AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ethan smirked, his expression changing to that of someone who had something up his sleeve.Was this a joke or something?He walked over to his suit rack and pushed an item aside. I bent my head to the side, wondering how a huge door could be hidden behind some tiny rack. It was then I noticed a black handle jutting out the white walls. Without the rack standing there, it’s obvious that wasn’t a part of the rack.
He pressed the handle, and what I thought was a wall opened up.The fuck!With my mouth agape, I stalked to the opened wall to find that it was a door, but it merged so well with the walls that it was hidden perfectly out of sight.
“This is incredible,” I said, amazed at how he came up with this concept.
I entered the room cautiously, as though something weird was going to jump out of the corner. I didn’t know what I expected, but the room looked exactly like a large, upscale bedroom should, with a fireplace and a couch and chair in a sitting area. It even had a mini kitchenette with a refrigerator and a microwave. He knew how to plan ahead. I looked around for a door leading to a bathroom. Already expecting one, Iwasn’t surprised when I saw it at the far end of the room. The bed was king-sized and set apart in a different section of the room.
I gulped down, realizing that this was the famous one-bed situation I’ve always read about in books and it was happening to me in real life. Well, unlike the books, there was a couch, and his office was also free for either one of us to sleep in.
“It looks just like a studio apartment. How did you think of doing this?” I asked him awestruck, even though I wanted to know if he stayed at his office often.
“Since there are times I work late and I prioritize my comfort in every situation, I decided this was the best resolution when we were building out the floor,” he answered as he walked over to the bedside table.
“And how often do you work late?” I asked, sitting on the couch, rubbing my palms over my arms. Jeez, it’s cold in here, and not even Ethan’s suit jacket could keep me warm. This was partially because of how much this situation sent cold shivers down my spine.
“A lot, and if you must know, I rarely sleep in here.” He chuckled as he turned to me with a bottle of water. “Would you care for one?”
I nodded reaching out as he handed it over. I was careful not to touch him, knowing how disastrous that might turn out for me. I couldn’t afford to feel this heady while we are stuck together. What would he think of me?
“Thank you,” I said, sitting upright.
“It’s cold in here,” Ethan commented and went to the fireplace. I followed him with keen eyes, unable to look away ogling his back and broad shoulders.
I don’t know why I expected him to bend over the fireplace and start a real wood fire, but all Ethan did was flip a switch and instantly the fireplace lit up.
I chuckled, pushing my ignorance aside. Why I would think there was a wood-burning fireplace in a large office building was quite comical. Of course, it was going to be an electrical fireplace.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” He looked at me questioningly. “It’s just my first thought was you were going to light a real fire until I realized where I was.”
He smiled. “Are you hungry? I think I should have some leftover pizza we can microwave.”
“I can do that.” I stood up, feeling pretty useless already. I didn’t want him doing everything, but Ethan had other ideas.
“Hold up!” He held his hand up. “Sit your ass back down.”
And just like every time he had ever taken that tone with me, I found my ass hitting the couch even before I could process his words.How does he do that?
“It’s my fault you’re stuck here, so it’s my job to make you feel right at home.”
“Because I’m James’s little sister?” I asked the words leaving a hole in my heart. I bit my lip, hoping he’d contest my words.
Ethan stopped in his tracks, rolled his sleeves up, and without turning his back, said, “Yes.”
I realized that pursuing my feelings for Ethan was a futile endeavor. Why was I even feeling these emotions in the first place? I despised him! He caused me immense pain in the past and I had never forgiven him. Thus, his thoughts should hold no importance to me.
As Ethan busied himself with the pizza, I took off the jacket, feeling warmer. Watching him from where I was seated, I was unable to resist the allure of his attractive physique—his sexy back and long legs. Was I crazy for wanting to kiss him all over and having those legs of his part mine? I could feel a tightening sensation in my abdomen, and waves of tingles cascaded downto my very core. Suppressing a moan, I hastily pressed my legs together.
I needed to slow down my breathing. Twisting the top of the water bottle, I drank the water quite hurriedly causing me to spurt the water out almost immediately, choking and coughing.
“Olivia,” I heard Ethan’s voice beside me and felt his hand patting my back gently, which only increased the rate at which my heart was beating. “Are you better now?” Instead of providing him with an answer, I hiccupped. Wonderful! “Olivia?”
If I believed I had previously embarrassed myself in front of him, then that was a mere joke compared to the intense heat that engulfed my neck and face as I turned to face Ethan. In that moment, I felt myself captivated by his mesmerizing sea-green eyes while his skilled hand performed magical wonders on my back.
“I must have gulped down the water a little too quickly,” I confessed, gently shrugging off his hand. “Thank you.” I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the mounting tension becoming harder to manage. The microwave chimed. “The pizza’s ready.”
Ethan stood up and headed for the microwave. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, frustrated with the mess I kept making.
