Page 106 of Awakening

“I’ve got it covered.” I pull back from Olivia and kiss her, arousing a smile from her, even though her eyes are halfway closed. “Do you need me to carry you?”

“Yes, please,” she says sweetly.

“Okay.” I lean down and she shrieks when I hoist her up and over my shoulder. “Have a good night,” I say to my dad as I smack Olivia on the ass and haul her out of the bar.

Twenty-Seven

Olivia

My head hurts. I don’t want to open my eyes. So much champagne. And wine. And martinis. Oh, the martinis. Why did I do that? It felt like an amazing idea in the moment, as it always does. Finally giving in to the terrible decision to open my eyes, I’m met with a displeased stare from Ethan as he sits on the edge of the chair across from me. He’s leaning forward with his forearms resting on his knees, and his hands clasped in front of him as he studies me. Definitely a bad idea to open my eyes.

He tilts his head with a sly grin. “Hello there, beautiful. How was your nap?”

I groan as I pull myself into an upright position on the couch. I know the sooner I get up and get my blood pumping, the sooner I’ll start to feel better. “Is there any way we can talk about this after I’ve had some water and used the bathroom?”

He shrugs with a tilt of his head as he stands and walks to the kitchen. He comes back carrying a bottle of water. He says nothing, but simply raises his eyebrows as he extends the bottle to me. Narrowing my eyes at him, I take the bottle of water. He sits down across from me again, watching me as if I’m his prey, as I open the bottle and start to drink.

“Are you really going to sit there and just say nothing?” I ask as I put the lid back on the half-empty bottle.

“You asked me to let you drink some water and use the bathroom,” he says with an eerie calm. I know that kind of calm. He’s mad. After everything we’ve been through, I probably chose a really bad day to decide to go out and get super drunk with the girls, though in my defense, it wasn’t something I planned to do. Actually, I’m not sure that helps my case. “I’m waiting,” he says, nodding his head in the direction of the bathroom.

Setting my bottle of water aside, I stand and go to use the bathroom. I try to put myself in his shoes as I look at my reflection in the mirror while washing my hands. He was at a meeting seeking justice for me today. He always makes my safety and protection his top priority. All I did was get a little tipsy with the girls, though…well, a lot tipsy, but we had security annoyingly following us around the entire time. And, he kind of asked for it with his unreasonable wedding planning request. This is kind of his fault, really.

I’m ready to stand my ground, until I open the bathroom door to find Ethan standing in front of me, blocking my path…shirtless. And hot…so fucking hot. I swallow hard as the corner of his mouth lifts in a grin, and he crosses his imposing arms in front of his chest.

“All good now?” he asks.

“Uh huh.”

“Come here.”

Stepping closer, as arousal builds in my core, I know I’m about to experience a round of Ethan’s form of punishment. I also know it’s going to be deliciously glorious, but I still get a case of the nervous butterflies, nonetheless. Without saying anything, he bends down and scoops me up into his arms.

“You’re mad,” I say as he walks us down the hallway and toward the stairs.

“Yes.” He looks straight ahead as he climbs the stairs slowly.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure you are,” he says, still not looking at me, but I catch the slightest hint of a grin.

“I shouldn’t have had so much to drink today.”

He says nothing, but walks us into our bedroom, and places me gently on my feet next to the bed. His steel blue eyes lock onto mine. He studies me for a moment, then shakes his head as he comes toward me, gently taking hold of my upper arms and walking me backwards until I’m against the wall.

He rests his forehead against mine and releases a deep sigh. “Do you know how vulnerable you were today? You put yourself at risk by getting so intoxicated without me there.”

“Ethan,” I say, touching his sculpted shoulders, “it’s not like I was alone. Chloe and Vanessa were there.”

“Also drunk.”

“I’m sorry,” I say as my hands take on a mind of their own and roam his muscular arms.

“I know,” he says. His lips touch mine for a quick and gentle kiss. “But, do you have any idea what it’s like for me to have lost you, then to be at a meeting where I’m doing everything I can to seek justice for you and that loss, to then have you call me from a bar drunk off of your ass? You showed complete carelessness for your own safety.” He kisses me again before kissing a trail down to the mark on my neck, kissing everywhere around it, but never letting his lips touch the mark itself. “Do have any idea how frustrating that is, Olivia?” His eyes meet mine again.

“I know. I promise to be more responsible for my own safety in the future.”

“You see, I want to believe you,” he says as his lips hover over mine, “but I need to know that you understand the level of frustration that I experienced today.” There’s that word again.

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