You Can't Choose Love (4 page)

“Up,” he instructed her. He helped
her sit up so she was kneeling on his bed. Her body was facing away from him as
he knelt behind her. His strong arms wrapped around her waists, decreasing the
distance between them as her back pressed to his front. He gently cupped her
breasts before proceeding down her body. He skimmed his hand up inside of her
thigh as a whimper escaped her lips. It was all so foreign to Janet. She had
never been touched like this before. Her head rolled back on his shoulders as
he began to rub gently through the thin fabric of her underwear.

“Ethan,” Janet breathlessly
gasped, squirming. He held her close as she squirmed against his gentle
touches.

His fingers slipped into the front
of her underwear. She cried out in surprise as his thumb gently moved over her
clit, eliciting whimpers from her parted lips.

“Mmm,” he huskily whispered into
her ear. Kisses trailed down her neck as he continued. Janet was slightly
startled as he shifted, taking her with him as he sat on the edge of the bed.
She still faced away from him, sitting on his lap.

“Up,” he instructed again. She
complied and Ethan’s hands caught hold of her thighs, spreading them so her
legs hung on either sides of his lap. Janet caught sight of him bringing his
fingers to his mouth through her hindsight. He sucked on them before pulling
them out. His fingertips dipped into her underwear again and this time, he
eased a finger in gently. Uncomfortable moans fell from her lips as she tried
to comprehend the foreign gesture. She struggled to breathe as he pushed
deeper. The pleasure pulsing through her body was overwhelming. Janet’s eyes
closed, finding it difficult to keep them open. Her head rolled back on his
shoulders. Janet exhaled sharply as he withdrew his fingers.

“I’m going to try two,” he
informed her. Janet turned around, panicked.

“Relax,” he whispered, kissing the
back of her neck. “It will help.”

He pushed his fingers inside
again, two this time. With his legs, he spread her thighs wider as Janet tried
to breathe. He felt her clench shut as he tried to enter.

“Janet, you need to relax,” he
breathed huskily.

“I’m t-trying,” Janet managed to
say.

“It’ll be okay,” he mumbled
against her neck. “You’ll feel good.”

Janet breathed deeply as he
attempted to enter her again. He pumped in and out causing Janet to repeat his
name again and again. When he withdrew, he lay her down on the bed again.

“Are you okay?” he asked, gently
as he lay next to her. Janet nodded, still unable to believe she was in Ethan
Reed’s room and about to have sex with him. She watched as Ethan removed the
remaining of his clothes. He lowered himself on top of her, supporting his
weight as he kissed her. She could feel a bulge pressing into her causing her
heartbeat to rise even more.

“I’m scared,” she blurted out.

Ethan pressed a passionate kiss to
her lips before pulling away. “I know,” he replied softly. “We can stop if you
want.”

Janet shook her head. They were in
too far to stop and desire surged through her body. It was all new to her but
she knew what it meant. She kissed him again to encourage him. He spread his
hands on either side of her head, never looking away from her as he begun to
enter her. Janet cried as he rolled all the way in. Tears rolled down her eyes
and Ethan attempted to distract her by leaving kisses on her cheeks and jaw.
After a moment, Janet begun to relax, getting used to the new sensation. He
slowly increased his pace, matching her instructions as their hips moved
together. Janet moaned as he moved, still gentle and cautious. It was still a
little uncomfortable but in a good way. When she came, she cried out his name,
grabbing a fistful of his hair and wrapping her legs around his torso. He
collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily.

Finally, he rolled off her.

“Are you okay?” he asked again.
Janet nodded.

“Who would’ve thought?” Janet
joked. Ethan laughed before pulling her closer. She drifted off to sleep in his
arms.

When Janet entered the university
the next day, she felt like people were staring at her even more than usual.
But none of them said anything. The girls who normally didn’t miss a chance to bully
her stayed clear of her path. Janet was even more surprised when Kan came up to
her and asked that she come with him.

“Where?” she said suspiciously.

“Ethan’s calling you to Café
rooftop,” Kan said, looking at her curiously. Café rooftop was where all the
selected rich people of the university hung out and most other people weren’t
welcomed there.

“Why?” Janet asked.

“He didn’t tell me why,” Kan said.

“I’m not coming.”

“Please come,” Kan insisted. “Or
he’ll throw one of his tantrums.”

Janet rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t
want that, would we?”

Kan laughed and offered her his
arm which Janet took. They began to walk.

“So Janet,” Kan begun. “I’ve heard
you work at The Four Stars.”

Janet gave him an exasperated look
to which he shook his head hurriedly. “Oh no, I’m not making fun of you or
anything. Sorry about all that you had to hear. I was genuinely curious.”

Janet sighed. “Yes, I work there.”

“Must be nice,” Kan continued.
“To- to you know serve people and—“

“Not really,” Janet cut across
him, amused.

“You won’t have to hear those
girls again. Ethan forbade them from saying anything to you.”

Janet nodded slowly.

When they reached the common room,
Janet received more than several curious stares as she entered arm in arm with
Kan. He led her to a couch at the corner of the room where Ethan sat with
George and Jih.

“Why did you call me here?” Janet
demanded.

“Stop whining please and sit
down.”

Janet sat reluctantly.

“Don’t worry, Janet,” George said.
“You’re doing us all a favor by being here. He’s been in such a terrible mood
since morning. He instantly perked up when we suggested that he should call you
here.”

Ethan hit him while George and Kan
roared with laughter. Jih only smiled, ever so mysterious.

“What’s
she
doing here?”
someone shrieked across the room. It was Michelle, with her finger pointed at
Janet. “Ethan, is she bothering you?”

“The only person bothering me is
you, Michelle,” Ethan called back, sounding bored. Michelle was now getting to
her feet and making her way over to them.

“What’s going on?” she demanded.

“It’s Ethan’s latest order to
leave the girl alone,” someone called across the room. “Haven’t you heard,
Michelle?”

“What?” said Michelle. “But she-
she defied you!”

“I’m not some god. She can defy me
if she wishes.” Ethan said. “Now if you want to create a racquet, please leave.
I like my peace and quiet.”

Michelle looked at Janet
incredulously but eventually, she went back to where she sat with a group of
her friends. Her eyes never left their sofa for too long.

Janet sighed as George and Kan
broke the awkwardness with a joke. She spent most of her time chatting with
them. Ethan didn’t say much and he did not want to admit it but his mood had
improved hugely since Janet entered the room.

Slowly, the café emptied and Janet
was so absorbed in her conversation with George that she did not notice the two
of them and Ethan were the only ones left. It was only when George got up to
leave that she noticed the fact and pointed it out. When she was left alone with
Ethan, they did not speak anything. Flashes of the night before ran through
both their heads.

Ethan broke the silence first.

“My parents will be back in town
this weekend,” he said. “There’s going to be a huge welcome celebration because
my dad’s campaign is starting. Would you like to come?”

Janet considered it for a moment.
“I’m not sure,” she replied, finally.

“Why?”

“I won’t fit in there.”

“You’ll be with me,” he said
simply.

“Are you asking me on a date?”
Janet asked.

“I’m not sure. I just want you
around.”

The truth was Ethan didn’t want to
ask her out, not just yet. He wanted her around. He wanted to get to know her.
But ask her on a date? No.

Janet didn’t fail to note this but
she stayed quiet. They agreed to set up a time for them to meet later in the
week. Ethan insisted on dropping her home today. When he opened the car door
for her, she received many shocked stares from on lookers, especially the
girls. Janet fidgeted uncomfortably. She wondered how this looked to the rest
of the campus. They didn’t know about the intimate moments she had shared with
Ethan. To them, it must only look plain weird.

When he pulled outside her
apartment and walked her to the door, he pecked her on the cheek before kissing
her goodbye. When his lips left hers, Janet felt a strange emptiness.

Perhaps she was growing too
attached to Ethan.

Is this what Cinderella felt like?

Janet Price stared at herself in the
huge mirror outside the ballroom. She didn’t recognize her reflection; it was
of someone too grand to be her. Nel had dressed her up for the day. When Ethan
had sent her the dress, she had outright rejected it; it was too expensive and
she wouldn’t accept it as a gift from anyone. She had told the man who brought
it (which could only be his driver considering the fact he was driving Ethan’s
car) to take it back. The man had refused, saying that Ethan had known she
wouldn’t accept it and he had been told not to leave until she accepted it.
Janet had rolled her eyes and taken the box but she hadn’t so much as touched
it. Later in the day. George and Kan came to visit her and begged her to
accompany them to Ethan’s house. Janet refused but when they said Nel was
waiting, she grudgingly agreed.

Janet looked at her reflection
again. Her dress was pale blue silk with matching heels. Nel had tied up her
hair into a lose bun and sprinkled in with blue glitter. Nel’s stylist had done
her makeup. When they were up in Nel’s room, they were joined by two of Nel’s
friends who were co staring with her in their new TV series. They had greeted
Janet politely but didn’t pay much attention to her otherwise. Nel had ushered
her downstairs as soon as she was done but she had to run ahead to take care of
something and so Janet stood outside the door to the hall, staring at herself.

I must be Cinderella then.

She heard footsteps behind her and
saw Jih approaching her. She had never had a real conversation with him and so
hesitated but he spoke up first.

“Nervous?” he asked.

“A bit,” Janet admitted.

She noted how good looking he was
up close with his hair falling into his grey eyes.

“Shall we?” he said, holding out
his arm for her. She was surprised but didn’t say anything as she took his arm.
They entered the ball room together and as expected, its grandeur took her
aback. It was set in a huge hall adorned with grand chandeliers and lights. The
huge, thick pillars were covered in fairy lights giving it a dreamy glow. Closed
banquets stood to all corners of the hall for dinner time.

As Janet looked around, she
noticed everyone she knew from university was present including Michelle and
her cronies. Other rich kids were present as well, some with their families. They
didn’t pay much attention to Janet probably because she was unrecognizable. As
she walked up close, recognition dawned on a few people as they stared at her
and whispered to their friends. Janet Price was never found at such elite
functions. In fact, she was just a plain old serving girl. A few people were
dancing in the middle of the hall. As Janet and Jih drew closer, she saw that
leading the dance was Ethan with a blonde haired, tall girl who was dressed in
emerald green. They synchronized perfectly as their feet moved together yet
Ethan did not look at her. The girl was beaming and smiling, looking lovely.
Ethan looked straight ahead. Jih glanced at Janet whose expression had remained
neutral throughout the observation.

“Don’t worry about it,” he advised
her.

“I’m not,” she answered.

“That’s Fiona Evans. Ethan’s
parents want them to get together to strengthen their political and business
ties with the Evans.”

“I see.”

“Yeah but Ethan doesn’t want
that.”

Janet was saved from responding
with the arrival of Kan and George who broke the tension with their jokes as
usual for which Janet was grateful. She had been growing fond of the two of
them and their easy going attitude to all and every situation. Ethan did not
get to join them courtesy of his parents who wanted to introduce him to all
their new friends and to reintroduce them to all their old friends. Ethan was
polite enough and chatted with everyone but he longed to join Janet and the
others. He had noticed when Janet entered arm in arm with Jih; he was glad she
didn’t have to enter alone, aware of how uncomfortable that might make her.

Janet was wandering to the tea
stand when she felt a pair of strong arms close around her back and pull her
into a little nook by the side of the room. The nook was a huge one but still
inconspicuous and hid them both easily. Janet knew the feel of his arms and his
scent too well to be surprised. He turned her around and pressed a kiss to her
lips which she reciprocated enthusiastically.

“Mmm,” he said against her lips.
“You look pretty today, serving girl. A nice change.” The words were
interrupted by light pecks. Janet only shook her head at that, knowing it was
his attempt at a compliment.

“You don’t look bad yourself,” she
told him.

“Come on, I want you to meet my
parents.”

“What?” Janet was shocked, not
expecting to be introduced to the Reeds.

“I want you to meet my parents,”
he repeated as if explaining something to a five year old.

“I get that,” she snapped. “But-
why?”

“They’ve met all my friends,” he
shrugged pulling her along. They had to wait for his mother to excuse herself
from some guests that she mingled with before she turned her attention to her
son. She was of medium height and good looking with long, black hair like
Ethan’s.  Her smile was good natured but calculated and her eyes were
gentle but observant. She smiled at Janet as she shook her hand and looked at
Ethan inquisitively.

“This is my friend, Janet Price,”
Ethan said. Janet didn’t fail to notice the “friend” part but she didn’t
comment.

“Nice to meet you, Janet,” Mrs.
Reed said. “Price, hmm, never heard of that.” Janet realized Ethan’s mother
thought she was from one of the known families of Georgia.

“Janet is just a friend, mother,”
Ethan told her. It was his way of telling his mother that Janet wasn’t one of
the rich children but a friend. Understanding dawned on his mother and she
smiled at them both, quickly changing the subject. Janet shifted uncomfortably
as Ethan and she talked about some family stuff. Eventually, Ethan led her away,
his hand on her elbow. She saw Michelle throw her an angry look as she passed
her.

This was going to be a long night.