9. ARIA

As I sat alone in my dimly lit room, I felt pressed down by the relentless emotional burden I carried in my mind. Each breath felt like a struggle, my chest tight with the burden.

The events of the past few days had left me reeling, my emotions spinning out of control like a whirlwind tearing through my soul. I had always prided myself on my strength and resilience in the face of adversity, but now, faced with the harsh reality of my circumstances, I found myself on the edge of a cliff while my resolve wavered with each passing moment.

I had fought tooth and nail to maintain my mother's bookstore, pouring my heart and soul into every page, word, and story on its shelves. It was more than just a business to me; it was a sanctuary, a refuge from the world. And now, it was gone, snatched away by forces beyond my control.

But it wasn"t just the loss of my livelihood that weighed heavily on my mind. It was the knowledge that I was a target, hunted by those who sought to do me harm for reasons I couldn"t begin to fathom. The thought of facing off against them filled me with a bone-deep dread, my stomach churning with the nauseating fear of what might lie ahead.

And then there was Ethan. His presence was a constant thorn in my side and a reminder of the lover and protector I would like to have, if he would show his intentions clearly.

Despite my best efforts to push him away, to deny the attraction I felt toward him, I couldn"t shake the feeling that he held the key to unraveling the mysteries that had haunted me for so long.

A part of me also wondered whether there was more to Ethan than met the eye. Beneath his aloof and broody exterior lurked a vulnerability that called out to me, a flicker of humanity, loneliness and vulnerability that belied the darkness that clouded his gaze.

Lost in my thoughts, I faintly registered the soft knock on the door, the sound barely audible over the unrest of my mind. But when Elinor stepped into the room, her gentle presence was a balm to my frayed nerves.

"Hey, sweetie," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "How are you holding up?"

I forced a weak smile, the corners of my lips twitching with the effort. "I"m... I"m okay," I replied, though the words felt hollow and empty, devoid of conviction.

Elinor"s brow furrowed as she crossed the room to take a seat beside me. "You don"t have to pretend with me, Aria," she said gently. "I know how much this means to you, and how much you"ve sacrificed to build your dream."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "I just... I don"t know what to do," I admitted. "Everything feels so... hopeless."

Elinor reached out, wrapping her arms around me. "I know, sweetie," she murmured. "But you"re not alone. We"ll get through this together; I promise."

And for the first time in what felt like a long time, I allowed myself to believe her. I surrendered to the warmth of her embrace. Maybe there was a way forward, a light at the end of the tunnel that called me toward a brighter tomorrow.

But as I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be swept away by the tide of emotion, a single thought lingered; a question that begged to be answered:

What role did Ethan play in all of this, and was he a friend or a foe?

I was consumed by thoughts of him more than ever. It seemed unfathomable that there was still room in my mind for thoughts of him, and for desires of love and longing.

Perhaps it was because he had seemed genuinely concerned the last time we had crossed paths. But I couldn"t shake the feeling of frustration that gnawed at me. How could someone profess love one moment and then retreat to a heart made of ice the next?

As I stepped inside my home a few hours ago, weary from the day, the sound of my phone beeping broke through the silence. I hesitated for a moment, wondering who could be reaching out to me so late.

With a swift motion, I retrieved my phone from my pocket and swiped the screen to check the notifications, a myriad of possibilities racing through my mind.

Was it a reminder to renew my credit card? A message from the mechanic about my car? Or perhaps another debt collector not realizing that the well was dry?

But as I read the message that illuminated the screen, all other thoughts faded into insignificance. It was Ethan.

The simple act of receiving a message from him ignited a whirlwind of emotions within me that I struggled to contain..

What could he possibly want from me now, after everything that had transpired between us? With trembling fingers, I tapped on the screen to open the message, my heart pounding.

The message was short and to the point, but it gave me chills nonetheless.

Are you okay?

The simplicity of his words contrasted the emotions that lay beneath them, a silent plea for reassurance in the face of uncertainty.

I stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity, my mind at war as I struggled to come up with a response. Should I reply? Should I ignore him? Should I pour my heart out and tell him everything?

Before I could decide, another message popped up on the screen, this one accompanied by a photo.

I opened the message and gasped when I saw the image staring back at me. It was a picture of my bookstore, the front entrance bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.

My heart clenched at the bittersweet reminder of everything I had lost and everything I stood to lose. And yet, there was something about the way Ethan had captured the moment, the way he had framed the image with such care and attention to detail, that touched something deep within me.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to entertain the idea that maybe there was more to Ethan than met the eye. Maybe he wasn"t just another obstacle standing in the way of my dreams but someone who genuinely cared about my well-being, someone who saw me for who I truly was.

I typed my response with a sigh.

I"m okay. Thanks for asking.

As I hit send, a wave of relief washed over me as if I had finally taken the first step toward something greater, something that had the power to change everything.

But as I set my phone aside and settled back against the pillows, I couldn"t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a journey that would take me to places I had never dared to dream of.

As I pondered his message, another notification lit up my phone screen.

Can I come over?

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating before responding. What did he want from me? Was he seeking solace in my company, or did he have ulterior motives? The questions swirled in my mind, seeking answers that remained elusive.

For what? I typed, my words betraying the uncertainty that churned within me. It was as though he stood before me, prompting me to voice my doubts.

I paused, awaiting his response, my heart racing with anticipation.

Why did he feel the need to see me in person? Hadn"t I assured him that I was okay?

But then, a nagging voice whispered in the recesses of my mind—was I overthinking this? Perhaps his intentions were innocent, a simple desire to check in on me.

And yet, the fear of rejection lingered, putting a shade over my thoughts.

With a sigh, I deleted my question, retyped another, and pressed send, conceding to his request with a simple, Sure, no problem. I'm home.

Oddly enough, as the message was sent, a sense of calm washed over me. Despite my reservations, a part of me welcomed his presence, yearning for the connection that seemed to call from beyond the confines of our screens.

Sometime later, I heard a knock on the door, followed by Ethan"s voice.

I opened the door with a question, "Did you change your mind about coming?"

"What do you mean?" he replied, standing in the doorway.

"It took you long enough to get here."

He shrugged and stepped inside. It was then that I noticed he carried two bags, one in each hand.

Without waiting for my response, he made his way to the kitchen and placed the bags on the table. One contained my favorite—French fries for dinner—and the other was brimming with groceries.

As he cleared his throat, I realized the reason he'd taken so long. "I thought you might need to eat," he explained, gesturing to the bags.

His thoughtful gesture caught me off guard, and I felt my heart swell with gratitude. He could have easily sent one of his men to deliver the food and groceries, but instead, he had taken the time to shop for me.

At that moment, any lingering doubts melted away, replaced by a sense of warmth and appreciation for Ethan"s unexpected kindness.

I moved closer to him to express my gratitude, but as I neared, I was overwhelmed by the intoxicating scent of his cologne. It enveloped me, clouding my senses, and stirring something deep within.

He was taller than me by a few inches, so I had to tilt my head upward to meet his gaze. His intense blue eyes held mine, not with hostility or resentment, but with a warmth and affection that took me by surprise.

Lost for words, I instinctively stood on my tiptoes, closing the distance between us to place a gentle kiss on his lips, hoping it would convey the depth of my emotions.

To my surprise, he responded eagerly, his lips meeting mine in a fervent embrace. The kiss ignited a fire within me, and before I knew it, we were shedding our clothes with reckless abandon, driven by an undeniable passion that consumed us.

It had been so long since I'd felt this much desire for someone, I couldn't remember anyone else evoking this drive in me. Every touch sent electricity through my body, a soothing delight. His breath was ragged and quick as he moved his kisses to my back.

A swift move that had me longing for his lips on mine. I wanted to tease him a little. He pressed his hardness to the small of my back as he slowly unzipped my dress. As it fell to the floor, he cupped my breasts in his hands. His skilled fingers released the front clasp, and I spilled out for him.

He grabbed me by the hips and placed me on the counter. The cold marble sent a shiver up my body, and as his lips found my breasts, I sucked in a gasp of air.

I was lost in his embrace when he made his way down my body, leaving a trail down my thighs. The cool air hit the moisture, causing my nipples to peak with the chill.

His head settled between my legs, and I moaned in satisfaction as his tongue circled my clit with a suction I was not expecting. I was dripping wet, ready for him to fill me. I shouted his name as he drove me to climax. He pulled me off the counter and turned me around.

The look in his eyes was of intense desire, and I moved with ease as he positioned me over the counter. I wanted him so badly that I moaned in anticipation.

His fingers worked my nipples expertly, causing small jolts of energy to shoot through my body. He moved one hand down to my ass and guided his fingers into me. I couldn't conceal my desire as I shifted my hips on his hand.

I begged in my mind for him to enter me, but he seemed hell-bent on testing my patience until his hands took their mount on my hips, and he slid in on the trail of moisture his fingers had prepared. He thrust deep within me, sending stars across my vision.

It felt like we were one, and I found orgasm quickly as he hit all the right places, but before he finished, Ethan pulled back. He carried me, an effortless task in his arms, and laid me on the bed like I was a delicate flower he was afraid to crush.

He had lowered himself atop me, keeping eye contact. His eyes were bottomless pools that devoured me.

He rose back up when I was securely placed on the bed, Then he frantically looked around for something. He found the jeans he had discarded earlier, brought out a foil packet, and covered himself with a practiced ease.

He found my eyes once again and growled with delight as he slid back into me, a sensation my body welcomed. I gripped his shoulders as he slid in, inch by glorious inch.

His gentle kisses conflicted with the torture he presented to my nipples, and I found climax yet again, a wave of bliss covering me over and over with each thrust.

I bit my lip to keep from screaming as he filled me completely, and I shifted my hips to better accommodate his size. His skilled hips penetrated me deeper and deeper.

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he met me in climax, and I basked in the glow of the thin golden thread connected to my mind. Ethan might be bad for me, but he was so good, too.