Page 13 of Tempting My Billionaire Master

Ethan’s eyes finally met mine, his expression icy and devoid of any romantic intent. “This isn’t about sex, Chloe. The bedroom is the most secure and safe room in this hideout. You’ll sleep there, and I’ll take the couch in the hall.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but I couldn’t let my pride get in the way of my escape plan. I had to play along if I wanted to slip past him unnoticed, and it would be easier to do if he slept in the bedroom. Swallowing my irritation, I softened my voice and offered a small smile.

“Alright,” I conceded, trying to sound conciliatory. “But it will be safer if you sleep in the bedroom too.”

His eyes darkened with desire. “Of course, Chloe. I promise I’ll do my best to behave like a gentleman.”

I smiled up at him, tracing a finger along his jaw. “That sounds perfect. Thank you for taking such good care of me. Wait for me in bed, Ethan,” I said flirtatiously as I brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. “I’ll just take a quick shower and join you.”

“I’ll be waiting, Chloe,” he replied with a hint of anticipation in his voice. The thought of him waiting for me, wanting me, sent a thrill through my body. But I couldn’t let myself get carried away—I had to focus on my escape.

As soon as I stepped into the bathroom, I turned on the shower, letting the sound of the water fill the room. Quickly, I grabbed a couple of t-shirts and a sweater, knowing that the woods outside would be cold at night. My heart pounded in my chest as I silently made my way to the hatch, feeling a pang of guilt at what I was about to do.

But there was no turning back now.

With one last glance towards the bedroom where Ethan lay waiting, I opened the hatch and crawled out, leaving behind the warm, inviting sanctuary of the hideout.

The cool night air hit my face as I emerged outside, moonlight bathing the dilapidated cabin in an eerie glow. An owl hooted softly in the distance, leaves rustling around me. I shivered, suddenly aware of how unprepared I was for a trek through the woods at night.

Picking a random direction, I started walking slowly, struggling to see in the darkness.

Any second, Ethan could realize I was gone. I had to put as much distance as possible between us before—

A dark figure loomed before me, arms reaching out to grab me. I screamed, thrashing against the solid chest I collided with, but his strong arms held me in place.

“Chloe, calm down,” a familiar voice rumbled, arms tightening around me. I sagged in relief and annoyance.

It seemed like there was no escape from Ethan Hamilton.

Chapter Five

Chloe

The sound of the door closing gently stirred me from my slumber. My senses were immediately awakened by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delicious baked goods. I blinked open my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them, and saw a tray set beside me on the bed. It held a simple but scrumptious-looking breakfast—warm pancakes with butter and fruit preserve, a bowl of mixed berries, and a steaming cup of coffee in an elegant porcelain mug.

I couldn’t believe that Ethan had brought me breakfast in bed. This was the first time anyone had ever done this for me in my entire life. The thought of a powerful, handsome man like him—fifteen years my senior—going out of his way to make me feel special should have been exciting. But instead, I felt a surge of annoyance.

I knew I had broken Ethan’s trust by trying to escape, and deep down, I felt guilty about it. But instead of chastising or blaming me, he had calmly brought me back, tucked me into his large, comfortable bed, and slept on the couch in the hall. Now breakfast. I felt like an unruly child being coddled.

I sat up and dug into the pancakes, relishing the burst of sweetness on my tongue. The coffee was perfect, just the way I liked it. Damn him.

After I finished, I rummaged through his dresser for something to wear, settling on a pair of shorts and a soft t-shirt. Everything else would swallow me whole.

In the pantry, I checked the washer and found my clothes nearly dry.

My gaze fell upon Ethan’s crumpled shirt from yesterday, discarded on the floor, the fabric still holding his scent. Closing my eyes, I breathed it in, heat pooling low in my belly as I remembered the intense, passionate moments we had shared in the bathtub.

Acting on impulse, I slipped off the t-shirt and put on his shirt. The hem brushed my thighs, the sleeves falling over my hands. I rolled them up and inhaled again, arousal simmering under my skin.

Steeling myself, I walked into the hall where Ethan was seated in a plush armchair, deeply engrossed in a book. He glanced up as I entered, gaze flickering over me in my borrowed shirt, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, his voice smooth and devoid of any hint of anger or irritation.

His calmness irked me. Shouldn’t he be furious that I’d tried to escape? I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t mad at me. It felt wrong, like he should be chastising me, but here he was acting as if nothing had happened.

“Is that really all you have to say to me?” I demanded.

He didn’t rise to my bait, instead raising an eyebrow before gesturing to a stack of books on the side table next to him. “I thought you might be interested in passing the time by reading and I took the liberty of choosing some books I thought you might find interesting.” As I drew closer, I saw that they were serious science and philosophy books, including Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. Exactly the kind of heavy reading I’d expect from Ethan. “We can discuss them once you’ve finished,” he added, his voice still infuriatingly calm.

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