Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,271

hell when she got back to Boston, her life wouldn't be her own. Not for a long time. Scandal had a way of sticking to people, even those caught up in the scandals of their loved ones.

When they finally ended up at a little outdoor cafe on the outskirts of the street fair, Ethan pulled out her chair and then sat across from her.

“Having fun?” he asked, one eyebrow quirked. That damned sexy grin turned his lips up.

Despite the thickness of the air between them, she nodded. “I am.” And she was. Today had been exactly what she’d been trying to do when she left Boston. Escape. Yes she’d done that for the previous five days but being by herself gave her time to think, even though she had forbidden her brain from going there.

With Ethan, she’d been able to be in the moment and truly had not thought about her family. It was nice. She was more relaxed than she had been all week.

“Hey, where’d you go?” Ethan asked. His hand felt warm over Harper’s, and she forced herself back to the present.

“Somewhere I’d rather not be,” she answered. “In my head,” she clarified.

He traced his thumb over the top of her hand and heat filled his eyes. Long eyelashes swept down and he watched her from under them. God he had that I want to eat you up look that was making her skin tingle. “Then just be here with me,” he said. “Stop thinking so much.” He grinned a little when he said it, to show he wasn’t lecturing her.

“Okay,” she agreed softly, feeling a flutter in her chest. “But it’s difficult—lately I live in my head all the time, practically.”

She thought he might start to inquire as to why. After all, she’d dropped enough hints about it.

But instead of asking questions, Ethan’s hand dropped to her leg. It was casual, but the heat that resulted from his touch was like a shockwave through her entire body.

The waiter came back and set their plates down and Ethan leaned back and removed his hand from her leg as if nothing were going on. She knew her face was red, that her chest was rising and falling too fast. Every time she shifted, a flash of pleasure shot from between her legs.

This was torture and he knew it.

He had barely touched her all morning, and yet her she was, panting like a dog in heat from the briefest caress of his hand on her thigh. God he was a bastard. A cocky, sexy as hell bastard that she wanted in a way beyond just lust.

It was almost desperation, an emotion she wasn’t that familiar with.

“So, you came here alone,” Ethan said, finally.

“Yeah. And you?”

“Same.”

“So we could both be outlaws, on the run from the cops, then,” she joked. It was a strange joke, perhaps a little too close to the truth for her own good.

But Ethan nodded. “Or maybe there are worse things to be on the run from,” he said, and his eyes had lost some of their humor.

The understanding in his eyes prompted an unexpected wave of curiosity to roll through her. He seemed so laid back, in the moment. What could he be running from?

But she didn’t ask. If she asked, he might answer—and she wasn’t sure she wanted to ruin the fantasy. Not to mention, he might also expect her to tell her story, and she definitely didn’t want to have that conversation with a hot guy in a temporary paradise.

“This salad is amazing,” she said, changing the subject.

“Not as amazing as the view.” He winked and her shoulders relaxed.

His eyes darkened as she watched. How had she never seen the way a man’s pupils dilate when he was turned on? The blacks of his eyes ate away at the color.

Her gaze dropped to his lips.

“Have you ever wanted something so badly that you could almost taste it?” he asked.

“I take it you’re not referring to this delicious salad?” she joked.

“Not even remotely,” he replied.

“Oh my,” she said on an exhale. She wasn’t hungry anymore, at least not for the rest of her half eaten salad. She set her fork down and waited. Prayed that he was going to suggest they go back to the bungalow now.

“I’ll bet you taste so sweet. I can’t wait to find out.”

Her breath came out in harsh gasps. Thick desire settled between her legs and she had no doubt that she was wet and ready, swollen for him. She