Chapter 32
MAY.
“Oh dear, you both sleep in separate rooms?” Harriet says, eyes wide with disapproval. “How
children if you keep up with this?”
do you plan on havi
I stare at her blank
Children? With a man who lies to me and doesn’t trust me? That’s a stretch. I really should have given it a second thought before hopping into this marriage with Ethan.
What do I even know about him?
“We’re still getting to know each other,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck nervously.
Ethan’s grandmother adjusts the frame of her glasses, letting it perch on her nose, and her stern gaze hold me to the spot. “You have all the time in the world to know each other, May, but I’m afraid with each passing day, the chances that I’ll see my grandchild reduces. Surely, you understand my fear.”
I do, but I can’t stomach the idea of sharing a bed with Ethan right now. Not after everything. wonder if I asked Harriet about Ethan, she would tell me everything.
The truth he’s hiding from me.
But what use is there? Why try to know or understand someone who doesn’t want me to? I had assumed that the kiss meant something these past few days.
I thought we’d been in it together. Figuring things out. Now, I feel lost. “I do. I understand and I’m sorry. It’s just a little hard, getting close to him in that manner.”
1
Harriet laughs, hitting the cane on the ground as we walk side by side into the kitchen. A few guests have left, but Harriet is spending the night. Not only is she spending the night, but she wants Ethan and I to sleep in the same room during her stay here.
In the past week, I might not have detested the idea. I might have considered it, just to make her happy, but I’d sooner sleep on the cold, unforgiving floor than sleep in Ethan’s bed.
“My grandson can be a little slow in the romance department. How about you take the initiative, May?”
I nearly drop the glass of water in my grasp. “Pardon?”
Harriet grins. “You’re a woman. Use your wiles and charms to your advantage.”
My jaw literally drops to the floor and remains there. “You want me to seduce him?”
Just then, Ethan walks into the kitchen, pausing by the entrance when his gaze locks with mine. I look away first, to remind myself the reason why I’m angry with him in the first place.
Because one glance at him and my thoughts are gone. He looks so handsome tonight in hi stunning three–piece suit that clings to every muscle, showcasing his rather beautiful body. I would have complimented him if we didn’t start getting so many guests.
He looks like he walked right out of a fashion magazine cover. His hair, though slicked back, had a few stray strands falling over his perfectly structured forehead, and the shadow of a stubble that had been growing under his chin is gone.
It had me giddy for a moment there that this man was my husband, and that he had stared at me all evening, even as he attended to the guests. I would occasionally feel the heat of his gaze pricking my neck, and when I turned, those grey eyes would be on mine, glowing with an intensity I didn’t understand,
Yes, I had been a little angry, but Ethan’s looks could make you forget even the hugest things.
Even now as I give his grandmother my attention, I feel his gaze on my face, sliding lower to my neck, and my chest which has a little cleavage on display.
“Your words. I’d like to call it a small push,” Harriet whispers. “Notice the way he looks at you
It won’t be that hard to-”
“Grandma!” I squeal, cheeks heating up. “This is hardly the place for that conversation!”
She chuckles, eyes vibrant with mirth and wisdom. “You do not need to be shy with me. I was married once, and I lived. You should too.”
And when everyone has left for their respective homes, and I am done cleaning, I head for Ethan’s room, instead of mine, grabbing
instead of mine, grabbing a couple of pillows and blankets.
I enter Ethan’s room and I vaguely notice him working on his laptop. He looks up, confusion knitting his brows as I dump the pillows on the floor and start to lay my blanket on the
ground. “What are you doing?”
Without looking up from what I am doing, I say, “What does it look like?”
He puts his laptop aside, rising from the bed slowly. “I know, but why are you–”
I dump the pillows at the head of my makeshift bed as I respond in the coldest voice I can muster, “Your grandmother wants children and thinks we should share the same bed. Is that answer enough for you?”
No response. Thought so.
I lay on the ground, pulling another cover over my head and I shut my eyes, trying to get my heart to stop racing. Heat is spreading up my toes, past my knees and between my thighs. I have no idea why, and I don’t know how to stop it, but I need it to stop.
“May,” Ethan calls out softly, and I blink back the tears that sting my eyes at the remorse in his voice. “I’m sorry.”
I don’t respond to that. I hear him sigh and for a while, there is nothing but slleux hanging heavy in the air.
Suddenly, the blanket is pulled back and I yelp as I feel myself get lifted off the ground, my head pressed against Ethan’s chest as he carries me to the bed. “It gets cold at night You’ll catch a fever if you stay there.”
“I’m not sharing your bed. Put me down!” I yell angrily.
“Of course,” he mutters and dumps me on the bed. “I’ll sleep in the sitting room”
Sitting up, I groan. “That would defeat the whole point of sharing a room, wouktivt it?”
He glares at me. “What would you have me do then?”
“I don’t care. Sleep on the roof, or on the spikes of the gate, I couldn’t care less!”
“You keep saying that. You’re trying way too hard to convince me that you don’t care. You’re a liar.”
I make a sound low in my throat, my hackles rising. “Coming from the man who has only ever told me lies. You’re a hypocrite.”
Ethan storms over to where I’m sitting in his bed, and I swear, even to save my life, I cannot explain in words what happened next. All I know is, that my back hits the bed sly and my hands are pinned on either side of me.
Ethan’s straddling me and I squirm under him, trying to get out from under him, but l’im trapped.
He leans in, his head leaning against mine and he exhales deeply, his grip on my waists tightening as he whispers, “You’re the hypocrite. You say you don’t care about me. You call a liar and tell me there will be no strings attached. But you show up in my room in the most offensive night dress you own. What are you doing, May?”
“I didn’t wear it for you. The rest of my clothes are in the washing machine.”
“Liar,” he whispers, his breath hot against my lips. “You washed and dried your dothes yesterday. You came here to provoke me. You’re mad at me, and I am at your they tonight. You wish to flaunt in my face what you think I have ruined.”
A single tear slides down my cheek. “Get off me, Ethan. I will knee your groin if you don’t.”
He laughs harshly, and I gasp when his lips kiss the tear rolling down my check. “Yes, ma’a “he murmurs against my skin and the vibration causes my insides to squeeze against my permission.
And as he lets up, he presses another kiss to my throat and my neck, and my eyes close, my breaths quickening. My heart’s pounding and I can’t breathe.
Chapter 32
“Breathe, M,” Ethan whispers as his grip on m him, I obey him and breathe in deeply.
His weight is off me in a second and when I ope make good on his promise to sleep in the sitting
And for a while, I sob into the pillow that smells unfortunately…aroused.
Chapter 32
“Breathe, M,” Ethan whispers as his grip on my wrists loosens, and even if I absolutely hate him, I obey him and breathe in deeply.
His weight is off me in a second and when I open my eyes, he’s leaving the room, no doubt to make good on his promise to sleep in the sitting room.
And for a while, I sob into the pillow that smells just like him, angry, sad, frustrated and unfortunately…aroused.
