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My heart ached, and I took a deep breath to try and soothe the stress there. I’d made my thirty-day rule as a way to protect myself from ever getting in too deep again, but I couldn’t lie to myself. Ethan wasn’t my ex. He wasn’t like any of the other casual relationships I’d had since. He was warm and kind and perceptive. He was funny and passionate and yes, he had his own trauma he was dealing with—trauma I was assigned to help him deal with. God, I was crossing so many damn lines with this man, personal and professional.
I shoved the thoughts down, focusing on the ballroom he guided me into. It was similar to the events we’d went to before, only this one wasn’t just for professional athletes and their team’s owners—this ballroom was packed with all sorts of other social elites, celebrities, charitable organizations, and more. It was just overwhelming enough to distract me from the internal battle currently raging war inside my heart. And my body. If my body had its way, it would ask Ethan to take me back to his place so we could finish exactly what we’d started in the back of the limousine.
A tendril of desire curled down my spine at the thought, at the promise he’d made me.
Later.
I wanted it to be later so badly, but my mind cautioned me on that eagerness.
He’s flying to New York tomorrow for business. You’ll wake up alone.
A pit opened up in my stomach.
He’d keep you up all night until he had to leave for his flight, though.
That was my body talking, and holy hell, did it take over most of my rational thought. I could still feel the slickness between my thighs, coaxed by his fingers with an expert’s touch. His kissed had burned through me, his touch had melted me completely. I could only imagine what having all of him would do to me.
“So, he made you come.” Crossland’s words punched me right out of my fantasies as he approached us, that signature cocky smile shaping his lips.
I sputtered, my eyes flaring wide for a second.
Could he tell? Was it that obvious?
“I didn’t exactly have to drag her here, Cross.” Ethan chuckled softly, smoothing an assuring hand along the small of my back. “She’s shadowing me,” he said, and the breath rushed from my lungs.
“Right,” Crossland said, eying us both. “Well, I’ve already made my annual, standard donation to Doctors Without Borders,” he continued. “Asher too. You better hurry before Weston and Gareth beat you.”
“Good call,” Ethan said, tugging me through the crowded room before stopping at an elegant booth set up that was clearly the main charity organization of the night. Ethan spoke to the host of the booth for a few minutes while I stood silently by, watching him work.
It was incredible to watch. It wasn’t every day I was able to witness a man writing a check for over a million as easily as if he were buying a box of Girl Scout cookies.
“Last one to donate has to throw in a blank chip in our monthly poker game,” Ethan explained as he led me away from the booth after he’d completed his business.
“Ah,” I said, nodding. He’d explained the unique rules regarding his monthly poker game with his inner circle, but it seemed like there were always new ones being added. “I can’t wait until I get to see that someday.”
His eyes met mine, a hopeful smile shaping his features as he looked down at me. “Really?”
I swallowed hard, nerves tangling beneath my skin. “I mean, I wasn’t trying to invite myself.” I cringed. “I just meant it sounds interesting.”
Ethan stepped closer, dragging his knuckles lightly down my cheek. “I’ll take you,” he said. “I’d take you to New York with me tomorrow,” he continued. “If your schedule wasn’t so packed.”
My lips parted open, shock washing over me. “You’re saying if I wasn’t booked solid at the animal shelter this weekend, you’d whisk me away for a fun getaway to NYC just like that?” I snapped my fingers for emphasis.
His grin deepened. “Just like that,” he said, his voice lowered between us. “That’s how it works in my world.”
“Wow,” I said, unable to stop my smile. “Still trying to get me to fall for you?”
“Always,” he said.
And damn him, the joke we had between us was starting to feel less and less like a fun rapport we’d developed. He sounded sincere, and the way he looked at me?
I needed to breathe.
Just breathe.
One step at a time.
I was still here to help him, shadow him, learn what he needed most, and help him find the path to success. That shouldn’t change because of our new agreement, and it shouldn’t change just because he’d had me riding his hand like a lust-starved woman a mere twenty minutes ago.
