Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Freya
1 get the job, and a week later, I’m cleaning rooms while listening to music in one ear. Everyone else is using AirPods, and Maddie, who is the sweetest friend in the world, bought me a pair as a present for landing my first job.
I hugged her and promised I would start paying half her rent after my first paycheck, but she dismissed the idea with her hand and said, “No, no, I don’t need money! What I need is for you and me to celebrate by the end of the month. You’re buying me drinks.”–she really is the best.
While whistling, I push my little cart of cleaning goods down the corridor. This will be my last room on this floor and I knock quickly on the door.
“Housekeeping,” I shout in a happy voice.
Silence.
“That’s odd…” I mumble, tilting my head when I notice there is no ‘Do Not Disturb‘ in sight.
Is this room empty?
I could have sworn it said there was a guest here…
“Housekeeping,” I say again as I lift my card key.
No response.
I shrug and slide the key. The door opens with a beep, and I push my cart forward. The hallway looks empty–there are no shoes or jackets–but I leave my cart just in case to double–check that the room is empty.
And as I step inside, I nearly collide with a large man walking out of the bathroom.
He is whistling a tune and doesn’t even notice me. I, on the other hand, can’t miss him. He is a fucking giant–a giant naked man with…
Oh my god…
He isn’t wearing any underwear!
I freeze in place, staring at the guy who walkins away from me and over to the bed. He is wearing earbuds and singing along to ‘Too Sweet‘ by Hozier, and if he weren’t naked, I would probably call him a good singer. But I’m too busy checking him
out.
Abs.
Broad shoulders.
Such swagger.
Coffee in hand.
No boxers to be seen, and one hell of an ass. My eyes are drawn to the round sphere like a moth to a flame. Somewhere a voice is telling me this is one of those encounters you pretend you never waltzed inside the guest’s room.
19:13 Sat, Fed
Chapter 102
But here is the problem: I can’t take my eyes off his butt.
I really, really should leave this room behind, but that thing is so damn round.
Mouthwateringly large….is that a word? Well, who cares! It’s a perfect peach, like the messenger icon, and I just want to squeeze it and-
“Freya?”
I turn to stone, my eyes snapping up from the man’s perfectly sculpted backside to meet a pair of familiar emerald green
eyes.
Oh no.
“E–Ethan?” I stammer in a horrified voice. I’m so fucking fired. “Im so sorry! I knocked and called out, but there was no answer, so I thought-”
Ethan’s eyes widen as he seems to realize why I’m having trouble speaking–its all due to his state of undress. He quickly grabs a pillow to cover himself, though it does little to hide his muscular form. “Shit, I’m sorry. I had my earbuds in and didn’t hear you knocking.”
“Yeah…”
“Mhm.”
We stand there for an awkward moment. I should leave. I know I should, but it’s like my feet have grown their own gnarled roots and stuck them in the floor.
Eventually, I manage to squeak out, “I…umm… I should probably just go.” I turn to leave.
“Wait,” Ethan calls out, causing me to pause. “It’s okay. This was my fault. I should have put the ‘Do Not Disturb‘ sign up.”
I turn back slowly, keeping my eyes firmly fixed on his sheepish face. “It’s fine. Really. I’ll come back later.”
Ethan runs a hand through his damp hair, looking as if he doesn’t know whether to laugh or not. “Actually, since you’re here…would you mind bringing me a fresh towel? I seem to have used the last one.”
“A towel?” I repeat, my brain struggling to process his request. “Uh, sure. I can do that.”
I quickly turn and hurry out to my cart, grabbing a fresh towel. When I return, Ethan is still standing there, the pillow barely covering his modesty. I try to keep my eyes on his face, but it’s a losing battle.
My eyes are already drifting down south, desperate to see his bulbous rear..NO! I need to get a fucking grip!
I lift my eyes to his. “Here.”
“Thanks,” he says, taking the towel with his free hand. “I appreciate it.”
“No problem,” I mumble, my heart hammering so fast I fear I might pass out. “Is there anything else you need?”
Ethan’s lips twitch into a small smile. “No, I think I’m good. Thanks, Freya.”
I turn to leave but pause at the door. “Ethan?”
“Yeah?”
19.13 Sat, Feu
Chapter 102
“I’m sorry for… you know, walking in on you. And for staring. That was unprofessional of me.”
To my surprise, Ethan chuckles while wrapping the towel around his waist. “Don’t worry about it. If anything, I should be flattered.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“Well,” he grins, “you were clearly drawn to my backside, and all that staring definitely boosted my self–confidence. I might actually have to thank you.”
I gasp, mortified. “I wasn’t… I mean, I didn’t…”
But Ethan just laughs. “Relax, Freya. I’m just teasing. Though I hope this doesn’t make things awkward between us.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Awkward? Why would things be awkward? It’s not like I just saw my boss naked or anything.” Ethan chuckles, and I finally dare to meet his eyes. He’s smiling, more amused than anything. “I’m not your boss. I’m just the owner of the hotel who happens to be staying here since my place is getting renovated.”
“Right,” I say, my cheeks still burning. “Well, I should probably get back to work-”
“Do you want to go out for dinner?”
My jaw drops. Did he really just say that? “I… what… I mean…”
Ethan laughs again, clearly enjoying my flustered state. “I’m kidding. Well, mostly kidding. The date part was serious.”
Remember his age, and stop staring at his v–lines!
“I…I don’t think that’s a good idea, and ummm…like I said, I really should get back to work.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “You can’t spare a minute for little old me?”
Take a deep breath and look away from him. Don’t get caught by his emerald eyes…
“Mr. Steele-”
“You don’t have to call me that, especially not when we are alone.
My breath hitches at the way he says ‘alone,‘ and I take another deep breath.
“Calling you Mr. Steele is probably best since this is and will always be a strictly professional relationship.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shoot up–I don’t think he is used to girls rejecting him. “Always? That’s quite definitive, don’t you think?”
I swallow hard. “It’s the appropriate boundary to maintain.”
He takes a step forward. “And here I thought we were becoming friends.”
Friends? Is that what they call it these days? I want to laugh, but it gets stuck in my throat when I try to look at Ethan. He is so goddamn tall that I have to angle my head to keep making eye contact. It’s honestly a bit frightening. I’m not used to not wearing high heels around him, and I think he has noticed the height difference, too, because his eyes rake me up and down before amusement lights up his face.
Chapter 102
Okay, here it comes: height remarks and him teasing me about my being pocket–sized. Guys can never help themselves. They think they are being funny pointing out that I’m short–as if I’ve never noticed it myself.
To my surprise, the teasing never comes. Ethan’s lips stay sealed, which I realize is a disappointment. Dang. Did I secretly want him to tease me?
Probably. There’s already a scene in my head with Ethan teasing ne about my height, saying something about how I would’t be able to defend myself should he try something. His lips are twisted into a smirk before he presses me into the wall to kiss me until I’m out of breath. He then rips my clothes off and-
WHAT AM I EVEN THINKING?! FUCK’S SAKE, MADDIE’S DOMINATION SPEECH GOT INTO MY HEAD!
“I HAVE TO GO!” I blurt out, determined to get out of here since being around Ethan is making me insane.
His widen at my outburst. “Freya, wait—”
But I’m already out in the hallway, grabbing my cart and speed–walking towards the elevator.
No more thinking about Ethan Steele. Never again. I’m here to work, not fantasize about his butt!
