Amazed (Tempted Book 3) (12 page)

“We’re definitely not back together,” I said, trying to convince my friends and myself.

I think I was trying to convince myself more.

“After that play by play of your escapades last night I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re a couple,” Maddie said, sipping her orange juice.

“What happened this morning?” Holland inquired, looking at me like I was in major denial.

“He kissed me goodbye and told me he would see me tonight,” I said, looking down at my food.

Yep, we were totally a couple.

Shit, I gave in again but who could blame me. Those eyes. That smile. Those arms. That face.

I lost my own bet but seriously who could blame me. Anyone would fall victim to Ethan Charles’ charms. Anyone.

No, we’re not. Yes, we are.
I seriously felt like I had whip lash.

“Earth to Grace,” Emma said, waving her hands in front of my face.

“Huh, what?” I said, snapping out of my thoughts.

“Admit it to yourself,” Holland said, laughing so hard she was wiping tears from her eyes.

“Quit laughing, Bitch. Okay, there’s a ninety nine percent chance that we’re a couple,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

But that measly one percent had more pull than you would have thought. It was what was keeping me from fully commit to the idea of us being a couple again.

“Speaking of couples, our better halves just walked in,” Emma said, nodding her head toward the door.

I still couldn’t believe how well Roman and West had gotten along Luca. It was like some sort of miracle had occurred.

“Do they see us?” Holland asked, quickly fishing lip gloss from her bag and applying it.

I wasn’t sure how they hadn’t seen us. The only thing separating us from them was a glass door.

“If they had seen us they would have already walked our way,” Maddie said, smiling at Holland’s actions.

She was crazy over Luca and he felt the same. You could see it in his eyes.

“Maybe we should mess with them a little bit,” Emma suggested with a mad scientist look on her face.

If I wasn’t so interested I would have been terrified. The girl was scary.

“I’m listening,” Maddie said, tapping her fingers on the table.

“Let’s get some of the waitress’ to go over to their table and flirt with them. They can’t see us and we can see how they react,” she said as her eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Let’s do it,” we all replied in unison.

“Hey, can you do us a favor?” Maddie asked, waving the waitress over.

She nodded yes and I could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t know what was coming next.

“Our husbands and their boyfriends are at that table,” she said, pointing at them through the glass door, “We didn’t know if maybe you and a few of your friends could go over there and flirt with them. They used to be sluts and we just wanted to make sure that they behave when their out and about with us.”

The word boyfriend made me wince. Sure, I wanted him to be my boyfriend but my heart was sending me mixed signals. I know only one thing for certain we needed to have a talk. A long one.

“Sure, no problem,” the waitress replied, laughing.

She seemed like she had been asked to do this a lot. Women are crazy but not us. Nope, we were completely normal. We were just curious.

She looked thrilled to be a part of the joke but then again we had just asked her to flirt with four ridiculously good looking men. Who wouldn’t be thrilled?

Watching their table through the glass, I saw a group of beautiful waitress’ made their way to them.

“I wish I could hear what they were saying,” Holland said, shooting daggers with her eyes at the group of girls.

She was mad at them for going along with our joke.

“Look at West’s face,” Maddie said, doubling over in laughter.

Looking at West, I saw a look of pure fear contort his face. He looked like he was about to shit a brick.

“Why does he look so terrified?” Holland asked.

“Because he knows if he even looked at another woman Maddie would have his balls turned into earrings,” I told her, being one million percent serious.

Her expression made Emma spray drink from her nose.

“Roman just left the table,” Emma said, standing up and watching him walk away.

“What? Why? Is he afraid of her too?” Holland asked, looking at Emma as if she was trying to see why he would be terrified of Emma.

Nodding yes, I turned my attention back to the guy’s table.

Sure she looked sweet but you couldn’t let that face and that blonde hair fool you. Emma could scare the daylights out of any man, the girl was brutal.

“Luca just pulled out his phone. Are they exchanging numbers?” Holland asked, watching Luca’s fingers move over the buttons as he talked to the flawless brunette waitress.

That’s sure as hell what it looked like. If he hurt her I was going to hurt him and I could promise him it wasn’t going to be pretty. Hearing a ding, I followed the noise until I saw Holland pull out her phone and start typing.

“Who’s that?” I asked but I already knew who it was judging by the smile on her face.

Luca.

“My faithful boyfriend,” she said, smiling so bright it made the sun look dull.

“What did he say?” Maddie asked not taking her eyes off of West.

She was watching West like a hawk. It was constantly like Maddie had to babysit West. But then again maybe she did.

“That I’m the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid his eyes on,” she said, holding the phone to her chest and staring into space with a dreamy look on her face.

“Before you came to town I thought he was a sociopath,” Emma said, resting her chin on her hand, “Hell, he still might be.”

Holland gave her the stink eye and turned her attention back to her phone.

“Ethan looks so bored right now,” Emma said and I didn’t have to look at her to know she was smiling I could hear it in her voice.

“He’s not even giving them the time of day,” Holland said, nudging me.

“He’s not, is he?” I asked, watching him not watch the girl shamelessly flirting with him.

He was deep in conversation with Luca and the group of flirtatious waitress’ walked away. Roman picked that moment to rejoin they guys. How convenient.

“How nice is it to know that the guys we’re with aren’t total horn dogs?” Maddie asked, getting a laugh from everyone at the table.

“Think we should break it to them that their not the stud muffins’ that they think they are,” Holland said, getting up from her seat and smoothing her yellow sundress.

“Yeah, let’s bring them back down to earth,” I said, mimicking her.

Emma and Maddie did the same and we all made our way into the crowded restaurant. That was the thing about living in a small town there wasn’t that many places to eat, so everything was always packed wall to wall.

Just before we reached their table Roman walked back to the table and took his seat.

“Surprise,” we all said in unison.

Looking at their table, I saw shock appear on their faces. They looked as if they had got caught doing something.

“What- How long have you been here?” West said, trying to play it cool.

“Long enough,” Maddie said with a pissed off expression.

She was getting way too much enjoyment out of it. I couldn’t blame her, it was fun watching them squirm.

“They just walked up and talked to us but, Angel, can you really blame them? I mean look at us,” he said, pointing to Ethan, Luca, Roman, and then himself.

The way he showed himself off had a little more oomph than the rest. Of course, I mean it was West. That boy loved himself.

“We asked them to talk to you,” she said, putting her hands on her hips.

“Is this your way of telling us you want to see other people?” West asked, trying to do what he does best when he thinks someone is pissed off at him, distract people with his kickass sense of humor, his words not mine. I promise.

“Shut up you idiot,” Maddie said, walking over and sitting on his lap.

“She loves me,” he told everyone, kissing her cheek.

“Only God knows why,” Luca said, duking to dodge a piece of bread being aimed for his head by West.

Holland and Emma ran to their guys, sat on their laps, and kissed them. I stood there completely frozen, not knowing what to do next. Doing what seemed like the logical thing, I pulled out the extra chair and took a seat next to Ethan.

The vibe seemed to change after that. No one really knew how to react.

“What’s wrong? When I left this morning I thought everything was fine,” Ethan said, looking into my eyes as if his answer was there.

“Nothing, we just need to talk. Maybe we could go for a walk of something when you finish eating?” I asked, feeling my stomach do flips.

“Let’s go. I’m not hungry,” he said, getting up and pulling money from his wallet.

Tossing it on the table, he said goodbye to everyone and grabbed my hand. Walking out of the door, he squeezed my hand.

“What did you want to talk about?” he asked, slipping his free hand in his pocket.

“Us.”

“What about us?”

“What are we, Ethan?”

“I hope we’re boyfriend and girlfriend,” he said, coming to a stop and turning his body to face me.

“I don’t know if that’s the best idea right now,” I answered, being completely honest.

“Is this about Talon?” he asked, releasing my hand.

My hand automatically felt cold without his touch.

“Yes and no.”

Huffing out a huge breath, he brought his hands up and ran his fingers furiously through it.

“Which one it is, Grace? It can’t be both.”

“It’s about Talon somewhat but it’s also about your future.”

“You’re my future, Baby. You know that,” he said, stepping closer to me.

“I’m talking about football, Ethan. I don’t want to be a distraction. You need to think about your mom and Lucy, they need you. You need to keep your mind on your grades and football.”

“Are we over for good?” he asked, looking defeated.

“No, we’ll take this slow. Let’s not rush it. Just let it flow naturally. Let’s not put any labels on it until your grades are back up,” I told him, running my hand down his face.

“I love you,” he said, looking into my eyes with enough passion to ignite flames between us.

Pulling away from him, I just stared at him. Had he not heard a word I just said?

“Ethan, you can’t say that,” I yelled, shaking my head.

“Why not?”

“Because we’re taking it slow remember?”

“I’ll take it as slowly as you want but there’s never going to be a day I don’t tell you I love you. Never.”

Sucking in a breath, I felt goose bumps break out all over my skin from hearing his words. I knew he loved me, I felt it whenever he was around and even when he wasn’t around but hearing him say it was going to make it near impossible to take things slowly.

I was totally screwed.

I was in hell. Literal hell. I was mid tutor session with Ethan and the evil bastard decided to shut the bedroom door, locking it, and shed his shirt. Let me tell you something, football does a body good.

“What are you doing?” I asked, attempting to direct my gaze anywhere but his rock hard abs.

It didn’t work.

“I know I said I was willing to take things slow but I need you, baby,” he said, climbing on the bed, “Aren’t you tired of stringing me along?”

He looked like he wanted to devour me. I wanted that too, so bad.

“I’ve brought my grades up and focused on football, so I think I need a reward. What do you think?”

I wanted to lie. I wanted to lie so bad. I wanted to play hard to get and make him think I didn’t want him but I knew my body would betray me. I stood no chance.

If I tried to stand my legs would give out. If he got closer he would be able to hear my heart beat and if he could read my mind he would just how much I wanted him. How much I wanted us.

I just needed to figure out how to trust him again. He should have come clean after turning Talon in, not let me hear it from someone else.

“I know you want to feel me on top of you, in you. Come on, Baby, give in,” he said, slipping his hand under my dress.

Feeling my skin tingle, I wanted to push his hand away but I couldn’t. How could I deny him something that was his? Something that had always been his.

Me.

His hands traced the lacey border of my underwear, begging for permission to enter.

“I bet you’re so wet for me,” he said, pulling the bright pink lace down my thighs and discarding them on the floor.

He was right, I was. My body was aching to feel him inside of me. Throwing caution to the wind, I wrapped my hands around my neck, pulled him closed, and kissed him.

His tongue wrapped around mine while his fingers knotted themselves up in my hair.

Feeling his finger slip inside of me, I let a sensual moan. He pumped his finger in and out of me and just when I thought I was about to have my first mind blowing orgasm since that night at the lake, he pulled out. Leaving me high and dry.

Watching him get up and pull his shirt back over his head, I stared at him in shock. What in the hell was he doing? We had unfinished business to attend to.

“What’s going on?” I asked clearly confused.

“We’re done here,” he said, smirking.

“Um, my body says differently,” I said, covering myself up.

“I’ve been on your time, Baby. Now we play by my rules. See you tonight,” he said, kissing my lips and walking out the door.

My body was begging for the sweet release that he didn’t robbed me of. If he wanted to play dirty than he needed to know that two could play that game. He was about to be put back on my time.

Going in the bathroom, I looked in the mirror and saw that my cheeks were flushed, my hair was sweaty, and my lipstick was smeared. Cleaning myself up, I made my way into the living room and saw Holland, Emma, and Maddie gathering everything to take to the lake for Luca’s birthday party.

How weird is it that just a few months ago we hated Luca and now we were throwing him a birthday party? People can fool you. The ones you thought were the worst actually turn out to be some of the best. And that’s just what Luca Davis had done. I had to admit he shocked the shit out of me.

“Do we have everything? I have a feeling that we’re forgetting something,” Holland said, coming close to having a nervous breakdown.

“Chill out. We’ve got everything,” Emma said, trying to calm Holland down and she was failing miserably might I add.

“I can’t chill out. This is the first time I’m going to meet Luca’s friends,” she said,

Holland didn’t have a future career in party planning because she couldn’t take any kind of pressure.

Laughing, I caused every one of them to turn their heads and focus on me.

“Did you do the nasty?” Maddie asked, raising her eyebrows and planting a hand on her hip.

“What?”

“You know, did you and your ex-boyfriend bump uglies?”

“No, why would you even think that?”

“I heard moaning and your cheeks are the color of ketchup,” she said, picking up a bag of party supplies and taking it to the door.

“Leave her alone, Maddie. Grab whatever you need to get ready for the party and meet us at the car,” Emma said, picking up the remaining bags.

“Who’s car?” I questioned.

“Luca’s Escalade,” Maddie said, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

“He’s letting you drive the Escalade?” I asked Holland.

Nodding, she took deep breaths trying to calm herself down and walked out the door. Running into my room, I grabbed the outfit had previously picked out and everything else I needed and tossed it in my bag.

On my way out my messed up bed caught eye and it took me back to Ethan with his fingers inside of me, making me want more than what he was giving. Shaking my head, I thought of ways to get him back. I wanted to feel how I felt on that bed when he left, so I unpacked my outfit and went back to my closet to get the tightest dress I own and my highest heels. Putting them in my bag, I ran out of the apartment and walked to the car.

“I thought I was going to have to come up there and drag you out myself,” Holland said, motioning for me to get in the car.

“She needs to get super wasted tonight,” Maddie said, rolling her eyes and pointing to Holland.

Throwing my bag in the back, I got in and took the vacant seat next to Emma. Putting on my seatbelt, I heard Holland crank up the radio and then she pulled out of the parking lot.

“What’s up with you and Ethan?” Emma said, looking at me with a faint hint of a smile on her face.

Great, I so didn’t want to have this conversation.

I wasn’t quite sure how to answer that.

“I actually have no idea,” I answered honestly.

“What do you mean you have no idea? How is that even possible?” she asked, looking way beyond confused.

“I don’t know what we are. We agreed to take it slow but now he doesn’t want to.”

“You’re being kind of vague,” she said, looking at me skeptically.

“I literally am as confused about everything as you are,” I informed her, shaking my head.

She smiled at me and turning her head to look out the window. She didn’t have anything else to say about the hot mess that was my relationship with Ethan but I couldn’t really blame her. I didn’t know what to say either.

After getting every set up just how Holland wanted it and her having a few more anxiety attacks, we all went upstairs to get ready. Make up was flying everywhere and so much hairspray had been sprayed we all needed gas masks to breath.

“I feel like I’m at a rave,” Maddie said, coughing.

She waved her hands in front of her face trying to clear the air so she could breathe.

“Please explain to me how,” I said, giggling.

“We’re surrounded by this toxic fog, there’s a shit load of eyeliner, music is pounding through the speakers, and we’re all dressed like hookers. See? It’s pretty similar to a rave,” she answered, applying her lipstick, “All we lack is strobe lights.”

“Do we need strobe lights?” Holland asked with a dead serious expression on her face.

“No calm down,” Emma said, patting her on the back.

Ethan was about to get a taste of his own medicine. I was bringing out the big guns and they were aimed right at him. He thought he could play games with me this morning? I was about to show him that two could play that game.

Looking in the mirror, I took in my appearance. My slinky black dress hugged my every curve and my black strappy heels made my legs look killer. My smoky eye and nude lip screamed vixen and my voluminous hair completed the look.

Ethan was going to be eating out of the palm of my hand and I couldn’t wait.