Chapter 66: Was That It?

ELLIE

Ethan clung to me as the weather changed, growing colder, and the sky began to darken. As time passed, I felt him growing harder against my ass, igniting a ravenous desire within me.

In the end, it was just the two of us left in the pool after our friends decided to go inside to light the fireplace and prepare dinner.

Turning my body, he wrapped my legs around his waist, and I placed my arms around his neck.

He had that look in his eyes, covered by a dark, sensual shadow, before he moved closer to kiss me, wrapping one arm around my waist.

His tongue slid between my lips, searching for mine and sucking, making me even more aroused. His hand reached for my breast, massaging over the bikini before lifting the fabric, exposing it.

I pulled my lips away, stunned.

“Not here.”

Someone could see us. He ignored me, squeezing and pinching my nipple between his fingers before leaning down to suck on it, making me arch my back.

His tongue moved back up to my neck, licking, while his hand slid down to my ass, slipping under the fabric. His long fingers rubbed against my lips and clit.

I was so wet, and it had nothing to do with being in the water. His fingers were making my reason fade away.

“This feels so… good…” I moaned.

I held onto his body, feeling his firm chest pressing against my breasts. The heat of his skin felt so good. I sought his lips with mine, teasing his tongue.

His fingers left me, and a second later, he began rubbing his huge cock against my pussy, making my insides throb and driving me crazy.

“Ethan… please…” I pleaded, dazed, feeling my insides pulse with need.

He kept rubbing himself against me deliciously, before finally pushing the fabric aside and plunging into me, making me moan.

“That face you’re making… drives me crazy,” he growled, increasing the pace and becoming wild.

I held his beautiful face between my hands, kissing him occasionally as intense pleasure took over my body.

Raindrops began to fall on us, and shortly after, I heard the sound of thunder.

The feeling of his big, warm body enveloping me was almost as good as feeling him inside me.

My body grew hotter, and my skin pulsed all over as my orgasm hit me, so good and indescribable. I clung tightly to him before feeling him pulse, coming inside me.

His grip tightened around my body, and I pulled my face away to watch his expression of pleasure. So erotic. I loved seeing him lose himself in me.

I caressed his chest as I tried to catch my breath. When his body relaxed, he held my face, giving me a gentle kiss.

The rain was getting stronger.

“That was…” I searched for words to describe what we had just done but found none.

“So good?”

“Orgasmic,” I joked, making him smile.

“Definitely. Now let’s go inside.”

I put my bikini back in place after he pulled out of me. Then he helped me out of the pool. We went up to the room, intending to change. The weather was really getting colder.

Ethan finished changing first and waited for me, sitting on the bed. When I finished putting on my sweater and closing my suitcase, he came up behind me, hugging me.

His hands slipped under the fabric, cupping my breasts.

“What are you doing?”

“Just saying, ‘See you later.’”

“Stop that.” I pushed his hands away, but he hugged me again, kissing my neck, making my body heat up. “Let’s go to dinner, pervert.”

“I’m just enjoying it. We only have a few more hours.” His words made me tense, a knot forming in my throat.

All the anguish returned. Nothing had changed. He still intended to follow our agreement.

A thunderclap echoed in the room, reminding us of the storm outside.

“I’m hungry,” I said, pushing his arms away and heading for the door.

*

As much as I tried not to think about it during dinner, it kept tormenting me.

A few times, I thought I might just start crying. I avoided making any eye contact with Ethan, uncertain if I could look at him without falling apart.

When we all finished eating and settled in the living room by the fireplace, I sat as far away from Ethan as possible.

I tried to focus on the conversation around me but ended up lost in my own thoughts, staring at the flames.

What could I do? Keep pushing even though it was already hurting me? I knew I should just step back before things got worse.

Why keep insisting when all his signals were telling me to do the opposite? Even if I was willing to take the risk, he didn’t seem open to it at all.

“Ellie?” Zoe called my attention, making me realize everyone was looking at me.

“Yes?”

“Rosie was saying she has a friend in Santa Barbara. That’s where your parents live, right?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you said you were born in San Diego,” Jason said.

“Yes, that’s where my parents adopted me, but they were born in Santa Barbara, and we’ve always lived there.”

“Oh, I see.” Jason nodded.

“I didn’t know you were adopted,” Phillipa said.

“That’s probably because I never really remember it; I was only seven months old at the time, and my parents are so wonderful that I just forget.”

“Are you still planning to visit them when we get back?” Anna asked, sitting next to me.

“Yes, I think so.”

“Is Ethan going with you?” Zoe asked, with a suggestive smile.

I shook my head, not in the mood to be annoyed with her, still avoiding looking at Ethan.

“You could extend your vacation together...” She continued.

“Speaking of which...” Anna interrupted, coming to my rescue. “Jason and Phillipa decided to go to New York with us.”

“That’s great, how long are you staying?” I tried to sound interested.

“Just for two days. I have to go back to work on Wednesday,” Jason explained.

I nodded.

The conversation went on late into the night, with lots of wine as the storm continued outside. Gradually, everyone started heading to bed. Neil, Rosie, Ethan, and I were the last ones left in the living room at the end of the night.

When Neil and Rosie decided to go upstairs, I thought it would be best to do the same, aware that Ethan was following me.

In the room, I approached the bed, sitting at the edge to take off my shoes while he closed the door.

“You never told me you were adopted, or that you were planning to travel as soon as we got back,” he said, leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I thought it was irrelevant. Didn’t you say we should keep things simple?” I shrugged.

“Ellie…”

“I’m exhausted. Aren’t you?” I tried to end the conversation.

Then he started undressing in front of me, removing his shoes and clothes until he was left in just a pair of black boxers. The sight of his body made my chest tighten even more as he came closer.

He would never be mine again. I fought back the tears as he leaned over me to undress me, first my sweater, then my jeans, ending up on his knees in front of me.

“I want to sleep,” I said, staring at a random corner, knowing that if I let him touch me now, I would fall apart in front of him.

“Hey…” His hand cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. “I’m still here.”

His words almost broke me. I took a deep breath.

“I just want to sleep.” I crawled to the headboard, pulling the sheet over me.

“Do you want to sleep alone?”

This was our last night together, and although I wasn’t in the mood for sex, I still wanted to feel his body holding mine.

“You can stay if you want, but we’re not having sex.”

For a moment, I thought he was really going to let me sleep alone, but then I felt the bed dip as he lay down behind me. His arms wrapped around my body, pulling me against his chest.

After a while, I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face, soaking the sheet. I hoped he was already asleep and wouldn’t notice my state.


*


The next morning, I got up before Ethan woke. After taking a shower, I packed my bags, not caring about his presence as he woke and started doing the same.

We didn’t exchange a single word. The anguish was crushing me more than ever. It felt like a stone was pressing on my chest.

When I finished packing, I simply let him know I was leaving the room.

“I’m going downstairs.” I walked towards the door.

“Ellie…” He said, making me stop as my hand rested on the doorknob.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I turned, holding on to a shred of hope.

“Yes?”

Hesitant, he opened his lips to say something but seemed to change his mind, closing them again.

“Take care,” he said at last.

*Was that it?*

It couldn’t be. I knew that wasn’t what he wanted to say. There was something more; I could see it in his eyes.

“Is that all you have to say to me?” I asked, in one last attempt.

He nodded, making the tightness in my chest worsen before I left him behind.


*


At the airport, we all said goodbye to Neil and Rosie before boarding.

*“Don’t give up on him yet.”*

That’s what Neil whispered to me when we hugged, leaving my mind even more confused. The words kept echoing in my head.

When we got on the plane, I wondered if Ethan would sit next to me, assuming he would. We would have to spend seven hours side by side, and maybe there was still a chance.

However, when Phillipa sat down beside me, I realized there wasn’t any chance left.

“Hey!” She smiled at me. “Ethan asked if I wouldn’t mind swapping seats. You don’t mind, do you?”

I shook my head, forcing a smile, and realizing that he simply didn’t want to be with me anymore.