Chapter 148: What Happens in Vegas… Doesn’t Stay in Vegas?

**Chapter 148: What Happens in Vegas… Doesn’t Stay in Vegas?**

ELLIE

I spotted Zara’s thick red hair the moment I stepped into the restaurant bar in Hudson Yards. She, Zoe, and Anna were seated at a table near the windows, offering a stunning view of the city.

Despite being tired after a full day in the lab and not exactly interested in the topic they wanted to discuss, I couldn’t say no to them.

Especially since Ethan had already celebrated with his friends the previous weekend. None other than their husbands.

And it wasn’t simple at all, despite what he and I had agreed on. They simply went to Las Vegas. According to Ethan, at the insistence of the others. Things got out of hand—that’s what he said.

And I believed him, because before that, when I mentioned to the girls that we weren’t exactly interested in having bachelor or bachelorette parties, they practically freaked out.

So, here I was, resigned, heading toward an inevitable fate.

Approaching the table, I greeted Zara and Zoe first, leaning in to kiss Anna last.

“How’s little William?” I asked.

“Hopefully well, but tonight, that’s solely his father’s concern…” She smiled, picking up her wine glass from the table. “And tomorrow too.” She winked.

“You’re missed at the lab,” I said, taking the seat to her left. “I know you have more responsibilities now, but I hope the leave doesn’t last forever.”

“Will and I are still figuring out how to handle it, but I hope to return soon.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll see that it’s possible to be a good mother and still maintain your career,” Zara said, seated to my right.

“That’s because your husband is an angel,” Zoe commented.

“Will is also an angel.” I frowned, not understanding her point.

“Yeah. They’re not married to—or about to marry—a workaholic Morgan.” She said, raising her wine glass slightly in my direction, ironically.

If she was trying to insinuate that Ethan wouldn’t be a good father, I completely disagreed. That no longer worried me, after seeing how everything we went through affected him.

I was still trying to convince him to forgive himself.

“Do you think Ben wouldn’t be a good father?” Zara asked.

“No, it’s just that, at the moment, he’s not willing to give up work,” she explained.

“I thought you didn’t want babies,” I said.

“No. At least not for the next five years…” She sighed. “But enough about babies, let’s talk about what really matters.” A smile appeared on her face.

“Okay, before anything else, no crazy or extravagant ideas… Ethan and I agreed — no strippers,” I emphasized.

“By extravagant idea, you mean like a trip to Las Vegas?” Anna said, arching a sarcastic eyebrow.

“I already said it wasn’t my fault. You should have forbidden it.”

“Your fiancé went to Las Vegas, but your idea is what? Tea with pastries? Painting our nails and braiding each other’s hair?” Zara teased.

“I don’t know, okay. I said I wasn’t really in the mood…”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Zoe interrupted. “I didn’t want to, but unfortunately, it seems I’ll have to resort to this,” she continued, leaning over to search for something in her purse.

Pulling out her phone, she started fiddling with it, looking for something. Meanwhile, Zara and Anna were watching me with expectant eyes.

“Here.” She placed the phone on the table in front of me.

Blinking in confusion, I looked at the three of them one last time before picking it up.

“Looks like what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas,” she teased as I stared at the photo, clenching my teeth and feeling the heat rush to my face.

✽ ✽ ✽

ETHAN

Sitting on the couch in her living room, I was nearly dozing off while watching some random football game on TV when I suddenly felt her soft hands cover my eyes.

Her sweet and sexy perfume enveloped me.

“Ready?” she whispered against my ear, mischievously. Her tone alone was enough to make my cock stir.

“For you, always,” I replied.

“Okay, don’t open until I say so,” she instructed, making me even more tempted to open my eyes as soon as her hands disappeared.

I heard the sound of her heels echoing on the floor as she seemed to circle the couch until she stopped in front of me.

“Ready. You can open now,” she finally said.

*Fuck…*

Standing before me, she was wearing what looked like sexy bridal lingerie or costume. Complete with a small veil on her head and thigh-high stockings attached to garters.

The tiny white dress had sheer lace around the waist, a short ruffled skirt, and a neckline so tight it made her breasts practically spill out.

“So?” she said, with a smile drawing my attention to her red-painted lips, making me notice the heavy makeup that contrasted with the white.

Fuck. I didn’t know exactly what to say. I think the speed with which the sight made me hard spoke for itself.

“Wait…” I said, realizing. “I thought you were going out with the girls. Does this mean you changed your mind?”

I got excited about the idea of finally having convinced her to stay with me.

“I want to know what you think,” she insisted, spinning around, showing that the back of the skirt barely covered her ass.

“Come here and see for yourself,” I teased, devouring her with my eyes.

With a mischievous smile, she approached, straddling my lap, almost making me lose control.

I wanted to free her breasts, which seemed to be suffering from the way they were practically escaping the strapless neckline.

“Did you buy this for me?” I asked, moving my hands to her ass.

“Did you like it?” she whispered provocatively, starting to rub against me and leaning in to kiss my neck, making me shiver and getting me even harder.

“Fuck… Like it? I’m dying to fuck you in this,” I growled.

“Great… because you’ll only get to see me wearing it again in two weeks,” she whispered, stopping her movements.

“No… That would be cruel,” I murmured, letting out a frustrated groan.

Meeting my gaze, she smiled with satisfaction, happy to torture me.

“Now, I have to go. The girls are waiting for me,” she said, getting up from my lap. “I have a show to attend.”

“Wait… What?” I blinked, confused.

“If I’m lucky, I’ll get a dance from one of the Magic Mike guys. And I think I’ll be lucky since I’m the bride,” she said, grabbing the coat she had left on the arm of the couch.

She had to be joking. Or trying to drive me crazy.

“What? What the hell are you talking about? You’re definitely not going out like that… let alone letting a guy grind on you.”

“Dance, you mean dance. It’s their job,” she teased cynically, putting on the coat.

“I think you’ve lost your mind…” I huffed. “We had an agreement, remember?”

“Yes, we did, until you broke the rules and thought you could fool me,” she said, forcing a smile.

“What?” I frowned, not understanding.

“Stop it, I saw the photo.”

“Photo?”

Then, I remembered.

Ah, shit. They took a damn photo?

Fuck. I was going to kill them all. My brother, Jack, Neil, Jason, but especially Will, for setting up that shit.

“Okay… I can explain, love,” I said, standing up.

“You don’t need to; the image is quite clear.”

“I swear I didn’t know, okay? They set it all up. I was blindfolded… And as soon as I took off the blindfold, I swear I left.”

“I have to go,” she said, turning her back on me, ignoring me.

“Love, please… that’s exactly what they wanted,” I said, following her to the door.

Stopping in front of it, she turned to me with a dangerously calm smile.

“Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to apologize. There are still two weeks until wedding…” She leaned in to kiss my cheek. “That’s also how long you’ll be going without sex,” she whispered before walking out the door.