by Kennedy Fox
Instantly, my heart flutters as I cross the room and open the door. Ethan greets me with a sexy smile wearing a blue, button-up shirt and slacks.
“You clean up nicely, Casanova.”
Pulling me into his arms, our lips crash together, causing the butterflies inside me to swarm in circles. Taking our time, we kiss until our lips are swollen, until I feel like I can’t breathe. There was a moment when I didn’t think we’d make it out of the cottage.
“You’re beautiful, Vada,” he whispers across my lips, setting the tone of this date. Blush hits my cheeks as soon as Ethan tucks loose hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing the softness of my neck. Once I close the cottage door, Ethan leads me down the sidewalk.
After seeing him, I feel completely underdressed for the occasion, and my nerves start to get the best of me.
“What?” I ask as he looks over at me with a smirk on his lips. I wait for his answer as we continue walking forward.
“Just thinking about taking that dress off you later,” he teases, opening the door to his car for me. “Hope it wasn’t expensive.” He winks.
His words make me laugh and slightly relax. Once I’m inside the car, I take the moment to suck in a deep breath.
Ethan climbs in and buckles then starts the engine. “Everything okay?”
“Just nervous, I guess,” I say honestly, buckling myself in.
“Don’t worry. I left my cock at home,” he teases, and all the worry I had of the evening melts away just like that.
We drive through town, and I’m confused when Ethan doesn’t slow. I turn to him, ready to ask where we’re going once we cross the second bridge.
“I thought we’d go somewhere on the outskirts of town that’s more intimate, away from all the touristy stuff,” he explains when he notices my perplexed expression. “You can do that any day of the week.”
“Oh, so I’m getting the exclusive Rochester treatment tonight?”
Ethan chuckles. “Babe, you’ve been getting that all week.”
Soon we’re pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant that’s decorated with parts from old boats. Oars, anchors, and ropes are hung on the building, and when we step inside, I realize it’s the entire theme of the place. I immediately fall in love with it. We’re swiftly escorted through the quaint dining area onto the patio. Our table overlooks the white sand and dark blue water, and in the distance, I hear the waves crashing against the shore. Glancing over the candle that lights Ethan’s face, I find myself smiling.
“This is perfect,” I whisper to him, admiring his messy hair and the smirk on his lips. Though there’s a few couples on the patio, it feels like it’s only Ethan and me in this moment.
The waitress walks up, and Ethan orders everything down to my favorite wine.
She returns with a bottle of Cabernet and a basket of hot bread.
“How’d you know about the wine?” I ask.
“Google,” he jokes.
“Oh, stop. You didn’t Google me.”
“I did,” he admits, shamelessly. “Even ordered a few copies of your books to put on the shelf in the cottage for the other guests who rent it. Might actually update the Airbnb listing and tell them the world-famous Vada Collins wrote her upcoming bestselling novel there. It’ll be as popular as the Stanley Hotel lobby in Stephen King’s The Shining.”
I actually snort. “I hope that works out for you. Could actually become a little cash cow of sorts. People will drive by and stop to take pictures with the cottage. I’ll send you a headshot to hang on the wall.” I wink.
Being like this with him feels so easy and natural. It’s strange how a person can meet someone, and within a few days, it feels like old friends who’ve known each other for years.
Soon our food arrives, and I can’t wait to dig into the Etoufee Flounder Ethan ordered us both. Apparently, it’s a southern favorite, and I actually let out a moan when I take the first bite of fish. The sauce, mashed potatoes, everything is simply delicious.
“Told you,” he says, noticing how much I love it.
“I’m never leaving Charleston,” I kid as I take another bite.
“I wish you wouldn’t,” Ethan says, his tone more serious than before.
His words catch me off guard, and I open my mouth then close it, not really knowing what to say. My whole life is back in Chicago, and I know it was inevitable that this week would end. We both knew.
“I love Charleston because it’s a little bit of city and a whole lot of southern. But mainly because we have everything here, the history, culinary scene, and more. What’s not to love about Charleston?” he asks, quickly changing the subject.
After we’re finished eating, he pays, grabs a blanket from the car, then takes my hand and leads me down the wooden path that points to the beach. The sun dips below the horizon and twilight is upon us. The light breeze brushes over my skin, and soon we’re touching sand. He bends over and removes his shoes, and I do too.
“I have a lot to tell you, Vada.” The light breeze carries his voice.
“Actually, I want to apologize to you, Ethan. I didn’t mean to snoop, and I’m really sorry for doing so.” I look at him, trying to read his facial expression, hoping he understands. “Trust is such a big part of my life, and I felt like I broke that with you.”
Ethan shakes his head at me. “No, no. You have nothing to apologize about.”
We continue walking down the beach, allowing the sand to squish between our toes. Once we’re away from the boardwalk, Ethan stops and lays the blanket on the ground, then sits. Looking up at me, he pats next to him, and I set my shoes down and join him. Our arms brush together, and goose bumps travel across my skin. I nervously laugh, and Ethan does, too, as he stares out at the rippling waves.
“I was married,” he starts, his words catching me off guard. I suspected he had some kind of relationship previously, but I hadn’t figured he was divorced.
“But you’re not anymore, right?” Suddenly I realize I haven’t asked this question. My mind starts playing out all these scenarios of him still being married, which would make me a homewrecker. He doesn’t wear a wedding ring, but that doesn’t mean anything considering his line of work. As I sit here, I realized how I trusted him so easily, that it makes me almost feel stupid for not making sure beforehand.
Letting out a light laugh, he reassures me by shaking his head. “No, I’m not. She passed away five years ago.”
The blood rushes from my face, and the wine from earlier feels like it’s finally kicking in.
“I’m so sorry.” I try to offer some sort of condolence, but I’m at a loss.
“It was sudden and unexpected.” His tone is somber, and I want nothing more than to comfort him. This explains so much about him, and I’m already getting emotional without even knowing the details.
I wait patiently, not wanting to rush him. He continues when he’s ready and tells me about Alana and exactly what happened. As I sit next to him on the blanket, tears stream down my face. I can’t imagine being so young and losing someone so close.
“So I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’ve got issues that I’m still working on. But after reacting the way I did, I felt you deserved to know the truth.”
“Thank you.” I weave my fingers through his. “For trusting me enough to tell me. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”
“It’s the first time I’ve told her story to anyone,” he admits, my heart swelling. “Southern town, lots of gossips—didn’t take long for everyone to hear.”
“I appreciate you sharing it with me.” I flash a small smile, realizing how big of a step this is for him. “So your daughter?” I swallow hard, not wanting to push my boundaries, but he knows I saw the room that was set up for her.
Ethan sucks in a deep breath as if he’s finding the courage to speak.
“Paris came two months early and fought to breathe from the moment she was born. The tubes, the beeping of the machines, sometimes when I’m sitting in a quiet room
, I can still hear it all as if I’m there. I think she died of a broken heart though. Once Alana was gone, it seemed Paris’ likelihood of surviving diminished greatly. It’s like she knew her mama was gone. Ultimately, she was too little, too sick, too weak. She ended up getting meningitis, which came with its own set of complications, and passed away two weeks later.”
Ethan swallows down tears, and I see him fighting his emotions, which completely ruins me from the inside out. There’s something about watching a man be so vulnerable that breaks me down. I’m so upset over this, and I’m crying for him and everything he’s lost. His life was flipped upside down in a matter of weeks.
Regardless, he continues. “The first time I held her was when they unhooked her small body from the machines after she was gone.” He covers his face with his hands.
I place my hand on his back, and he falls into my arms. Ethan holds me as if he’s falling, and I don’t let go. I can’t let go, not when I feel like he’s breaking in my arms. The pain he feels streams through me, and I wish I could take it all away.
“I don’t believe everything happens for a reason. It’s a bullshit thing that doesn’t bring comfort to anyone. No one should ever have to endure such loss—ever. I’m so sorry, Ethan. I’m sorry this happened to you. And I’m sorry you’re having to talk to me about it.”
He sits up and rubs his palms over his eyes. With a helpless shrug, he reiterates, “You deserved to know, Vada. Maybe I’m actually losing my mind, but…” He swallows hard. “You’re not like everyone else. Being with you is different. I feel like when I’m with you, I can be myself again, and that’s a feeling I haven’t felt for a very, very long time.”
I suck in air, and it almost hits me like a pound of bricks when the realization sets in that he’s right. It has been different being with him.
“I know what you mean,” I admit with a smile on my face, staring into his honey-colored eyes. For a moment, no words exchange between us but so much is being said. My heartbeat rushes, and I wonder if he can feel it, too. Ethan Rochester is more than what I ever bargained for, and after tonight, I see him in a completely different light. I truly understand him on a deeper level—something I haven’t ever felt with anyone else.
Ethan leans back on the blanket and pulls me down with him. The light breeze drifts over our bodies as he holds me in his arms. We look up at the stars twinkling in the sky, and in this moment, I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world. Our hearts, our bodies, everything is perfectly in sync, and the thought almost frightens me.
“Thank you,” Ethan whispers after minutes of silence between us.
I sit up on my elbow and look at him, the moonlight casting a shadow on his beautiful features. “For what?”
“For listening, for allowing me to be myself. For not looking at me like I’ve grown a second head or anything.”
I give him a sweet smile, and he pulls me close. His hot breath kisses my skin, and it’s almost too much for me to handle. “You had me at hello, you know that?”
I wasn’t expecting to hear that come from his lips. “Ethan—”
“Don’t.” He stops me, sitting up and pulling me to his chest. My mouth hovers above his until he slightly leans up and claims my lips as his, completely stealing my breath and heart in the flicker of a moment. His kiss is so raw that it almost reaches bone as he cuts me open with the emotion that’s streaming from this kiss. The shift I feel is so powerful, it’s almost as if the entire world tilts on its axis.
16
ETHAN
I wish I could capture Vada so she’d stay with me here in this moment—as the waves crash in the distance—forever. Right now, I don’t feel sadness or pain. I only feel that strange sensation that what we have is bigger than either of us realize. I’m not one to fall for anyone so quickly. Hell, if anything, I’ve pushed plenty of opportunities away, but with Vada, it’s different. She’s got me under her spell, and I doubt she’s going to let me go before she heads back to Chicago in a couple days. The realization of that completely rips through me, but I keep it to myself.
We lay on the blanket for a while, until I feel Vada shiver.
“Come on, let’s go,” I tell her, sitting up. “The night’s still young. What do you want to do?”
Vada looks at me seductively, and I’m almost tempted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to the car because it would be faster.
“Say no more.” Standing up, I grab my shoes and slip them back on. She follows my lead and tries to help me pop sand out of the blanket.
On the drive back to the house, I interlock Vada’s fingers with mine. It’s a simple, but intimate gesture. I haven’t felt the need to hold hands with a woman in years, and now I don’t want to let hers go.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” I say, unbuckling. She follows suit and meets me in front of the car.
Grabbing for her hand again, we walk up the steps to the house where I lead her up the stairs to my bathroom. I light candles and place them around the white iron claw-foot tub. Turning on the hot water until it’s steaming, I take my time undressing her, kissing her collarbone and along her shoulder. Her head falls to one side, and she lets out a long sigh as my fingers sweep across the soft skin of her stomach. As I undo each button of my shirt, she watches me intently, not speaking a word.
“How would you write a scene like this?” I ask her, wanting to know the eloquent words she’d use.
She shakes her head. “You don’t even want to know.”
“I do; come on. I know you’re probably a wordsmith.”
Watching me for another moment, she begins speaking out the scene. “Carefully, button-by-button, the gorgeous man removes his shirt. His ab muscles are as hard as steel and scream out for her to touch them, but she doesn’t. Instead, she stands silent and waits for his permission as he moves to take off his belt before unbuttoning his pants. He looks at her with a burning intensity in his eyes as if he knows all her secrets but doesn’t care. And maybe he doesn’t.”
“So, Vada. What secrets do you have?” I ask her, wanting to know, realizing I’ve spilled my guts tonight, but I haven’t learned much more about her than I already know.
“I’m an open book. Other than the trust issues I have. But that’s because of all the pricks I’ve dated in the past. And…” She hesitates. I watch her, completely unsure of what she’ll say next. “And from things in my childhood. But it’s all in the past now. Without all the liars and cheaters, well I wouldn’t be the woman I am today or be able to write strong women in my books. So it all worked out, I suppose.”
“Did someone hurt you?” I nearly growl, realizing how territorial that sounded. “I might kill them if you say yes.” Just the thought of someone laying a hand on Vada almost sends me into a fury.
“No, nothing like that. More emotional abuse than anything. Being able to trust someone fully is important to me because I tend to go all in when I’m dating someone. The past hasn’t been kind to me, that’s all I’m saying. Every relationship I’ve been in has ended badly, so I guess you could say I’m a bit jaded. Empty promises covered with lies, and stupidly, I believed them over and over again. It’s probably why I’m overly single right now.”
“I can understand that. But let me add, I’m an open book too, Vada. I’ll always be truthful, even if it hurts. I don’t have anything to hide. You know all my secrets.” I take a few steps forward and hold her in my arms. Skin against skin and there’s something so intimate about standing in nothing but candlelight.
“Get in first,” I demand with a smile, watching our shadows dance against the wall.
“So bossy, I like it,” she purrs, dipping a toe in the warm water, then stepping in, and slowly sitting in the tub. I follow her lead, slipping behind her, my legs holding her in place.
“Ouch, your snake’s slithering against my back,” she jokes.
“Watch out, you might get bitten,” I tell her as I grab a bar of soap and gently wash over her breasts.
Vada sinks into my touch, allowing me to put my hands wherever I want.
“The water’s so warm, it’s relaxing,” she states in a dreamy-like tone.
I slip my hands down lower, and my fingers rub against her clit. Letting out a moan that echoes through the bathroom, Vada arches against me, creating more friction. Her head leans against my shoulder, and I devour her mouth with mine as I continue to pleasure her. Dipping a finger inside, I can feel how tight and ready she is for me.
“Fuck, Vada,” I whisper in her ear, as she sinks deeper into my touch.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to lose it,” she says between moans.
“Good.” With my other hand, I palm her breast, tugging at her nipple that’s at full attention.
“God, Ethan.” She moans louder, with more intensity in her voice as she places her palms on the porcelain tub, leaning harder into me. Her body tenses against my chest, and she closes her eyes as she allows the release to take over.
“You’re so fucking sexy when you come,” I whisper against her neck.
She laughs, leaning her head against me. “Didn’t realize getting clean could be so dirty.”
I take my time, washing her body and hair until she’s completely clean. “You were right about the exclusive treatment. Can I bring you home with me?”
When she mentions leaving, my heart lurches forward. “I wish, Vada. But you’d need a bigger suitcase for me, Henry, and Wilma. My cock and pussy go everywhere with me.”
Sitting up, she lets out the cutest laugh ever, causing the water to whoosh in the tub. Considering it’s lukewarm and soapy, I take that as our cue to get out and stand. I hand her a towel, and we dry off, and I can’t help but admire how beautiful she is, all the way down to her perfect toes.
