Chapter 17

Swallowing thickly, I shook my head to deny it.

Ethan lowered his head slightly so that we were looking eye-to-eye, his expression laden with suggestions. He smirked and sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. I allowed him to move my body where he wished.

After placing the condom back on the nightstand, he ran his thumbs over my knuckles while having me step to the spot between his spread knees.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush at him so that he rested his chin on my abdomen and looked up at me. My hands rested on his shoulders while he spoke.

“Now that your identity is semi-public now,” He tilted his head with a small mischievous smile, “You’ll need to carry my scent to avoid people getting suspicious of our relationship.”

He urged me forward, grabbing and lifting my legs to rest on either side of his hips. Lowering me so that I was straddling his lap. I squeaked at how effortlessly he manhandled me.

I tried to shuffle myself to be more comfortable, but Ethan seized my hips and held me so that I couldn’t anymore.

“Stay still,” He growled, though he wasn’t angry. My lips parted and I started breathing heavier, my heart racing in close proximity.

He lifted a hand to grip the meat of my shoulder and brushed aside strands of my hair to reveal the nape of my neck. Ethan licked the soft, exposed skin. I sighed as he tenderly wet the skin before latching his teeth to the flesh.

I yelped once his canines lightly dug into my throat. A spark shot through my entire body, awakening something in me that I didn’t know I possessed. Heat spread after that initial spark, spreading from the core of my stomach.

Ethan’s scent, his touch, his very existence became unbearingly irresistible. Every ounce of my body sunk deeper into his grip.

My mind only wanted one thing: Ethan.

He must have been thinking the same. He gripped the underside of his thighs, lifting his hips to meet my own.

He continued pulling my body to his as he bit a little deeper into my neck; as if he wanted to draw blood and make a permanent mark. To resist the urges, he captured my lips on his own.

Instinctively, my hips ground into Ethan’s as he leaned back, pulling me with him. He was laying on the bed while I braced myself on his body.

I kissed him deeply, running my hands over his bare chest. My fingers traveled over the chiseled abs of his stomach, taking my time to feel every ridge and crevice.

He moaned into the kisses and gathered my long skirts, bunching them up around my hips. Running his fingers up and down my bare legs, letting his touch travel higher and higher.

His hands snuck under the skirt of my gown, making it to the upper flesh of my thigh before I grabbed his wrist to stop him.

I thought about Sammy’s warnings. Our conversation in the bar flashed through my mind.

“He’s got trauma from what happened with his parents and his pack. It’s too much for one person to handle.” She cautioned me from letting myself get too involved with him. She said Ethan was too complex for me, for anyone really. Was it wise for us to have even gone this far?

Was this more than just kissing? It was definitely dangerous territory.

I pulled away. He groaned the instant I broke the kiss and tried chasing my lips with him.

“We should stop,” I whispered against his mouth, still hovering over him. He whined, trying to tell me no, but I leaned away. I had to be a strong one.

I sat up straight, pulling myself off Ethan. I left him to run my hands through my bangs to soothe the disheveled hair and pull my skirts back down.

Ethan laid on the bed, looking up at the ceiling as he caught his breath. He was panting, eyes bleary and glazed over. My own chest was heaving from the passion of the moment, and I had to turn away to keep myself from jumping back onto the bed with him.

He slowly got up, refusing to look at me, and went back into the bathroom to finish getting ready. I felt a little guilty for stopping, but ultimately it had to be the right choice.

We still had to attend the event together. Once we were down in the giant ballroom of the hotel for the banquet, Ethan led me to the desserts table. There were rows of absolutely exquisite-looking desserts laid out in elaborate designs. My face perked up at the table, running my eyes over every delectable dessert.

I took a sampling of each sweet, making mental notes of the flavors and textures to spark inspiration for my own baking. I was enjoying tasting the treats, but as I looked around I noticed more and more people giving me dirty looks.

“Pig,” One person pretended to cough as they walked by. I put down the plate I filled with the food and swallowed. I turned to look at the patrons surrounding me, and suddenly felt like an animal in a zoo.

Some guests were whispering in their groups of friends, staring and laughing while I ate. Others were blatantly frowning at me as they walked by.

I meandered back to where Ethan was watching me.

“Is everyone laughing at me?” I whispered, feeling self-conscious in my expensive gown and high heels. Could they tell I wasn’t bred for this sort of event?

Ethan placed a hand on the side of my face and used his thumb to wipe at a blob of cream that was stuck in the corner of my mouth.

He smiled at me, “Don’t worry about them. Keep eating if that’s what you wish to do.”

I leaned into his touch contentedly, when a high-pitched voice called his name. Both of us turned to see who it was.

Walking towards us was Sarah Silvers. Her blonde hair was styled to be sleek and straight, and her gown was black with a slit in the skirt that reached all the way up to her hip. My eyes widened at seeing the way her hips swayed as she walked.

She looked incredibly sexy.

Unlike me, she was every bit the part of a rich alpha’s daughter, I thought bitterly.

She sashayed to Ethan. While she looked unbelievably gorgeous, her lips were set in a pathetic pout. That sadness stretched into the rest of her features, making her look pitiable. The closer she got, the more I felt bad for her.

Her eyes were sharp, trained on Ethan’s hand on my cheek. Then, her gaze flicked to the bright purple mark on my neck from Ethan’s teeth. Instinctively, I covered my neck with my hand, not wanting her to see it anymore.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Ethan’s face.

“So it’s true?” She asked, tearfully. “You don’t love me anymore?”

Ethan’s entire demeanor changed the moment Sarah uttered those words. With an exhausted sigh, he dropped his hand back to his side and stared at her down. His emotional walls were put back up around him, making him cold and distant again.

“I made it clear during our last conversation.” He stated simply, straightening his back and squaring his shoulders.

“Ethan!” She cried out quietly, “Please don’t do this.”

“I told you, Sarah.” Ethan sighed, rubbing his temple. “Our relationship is strictly business and that’s all it will ever be again.”

It looked like Sarah was going to say something in retort, but Ethan refused to give her the chance. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the crowds of people away from her.

I followed him through the room with no hesitation.

“Plenty of other men want me, Ethan!” She called after him as we walked away. “You’ll regret this!”