Page 40 of Lost Without You

“I have a bad feeling. Keep a close eye on her.”

“She’s staying with me. I’m not going to let anything happen to her,” Ethan declared as he glanced at Rachel.

When she smiled, it made everything inside him light up. That fluttery feeling in his stomach would not settle.

“Stay in touch, call or text anytime,” Lane replied.

“Thanks, Lane.”

Ethan ended the call and held out his other hand.

“What was that about?” Rachel asked.

“Harrison has gone on a trip overseas. Even though he’s deathly afraid to fly and hasn’t done so in five years,” he paused, unsure if he should repeat everything in the conversation. “Lane is concerned for your safety. He thinks Harrison is prepping an alibi.”

“Fuck. When is Dalton going to schedule the press conference? Going public with the investigation is the only way to deal with this situation. Otherwise, no one knows I have a target on my back.”

“He’s working on it,” Ethan paused. “Come on, let’s head up. It’s been a long day of travel and stress.”

He and Rachel went back inside, loaded up the dishwasher and headed upstairs. He’d placed her items in the spare room since he didn’t want her to feel any obligation to share his bed. Much as he wanted to, he left that decision to her.

They got to the top of the stairs when she kissed him.

“I’m going to grab my stuff and meet you back here,” she pointed to his bedroom.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Are you?”

“Oh yes,” Ethan replied without hesitation.

After showering and brushing his teeth, he walked back out into his bedroom. Rachel was already under the covers, her eyes closed. Ethan turned off the lights and slipped under the duvet.

“Sleep well, sweetheart,” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

She turned to him and snuggled into his body. Despite his arousal, his eyes grew heavy and soon he drifted off.

****

Ethan woke up at 6:00 AM. Normally he’d jump right out of bed and get started on his day, but he had no such urge this morning. Not with his body wrapped around Rachel, the two of them fitting together perfectly.

He looked around and noticed Watson curled up in a ball at the bottom of the bed, purring away. Reluctant to move and ruin the perfect moment, he let out a contented sigh.

“Was that a good sigh or a bad one?” Rachel’s sleepy voice murmured.

“What do you think?” Ethan kissed her temple and drew her in even tighter.

His morning wood was throbbing and threatened to break through his briefs as her round ass rubbed against him. Then he felt her hand slide over his, pushing it up under her shirt until he cupped her breast.

“Rachel,” he moaned into her ear.

She turned in his arms, and he rolled to his back. Leaning up, she straddled his hips, and whipped her t-shirt over her head. Ethan tugged on his briefs and lifted his hips, shoving them under his ass. He looked up and saw the same intense desire he felt, reflected in her eyes. She smiled and Ethan could only cup her face and smile in return. The dark, silky waves of her hair fell over her slender shoulders as she began to rock her hips.

He reached down and drew his thumb teasingly over her clit, rubbing in slow circles as Rachel’s eyes closed and her head fell back.

“Ethan,” she groaned, and her hands moved up to cup her breasts.

“So goddamn beautiful,” he whispered as he touched her with quicker strokes.