Chapter 35

A few minutes later, as Ethan and I stepped into the house, Ember sat at the table, her crimson lips tightly pressed against a slender, long-stemmed glass of velvety red wine. The clinking sound of the glass brushing her teeth filled the room, accompanied by the faint aroma of the rich, fruity bouquet.

Ethan shook his head and made his way to the refrigerator, causing a rush of cool air to sweep past us. Bending forward, he peered into the depths, the faint hum of the fridge filling the silent room. Moments later, he emerged, holding two chilled bottles of beer. Approaching me, he handed one over, the condensation on the bottle leaving a refreshing coolness on my palm.

Glancing at Ember, whose expression was sullen, he motioned towards her glass. "How many of those have you had tonight?"

The sound of Ember emptying the last drops from her glass reverberated in the room as she stood and walked towards the cabinet, where a bottle of wine awaited her. Pouring more into her glass, she responded defiantly, "I’m not drunk, Ethan. If that’s what you’re getting at."

Ethan sighed, shaking his head in resignation. "I'm going for a swim."

"I'll join you," Ember exclaimed, her grip on the wineglass tightening as if afraid it would slip from her hand. Looking at me, she pouted slightly. "Too bad Nicole doesn't have a suit to join us." Her expression betrayed her words were not sincere.

Ethan rolled his eyes, then snapped, "You can't be serious? I know somewhere in that huge-ass closet, you have a suit she can use."

Ember's face twisted with displeasure at the suggestion. "Oh my goodness, of course, how thoughtless of me," she muttered before casting a hateful glance my way. "I think I might have something she can wear. I'll have to dig though as I am smaller than she is," she replied snidely.

Ethan let out an exasperated breath. "Just get a damn suit, Ember. I'm sure it'll be fine," he growled.

Huffing, Ember turned on her heel and stomped out of the room. As soon as she disappeared through the doorway, Ethan hurried towards me, pulling me close against him. The warmth of his body enveloped me as he whispered, "You could always go without one, you know? She wouldn't like it, but I sure as hell would." He playfully teased before leaning in and claiming my lips in a quick, yet passionate kiss. A low groan escaped him as he heard Ember's footsteps approaching from the hallway, carrying the suit. He gave me another brief kiss before reluctantly putting distance between us.

As Ember walked back into the room, her piercing gaze fixated on Ethan and me. Finally, she extended her hand towards me, offering the suit. As her eyes darted back to Ethan, she asked, "You coming to change?"

Setting his beer down on the wooden table, Ethan nodded and obediently followed Ember out of the room. The sight of them leaving together ignited a flicker of jealousy within me, sending a ripple of unease through my body. The thought of them alone in their room, their bodies bare, evoked a pang of envy that turned my stomach green. "Ah, crap, this is pure insanity. God help me, I was in so fucking deep I’d never find my way out," I thought, shaking my head in disgust.

Determined to push aside the thoughts, I entered the guest room, contemplating the madness of my actions. Flirting with disaster was all I seemed to do these days. My dad's words echoed in my mind, warning me never to fall in love with a married man. Of course, as usual, I hadn't listened. I

let out a heavy sigh, imagining my father rolling over in his grave, refusing to even acknowledge my existence. Turning y mind away from the thught, I stripped out of my clothes, feeling the cool air brush against my skin. Holding up the bikini, a burst of laughter escaped my lips as I took in its minuscule size. Jesus, it was tiny.

With a nonchalant shrug and a sense of relief that I had groomed my bikini area the night before, I slipped into the snug-fitting bottoms. Another burst of laughter erupted from me as I realized that the front barely covered the strip of my pubic hair. Grinning mischievously at my reflection in the mirror, I slid on the top, gasping at the sight before me. The deep purple suit, loaned to me out of spite, hugged my body in all the right places. My breasts appeared larger and more voluptuous than usual, and the high-waisted bottoms accentuated the curves of my hips and butt, showcasing my athletic build. I couldn't help but revel in the unexpected allure of the swimwear. With a sly smile still lingering on my face, I threw Ethan's shirt over the suit and stepped out of the guest room.

As I entered the kitchen, the sounds of Ember's laughter and splashing reached my ears, indicating that Ethan and she were already out by the pool. Grabbing my beer from the table, I made my way towards them, the warm breeze caressing my skin. Turning the corner of the house, I saw Ember perched on the edge of the pool, the soft glow of the moon reflecting off her peach-colored bikini, which complemented her fair complexion. Ethan floated effortlessly in the water, his body gliding on his back, his gaze fixed upon the starry night sky above him. He seemed disinterested in Ember's idle chatter, his boredom evident in his demeanor.

Glancing up, Ember's piercing gaze locked onto me. I could feel the weight of her scrutiny as her eyes roamed over the fabric of my shirt, a mischievous smirk forming on her lips. Determined to wipe that smirk away, I carefully set my beer down. With a confident stride, I made my way towards her, making sure to captivate both her and Ethan's attention. As I unbuttoned my shirt, a rush of anticipation flooded through me, a secret smile playing at the corners of my mouth. Our eyes locked, and I let the shirt drop, the fabric cascading around my feet. The shock that replaced Ember's smirk was a gratifying sight to behold. Continuing the performance, I turned, bending at the waist to retrieve the discarded shirt. As I straightened, fully aware that my exposed rear was on full display, I sauntered several feet away, adding an exaggerated sway to my hips.

Reaching a nearby lounger, I casually dropped the shirt onto it, before turning back to face them. Ember's gaze burned with fury, while Ethan's features betrayed a mixture of desire and anger. I leisurely made my way to the edge of the pool, and without a moment's hesitation, I dove into the refreshing depths. Breaking the surface, I was greeted by the sound of Ember splashing into the water. She surfaced in front of Ethan and, closing the distance between them, she tried to embrace him. Ethan shrugged off her advances, his voice laced with irritation. "Enough, Ember. Cut the act," he growled.

Her anger intensified as she hissed her response, "Can't you show me even a shred of affection?"

I observed the anger flicker across Ethan's face. "I could if I wanted to, but I don't. I came here to swim, damn it. So drop the theatrics," he muttered, his words echoing what his expression revealed. He pushed past Ember, swimming away with powerful strokes, distancing himself from both of us.

Ember, glaring after him, redirected her attention towards me. Coming to a halt before me, her eyes burned with pure hatred. "Honey, I know he's fucking you because he sure as hell isn't touching me. If you mess up what I have with him, I'll bring him to his knees. Consider this a warning, because I'll make sure everyone knows he cheated on me, and with whom. I'll strip him of his job, his home—everything he holds dear. And that black motorcycle he cherishes so much? Yeah, I'll take that too. So, unless you want that to happen, I suggest you end it—right now!"

As she ranted, my face remained stoic, unyielding, like a marble statue. I could see the anger boiling within her, evident in the way her eyes narrowed and her voice grew sharper. It hung in the air like the acrid scent of burning rubber. Reluctantly, I knew I had to deceive her, to protect Etahn. With a nonchalant shrug, I broke the silence, the words cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But just so you know, I'll fuck whomever I please, whenever I please."