Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Fiona
Ethan slides his arms under my legs and shoulders, lifting me into his arms and making me gasp. For a second, I thought he was going to deny me, but when he turns, closes the door, and begins walking to his car, I realize he’s taking me home with him instead of staying with me.
“I don’t have any—“}}
“I’ll take car of it.”
That’s all he says ashe lowers me into the back seat of the car and then climbs in on the other side.
“You alright?” Ryan asks from the driver’s seat, and I jump, not realizing he was here.
“1. not really,” I murmur. He eyes me then Ethan as he starts the car.
“Well, Ethan has never taken any woman home before. This is the first time..”
“Stop,” Ethan commands. Ryan merely smiles and shuts up. The rest of the drive is silent, which is nice after so much chaos.
Soon, we pull into the long drive of a mansion, and my eyes widen. I knew Ethan was rich, but I guess I didn’t realize how rich. His home is massive, with at least three levels and a huge lawn and garden. It makes my house look like a shoebox.
A butler, who reminds me of a penguin with his pointy nose, greets us at the door with wide eyes.
“Welcome horne, Mr. Montgomery and Ms…”
“Fiona,” I tell him. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. I’m Butler Evans. If you need anything, please call for me. I’ve prepared the blue room for your arrival,” the man says. I nod and continue following Ethan, who says nothing as we walk
He leads me through the large home and up to the second floor. There have to be at least three rooms on this hallway alone. and when we stop by the door in the middle of the hall, Ethan pushes the door open.
Dusty blue walls with white furniture and silver accent decorations greet me. The room is nearly three times the size of mine at my small house and is so, so much nicer. Everything looks expensive and new.
“This will be your room for the night. Evans has prepared some clothes for you in the closet,” Ethan says, stepping to the side to let me in. Walking inside is almost like stepping into a room fit for a princess.
“The bathroom is the door to your right. Take a bath and clean your wounds,” he tells me, nodding to my leg
“Thank you, Ethan.”
Stepping out of the bathroom, I sigh in contentment. That bath was exactly what I needed. Warm water and bubbles, and uninterrupted time to myself
With the towel wrapped around me, I limp across the room to closet and open it. A navy–blue silk night gown hangs in the front of the closet with undergarments laying on the shelf beneath it. I quickly slip into the nighty and panties before dropping the towel into the hamper.
A knock sounds at the door.
1/4
210 Sun, 13 Apr
Chapter 16
“Fiona
the room and then at the bed. I want nothing more than to climb in and pass out.
Ethan. I look around the
Bees buzz in my stomach, stirring up my nerves. We agreed to be in a relationship with benefits, so does he expect me to have sex with him tonight? I glance at my thigh. It still hurts, even if it isn’t bleeding anymore, and a bruise is forming around the cut.
I wonder if I could ask him for a few days to rest and recover. I guess tonight will be a good time to test his true colors.
“C–come in,” I call out.
The door opens, and I shuffle backwards toward the bed, sitting on the edge as he enters. If he demands sex, I don’t know what I do. However, my worries are dashed when I notice the first aid kit in his hand.
“You didn’t bandage it, he mutters, sounding slightly pleased yet disappointed at the same time. I’m not sure how that works, but it does, and the fact that he’s bringing me medicine warms my chest a bit
At least he’s not a total neanderthal
“Does it still hurt?” He asks, stopping in front of me.
I shake my head, lying because I don’t want him to get angry again, and reach for the kit. He sets the box on the bed beside me, so I open it up, grab an applicator and the medicine, and slide the nightgown up my leg.
I’m painfully aware of his heavy gaze watching me, and I can’t help but remember how it felt to be with him.
Was this going to happen tonight!
Did I want it to happen!
Shaking the thoughts away, I dips the applicator into the medicine.
“Let me apply it for you,” Ethan says, and then he lowers himself and kneels before me. I go still, taking in a quick breatht when his hand circles my ankle and slowly slides up my calf. Tingles zip through my body and settle in my core, making me shift
“Yes, sir,”” I whisper. I mentally slap myself for the breathy, needy response. When he holds his hand out, I place the applicator in his hand and watch with every bit of my attention as he cups my thigh.
My entire body burns with need as he gently pulls me closer by tugging on my thigh.
Warm breath fans across my sensitive flesh just before he slides the applicator across my cut. I wince and gasp at the spark of pain that flares in my injury.
y thigh. I
Then I gasp for a whole different reason as Ethan’s thumb brushes tenderly back and forth along the outside of my i shift as my core floods with heat, and Ethan pins me with his eyes.
“S–sorry.” I whisper again. How is this the same man who’d yelled at me in his office. How does he switch from detached CEO to attentive lover.
Carefully. Ethan finishes applying the medicine before bandaging my injury. I stay silent and still like he asked until he’s put the medicine away I can’t help but let my mind wander as he makes his way to the bathroom to clean up.
Would Ethan really want me as his partner for an entire year or would he get tired of me in a few days and drop me like Jack
ΕΙ
12 to Jun, 13 Apr
Chapter 16
Ethan
55%
After applying Fiona’s medicine, I wash my hands in her bathroom and then take a minute to compose myself. Her surrounds me and it’s not only the scent of her arousal. I can scent her fear and anxiety.
Herscent
“Stay with her,” my wolf urges. “She needs us.”
Sighing. I rake my hand through my hair and take a deep breath. I don’t want to be attached to this woman, but I’m not a complete asshole.
“Fine. Just for a bit,” I tell him, and be howls in triumph.
Walking back into the bedroom. I make my way over to the bed and pull back the covers.
“You need to rest,” I tell her. At my words, the nervous scent lessens, and I sigh. She’s not just worried about what happened earlier. She’s nervous because of me
I kick off my shoes and climb in beside her, watching as her eyes widen.
“Sleep,” I tell her and not giving her time to respond, I turn the light off and roll over. I wrap an arm around her and pull her to my chest.
THE
“Mate,” my wolf rumbles, but I shove him aside.
“I’m only doing this because she’s scared.” He huffs in disbelief, but I ignore him. I don’t need him badgering me right now.
At first, she lays stiffly, so I brush my hand slowly over her hair until her body relaxes and her breathing deepens. Once I know she’s asleep, I slide out of the bed and head to my home office. Ryan is waiting for me when I enter, and he stands, a serious expression on his face.
“What now?” I ask.
“The son of the Blue Moon Pack’s Alpha challenged you to a battle of strength,” Ryan informs me. “He announced that he believes your time in the human world has weakened your strength and fighting abilities.”
My wolf and I growl at the same time. This weakling from a new pack dares to call me out when he hasn’t done anything of importance or repute?
“Then it’s time to settle this uncertainty for all the packs,” I tell him, clenching my jaw in annoyance. Like I don’t have enough on my plate already.
Ryan opens his mouth, but hesitates before speaking.
“Go ahead.”
“What about Fiona? Is she… You’ve always been fair and impartial when it comes to disputes or conflict, but today you intervened in the legal system for her,” he says, clasping his hands behind his back. He straightens up a bit more before adding, “Is Fiona your mate?
“No,” I tell him, even as my woll screams, “YES” in my head.
“She’s just my sexual partner for the year, I say, sitting at my computer. Ryan raises an eyebrow, and I know what he’s thinking. I’m thinking the same thing. I’ve already done so much for her, more than I’ve done for any other woman.
Have I done too much, though?
