’s name on the screen.
“Unpinned now.” Lexi gives me a wink and walks away from me.
“Yes,” I answer the call as I watch Lexi slowly undressing in front of me. My eyes are moving along her body as she throws her shirt on the floor.
“All the paperwork has been sent over for the Washington mall, would you like me to bring it over?”
“Not today. Keep your phone on you in case I need something.” Throwing the phone on the bed, I smile as Lexi stands in front of me, naked, holding two dresses.
“So, Mr. Knight. Hot girlfriend in red or a nice summer simple dress?” she asks, and I smile, wondering how she thinks that I’m even looking at the dresses when she's standing there naked in front of me. “Ethan!”