by Fiona Murphy
“Ethan.” Did that breathy moan come out of me?
Shaking his head, he steps away. “If I touch you, we won’t make it out of here. We’re already fashionably late. Tonight, all night.” It’s a promise I hold onto all the way down to the car, and through the short drive to the venue.
We’re in a snarl of traffic, holy shit, it looks like a Hollywood red carpet. Flashes go off as cars stop in front of us. “Ethan?”
He grasps my hand tightly. “Don’t sweat it, sweetheart, you’re the most gorgeous woman who has walked through the doors tonight.”
His words make no sense to me. “How in the world can you know that?”
“Because I said so.”
I want to laugh, yet, I don’t dare. The look in his eyes tell me he means every word. Fighting the lump in my throat, I give him a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me for speaking the truth you ignore too often. Stay here, let me get your door.”
Taking a deep breath when he opens the door, I put my hand in his then paste a smile on my face. I follow Ethan’s lead, stopping when he does to give the photographers a moment to get our pictures. Then we move on, several people shout for my name, too many for me to count. Ethan’s voice is loud and clear as he gives them my name then confirms I’m the woman he’s been with before. More questions are asked, but Ethan ignores them, his hand at my waist leads me into the building.
Once we’re inside, I’m shocked at the amount of police officers in the crowd and metal detectors we have to go through. Back beside Ethan, my nerves settle as we go into a huge ballroom gleaming with crystal chandeliers and diamonds on the women everywhere we look. Almost immediately, Ethan is stopped by a client. Ethan introduces me as his partner, with pride. The man is pleasant, his date is not. I’m still reeling from the title of partner, not girlfriend, date, or friend. It felt as if Ethan meant it to mean much more than a relationship with a time limit. I melt a little into Ethan, he feels it, and smiles down at me.
While the evening doesn’t fly by, it’s not nearly as bad as I feared. Ethan doesn’t leave my side, always makes sure to include me in conversation, and moves us along before I even have time to get bored. I’m too nervous to eat, picking at my food which is good, because the chicken is dry and the salad wilted. Instead, I’m caught up in Ethan discussing a recent high court decision and why he didn’t agree with the interpretation. The whole table is looking at him, the women are enraptured, the men with equal parts respect and envy. Then he catches me by surprise, as soon as he’s done making his point he’s pulling me up with him. He excuses us by saying we had yet to dance before we left.
“Ethan, I’ve never danced like this before.” I mumble as I follow him to the dance floor.
Wrapping an arm around me, he takes me into his arms. “Just follow my lead, it’s like when we make love, all that matters is we move to the rhythm that works for us.”
My stomach somersaults when he says make love. I’ve never heard him use those words before. The dance goes by too fast, then not fast enough. He feels it, too, and begins moving us off the dance floor. We’re at the edge of the floor when we encounter the only female partner from his firm.
“Ethan, Holly, isn’t it?” The woman at her side is a stunning blonde. I nod dumbly. “I’m glad to see you both here. Leaving so soon?”
Although he stiffens beside me, Ethan is pleasant. “We are. We’ve enjoyed ourselves and made the rounds. Now, we’re ready to go home. Holly and I aren’t ones for late nights.”
The stunning blonde nods. “Thank you, it’s bad enough we woman have to stuff ourselves into these too-tight dresses while navigating in ridiculous shoes. The least our partners can do is keep the night relatively short. It’s one thing to stay up late in our cozy pajamas, and another in four-inch Gucci heels. You two have a good night.”
“You, too, Susan. Karen, I’ll see you on Monday.” With a short stop at our table to get my tiny handbag, only big enough to hold lipstick and refreshing powder, Ethan guides us out of the room. He pulls out his phone to let Ricky know we’re on our way out.
Opening the door, the heat of a sultry summer night hits us. There are still photographers hanging around the entrance as we step to the curb to wait for Ricky. Out of nowhere, a harsh laugh comes from close by. A rather large man is only a few feet away.
“Hey, Bishop, I didn’t know you were a chubby chaser. I guess it’s more cushion for the pushing. When you’re done with this one, I got a sister for ya, she’s built like a Buick. I think you can take her.”
I’ve heard the insults for so long they no longer mean anything to me. Ethan hasn’t, and the anger coming from him scares me. I don’t even see him move, everything happens in a blur. Holy shit, is he growling? Once, then twice he swings, connecting with the man’s nose, sending blood everywhere as the man goes down with the first blow. Grabbing the man by the neck Ethan shakes him hard. “The size of a woman’s dress has nothing to do with her beauty, you hypocritical fuck. You ever speak to her, or me again, and you’ll walk with a limp the rest of your life.”
Ricky is pulling Ethan away from the man as flashes go off, lighting up the night. Ethan pushes me into the car then slides in beside me, still trembling with rage as the car screeches off. “Oh, my god, Ethan! How could you do that? What’s going to happen to you? You could be disbarred! Why in the world did you let him get to you?”
I don’t even realize I’m crying until Ethan pulls me into his arms. “Fuck, Holly, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anyone talk to you like that. You’re a beautiful woman, my woman and no one fucking messes with what’s mine. I don’t give a fuck what the fallout is. All that matters to me is you. Besides, the fucker works for the Trib, he won’t press charges, if he does, he’ll never get another picture. He deserved it and I’d do it again.”
He couldn’t mean it, except the fierce hold tells me he does. A dam bursts inside me, causing me to sob uncontrollably. This man, so beautiful he still takes my breath away, brilliant, sophisticated, a man who could and has had any woman he wanted, was willing to throw away a career that meant everything to him before I met him—for me. Amelia was right.
Finally, the tears are coming to a slow trickle. I’m on our bed with no memory of how I got here. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I can’t stop crying.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand. You deserve a better man than I am. When you realized I love you, and you aren’t going any fucking where, forever, tears seem about right.”
Oh, my god, I was so sure there weren’t any more tears but they start again. “I love you, too! I don’t want to go anywhere, ever. Even though I deserve a better man, I don’t want him, I want you.”
He laughs, rolling me under him. “No more tears, sweetheart. They make my fucking chest hurt.”
His words stop my tears immediately. I trace his lips with my thumb, “Please, Ethan, please tell me again.”
Pulling out his pocket square, he wipes my tears away. “I love you, Holly. I tried to tell myself it was just lust that it would fade, only I knew I was lying. What I feel for you hasn’t faded. Every single day it grows stronger, deeper, under my skin, into my soul, you’re there until it doesn’t feel like I ever really lived until you. I was functioning, going day by day, and I believed I was happy, but it was empty. You came along and filled me full, you brought light into me. I can’t let that go.
“Whatever it takes to make you happy, I’ll do it.” He leans over into the bedside table, holy fucking shit, it’s a little box. “I’ve thought of how to do this, but nothing seemed right. I know this is shitty of me, but I was so disappointed you weren’t pregnant, because I knew there was nothing to tie you to me. I’m not proud about it, but I was too much of a pussy to actually say the words. I was sure you would use them against me. Then I realized it was cop out, you wouldn’t do it, and if you did you had every right. If I love you, then I need to make sure I’m doing everything to keep
you happy and mine. Also, for a little bit there, I really got used to the idea of a baby girl with your smile. That was something I never thought I wanted until you. I’m not going to be the greatest father, but it doesn’t worry me, because I know you’ll be an amazing mother. You tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
I throw my arms around him as I fight back tears. How the hell did the ring get on my finger? Wow! It’s a huge emerald-cut diamond in platinum, simply elegant, and even though I never would have picked it, I love it. “All you have to do is love me and I’m happy. I don’t want to hear you sell yourself short, you are going to be a great father. You’re going to teach our kids to stand up for themselves, not to take crap from anyone, you’ll be the one to outsmart them when they try to get something over on us. I’m also very sure with a father like you, our daughter will have the most self-confidence of any girl her age.”
“I don’t promise not to be scared shitless until the baby is here and you’re both safe, but it will be my worry not yours. Along those lines, even though I really would like to have kids as soon as possible, I don’t want to do it until you’ve completed your Bachelor’s. It’s important to me you’re protected always, and even though the idea of us... fuck I don’t even want to think about it... but no matter what, no one can take your degree away.”
I hug him tighter. “And that’s exactly why I love you. The way you make sure everyone is taken care of, no matter what. I’ll do it, and since I can take summer courses, it won’t take nearly as long. If I keep on top of it I can finish in just three years.”
“Sounds like a plan. Do you think you can plan our wedding in three months? I really want a quickie wedding, but that won’t do for you, or expectations. It will need to big, don’t worry though, money talks, and it will get things done.”
Even though I wrinkle my nose at a big wedding, I don’t bother arguing. “Yes, lord and master Bishop. Whatever you say.
“I say I need you now.”
“Then take me. I’m all yours.” I whisper against his mouth.
Nimble fingers make quicker work taking the dress off than I did putting it on. When he pulls the dress from me, he finds I’m only in a black silk thong, the dress came with support built in. “Beautiful, the moment I saw you I wanted you. It shocked the shit out of me. You were nothing like what I wanted before. Then the first night I had you, it was then I realized you were everything I’ve needed.”
Head back, I’m barely able to form the words as his mouth teases and sucks my breasts the way he knows I like. “I kind of stupidly fell in love with you somewhere in the first week. I dreamed of you, my fingers itched just to touch you.”
My honesty is rewarded by a kiss that is deep, drugging, and soul touching, leaving me limp. “I know. When I looked at the contract, I knew everything. There was no way you’d have the guts to not only have it created, but offer it to me, if you didn’t. I’ll also admit, that day I would have taken you without it. My cock was going crazy for you, every time I told you no, my cock wept for you.”
“Ethan, now please, now. I need you inside me.” I’m frantic now, tearing at his pants.
“Slow down, sweetheart. I want this night to be right.”
“We have all night and hundreds of nights after this one. What’s right now is you inside me. Please, I’m about to combust.” I manage to free his thick cock and open myself to him. Body trembling, he drives into me without another word, his mouth captures mine again. Stroke after stroke pushes me towards the edge, his tongue mimicking his fierce pounding my senses are flooded with Ethan; nothing exists beyond him against me, inside me. Close, so close, I wrap my legs around his waist, bringing him deeper into me. Four, then five strokes, and an explosion of fireworks wrack my body. Still, Ethan moves inside me, faster now, finding his own orgasm as my body still shudders with mine.
Long after he collapses on me then rolls to his side, taking me with him, my body shivers with pleasure only Ethan can give me.
Chapter Thirty Two
It doesn’t matter that I only got about four hours last night, my internal body clock won’t let me sleep. I give up and roll over to see it’s a little after nine in the morning. Holly is still in my arms, then again, it’s only been a few hours since I finally let her fall asleep. I’m an ass, but I needed her last night. Again, and again, I took her and she gave herself with a smile and whispers of love. Best night of my life. Now’s the time to not be an ass. I slip from bed, only allowing myself a light kiss on her cheek.
I shower in the spare room, and when I come back she’s still sleeping. I dress quickly then grab my cell from my pants. Going into the living room, I’m not surprised to see I’ve missed what my phone tells me is forty-seven calls. There are twelve texts from Amelia, as I read them I swear. Fuck, she hadn’t been exaggerating. Someone had recorded everything then posted it to the internet. Holly and I are trending on pretty much every single social media site I’ve heard of, and ones I’ve never heard of. Most of the articles are actually positive, calling out the asshole for fat-shaming Holly and making me out to be some idiot hero in the scenario for standing up for my woman. There are a few articles calling for me to be charged and disbarred, I shrug. Public opinion doesn’t matter to me. I just hope all of this doesn’t upset Holly.
There’s only one voicemail I care about. Two words from Karen, call me. I call.
The moment she answers, she ignores pleasantries. “I talked to the Trib and the reporter. They’ll keep him from pressing charges, but they want something from you, quid pro quo.”
“They can have the announcement of our engagement. We can do a picture if they want. When we get married they can be the only paper to have a picture of our wedding when it happens sometime in September.”
She’s quiet for a long minute. “I think that will work. Congratulations. You did still want to keep your job, right?”
“For now. I’ll be cutting back to leave at six, and no weekends. When the kids come, we’ll reevaluate. I’m not dumping all the responsibility on her. Either I do manageable hours, or I quit, teaching sounds good.”
“We’ll talk. The firm can do manageable, tell us when and what you need.”
“Thanks, good to know.”
I’m about to call Amelia when the front door shakes as if it’s coming off its hinges. Fuck, I look down the hall and move fast to keep the asshole from waking up Holly. I check the peephole. I’m pretty sure it’s Holly’s family. Opening the door before they can pound again, I catch them by surprise.
“Hello?”
The tall, hard as concrete man in Marine fatigues scowls. The tiny woman with Holly’s eyes standing at his side, clutches his arm. There’s a tall thin man with his father’s jaw behind him, I’m guessing he’s Fletcher.
Fletcher speaks up. “We’re here for Holly.”
I don’t like the way that sounds. “Holly is sleeping. When she wakes up I’ll give her the message.” Fuck, that wasn’t the way this was supposed to go. I’m supposed to be smiling and charming. Screw the plan, that was before they look like they hate my guts and want to take Holly away from me.
“Mom, Dad, Fletcher? What in the world are you guys doing here?” Holly is holding onto the wall, she’s so surprised. She dressed quickly in one of my shirts that’s drowning her, and a pair of my sweat shorts I’m worried will come off.
Resentfully, I open the door. “Come in.”
Gruff, with a voice like a dirt road, her father speaks up. “Go get dressed and get your things, Holly. We’re taking you home.”
Before I can even open my mouth Holly’s bitter laughter stops me. She leans into me, my arm goes around her. “I’m not going anywhere with you. It’s a little late for acting like you care. This is my home now.”
Her family looks as though she slapped them in the face. Fletcher’s face crumples. Fuck, I have family now. Tears running down his face, he reaches out a hand to Holly. She takes it. “Holly, I know what you think, but it wasn’t like that I s
wear. Dad told me before I was even a hundred percent sure, or willing to admit it, that I was his son and he loved me. He didn’t care if I was gay. Think about it, me, gay, on a Marine base. It would have been hell on earth. I didn’t ask her, but mom giving me the money to go to New York was the best thing she ever did for me.”
Now Holly looks stunned. Fletcher catches her in a bear hug I fight every instinct to stop. He’s her brother, it’s also the first time I’ve seen her in someone else’s arms. Her tears put me even more on edge. “Why would you keep it from me all these years?”
“I asked him to.” The small woman answers for him. “I didn’t think you would understand your father and me letting him go away when we wanted so badly for you to stay home with us for school. Then it just became habit. I’m sorry you thought it meant we didn’t love Fletcher. We love all of you, how could you think we didn’t?”
I hand Holly and Fletcher tissues they use to clean up. She opens her mouth then looks at me. Shaking her head, she shrugs. “You know what I think? I got a lot of things wrong. Maybe now is the time just to let them go. I want you to meet Ethan. We’re getting married. I love him, I’ve never been this happy before, so please, sit down and get to know him, and then maybe explain why you would think I would leave him.”
Taking advantage of Fletcher finally letting her go, I take her hand and lead her over to one of the chairs. She’s in my lap the moment I sit down. Her father still looks like he’s a little light on his feet as he sits on the sofa. Arms around her, I hold her tight. “Probably because we made the front page of everywhere this morning. Someone got video of what went down last night. Everyone has an opinion, of course.”
Holly gasps, turning all her attention to me. A hand goes to my cheek, I fight the urge to nestle into her touch. “Ethan, what’s going to happen? Are you okay?”
“I told you, it’s fine. He’s not going to press charges. In exchange, the Trib gets to publish our engagement announcement and a wedding photo.”