A Wonderful Kind of Love: A Billionaire Small Town Love Story (Kinds of Love Book 2)

by Krista Lakes

  “Thanks for a great night,” Ethan said. “There's nobody else I would rather be with right now.”

  “I should be thanking you,” she said. “The fact that you'd set all of this up for me just blows my mind. The dinner, the private chef, the plane tickets, this gorgeous cabin with the incredible view of Denver. It's like a dream.”

  “It's all just stuff, really,” he said with a shrug. The firelight danced across his skin, and all she wanted to do was touch it. “The stuff didn’t make it great. What actually made it great is the fact that you were there to enjoy it with me. That's the only thing that really matters.”

  Her heart pitter-pattered behind her rib cage. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes. They were just so hypnotic. And that smile and the way he spoke to her with such sweetness. She was pretty damn sure that if she wasn't careful, she would fall head over heels for this guy. It might have already been too late. No one had ever treated her this well. Nobody had ever seemed to care as much.

  “Kiss me again,” she whispered.

  Ethan did as she asked. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, drinking her in. It was so romantic in front of the fireplace, too. To Laura, it felt like something out of a movie or a dream. Still, though, the powerful need to make love to him egged her on. Kissing wasn't enough. She needed to feel him deeply.

  Laura broke the kiss and slowly go to her knees. She glanced up and down Ethan's body. He was completely naked, and his skin glowed orange from the nearby flames. She wanted to kiss every inch of him all over again.

  “You should take off that dress,” he said, with eagerness in his eyes.

  She nodded in agreement, then stood to her feet. With one quick movement, she grabbed the bottom of her dress and pulled it over her head.

  “God, yes,” Ethan gasped, his jaw dropping.

  She bit her bottom lip and reached behind her, unclasping her bra and letting it slide forward off of her shoulders. His eyes were fixated on her, and she loved it. It made her feel like the sexiest person to ever walk the Earth.

  She slipped down her white lace underwear, all the way to her ankles. Then she picked it up and playfully tossed them toward Ethan. He snatched them out of the air immediately and kept them in his grip.

  “Now come back over here,” he said, beckoning her with a finger. She grinned.

  Laura dropped to her hands and knees and began to crawl toward him. She went slowly, savoring the moment. Even though there was nothing more in the world she wanted to do than jump straight onto his lap, it was still fun to hold off for as long as she could handle.

  “Don't tease me,” Ethan begged. “You're killing me right now. Come here.”

  “Or what?” she asked, stopping in her tracks and grinning at him as she stayed just out of reach.

  “I'll just have to come get you,” he said, slowly sitting up.

  She shrugged. “Maybe that's what you should do then.”

  Ethan crawled to his knees and then lunged at her, wrapping her up with his powerful arms. She squealed and giggled, while he spun her around and laid her on the rug. He made sure his hand hit the floor before she did.

  “I like when you do that,” she said, gently touching his lower lip with her index finger.

  He held himself over her, using his body weight to pressed her into the soft fur that surrounded her. He brought his face forward and kissed her. It felt as amazing as the first. In fact, each one was getting better.

  “Condom?” he asked.

  She sighed. “We probably should.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Yeah. I guess you're right.”

  Luckily, he had one in the pocket of his slacks.

  I guess I wasn't the only one hoping for things to turn X-rated tonight, she thought, with a smirk.

  Ethan slipped on the condom and then resumed his position over the top of her.

  “Yes...” she groaned, dropping her hands to her side and gripping the carpet.

  He pressed into her all the way. Her jaw dropped slightly, and she let out a gasp as a wave of pleasure washed over her. She brought her hands to his forearms, holding on as he began making love to her.

  Ethan held himself over her with his hands just above her shoulders. He dropped his head a bit and kissed the outside of her neck. The movements of his hips were slow at first but quickly sped up.

  Laura wrapped her legs around his waist and began pulling him deeper into her with each thrust. The two were entwined in an intimate dance, while that romantic fire crackled nearby.

  Laura let out a moan of pleasure while she dug her fingernails into his back. He let out an animal-sounding growl that heated her to the core. She was the source of his lust, and she knew it.

  Because of the heat of the fire, and the of the moment, it wasn't long before both of them were coated with a light layer of sweat. It made their skin slick. Laura's hands continued to find their way around Ethan's back, occasionally dropping down his arms so that she could admire the way his muscles flexed as he held himself over her.

  Ethan lifted his eyes to meet hers. She lost herself to the pale green of his soul and forgot to breathe. He slowed his pace down, all the way to a stop. Then, in one movement, he brought his hands to her hips and rolled over onto his back, making it so that Laura was now on top of him.

  She straddled his lap and brought her hands to his chest, using it to hold herself up. Then she began to ride him. The look on Ethan's face was priceless as she took his complete length. He just kept moving his eyes up and down her body, and it was clear that he was shocked by her beauty.

  Ethan's hand went to the top of her thighs, then drifted up past her belly button, finally landing on her breasts. He fondled them, letting her nipples slide between his fingertips. He stayed there for just a moment, then continued the journey upward until his hands were on top of her shoulders. With that, he pulled her down toward him and began kissing her.

  The two moaned out, their lips and tongues intertwined, while Laura continued to drop her weight over his lap. It wasn't long before she felt herself rise to a climax. She rode the waves of ecstasy all the way to the top. It was the sound of him that did her in. It was his gasp and primal groan as he lost himself to her that tipped her over the edge. Her entire world dissolved into nothing but bliss. When it was over, she opened her eyes and took a shaky breath.

  “How do you do that to me?” she whispered, still in a daze.

  “You do the same to me,” he said.

  The two cuddled up next to the fire. Ethan put his arm around Laura while they both lay on the rug and watched the flames flick up against the brick chimney. It was so peaceful and serene, just laying there with him. Everything was perfect. The aching desire between her thighs had turned into a tingling contentedness.

  She smiled as she squirmed against him, cuddling as close as possible. “I can honestly say, this was the best evening I've ever had. Every part of it. You seriously made my night. I don't know if I've ever been this happy.”

  Ethan kissed the top of her shoulder. “Me either, Laura. This is just so perfect.”

  Between the warmth of the fire and the feeling of safety with Ethan's arms around her, Laura faded off into a deep and peaceful sleep.

  Chapter 22

  Laura

  Laura woke up to the morning sun shining in through the window of the cabin. She slowly opened her eyes and glanced around the room. It was the first time seeing it in the daylight. The fire had gone out, but it was still smoldering and putting out enough warmth to take the chill out of the air.

  Well, I'm awake and last night was most definitely not just a dream, she thought. That makes me happier than I've been in a long time.

  Ethan's arm was wrapped around her. She felt as he pulled her close him so that her back pressed against his chest. Then he kissed the top of her shoulder, sending a tingle through her.

  “You awake?” he whispered.

  Laura nodded. “Yeah, just woke up actually.”

  “What time is it?
” he asked.

  “No clue,” she said. “I guess around eight.”

  “We should just lay here all day,” he said, chuckling.

  “God, I wish that I could.” Laura sighed and pressed her back against him, snuggling as close as possible. “I've got to get back to the kids, though. I told Elena that I wouldn't be out late, and here it is, already the next day.”

  Ethan lifted his head up a bit. He brought his hand to her shoulder and began tracing patterns with his fingertips. His touch felt nice, and Laura closed her eyes for a moment, just trying to enjoy it.

  “I had such a great time with you last night,” Ethan said. “Best date of my life.”

  “Mine too,” she said, gazing toward the window on the opposite side of the room from them. “You surprised me with so many good things.”

  It was right then that Laura remembered the trip to the Caribbean that he had surprised her with. At first, she'd been excited about it. She'd agreed to go, and everything about it sounded spectacular. Now, though, something in her gut made the idea of getting on a plane and heading thousands of miles away from home made her more anxious than anything else.

  “Ethan,” she said, after a few moments of silence.

  “Hmm?” he grunted, still drawing imaginary circles on her shoulders.

  He was obviously as happy as could be, but she needed to be completely honest with him.

  “I don't think I can go to the Caribbean with you,” she said, as she rolled over so that she could face him.

  His relaxed smile turned into a frown immediately upon hearing the news. “How come? I thought you were so excited about taking the kids out to see the ocean.”

  “I was excited,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “But I can't get on that airplane. The thought of boarding that thing and sitting in those seats, the same kind of seats that my parents were in during their crash... It terrifies me. I can't even think about it. I'm sorry. I just...”

  Ethan slipped his arms around her and held her tightly against his chest. “Shhh, shhh. I get it, Laura. I completely understand. If you don't feel comfortable going, I won't make you. I'd never force you to do something that you didn't want to.”

  He held her there for a moment, and Laura closed her eyes, pressing her cheek against his bare chest. Having Ethan with her helped to ease the anxiety in her heart. It was tough because there was nothing more in the world that she wanted to do than to go to the beach with him and the kids. But memories of her parent's death haunted her, and even the remote possibility of having Dallas and Ivy's lives end in a similar way was enough to send her into a panic attack.

  “Are you okay?” Ethan asked as he began to rub her back gently.

  She nodded. “Yeah, I'm fine. I wish I could get over this fear, but it's just so hard. I've thought about that accident so much that it was almost like I was on that plane myself. That's the only thing that makes me not want to take the trip with you, though, I promise. If it weren't for that, I'd go with you no matter what.”

  “For what it's worth, Laura, the tickets are for a private jet,” he said. “It wouldn't even feel like a plane. It's a completely different experience.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “You're not strapped down to your seat for half the flight,” he said. “You can get up and walk around as much as you want. We'll have the plane to ourselves, too. You don't have to worry about anyone. And unlimited drinks.”

  He flashed a wink, and for the first time since they were talking about airplanes, Laura smiled. “Unlimited drinks, huh?”

  “And it's all the good stuff,” he said. He brushed a hair from her cheek, his eyes soft as he touched her. “It'll be you, Craig and me. But Craig will probably spend most of the time up in the cockpit, hanging out with the pilot.”

  She was silent for a bit, her mind whirling with possibilities and worse case scenarios. Suddenly, the sound of an airplane engine filled her ears. It came out of nowhere, like a flashback in a scary movie. The deafening roar surrounded her. Ethan was still talking, but she could only see his lips moving. She couldn't hear a word he was saying over the sound of the airplane motor.

  All at once, images of her parents laying in the flames of a plane wreck entered her mind. She saw her mother there, wearing what used to be a beautiful white dress, but was now just a charred piece of cloth that hung desperately to her body. Her father was nearby, surrounded by flames that were too high for her to reach him. It was her worst nightmare. She was there but could do nothing to help. She was forced just to stand there and face the reality that they were gone and were never coming back.

  A tear fell down her cheek, and Ethan reached forward, wiping it away with his thumb. “Hey, you alright?”

  The engine sounded faded away, and Laura snapped back to reality. She looked around in a daze until she finally regained her senses.

  “Yeah,” she said, sniffling. “Sorry, I was just thinking about planes. It's never a fun thing for me to think about.”

  Ethan stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. He gazed into her eyes. If I ever feel safe again, I know that it will be with him, she thought. Still, though, everything inside of her screamed at her to never get on an airplane again. It was, of course, just fear that filled her mind with these ideas. Regardless, fear was one powerful influence, and it had a grip on her that was so fierce it was impossible to ignore.

  “I'd be with you the entire time,” Ethan said. “If you got scared, I'd be right there. Anything that would make you feel more comfortable on the flight, I can make happen. I don't care what it is. Movies, games, drinks, food, a mariachi band. I'll figure out a way to make it happen, and it will get done. I promise you that.”

  Laura wanted to say 'yes' again so badly. She really did. She wanted to pretend that everything would be okay, but in all reality, she had no clue how she might react the moment she stepped foot on that airplane. Having a full blown panic attack in front of Ethan wasn't exactly the kind of impression she wanted to make on him.

  “I don't know, Ethan,” she said, shaking her head. “I just don't know.”

  “Look, Laura, if it's that difficult for you, then we don't have to go,” he said. “As I said, I don't want you to do something you're not comfortable with. But if there's even a tiny part of you that feels like you can do it, please consider it. I promise it will be safe and also that it will be worth it. The ocean can heal you. It heals me, anyway. Every time I go there, I leave feeling so much better about life. It puts things in perspective. I'd love nothing more than to show it to you.”

  “You know, I've technically seen the ocean before,” Laura said. “I don't remember it making me feel that way, though.”

  “That's because you saw the industrial city ocean,” he said. “That's not where I'm taking you, though. This is completely different. Where we're going in the Caribbean is unlike any other ocean in the world. The house is built over the water. We can snorkel with dolphins that live in the area.”

  “Dolphins?” she asked, perking up. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Ethan's eyes lit up as he spoke. “The coral reefs there are gorgeous, too. I've never seen so much ocean life in one spot. It's like taking a swim in an issue of National Geographic Magazine, only a million times better because you're actually there to experience it.”

  “It sounds lovely,” she said, with a sigh.

  “The water there is so clear, Laura,” he said. “When you swim out beyond the reefs, you can see all the way to the bottom. It's not uncommon to look down and see whales swimming underneath you. It's happened to me before. Twice, actually. It's not like California ocean either. It's not cold at all. Picture crystal clear water the temperature of a nice bath.”

  “I've got to be honest, you're making this place sound like a paradise,” she said.

  He smiled and nodded. “That word wouldn't even do justice to what this little piece of the Caribbean is like.”

  Laura rolled over onto her back and
stared up and the ceiling. Doubt still loomed in her mind, but somewhere, in the depths of her heart, something more powerful illuminated. It was dim at first but slowly got brighter. Something inside of her began to make her feel like maybe it was time to face her fears and start to live out her future instead of her past.

  “So if I were to agree to go, all I'd have to do is get onto the plane?” she asked softly.

  Ethan nodded. “That's it. Nothing else. Will you try? If you get there and change your mind, that's okay, too. We can turn around, and I'll take you back home without question.”

  Laura looked over at him. She gazed into those beautiful green eyes of his and sensed his sincerity. If she was going ever to have a chance of facing this fear, this was going to be it. She felt safer with Ethan than anybody else and with his reassurance, she realized she might just have a chance at getting through this.

  “I'll try,” she finally said. “If you're with me.”

  He slowly smiled. “Always.”

  “Thank you, Ethan,” she said, feeling the tension in her shoulders relax.

  “You are most welcome,” he said.

  Then he leaned in and kissed her. It was a profound and meaningful kiss, and to Laura, it reassured her that his words were true. That he was with her always and that he would keep her safe.

  When the kiss was over, Laura snuggled into him, with her face against his chest. She listened to his heartbeat and his breathing. She realized right then, as Ethan held her against his body that she wasn't scared. He had made her feel so secure about everything. For the moment at least, the anxiety that had filled her with the idea of flying on a plane seemed to disappear.

  I can face this fear, she thought. With Ethan, I feel like I can face anything.

  Chapter 23

  Ethan

  “Sir? Do you need anything?” Craig asked, walking into the space Ethan was currently using as an office.