25. Lia

I doubleover laughing as Ethan tugs my hand, tugging me deeper through the woods. Our boots crunch loudly on the gravel path, disrupting birds and squirrels startled by humans invading their haven. But Ethan's boyish enthusiasm proves infectious, and soon I'm rushing alongside him brushing budding branches away from my flushed face.

After yesterday's good news, Ethan has been in a rare great mood, humming to himself while he cared for Baabara this morning and declaring both the strawberry patch and the larger soybean fields to be in excellent condition.

He wrapped up his work early and asked me to join him on an adventure. How could I say no to that? I messaged my boss that I was using half a personal day and paired the news with the grant funding to sweeten the impact.

Ethan and I crash into a clearing together winded but grinning. Red trillium are in bloom alongside beautiful white snowdrops and some yellow flowers whose names I've forgotten. I spot a soft, checkered blanket spread on the grass, with wicker baskets and incredible aromas of savory food mixed in with the budding field. I gasp softly, hands covering my grin.

"Surprise picnic, just for us." Ethan"s ears redden hearing my tiny shrieks of joy. "Thought you"d want some stuff you can actually eat." His brow furrows. "Sorry I'm not much of a cook, but Gran was supervising so it should be alright."

My heart swells realizing no one but Ethan and his grandmother would've noted what foods I must carefully avoid, then taken such pains assembling safe options just to indulge me. I grip his plaid shirt and pull his lips down to mine, my gratitude beyond words and requiring a kiss instead. He was so loving and understanding last night when we were interrupted by stomach pains. I hope above hope that tonight will have a different ending.

When we part I pepper feather-light kisses along Ethan"s stubbled jaw, eliciting shivers. I tremble, knowing I can rouse such a reaction from this giant, stoic man. He captures my chin mid-caress, eyes cobalt flame. "Food first," he murmurs, an unspoken second course shimmering in the air. I press closer, anticipating us savoring each other.

Ethan reveals roasted squash with honey, glazed beets, gluten-free bread, and herbed olive oil — Gran"s efforts, no doubt. I heap my plate, famished. The afternoon sunshine and Ethan"s comforting presence warm me inside and out as we devour this Lia-friendly feast.

Feeling giddy, I spear a chunk of squash and feed it to Ethan, who has hardly eaten anything. He just stares at me, smiling, but he indulges my feeding him with exaggerated moans that make us both giggle. I feel so relaxed with him here, so free, so supported. I bite my lip and feed him another bite of food, and his moan this time doesn't make me laugh.

I'm burning for him, warmed by the sun, feeling brave. I shove the cleared plates to the side and shift closer. His eyes are patient, expectant. "You make me imagine a beautiful future, Ethan Bedd. One that doesn't just include survival." His smile widens and he traces my hand with his thumb. "Will you let me love you again? Give us another chance?"

Ethan stills, processing. The breeze stirs the grass around us. Rather than speak, he slowly frames my face in calloused hands, blue gaze piercing to my churning soul. "I"ve waited so long for you, Lia. Can hardly believe I"m not just dreaming." His throat bobs. "Promise me this is real — that you"re truly here to build a life together. You"re my partner now ... in all things?"

My naked need reflected back in Ethan's face tightens my chest. I press my lips to his seeking mouth in answer and confirmation, our kisses kindling sparks, swiftly gaining force as we finally unleash pent up need. We shed our clothes beside the feast, our hunger shifting to physical intimacy. Finally, skin to skin in the sunlight, we sprawl tangled in the grass.

Ethan rolls us so he's on top of me and I wince. Usually, when I'm in a flare, I can't bear the weight of someone above me. But he settles his frame on his forearms and kisses my nose. "Is this okay?" I nod because it's more than just okay. As Ethan licks along my collar bones and down, back to my breasts, I am way, way more than okay.

I let my head roll side to side and bury my fingers in his hair as he licks and sucks along my chest and stomach. Every caress sends shivers and heat clashing through me. I lift my hips to Ethan's, needing the friction and pressure of his hardness. "Oh, it's so, so good," I purr. I actually purr.

Ethan's hands skim my curves, learning the dips and swells of my body until I'm slick and breathless. I arch under him again, delirious as he peels off my panties. I've never been naked outdoors, but here, bare in the sun, I feel more protected than ever.

Ethan kisses my hip, fingers kneading my thighs and spreading me open for him. "So beautiful," he whispers, worshiping my body.

"Ethan, please." I'm not sure what I'm asking for, what I need, but he reaches between my legs to find me wet and wanting. I'm feverish with lust for him. My hips roll and I reach for his length as he shimmies out of his boxers at long last.

He hisses when I wrap a fist around him. "Lia," he pants. "I want you to know I've had a checkup. Clean bill of health." His voice is breathy as I stroke him, loving the long length in my hand, the velvet wrapped around steel with a weeping tip. I use my thumb to spread his precum around the head of his cock and I moan when he groans.

"I'm clear, too," I pant. "In that regard, anyway." I chuckle. "I also can't get pregnant…but I need to talk to you about that eventually…oh!"

Ethan slides a finger inside me and crooks it, beckoning my pleasure as I shout, not caring who or what can hear. "We'll talk all you want. After." Ethan meets my eye and holds my gaze as he strokes me. "Is this still what you like?"

"God yes." I nod furiously as his thumb circles my clit while another long finger strokes inside me. I lose track of what he's doing with his hand as the pleasure spreads, zings and tingles radiating out. Soon, my muscles are clenching and throbbing as I come on his hand, thrashing around in the grass. Ethan's face is pure bliss, satisfied and happy as the waves subside and he positions himself above me.

We join, slick, fevered, crying out for long-denied release and Ethan begins to move. His face contorts with the effort of holding himself above me and concentrating on my body. I watch his abs ripple as he strokes in and out, run my hands along the concave splendor of his ass and enjoy the feel of it contracting beneath my palms.

"Lia, god how I've missed you. Fuck, this feels so damn good."

I have no words, only kisses and thrusts of my hips. There is nothing but this, and when Ethan tilts to one side, bringing a hand to my clit, I rocket off again after just a few firm rubs. He throws his head back and roars, filling me and I can hear both our hearts hammering in sync.

Sometime later, we drift back to earth and Ethan's eyes widen in alarm. "Do you think I'm going to get a sunburn on my ass?"

I burst into laughter as he reaches to pull the picnic blanket around us, the waves of hysteria spreading as our empty dishes and food containers clatter in his haste to cover his butt from the afternoon sun. From somewhere far off, my phone chirps, startling me from where I'd begun to relax and trace shapes in Ethan's chest hair.

I groan, realizing I never switched off my notifications for our romantic adventure. The chirps grow insistent, I stretch an arm toward the sound and retrieve my phone from the grass, squinting to read the screen.

Ethan adjusts his body so his head is blocking my phone from the glare and I gasp, seeing my boss's message on my screen. "Is it bad news?" Ethan asks as I stiffen and try to wriggle from beneath him.

I shake my head and read the message again, holding a hand over my mouth as I look from Ethan to my phone screen and back. "It's a series of excited messages about the grant for the Bedd Fellows Farm."

He smiles. "Well, good. I'm glad they're happy with your work."

I shake my head in disbelief. "My big boss wants me to stay here if I'm willing. Thinks I can help turn around other investments in nearby communities." Stunned disbelief slackens my limbs and I slump over onto Ethan, boneless.

"What are you saying, Lia?"

I press a kiss to his temple and clutch my phone to my chest. "It means I can stay. It means I can stay here with Asher, with … I can stay with you, if you'll have me?"

I had to fight for the chance to come here, set up remote operations to turn failing investments around. At the time, I thought maybe I could right a wrong I felt I'd wrought on the Bedd family by shutting Ethan out of my life.

Now the top brass is singing my praises as a creative visionary. But none of it matters, I realize, if Ethan isn't interested in giving me another chance. It's been months of spending time with him. Is it enough? Will he want me here now that I have the flexibility and stability to choose to stay?

Ethan sits up and grabs my face with both hands, pressing his forehead against mine. I can feel his breath on my face as he says, "Lia, if I had my way, you'd never leave my side ever again." I crush my mouth against his and my anxiety melts away.

We kiss, our bodies communicating our commitment. I can set down roots here, with Ethan.