Perfectly Toxic (The Sterling Shore Series Book 9) (11 page)

Chapter 22

ETHAN

“So you took over your dad’s business after his heart attack, but he’s okay now?”

“He’s okay as long as he doesn’t have any major stress. Trust me, that company was nothing but stress,” I explain, running my hand down her bare back.

Round two was fucking incredible, but it turned out to not be the fuck-a-thon I wanted after she fell asleep on me before round three could start up.

Now it’s four in the morning, and she’s wide awake. Just like me. The only difference is that I never went to sleep. Instead of trying to get that round three in, I’ve been telling her how I went from high school graduate to CEO of Noles Holdings.

“Why do you wake up so early?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “I actually usually wake up even earlier than this. Sorry I crashed so early. That’s the way it goes. I crash early, but wake up a few hours later and can’t go back to sleep.”

“But there’s no reason?” I ask her, as she slides her lips over my chest.

“Don’t laugh, okay?”

I don’t mean to, but a puff of laughter slips out.

“You’re already laughing,” she groans.

“Sorry. That’s just the rebel in me doing what I’m told not to. Go on. Tell me why you can’t sleep.”

She groans, but she finally peers up at me, even though it’s still dark and I can’t fully see her eyes.

“So, it’s been just me and Allie since we were eighteen and she got pregnant. The first house we lived in was not in a good neighborhood. No one ever broke in or anything, but I was constantly worried about it happening and me sleeping through it. I think I’ve just kept that in the back of my head ever since, and I wake up after only a few hours, ready for anything. It sounds stupid, I know. But I can’t help it. Ray Capperton even put in this insanely awesome security system, and I still can’t sleep.”

It’s a little paranoid, but I’m not stupid enough to point that out.

“Back to you,” she says, shifting so that she’s closer to me, which is really distracting. “How does an eighteen-year-old walk in and take over? That’s a little young.”

I laugh humorlessly. “I’m well aware. So was the board. But my dad had been grooming me for the business since I was fourteen. I spent all my summers as his assistant, and I interned in all departments as well. I was working as many hours as him, even though I was only paid for eight. Cash under the table too, since I was too young.”

“Sheesh. I spent my summers waitressing so I could hang out at the movies and stuff.”

I nod, sliding my hand up her leg. “I got to have fun during the school year, but even then I was still having to be tested for things at work, such as new policies and new procedures. He’d call me and email over whatever new company we were about to acquire, so it cut into my social time pretty heavily.”

She frowns, and it creates a weirdly cute wrinkle on her forehead.

“I hate that you didn’t get to be a kid.”

“Who says I can’t be a kid now?” I ask with a shrug. “I did it because I wanted to, because he wanted me to. My dad loves that place, and I gave up some time to help him keep it. Now it’s being run by a father and son team who have the utmost respect for the company. I even still have a say in any major changes they try to make.”

“Sounds pretty perfect,” she tells me, settling in closer.

“It is. My mom is happy I’m finally home, but I haven’t gotten over to their house yet. I’m waiting until I have the first month’s numbers in my hand under new management, otherwise my father will grill me.”

She frowns again. “Can’t he just be happy you’ve done all this?”

“He is. But he’s a little obsessed with that place. Anyway, I don’t want him to stress, so I want to wait until I have the proof the company is in good hands before I show him.”

“It sounds like you have a good relationship with your parents, even if I do think your father should be more concerned about you than a business.”

It’s hard not to smile. Is Bella getting protective over me?

“You’re cute when you care,” I tell her, watching her roll her eyes. It’s her favorite thing to do when she gets uncomfortable or if things get too serious.

“What about you? You tight with your folks?”

She tenses, but slowly relaxes. “My parents… No, not really.”

“Why?” I ask without thinking that I’m probably crossing a line too soon.

But she shrugs as though it isn’t a touchy subject. “My parents were raised old-school, and they’re very religious too. However, they forgot what being Christian means. I was raised to know right from wrong, and my mother was constantly judging people and casting metaphorical stones. That’s why I hate myself for labeling you. She did that. All the time. Probably still does.”

She blows out a harsh breath, and she trails her fingers over my stomach.

“I told Allie I was growing apart from them, which is true. They couldn’t stop judging, and I quite frankly don’t give a damn about what anyone does with their life as long as it’s not hurting them or anyone else. I don’t care about someone’s sexuality, or religion, or even their vices. I choose to judge people based on how they treat me, and that’s the only judging I do.”

“Unless those people have tattoos and a cocky smile?” I pry, trying to make her smile.

She grimaces instead, and I regret the words.

“Yeah. Sorry. I’m a little mixed up at the moment. You would have liked me six years ago.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re naked in my bed because I like you now.”

This time, she does smile. I’m almost positive I haven’t ever had a naked girl in my bed all night, and certainly not just to talk to.

“Anyway, Mom told me I wasn’t the daughter she wanted, and she said Allie was dragging me to hell with her. I told her she’d get to hell before either of us. The conversation ended when she slapped me across the face. My father turned away and said nothing at all. I left and didn’t look back. We’ve spoken over the phone since then, but those conversations were just as bad, so I gave up on reconciliation a few years ago.”

She shakes her head as though she’s clearing it, before continuing.

“Anyway my grandparents had started a savings account for me long before they died. It helped us make ends meet on those tight months. Since then, it’s been Allie and me against the world with Angel as our sidekick. But Allie doesn’t know the whole story about why I shut my parents out.”

For some reason, I want to kick Wren’s ass right now. Partially for getting Allie pregnant and not giving her his last name. And partially for taking Allie away from Bella when she found him again.

Pretty sure this isn’t normal.

“Sounds like me and Rye,” I admit for some stupid reason. I guess I feel like I owe her something since she just shared with me.

“You were there the night Allie came to stitch him up, weren’t you?” she asks, leaning back. “Didn’t he hit you?”

That night was a bitch. “Yeah. But I didn’t care. I only acted like I did so that Brin would stick around. I actually had hoped she’d stay there, but I had her back when it was too much. Rye surprised me with that punch.”

“Do you think he’d ever hit her?”

I burst out laughing, and she raises up, shoving at my chest.

“I’m serious. He’s your best friend, and yet he hit you? It worries me.”

Still laughing, I shake my head. “Yeah, well, no. Don’t worry. Rye would cut his hands off before he’d ever hurt Brin like that. Guys are different than girls. Sometimes we take a few swings at each other, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to attack you.”

“I honestly know nothing about you, and I just spent the night in your bed,” she says randomly, lying back down. “So I guess I don’t know what you’d do if you got pissed.”

Ah, so it’s not so random.

“I’d say a few dickheaded things. Then I’d go to the gym and work myself until the burn left me numb. Or I’d go get drunk off my ass. That’s about it. I’ve never hit a girl before and never will. I’m not that kind of bully. As for not knowing me, this is how you get to know people.”

She laughs while covering her face. “No, dinner is how you get to know someone. Not hot and dirty wall sex that leads to a bedroom conversation.”

“No?” I muse, running my lips over her arm. “You go to dinner, and either there’s stilted, forced small talk and a quick recap of your history—sunny side up. Or you go to dinner, and there’s a lot of oversharing and you realize the person is a nut job. Or you find someone who has the same friends you have, have amazing sexual chemistry with, have epic sex with, and then learn the real stuff about each other. Sounds much better than a phony dinner date.”

Her stomach growls as though it was waiting on the perfect opportunity, and she covers her face as I laugh.

“Okay, so maybe there’s one drawback to not having dinner. Your stomach is seriously loud.”

“Shut up,” she groans, hiding her face again.

“Come on. I’ll drive you to your house. You can change, and I’ll take you out for breakfast.”

“I have my car here,” she says on a sigh.

“But that’s not a real date,” I point out, smirking when she does the eye roll thing again.

“Fine. I need a shower though.”

“How convenient. So do I.”

She jabs her finger into my chest. “Don’t even think about it. I’m too hungry for another round of sex, and my stomach is too embarrassing to withhold food from.”

I laugh as she climbs up, pulling her shirt on. It’s a good view to admire. “You shower here. I’ll shower at my house.”

Somehow, it doesn’t even bother me that this is a little less than casual. Maybe I was wrong about this relationship stuff.

I tug her back down on top of me, and she comes willingly, running her fingers all along my chest. And I can feel every single touch.

“What’s this?” she asks, running her finger over my spider web tattoo.

Tensing, I try to play it off. “Think that one is self-explanatory.”

She rolls her eyes. “No, there’s a large scar the lines are on top of. How can you have a spider web tattoo over a scar?”

“I think I’ve shared enough for one day,” I tell her, still playing things cool. “So unless you have anything to add, I say it’s time to get ready for breakfast.”

“One thing,” she says, getting up again and toying with the ends of her shirt. “Let’s keep this quiet from the group.”

I groan while sitting up, glaring at her.

“Why the hell would we do that?”

She nibbles her lip for a minute, as though she’s choosing her words carefully. I’m trying not to get pissed.

“You know how you hate being labeled?” she finally asks.

“Yeah?”

“Well, so do I. I’m not as close to them as you are, and I don’t want to just suddenly be
Ethan’s girl
. They’re just now starting to call me their friend instead of Allie’s best friend. Allie and I only had each other for so long, and it feels good to have others now. I don’t want to mess that up.”

Ah fuck.

“Fine. But you know they love you already. Hell, they may even like you more than they like me. At least they let you know Ash was going into labor.”

“I just happened to be with them when they got the call. I doubt I would have found out otherwise. Unless Allie called me, of course.”

I sigh hard, but I tug her back onto the bed, brushing my lips over her shoulder.

“This is going to be trouble. I already know it.”

“How could it? We’ll get to be friends in front of them, which will help us get to know each other a little better, since we’re still relatively strangers. And we’ll get to explore the sexual chemistry and epic sex you were talking about when no one else is around. It’s not like you can fuck me on a table in front of them. Besides, sneaking around is always fun. I’m sure you missed out on that when you were a teenager.”

I cock an eyebrow.

“Nice delivery,” I state dryly, watching as she bites back a grin. “Just don’t think you’re still going on your loser dates.”

Her smile slips, and I tense. No way does she think I’m actually going to be such a pussy-whipped ass as to let her go on dates with other guys while she’s fucking me on the side.

“Bella, I mean it, I—”

“We didn’t use condoms,” she interrupts, clearing her throat. “I was under the impression this was going to be a monogamous thing.”

I relax, but she looks tense.

“It is monogamous,” I tell her, watching her relax this time. “So this is a relationship or whatever?”

I sound like a damn kid. But if it’s not a one-night stand, I’m not the type of guy who is able to share.

She stifles a laugh. “This is dating. Sort of. We kind of skipped a few steps. But it’s not a relationship, per se. Which is why I’m not ready to announce it to the group until we see where this is going.”

Women are too confusing, so I decide
not
to figure out what she’s saying at the moment.

“I’ll go grab that shower. Then I’ll run you home. You’re welcome to use one of my other bathrooms since you won’t shower with me.” I wink, making things light again.