Bound for Nirvana: (The Bound Trilogy Book 3) (13 page)

She grinned happily. “I know, right? I feel bad because I should probably feel bad, but I just don’t. Is that really bad?”

“You can’t force it, friend. And if you could, what would be the point?”

“It has a lot to do with you, you know? Why I decided to end it, I mean.”

My blood ran instantly cold as I raised my cup to my mouth, hoping to conceal the look of horror on my face. I took a sip as my mind rifled through my options of how to respond, and then suddenly Jia was laughing.

“Don’t look so worried, bitch, you’re not my type.” The relief was so intense, I was certain I actually physically sagged. “What I meant, was that it was you who opened my eyes to the possibility of love.”

Thoroughly confused, I shook my head. “What the fuck are you talking about, Jia?”

“What I’m talking about, is I want a slice of what you’ve got with Wilde. I didn’t know that shit actually existed until you guys. I thought all that needing someone to get your ass out of bed in the morning, because without them you can’t find your fucking heartbeat, only happened in the movies.”

My face lit up in wonder, wonder of what this woman had done with my moody, fiery friend.

Jia frowned at my response. “What?”

“You pussy,” I mocked.

“You were a fucking pussy first, bitch.”

We laughed until our sides hurt, for me, not only because this side of Jia was incredibly amusing, but because I was elated with relief that Ethan and Charley had clearly got it wrong. Jia loved me, yes. But as a friend, nothing more.

We spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the Sloane proposition. I told her about the telephone call and showed her the email, to which her response was, “That is totally funked out.”

We agreed that my visiting his apartment didn’t seem a wise thing to do, and that if it was a nonnegotiable element of the deal, then as the curator of Evoke, she would go. I told her I’d have Jackson accompany her, just in case he turned out to be the serial killer architect with a Polly Pocket-sized hole in his wall made especially for her. We also agreed that it would make sense for her to be present at the meeting on Tuesday, and that if dinner was mentioned, she would invite herself along. That would be sure to appease my man, if nothing else.

After trawling through disks of images, we slowly began to collate a selection which fitted with each aspect of Sloane’s remit. We worked until the early evening, sharing a bottle of wine and eating noodles from cartons. By nine that night, Jackson had deposited me safely home. I bathed and, having found one of Ethan’s shirts to wear, snuggled down in my chair in front of the aquarium to wait for him.

It was much later when I had the sense of being gathered into his arms, his wonderful Ethan scent pervading my nostrils as I burrowed into his neck.

“What time is it?” I muttered sleepily, vaguely aware that I was being carried into the bedroom.

“Past your bedtime, by the look of things. Now come on, get into bed.” He placed me gently on my feet and pulled back the comforter. I was about to crawl in when he stopped me. “Uh, wait a second. Arms up.” Gripping the hem of the shirt, he pulled it over my head, turning me to slap me gently on my bare ass. “I want you naked, Cinders. Always naked. Now in.”

“What time is it?” I tried again, though my interest in the time of day was swiftly waning, overshadowed by the sight of Ethan’s body being slowly revealed as he peeled away his layers of clothing. It had the same effect on me every time, my inner core heating and melting with the need for his touch. His toned, lithe limbs moving smoothly, effortlessly, his perfect skin and perfect face a flawless sheet of beauty in the moonlight.

Show over, he crawled into bed behind me, his warm, solid chest against my back, his arms surrounding me. “It’s late, you need to sleep.” Burrowing his nose into my hair, he inhaled. “I’ve missed you.”

Arching my back, I pressed my ass up against his increasing firmness and wiggled. “So I see.”

“Angel,” he warned halfheartedly. “You need to sleep.”

I swiveled around in his arms, pressing my lips against his and whispered, “Not as much as I need to feel you inside me.”

I felt him smile beneath my lips, his tongue lapping gently in search of mine, and suddenly I wasn’t tired in the least.

Chapter Six

I felt a warm wetness on the tip of my nose and opened one eye. Ethan’s smiling, handsome face gazed down at me. He was freshly showered and dressed in an immaculate suit, his divine scent wafting into my senses. He kissed the tip of my nose again, and I began to stretch lazily like a feline in the midday sun.

“God, you’re absolutely adorable when you just wake up.” He nuzzled me again.

“You’re adorable all of the time. Why are you dressed? What time is it?”

“It’s early. I have to leave soon, though. Come and have breakfast with me before I go. I can’t bear to face the day without starting it with you.”

“Okay,” I said willingly. “I’ll be two minutes, just need to use the bathroom.”

The smell of toast and coffee filled the main room when I appeared a few minutes later, dressed, as usual, in Ethan’s shirt. He smiled and placed the paper he was reading on the table. “I could have sworn I saw at least one silk robe in your closet.” He reached for my hand and pulled me onto his lap, then thrust a piece of toast into my hand.

“You saw several actually. I just prefer to wear something of yours so I can permanently smell you. You don’t mind do you?” I asked, biting into the toast and then shifting to feed it to Ethan.

“Of course not. I like you in my shirts.” He took a bite. “I also like you out of my shirts.” He reached inside and cupped a breast, rolling my nipple gently until it stiffened, making me wriggle with pleasure in his lap. “And I also enjoy going to work smelling of you.”

Thoughts of yesterday came rushing to heat my blood, allowing me a vague hope that a repeat performance was in the cards. “I thought you were in a hurry?”

“Yes, you’re right, I am. Thank you for the reminder.” He released my breast, dashing my hopes at the same time and leaving me wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “I wanted to give you these before I left.” He pointed to the paper he’d been reading, one of several on the table, and I noticed my name printed at the top.

“What’s this?” I asked, tossing the toast onto a plate to swap it for the document.

“It’s a joint bank account. I’ve deposited five million into it for now. I thought it would be nice for you to have access to funds to buy whatever you like for yourself or for the apartment.” He reached over to scatter the pile of other documents. “There are also a couple of credit cards and shareholder details of several companies I’ve taken the liberty to invest in on your behalf. You could have some fun watching them grow, or do some buying and selling yourself if you like.”

I gaped at him in utter astonishment. “Ethan, I don’t need these. I have my own money. If I need to buy something, I’ll just use that.”

“Well you won’t have to now, not if you’ve got access to our funds. You can use your money to expand your business.”

“What do mean, expand?”

“Well, you could look for bigger premises so you can take on more artists. Or get a second gallery, even a third, eventually.”

Where the hell had all this come from. “I like things the way they are, E.”

Hurt flashed through his eyes briefly. “Things don’t have to stay the way they are though, do they? Not when you have the resources to progress.”

Feeling suddenly irritated and pressured, I shifted, moving from his lap and pouring myself a cup of coffee for thinking time. When I was ready, I sat down in the chair opposite. “I’m not like you. I’m not a big shot business woman. I’m just a relatively successful photographer who owns a comparably small gallery. I feel fortunate to have what I’ve got, blessed, in fact. It’s never crossed my mind to develop it into anything other than what it is.”

He paused, seeming to absorb what I’d said. “Well, it’s your business. You have every right to proceed in whichever way makes you feel comfortable. Maybe it’s something you could consider in the future.”

“Yes, perhaps.”

He stared at the documents on the table, not meeting my eye. “And does the same apply for everything else in your life? The rate and extent you wish to evolve, I mean?” Without altering the angle of his head, his eyes darted to my face, seemingly eager for my response.

Uncertain as to what he was really getting at, I responded with a simple shrug.

“I’m assuming that means our relationship is something else you have no mind to develop? Only I thought we’d concurred on the issue of what’s mine is yours when you agreed to live with me.” He seemed a little annoyed now.

“Well, yes. But to this extent?” I held up the piece of paper which declared in large, bold, shouty numbers, a five million dollar balance.

“Yes, Angel. I told you. Everything I have is yours.”

“But this is like…”

“What?”

“Well, we’re not married, Ethan.”

“No… not yet… but you may as well start getting used to it now, and then by the time you do become Mrs. Wilde, you’ll be an expert.”

My heart seemed to trip over itself, stumbling forward to crash into my chest wall.
Marriage? Me?

The shock must have shown on my face, because he seemed suddenly panicked. “What? That is what you want, isn’t it? Eventually?”

I closed my gaping mouth and gathered myself. “E… are you asking me to marry you?”

A pregnant pause dropped like a lead weight between us, his wide eyes searching mine frantically. “No,” he said, finally regaining his composure. “I can assure you that when the day comes that I ask you to marry me, you won’t be in any doubt that it’s a proposal.” His eyes continued to oscillate between mine, but I could tell he was struggling to read my thoughts. Eventually, his inquisitive mind got the better of him, compelling him to ask, “But just out of curiosity… You would have said yes… wouldn’t you? If I’d asked?”

My heart was still banging noisily inside my ribcage. I shrugged. “Put it this way. I can assure
you
—if you’d asked, you wouldn’t be in any doubt of my answer.”

His eyelashes fluttered, blinking in rapid succession, as if this would somehow help him to process my answer. Then he turned to his coffee cup and drained the contents. The caffeine seemed to do the trick, rousing him from his deep contemplation, as if our last conversation hadn’t actually taken place at all.

“Right, baby. I really need to go.” He stood and straightened his cuffs before shrugging into his jacket. “Put the cards somewhere safe and memorize the PINs. You can shred the documents in the office.” Gripping me by the shoulders, he pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. “I’m guessing Valiente will have this thing dragging out all day, but I’ll call you when I can.”

My thoughts were too scattered to do much more than nod. Less than half an hour ago, I’d been fast asleep, and now I’d discussed five million dollar bank accounts and marriage. Marriage!

“Oh and, baby, about this weekend.” He halted just as he made it to the foyer door.

“This weekend?” I muttered finally finding my voice.

“My parents,” he reminded me. Shit, his fucking parents. Millions of dollars, marriage, and now parents! I nodded enthusiastically, my lips pushing up into a smile in an attempt to mask my consternation. “I’ve arranged for us to visit with them Saturday. I want Mom and Dad to have time to get to know you before Damon and Abby turn up on Sunday. You know how effusive she can be, and she’s been gushing to show you off to them. Anybody would think you were her life-changing news to share. So we’ll stay with them Saturday night, if that’s okay?”

Holy shit! A full twenty-four hours to decide that they hate me. “Sure, that’s fine.”

Ethan smiled, his eyes filling with sudden compassion as he held out his arms. “Come here, baby.”

I couldn’t fool him. No amount of painted on smiles, fake gusto, and inane nodding could hide my dismay from him. Suddenly, I felt like I might cry, my face heating with transparent diffidence and fury that I had zero ability to suppress. I splayed my hands across my face, peeking through the gaps between my fingers, just wide enough to allow me to run to him without tripping over something on the way.

Ethan’s arms wrapped around me, crushing me against his chest in a comforting embrace. “I promise they will love you. Please try not to worry so much.” He reached down, tilting my chin up to look at me. “I love you. How could they not?” He kissed me firmly on the lips. “I’m sorry, baby—”

“I know, you have to leave.” I released him and stood back to straighten his tie. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’ll be fine. You go.” I turned him, pressing my fingers against his back to urge him through the foyer and into the elevator. Once inside, he turned to face me, the love in his eyes and the corresponding love in my heart prompting me to voice a concern I didn’t realize quite how much was bothering me. “You’re mine, E, remember…” I raised a stern finger “…no touching.”

For a second, he looked perplexed, and then realizing I was referring to Natasha Stephens, he laid his hand across his heart. “No touching, I promise.”

I shook my head. “No kissing.”

He covered his mouth with his palm and spoke from behind. “Absolutely no kissing.”

I smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

The elevator door slid closed.

Among other things, I spent the day imagining Ethan sitting around the table in the boardroom at his offices. Natasha Stephens was pouting and batting her lashes while running her bare foot up and down his leg. I growled each time the image came to mind, causing Jia to wonder about my sanity.

Although he hadn’t called, I’d received a couple of text messages throughout the day. The first had read:

Christ, this guy’s a dick! I love you x.

And the second:

If I don’t come home tonight, it’s because I’ve committed murder! God, I miss you! x

I replied with:

Don’t worry. I have access to funds for your bail bond. I miss you more x

My stomach rumbled at around six-thirty, reminding me to eat, so I closed down the file I’d been compiling for Sloane and called Jackson to come collect me. Jia had already left for her kickboxing class, and I still had no idea when to expect Ethan home. My cell
buzzed
just as I was about to exit the building, my heart leaping excitedly when the caller display informed me who was calling.
Charming
.