Chapter 37
Olivia's POV
The tension from Aiden’s letter lingered like a shadow over me as I found Ethan in his office. His presence calmed me, but I could feel my nerves vibrating beneath the surface. I took a steadying breath and told him about Aiden’s veiled threats and insinuations, recounting each line from memory.
Ethan’s eyes darkened as he read, his jaw tightening with every word. When he finished, he let out a low growl.
“He’s trying to bait you. We both know that’s his game.” He shook his head, a protective edge to his voice.
“If he’s getting desperate enough to send letters, then we’re doing something right.” He paused, thinking. “Maybe we need to show him – and everyone else – that we’re unbothered.”
I raised an eyebrow, unsure what he meant. “What are you suggesting?”
Ethan leaned forward, his eyes meeting mine with a spark of determination. “A getaway. Somewhere quiet, where we’re both in the public eye just enough to counter the rumors without saying a word.”
He gave a half-smile, his voice softening. “And maybe… we get a break from all of this. Just for a night.”
A thrill shot through me, warming my cheeks as I imagined what that might be like. No prying eyes, no Council pressure, just the two of us.
“You think that will really work?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.
“It won’t hurt to try,” he replied. “Besides, it might help us get some clarity on where we stand… without everyone else’s opinions in the way.”
The sincerity in his gaze made my heart skip. We hadn’t talked about the not-bonding since yesterday and the conversation felt unfinished.
I nodded, feeling a cautious hope stir within me. “Alright, let’s do it.”
The view of the mountains was breathtaking against the lake reflecting the setting sun. I was speechless as I took in the cozy cabin scene, its beauty feeling like an oasis from everything we’d left behind.
As Ethan and I settled in, the warm glow of the fire cast flickering shadows across the room. I felt myself relaxing, the atmosphere weaving an intimacy I hadn’t expected.
I glanced at Ethan pouring two glasses of wine, and suddenly, I was hyper-aware of his every movement. The relaxed set of his shoulders, the cording of his forearm as he set the bottle down.
This was dangerous territory for my heart. But my body didn’t get the message, and I flushed with heat from more than the fireplace.
Ethan was close enough that I could feel the energy between us crackling like the fire. I chanced a look at him, finding his gaze already on me, intense and unguarded.
“Ethan –”
“Olivia –”
We spoke at the same time, and I let out an awkward laugh.
“You first,” he insisted.
I swallowed thickly and Mia’s words rang in my mind: You’re not just anyone…he’d be a fool not to want more with you.
“I want to give us a chance, Ethan. I know we’re not… Fated Mates, but I want to at least see what we could have if we moved past seeing each other as allies and tried seeing each other as Mates.”
“Liv…” he started, his voice barely above a whisper. It was the first time he’d called me that and it did something to my insides.
Ethan’s hand brushed mine, his touch lingering. The air between us felt charged, his closeness igniting a yearning I couldn’t ignore.
It felt like now or never. I lifted his hand and placed a gentle kiss to the inside of his wrist, flicking my tongue over his pulse point.
My eyes lifted to his, our gazes locking together. His reaction was instant; a low growl rumbled from his chest and vibrated straight between my legs.
Faster than lightning, Ethan pulled me into his lap and smashed his mouth against mine. Our tongues fought for control, and I lost myself in the feel of his hardening length against my core.
He tasted like wine, and I suddenly needed to know what the rest of him tasted like.
Tearing my lips away just long enough to tug the shirt over Ethan’s head, I bent down and pressed a row of kisses down his neck, lowering myself between his legs.
“Olivia…” Ethan’s voice came out raspy and deep, and his white-knuckled grip on the couch betrayed how close he was to losing control.
I wanted to be the reason he lost control. The reality of our situation and the what ifs could wait for tomorrow; right now, I wanted this man like I needed to breathe.
Slowly I dragged my nails down Ethan’s stomach, his muscles clenching, and tugged his jeans and boxers off.
The sight of him, this powerful male bared thick and long before me, had my mouth watering in anticipation. I clenched my thighs together with need, but that could wait. Tasting Ethan’s cock couldn’t.
Mine. My wolf’s thought tore through my body and for a brief moment, she and I were in synch on that.
I wasted no time on foreplay and gripped Ethan’s shaft at the base. Wrapping my lips around the head, I sucked hard.
“Fuck!” Ethan shouted and thrust his hips up into mouth.
A shiver of pleasure ran down my spine and the small crack in Ethan’s armor. I felt my panties soak with my arousal and my heart thumped with satisfaction in the way he responded to this chemistry between us.
“Mmmm…” I hummed deep in my throat and began to swirl my tongue and move my fist, licking and pumping Ethan closer to release.
A feral, guttural, sound filled the room and in one swift move Ethan tore me away and pulled me back into his lap. My clothing was left shredded on the floor.
Ethan took control with one hand gripping my ass and the other in my hair. His cock slid through my slick folds, driving me towards the edge fast.
Grinding my pussy against him, I was desperate to have Ethan inside me, filling me. “Please.” I begged, not caring how needy I sounded.
His hold tightened and I felt his teeth scrape down my neck and shoulder.
Suddenly, he flipped us around, laying me gently on the couch, and tore himself away.
Ethan’s chest rose rapidly with his panting, his eyes glowed gold with lust and possession. And his cock stood at attention, glistening with the evidence of my need.
“I… I can’t,” he rasped, as if it physically hurt to say the words.
His eyes raked down my body, naked and wanting before he shook his head as if to clear it. Ethan stumbled back a few steps.
And out the back door.
Ethan's POV
Olivia’s scent clung to me as I shifted and took off into the woods. My wolf surged forward, welcoming the release, pushing me to run faster, harder – anything to escape the chaos inside me.
I’d left Olivia there, the desire in her eyes making everything inside me howl for more.
But claiming her fully… I didn’t think that was something I could do. The idea made my chest tighten.
My wolf had no such hesitation; he wanted her, wanted to mark her, make her ours.
But there was something else pulling me back. Fear, maybe, or the memory of what happened the last time I’d let myself bond with someone so deeply.
My Fated Mate’s rejection still haunted me, that wound freshly salted beneath years of anger and betrayal.
My wolf snarled, urging me to stop running from what we both knew was inevitable. He didn’t care about politics or deals. He cared about Olivia.
For the first time in years, I felt alive again. And, for once, I wanted to let her in.
But the risks loomed, my doubts whispering that it would all end as quickly as it had begun.
