Chapter 6 Sexual Partner

• Fiona
• The arrogance fades from Jack’s eyes as he watches Ethan. Shock completely takes over. No doubt he was thinking of how I’d slept with Ethan. It would come as a surprise to him since it’s out of my character.
• The longer he watches us, the paler Jack’s face becomes until he’s swallowing audibly and stuttering. “This—I must’ve been mistaken. It was a misunderstanding,” he mutters before turning and walking aways with his head down and shoulders slumped in embarrassment.
• A sense of victory fills me as he leaves. That is, until Jessica steps in front of me and shoves her finger in my face.
• “You’re a horrid, selfish bitch of a wife,” Jessica screeches, then shoves my shoulder, making me stumble back. Ethan’s hands catch me by the waist, steadying me. “How could you embarrass your husband in front of everyone like that?”
• “Me?!” I ask.
• “Yes, there’s nothing more pathetic than a woman coming to a formal event barely clothes and flirting with so many men, then blaming her actions on her husband,” she says loudly. The whispers around us grow again.
• I glance back at Ethan just in time to see him nod at the security guards walking our way.
• “I’ve done nothing wrong, Jessica. You and Jack on the other hand have been sneaking around behind my back with your lies and manipulations for long enough,” I say, poking at her like she’d poked at me. I won’t take this any longer.
• “Just you wait,” Jessica seethes.
• Guards come up on either side of her, seize her by the arms, and drag her away. She fights against the men, but they’re a good foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier. When she realizes she can’t get free, Jessica lets out a frustrated screech, and a feeling of triumph surges through me.
• The air in the room calms a bit as people go back to dancing, but I can’t help but notice the jealous eyes of the women around us as Ethan turns me to face him.
• “Thank you for helping me tonight.”
• Smoothly, Ethan pulls me closer, wrapping an arm around my waist and asking, “How are you going to thank me?”
• I freeze. The suggestive tone in Ethan’s voice makes me unsure of what he means. This is a man who has everything. Money, women, and power. What do I have that he wants?
• Then, he slides a hand into his pocket and pulls out a black and gold key card. He raises a brow as he takes one of my hands and carefully places the card in my palm. His touch is light yet suggestive as his fingers sensually brush across my skin.
• Slowly, Ethan snakes his arms around my waist, slowly leans in, and presses a kiss to my neck.
• “Come find me later,” Ethan murmurs, sending a shiver through me. I watch, confused and clutching the keycard as he walks away.
• I look down at the small, plastic card and realize it’s a room key for the most luxurious suite in the building. As much as my body yearns for him, I feel uneasy at Ethan’s order to come to his room.
• Last time, I’d wanted to go with him. I needed to be with him, and while sleeping with him last time felt amazing, this time, it feels wrong. It doesn’t feel fully consensual. I feel like this is a demand, a transaction involving my body.
• Would it be so bad to sleep with him again? Part of me wants to, yet another part of me wants to stay away.
• I hesitate, but then think of Jack and Jessica getting my mother’s money. Ethan can help me if I give him what he wants.
• Taking a deep breath, I turn toward the suites and make my way to the room. The hallways are quiet except for the occasional couple stumbling into rooms as I walk past them. I can’t help but imagine if that’ll be me and Ethan in a few minutes.
• Soon, I’m standing before the suite and pulling the keycard out. Before I can stop myself, I swipe the card and enter the room. Nerves eat at me as I walk through the entrance, wondering if we’ll be sleeping together immediately.
• He had seemed insistent when he gave me the key.
• “Make sure the papers get to Rikers tonight. He doesn’t get any more time to fuck things up,” Ethan says into his phone as he types on a laptop. “And get that background check to me by the time the sun rises.”
• I stand in the doorway for a moment, just watching him work. I didn’t expect him to be working when I walked in and seeing him so deeply focused while issuing orders is impressive. It’s clear that his company’s success is more important to him than some romantic entanglement.
• “Did you reschedule the meeting with Danvers? Good… Also, the secretary outside my office- make sure she knows her place,” he continues talking with whoever is on the other end.
• I don’t want to interrupt, so I walk over to the chair on the other side of the room and sit in it. Watching him work is interesting. I find another side of him to accompany the gentle lover and the icy CEO I’ve already seen. What other sides is he hiding beneath the cold exterior?
• Shifting uncomfortably after a few minutes, I lift my legs, tuck them under my dress, and lay my head on my arm. I wish I had a change of clothes.
• “Collect and deliver the Reeves case, the Holden lawsuit, and the Callum files to me within two days, and this time, make sure they’re in the correct orders,” Ethan says, and I open my eyes.
• When I do, I find his green eyes watching me. I didn’t realize that I closed my eyes until now. How long has he been watching me?
• “No, that’s all tonight,” Ethan says before pulling the phone away from his ear and setting it on the table. My heart kicks into gear as he stands and stalks over to me.
• I can’t move.
• He moves closer, leaning down and brushing his fingers through my hair.
• I can’t breathe.
• “Have I kept you waiting?” He asks, tugging my head gently and lifting my face. Any air in my lungs has fully escaped as he slides his hand from my hair to the back of my neck and tugs.
• I can’t answer him, even as he guides me to my feet.
• He pulls me closer, so close that I have to stand on my toes and hold onto his sides to not fall over. I grip his shirt tightly, not wanting to fall over but also not necessarily wanting to let go.
• My nose brushes Ethan’s, our lips a hair apart as we stare into each other’s eyes. For a brief second, Ethan’s eyes flicker gold, but in a blink, they’re green again. Did I imagine it?
• Ethan smirks and eases a bit of the pressure on the back of my neck but doesn’t fully release me.
• “I…” I let my gaze fall to his lips when I can’t think of anything to say.
• “Be my sexual partner,” he whispers. My eyes jump to his again, wondering if I heard him right.
• “W-what?”
• “Be my sexual partner,” he repeats, just as steady as he did a second ago. “What do you think?”
• What am I supposed to think?
• A billionaire who supposedly never sleeps with the same woman twice just asked me to become a steady partner. What the hell?