Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
“You don’t bring colleagues to your sister’s engagement party. And another thing, I never said I’d be a member of the bridal party. Megan and I haven’t been in touch for years and she can’t expect me to pick up where we left off. These things take time.”
“I guess she was right then.”
She furrowed her brow, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“She thinks you intend on dropping out of her life again. It’s caused her a great deal of distress. There was a time when you two were joined at the hip. She’s suffered these past years without you in her life. Do you intend to keep hurting her because you’re too big a coward to face me? That is, unless you’re not over me.”
Riley jumped to her feet unable to take anymore of his insinuations. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Megan was my best friend and I still care about her very much. I hated staying away from her but I thought it was best. She’s your sister and I didn’t think I should make her choose sides.”
“I wouldn’t have objected to your friendship, Riley, and I won’t now. Do you really still care for her or are you just saying it so you won’t look like the bad guy.”
“Of course I care about Megan. Very much.”
A crooked grin tilted his lips as he slid off the couch to stand in front of her. “Then it’s settled. I’ll tell her the good news. She’ll be very pleased.” Ethan inched closer.
Riley’s mouth fell open. Ethan’s powers of persuasion were just as effective as ever and she realized then she’d have to get him out of her house before he convinced her to agree to the other part of his proposition. She backed away, shaking her head. “Ethan, you need to leave. You’ve gotten what you wanted.”
“Not quite.” He advanced as his hazel gaze held her hypnotized.
She attempted to move away again, but the backs of her legs came up against the loveseat. Before she could process his next move, Ethan hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her against the hard wall of his body.
He still wore the same scent that used to send her senses reeling. She trembled. No! She couldn’t let this happen. Riley pressed her hands against his torso to push him away but Ethan wouldn’t budge.
“What are you so afraid of Riley? Of what I’m going to do to you? Or that you’ll like it.”
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of answering his question. Riley didn’t want him to know how his closeness still affected him. “This is highly inappropriate.”
He smirked. “I know. Doesn’t it feel great?”
“Ethan, this is crazy. We both know nothing is going to happen. We’re divorced.”
“I never signed any papers.”
It stung how casually he could say that. When she’d served him with papers all those years ago, she’d expected some kind of reaction from him but all she’d gotten was his indifference. He neither tried to fight it nor bothered to sign the papers. Riley had been forced to go to court alone and she’d gotten the decree by default. He hadn’t cared and to this day it tore at her insides. “It doesn’t matter if you did or not, Ethan. In the eyes of the law we’re no longer married, so I’d like you to let me go and leave. Dealing with you throughout the course of these wedding functions is one thing but what you’re suggesting is out of the question.”
Ethan seemed unimpressed by her argument, in fact he seem quite amused by the way his grin widened as she spoke.
“This isn’t funny, Ethan. Let go.” Again she pushed at his chest but he was solid like an oak tree.
He nodded. “You’re absolutely right. There’s nothing funny about this. I’m quite serious about the fact I still want you, and you feel the same way but you haven’t given me a valid reason why we shouldn’t take what we want. And don’t give me that weak argument about us not being married anymore. If anything the fact that we were once together is a reason why we should do this.”
Riley snorted. “You are out of your mind. How do you figure that out?”
“Like I said, sex was never one of our problems. Who better than to have sex with than someone who’s familiar with what you like. For instance, I remember how you loved being kissed here.” Before she realized what he was up to, he pressed a kiss at the pulse of her neck.
Riley’s breath caught in her throat.
“And I recall how you used to like when I did this.” He leaned forward until his lips were almost touching her ear. Ethan then caught her earlobe between his teeth and nibbled just enough to sting but still give her pleasure.