Chapter 65: I Come, You Don’t

ELLIE

I closed my eyes, clinging to his body. We hit the water a second later. It was so cold. Ethan pulled us to the surface, allowing me to breathe.

"Idiot!" I pushed him, splashing water at him as we floated.

"I never thought I'd hear you complain about getting wet." He smiled mischievously.

"Very funny." I turned away, just as Bennett jumped into the water with Zoe, sending a spray of water into my face.

Ethan hugged me from behind, sliding his hand between my legs, under my panties.

"I can touch you here, right now," he whispered in my ear. "No one will know."

I sighed deeply, feeling his fingers press against my clit. I had to stifle a moan. He turned my body to face him again, wrapping my legs around his waist.

His lips covered mine in a deep, wet kiss. His hands roamed over my ass and breasts, then rubbed over the fabric of my panties, driving me crazy. Things were heating up too fast. I pulled my lips away, panting.

"You just threw me in the water, and now you think you can do this?"

I started swimming away from him.

Our group played around in the water for a while, but it was so cold that we couldn't last more than ten minutes. So we decided to heat the pool water.

The men took charge of that while we women went up to change into bikinis. It was only fair since most of us had been thrown into the lake against our will.

After putting on a red bikini, I was about to head down when Ethan walked into the room. His eyes swept over my body. A few wet strands of hair fell over his forehead. Before he could do what I suspected he was thinking, I started walking toward the door.

"Don’t even think about it," I said as I passed him.

When I reached the doorknob, his hand covered mine, preventing me from opening the door. His body pressed against mine, pinning me to the door. He kissed my shoulder, grinding his hips against my ass.

All the arousal that had been building up since the morning came flooding back, leaving me desperate, but I still wanted to get revenge for the lake incident.

I guided his fingers under the bottom of my bikini.

"Make me come," I demanded.

His fingers began to move around my clit, spreading waves of pleasure through my skin, making me squeeze my thighs together. My need was urgent and wild. I used one arm to muffle my moans while he licked and nibbled the skin between my neck and shoulder, before moving down my back, kissing.

Kneeling behind me, he moved the fabric of my bikini aside and slid his fingers along my length, plunging two of them inside me.

I stifled a loud moan into my arm. His fingers began to move, pumping deep and hard, but I needed more, I needed to feel his mouth on me.

"Wait," I said, panting, turning around as he pulled his fingers out of me.

I sank my fingers into his hair and tugged a little, making him lean forward. I smiled, lifting one leg onto his shoulder, showing exactly what I wanted.

His brown eyes were so dark, shadowed with desire that filled me with lust. He lifted my other leg onto his shoulder, making me brace my hands on his head.

Moving my bikini aside, he slid his tongue along my length. I arched my back against the door, biting my lip, trying not to make a sound. When his tongue slid again and sucked at the end of the stroke, I lost my mind.

After that, everything happened so fast, I became nothing but moans and ragged breaths, feeling pleasure ripple through my body in spasms. I came into his mouth, feeling my legs tremble, and my body go limp.

When strength returned to my legs, I got off him.

Ethan stood up, his hands moving to his pants. He was about to unzip them when I caught his attention.

"No."

"No?" he asked, confused, raising his eyebrows.

“I come, you don’t.”

"You’re kidding, right?"

"This is for throwing me in that lake. And if I were you, I’d put on something really tight." I smiled before walking out the door, leaving him alone and hard.


*


I went down to the pool area, finding Neil, Will, and Jack sitting on one of the edges. Approaching a lounge chair, I sat down and closed my eyes, feeling completely relaxed and satisfied with my revenge.

"The water’s warm enough if you want to get in." I opened one eye, staring at Neil.

He sat on the lounge chair to my left.

"Thanks."

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him like this."

It took me a few seconds to understand what he was talking about.

"Since..." He hesitated.

"Since he found out about the betrayal?"

"He told you about Charlotte?" He seemed surprised.

Charlotte... so that was her name. The woman who made Ethan believe it wasn’t worth trying again.

"I’d say he just mentioned something."

We had never really delved into that topic. Ethan had only said he found out about the betrayal a week before the wedding. I couldn’t imagine how hard that must have been. Dishonest people were truly evil, playing with others’ feelings as if they meant nothing, without caring about the consequences.

"Believe me, that’s a lot for him. Usually, he just tries to avoid the subject at all costs. So, it must mean he cares about you."

"Have you been friends for a long time?"

"Let’s just say I’ve watched it all closely. Seeing him having fun with you today... he didn’t even seem like the Ethan I know, not the one he became after everything. He seemed more like the guy he used to be." He smiled, looking truly happy for his friend.

"Has he changed a lot?"

"Completely. But I can’t judge him. I went through something similar, the difference is I didn’t love my ex-wife the way he loved Charlotte. She was everything to him, just like Rosie is to me now, and I can’t even imagine losing her."

"That explains why he’s never been able to get over her. Maybe he still loves her."

"I don’t think so. He went through hell because of her, Ellie. If I know him well, the only thing left must be anger."

"It seems like he just can’t move on."

"Believe me, he’s moved on. He just chose a different path, one he thinks ensures he’ll never get hurt by anyone again. I can understand him. Losing someone you love... in the worst way."

"It’s not fair; it wasn’t his fault."

"Yes, but that didn’t stop him from feeling the pain."

"Did they stay together for long?"

"I think he met her right after he got to London."

"And when did it end?"

"It must’ve been about three years ago."

That meant they must have been together for about three years since Ethan mentioned he spent six years in London.

"It’s still recent."

"Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Whatever you’re doing, just keep it up. I thought he’d never let anyone get close to him again. You have no idea how good it is to see a shadow of my old friend."

"I don’t want to dash your hopes, but he made it very clear I shouldn’t have any."

"I know it mustn’t be easy when he’s so closed off, just don’t give up too easily. I know you won’t if he means something to you. Maybe that’s all he needs, to know you won’t give up on him."

I understood what Neil was trying to say. Ethan had many traumas, and fear of being betrayed again was probably one of them. But I didn’t know if I could do anything about it when Ethan himself was the obstacle. I could try, but what about me? How much could insisting on this end up hurting me? I had my own traumas.

There was already so much to deal with at this moment. After these incredible days, we would simply have to say goodbye. I wasn’t ready for that, but if I decided to insist, it could be worse. He had already told me not to have any hope, and I didn’t want to hear it again. It had been hard enough the first time.

*

Half an hour later, we were all gathered in and around the pool. With my face resting on my arms on the pool's edge, I felt the warm water make all my thoughts disappear.

Muscular arms wrapped around my body before he whispered in my ear:

"Hello, selfish little thing."

I smiled.

"It wasn’t selfishness, just revenge."

"Don’t pretend it wasn’t fun."

"What part of you throwing me into cold water was supposed to be fun?"

"The part where my fingers were in your panties." He kissed my shoulder. "I’m at my limit, Ellie."