Chapter 117: Intrigue at the Table

ELLIE

By the end of the night, when we returned to Ethan’s apartment, he was still trying to figure out how to get my panties off.

After kicking off my shoes and leaving them near the door, I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water.

Ethan followed me after tossing his coat onto the couch.

“I’m ready for my extra Christmas present now,” he said, stopping behind me in the kitchen.

Stretching out his arms, he trapped me between his body and the counter.

“There was a condition,” I said, setting the glass down on the counter and turning to face him. “Do you think you behaved yourself?”

“What about you? Do you think you behaved?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“So we’re pretending you didn’t tease me all night, begging to be fucked?”

I felt my face flush. It annoyed me how easily he could say things like that and still get under my skin.

“I’m not playing this game.”

If we continued, I knew exactly how it would end.

“What game?” He stepped closer, eliminating the distance between us.

“Stop.”

“You can play all you want, baby, but I want to make sure you know who’s really in control.”

“Are you trying to make me laugh? I said I’m not playing this game.”

“Say it.”

“Say what?”

“Who’s in control?”

I rolled my eyes. Holding my chin, he brushed my hair to one side and leaned in to kiss my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

I trembled under the touch of his lips. He continued brushing them lightly along my neck and shoulder, then started using his tongue, making me melt.

“Say it,” he whispered, before biting my earlobe.

*Oh, God.*

“You. It’s you,” I surrendered, feeling my rationality slip away.

“Good girl,” he said, gripping my thighs and lifting me up.

“Wait…” I tried to stop him as he carried me, his lips still teasing me.

Placing me on the living room couch, he positioned his hips between my legs. His kisses grew hungrier and more intense, seeking my lips. His hands slid up my thighs, slipping under my skirt.

“Wait.” I stopped his hands, making him look at me. “We need to rest. We have to get up early tomorrow.”

With a frustrated sigh, he buried his face in my chest.

“Good boy,” I said, stroking his hair with a laugh.

“Don’t tease,” he murmured, relaxing.

“Do you still want your present?”

“So it’s true?” He propped himself up on his arms to look at me.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t have to move anymore,” I said excitedly.

He shook his head, confused.

“Todd isn’t my neighbor anymore,” I explained.

“What do you mean?”

“He went back to Italy.”

He nodded before sitting down on the sofa, seeming to reflect.

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy?" I asked, sitting down.

"Yes, I am," he said, forcing a smile.

"It doesn’t seem like it."

“I just wasn’t expecting it. But this is the best news I’ve had in a while, love,” he said, leaning in to kiss me softly.

His reaction left me with a nagging feeling, but I decided to let it go and trust him.

“Don’t you think we should celebrate?” he whispered sensually.

“Yes,” I teased, kissing him. “But not tonight, Morgan.” I smiled and pushed his chest before getting up and heading toward the stairs. 

✽

After a seven-hour flight and a trip to Ethan’s apartment in London, I finally managed to take a shower.

But relaxing wasn’t on the agenda for the rest of the night. Ethan owed me for the fact that we weren’t even a little tired.

Neil called right after we landed and insisted we meet him at a bar. Jason and Phillipa would be there, too.

I was finishing my makeup, applying lipstick in front of the bedroom mirror, when Ethan walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

I watched him approach through the mirror.

“Gorgeous,” he murmured, stopping behind me and wrapping his arms around me. “Grab a coat. It’s cold out.”

“You’re wet!” I laughed, shrinking slightly into his arms.

“We should’ve said we were tired.”

“Don’t you miss your friends?”

“I do, but I’d still rather have you naked in that bed.”

“You’re almost convincing me. But we can do that when we get back.”

He nodded, kissing my shoulder before stepping away.

“By the way, I like this place. It’s very different from your apartment in Manhattan. It’s more… cozy,” I said, glancing around.

“Well… this place was my home for many years. I was really young when I moved here. I think I bought most of the furniture and everything else myself. Maybe that’s why.”

I watched, mesmerized, as he dropped the towel to get dressed.

“It must’ve been quite a change. I mean, you were in college in California and then came here,” I said, trying to focus on the conversation while admiring the sight of him naked with wet hair.

“College wasn’t my favorite time, honestly. I barely remember that period.”

“Something tells me you like it here more.”

“I like New York, too.”

“But you’d rather live here?”

His eyes met mine as he finished buttoning his pants.

“Where are you going with this?”

“You came back here when we…”

“I was just confused. And if you think I’d hesitate for even a second to follow you to California if you decided to move there tomorrow, you’re wrong.”

I approached him, his words making me melt.

“I love you,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So I couldn’t do that. I know you don’t like beaches much.”

“I prefer a beach girl.”

“That’s me.” I leaned in to kiss him, fighting the urge to tear off my clothes. “Now hurry up.”

✽

The bar where we met the others was packed. But it wasn’t hard to find them once we walked in. They were sitting at a round table in a corner to the right.

Neil stood up as soon as he saw us and walked over to embrace Ethan. Then it was my turn. He hugged me with a broad smile.

“Thank you. You managed to bring him back to us,” he whispered.

“It wasn’t easy, but someone told me not to give up,” I said with a smile as we pulled apart.

After a round of greetings, I took off my coat and sat at the table next to Ethan. His smile was radiant, so genuine it filled me with satisfaction. Maybe he did feel more at home here.

“Are you excited to explore more of England tomorrow?” Rosie asked, sitting to my left.

“Can’t wait.”

Over the next hour, the conversation flowed, accompanied by plenty of beer. Then, at some point during the night, Rosie and Phillipa got up to go to the bathroom, and I followed them.

I was already feeling a little tipsy, so even the simple task of walking back and forth became a bit tricky. We were laughing at something silly Rosie said as we returned to the table. But then, something made me stop abruptly.

More specifically, the sight of a blonde woman standing next to our table.

“Who’s that?” I asked, finding it odd that Ethan was the only one standing and talking to her.

“Shit,” Phillipa muttered behind me.

“Is that Jess?” Rosie speculated, likely seeking confirmation from Phillipa.

Jess? I turned to face the two behind me.

“Who’s Jess?” I questioned.

They exchanged tense glances.

“She needs to know,” Phillipa said before focusing back on me.

Rosie sighed before finally spilling the truth.

“She was one of Ethan’s casual partners.”

One of his casual partners? Ethan didn’t have any ex-girlfriends other than Charlotte. So that meant they only…

I pushed the thought aside. Maybe I should’ve tried to get more information out of them, but for some reason, I simply turned and walked back toward the table.