Battle for Love (Bachelor Billionaire #3)

by Sharon Cummin

  He knew that he had to find out what was going on. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself. Ethan gave everything to the investigator. The information he had on the guy's record, the phone number, and the description the florist had given him. He told the guy he wanted everything he could possibly find on Jason. It was tearing him up knowing there was nothing he could do yet to help her.

  As the days passed, he missed her more and more. Ethan was worried about her and what could have been happening that he didn't know about. It was so much more than that. He missed her being in his bed and spending time with her. Ethan had never thought about a woman when he wasn't with her. What was going on? Each day, he found himself trying to find a reason to see her. She shot down every excuse he came up with. Maybe she didn't miss him, he thought. If he could just see her and know she was safe, he could stop thinking about her.

  Josh and Lisa planned dinner for Sunday. They invited everyone. She was going to be having the baby soon, so Josh brought home food from one of his restaurants. Lisa was relieved to not have to cook. Ethan sat on a chair in the kitchen where Lisa and Becky were. They talked about work and family. When Julie walked in, she looked surprised to see him. He stood up to give her a hug and say hello and was surprised by the tightness of her arms around him.

  “How have you been?” she asked. “How's work?”

  “It's going good. I've been okay, I guess,” he answered. “It's nice to see you.”

  Julie walked over to hug Becky and Lisa. Ethan caught Lisa watching him.

  “I'm going to go out with the guys. Do you girls need anything before I leave?” he asked.

  They told him they were good. He noticed a sad look on Julie's face as he turned to leave the room. Ethan wondered if she had heard any more from Jason. She had her phone in the back pocket of her jeans, so he wasn't sure he would be able to check it. He went into the living room to hang with the guys. Julie came into the room to let them know it was time to eat. Everyone sat down at the table and began eating. Ethan noticed Gavin watching Julie the entire time.

  “Julie, are you okay?” Gavin finally asked.

  “I'm fine, why?” she said.

  “You seem different today. You seem kind of sad. Did you and your man argue or something?” he asked.

  Ethan felt his arms and chest tighten at the mention of her man.

  “I just feel a little rough today. I didn't get much sleep last night. There's nothing wrong,” she said. “Actually, if you guys don't mind, I'm going to get going.”

  “At least wait until we have dessert,” Lisa said. “Ethan, can you come help me carry some stuff?”

  “Sure, momma,” he said, as he followed behind her imitating her pregnant walk.

  “I'll kick your ass. Knock that crap off,” Lisa said, as they disappeared into the kitchen.

  Lisa turned to face him.

  “Do you have anything to do with her crummy mood?” she asked.

  “Me, no. Why would I have anything to do with it?”

  “I know something's going on with you two. She asked for your number. You asked for her address. Don't think I missed the text flying back and forth between the two of you at the shower. I don't know how everyone else didn't see it.”

  “It's not me. I haven't done anything wrong.”

  “Becky told me you took a day off last week.”

  “Do any of you have anything else to do but track my work days?” he snapped. “I can't believe this. Gavin came over my house and everything. Can't I take a day off if I want to?”

  “Can you really blame us? You haven't taken a day off in years. Becky thinks you have a girlfriend that you're hiding from us,” Lisa said. “I told her there is no way any woman tied you down.”

  “I haven't talked to Julie, if that's what you are insinuating. You see I haven't messed with her today. This has nothing to do with me. Maybe she's mad at her boyfriend.”

  Ethan grabbed the cake from Lisa's hands and walked back out of the kitchen. He set it down on the table. Maybe if he messed with Julie, Lisa would stop thinking he had anything to do with her mood. Becky helped Lisa serve everyone a piece of cake. There was an unusual silence at the table, and Ethan couldn't take it any longer.

  “So Julie, how is Dr. Boring?” Ethan asked.

  Her eyes shot up to him a second before she kicked him under the table.

  “Don't start your shit Ethan. He's doing fine. I would have brought him with me so you could say hello, but he had to work today. I think he's coming over after he gets off of work. I'm looking forward to it. I need a back rub so bad. I could use a few other things as well,” she said, as she rubbed her neck and shot him a dirty look.

  Ethan felt his blood boil. He was just trying to break the silence. Did she really need to go there? Was she seriously starting with him? What the fuck was she talking about him coming over after work? She had avoided every attempt he made at trying to see her that week. Maybe she really was seeing the doctor. He stared her in the eyes, but she wasn't backing down.

  “Speaking of Dr. Boring, I'm going to get going. He should be off work soon. I'll see you guys later.”

  Julie stood up and walked around to hug each of them. John was at work, so Ethan hadn't been concerned with him saying anything to Julie that day. Heath had missed dinner as well. It was only Gavin, Becky, Lisa, and Josh to say goodbye to. When she got around to Ethan, she messed his hair with her hand and kept going. She grabbed her purse and walked out the door.

  He was pissed. There was no way he could take off after her. Ethan let out a huge sigh and pulled his phone from his pocket. He got up and walked into the living room as he typed.

  “Really? You know I can't get up and go after you. That shit was not funny. I will not be far behind you. You better hope you were kidding about him coming over.” he sent.

  “Whatever! You were just trying to get me started. Stay where you are. You can't control who rubs my back. Don't tell me you haven't had anyone underneath you at all this week.” she sent.

  Ethan thought for a minute. He hadn't been with anyone since they had been together last. How could he have went all week and not hooked up with anyone? What was going on with him? He had been worried about Julie all week, but only because she could have been in danger. It had nothing to do with anything else, right?

  “That's what I thought.” she sent.

  “He better not be there when I get there.”

  “You can't come here. You know that. Go home.”

  He slipped his phone into his pocket and ignored the buzzing sounds. Ethan looked at the clock. He would be out of there in thirty minutes. Hooking up sounded good. How had he made it all week? Each minute seemed like an hour passing by. He was up and out of his seat in exactly thirty minutes.

  “I'll see you guys later. I'm going to the bar. Either of you whipped boys want to go?” he asked.

  They both said no, of course. He hugged Becky and Lisa on his way out. Ethan drove to the bar wanting to get Julie out of his head. He parked his car and slammed his hands on the steering wheel. Was that guy really at her house? What the heck is she doing to you, he thought? Ethan turned the car back on and pulled back out of the parking lot.

  His muscles tensed more and more the closer he got. She better have been messing with him. That guy better not be in her house, he thought. He shut his car off, grabbed his keys, slammed his door, and stomped up her porch steps. After three knocks on the door, he was ready to break it down.

  “Open this fucking door, Now!” he commanded. “Your neighbors are going to get a real show in about three seconds.”

  Julie slowly turned the knob and backed up. He swung the door open to find her laughing hysterically on the other side.

  “You think this shit's funny!” he barked out, as he threw the door shut behind him.

  Her cheeks were red from laughing so hard. Bullshit, he thought. Ethan stormed toward her as she moved back, until she was against the wall. He grabbed her face in h
is hands and covered her mouth hard with his. Her eyes widened in shock, as his body pushed against her and his knee landed between her legs.

  “Ethan,” she gasped.

  Without a word, he grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Her bra was off and on the floor in seconds. He couldn't help but need to be buried deep inside of her. What the hell was she doing to him? Ethan pulled away for a moment as he ran his fingers through his hair. Julie grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in for another kiss. She pulled his shirt off and ran her hands down his rock hard abs to his belt. Her hands fumbled to get it undone as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. He wrapped her hair in his hand and pulled, so he could get better access to her. Her moan vibrated off of his lips as he pushed his body against hers. They both unbuttoned and unzipped their jeans and shoved them to the ground. He reached for her and she pushed him back with a smile. Julie slid her panties down her legs and stepped out of them.

  “I like these,” she said, as he shook his head and laughed.

  He grabbed the back of her head and brought their lips together again. As he ravaged her mouth, he pulled her leg up and slid his hand across her already slick opening.

  “Fuck, Julie. You're so damn ready for me,” he groaned.

  She held her arms around his neck and jumped up. He was surprised as he caught her legs and held her. Julie wrapped her legs around his waist as he held her against the wall. She reached down between them and held his hard cock in her hand and let out a breath. Her hand moved him along her opening slowly as he moaned. Ethan pulled his mouth away.

  “Condom,” he said.

  “Are you?” she began.

  “I've never done it without one. I'm always safe,” he said as he kissed her.

  “I'm on the pill. You're the only one I've been with in years. We don't need a condom.”

  She didn't have all of the words out before she had him against her and was pushing herself down on him. He couldn't even think straight. Ethan dropped her onto his cock in one quick movement. She cried out as he buried himself inside of her.

  “Oh shit,” he growled. “It feels so fucking good to be inside of you bare. What the hell are you doing to me?”

  She held his head in her hands as she rocked her hips against him.

  “Don't stop,” she groaned. “I have never felt anything this good in my life.”

  He took her hard against the wall, with movements so fast and aggressive. It was as if they hadn't touched each other in years. Neither of them could get close enough to the other. He pumped into her over and over as she slid up and down the wall. Ethan held one hand behind her head to protect her. She yelled out his name as he plunged into her. He had no idea how long he would be able to last as he felt her tight and bare around his cock.

  “You're so perfect and so damn tight. You have no idea how good it feels to be inside of you right now. I don't how much more I can take, baby.”

  She gasped as he lifted her hips and slammed her down on him. Her head flew back as she moaned.

  “Come for me, Julie. I need to feel it. Let me hear you, baby.”

  She cried out his name over and over as he felt her pussy tighten hard around him. He moaned her name as he thrust into her deep with his own release. Slowly he slid them to the ground, wrapped in each other's arms. They both remained silent as they relaxed and let their breathing slow. Julie leaned her head into his chest and sighed.

  “You knew I wasn't dating him,” she whispered.

  Ethan lifted her off of him. He stood up, threw her naked body over his shoulder, walked to her bedroom, and threw her on the bed. Crawling up next to her, he pulled the covers up with him.

  “Don't ever do that to me again. You're driving me crazy,” he said, as he pulled her against him.

  Chapter 21

  Julie woke exhausted to the annoying beep of the alarm. Ethan had an arm over her and his legs wrapped with hers. He held tighter when she tried to slip out of the bed.

  “No,” he mumbled.

  “You have to be at work before they hunt you down. How would it look if you didn't show up again?” she asked.

  “That's one of the perks of being the boss,” he said into the pillow.

  “We need to get up. I'm supposed to meet Becky. What happens if we both ditch today? They would send out the search party. You can't keep showing up if we are going to quit doing this. You woke me up twice, because your cock couldn't control itself,” she said.

  “I don't remember hearing you complain. The only thing coming from your lips was my name. It just wanted to show you who you were made for. I can't do anything about that. It was your fault in the first place. If you didn't have such a smart mouth, I wouldn't have been here. You should have kept your ass put where it was and not taken off yesterday. Go meet Becky. I'll stay right here.”

  “If I'm getting up, then you're getting up,” she snapped.

  “I'm already up. You want to feel and see for yourself?” he asked.

  “You are something else. Get dressed and go home. I have things to do. Stop making this so hard on me. I can't have a boyfriend if you keep coming over,” she said.

  Julie got up and ran for the bathroom. She locked the door behind her.

  “If I didn't have a meeting this morning, I would wait out here and spank your ass. I'm going to go get my clothes from where you stripped them off of me.”

  She heard him go into the living room. After a few minutes she heard him shut her front door. Julie threw some clothes on and ran to lock her door behind him. She watched him pull out of the driveway and turned to pick her clothes up from the ground. Her shirt, bra, and jeans were there, but her panties were gone.

  “Are you serious?” she asked into the empty house.

  Julie grabbed her phone and sent him a text.

  “You better give those back. I made sure to take them off so you wouldn't rip them. Those are my favorite.”

  “I'll give them back when you come over tonight.” he replied.

  “I'm not coming over. I have a date.” she sent.

  “I guess you didn't learn your lesson. Consider them mine.”

  Julie had a couple of hours before she had to meet up with Becky. She grabbed her book and went to take a hot bath.

  ***

  Ethan ran home, changed, and took off for the office. He got there five minutes before his meeting. The private investigator he hired showed up right after him. They went into a conference room and sat, while Ethan's secretary brought them both coffees. The guy had a pile of stuff with him. Maybe there was more to it than Ethan thought.

  The guy put everything on the table and began to explain. Jason was thirty-one and had gone to the same college as Julie. He was from a different state, so they had to have met at college. He was in jail for a few years for beating a woman and attempting to rape her. She had gone to the hospital with cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Someone had come in before he could finish what he had gone there to do. The witness had testified in court. The woman he had beaten was Julie.

  Ethan slammed his hands against the table and stood to pace the room. After several minutes, he sat back down so the man could continue explaining everything to him.

  Jason had gotten out of jail, but immediately ended up back in jail for another couple of years. He had only been out of jail for two months when he contacted Julie. There was a picture of Jason in with the papers. He was the one at the florist. The investigator had taken the picture to them and they recognized him. He had been to her house since then. The investigator had seen him parked in the street in front of her house the day before, but she was not home at the time.

  When the investigator left, Ethan was so upset. The papers were all in front of him. What had that guy put her through? Was that why she reacted the way she did about cuffs? Oh shit, he thought. He wanted to help her and make sure Jason never hurt her again. It took all Ethan had not to read the reports about what had happened to her. He couldn't invade her privacy like tha
t and wasn't sure what he would do if he read it or saw pictures of her in that condition. Everything he had done was to help keep her safe. From Jason's picture, Ethan never would have guessed what he was capable of. He looked like a normal person. He had expected to see a mean looking guy, but he didn't look like that at all. Ethan had never seen the guy before. She hadn't brought him around her family. How the hell did all of that happen without her family ever finding out? Why would she keep something so serious to herself? They should have been there for her. She shouldn't have gone through it all alone.

  He put all of the files and paperwork in a file cabinet and locked it. Just as he was about to call John, his phone buzzed.

  “It's baby time.”

  It was a text from Josh. They had already told everyone which hospital. Ethan grabbed his keys and told his secretary where he would be.

  ***

  Her night had been absolutely amazing, and waking up in Ethan's arms was perfect. She soaked in a hot bath and had gotten dressed for the day. Could her day get any better?

  Just as Julie was grabbing her keys to go and meet Becky her phone buzzed.

  “It's baby time.”

  Chapter 22

  When Julie got to the hospital, Gavin and Becky were already there. They had come straight from work. Heath was on his way. John would be there when his shift was over. They weren't sure about Ethan. Julie hugged Lisa and asked her how she was feeling. She was at the beginning of her labor, so they were in for the long haul. It was going to be a few hours at least. Just as Julie walked over to hug Gavin, Ethan walked in the door.

  “Did I miss it?” he asked.

  “No. We have a long way to go,” Lisa replied.

  Ethan walked over to say hello to Gavin. Julie felt him watching her, as she hugged her brother.

  The room Lisa was in was very nice. There was enough room for all of them to sit and not feel cramped.

  “Is this the penthouse birthing room?” Julie asked, as she laughed.

  “Well aren't you just a chipper smart ass today,” Lisa answered. “You get laid last night?”