He pulled out of the hug and wiped my tears away with his thumbs, as he pulled his hand back I noticed that two of his fingers were strapped together and all of his knuckles were red and sore looking. Oh crap he got hurt! I grabbed his hand "Ethan! Shit your hands" I said my voice barely more than a whisper. I can't believe he got hurt, stupid damn boy!
"They're fine Lia, are you ok? I'm sorry, I didn't think about it but your parents could say something to Johnny now, he could find out you know me" he said looking at me apologetically. What the hell is he apologising to me for? Is that some kind of joke? Yeah if Johnny found out it would be hard, but he'd just gone and sorted all of my problems and got himself hurt in the process and he thinks he needs to apologise for it? Jeez he really is crazy!
"What can I do to help your hands? Do you need to go to the hospital or something? Shall I get some ice?" I asked having no idea at all how I could help. Jeez I'm so pathetic I don't even know the basic first aid.
"No they're fine I promise, come in, are you ok?" he asked pulling me into the lounge. I nodded and plopped down onto the sofa next to him. I was still in a state of shock that my parents now believed me. As soon as I hung up the phone from him I'd told Johnny that Becca needed me and rushed out of the house to come here. I barely even had time to process anything I just needed to come and make sure that Ethan was ok in case the police came.
"What happened?" I asked quietly not really needing to ask. Ethan would have beat the crap out of Ben, that much was obvious from his sore hands.
He shrugged, "I told him to stay away" he said uncomfortably.
I laughed humourlessly, "Yeah do much talking tough guy?" I asked teasingly stroking my fingertips over his sore knuckles.
He laughed too, "No actually" he said looking at me as if he was waiting for me to freak out or something and tell him that violence was wrong. Hell there was no way I was saying that to him, I had honestly dreamt of Ethan kicking Ben's ass for years, I was a little sorry I missed it actually.
"You didn't kill him did you?" I asked hopefully, oh shit please say no! I couldn't bear the thought of Ethan being in that much trouble. If he did kill him I would say that I did it, claim self defence or something. I wouldn't let him get sent down for trying to protect me.
"I didn't kill him, I wanted to, I really really wanted to but I didn't" he said quietly his jaw tight his eyes hard. He still wanted to kill him now, the look on his face told me that he'd clearly had a hard time not killing him.
I looked into his eyes "Thank you" I whispered pulling him into a hug. I pressed my face into the side of his neck and sobbed. I don't know what I was crying for the most, the fact that it was finally over now and that Ben wouldn't dare come near me again, the fact that my parents now believed me or just the fact that I was so terrified to let go of Ethan that I actually felt sick.
I needed him and he could get into so much trouble if Ben pressed charges against him. I'd already decided on the way over here that if Ben pressed charges against Ethan that I would go to the police about him. I didn't think they would believe me but just the threat of it might be enough to get him to leave Ethan alone.
I couldn't stop crying, "Thank you Ethan, thank you, thank you" I choked out around my sobs.
He just held me stroking my hair rocking me gently, "Shh you don't need to thank me Lia, I'm here for you, I'll always be here for you" he whispered holding me tighter. He laid us down on the sofa side by side pulling me close just holding me until I calmed down.
When I could breathe again I pulled back slightly to look at his face, he looked so worried and upset. He brushed my hair back behind my ears and smiled sadly, "Ok?" he asked quietly. I nodded, damn I loved him so much, it was killing me not to be with him.
I took his hand looking at his sore fingers, "Are these broken?" I asked willing myself not to cry again.
"Yeah I think so, it's fine though they're ok" he said shaking his head. Jeez he was such a tough guy.
"You break them on Ben's face?" I asked trying not to laugh, I mean it really wasn't funny.
"Yeah, face, ribs maybe a couple of other places" he said shrugging unconcerned.
"Did you hurt him bad?" I asked the selfish part of me wanting him to say yes that he'd made him suffer, but the other part of me praying he would say no that it was just a couple of punches so he wouldn't get into too much trouble.
"Not as bad as I wanted to" he said pulling me to him again.
I rested my head against his shoulder just breathing him in. He always was a hero, it was just his personality to be the protector, the position of bodyguard seemed to be made for Ethan, that was him all over. I kissed the side of his neck and my breath caught in my throat, he smelt so good, he had always smelt the same, perfect, edible and sexy as hell.
I pulled back to look into his eyes they were burning into mine and I knew I needed to leave right now before it was too late. If I didn't get up off of this sofa right now and put some distance between him and me I was going to kiss him and I knew that once I kissed him that would be it. I would never want to stop again. I didn't want to hurt Johnny, I owed him for what he'd done for me over the last four years, he loved me and I shouldn't be here right now. But I couldn't move. I couldn't force even one inch of space between Ethan's body and mine, I needed him.
I inched my head forward stopping when our mouths were millimetres apart, I could feel his breath blowing across my lips. I shouldn't, I needed to think of Johnny, I would hurt him so much. I should go.
Ethan closed the distance and pressed his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and heard him moan in the back of his throat, the sound made me so hot I'm surprised I wasn't on fire. I gripped my hand in the back of his hair not letting him pull away, not that he was trying to.
My heart was trying to break out of my chest as every single feeling I ever had for him came rushing back. I loved him so much, I never stopped loving him and I never would. I felt a tear slide down my face, the kiss was perfect and beautiful. He pressed forward against me making me roll onto my back so he was half on top of me as he traced his tongue along my bottom lip. I opened my mouth needing more, when his tongue touched mine I felt my heart skip a beat. Everything seemed so right when I was with Ethan, I felt like a different person, a better person and not the damaged dirty girl that I'd felt like for the last six years. He kissed me so softly and tenderly that it made my whole body tingle.
He pulled away just as I was getting a little dizzy, he kissed my tears away softly. "I love you Lia" he said quietly his beautiful blue eyes burning into mine.
"I love you too" I said honestly.
He closed his eyes and smiled, "I've dreamt of you saying that to me again every night for the last six years" he whispered as he pressed his lips against mine again.
I wrapped my arms around his neck happiness exploding inside me, but at the same time I was terrified. Terrified that he would leave me again, I couldn't cope with that, not again. I kissed him back hungrily pulling him closer, he kissed me slowly, tenderly, lovingly and it was so sweet it was almost too much to bear.
When he pulled away his eyes were shining with excitement and I knew I couldn't fight it. I needed to be with him, I don't care if he hurt me before, I don't care that he could hurt me again. I would risk everything just for one night of being with him. If he only gave me one night that would be more than enough, if he left me tomorrow I would be grateful for that kiss. That kiss had set my world on fire. It felt like he'd brought me back to life somehow, for so long I felt dead inside and now I knew I was alive.
"Give me another chance Lia please, I'm so sorry I left you before but I promise I'll never leave you again, please give me another chance to make you happy, please" he begged putting his forehead to mine squeezing his eyes shut. I gripped the back of his shirt tightly, I honestly felt like the luckiest girl in the world, Ethan Scott loved me and wanted to be with me, I could barely breathe.
"Please don't hurt me again Ethan" I whispered pleadingly, but i
t didn't matter what his answer was, I was going to give him another chance, there was no way I could not be with him, he was my everything, he always was.
He shook his head, "Never" he said fiercely.
I pulled his face back to mine and kissed him showing him how much I loved him, he kissed me back with the same intensity. He made no other moves to touch me or take things any further and I loved him more for it. He pulled back and took my hand interlacing our fingers just looking into my eyes.
"Will you leave Johnny and move in here with me? Let me make you happy Lia" he asked looking at me hopefully, he looked so nervous, like a little lost boy. He had no idea how much I loved him and how much power he had over me, if he did he wouldn't look at me like he thought I would say no.
"You want me to move in with you?" I asked a little unsure, wasn't that a little fast? I mean not that it was too fast for me but I didn't want him to freak out and feel suffocated by me or something.
He laughed, "Well I only have the one bedroom so you'd have to take the couch" he said teasingly making me laugh and slap his arm lightly. He grinned and kissed my forehead, "All your stuff is already here from your parents house, I guess I could empty you a drawer or two" he said smirking at me.
"A drawer or two, that's not gonna work out tough guy, how about I let you keep a drawer or two?"
I asked raising an eyebrow.
He rolled his eyes, "How about I let you have all the damn drawers and I'll keep my stuff in a box in the corner of the room?" he offered shrugging.
I laughed and pulled him closer to me. "You really want me to move in here with you?" I asked seriously.
He nodded looking at me intently, "Yeah Lia, I want you here more than anything" he answered brushing my hair off of my face gently. My heart sped up at just how adorable he is.
"I'd love to" I said honestly, that sounded like the best damn offer I would ever get in my life.
He crashed his lips back to mine kissing me passionately making my whole body thrum with excitement, I was so turned on I could cry. I don't think Johnny had ever made me feel like this. I trailed my hands down his back gripping his perfect ass as he kissed down my neck biting gently on the skin making me moan lightly.
I pulled him closer to me feeling how aroused he was, I raised my hips and ground against him loving the feel of him against me. He ran his hands down my body as he kissed me so passionately that if I'd been standing it would have knocked me off of my feet. He kissed down my neck again.
Wait, I shouldn't be doing this, not yet.
"Ethan stop" I said breathlessly as his hand snaked under my top, his thumb rubbed across my bra making me gasp and arch my back to press into his hand making him moan lightly. Shit I needed to stop. "Ethan stop, wait not yet please" I said breathlessly again. My whole body was screaming at my mouth to just shut up and enjoy but I couldn't cheat on Johnny.
He pulled away moving his hand out of my top immediately. "Shit sorry, I'm rushing you" he said looking at me apologetically.
I shook my head, "It's not that, I just don't want to do this now, I'm still engaged to Johnny, I can't do that to him, I won't cheat on him" I said shaking my head.
He looked at me hurt, "I thought you said you were leaving him" he said sadly.
Crap that came out wrong! I cupped his face in my hands, "I will but I don't want to cheat on him, I'm not that type of person, just let me break it off with him first, please?" I asked looking into his beautiful blue eyes.
He relaxed slightly, "You are going to break up with him though right?" he asked looking unsure of himself.
"Ethan Ryan Scott, I love you, I want to be with you but I need to break it off with Johnny first, I owe him that, I can't cheat on him" I said shaking my head. Wow it was going to be hard breaking it off with Johnny, I knew it would break his heart and would probably break mine a little too.
"Ok, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put pressure on you or anything, I mean I'm more than happy to wait however long you want, you know that right?" he asked looking worried about it.
"I know tough guy, you always were sweet like that" I said smiling at his angels face.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" he asked looking at me hopefully.
"Ethan I can't, I mean Johnny thinks I'm at Becca's I told him she had a family emergency and ran out of the house" I said wincing slightly at the thought of going back to Johnny's and breaking it off with him. I couldn't do it tonight too much had happened, I couldn't cope with anymore, I'd do it tomorrow.
He sighed and nodded putting his head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, shit I didn't want to go. I didn't want to go back to Johnny's bed knowing that I wanted to be with Ethan.
"I could phone him and tell him I'm staying at Becca's" I suggested.
His head snapped up, "Yeah?" he asked grinning, I couldn't help but laugh at how excited he looked. I nodded and he sat up pulling me up too, he kissed me softly. "I'll go make a drink, you hungry or anything?" he asked, he had a huge grin on his face, he honestly looked so happy it made me get butterfly's in my stomach.
"I'm fine, I'll have a drink though" I said wanting a little privacy while I spoke to Johnny, knowing Ethan that's probably why he was making me a drink so I could call him on my own.
He kissed me again, "I love you Lia" he whispered against my lips, I felt my heart skip a beat. They were honestly the sweetest words in the world and I don't think I would ever take them for granted coming out of his mouth, I treasured the sound of each one. He pushed himself off of me and went to the kitchen.
I took a deep breath and called Johnny, wow I felt awful, I hated to lie to him but it was only until tomorrow, I just couldn't do it tonight I didn't have the emotional strength.
He answered almost immediately, "Hey Ali"
"Hi, listen Becca's still upset so I'm just going to sleep here tonight ok? I'll see you tomorrow after college" I said quickly mumbling over my words in a bid to get them out quickly so I could get off of the phone, I was a terrible liar.
"Sure, the boys just came over anyway so we'll be sorting out for the tour anyway" he said casually.
Yeah sorting out for the tour was Johnny's way of telling me he was going to get wasted and high and maybe mention their tour a bit.
"Ok well I better go, see you tomorrow ok" I said snapping my phone shut quickly. I felt like such a bitch for doing this to him. I wasn't the type of person to hurt someone like this, especially not Johnny. I burst out crying again. Damn I'm an emotional wreck, I just couldn't control myself, one minute I'm the happiest I've ever been and the next minute I can't stop sobbing.
I felt Ethan sit down next to me again, he wrapped his arms around me tightly. I moved and sat on his lap pulling my knees up to my chest and curling into him. He just held me tightly. When I finally managed to get my emotions under control I pulled back to look at him, he looked so sad.
"I'm sorry, jeez all I'm doing is crying all over you" I said shaking my head at myself, I had cried so much over the last two days it was just ridiculous.
"It's ok Lia, you don't have to worry about crying in front of me" he said softly.
"Thank you Ethan" I said gratefully, meaning not just for letting me cry but for doing what he did to Ben. For believing me. For making my parents see the truth and most importantly for making me feel safe. I could barely even remember what it felt like to be safe, he was the only one that made me feel like this.
"No, thank you" he said cupping my face in his broken hands. What the hell does he have to thank me for?
"What for?" I asked brushing his hair off of his forehead gently.
"For giving me another chance when I don't deserve it" he whispered. I kissed him fiercely, he pulled me closer to him. Jeez his kissing was out of this world, he honestly set my body on fire. I pulled back even though it felt like it would kill me to do it. If I carried on kissing him I wouldn't be able to stop and I needed to break it off with Johnny first.
"Can we go to bed?" I asked
quietly. He nodded and unwrapped his arms from me so I could stand up. I held his hand gently being careful not to hurt his fingers as I followed him to his bedroom.
"You want a t-shirt or something to sleep in?" he asked. I nodded and gripped the bottom of the t-shirt he was wearing pulling it off over his head, I couldn't keep my eyes off of his body, he really was perfection, he was making my mouth water.
He took hold of the bottom of my top pulling it off over my head slowly, trailing his fingers up my body as he did it making me shiver. He hooked his thumbs in the side of the leggings I was wearing and pulled them down slowly running his hands down my legs bending down to take my feet out.
He stood back up, his eyes never left mine as he unclasped my bra sliding it off. I was so turned on I could barely breathe. I swear this was the most erotic thing that had ever happened to me.
Everywhere his fingers touched felt like he burnt me slightly, leaving a warm trail across my skin.
He took his t-shirt and pulled it over my head, I pushed my arms through the holes and he pulled it down.
He bent his head and kissed my lips lightly, just for a second, when he pulled away he smiled his beautiful smile at me making my heart race. "I love you Lia" he whispered. I nodded, I couldn't speak it felt like he had literally turned my brain to mush, I could still feel the goosebumps on my skin from his light touch.
He unbuttoned his jeans and slipped them off throwing them on the floor before pulling me over to the bed. He climbed in first and I slipped in next to him pressing my body to his loving the feel of him against me. "Go to sleep" he whispered kissing my forehead gently wrapping his arms around me tightly.