Chapter 112
*Lily*
There’s a fine line between playing with fire and being an idiot.
And I just crossed it.
I waded through a sea of bodies and made my way upstairs to Ethan’s office, knowing full well he would be up there watching me. I’d felt his hot eyes on me like a brand since the moment I stepped inside of Club Titan tonight. When I left my cash on the bar for the drink I wouldn’t be drinking, I waited until Ethan appeared in the window above the club, that familiar arrogance lifting his mouth into a smirk. But it quickly turned into something else. Something hot. And I didn’t know whether I wanted to run from it or straight into it.
I went with the second option.
I winked at him and now I’m standing in front of the door to his office, my pulse thrumming wildly in my neck and wrists. I could turn around right now and walk back downstairs, out onto the sidewalk where it’s safe. The cool air would feel so good on my heated skin and this tight red dress would be more than appropriate for the long walk home.
But no.
I need to do this.
Ethan has been an enigma to me since I was a little girl. My brother’s bad boy best friend who let me tag along while they went skateboarding or played video games in the basement. He was so much older than me back then, but he’d still given me attention. Made me feel like I belonged, even though I didn’t at all.
Because of that connection with him during my childhood, I’ve always felt a… tension between us. An awareness of each other that never went away, even when I went off to college and he moved away from New York. Now that we’re both back, I’ve found myself thinking about him a lot. Dreaming about him. Wondering what it would be like if he didn’t treat me like his best friend’s little sister. Like I’m some kind of temptation that he’s afraid to touch.
I think I might have my answer to that question in a few seconds.
When I knock on his office door, it swings open right away. Ethan is standing in the entrance, his eyes blazing down at me, his chest heaving. There are a few feet separating us, but the distance disappears when he closes his fists at his sides. His knuckles go white as snow and I can tell he’s holding himself back from grabbing me. I want him to do it anyway, though.
That’s why I’m here.
I swallow hard and whisper, “Hi.”
His chest rises and falls once. “Lily.”
The way he says my name makes my nipples peak. His voice is so deep and raspy, full of command. He sounds like he wants to take a piece of me and make it his own.
Yes.
“I’m surprised you came up here,” he rasps, his gaze traveling down my body, then back up again. “Are you going to run away this time, too, or stay a little while?”
I lift my chin and let my eyes drift up to his. “Maybe both.”
He makes a rough sound in his throat, stepping back to let me inside. He kicks the door shut behind me and flicks the lock into place, then watches with tight features as I take in the room with wide eyes. It’s decorated with masculine taste, all dark colors and leather furniture. There is a sleek desk in the middle of the room and two chairs in front of it, with a bar along the back wall lined with liquor bottles.
“How have you been, Lily?” he asks hoarsely. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Thanks.” I play with the hem of my dress. “You too. It was great seeing you again at my welcome home party.”
“That was just a few weeks ago.” He moves closer and my breath catches. “Something has changed since then.”
“You mean this?” I run my hands down the sides of my dress. “I just figured out if I dress the way they do, no one treats me like an idiot.”
His gaze narrows and he moves closer, so close that I can smell his cologne. “Who has treated you like an idiot?”
“I’ve been through a lot lately.” I take a step back, but he follows. “And it’s made me realize I need to be a little more… bad ass in order to get taken seriously.”
He tips my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. “I’ve always taken you seriously, baby. Don’t ever question that.”
There’s a lump forming in my throat and I have to clear it before speaking. “Thank you.”
“Are you sure that’s all that’s going on?” He studies me with hard eyes, his jaw working like he’s biting back words. “I hope some son of a bitch didn’t hurt you. Because I’d love the chance to kick his ass.”
I shake my head. “It was my fault.”
“Like hell it was.” His voice drops to a growl. “No man in his right mind would want to hurt you, Lily.” He renews his grip on my chin and drags me closer, until we’re toe to toe. His breath is hot on my face and it smells like whiskey and peppermint gum. “Do you understand me? No man could look at you the way I’m looking at you right now and walk away.”
That makes my thighs clench together.
He wants me. Badly.
All the signs are there in the hard ridges of his cheekbones and the pulse in his neck and the hands that look like they’re fighting to keep from touching me. So why isn’t he doing anything about it? Why is he standing so still, watching me like he might die if he blinks?
“Ethan,” I whisper, my legs starting to shake. “I came up here for a reason.”
His Adam’s apple jumps up and down. “Yeah?”
I nod and lean in, pressing my mouth to his throat, dragging my lips higher until I’ve reached his ear. “Touch me.” I trail my mouth along the side of his neck and feel him shudder against me. “Please touch me.”