Ethan cut her off and then stood, taking her with him, his fingers biting into hers as he pulled her to her feet. Seconds later they were leaving the room, after she’d flicked everyone a wave of her hand. Only Hope and Taylor had reciprocated, Annabelle noticed. Ethan was almost running by the time they reached the stairs going down, his long legs moving so quickly that Annabelle had to run to keep up.
“Ethan, slow down.”
He didn’t answer, nor did he slow down, and once they reached the ground floor they turned left and went back under the stairs. Since he had a firm grip on Annabelle’s hand, all she could do was follow his long, angry strides. They walked down one hall after another, and she saw more of the wealth he had been raised in. Then suddenly he stopped before a door, opened it, and dragged her inside.
The room was huge, and the bed situated in the middle of it was big enough for Annabelle to lie across and not touch the sides. There were two sofas, and a TV that took up half a wall; another wall was closets, and she could see a pool through a set of French doors. Ethan walked deeper into the room, taking her with him. She saw another door in the far wall—it was towards that that he headed.
“This is your room,” he said after opening it.
She walked past him and inside. This room was not quite as big, but it was close. The bed was covered in a thick, soft red blanket; the carpets were black and white, and the walls were white with several beautiful pieces of artwork hung around them.
“How’d you know we’d be staying here?” Annabelle went to the windows and looked out at the darkening skies. She could see the pool and some flowerbeds, but not too much else now.
“Because I slept in that one for years.” He was pointing back through the doors. “I’ll come get you for dinner.”
Seconds later she was alone, as the door shut with a decisive click behind her. Annabelle took a deep steadying breath as she looked around. She took off her boots, then her jacket, and laid it on the bed.
Looking at the closed door, she made a decision, then headed for it.
CHAPTER NINE
“Go away, Annabelle.”
He was sitting on his bed, shoulders hunched, staring at his hands, so she walked to where he sat.
“FYI, I’ve already worked out that your dad’s an asshole behind that smiling, polite façade, but Brad, well, he’s one of those slick, smooth operators who think he was put on this earth just to pull off a woman’s panties.”
His laugh held no humor, but he lifted his head to look at her.
“I need to be alone, Annabelle.”
The pain in the blue depths of his eyes hit her in the stomach. Without realizing it, she’d reached out her hands to cup his face, running her fingers over his cheeks.
“You need to leave, Annabelle. This place makes me mean. I get ugly when I’m here and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“How will you hurt me?”
“I don’t know, and God’s truth I don’t want to, but my father makes me irrational.” He held her gaze. “I know I should be bigger than that., I’m a fucking adult, after all. I know that in the logical part of my mind, but when I’m here, I become this…this… Christ, I can’t even find a name for it.”
“You’re a better man than that, Ethan, a better man than him. Don’t let him do this to you.”
He closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“I hate him.” The words were flat and cold.
“Sssh.” She touched her lips to his, and it wasn’t just comfort that made her do it. Seeing him hurting and vulnerable was stirring something inside her. A need to touch him and feelings that were warm and heavy filled her body.
“Don’t pity me, Annabelle. I’m not a child.”
“I don’t. In fact, right about now, pity is the last thing I’m feeling.” She wanted him, and had finally given up fighting the desire she had for this man.
“You have great timing,” he rasped, his hands grabbing her hips to pull her onto his lap, her thighs now straddling his. One hand cupped her neck and then his lips were on hers. It was fierce and driven by emotion and hunger, and she took everything he gave. His hands moved over her body, roving every place they could touch as she and Ethan continued to kiss each other mindlessly.
Annabelle lost the ability to focus on anything but Ethan and the spiraling heat he was creating inside her. She felt his fingers lift the hem of her sweater and slip underneath. Fierce heat travelled through her body as his warm hands stroked her ribs and stomach.
“I’m not stopping.”
“Don’t,” she hissed.
