Page 35 of Chasing Hope

‘You’re getting very creative with your lingo these days. Hope’s influence rubbing off on you?’ Maddened with irritation, Ethan exhaled.

‘You're living proof that God has a sense of humour.’

‘You’re a fucking dickhead and you need me to keep you in line. Dumbass, this can only end in one of two ways. Either you screw her over or you screw her. Choose wisely.’ With those twisted words of advice the snooty SOB left Ethan glaring at his phone.

Ethan raked his fingers through his hair and pushed himself off the wall. It was now or never. His mind made up, Ethan keyed in the code and shoved open the door.

Destiny played sick jokes.

Ethan stood frozen at the entrance as his eyes caught sight of the most glorious vision.

‘Fuck me.’ Ethan’s pulse rocketed. Golden sunlight cascaded along her skin and her face glowed with the fire of ambition. The need to touch her vaulted through his entire being, turning his brain to mush.

Her seducing aura lured him as he drifted towards her. To demonstrate his coolness he cracked some wise-ass joke. Dumbstruck, Hope seemed to have lost the linkage between her brain and her body. Meanwhile, Phoenix unhinged his jaw and dropped the towel at Ethan’s feet as if presenting a precious gift to the Lord Almighty himself. Perhaps the flash of white was what shocked her back to her senses.

‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph,’ Hope screeched and the birds perched on the palms took immediate flight. Crazed, she spun around in circles, giving him the best entertainment show on the planet. Damn. Her body was an object of art. A mere two short strides and he could have all that naked goodness wrapped around him. Before Ethan could act on his thoughts, Hope’s sweet-as-sin boobs disappeared behind a rose shrub. Ethan’s cock threw a fit in his pants at the glimpse of her pert nipples.

Hang in there.Ethan shot a silent command.Trust me, you’ll thank me later.Alert, Ethan pinned his gaze on her, enjoying that she was at a disadvantage. It was not every day one caught Hope all over the shop. Most often, she called the shots. For a change, Ethan liked to control the purse strings.

‘What you doing here?’ Winded, she grabbed a branch. She screeched as the thorns pierced her palm and sprang back like a cat on hot bricks. Throwing out another round of expletives that would make a sailor blush, Hope sprang across the garden, putting Usain Bolt to shame. She flashed her tush at him and took refuge behind the safety of the tall palms. Ethan and Phoenix had the same amused look on their faces. Their eyes danced in merriment as they tracked her skilled manoeuvres. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Phoenix barked and spun around in circles, imitating Hope’s moves.

‘Answering your question—’

‘Shut up…’ Hope panted. ‘Let me catch my… breath.’ Her palm closed around the leaf and she embraced it like a lifeline.

‘In case you’re wondering, I have seen a naked female before.’ She snarled and Ethan rubbed his stubble in an endeavour to hide his grin. He got down on his haunches and ran his hands along Phoenix’s freshly washed coat. Phoenix licked his face, relieved to finally have him home.

‘Good you’re on time,’ Hope said, from behind the plant.

‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Ethan’s lips lifted to form a mischievous grin. Busy trying to get a handle on the situation, Hope missed the swift wink Ethan threw at Phoenix. Beams of light from the setting sun floated around the garden in peachish hues, making it appear like a scene out of a fantasy novel. Hope, for one, inarguably looked like an enchantress.

‘That is one ill-mannered boy. He has given me one hell of a time today,’ Hope said. The corners of Phoenix’s mouth drooped as he put on a sorry figure. ‘That conniving brat.’ Hope stabbed a finger in his direction. ‘He wasn’t innocent in the least when he traumatised poor Bella.’ At the mention of Bella, Phoenix grinned widely.

‘Bella?’ Ethan asked, a knowing grin playing on his lips.

‘The Shih Tzu we collided with at the beach. And your not-so-innocent boy wanted to hump without her consent.’

Ethan flung his head back and laughter ripped from his chest. He got to his feet. One look at Hope’s blazing eyes made him laugh till his eyes watered. This had to be one of the most insane conversations Ethan had ever had in his life.

‘He is an animal in his prime. What did you expect? Should he have wooed Bella with flowers?’ A plethora of emotions crossed her face. Looking into her eyes was like jumping in a pit of flames. Holy shit, she made his blood boil and his pulse throb.

Hope ground her teeth at them. Frustrated, she let go of the branch and threw her hands up in the air, giving Ethan time to appreciate all that splendid nakedness. ‘Fuck me.’

‘Gladly.’ Ethan said, his voice a rustic rumble. ‘Now that you gave me your consent.’ His gaze entrapped hers as he took his first step in her direction. Knowing his master had bigger fish to fry, Phoenix stealthy slipped out of the balcony.

Frantic, Hope scooted further into the line of potted plants. ‘Don’t be ridiculous Ethan. That’s just something people say when they are high on emotions.’ Ethan popped open one shirt button and then the next as he closed in on her. Backed up against the wall with pots on all sides she had no room to navigate further. His heart cartwheeled as she came into full view. His eyes idled on the crimson rose tattoo nestled between the valley of her breasts before they did a slow burn down the short length of the rest of her body. Hope turned scarlet, but raised her chin, refusing to tuck herself into any other corner. Her hands remained fisted at her sides. One day her fire would burn him to ashes. Hog-tied to her drawing power, Ethan would irrefutably surrender to her will.

‘And what emotions are you riding on, Hope?’ A tremendous yearning to bury himself in her convulsed through his body.

‘Sexual frustration.’

‘Glad we are on the same page.’

In a single breath, Ethan reached out and yanked her to him, claiming her mouth. He smelt his soap on her, instantly missing the smell of her rose-scented skin. His hands trailed down her supple back and tightened on her fanny, lifting her off the ground. Hope moaned and curled her legs securely around his hips. Ethan feasted on her like she was his only source of protein. Her taste exploded in his mouth. Mad with need, his fingers dug into her flesh. Ethan growled as he clamped her lower lip between his teeth. Hope fisted her hands in his hair and rocked her exposed mounds over his hard-on.

‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph.’

‘Holy fucking shit.’

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