Holding out his hand, Ethan helped her stand and guided her to the dining room.
Dinner moved at a snail’s pace with Ethan’s gaze constantly straying back to Piper’s injured arm. Had Foster’s men hurt her somehow?
His wolf snarled from within. “Tell me what really happened, Piper.”
Startled, Piper glanced up from her dessert. “I’m sorry?”
“Your arm.” He nodded to the bandage. “Tell me what really happened to your arm.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Piper shifted uncomfortably in her chair. How did Ethan know she hadn’t been honest about her injury?
The thought disturbed her. “Okay,” she softly admitted. “I was out for a run and noticed a car following me. I cut through a neighbor’s yard and got a little too close to the rosebush behind my house. It’s really nothing. In fact, I don’t even know that I was being followed. It could have been a coincidence.”
“It was no coincidence.” Ethan continued to stare at her with his whiskey-colored gaze.
Pushing her dessert aside, Piper wiped her mouth with a napkin as warning bells went off in her head. “You know something about it?”
Ethan leaned forward, covering her hand with his. “I have a lot of enemies, Piper. Which makes you a target by association.”
Piper’s stomach turned over. “So, I’m I danger?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan answered, tightening his hold on her hand. “But until we figure out who was following you, I think it best if you stay here for a while.”
Surprised by his suggestion, Piper gaped at him. “You want me to move in with you?”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
It took Piper a moment to respond. “We’ve only known each other for a few weeks. I mean—”
“Consider it a temporary arrangement,” Ethan interrupted. “If it’ll make you more comfortable, you can stay in the guest room.”
Piper pulled her hand free of his. “But my work, my cat. I mean, I can’t just pack up and leave like that.”
“You can work from here, as well as bring your cat. Listen, Piper, if you’re on the radar of one of my enemies, you’d be a hell of a lot safer here than alone in your home.”
Piper couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You’re scaring me, Ethan.”
“And I’m sorry about that, love. I really am. But please consider staying here for a while. It would make me feel a hell of a lot better.”
Unsure of what to think, Piper merely nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
“It’s either that, or I’m staying with you,” Ethan warned, getting to his feet. “And this is definitely the safest place.”
Piper decided not to argue. They could discuss her living arrangements at a later time. For now, she had other concerns.
She stood as well, following him to the balcony. “Tell me about the cash in your closet.”
His shoulders stiffened slightly. Resting his hands on the railing, he stared out at the scenery below. “I purchased a compound a few years ago in the mountains of Alaska. Completely off the grid. If things ever get too hairy over here, the money is my safety net. Untraceable, and enough to sustain me for several years.”
“How much is it?” she couldn’t help but ask.
He glanced over at her. “Two million in one hundred dollar bills.”
Piper nearly swallowed her tongue. “You’re insane, Ethan. What if your building were to catch fire, or one of your staff decided to help themselves to your bounty?”
“I trust my staff. Besides, none of them would dare cross me.”
“What does that mean?” Piper studied his gorgeous profile.
Ethan shrugged, turning away from the railing. “Let me see your injury.”
“Nice subject change,” she pointed out, holding up her arm.
He carefully peeled away the bandage to reveal the deep cut underneath. It was red and angry looking.
Ethan stared down at the wound for long moments before steering her toward the glass doors. “Let’s go put something on this before it gets infected.”
Piper let him lead her upstairs, through his bedroom, and into his beautifully elaborate bathroom.
He lifted her onto the counter without effort. “Stay put.”
Watching him go to a door on the opposite wall, Piper couldn’t help but check out his ass as he opened it, bent, and grabbed some items off a bottom shelf.
She quickly looked away before he turned to face her.
He laid the items down on the counter next to her and reached for her arm. “Did you get a good look at the men that were following you?”
Piper shook her head. “No. They were in a black car with dark-tinted windows.”
His jaw tightened. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered, hating the shift in his mood. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is my fault.” He finished cleaning her wound and covered it with a fresh bandage before backing up a step. “I’m the reason you’re being followed. I should have left you alone when I had the chance. But I can’t seem to stay away from you.”
Piper carefully slid down from the counter. She took a step toward him, hesitating as a low growl rumbled deep in his throat.
The muscle ticking along his jaw did little to calm her anxiety. But nothing prepared her for the dangerous light suddenly burning in his eyes.
"I'm not afraid of you, Ethan."
"You should be. I’m not good for you, Piper. I know that. My life is complicated. There are things you don’t know. Things I can’t tell you right now. Things I might never be able to tell you. Can you live with that?”
Could she? She inched a step closer, her heart pounding with indecision. “I don’t know what I can or can’t live with, Ethan. I only know that I think about you constantly. I can smell you when I close my eyes. I feel your mouth on me in my dreams.”
“Fuck,” he snarled, jerking her hard against him.
His mouth closed over hers before she could fully gasp.
Piper’s eyes slid shut. This was what she needed, what she craved every hour of every day.
Ethan’s dominate nature was like a drug she couldn’t seem to get enough of.
In all her life, Piper had always been independent, sure of herself, and strong. But with Ethan, she felt vulnerable and fragile. He made her feel alive and more of a woman than she’d ever felt before.
Her entire body felt liquid and on fire.
Ethan broke off the kiss, spun her around, and pressed her against the wall.
Yanking her hair to the side, he sucked the skin of her neck into his mouth before sliding his teeth down to her shoulder.
Piper’s palms flattened against the wall, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.
Ethan gripped the hem of her skirt and yanked it up her thighs.
Oh God, Piper thought, her pussy growing wetter by the second. She’d never been so turned on in her life.
He suddenly ripped the waistband of her panties and yanked them free of her body.
Piper could hear the zipper descending on his jeans. He stepped forward, wrapped a hand in her hair, kicked her ankles apart with his booted foot, and thrust into her.
Piper cried out with the sudden invasion, only to suck in another breath as he drove into her again.
One hand slammed against the wall by her face, while the other circled around her hips to cup her pussy from the front.
His fingers strummed her clit with every thrust of his cock.
“Come for me, Piper.”
Goose bumps peppered her flesh.
His voice dropped another octave. “Feel me inside you, stroking you.” He thrust deeper. “Come on my cock, Piper. Mark me.” Another thrust that brought her to her toes. “You own me.”
The erotic growl of his words, coupled with his ever-moving fingers and his continuous driving erection, pushed Piper over the edge.
With her face pressed against the wall, her mouth op
en in silent ecstasy, Piper gave herself over to the powerful orgasm now racing its way up her spine.
“Ethannnnn,” she cried, her knees buckling beneath her. If not for Ethan’s arms coming around her, she would have crumpled to the floor in a climatic, boneless heap.
“Fuck!” he roared, crushing her against the front of his body. She could feel the hot jets of his semen coating her vaginal walls.
He shuddered one last time before dropping his forehead against the wall next to her face. “I’m sorry, Piper. I seem to have no control when it comes to you.”
“I like when you lose control. But this is twice now that we’ve had unprotected sex. If we’re going to continue this relationship, we need to start using condoms until my gynecologist appointment.”
Ethan stilled but didn’t comment. He gently pulled from her body and straightened her skirt. “I’ll take you to get some of your things in the morning. In the meantime, I want you sleeping in my bed.”
Piper turned in time to watch him stroll from the bathroom. Was he pissed at her for not being on the pill?
Suddenly anxious and more than a little nervous, Piper picked up her torn panties, tossed them in the trash, and set about cleaning herself up.
No more unprotected sex. No matter how spontaneous.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ethan poured himself a bourbon and stepped back onto the balcony off his living room. Piper wasn’t on birth control.
For some reason, the thought didn’t scare him as it normally would.
But if Piper were to become pregnant, he would have no choice but to tell her who and what he really was.
He’d almost marked her. Ethan wasn’t sure how much longer he could stop himself from sinking his teeth into her flesh. Of course, marking her would most certainly make her a target for anyone seeking to hurt Ethan.
“I’m sorry,” Piper announced, stepping out onto the balcony.
Ethan glanced at her over his shoulder. “For?”
“For my lack of contraceptives. I haven’t dated in a couple years, so I haven’t had a need for it. I—”
“You didn’t seduce me, Piper. And I don’t recall asking you if you were on birth control.”
She sidled up next to him. “You’re not worried at all about this?”
“I’m more worried about you than anything. How is your arm? Did I hurt you?”
Piper gave him a lopsided smile. “The only thing you hurt was my favorite thong.”
Ethan found himself returning her grin. “I’ll buy you another pair.”
“Deal.” Piper tucked some of her hair behind her ear, exposing her beautiful shoulder. “I have a meeting with Calibri’s next week to finalize everything. I’m going to go alone.”
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll go with you.”
“No,” Piper argued. “I’m going alone. You can send someone to watch from a distance if you’d like, but this is something I need to do for me, and only me.”
Although he didn’t like the thought of Piper going without him, Ethan understood. “Fair enough.”
Piper yawned, her beautiful eyes weary. “It’s getting late.”
Ethan took her by the hand. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”
* * * *
The next few weeks flew by with Ethan barely able to concentrate at work for worrying about Piper.
He’d grown to love coming home in the evenings to find her in his penthouse, her hair twisted up on the back of her head and working furiously on a new design.
Ethan found he could stand there and watch her for hours. Or at least until she ran him out.
The nights were the best, crawling up into bed with her and sinking into her tight, hot body. The condoms were a pain in his ass, but Piper insisted they use them.
His new secretary buzzed the phone on his desk.
“Yes?” Ethan answered, pressing the button.
“Billy is on his way up.”
“Thank you, Linda.”
Ethan adored his new temporary secretary so much he’d officially hired her after only two days. She had kind eyes, was very efficient, and never nosed in his business. Of course, it had only been a couple weeks. But the little, gray-haired woman had quickly found herself in his good graces.
“Oh, and Linda?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Lunch is on me. Take the company credit card and enjoy yourself.”
There was a brief pause. “Thank you so much, Mr. Seaborn. That’s very kind. Would you like me to bring you something back?”
“That’s okay, Linda. I’m actually taking Billy to lunch. See you this afternoon.”
Billy strolled into his office a minute later. “You about ready?”
Ethan stood. “Does steak sound good to you?”
“Does a frog have warts on his ass?”
With a grin, Ethan rounded his desk. “I don’t know about frogs, but I bet Mack Steinberg does.”
“No doubt.” Billy laughed, following Ethan to the door. “How’s Piper doing?”
Ethan’s chest tightened at the mention of Piper’s name. She invoked a kind of emotion in him that bordered on insanity. “She’s doing good. Bored of sitting around the penthouse, I’m sure. But there’s nothing I can do about that yet.”
“Hear anything else out of Foster?” Billy pressed the button on the elevator, waited for the doors to open, and stepped inside.
Ethan entered beside him. “Not a word. Which worries me even more.”
“You think he’s planning something?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan admitted, hating the insecurity in his voice. “But I wouldn’t doubt it.”
Billy made an impatient sound in the back of his throat. “How much longer before we take him out?”
“Soon,” Ethan drawled, stepping out of the elevator on the bottom floor. “Very soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The elevator door slid open, and Rhonda stepped into the foyer of Ethan’s penthouse, her eyes huge in her face. “I’ll have you know that I was molested by two burly-looking characters in the lobby.” Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my God, Piper, this is breathtaking.”
Piper hurried forward and wrapped Rhonda in a hug. “I have missed you so much.”
“I know. The longest three weeks of my life. How much longer will you be staying here? And who’s the muscle hovering in the lobby?”
Releasing her friend, Piper took a step back. “I honestly don’t know. We haven’t talked about me going home yet. I think Ethan likes me being here. And the two giants in the lobby are my protection.”
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about the dangers, were you?”
“Unfortunately not. It may be nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, Ethan has assured me that’s it’s only for a short time.”
“But do you like being here?” Rhonda pressed, her gaze scanning her surroundings.
Piper sighed wistfully. “I really do, Rhonda. Ethan is larger than life. I can’t stand being away from him even for a day, and yet that scares the shit out of me.”
“It would me too,” Rhonda admitted. “The heart is a danger all on its own. Speaking of danger. Any more black car sightings?”
Waving Rhonda toward the giant living room, Piper shook her head. “No, but I’ve only been outside these walls one time, and that was to sign the contract with Calibri’s. Even Mr. Whiskers is getting cabin fever.”
“Then let’s go have lunch. You can take your bodyguards along if you want. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Piper considered Rhonda’s words. “Okay, but let me text Ethan and let him know where we’ll be. He’ll worry otherwise.”
“Piper Hollister,” Rhonda scolded, an exasperated look on her face. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would have to get permission to do anything.”
That stung. “I’m not getting permission. I’m merely letting him know where I’ll be so he won’t worry. There are reasons beh
ind his concerns, you realize.”
Rhonda sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Well, text him and let’s get going.”
Piper snagged her cell from the coffee table and sent Ethan a message. Going to Sally’s Diner to have lunch with Rhonda. Taking guards with me. Text you on my way home. xoxo
Depositing the cell into her skirt pocket, Piper picked up her purse and waved Rhonda toward the foyer.
Once on the elevator, Piper pressed the button for the ground floor and met Rhonda’s gaze in the tinted mirror. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
Rhonda grinned. “It’s good to see you too. This relationship stuff really suits you. Your face is positively glowing.”
The elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open with a ding. Piper made a beeline for the two burly figures standing along the lobby wall.
They both straightened upon her approach.
“Miss Hollister,” the one on the right greeted as she stopped in front of them.
Piper sent them both a warm smile. “Rhonda and I are going to Sally’s for lunch.”
“Is Mr. Seaborn aware of this?” the same guy questioned.
That got Piper’s ire up. She quickly swallowed it back and gave him another patient smile. “I sent him a text. Now, I am going to have lunch. Are you coming or not?”
He nodded stiffly.
“Great. We’ll take my car.” Piper spun on her heel and marched toward the exit doors before he had time to argue.
* * * *
The two sullen-looking guards sat at a table in the diner behind Piper and Rhonda. Neither of the men spoke, nor did they eat.
Piper ordered the roast beef special with a side salad, while Rhonda stuck with her usual burger and fries.
The waitress returned ten minutes later with their food, setting it on the table in front of them. “Enjoy.”
Picking up her fork, Piper speared a piece of roast beef and popped it in her mouth. Her stomach turned over.
Piper dropped her fork and moved as quickly as possible to the ladies’ room. She rushed into a stall, dropped onto her knees, and heaved up her breakfast.
The Billionaire's Baby: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance Page 10
