20. Evie

twenty

My fingers wrung against each other as the knot in my stomach tightened. Gwen lied.

That cunning woman lied about everything that’d happen tonight. She’d told me that Ethan was aware that I’d be her date for the night. Obviously, that was a fat lie.

If his questions didn”t reveal that he had no idea of her shenanigans, then his face said it all. He was completely oblivious to any of it.

She also said we’d ride together. That, again, was a lie. In fact, she was nowhere in proximity, and I was left to ride with her brother.

As if that were not enough, we were both in the backseat — a safe distance from each other in the backseat— while Lewis drove. It was the reason my fingers didn”t know what to do with themselves. It was weird.

Weird and quiet.

Curse you, Gwen.

My irises involuntarily swam to the corner of my eyes. I caught sight of him— his sharp, angled jaw, strong thighs, and clenched fist. I couldn”t tell the reason for his mood.

Because he wanted to spend time with his daughter or because his sister set him up. Whichever one, his mood was valid.

I didn”t feel like leaving the house either. Sophie had surprised us. I anticipated the day she’d speak, but I never envisioned it to be this way. Randomly.

Sophie’s comment meant that she had indeed chosen the dress for me.

But I wondered what would have happened if I hadn”t gone with it. What if I”d picked another dress? How would she feel? Would she still have spoken tonight? Was it the dress that made her speak, or was the timing right?

What if I’d—

“Thank you.”

I brought my gaze to him. Just like the other time in the office, his voice was soft.

Did I say you’re welcome, or just nod? After all, I was only doing my job.

“Tonight… is a night I”ll never forget.”

I watched the thick outline of his fingers sprawl out on his thighs. He sniffed.

I dragged my eyes once more to his. I didn”t expect to find tears in them, but I also didn”t expect to find gratitude. Raw gratitude.

“…and it”s all because of you.”

The heel of my palm dug into my dress. “It’s my pleasure, sir.”

His fingers formed a fist. Then slowly, he shook his head. “Ethan.”

My throat burned as I struggled to figure out what he’d just said. Was he reminding me of his na—

“When it”s just us, Ethan is fine.”

My breath rose in my throat, aggravating the burn I had already felt. “W- what?”

“Let that be a way to maintain a… cordial relationship.”

I was instantly plunged to recall my words on the night of the encounter in my nightie.

His eyes held every hint of truth. I could tell that he meant what he said. But that didn”t make it any easier.

It felt sudden…. Surreal. Fuck. Everything tonight felt so. And I wondered how many more would feel the same.

“Okay.”

The rest of the ride was filled with silence but somehow whatever tension I’d felt was lesser.

We finally arrived at the venue. Lewis opened the door for me, and I exited as gracefully as I could at an elite event with cameras waiting to be clicked.

Much to my surprise, Ethan appeared by my side, and even more to my amazement, held me closely. With jagged palms against the small of my back, he guided me through the red carpet.

It was only when I could surmount the fireworks from his fingers that I attuned myself to the noise.

They weren”t really noises. Rather, they were desperate yells of the press.

“Mr. Thorne, this is the first time in a while we’re seeing you at an event.”

“Rumor has it that your sister is the host of tonight’s event. Is that true?”

“Are you here because of your sister, or do you have an interest in this cause?”

“Who’s the lady beside you?”

“What are your plans after tonight?”

I scoffed at that one. Ridiculous question from an obnoxious female press.

With each question came the blinding lights of the camera. I tried not to falter but it was just too much. I wasn”t prepared for this.

No wonder he held me.

“Who’s the lovely lady beside you?”

“Is she your assistant or girlfriend?”

I managed to see a pale man holding out a microphone. Like the others, they were restrained by a barricade.

Ethan increased his stride, forcing my legs to catch up with him. Of course, he wouldn”t reply.

After more useless questions, we reached inside the hall. I was instantly hit with the sound of soft classical music.

High ceilings, walls adorned in rich, red fabrics, and opulent decor emphasized by crystal chandeliers created an atmosphere of sophistication.

Round tables draped in crisp, white linens were arranged throughout the ballroom, each adorned with elegant centerpieces. Fresh flowers and flickering candles.

The golden chairs blended with the seemingly red and gold themes. It was beautiful. I wondered if Gwendolyn was the brain behind the decor.

Ethan ushered me to a table not too distant from the raised stage but not too close. My stomach flipped when he gently pulled a chair for me.

He”s just being a gentleman. Nothing more.

He took his seat when I sat and brought out his phone. He buried his face in it, tapping away. I arched a surprised brow.

He seemed so invested that I wondered what he was doing. But my attention soon shifted when I heard a sound similar to Gwen’s voice.

I quickly scanned the area for her. She was hard to spot amidst the sea of people, but my eyes finally clung to her black, glittering dress.

She was talking to an old man, her hands flying to her chest intermittently as she laughed. So, she was familiar with some of the people here.

For her to pull this off all the way from Australia meant she had influence. I wondered whether it was her’s or Ethan’s.

I was still thinking when a young man— younger than Ethan— walked up to us. Tall, with blonde hair and a bit muscular, he towered over our table.

“Mr. Thorne,” he greeted, stretching his hand for a handshake.

It looked like Ethan was indulging his formality, but I knew that the slight curve of his lips was forced.

“Mr. Anderson.” He clenched his jaw. Then accepted the handshake which lasted for five seconds. Ethan immediately pulled his hands away.

I furrowed my brows. It wasn”t really nice to be rude to people.

Mr. Anderson turned to me. “Oh, I see you have a lovely date,” he smiled, then stretched his hand. I accepted it.

“My name is Thomas Anderson.”

I was surprised when he tipped my hand and kissed the back of my palm. An icky feeling settled in my stomach as his lips lingered longer than normal. I waited for him to let go, but he didn”t.

“Such a beautiful young lady. Tell me, what”s your name?”

“Evie.”

“Evie,” he repeated as if testing the name on his tongue. I didn”t like how he sounded.

“Your name radiates an air of innocence,” he licked his lips, much to my dismay. “Just like yo—”

“Anderson, I suggest you leave my date be and fuck off.”

Anderson turned to Ethan. I watched his lips slowly curve into a sly grin as they stared intently at each other. The table turned hot, reeking vendetta.

Anderson was surely happy. It seemed like getting on Ethan’s nerves was a fun thing for him.

“Alright, Ethan.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just wanted to say hi.”

Just like he came, he disappeared into the sea of the crowd. Awkward silence befell us until he spoke.

“I hate him.”

Yeah, it was pretty obvious.

“Why?” I asked.

He ignored my question, fixing a piercing gaze on him. “You shouldn”t have let him touch you.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. Like any of that was my fault. “Why?”

He obviously wasn”t too pleased with my question. “He was a business partner.”

“Was?”

“We did business once, and it ended badly.”

I arched a brow. But there were losses in business. He, of all people, should know that. Except…

“The business went bad because of him,” he continued.

“And you still blame him even now,” I finished.

He nodded.

“Typical of you.”

I gasped when I realized I said that out loud. He gave me permission to call him by his name. Now, I was indirectly calling him names. Shit.

He paused. My attention was suddenly drawn to his perfectly carved brows. Did he shave them regularly, or was he born with perfect brows?

“What was that, Evie?” His voice was deep. Something about the way he said my name amidst the low sound of music tightened a single knot in my stomach.

I swallowed. “I just meant…” Now, how was I supposed to defend myself?” …that you tend to be this way towards everyone.” I made sure to finish with a small chuckle. That’d lessen the intensity of the situation.

He tilted his head, an amused smile playing on his lips. “What way?”

I breathed. He was taunting me. He had to be. “The way you are.”

Two could play the game.

A slight smile slipped on the edges of his lips. “Only to the ones I dislike.”

The urge to roll my eyes was overwhelming, but I suppressed it. “Do you ever not dislike anyone?”

I folded my arms below my chest. I didn”t miss how his gaze briefly fell to my cleavage. “I do… have things I like.”

For the umpteenth time tonight, my stomach flipped. Whether it was the look in his eyes or the seemingly fluctuating lights, I suddenly felt exposed. “Like what?”

He adjusted a bit. “I like two things.”

I swallowed. He continued. “They involve large…fat returns.”

His voice had a certain huskiness to it.

I could feel my breathing slowing down. “What are they?”

His tongue darted out to slowly lick his bottom lips. My spine was charged— charged with so much current that it zapped through my being. Fuck. I suddenly wanted that tongue to ease my tension.

No, I wanted it to build so much tension in me that I exploded into a world beyond. I pressed my thighs against each other. I wanted that tongue plunged deep within me.

He looked like he was about to say something when someone interrupted. At the same time, a waiter passed by our table. I immediately snatched a glass of wine and greedily swallowed two large gulps.

It did nothing to abate the sudden thirst within me.

“Ethan, how are you?” An obnoxious, high-pitched voice struck my ears. It belonged to a tall, model-like blonde who leaned ridiculously close to Ethan.

I was beginning to hate blondes.

“It”s Mr. Thorne to you.”

I enjoyed the harshness of his voice and the sharpness of his clenched jaw. I didn”t know her and wondered how Ethan knew her. But who did she think she was to interrupt us and not acknowledge me?

Not like I was jealous or anything.

“But Ethan—”

“It”s Mr. Thorne to you.” He repeated with a clenched fist.

Did I say it wasn’t nice to be rude? Well, scratch that because I enjoyed every bit of rudeness he dished out to this woman.

She stomped her feet petulantly before giving me a once over. “Who”s this?” She held her nose high up in the air, and I raised my shoulders to match her mirth.

If this bitch doesn”t leave this table…

“This,” he breathed like he was on his last nerve. “Is my beautiful date.”

The knots in my stomach doubled, intertwining in the smooth fluid of the compliment. He’d just called me beautiful.

She scrunched her nose like she wanted to say something. I waited patiently for her with a smile. Like something else had taken over me, I was ready to give her a piece of my mind. Pounce on her if need be.

The monster in me was satiated when she left. Suddenly he turned to me. “I hate events.”

You hate everything.

I nodded for lack of anything to say.

“Hate this place too. Accompany me to get some fresh air.” He ordered more than he asked. I obliged.

As I trailed behind him to wherever I heard the voice over a speaker. Now uninterested in the event, I focused my attention on the man in front of me.

We reached a balcony. Quiet and somewhat isolated.

“How did you know where to go?”

He understood my question. “Gwendolyn wouldn”t stop yapping about the hall.”

His light frown elicited a chuckle from me. “She hates it when you call her that.”

“I know.”

Silence carried by the cool breeze of the night settled between us. Somehow, it was comfortable. Just both of us here, reveling in the quiet of nature.

I liked the silence, but I missed the sound of his voice. Slowly, I turned to him; he was still facing forward.

“If…” I started. He turned to me. “…you hate events…why were you at the club the other night?”

The look in his eyes told me he knew exactly what night I was talking about. The night in Minnesota.

“Needed to unwind.”

I wondered if it was from the stress of a deal or something else. “From what?”

He arched a brow. “Sometimes you don”t need particular reasons to unwind, Evie.”

“But sometimes you do,” I countered softly. I didn”t know what I wanted to hear, but perhaps I wanted to take advantage of this… cordial relationship and figure out a bit about him.

He stared at me for a moment before speaking. “I needed to unwind from the stress of the deal, work… and every other thing.”

Every other thing. Including Sophie? His late wife?

“You don”t strike me as the type to unwind, though,” I added a little humor.

“You barely know me….”

Indeed, but I wanted to.

“…You can”t keep making conclusions.”

Right.

“Certain experiences have shaped us… forced us to become who we are today.” He crossed a foot before the other.

“I”m sure you have witnessed such experiences.”

My chest heaved in sadness when I recalled Mom’s death, Dad’s decline, and Stephen’s attempt.

The first two did shape me. It forced me to work harder. To achieve dreams and give Dad the type of life he deserves. But the latter… though stuck to my memory, I didn”t let it sink too deep.

“I have,” I breathed. “But it”s our choice to let it shape us.”

He nodded. I noticed the slight clench of his fist. His experience must have been pretty bad. Suddenly, it felt like I could see him in a different light. Beyond the tough exterior and hard facade, was he just a broken man?

“And you? You like events?”

“Yes. Clubs, parties.”

“Then it must be hell for you here.” He chuckled.

Fuck. The smooth sound rumbled through my core.

“It isn”t. I love my job. I know how to create a perfect balance,” I breathed.

His eyes flitted to my chest, lingering before strolling down my body.

“You look… beautiful tonight.”

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly at the compliment.

“You look handsome,” I whispered.

His jaw clenched, and I could see his eyes swirling with something. I didn”t know what it was, but it tugged a small whimper from my throat.

He ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. And in one stride, he closed the space between us, planting a soft kiss on my lips.

I angled my head for a deeper kiss— one where our tongues danced in the fiery embrace of passion.

His hands fell to my waist, a small groan ripping his throat as his fingers pressed firmly against my sides. I shut my eyes to revel in the kiss when I felt him pause.

It was just for a brief moment, but once my hands wrapped around his neck, he pulled me impossibly closer.

Then, the kiss took another turn. Now fiery, with a hint of desperation, he pushed me gently into the wall.

“Fuck, Evie. You don”t know how bad I want to taste you again.” He groaned into the small of my neck.

A whimper was all I could let out in response. My throat was clamped together. Something about the raw desire dripping through his voice set my body on fire.

He started to trail rough kisses from my neck to my chest. I moaned when he softly bit the top of my breasts before I dug my fingers through his hair.

“I want to hear your moans as I dig my tongue into that wet pussy.”

I arched into him, my teeth biting my bottom lip when he brought a hand to my pussy. “So fucking wet for daddy.”

My restraint was rapidly exceeding the limits. My body yearned for him… in a way it never had for anyone else.

I wanted to scream. Scream as he hung my legs over his shoulders and devoured me. Scream as he bent me over the fucking balcony and railed me from behind.

I wanted him … all of him. Whether it was my new revelation of him or this new side he showed, the moment felt right.

Two thick fingers brushed my entrance in a slow, long motion through my thong. My body shook in anticipation as I spread my legs further apart.

His head was still between my breasts when he purred. “Good girl.”

I fisted his hair tightly. The simultaneous flick on my nipples and clit was maddening. “Ethan, please…”

“Please, what?” His voice was husky. It held promises of what he’d do. Finally, he lifted his face from my breasts and brought his lips back to mine.

I moaned into his parted lips. Then, I bucked my hips against his fingers.

He stiffened with a growl. “Use your words.”

“Make me cum.”

I barely let out the statement when he disappeared between my thighs and yanked one of my legs over his shoulders. My dress was out of the way, and he was face-to-face with my pussy.

His teeth clasped the edge of my panties before he slowly pulled them aside. I could feel the cool wind as they hit my sex.

I could feel my crazed insanity rising. Without warning, he plunged a finger inside of me. My teeth against my lip did nothing to stop the loud moan that escaped my throat.

Another finger joined, and I brought a hand to his shoulder. When I felt his knuckles deep inside me, I clawed at his suit.

“Fuck,” I moaned.

He pumped his fingers, angling my leg to hit an even deeper spot. His fingers curled, and I clenched my eyes. The knot in my stomach twisted.

Instantly, his lips replaced his fingers.

“Fuck. You smell divine,” he whispered against my lower lips. My head fell back when he plunged his tongue into me. The coolness of his tongue struck my warmth, but instead of a lukewarm feeling, the heat doubled.

“Ethan,” I moaned.

His hand around my thighs tightened as he continued to suck and lick. My flesh pulsed with untamed pleasure as I removed my hand from his hair to yank at mine.

I was going crazy. This high was driving me crazy.

Each flick of his tongue was packed with a million bolts that sizzled through my core. I was on fire… sweet, unholy fire and desperately needed a release. As if he sensed it, he increased his pace.

“More.” My body tremored with the vibration from his jagged voice.

“I can”t….” I moaned as my eyes rolled to the sky.

His other hand gripped my waist. Then he started to suck ferociously. Like a hungry lion devouring its prey, he ate every inch of my pulsing flesh. My knees buckled as my moan hit every pitch there was.

“Cum for daddy.”

I felt it in every part of my body, from my toes to the last strand of my hair. My body spasmed as the knots in my stomach finally gave way to the wreckage.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I attuned myself to the animalistic sound of him lapping at my juices.

Slowly, he uncuffed my leg from his shoulder and rose. In a moment, he brought his face to mine and kissed me — hard. I tasted my essence on his lips as he groaned and pushed himself into me.

I gasped when I felt the large bulge of his shaft against my lower abdomen. With another groan, he pulled back to stare at me as if searching for something.

Slowly, he lifted me. My legs curved around the circumference of his waist before I felt the ever-so-slight poke of his length.

I waited for my own usual response of fear, but there was nothing. Maybe because I was still busy reveling in my high, or like the high, the fear had flowed out of me.

Suddenly, I felt a new, different sense of need, and my low, needy whimper was a testament to this.

His eyes darkened as he narrowed them on me. Then, with more pressure than the last, he pushed against my sex.

My head tipped back to release a low moan. The sound of his belt mixed with the silent hum of anticipation. His hand dove between us, and I felt my panties tear.

I gasped when I felt his bulge at my entrance. I was needy. Eager to know what he would feel like. But the loud cry that came after wasn”t mine. Rather, it was….. his phone.

I felt his growl in my chest when his head fell between my shoulder and neck. “Fuck.”

His breathing was hard. I swallowed. The ringing didn”t stop.

Placing one last kiss on my neck, he let me down before fishing for his phone in his pocket. My heart fell when he created distance between us.

“What the fuck do you want?”

I felt bad for the caller.

I watched his hand dig through his hair before his brows furrowed and his jaw hardened. His next statement was both disappointing and frightening.

“Shit. I”ll be there immediately.”