Then all the scenarios disappeared. The reality was blissful. He had caught her, he didn’t resent her and Eva had killed all chances of getting a second shot by cheating. Much like Connor had. She couldn’t deny that she loved fate’s plan.
“I think so,” she giggled as he finally settled beside her.
“How is it?” he asked before eating a forkful.
Amber smiled. “Delicious. You always were my favourite chef.” She watched him as he looked pleased with himself at that fact, before he settled into eating and channel surfing all at once. After taking a few more bites, she couldn’t stop herself from just turning to him to ask an all important question. “Is this our first proper date?” Amber suddenly asked him.
Ethan nodded. “I hope it’s perfect.”
“There’s one problem,” she started putting her bowl down. She then took his and did the same.
“Amber,” Ethan’s voice warned, unsure what to do as she pushed the table out of the way and straddled him like she had early. He didn’t speak again, he just watched her pulled down the zip of her onesie, allowing it to uncover her breasts, but making sure it got his arousal started.
“How about we get this right this time?” she asked him seductively. “This time though without disruptions, without attachments, and without running off afterwards.”
“I thought you wanted to wait?” Ethan asked her as she reached for his zip and began to pull it down.
Amber flicked her gaze to his, showing him how full of desire she was right now. “I always seem to wait and it always seem to go wrong for me. I won’t wait to have what I want anymore, Ethan. Not when you’re here.”
Pulling the zip down slowly she watched as his tanned torso came into view. Amber pulled back and sighed, "I feel stupid."
"What, why Ambi?" Ethan asked, tucking some hair behind her ear.
"I'm dressed like this and you like that. It's not very sexy is it?" Amber sighed and stood to her feet.
"Shh," Ethan pulled her hand back down to him, but instead of letting her straddling him he took the lead. "I'm going to have my wicked way with you, here, in my bed, in my shower." He pulled Amber underneath him.
The pool of desire gathered heavily in Amber's groin and she shuddered as he licked up her neckline.
"You always taste so fucking sweet, Amber." Ethan grabbed her zip and pulled it down further. Kissing around her collarbone and back to her mouth he felt Amber unravel beneath him. Biting gently on her bottom lip he pulled it back before it released. He sat her up and pulled the stupid onesie over her shoulders.
"I'm going to worship every single part of you." His kisses grew hotter every time his lips hit her skin, and she fell under his spell almost instantly. Ethan let his fingers roam her skin, and she ended up completely naked underneath him, desire beaming from them both. "Get up," Ethan whispered against her ear.
Amber complied and stood to her feet. "What are you doing Ethan?"
"Shhh." Ethan stood to his feet and raised his finger to her lips. "Shhh." Moving his finger away, they locked eyes before passion overrode. Ethan lifted her and pushed her hard against the wall on the other side of the room. He placed Amber on her feet and licked from the inside of her thigh all the way up her body, across her stomach and back to her mouth.
"So. Fucking. Sweet." Dropping fast to his knees, he licked against her inner thigh and let his tongue tease the sensitive skin around her core. "I've dreamt about moments like this," he whispered as he moved so he was kissing across her stomach. "Always wanted you, always," he muttered against her skin. Ethan kissed her again, before starting to leisurely torture with his tongue. Lifting her leg so it was over his shoulder, he kissed and swirled at her intimate core and let the heat radiate. "So beautiful."
Amber had been destroyed. He was destroying her right here. Tilting her head back as she watched him work her, she couldn't stop the build of the inevitable orgasm take over her body. First the weight fell to the pit of her stomach, then sensations became too much. She had never had an orgasm this fast, for anyone. Feeling her body shudder, she clenched her teeth and pulled on Ethan's hair. "So fucking good," she muttered to herself and Ethan stood to his feet and took her mouth in a long lingering kiss. She had never wanted to taste herself, but as his tongue worked hers, she had no choice.
Lifting her again, he moved her over to the kitchen. Placing her back on the counter she still tried to calm down from her overwhelming orgasm. "It's me and you okay?" he asked struggling to get out of his onesie. "Me and you!"
Amber nodded unsure of what he was going to do.
Lifting her again, he carried her to his bedroom and laid her across the white sheets. "Fuck me Amber. Is it possible you were always this beautiful to me?" He started another leisurely torment of kisses before he finally gave in to himself. He wanted to let her know that he loved her, that it would always be her in his life. "I love you," he whispered as he teased her before pushing himself in slowly.
The fullness felt different to before, it felt more real. Amber took him, all of him and let him thrust slowly in and out. "Please," Amber begged. "Love me." Ethan increased his pace and lifted her. They fell into a rhythm of hips and tongues, and the desirable connection was the end for Amber. Ethan was her forever.
“I’ll always love you,” he said after he had felt himself cum within her. He knew they should have been sensible, but he needed her like she clearly needed him.
“Good,” she said as he fell beside her. She curled up into his side and said nothing else to him. She just basked in the moment. This was all she had ever wanted. A man that loved her. Not one that loved her, but made her worry about what he was really thinking about.
“You’re quiet,” Ethan broke the silence that settled around them.
“Just thinking,” she muttered quietly against him.
“About?” he pressed her, ready to find out what was weighing heavily on her.
“How things are,” she spoke back softly, kissing the bare skin on his chest. “I just didn’t know where I was going to go. Everywhere has too many memories, and it worries me I’m not strong enough to outlive them, and I just do-”
“Ambi,” Ethan cut her sentence off and looked her dead in the eyes. “Stay with me.” The statement was hard and resounding with every syllable and it struck at her heartstrings. “Don’t ever leave me again. I can’t bear to see you leave. I won’t survive that.”
And there it was, Amber’s entire world handed back to her on a silver platter - Ethan.
This time no one ran, no one’s heart broke, they just created their life together.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Amber giggled as Ethan pulled her into his arms, attacking her with kisses.
“Happy birthday, baby,” Amber whispered to him, crooning her neck so she could kiss him. “I hope I’ve made you happy today.”
“You make me happy every day,” Ethan told her with clear certainty. “I wouldn’t ask you to marry me every morning otherwise.”
“I’m going to say yes when you least expect it,” she teased him. It wasn’t that she wanted to keep saying no, but after Connor, she felt uneasy at taking such a big step. It wasn’t Ethan’s fault. She had a bad breakup and was literally saved by Ethan, she wanted this to be right, done right, and kept right.
“I’m not expecting it now,” he joked, his eyes sparkling with the idea of making her a Mitchell. “Or not,” he kissed her again.
“Yes you are,” she laughed at him, pushing him away. In the seven months they had been together life had only just gotten better with each new day. Waking up with Ethan was heaven on earth for Amber, and she had never felt this content and confident with life. She had taken it upon herself to follow her love of fashion, finally setting her own website up and establishing herself as a high paid personal shopper. She now had the job, the man, and the life she had always wanted. She had turned her life around and hadn’t looked back since.
“The party’s finally here,” Lucy said as she approache
d the pair after having disappeared. She had actually gone on the hunt for some decent champagne to ring in the fact they were all back together after three months since their last visit to Leeds. “Let’s have some proper fun.” He held up a bottle of champagne. “I could only get plastic cups, but hey, with a bit of bubbly in our systems we won’t care.”
“Oh, this is a good start to what’s going to happen tonight,” Ethan rubbed his hands together in glee.
“Enjoy it,” Lucy winked, knowing full well that Ethan had a plan to fix her up with one of his work colleagues which was why he was so excited about the evenings events. She allowed Ethan to open the bottle and she passed out the glasses, Amber holding two ready and waiting. Pouring the drink out, she waited for them to have their own before clearing her throat. “To our successes,” Lucy put her glass up to toast them all. “I think life pretty much has sorted itself out.”
Amber looked at Ethan and smiled, “Oh, it has.” She looked out across the park and sighed contently. This life was everything and more than she had ever dreamt. Taking a sip of her champagne, she felt Ethan tense beside her and then swallowed her drink before she had chance to spit it out. “Connor?” Amber near enough spilt her drink as she watched a haggard looking memory literally across her view of Hyde Park.
"Can I just do something quick?" Ethan asked as he studied Amber's reaction. "Amber." He eased her down from her tense posture. He watched as she turned to look at him, their eyes locking, and then Ethan kissed her.
She wound her fingers around his neck and gave in to the sweet kiss. "Mmm," she mumbled and pulled away. “You jealous man you,” she teased Ethan who grinned innocently at her.
"Interesting," Connor said sarcasm playing on his vocal chords. "Always were so eager for my leftovers hey Mitchell!"
Ethan stood to his feet angry at his ridiculous intrusion.
"Ethan, sit down!" Amber literally yelled, and he sat back on the blanket. "You're blocking my sunlight." Amber looked up at the man she had loved, staring down at her. “Now,” she said and fluttered her lashes. She wanted him to back down and not act like he had to fight her corner. It was unnecessary, she wasn’t the weakling that had loved Connor. Ethan had done more than restore her. He had strengthened her, made her reach for stars and love without knowing limits.
"Feisty Amber. Why are you still in London?" Connor sneered disapprovingly at the relationship bestowed before him.
Amber rolled her eyes. "I love it here. I live here and have done since that night you showed your true colours beautifully. What do you want, Connor?"
"Nothing," Connor muttered shrugging his hands into his pockets. He crouched down in front of her much to Ethan's disgust. "I just wanted you to know, that even though you're with this pile of shit now, that I will always love you. Forever, Amber. It will always be you locked away in here." He pointed to his heart. He stood and began to walk away.
"Connor wait!" Amber yelled and he turned back to face her. She shot to her feet and stormed towards him she wasn’t going to just let him go on his merry way after that wayward comment. "You wrecked this, us, you destroyed it all. You’ve got no right to come here, and try spoil my day. Not anymore. No more will I fall at your feet and care for you. "
"Amber, don't flatter yourself. I didn't come here for you. I was on a break from work. Listen, if you ever wanna grab a coffee just call me okay? I miss you. So much."
"I don't care, Connor. You didn't miss me when you sank your dick in that girl." Turning on her heel Amber turned her back on pain and stared at happiness.
Ethan patted the blanket and she saw Connor walk away with such anger burning off him. Scoffing with accomplishment, Amber fell back into Ethan's lap.
"You guys could have kept it on the down low," Lucy muttered as she sat looking around at those passing them by. "This isn't Yorkshire y'know. London's classy!"
Both Amber and Ethan burst out laughing and Connor became once again a distant memory.
Calming down, Ethan looked at Amber and then to Lucy. “Think it’s time we headed back and got ourselves ready for this meal later?”
“Do we have to?” Lucy pouted. She hated feeling the third wheel, but she hated even more being shoved into uncomfortable situations with potential hook ups.
Amber tried not to laugh at Lucy, but she failed. “Babe, Robbie is lovely. He’s kind and caring, he’s hot too.”
“Should I be worried?” Ethan stepped in, a heat in his tone showing the jealousy clawing at him.
“Nah, he’s not your level hotness, Eth,” she said and reached out to pat his cheek. “You’re safe.” She looked at Lucy who sat with an extremely sour look on her face as the eleventh hour closed in and she would have to just entertain a complete stranger. “Seriously, Lucy, would I ever set you up with a completely low life?”
“I know,” Lucy moaned out and literally growled. “What if he thinks I’m a complete weirdo?”
“You are,” Ethan joked and couldn’t move fast enough as Lucy struck her palm on his legs. “Hey! You are, but that’s a good thing. Look, Rob isn’t some hotshot guy who thinks he owns the world. He’s like me. He likes a good time, loves Ambi and her weirdness, so why would you be an exception?”
“C’mon,” Amber said standing up, dusting herself off of grass and crumbs and putting her hand out. “It’s time to go back to the flat, open a bottle of wine and get ready.”
“I get dibs on shower time with you?” Ethan asked, pouting mischievously at his girlfriend.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’ll put my headphones in and paint my nails whilst you two do whatever.”
“Girl, you learn quick,” Ethan joked, pushing Lucy playfully as he did so. “I say we get Rob around for pre-drinks. It saves the nerves, and we can all go together to meet the others.”
Watching Lucy look at her pleadingly, Amber smirked, “Good idea.”
“Amber!” Lucy exclaimed in horror. “You’re supposed to be making this easier!”
“I am,” Amber joked. “Look, it’ll happen when you least expect it, and I just think Rob is the guy for you. He’s amazing. I didn’t expect to be six months into a relationship with the man of my dreams,” she shot Ethan a wink as she said that, “after I found Connor sleeping around with a two bit whore, but here I am. When I least expected it, my life changed and I won’t regret it. Give Rob a chance. This could be the making of you.”
“Then all we have to do is convince her to move down here with us,” Ethan quipped, folding up the large tartan blanket they had been sat on. “It’s hotter weather down here too. Everyone loves hotter weather.”
“And hotter men,” Amber joked, giggling as she watched Ethan’s face darken for a moment.
“Finished with that sentence?” Ethan asked her, wanting to her to reiterate or elaborate for his egos sake.
Biting her lip and casting her eyes up to the gaze thoughtfully, Amber began to slowly nod. “Yup, I think I nailed it all.”
Watching Ethan dropped the blanket, Lucy pushed Amber away, “I’d run before I have to explain to the police that this is public molestation going on.”
With a small squeal as Ethan made a beeline for her, Amber ran off, looking over her shoulder and not seeing who she was colliding with. She felt her heart sink and her stomach bottom on her. What were the chances she would literally run into Connor as he seemed to be going back to work after seeing him only twenty minutes earlier?
Suddenly, Connor's face broke into a flurry of panic. “You need to know something.” He grabbed Amber’s hands, trying to keep her from running back to the man he hated. “It’s about Eva. She-”
“Stop!” Amber ended his attempt at telling her something. “You and her are both in the same categories. You both hurt me, and I don’t want to know. I can’t trust you enough not to hurt me, Connor.” Snatching back her hands Amber ran one through her hair. "You can't just waltz back here and act like everything is a'okay when it's really not. I don't give a fuck about you, or a fuck about Eva. You
're both welcome to each other. Don't make me part of it!"
Ethan watched on with a vengeance. He didn't want Connors propaganda flooding Amber's mind. He knew how vindictive he was. "Leave him Ambi, just come back with me, baby."
Connor snorted, and looked back into the love of his life's eyes and shut his at the pain he felt inside. Reopening his eyes he shook his head slightly. "Don't say I didn't warn you both. Enjoy your evening." With that he turned his back on her, on them with hope for better days.
***
"We don't have time, Ethan, stop it!" Amber giggled as he kissed the sensitive spots on her neck.
"You two are gross!" Lucy shouted from the other room. "I have mojitos in here! Come grab one!"
"Come on baby," Ethan whispered, his hot breath teasing Amber's ear. "I know you want me." Ethan placed his hand on Amber's lower back and teased the skin. "This dress shows too much skin, I want to kiss every inch all over." Winking, he pulled her into a long lingering kiss. "My beautiful Ambi."
As they made their way into the kitchen, Amber propped herself on a breakfast stool and sipped on the green drink in front of her. "Luce, this is yum babe!" Taking another large gulp, she watched her beautiful friend dance around hers and Ethan’s kitchen.
"Sooooo," Lucy lingered. "What do you reckon sleezeball wanted to tell you?"
Shrugging, Amber smiled. "I don't really care Luce, I have all I need right now, he's keeping me sane, my Ethie Baby!" Smiling, Amber finished off her drink and pushed the martini glass back towards Lucy. "Top me up bitch!"
Lucy turned, and smirked. "Sure, 'bitch’." Empathising the -itch Lucy poured her best friend another drink. "You're happy Amber, this makes me happy."
"Good I'm glad. I miss you so much Lucy, you need to come live here, London is so full of adventure!"
“I get enough adventure out of your stories of the dates you and Ethan go on,” Lucy quipped with a wink. “How would I handle living it?”
“You’d love it,” Ethan said as he came out, deciding to roll his sleeves loosely to help keep him cool on this humid summer evening. The real temperature might be scorching, but the sight of his girlfriend just rose the levels to a murderous height. “You’d love the life, the heat, the shopping.”
Your Little Secret Page 23