Page 51 of Wildest Desire

“For the first few months, Mr. Williams wanted someone to talk to about his wife and their life together. Then, one day, he asked about mine. I only told him things that you already know. There was a weekend that I had to cancel on him because I thought Sam had found me. He hadn’t, but it was enough to scare me. The following weekend, Mr. Williams looked so worried about me. He said there was something different in my voice. We had gotten to the point where our relationship was so much more than just a business deal. I saw him as a very close friend, so I told him about Sam,” I tell him, who's watching me carefully. I don’t know if he's pissed off with me, or what. He’s so hard to read.

“And the word please, why does that word have so much meaning?” I tense up a little as he walks over to me. “I don’t want you to hide from me, Lexi,” he says before placing his hands on my waist. “I want to know everything. I want to know what I can do to make you happy.”

I shake my head because he doesn’t get it. “Ethan, the only reason I haven’t moved and changed my name again, is because of you. You make me happy. I’m here because I’m falling in love with you. I’m scared that Sam will take it all away from me,” I tell him, leaning my head on his chest.

He wraps his arms around me pulling me closer to him. “I don’t need to say I’m falling in love with you, Lexi. The second I kissed you, I knew I was in love with you,” he says, bringing my arms around him. “Talk to me, please.”

“When everyone has gone and your work is finished for the day, I’ll tell you.” I heard Ethan say he loves me, but right now, I have no idea how to take it. It scares me that I’m falling in love with him, and it scares me even more knowing that Sam can use it to hurt me.

“They’ll all be out within the hour.” He kisses my lips softly. “Lexi, I'll never hurt you, and I'll never let anyone else hurt you, that’s a promise,” he says in a whisper. Looking up at him, I smile.

* * *

After more than an hour, everyone has finally gone. Travis and Ethan got a plan together for the London mall they're working on and will start on it when we get back from Washington.

Then there was Selena. I have no idea how much he pays her, but I can say it can’t be nearly enough to deal with how awful he treats her. He's downright mean to her sometimes. He went as far as to tell her to call the police if Edward or Angie even call the office as he has had enough of them.

In the end, Ethan and Mr. Williams agreed to work on the center together. His PA and Selena will get in touch with each other to get this started, and things can move forward. Mr. Williams mentioned a few teachers they’re going to interview. I’m so happy it worked out for them both.

Yes, I was worried Ethan would hate Mr. Williams just because he used to be my client. But, being the businessman he is, Ethan stuck to being a professional. He hasn’t made his millions by letting personal things get in the way of his good business sense.

“Wine?” Ethan hands me a glass. Giving him a smile, I take the glass from him. “So, that took longer than I thought,” he says, sitting down next to me.

Leaning my head on his, I cuddle up next to him. “Ethan, it’s not that I want you to say please to me—that’s not the case. I used to beg Sam to stop doing things to me. I said please so many times, and it got me nowhere with him. Please is just a word I like to use to show respect, or hear to feel like I’m being respected.” Taking a deep breath, I move away from him. “Sam didn’t run right after he killed my dad. I lied about that because I was too scared to tell you the truth,” I say, then drink the rest of my wine in one swallow before walking away from him. “Sam is a sick asshole. After he killed my dad, he raped me. I didn’t beg him to stop because I knew it wouldn’t do any good. I knew he was going to make me pay for leaving him. I begged, said please so many times over the years that it's drilled into my head. I still remember screaming please to him.” Licking my lips, I look at Ethan. “I begged him to shut my dad’s motionless eyes. Even though he was dead, I…” I pause as my words get stuck in my throat. “I needed them closed so that his last images weren’t of me not defending myself and not begging to be released. I already knew he was disappointed in me— that deep down he hated me for being weak. But I couldn’t let him…”

Ethan wraps his arms around me and pulls me in tight. “I don’t think your dad hated you. He wanted to protect you. He wanted you to be safe.”

I pull away from him. “That’s what I mean. Sam is so fucked up that he killed my dad to get me. What the fuck do you think he will do to you? I'm trying so hard not to fall in love with you, so that if Sam does do something, I won’t lose myself like I did after my dad. As much as I try not to, I can’t help but love you,” I say taking a step back from him as he takes one closer to me.

I need him to understand that anything can happen, and I’m scared he will get hurt.

“Lexi,” he says, taking a step closer to me. “Please look at me.” I lift my eyes to his as he tells me, “Nothing will happen to me or to you, and I promise you that nothing is going happen to us.” Ethan’s voice is calm and soothing. We both look down at his phone vibrating on the table. “Lexi, I love you more than I can say. I won’t let you move away, and I won’t let you push me away,” he says, walking closer and closer to me. I know he means every word he says, but that doesn’t mean I’m not scared of what can happen. Ethan sits back on the couch and pulls me to sit on top of him. “You’re stuck with me for a while, yet. I'm not saying right now, and maybe not even in a year’s time, but the next time you change your name, it’ll be to Knight.” He kisses me on the cheek.

I don’t say anything because I'm so far away from thinking about getting married. I mean, I haven’t even thought about it once. But, Lexi Knight does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Chapter 22

Ethan

Unable to sleep at all, I lie in bed and watch Lexi as she sleeps. I’ve spent the entire night just thinking about what she told me. I always knew there were some sick fucks out in the world, but Sam is one very fucked up man. If he even thinks about coming close to her, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself. As I move some of her hair away from her face, she slides in closer to me. After Angie, I didn’t think I would ever want another woman in my bed. That was the case for a while, but the moment I saw Lexi, I knew that was about to change.

I hear my phone ringing, and quickly try to answer it before it wakes Lexi.

“You do know that when I move in, that phone is not allowed to ring before nine. It better be turned off until then,” Lexi says, turning her back to me.

“When?” I ask her, and she just waves her hand at me to answer the phone. “Mother, it’s a little early to be calling.” I look back over at Lexi as he snuggles deeper under the covers.

“I was wondering if we could come over today? Tanya and I want to talk to you about something. Nothing to worry about, we just want to talk to you,” she says, which usually means there is something to worry about.

“What time do you want to come over?” I ask, getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom.

“We can come for breakfast or lunch.”

“Breakfast, I won’t be able to wait until lunch. An hour,” I say. Something is going on, and both of them wanting to talk to me only means they know I’m not going to like what they have to say.

“See you then.”

Putting the phone on the counter, I look back in the bedroom and see Lexi watching me. “Mom and Tanya are coming for breakfast,” I tell her, and she gives me a nod before slowly getting out of bed.

---