Chapter 47
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(+23)
Fiona
I claw at the guard’s arm, making him drop my hair and swear. Small trails of blood run down his forearm, sending a little sliver of accomplishment through me. I’m not a weak little girl, and I won’t let him get away with trying to assault me.
“You little whore,” Ethan’s ex screeches. I turn just in time for her hand to collide with my check.
Burning pain flares to life in my cheek, and I fall back, hitting the floor with a cry,
“You’re nothing more than a cunt Ethan used to pass the time,” his ex snarls. She leans over me like a dark cloud and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at her. “He doesn’t love you and doesn’t need you. A pathetic, poor whore like yourself is good for nothing other than being a temporary sex toy that’s used for pleasure before it’s thrown away.”
Her words stab at my heart, and even though I try to ignore them, the feeling of inadequacy surfaces.
“And now that he’s done with you,” the guard growls, hauling me up. Before I can get away, he shoves me against the wall again, his hand clamping around my throat as he pins me. “I’ll have you all to myself.
“Ethan-”
Fear fully grips my heart as the man tightens his hold on my neck, cutting my words off.
“What the hell is going on here?”
My eyes find Ethan’s from over the guard’s shoulder, a whimper of terror escaping me.
Before I can say anything, Ethan is across the hall, throwing the guard down and slamming his fist into the man’s face.
Then he whirls on his ex, the furious gaze finding her.
“Ethan, I-”
“Get the hell out of here before I show you just how angry I am,” he orders.
She flinches back, glancing at me.
“Do not look at her,” Ethan growls, stepping between us and shielding me from the woman. I reach up and curl my fingers into the hem of his jersey to anchor myself. My fingers brush the bare skin of his lower back, sending comforting tingles through me. His warm presence calms me but touching him fully grounds me.
Two guards come out of the locker room just as she scurries away.
“Take this filth to the police and let them know we’ll be pressing charges,” Ethan commands, motioning to the man on the floor. “Tell them Ethan Montgomery said if anyone releases him before I come to the station, they’ll have hell to pay. He is to stay there until my lawyer and I can get to him.”
“Of course, sir. We’ll take care of it,” one of the men says as they bend down to scoop my attacker up by the arms. I watch from behind Ethan as they disappear down the hallway.
My body falls forward, but Ethan is there, wrapping an arm around me and catching me against his chest. His hand brushes against my aching cheek then down to my neck where the man had held me.
His touch is gentle, but his eyes are full of fire as he looks me over.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asks, running his hands over me to check for injuries. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Fiona. I didn’t know she would… I should’ve paid more attention.”
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22:40 Mon, 14 Apr A A.
Chapter 47
48%
When I don’t respond, Ethan scoops me up and carries me off. The fear and anxiety pulsing through me make me close my eyes and lean into his chest. I let his slightly fast heartbeat lull me into a comfortable silence.
Ethan walks to the main lobby area and stops by a desk, sitting me on the desk there. I search the room but find no other people in the area. Thankfully. I don’t think I could handle being around anyone else right now.
A rumble sounds from Ethan, and when I look up at him, his face is still a mask of anger, red and pinched, and he’s still breathing slightly heavy
“Are you okay, Fiona?” He asks again, letting his hands rest on my thighs. I flinch at the touch which makes him pull back.
His eyes flash to that slightly yellow color as he growls again and steps back. He holds his hands up, and I nod silently, unsure what to say.
“No, tell me. Give me the words or I swear I’ll go crazy,” he growls.
“I–I’m fine, just shaken,” I tell him. I was scared, but with him here, there’s nothing to fear.
Reaching out, I take both of his hands and tug him forward. Ethan lets me guide him between my legs and watches as I lay his hands on my thighs. Little pleasurable and comforting tingles spread through my body from his touch, making me sigh.
I don’t know what it is, but the moment he touches me, everything else falls away.
“I’m okay, Ethan. Thank you,” I murmur, leaning into his chest.
His heart beats steady and strong against my cheek, and I take a moment to just listen to it before pulling back.
“They hurt you,” he growls, cupping my chin.
I let him lift my face and inspect the damage, watching as his eyes darken when they land on my cheek and neck. I haven’t seen myself, but I’m sure I’m a mess after being hit and having my hair yanked.
However, the warmth that rises in me comes from the anger and care I find on Ethan’s face.
“He marked you.”
The slight ache in my neck tells me I’ll probably have a bruise there in the morning. I lift my fingers to the skin, finding it more tender when I touch it.
“He wouldn’t let me in, and your ex said I would… that I would sleep with him to get into the locker room,” I tell him truthfully. “I tried to get past him, but I wasn’t strong enough. He grabbed me—”
“By the neck?!”
I nod, shocked by the extreme anger he releases me and turns around. My stomach flips as he mutters to himself, something about regret and making them pay, I don’t catch anything else because he starts heaving, his shoulders rising and falling with heavy breathing.
“Ethan,” I call out, reaching for him.
Another growl sounds from him just as I wrap my fingers around his bicep and pull him back toward me.
“What did she say?” He asks once he’s standing in front of me again.
“She said you were sleeping together, and I wasn’t needed anymore,” I tell him, leaving out all the nasty comments. He doesn’t need to get more worked up and I’m sure he can fill in the blanks since he knows her better than me.
“I’m not,” he protests. “I haven’t seen her in a year, and I don’t know how the hell she got tickets for tonight. She’s on the blacklist, so she shouldn’t have even been here.”
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Chapter 17
surprise fills me at the statement as well as confusion. If she’s on a blacklist, how did she get in?
“It’s okay Ethan. I’m not upset with you.” I murmur, cupping his cheeks and bringing his eyes to mine. “I was hurt by what the sand, but I wanted to hear what you had to say. That’s why I couldn’t get in. I don’t think they wanted me to find you.”
the growls again, stepping closer and letting his hands slide up to my waist. The touch warms me, and I lean in, wanting more. After everything that just happened, his touch is welcomed.,
Tugging him toward me, I plant my lips on Ethan’s.
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