Chapter 108
Freya
Ethan is wonderfully close, but just as I think he might close that final inch between us, there’s this sharp tug on the fishing line.
“Oh!” I exclaim, almost dropping the rod in surprise.
Ethan’s eyes go wide. “You’ve got a bite! Quick, start reeling it in!”
The moment shatters as I fumble with the reel, trying to remember Ethan’s instructions from earlier.
I start reeling in the line, but the fish proves to be much stronger than I thought. The rod bends, and I’m barely hanging on to it already.
“It’s so strong!” I manage to gasp out, not making
app Joke about my strained arms.
Ethan encourages me. “You’ve got this, Freya; just keep pulling.”
But in one final powerful tug, the fish manages to make the rod slip from my grasp. Time seems to slow as I watch it fall towards the water.
“No!” I cry out, but Ethan is there to save the day.
In one swift motion, he surges forward. His fingers curl over the handle of the rod just in time to prevent it from disappearing under the water’s surface. For a fleeting second, I am convinced he has it.
But the fish gives another tremendous jerk.
Off–balanced by his desperate grab, Ethan is yanked forward. His eyes flash with sudden surprise as he goes tumbling over the side of the yacht with a splash.
“Ethan!” I yell, running to the railing.
I lean over the edge, terrified, until Ethan swims up to the surface with laughter in his throat. “I didn’t catch the fish, but I’m alive!”
Instant relief washes over me as I see his smiling face, and I
an breathe again. “Thank God!”
I lean over the railing, extending my hand to Ethan. “Here, let me help you up!
He takes my hand, his grasp firm despite the sogginess. I begin to pull, but immediately realize I underestimated just how heavy a fully clothed, waterlogged man would be. Ethan seems to understand there’s no chance a gnome like me can pull him up and with his free hand he reaches for the ladder on the side of the yacht and begins hauling himself up.
Finally, he manages to hoist himself over the railing and collapses on deck, wheezing. Water pools at his body, and his clothing clings to every delicate muscle. I find myself staring at the way his white shirt has almost turned translucent with the water, his six–pack, and broad chest sharply outlined.
Not to mention the pink of his nipples…
But I shake off my horniness and ask, “Are you okay?” as I sit beside him.
Ethan nods, but he is shaking minutely. “J–just a bit c–cold,” he chatters out.
“Oh no, we have to get you out of those wet clothes before you catch a chill!” I exclaim, pulling him to his feet,
We make our way downstairs, leaving a trail of water droplets behind us. I take a fluffy towel from the bedroom and hand it to Ethan.
“Here, you should probably…you know…umm…” I vaguely gesture at his soaked attire, and my cheeks rise in temperature once my eyes land on his hardened nipples.
Ethan is shaking but manages to smirk, “You’re suggesting I strip, Ms. Smith?”
I turn away, too embarrassed to watch his wiggling eyebrows. “You know what I mean. You have to get warm.”
He chuckles and begins to unbutton his shirt, fumbling with the buttons. I really ought to look away, but I’m mesmerized by each button, which reveals a little more of his tanned, muscular chest.
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Chapter 108
But when he shrugs off the shirt completely, I can hardly grasp for air. His torso is just as impressive as I remember, with muscles rippling beneath his smooth skin. Droplets of water trickle down his abs, tracing the contours of his six–pack, and I fight the urge to trace their path with my finger.
Ethan catches me staring and raises an eyebrow. He says nothing, though, and I blush furiously.
“I’m…heh… I should probably go and let you change in private.”
But as I turn to leave, Ethan catches my wrist in a soft hold. “Wait,” he says softly. “I might need some help. My fingers are still a bit numb from the cold.”
I swallow hard as my heart starts racing. Is he really asking what I think he’s asking?
“What do you need help with?” I manage to squeak.
Ethan’s gaze meets mine. “My belt,” he says. “I can’t seem to get it undone.”
I can feel my body, right down to each little nerve, quiver as I look down at his crotch and then back up to his face. His eyes are intense, an unspoken challenge in their depths. The smartest thing would be to leave the room since this is uncharted territory we’re entering, but something keeps me in the room.
My trembling fingers reach for his buckle, and I find my heartbeat impossible to tame. The metal is cold as I fumble with the clasp. It doesn’t go quickly. I am too aware of Ethan’s breathing, of how it seems to quicken slightly. It makes me clumsy and so very slow.
Finally, the belt comes loose. I start to pull my hands away, but Ethan catches them in his own.
My eyebrows rise in question, but his eyes just lock on mine. Calm. Confident. Hot. The air between us crackles. Ethan’s gaze drops to my lips, then back up to my eyes. His head leans into mine–the movement slow, giving me all the time in the world for me to pull away.
I don’t.
Our lips touch, and the dam breaks. The tension that was simmering in the air turns into passion as we kiss each other. Ethan’s lips are soft and insistent on mine, and I melt like pudding, my hands sliding up his bare chest to tangle in his damp hair.
Ethan growls into my mouth as his huge hands clench at my waist, yanking me flush against him. I feel every hard plane of his body against the thin material of my dress, which is rapidly getting soaked from his wet skin. The coolness of the water seeps through, causing my nipples to harden into tight points that rub nicely against Ethan’s chest.
“Freya,” Ethan growls, his mouth breaking from mine to trail his lips along my jaw. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
I gasp when his teeth nip at my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine. “H–how long?” I manage to ask.
Ethan pulls back a bit, his emerald eyes dark with desire. “Since you pretended to be a worker for my company and talked shit about Ethan Steele. I knew right then and there that I had to have you.
A furious red color overtakes my skin, but before I can gasp and get angry, Ethan kisses my lips again. Ungh, what a bastard! He knows damn well his kisses are too distracting, but…wait… what was I angry about again?
I moan into the kiss as Ethan’s fingers find the zipper of my dress. He draws it down in a tortuously slow manner until the garment pools at my feet. The cool air of the cabin hits my heated skin, sending shivers across me.
Ethan breaks the kiss, eyes roving over newly exposed flesh. I’m suddenly glad now that Maddie talked me into wearing the lacy green lingerie set that would “drive him wild.”
“Fuck,” Ethan breathes. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
He’s hoisting me up before words can form on my lips. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist, and seconds later, Ethan carries me over to the bed, laying me down gently before covering my body with his.
His lips meet mine again, and his hand makes its way up my thigh, fingers playing along the seam of my underwear. I arc into his touch, wordlessly begging for more.
Ethan chuckles against my lips. “Patience, lioness,” he murmurs, “I plan on having some…fun with you before we get to that.”
I’m suddenly overcome with goosebumps. There is a difference in Ethan’s tone now. It is commanding, and I find that incredibly hot, especially as he pulls back, his face most definitely in control.
“Do you trust me, Freya?”
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Chapter 108
His new tone scares me, especially when it’s combined with his utter confidence, but there’s no denying my arousal; I want him so goddamn badly.
This is him in his element; this is what he does.
Ethan is dominant, after all.
“Yes,” I whisper.
A slow, predatory smile spreads across Ethan’s face. “Good girl,” he purrs. “Now, I want you to keep your hands above your head. Don’t move them unless I say so. Understand?”
A delectable tendril of hot, wet arousal stirs between my legs, the result of his commanding tone. My only reply is to lift my arms obediently.
But Ethan won’t settle for so little.
“Use your words, lioness,” Ethan instructs, “or you won’t be rewarded.”
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