5. Clara

Chapter 5

Clara

Dinner is going wonderfully. We are at a restaurant I've been dying to try but didn't want to come to alone. Ethan has been a perfect gentleman since we left the hotel, so why do I feel so itchy? I can't seem to sit still. Every time I look at him my legs go weak, my shoulders tighten, and my heart beats too fast – not a good combination.

I want to kiss him again. Hell, I want him to take me to bed. His bed, my bed, a spare bed at the back of the kitchen. Any bed will do. I regret not just pulling him into my hotel room and having my way with him there and then. I was trying to do the "right" thing, but all I've done is make both of us suffer through this dinner while we're both thinking about sex and not how good the lobster tastes.

Finally, I can't do it anymore.

"Ethan. I want to leave." His shocked expression surprises me, and maybe we aren't both thinking about what happened when he picked me up for dinner. "I want to go back to my hotel, or maybe to your boat."

Ethan's expression morphs from shock to extreme desire. "I'll get the check."

I laugh as he tries to get our waiter's attention. It's almost like the waiter can see him and is ignoring him on purpose. Finally, Ethan has enough, and he pulls a wad of cash out of his wallet.

"I don't know how much the check is, but I don't give a fuck. I hope he enjoys the tip." He helps me out of my chair, gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek, and holds my hand as he quickly walks me out of the restaurant.

We take a taxi and ride in tension-filled silence to his boat. I wasn't sure where we would go, but I'm glad we are going to Ethan's boat and not my hotel. I want to see where he's living and how he spends his days. I want to know everything about this man.

The taxi pulls up to the marina and we make our way to his boat. What an understatement. It's huge. "That's a really big boat, Ethan." I knew that Ethan was wealthy. We talked about it in vague terms earlier, but this is an extreme level of rich. My family has money, but Ethan has money .

I try to pull my hair up into a ponytail before I remember that I don't have an elastic. My hands look for something else to do. Smoothing down my dress, I look up at Ethan and find him watching me closely.

"It's just a boat, angel," he whispers as he pulls me close and walks me to the entrance of the boat. "I'm the same man I've been all day and I own a big boat. I promise nothing has changed."

This night has taken a turn that neither of us expected. I know he's the same man he's been all day and the fact that he has a lot of money shouldn't make a difference. And it doesn't. I think maybe the day just overwhelmed me and now I need to slow things back down. I'm just not sure how to tell Ethan that without it coming across like it's his fault for being rich.

"Clara?" Ethan runs his hand up and down my back, reassuring me without pushing me to move one way or the other.

"Ethan, I've loved every moment of our time together today and I want us to keep spending time together if you want to."

"I want to," he interjects.

"But I think that maybe I need to go back to my hotel for tonight and slow things down. I'm sorry, I know I was the one that suggested leaving dinner and coming here, but I think we should maybe know each other a little bit better before we take that leap."

I hold my breath while I wait for his answer. My whole body feels tight.

"Clara, it's okay. I'm sorry that I wasn't completely honest about this." He points at the boat. "I just feel uncomfortable about it and although I enjoy having money, money I worked for, I don't like to make a big deal about it."

"I don't care about the boat, Ethan. Even though we just met today, it seems like we've known each other longer. You don't owe me any explanations. I just don't want to rush into anything either of us will feel bad about later."

Ethan wraps me in his arms and kisses my hair. "I won't ever feel bad about anything regarding you. And that includes taking you back to your hotel and leaving you after a goodnight kiss at your door."

Laying my head on his chest, I just stand in his warmth. Part of me wants to go back to our earlier plan and see where the night leads. My head is telling me to be wise and for once my heart agrees. It's just that kind of slutty other part of me that wants to jump his bones that would win if we got on the boat.

He doesn't give me a chance to change my mind. Ethan asks if I want to walk or take a car back to the hotel. Although I'm wearing heels, I decide to walk. My hotel isn't far at all, and the fresh air will do me some good.

Holding hands the whole way, we slowly make our to my hotel. The weather is so nice with the breeze off the ocean and the smell of salt in the air. This walk will always be one I treasure. Learning little bits about Ethan and sharing more about myself. I don't think there is another person, other than my family, that I've ever opened up to the way I have with Ethan. I want him to know everything about me, both good and bad.

At my door, we stand gazing into each other's eyes. I reach for him first and place my lips against his. Ethan quickly takes over, pushing me against my hotel room door and molding our bodies together, letting me feel how much I affect him. With one last soul-destroying kiss, he slowly backs away.

"Tomorrow?"

I nod, unable to form words.

"Wear a swimsuit and we'll play on the boat." His grin makes me shiver and I open my hotel door and slide inside.

"Goodnight."

"Night, my angel."

I close the door and melt against the door. My knees are jelly and my whole body's reaction to his kisses is making me rethink my decision to return to my room. I'm so in over my head with him.

Quickly, I take my makeup off and change into my pajamas. I'm getting under the covers when my phone beeps. I grab it, hoping it's Ethan, but it's my family group chat.

Miles: How's it going, Clara?

Wilder: We haven't heard from you in over a day. Can you let us know if you're okay?

Scarlett: She's a grown woman. Maybe she's met a gorgeous Italian and is too busy to text.

Knox: No.

Ivy: Ha. Just no. I hope she's met two gorgeous Italian men and lost her phone.

Miles: Control your woman, Wilder.

Hunter: Miles, you might want to shut up.

Wilder: Do not tell me what to do with my woman. Ivy, don't talk about our baby sister that way.

I'm laughing hysterically at the text thread, imagining the horror stories that my brothers have made up in their heads in the less than twenty-four hours I've gone without checking in. I'm sure Ivy and Scarlett are loving every second. I decide to let them know I'm alive, but not without giving them a little bit to obsess over.

Clara: I'm alive…but exhausted. Met a guy with a yacht and had a very full day. Love you all.

Miles: Exhausted?

Hunter: Guy?

Scarlett: Go, girl!

Ivy: Tell me everything – don't spare a detail. Go to the secret place – Scarlett and I will be waiting.

Wilder: Secret place? What the fuck! Ivy, you're not going anywhere. Clara, I'm glad you're okay. Stay away from men with yachts.

Knox: Stay away from all men. You are a child.

Ivy: She's my age.

I love my family. They are amazing, but a little crazy. I put the phone down on my nightstand. Wilder is probably interrogating Ivy about the secret place and I'm sure Knox is doing the same to Scarlett. There is no secret place. I have no idea what Ivy was talking about.

I will also need to apologize to my big brothers when I get back, but there is no way I'm staying away from all men, especially not the one with the yacht. That man I plan to spend the day with tomorrow…and maybe the night, too.