Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,305

sandals that tied around her ankles. After a quick brushing, she pulled her hair into a high ponytail and smoothed bronzer over her face. A little mascara later and she was ready, even though she had no idea what Ethan wanted to do today.

I’m yours.

She loved the sound of that gravel filled promise.

She opened the door and pushed out of the bedroom only to find Ethan across the room, his back to her and his phone against his ear.

“What I’m telling you Frank is not to do a god damned thing. Don’t say anything, don’t do anything. No rebuttals, no comment.” Ethan dragged his fingers through his hair and turned, catching her stare. He held up one finger but gave her a cocky grin that sent butterflies dancing in her stomach. “I am well aware of what will happen once this goes viral, and I’m telling you to fucking let it play out.”

He had to be talking to someone about the news about to break.

Which reminded her…

Harper grabbed her phone off the coffee table and pressed Kylie’s number. Her friend answered after the second ring.

“Hi Harper.”

Already there was hesitation in Kylie’s voice. Some part of Harper had hoped that there had been a mistake, that Kylie wasn’t the one who ran her mouth about her and Ethan. The guilt rang out clearly over the line.

“What the fuck, Kye?”

Kylie exhaled quickly. “I can explain. And I’m so sorry, Harper, I swear I didn’t…”

“Just stop.” A sour taste filled Harper’s mouth and she swallowed it back. Kylie was supposed to be her best friend. The one she trusted more than anyone else in the world. When everyone turned their backs on Harper, Kylie was there. Anger burned in her stomach. “Seriously, what the fuck Kylie? I thought you were my friend. You know what, forget it. I see who you are now and I really don’t like you that much.”

She hit end on the call and threw her phone onto the couch.

A few seconds later, it buzzed with a text.

Please, we need to talk.

“Everything okay?” Ethan asked from behind her. His arms came around her and he held her against his chest. In his arms everything felt okay.

“Kylie wants to talk, but I have nothing to say to her. I can’t believe that she went to the tabloids about us. I trusted her.” She turned slowly in his embrace until she could look into his eyes. “I’m sorry I screwed up.”

“Stop apologizing. You and me, we’re good Harper, okay? Everything else is just noise as far as I’m concerned. No more worrying. I’ll take care of you. I got you now”

His lips moved over hers, strong and determined, and she sank into his kiss. She slid her hands up over his shoulders until she could trace her fingers along the back of his hair. His groan of approval made her bolder and she tugged the locks between her fingers, holding his head still like he loved to do to her.

Ethan gripped her hips and pulled her tight against his body. He was hard again. Her pulse thundered in her ears. She wanted him again already.

“I could live inside you,” he growled against her lips. Cool air washed over her heated skin when he pulled away. “But we are going out today.”

He turned her around toward the door and smacked her ass when she reluctantly moved her feet. Her shriek of surprise only made him chuckle. The sound sank down into her bones and made her legs weak.

He took her keys and locked the door behind them, then with a hand on her lower back, led her to where he’d parked his car last night. Ethan helped her in and then jogged around to the driver’s side. The air changed as soon as he slid into the seat.

How anyone could own air, she didn’t know, but Ethan somehow did just that. He commanded it whenever he was around. His body took up space that seemed larger than life. Whenever she was around him, she felt protected. Safe.

“Where are we going?” How she managed to get the words out was beyond her. Her mouth felt too dry to talk, confined in the small space with him. She could smell his cologne and it sent heat through her veins. When he ran his tongue along his bottom lip and then grinned over at her, his look full of promise, she melted into her seat.

Being with Ethan wasn’t the problem at all.

The real problem was going