Amazed (Tempted Book 3) (13 page)

The lake house was overflowing with people but I found myself focusing on one in particular. Ethan was staring at me from across the room, daring me with his eyes to come closer. He wanted to have his way with me again, he wanted to get in my head but it was me that was going to be stuck in his head. He just didn’t know it yet.

“Let’s play, Ethan,” I said so low that I almost didn’t hear it myself.

I had plans for him and I intended on making every one of them happen.

He hadn’t peeled his eyes off of my legs from the moment he walked in. His reaction was just what I hoped for. He was practically salivating from the mouth. Seeing him start to walk over to me, I done an inner happy dance.

“Hey, Baby, you look great,” Ethan said, leaning in for a kiss.

Everyone knew we were back together officially except us. We agreed to take things slowly and neither of us had seen anyone else. Our every waking moment was spend together, so we should have just stopped acting like middle schoolers and stopped playing games but we didn’t.

“Thanks,” I said, running my nails against his neck.

Hearing him clear his throat, I knew how I was affecting him. He thought he was in control but he had another thing coming. I was running the show now

“Do you want to go upstairs?” he whispered in my ear.

Oh, I wanted too but I also wanted to watch him suffer a bit.

“Maybe later,” I whispered sensually, turning to walk away.

Making sure to shake my ass in the process, I walked until I found Holland, Emma, and Maddie. They were sitting in the corner watching us like we were a movie.

“What’s going on with you two?” Emma asked, smiling knowingly.

Choosing not to answer her, I just shrugged.

“I could feel the heat all the way over here,” Maddie said, fanning herself.

Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention to Holland and saw that she seemed upset. This was her boyfriend’s birthday party, why wasn’t she having a good time?

“Hey, why the long face?” I asked, nudging her.

“He’s avoiding me,” she said and I swear I saw tears welling up in her eyes.

“What would make you think that? He’s not avoiding you,” I said, trying to reassure her.

“He is, Gracie. I walk in a room, he walks out. I try to talk to him and he makes an excuse to leave. Maybe I should go home,” she said, pushing herself up from her chair.

“No, Holland, you’re probably just imagining it,” I said, turning to walk away.

“Where are you going?” Holland asked.

“To have a talk with Luca,” I called over my shoulder, scanning the room for him.

I walked away before she could tell me no to tear Luca a new one. What was his deal?

Finally, I spotted him chatting up his friends and throwing back shots like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Hey, Luca, can I have a minute?” I asked as sugary sweet as I possibly could.

“Um, yeah. See you guys in a little bit,” he said, excusing himself and leading me out of the door into the backyard.

We walked until we reached the lounge chairs by the lake.

“So, what’s up?” he asked, looking kind of irritated.

“What’s your problem?” I asked equally irritated.

“What are you getting at here? This is the first time I’ve talked to you tonight, so how could you possibly be pissed at me?”

“Why are you avoiding Holland?”

“I’m not,” he said but I could see the guilt in his eyes.

He was hurting her on purpose, I just didn’t know why.

“Luca, you can’t bullshit with me. What’s going on?”

He paused and let out a deep breath.

“It’s just not working. I didn’t want to tell her while the party was going on and ruin it for her, I was going to wait until everyone left.”

“You don’t want to break up with her, Luca. You love her, I can see it every time you look at her,” I said, trying to talk some sense in his thick skull.

“Don’t tell me how to feel, Grace. I don’t want her and I don’t love her. I don’t love anyone,” he said, yelling and running his fingers through his hair.

Opening my mouth to tell him how big of an idiot he was, I heard someone sobbing behind me. Turning, I saw Holland hit her knees. Running over, I helped her up and wiped her eyes.

“I hate you,” she screamed, pointing at Luca, “You’re just like him.”

I knew just who “Him” was. Trent. And she was right he was the same. Maybe he didn’t hit her like Trent did but he was emotionally hurting her. I mean he really had her believing he loved her and he had me believing it as well. He was a fake person and I should have knew what he was going to do.

A leopard doesn’t change its spots and an asshole doesn’t change his ways.

I saw a flash of regret in eyes but as quick as it came it was gone. He was a heartless bastard and as much as I hated to see Holland hurting I was glad that she could put him behind her. She deserved someone who was all about her and Luca just proved he wasn’t the guy for her.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to enjoy my party with
my
friends,” he said, walking past us.

Watching him walk away like he had done nothing wrong, I pulled out my phone and called Ethan. After he heard what happened he came rushing out of the house.

“Where is he?” he asked through gritted teeth.

I knew it wasn’t the right time but seeing him angry and all alpha male turned me on. I apologize for being human.

“He went inside but forget about him. He’s not worth your time,” I said, trying to calm him down, “He’s not worth any of our time.”

“Stay here with her. I’m going to run in and get everyone, so we can leave,” he said, kissing my forehead and Holland’s before walking back in the house.

“He’s one of the good ones, Gracie. Whatever you two are doing stop now and just be together. Don’t let him slip away,” Holland said, knocking sense into me.

She was right, he was one of the good ones. One of the few and he was mine.

Ethan and all of our friends came filing out of the door. Emma and Maddie rushed over to us.

“Don’t worry about him, you deserve better,” Maddie said, pulling her in for a hug.

Holland attempted a smile and then wiped her tear stained face.

“I’m fine, really. Grace, can I talk to you for a minute?” Holland asked, grabbing my hand.

“Yeah, sure.”

We walked until we were out of earshot from everyone.

“I want you and Ethan to have some alone time, so I’m going to spend the night with West and Maddie,” she said, sniffling.

“What? No, you haven’t even asked them,” I told her, shaking my head.

“I know they’ll say yes, I mean who wouldn’t take pity on the girl whose boyfriend broke up with her at a party she planned for him,” she said, starting to tear up again.

“Is everything okay?” Ethan asked, walking over to us.

“Yep, fine. Listen, I’m going to spend the night at Maddie and West’s because I want you and Grace to have the apartment to yourselves. Don’t have sex in my bed,” she called over her shoulder.

I loved her and I knew she was right. I needed to just be with Ethan and be happy. The games had to stop.

Watching her until I saw her leave with Maddie and West, I turned and pulled Ethan in for a big kiss.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, pulling away.

“Good idea.”

Hand in hand we walked to his car and quickly got inside. The way my body felt I wasn’t sure if I could hold out until we made it to the apartment.

“Ethan, I need you now. I can’t wait,” I said, leaning over and letting the tip of my tongue graze his ear.

“Shit, Grace,” he said, pulling over.

Looking around I saw that we were parked beside the football field and a genius idea stuck me.

“Do you have a blanket in here?” I asked Ethan.

“Um, yeah. It’s in the trunk,” he replied, trying to figure out why I wanted a blanket.

“Let’s take it and lay it on the field. I’ve always fantasied riding you on the football field,” I whispered, getting out of the car and walking to the vacant field.

Not a second later I heard Ethan’s door shut and his feel shuffling to catch up to me. Reaching the field, I took the blanket from him and spreading it across the grass.

“Lay down,” I commanded him.

Listening, he laid down and never took his eyes off of me. Slipping out of my dress, I let it hit the ground.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, taking me in, “Get over here.”

Walking over, I laid down beside him. Ethan’s frame appeared over the top of my body and planted his mouth on mine. Feeling his hand slip inside my underwear, I let out a breathy moan.

His fingers rubbed me causing my whole body to ache.

“Always so wet,” he said, smiling at the way my body reacted to him touching me.

Feeling him move his hand, I frowned and hoped it wasn’t going be a replay of that morning. He ripped my lacey underwear to shreds. Smiling, I reached for his belt buckle and loosened it.

Stripping off his jeans and underwear, he pulled a condom from his pocket, opened the package with his teeth, and slid it over his massive erection.

“How did you know you were going to need a condom?” I teased him, giggling.

“Wishful thinking,” he said, shooting me a wink.

Positioning himself on top me, he swung one of my legs over his shoulder and tenderly sunk into me. When he was deep he start rocking back and forth. Grabbing my breast, I rubbed my nipples adding to my pleasure and I knew that Ethan loved to watch me do it. So, it was a win-win.

“That drives me crazy when you do that,” he growled, pounding into me with all his might.

“I know.”

Moving my leg, he rolled over, so I was on top of him. Straddling him.

“Ride me,” he said, running his hands over my breast.

So, that’s what I did. Over and over again.

Touchdown.

“How’s Holland?” Ethan asked, dipping a fry in ketchup.

“She’s in a funk. It’s been a week and she’s still as bad as she was the night he broke up with her,” I said, stirring my sweet tea with my straw.

“You okay, Babe?” he asked concern all over his face.

“I’m just worried about her,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Everything will work out. She’ll find someone who deserves her. A good guy.”

“I hope she finds someone like I did,” I said, looking dreamily at him.

“Who are you talking about? Do I need to kick his ass for charming my girl?”

Laughing, I stole of one his fries.

“Hey, you have to pay me for each fry you steal.”

“How much per fry?”

“One kiss,” he said, smiling like an idiot.

But boy did I love that idiot.

Leaning across the table, I gave him a sweet kiss.

He kept pushing his plate of fries to me as if he was tempting me to take one, so he could get another kiss.

“I love you,” he said, going from playful to serious.

“I know, Baby. Where did that come from?”

“I was thinking about the way Trent and Luca have treated Holland. I just wanted you to know you mean the world to me.”

And with that statement butterflies released into my stomach.

“I got you something,” he said, nervously smiling.

“You did?”

Nodding, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. Feeling panic set in, I thought there was no way he was asking me to marry him. We’re were so young and definitely not ready for that.

I loved him and that’s exactly why I hoped he wasn’t about to pop the question. Not yet anyway.

“Grace, I love you more than anything in this entire world and I want to marry you, someday. We’re both young and we have the rest of our lives to be together but I wanted to give you this ring as a promise. A promise that someday you will be my wife and that someday we will have a huge family and a house with a white picket fence. Grace Emerson, will you be my someday?” he asked, opening the box and revealing a beautiful sliver band with a small diamond in the middle.

“What do you think?” I asked, laughing and crying at the same time.

Laughing, he pulled the ring from the box he slipped it on my finger. Admiring it, I replayed his whole speech in my head. How did I ever get so lucky?

“I had a big night planned for this but after everything that happened with Holland I wanted you to know how I felt about you,” he said, holding my hand and rubbing his finger over the ring.

“I love you,” I said, looking at him in total awe.

He was so perfect that I couldn’t believe he wanted me. But most of all I couldn’t believe he was my future.

“I love you, too,” he said, squeezing my hand.

Hearing the door open, I turned and saw West and Roman walking our way. I had to give it to them those boys sure knew how to ruin a moment.

“Scoot over,” West said, pushing me further into the booth with his hip.

Laughing, Ethan moved over and let Roman sit beside him.

“Why do you get the normal one?” I asked Ethan, pointing at Roman.

Shaking his head, he laughed. Some help he was.

“Hey, Grace, I thought us pretty people had to stick together,” West said with a dead serious expression.

“How did you ever get Maddie to agree to marry you?”

Seeing a smug look take over his face, he started to point toward his stuff and I knew where the conversation was going.

“You know what? Never mind, forget I asked,” I said, bringing my hands up to temples and rubbing them.

West was like a walking headache. He was always the loudest person in the room and he had absolutely no filter.

“Is that an engagement ring?” Roman said, staring at my ring finger.

Judging by his face, I could see that he was tense. He didn’t want his brother to throw away his whole potential football career for a shotgun wedding. But what he didn’t know was I didn’t either.

“It’s a promise ring,” he said, looking at me with love in his eyes, “But someday it’s going to be an engagement ring.”

“Someday,” I echoed, smiling so much it hurt.

“Well, in that case I’m happy for both of you,” Roman said and he actually looked happy for us.

Mostly relieved but happy none the less.

I couldn’t help but notice that he looked exhausted. He had so much on his plate and I felt bad for him.

“You okay, Roman?” I asked.

“Yeah, Kate was up all night. She’s cute but she’s not good,” he said, chuckling.

“It’s always the pretty ones,” West said, winking, “I should know.”

“Oh, Lord!” I said, looking at West smile.

“But I can’t complain. I’m the luckiest man ever,” Roman said with a proud look on his face, “I would do anything for Kate and Emma.”

Every time he talked about Kate and Emma his face lit up. He loved his girls.

“Emma has you so whipped,” West said, taking a huge bite out of my sandwich.

“Dude, you’re like an animal,” Ethan said, putting his sandwich on my plate.

Always the gentleman.

“Gracie, doesn’t care,” he said, swinging his arm around my shoulder.

“Did you really call me whipped?” Roman said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yep, Maddie couldn’t make me do half of the stuff that Emma makes you and you know it,” he said, scoffing, “I mean she even makes you do the dishes. I’m so not whipped.”

“She doesn’t make me. I offer, there’s a difference,” Roman said, looking past West.

“Who are you looking at?” West asked, looking terrified.

“Your old ball and chain,” Roman said, enjoying it way too much.

“Angel, I didn’t meant it I’m whipped. I’m so whipped I’m like whipped cream,” he said, trying to save his ass, “You can call me cool whip if you want.”

“Shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Looks like someone is in the doghouse,” I said, nudging him.

Looking over at, I laughed at his expression. He looked like a little kid that had gotten caught eating a cookie before dinner.

“Where’s Emma?” Roman asked, looking at the door of the restaurant.

“She’s parking the car with Holland,” Maddie told him, slapping away West’s hand that was trying to grab hers.

Sitting down, she scooted her chair away from West.

Not a second later Emma and Holland walked in. Emma was carrying a sleeping Kate in. Holland took the chair next to Maddie and smiled at everyone.

“Give me my girl,” Roman said, holding out his arms.

Handing Kate over, Emma pulled over a chair next to Roman and kissed him sweetly.

Watching them, I couldn’t help but imagine that being me and Ethan. I wanted to after having a baby still look at him that way. I wanted us to have our own little family.

Someday.