Your Little Secret (13 page)

“I love it,” she whispered, her fingers racing over the engraving on the silver front and she pulled it out to open it up. When she did, she found her favourite photo of her and Ethan. The one moment in her life that she could reflect upon and find herself smiling like an absolute fool, it was the day he surprised her with a trip to Paris which ended up a trip to Disneyland.

Again, she sat smiling away to herself.

“Is that smile a good thing?” he pressed gently at her.

With watery eyes, she looked at him and nodded. “It’s amazing,
Ethie. I can’t believe you did this for me, all of this!” she exclaimed happily, trying to prevent herself from letting a single tear fall.

“Oh god!
No tears!” he teased her and jumped up. “I gave you that present because it’s important to us. That locket will remind you to remember that good times are always going to be just around the corner.”

Amber didn’t say anything, just smiled meekly with agreement. She watched him turn around, and then she heard the ongoing click of a lighter. With each new click, her eyes dropped until she found herself staring directly at his butt. The jeans perfectly fitted on it.

“Ready?” he asked over his shoulder and started to turn.

Shaking her head, Amber knew what was going to happen. “Oh no,” she started to say, “You’re
gonna sing!”

“Happy birthday to you!” he started to sing, the twenty-four candles shining brightly.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Ambi! Happy birthday to you!” He put the cake down in front of her and watched her blow her candles out, having to give a second and third puff to make sure they were all out. “Did you make a wish?” he asked her as he quickly turned to grab the plates and knife he had gotten out earlier when he had decorated the kitchen.

“If I told you then it wouldn’t come true!” she gasped at him and quickly glance at the time and then back to him. “You won’t know and I want cake!”

She wouldn’t tell him that her one wish was one of the most important things she had ever asked –
I wish my heart will make the right decision when the time is right.

“One massive bit,” Ethan suddenly dropped a piece of cake in front of her and watched her eyes go up to the clock and back down. He tried to let it go and carried on with the enthusiasm. “Marks and Spencer’s best.”

“Oh!” she said and quickly took an indulgent piece and groaned in pleasure, her eyes closing as the chocolate goodness hit every single one of her taste buds. “Amazing as always,” she said and as her eyes opened she looked to the clock again, only seeing that a minute had barely passed.

“Why are you
clock watching?” he asked her, he had seen her eyes flicking between eating cake and the kitchen clock on the wall.

Amber gave a sad smile. “It doesn’t matter.”

Thinking about Connor the slow ebb of his nonappearance didn’t sting as much as she had thought it might. Hell, she hadn’t had time to think about what lingerie she wanted to wear. She felt out of practice. She didn’t dress to please a man anymore, Ethan didn’t care either way and Amber had lost touch with the majority of her feminine side since hitting a downward spiral. Her head began to ache at the thought of pleasing a man that hadn’t shown up yet.

At the end of the day, Ethan was here, Connor wasn’t. It really didn’t matter.

“He let you down again didn’t he?” Ethan asked, eyes darkened, face solemn.

Amber gulped, shit.

"Not even a text," she muttered breathlessly and held her cracked phone close to her chest. Looking up into Ethan's angry eyes, she could see it radiating off him. "Not even a text, Eth."

Pounding his fist hard against the wooden table Amber jumped slightly and tried to hold back the sob hovering in her chest. "What a dick, Amber, what a fucking -" Growling loudly Ethan stood to his feet and pulled Amber from hers and held her close, and let his arms wrap around her. "I can't see you like this anymore, Amber, I just can't. He can't keep doing this to you, I won't let him."

Holding her tighter than he ever had, Amber just breathed him in. Let him feel this emotion for her, for her pain. He didn't need to comfort her, but the pleasure of him caring was too much for her not to relish in it. The tears were gone, she was just combusting around this strong man's thick arms wrapped around her small body. Opening her eyes she stared into the darkness of his chest and pulled away slightly.

"It's okay Ethan, its fine." Amber whispered and let his fingers trace across her lips.

"Are you sure?" Ethan asked, curious as to why he wanted to bite her mouth.

"I'm fine," Amber replied and Ethan dropped his arms from her. Turning back to the table she picked up the locket from Ethan and held it against her neck.

"Can you fasten this for me please?" His fingers deftly closed the clasp and he let his fingers stroke along the silver chain. Leaning down, he kissed the back of her neck gently and breathed in. "Ethan."

Amber warned but he kept kissing small butterfly light kisses across her shoulders. Moaning at the feel of his lips on her skin, she tilted her head from side to side as he trailed with his mouth. Kissing under her earlobe Amber opened her eye, as sexual want released through her system.

Turning to face him, she pushed him hard up against the fridge. Pinning his hands by his sides, Ethan couldn't hide the smirk from his face.

He leant down slightly to her ear and whispered, "It's always meant to be me and you, Amber, it always was." Pulling back she searched his eyes, and he explored hers.

Leaning up onto her tiptoes she kissed his mouth gently before she released his hands. Letting his mouth work with hers he lifted her, and her legs immediately wrapped around his waist. Each fighting with fingers and mouths, he pushed back the cake from the table and the presents and sat her on the edge. Running his fingers up and down her ribcage, the goose bumps appeared on her skin and he kissed along her collarbone licking form her hairline to her earlobe. Biting it gently, Amber moaned with increasing pleasure and let herself give in to the want and need.

Her hand pushed up his body, curving onto his shoulder, and she forced him into the nearest wall. This was what she needed. She needed to be intoxicated by a love that kept her safe, the love that kept her breathing. She needed Ethan like the air she breathed. Without him, she was slowly suffocating to death.

Feeling his right hand grip just below her ribcage, she found herself pulled even closer to his body. Her mind was doing somersaults as the butterflies were more than a little freed. The liberation she felt here was the perfect present she could have asked for today.

"Where's my birthday girl?" Lucy’s shrill voice suddenly rang through the house, the front door hitting the wall behind it.

Amber withdrew quickly, wiping her lips, hers eyes looking at Ethan apologetically. Maybe their chance can never fully happened because they weren't destined to be together.

“Birthday tradition,” he commented and shrugged as his hand came up to her jaw line, his thumb running over her plump lips. He gave her a genuine smile and took his hand away, turned to grab their plates and went over to the sink as Lucy bounded in with presents and yet more balloons.

Amber ran her hand up and rang her neck, feeling like fate’s reject and she tried to press through a happier exterior. After all, it was her birthday. She looked up as Lucy appeared before her, bright perfect smile beaming at her.

“You two are a little quiet,” she spoke suspiciously and looked at both of them. “What’s the deal?”

“Too much cake,” Amber lied and saw that not much of the cake was missing. “Now what goodies do you have?”

Lucy winked and set them down onto the table, she turned to Amber, “They’re for tonight.
If you catch my drift.” Watching Amber’s face fall, Lucy frowned, “What have I missed?” she asked and didn’t need an answer to groan out in frustration. “That man is stupid.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Ethan muttered as he stood drying his hands out, his body against the worktop. He threw the towel onto the side and crossed his arms. “Now, we need to get out of this place and go have fun.”

“What you thinking?” Amber asked, not sure if she wanted to stick at home in case Connor arrived back, or if she wanted to flee altogether.

"I say we go to York," Lucy exclaimed with excitement. "Pub afternoon by the canal and some mass shopping is in order. I don’t think there is anything better than a beer garden on this
glorious
day off!"

"I don't have the money," Amber said and tried to withhold the bitterness from her tone. "I can always window shop."

Lucy shook her head. “My treat. You did it for me last year. I want to do it this year and I have the perfect idea of what to buy.”

“What?” Amber asked, looking alarmed at Lucy’s tone of voice.

“Go and get dressed,” Ethan stepped in, “I’ll drive, but I need to run home to shower and change.”

“Ooh, I’m picking your outfit!” Lucy jumped up and down and ran for the stairs.

Amber pressed a hand to Ethan’s chest, feeling like she needed to say something, but she couldn’t find the words. She just smiled at him and disappeared upstairs, leaving Ethan in the kitchen. She wished life hadn’t become this messy.

***

As he found himself pulled into Ann Summers, surrounded by every kind of bra and knickers, Ethan gulped. This couldn’t end well. He had already felt an even bigger attraction to Amber as she stepped out in skinny jeans, white, tight vest top and floral blazer. She didn’t need to do much to herself for him to feel a resonating pang in his heart.

Now he had trailed behind her, watching her laugh away and occasionally look over her shoulder at him to give him a wink and he had continued to smile. He knew one day she would be his, but he couldn’t help but wonder if it would be too little too late.

Now stood in this shop, his heart was thudding as he watched Amber pick up underwear with a calculating gaze. All of these would look perfect on her, he knew that, but he hated that the sole beneficiary would be Connor. The man that couldn’t keep his word and treated his relationship how it should be.

"Hey Ethan!"
Lucy cried out to him. "On a scale one to ten how hot would our girl look in this, lying in fresh sheets for Connor to find?"

He looked to Amber who was staring in horror at Lucy’s claim and he noticed the blush creeping over her cheeks. He laughed a little and watched her turn her back to him and then he noticed the tightness in his jeans. It told him it would be a very jealous ten out of ten. He knew he had to answer this correctly. If Lucy even got a whiff of his infatuation he was done for.

Picking the closest set of lingerie and cringed when he looked at the bright orange mess of lace.

He then had another idea - boycott Connor's return.

“I think something brighter,” Ethan commented and went over to Lucy with the hideous bra and knickers. The first one in the shop’s collection that he wouldn’t dream of finding Amber in, he couldn’t even imagine it.

The booming laugh escaping Amber's lips wasn't on purpose, but she knew his plan. Bending in half, she held her hands against her stomach and coughed slightly. Placing her palms against her thighs she smiled over at Ethan.

"You are too much babe." Laughing again she turned to face Lucy who was holding the orange lingerie in disgust. "I like it," Amber shrugged, throwing Ethan a cheeky wink. "They're - well, different." Holding in her laughs she couldn't help but laugh harder.

Feeling Ethan's arms wrap around her he picked her up and flung her over his shoulder. "I'm taking her away from this shop; she clearly can't handle the lingerie."

Shrugging at Lucy as she wandered over to pay, Ethan placed her on her feet when they reached outside. Running his pad along her lower lip he gave her no words, but she knew the longing waiting inside them both. It was a lingering ache, settling harsh at the pit of her stomach, waiting for him with desire, desperate to taste his mouth once more. Kissing the back of her hand Amber felt her cheeks blush. Looking up and away from Ethan her jaw dropped. Looking around, Ethan couldn't see what she was stunned at.

"What, Amber? What is it?" Her reaction changed to a grin, her teeth on full show. Winking at Ethan she started walking towards the shop, the bright colours drawing her in.

Realising where she was heading Ethan moaned. "Oh bloody hell, Amber? Really?" Grabbing his hand she pulled him harshly into the kids shop.

"Disney, Ethan. DISNEY!" Feeling her
iPhone vibrate in her pocket she slid her finger along the distinct answer option and put the phone to her ear.

"Hey Lucy."
Snickering with Ethan he put his hand over her mouth. Feeling the desire from his touch flow through her blood she closed her eyes. Pulling his hand form her mouth he smiled at her. "I dragged Ethan into the Disney shop." Nodding her head and saying the frequent 'Umhm." She listened to Lucy moaning about her disappearance. "Just get over here Lucy and stop moaning, we have the dungeon to visit next." 

***

"So you scared?" Ethan asked Lucy as she dodged every visible thing with fake blood.