Page 8 of Tempting My Billionaire Master

“I look like a mess,” he joked, catching me staring. “But don’t worry, Chloe, we’ll be completely safe here.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked softly, reaching up to touch his cheek. My fingers came away stained with dried blood, and I frowned worriedly. “We should get you cleaned up. Properly bandaged.”

Ethan’s lips curled into a wry smile. “I’ll survive,” he said, his arm tightening around my shoulders. “Right now, you’re my top priority.”

His words unleashed a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. I averted my gaze, hoping he couldn’t see the blush staining my cheeks.

We trudged through the forest for what seemed like hours, but finally arrived at a small, overgrown house that seemed to have been abandoned for years. Vines and moss covered the exterior, while the windows were boarded up and the paint was peeling.

“Here we are,” Ethan announced proudly, as if he’d just presented me with a five-star resort. “Welcome to our safe haven.”

“Are you serious?” I asked incredulously, staring at the dilapidated structure in front of us. “This place looks like it’s falling apart.”

“Appearances can be deceiving, Chloe,” Ethan replied with a knowing smile. He led me inside, where the interior was no better than the exterior. We walked through the creaking front door into a room covered in dust and cobwebs.

Ethan knelt down and removed a seemingly random floorboard, revealing an electronic keypad underneath. He punched in a series of numbers, and to my astonishment, a hatch opened beneath a rotten table. “Ladies first,” he said, pushing the table to the side and gesturing towards the darkness below.

Despite the fear (and hunger) churning in my stomach, I trusted Ethan and descended the ladder into the gloom. As soon as my feet touched solid ground, I heard his command from above, “Lights on.” I blinked as the room was suddenly flooded with light, leaving me breathless.

The underground hideout was a stark contrast to the rundown house above. It was a large, luxurious space adorned with classic works of art and opulent furniture. Plush velvet sofas and armchairs were arranged around a magnificent fireplace, while a grand piano occupied one corner of the room. Beautifully carved wooden bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound volumes. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow throughout the space. It was like something out of a movie, an enormous difference to his mansion we escaped earlier.

“Wow,” I breathed, unable to believe my eyes.

“Welcome to my private hideaway,” Ethan said, pride evident in his tone as he joined me. “No one else in the world knows about this place, only the two of us. We have three thousand square feet of space with electricity, climate control, running water, and a state-of-the-art security system. There are enough supplies in here to last us a hundred years.”

“Really?” I asked, my eyes wide with amazement.

“Really,” he confirmed. “We have a mini-gym, a small spa, a private cinema, and only one bedroom… but we’ll figure something out. We’re completely safe here.”

My heart stuttered at the implication in his words. Heat flooded my cheeks as I stared up at Ethan, wondering what exactly I had gotten myself into. But his bloodied visage looked out of place in this pristine opulence and it reminded me of more pressing matters.

“We need to clean and bandage your wounds,” I said. “Come on, let’s get you fixed up.”

“Alright,” Ethan said, finally giving in, a smile tugging at his lips. “As my lady commands. The mini-spa is this way.” My cheeks heated at the term, but I hid it with an eye roll.

He led me through a set of ornate double doors into a lavish spa room, complete with a hot tub and a variety of pampering amenities.

As I began collecting hot water to clean his wounds, Ethan rummaged through a cupboard and found a small medkit.

“Here,” he said, handing it to me. “Let’s get started.”

“Okay, first let’s take off your clothes,” I suggested, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for the edge of his bloodied suit jacket. The fabric was warm and damp from his body heat, and my heart went into overdrive as I helped him remove it, our bodies coming closer together than ever before.

I couldn’t help but be aware of his strong, muscular form beneath the bloodstained shirt. It was hard to keep my mind focused on treating his wounds when all I wanted to do was run my fingers over every inch of him.

“Your turn,” Ethan whispered, his voice low and seductive as he gazed into my eyes. His hands moved to the buttons of my blouse and I had to playfully slap his hands.

“Stop fooling around and help me with the shirt,” I said, slowly undoing buttons one by one. With each button that came undone, more of his chiseled torso was revealed, making my mouth go dry.

Ethan’s body was a masterpiece, sculpted to perfection. His abs were well-defined, leading down to a tantalizing V-line that disappeared beneath the waistband of his trousers. His chest was broad and powerful, adorned with just the right amount of dark hair.

I licked my lips, forcing myself to focus.

“Like what you see?” he teased, smirking at my obvious appreciation of his physique. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but I couldn’t look away.

“Maybe a little,” I admitted, trying to regain my composure. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.”

I dabbed a sponge into the hot water and gently began washing away the dried blood from his cuts. Despite my best efforts to remain professional, my fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, lingering on the contours of his muscles and exploring the texture of his skin. The warmth of his body beneath my fingertips was intoxicating.

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