Page 81 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
Ethan lives here?
More importantly, now that I’m here, what do I tell the man about why I came here? That I didn’t want to be alone, so I rode thirty miles in the rain to this place, hoping he’d let me stay?
I’ve barely managed to switch off the ignition, and I’m just getting off the motorbike when the massive front doors burst open and Ethan appears. My heart lurches as he walks quickly to me, his long legs eating up the ground between us.
I haven’t set eyes on him since last week in a meeting.
Oh, God, has he always been this big?He’s not wearing glasses. I don’t have time to notice more than that because suddenly, I’m in his arms.
“Bonnie? What’s the matter?”
I only dissolve into tears, so relieved to feel his strong arms around me again.
“Christ! You’re freezing.”
He swings me up and carries me in his arms and into the house while I bury my face in his neck and sob my heart out.
He takes us, still fully clothed, straight into the shower and under a stream of warm water. He puts me on my feet but stays with me under the warm spray.
“Bonnie, talk to me. Are you hurt?” He lifts my face to look at him.
Teeth chattering, I shake my head and whisper, “My…my Nan died today. I’m s-sorry, I just didn’t want to be alone. I wasn’t thinking…is…is this okay? I didn’t think—” I start crying again before I can finish speaking.
“Shh…” He takes me into his arms again. “I’m so very sorry, Bonnie. So sorry.”
We stand there until steam curls around us. Gradually, warmth seeps into my bones, and I stop shaking so much.
“I’ll get you towels and some dry clothes, okay? Then, we’ll get you into bed.” He moves back, and that’s when I notice his white t-shirt is drenched and the tantalizing display of muscles that are exposed draws my eyes. My mouth dries.
“Bed?” I question stupidly.
“It’s late, Bonnie, you need to sleep.”
“Sleep. Right. What time is it?” My brain is slow to process.
“It’s just after two in the morning.”
That surprises me. That late already? “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn't know. Did I wake you?”
“No, we’re night owls here.”
“We?” I ask.
“My Dad and I. That was my dad on the intercom. He lives here, too,” he says.
His father lives here! I try not to freak out.Some people still have normal relationships with their fathers.“Oh, okay.”
“You’re dead on your feet, Bonnie. I’ll let you finish up here. There’ll be towels out by the sink for you and some dry clothes on the bed. Just leave your wet clothes in the sink, alright? I’llcome back to check that you’re okay.” He leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead, then leaves, dripping wet.
Through the fogged glass, I see him strip naked, then grab one white towel out of a stack to dry off with. I resist the urge to wipe the condensation off the glass so I can see him clearly. Within seconds, the bathroom is empty.
It feels surreal. I came here to Ethan. To this glorious place. I left my dark, depressing house, where I was all but drowning in guilt and fear and grief. I came here to Ethan, the man I’m currently not speaking to, and in fact, planning to move abroad to avoid. And he welcomed me.
The guest room is empty when I get out of the shower, but I see some clothes on the bed. They belong to him. I quickly pull the top over my head, and I can’t resist sniffing the collar. It’s clean, but I still smell him on it. The boxer shorts are too big for me, so I roll the waistband down a few times so they don't fall.
Sitting on the bed with my feet tucked under me, my hand running over the luxurious sheets, I test the mattress with my weight, thinking how comfortable it would be to sleep in. But I don’t get into bed. I can’t settle down.
I’m waiting for him to return.