“Well, maybe I was a silly…”
“No, you weren’t silly.” He interrupted. “You were wonderful. And because of that, you didn’t need a ticket to get me to come back to you.”
“I didn’t?”
“Nope, because here I am. Finally a free man.”
Karlyn’s eyes widened, hope filling her, but she tamped it down, fear that she was reading too much into his words.
“And what are you going to do with that freedom?”
Ethan rubbed his thumbs along the tops of her arms. “The second lottery was even more popular than the first, being that the media had spread the word so well. It was the most successful, and lucrative lottery in history. So, I received a nice chunk of change from that as ticket sales were almost quadruple the first.”
“So you are a rich man now?”
“Add in the fact that Evangeline felt compelled to invest most of the money and has nearly doubled that in the past year, I shouldn’t have to worry about money ever again. I am truly a free man now. I can choose the people in my company, and never be tied to a woman I don’t want to be.”
“That’s wonderful, Ethan, I really am happy for you.” Sadness struck her as she realized that he was here to gloat over his newfound freedom and the fact he didn’t need her anymore. Her heart hurt that he could be so cruel.
Slowly, he descended, dropping down below her. She tried to catch him as he went, but suddenly he was below her, looking up to her face.
“Why so sad?” He smiled up to her, pulling something from his pocket.
All of a sudden, a light flipped on nearly blinding her, and she turned to see Etienne standing on the far side of the room with tears in her eyes. Turning back, she realized Ethan was on one knee, and the small velvet box he pulled from his pocket sat in his palm. The sparkle from the stunning pink diamond sent shafts of light glistening around his hand.
“Be mine forever.”
Her heart stopped inside her chest as his statement gradually began to penetrate her thickened mind. Tears freely flowed as she dropped down in front of him to nod her agreement and flung her arms over his broad shoulders, kissing all about his face.
“Wait, wait…I have been waiting a year to put this on your finger, let me slip it on.” He pushed her back slightly and grasped her hand. It fit perfectly. It was more than she ever dreamed of getting.
“I love you, Karlyn.” They sat on the floor in the middle of the main gallery surrounded by her paintings, most of him and her emotions. Looking around, Ethan apparently absorbed all he saw, swallowing thickly before he spoke.. “I hurt you so much, and I’m sorry, I never realized how much until now. Can you ever forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive. I love you, scars and all. I hoped one day you would come back to let me heal you.”
“You made life bearable again. I’m nothing without you. The last year was hell, but I knew you would be there when I emerged.”
Rising to his feet, he pulled her up in front of him. “You look stunning, you really do. I wanted to be here for you tonight, but today was officially her last, and she wanted to give me a going away party.”
Pulling away slightly, she wrinkled her nose and looked up to him. “You spent this evening servicing another woman?”
“No, I think she assumed I would give her a going away present, but I left before it could even go there. Tonight is all about you.”
Kissing her before pulling her towards the gallery doors, he hailed an aerocab and continued to kiss her urgently as they waited for one to stop. The early fall evening was warm and directly across the street from one of the hottest new S&M nightclubs in the art district. The throng outside the club was interesting to say the least, and the catcalls from their outdoor escapades didn’t stop their actions, only pushed them to enjoy the moment that much more.
Pulling back before they took things too far, they looked across at all the leather clad bodies, and one stood out. She began to walk across the street, followed by two minions.
“Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds. How sweet. Is it legal for the two of you to be together? I would hate for any legal action to be taken against you.”
Ethan turned to Ophelia, and Karlyn saw the small tick in his jaw working, and knew he was holding back his anger.
Karlyn inserted her soft hand inside his and squeezed.
“Ophelia, always a pleasure to see you and your little bought toys. But unfortunately, we need to go. This is the first night since he was released from his lottery contract, and we have been waiting for this moment for quite some time.”
“I am glad that you have done well with your career, so much so, you can finally afford to buy your own toy. You had better keep working hard so you can continue to afford him.”
“No contracts, Ophelia. I made a fortune from the lottery, and I came back to her because I wanted to. Because I love her. I just asked her to be my wife.” Lifting Karlyn’s hand to Ophelia’s eye level, Ethan smiled at the tinge of green that bloomed over her face.
At the word wife, Ophelia turned to him, stunned. “Love? You are pathetic. There is no such thing in this day and age.”
“I thought the same thing before I met her. But in fact, Ophelia, I need to thank you.”
“Thank me?” The air was slowly being let out of her balloon.
“If you had not worked so vigilantly to ruin my reputation, I would not have needed to go into the lottery. And had it not been for that, I wouldn’t be with the most beautiful, talented woman whom I want to spend the rest of my life with. So, thank you.”
Ophelia just stood staring at the pair, her eyes squinted. Karlyn was sure if looks could kill, they would both be lying on the sidewalk. Karlyn smiled to herself, a sudden thought coming to mind. “So how was prison? Last I heard you were forced to spend six months in minimum security for that fraud charge? I hope they weren’t too hard on you in there. But then again, maybe that is what led to this new interest in bondage?”
“Addy, Stefano, I am through with this pitiful conversation, I think it is time to go home and enjoy some lustful adventures.”
Addison looked at Ethan squarely before turning to walk behind his master. “I’m sorry I told her what I overheard in the studio, I hope you forgive me. I’m glad you found happiness. I truly am. It gives us all hope.”
Smiling at their retreating backs, Ethan hugged Karlyn to him tighter, again hailing the aerocab. Jumping in as the nearest one arrived; they were in front of Karlyn’s building in no time. Thumbing the payport, the pair exited the vehicle and somehow climbed the stairs entwined and tangled together as if they were one entity.
Sliding the door home, Ethan stood back against it. Breathing hard, he stared at Karlyn. It was like their first time all over again, and she began to disrobe, just like that night.
He had come back to her. He loved her. Just as she was.
Sliding the silken strap from her shoulder, the soft silver gown pooled around her feet. She felt more naked in the black lace push up bra, panties and garters then she had ever felt completely nude in his sight.
“When did lingerie become a part of your wardrobe?”
“Sam talked me into it for tonight. She said that my underwear drawer is atrocious and that I needed something special for the opening to boost my self confidence.”
“And did it?”
“Honestly, I sort of forgot about it as nervous as I was at the Klimpt. But at this very moment, I am so happy I let her talk me into it.”
“As am I. You need to wear this every day.” A bead of sweat trickled down Ethan’s temple, as she watched him fisting the material of his pants, trying to maintain control. Noting the swell from his groin, she suddenly felt devilish, enjoying the control she had over his body.
“Stay there.” She lifted one leg to the cushion of the couch with her back to him, giving him a nice glimpse of her rounded bottom, beginning to work the clasp for the garter to unhook the silken hose.
“Leave
. Them. On.”
Looking over her shoulder, the smoldering look remained in his eyes as he stood up. Glad she had put the panties on the outside of the garters as Sam had suggested, she slowly lowered the black lace, and began to unhook the bra.
Before she could finish, he moved her hands away and pulled her to him. Her bra left on, he reached first one hand then the other within the lacy recesses, releasing the firm globes from the material. Pushed up and out, her breasts felt delightful. The pressure was enjoyable to her and when he grasped each nipple between a thumb and forefinger as he rubbed his cock against her rear, she felt her desire coil tighter within her.
Reaching back, she unhooked his belt, loosening the button on the front and unzipping his pants. Pushing into the wide opening, she pulled his cock loose, rubbing one hand against it and the soft ripe flesh of her ass.
Biting her neck, laving it to mute the pain, as he often did, she squealed with delight as he added one hand to her clit, bringing her to climax almost instantly. Picking her up, he moved to the couch.
Spreading her legs apart, he kneeled and plunged inside her in one quick action.
“I can’t wait, I’m sorry. I have to be inside you.”
Reaching up and loosening his tie, she pulled the long fabric from his neck as he pumped inside her. He grasped the material from her, and grabbed both wrists.
Twisting the material around both, he then tied the end to one of the iron rails of the staircase behind it. Excitement raced through her, and she climaxed again within an instant. He withdrew moments later, and she pouted in disappointment.
“Don’t worry, new position.”
Sitting down beside her on the couch, he grasped her hips and lifted, sliding under her. Once she was planted firmly in his lap, he lifted her once again and plunged his cock into her. Now with hands free, he roamed her body, one hand manipulating her aching clit, the other tweaking and pulling hard on her nipples.
Arching her back into his hands, she was able to control the angle at which he entered her. Fast, hot and hard, their lovemaking was loud and slick. After so much time apart, they needed each other with an animal instinct, as if tonight they would claim each other as their very own.
Time and place no longer existed; they were bound together in this union, giving each other all they had to give. Pleasure, pain, lust…and love.
Forever.
The End
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
The Lottery Page 20