Masuk"I'll go get an ice pack." She stood up to leave when suddenly—his arms wrapped around her waist, and he rested his head on her shoulder. "I'm at your mercy, Wynn Mayfield," He whispered in her ears, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Her breath caught in her lungs, and she stiffened. He really meant it when he said he'd do as he pleased. But at this rate, she'd die of a heart attack. "What are you saying? That's cheesy." She pouted, then tried to move. Ethan didn't budge. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her body closer against his and sending heat to her cheeks. "E-Ethan—""Not yet. Five—no one minute. Let's stay like this for just one minute."Her lips curled in a smile and she tapped his arm."Ethan."He hesitated, but pulled away. She faced him, her smile stretching at the helpless expression on his face. Then, rising onto her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. For a second, he didn't move. Then he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her c
His arm was raised like he was about to knock. It took her a moment to recognise his build and hair—especially his cologne. "Ethan?""Hey." Was all he said. "I was just coming to see you..."She couldn't see his eyes, but she could tell he examined her from head to toe. "In that?"She glared. "And what about you? What's with the getup?""I'm just feeling a little under the weather." He coughed. Wynn narrowed her eyes. She didn't know what he was selling, but she wasn't buying it. She crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. "Really? You don't look sick.""That's because it's just a cough for now. I don't want to give you a cold." He coughed again. "So why did you have shades on? Pink eye?"He tensed up. Her brows shot up. He didn't think of an excuse for that one it seems. "I just came to check up on you and inform you that your name's been cleared. Vane has been exposed and everyone knows he was lying." *He changed the subject.* She mused. "I saw." She started.
Heat prickled behind her eyes as she stared at him. She never thought that words could be so sweet. She had always ended up on the bitter side. But Ethan's words tasted like vanilla, and his voice was simply the cherry on top. How? How could he pull her in deeper and deeper with every passing day? Thump. Thump. Thump. In the silence—with nothing heard but the hum of the engine and air-conditioner—her heart drummed against her ears. Loud. Desperate to burst free. He reached up, his fingers curling over hers to anchor her palm against his cheek. His eyes never left hers as he tilted his head, his lips grazing the soft skin of her palm. The touch of his lips sent a jolt of electricity through her, igniting a heat within her that spread like wildfire. "Let's head in so you can get some rest."His voice came out raspy, breaking through the silence and the fog in her mind. He gently put down her hand like it was a porcelain vase and stepped out of the car. Her eyes followed him as
Wynn didn't think. She turned on her heels and ran for the hotel. She needed to get to a place where there were people. The heavy stomps of Vane's feet echoed from behind her, each step in perfect rhythm to the pounding of her heart. She couldn't breathe. The breath in her lungs burned like fire, storing up in her throat like coal too hot to swallow. Up ahead, she could hear chatters and see the bright lights from the hotel. She was close. Just a bit more. Her hope was short-lived, because in that moment, Vane's large and rough hands grabbed a hold of hers, pulling her back with a sharp painful force. She let out a scream. It was a reflex. She didn't mean to, but she knew she had to. She ignored the sharp pain shooting up from her butt to her back and let out another scream. LOUDER. The breath leaving her lungs felt like fire. She couldn't think. All that ran through her mind were memories of that day. The same hands that covered her mouth and shunned her pleas, shunned her s
Wynn gawked at her reflection in the mirror. Who exactly was the girl who gawked back at her? What in the world happened five minutes ago? **"You don't mind, do you?"**No sooner did the words leave Ethan's mouth did she jump to her feet with the silly excuse of relieving herself. What exactly was she thinking? What was she, twelve? Acting like a child with a huge crush wasn't like her. But with Ethan, she was different. Was that good or bad? She couldn't tell. However, the feeling of butterflies in her stomach, the warmth of his touch and the excitement of spending even a second with him, she didn't mind it at all. And now, he threatened to be bolder with his actions. His actions...She replayed his little tease in the living room and shuddered. Not a shudder of disgust, but one from an overwhelm of anticipation. Was she allowed to be this excited about something that hadn't even happened yet? She sucked in a breath, steadying herself. "You're Wynn Mayfield. The romance wido
"One day, I saw him crying on the couch. He was drunk. He mentioned that he may never find her. He desperately needed to."Wynn's brows furrowed. "....why?""To apologise and tell her how he felt. He told me he owed her a lot and if he never got to meet her again, then he'd never be able to move on. She was his first love."The pieces to a puzzle she had no idea she was building started to fit. **"When I found out that you worked at Shelterline, my original plan to move far away and live my own life instantly changed. I knew that I had- no- I *needed* to see you."** She recalled Ethan's words from the restaurant. From his sudden and infuriating confession. The day their relationship set out to change. She rarely looked back on those memories, because to her, they were similar to their highschool days; Ethan stringing her along and using her as he pleased. But....he was serious? He was being honest? If it was all true, then Ethan had been searching for her all these years.That
Wynn got off work with a pounding ache in her head. Nine hours felt like a millennia.She trudged to the elevator, the ringing in her ears more concerning than the eyes that followed her.With a deep sigh, she pushed the button and waited for the doors to open. Was Ethan done with work? Did he lea
Wynn shoved a spoon full of her vanilla and strawberry flavored ice cream into her mouth, and she melted. The creamy flavors burst like fireworks, caressing her taste buds. Thirty minutes in a rage room and an Ice cream treat. Apparently, that was Ethan's version of therapy. She loved it. A low
Vane glanced at her, his stare louder than the chuckle that tore through the silence in the room. If there was one thing he hated, it was feeling small. She knew that all too well. His jaw tightened, and he slammed his fist on the table. He whipped his head in Ethan's direction—shot up from his se
Her heart dropped ten feet. "Did you sleep well?" His voice was hoarse. She shot up on her feet. "Sorry. I tripped.""I figured," He said. He tilted his head to the side, a series of sharp, rhythmic cracks echoing in the room."You should've headed back to your place and slept well.""I could've.







