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I'm taking anything that threatens Ethan as a personal attack on me now, too.
“What are we gonna do about it?” is what I really mean, asking him again.
Smiling with pride, he pecks my lips. Ordering me not to worry about it. And his huge hands moving over me again make it easier than I thought to forget all about it.
“Sleep,” he murmurs in my ear, noticing how I’m struggling to stay awake just for him, my whole body feeling like it’s had the workout of its life.
All the aches and pains from being on my feet for so many months of work were replaced with a different kind.
The kind of humming ache inside that makes me smile as I snuggle into his barrel chest. His massive arms shield me from the world as my lids get heavier and heavier.
“It’ll all still be here when you wake up, I promise,” he tells me.
And like a master hypnotist, I can’t help but obey his command.
In moments, I’m fast asleep.
Dreaming of a huge house somewhere filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing.
The firm warmth of Ethan’s body and soul is the foundation of our future life together.
I wake with a start, and only because I’m cold. I don’t feel Ethan in the bed beside me anymore.
The heavy drapes have been drawn, but I sense its night time.
That feeling you get after a nap turns into a four-hour coma-sleep.
But the only thing worrying me is the fact that Ethan isn’t here.
Before I even rub the sleep from my eyes, I can feel that he’s not here.
A few hours ago, it would’ve sent me into a mild panic.
But I know he has things to do, and as I sit up in the huge four-poster bed, I notice the piles of boxes and gift bags from our shopping trip lining one of the mirrored walls of the bedroom.
The fire engine red dress I picked out for our ‘dinner date’ is laid out carefully on an easy chair.
Matching shoes I picked, and even a clutch purse I wasn’t sure would match, all laid out for me.
A handwritten note on Casino stationery tucked into the neckline of the dress.
I know it’s from Ethan, and I can’t get myself out of bed and over to it fast enough.
My heart thumps against my ribs as I greedily tear open the envelope.
Reading it as if my life depended on it.
Craving the man already, but feeling and hearing him as if he were reading it to me.
Krissy,
I let you sleep a while and hope you’re awake in time. I picked out the red dress because I know you’ll look amazing in it.
Meet me in the Pearl Room at nine o’clock sharp.
I love you,
Ethan
My heart and mind are in a spin reading his words, and I press his note to my naked chest, suddenly shivering as I realize I’m still naked.
The scent of Ethan’s cologne, mixed with something sweeter, fills my senses, and looking around, almost expecting to see him, I notice a trail of rose petals leading to the huge bathroom adjoining the bedroom.
There’s another note from Ethan and what looks like a forest of red roses on the candlelit vanity unit opposite the giant tub, steaming with water and bath salts.
Still hot enough to soak in and looking as though I might have missed Ethan by only moments.
His second note is underneath a long, plain, blue velvet box which I open after I read his perfect handwriting in a long script.
Thought this would go with your eyes. I’ll put it on you once you’re here.
Pearl Room, 9’ o’clock.
I’ll explain everything later.
E. XXX
My hands tremble as I open the box. And not from cold this time.
I gasp when I pop the lid.
It’s a diamond necklace, with rays of rainbows shooting all over the bathroom as I watch my shaking hands with my jaw feeling like it’s on the floor.
I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
“Your new watch, huh?” I ask him aloud, sniffing back a tear even though I know he’s not here.
But he is here.
Right in my heart, and that’s where I hold the note and then the necklace from inside the box.
Keeping a promise to myself that just how he wants it, it’ll be Ethan putting it around my neck, I can’t help but hold it up and admire it next to my skin.
I’m no jeweler, but this is a serious piece of neckwear.
I should know I’ve seen dollar store diamonds and the real thing on tons of casino guests.
And this is definitely the real thing.
I could tell myself it was only a copy or a piece he borrowed for the night.
I’d usually try to talk myself into stuff whenever something good happens to me.
But I know it’s real. All of this is real.
Ethan is real.
Terrified I’ll get it wet, I carefully put the necklace back in its case and set about doing what I know Ethan would want.
