Fated An Alpha Male Romance - K. Alex Walker Page 0,57

to give his grandfather one last hug, but as he moved to let him go, the old man grabbed his arm.

“You have to give this to my grandson,” he pleaded, extending the book. “It has a secret message inside.”

“Gramps, I’ve told you over and over—”

“No, look.” Mr. Stewart opened the book to reveal a small white envelope. “It is for my grandson Ethan, see? Can you make sure he gets it?”

“He’s been talking about the secret message for a few weeks now,” the nurse said, shrugging. “We didn’t think anything of it because...you know.”

“Can you make sure he gets it?” Mr. Stewart repeated.

“I will,” Ethan replied, taking the crumpled envelope between his fingers. “I promise.”

The old man smiled. “Thank you. You’re a good man. You remind me a lot of my grandson.”

More anguish drew tight lines across Ethan’s face and he waved until his grandfather was out of sight. He then looked down at the envelope and for the first time, I could see what was written on the front: For Ethan. The curly penmanship didn’t look like something his grandfather would have crafted, and my gut told me that a woman had written it. A woman like his mother.

“This is my mother’s handwriting,” he confirmed, trailing his finger over the sealed flap.

“Are you going to open it?” I asked.

“Not right now.” He stuffed the envelope into his pocket and turned to me. “Let’s go so I can pick up my car.”

My heart plummeted. The little bit of forgiveness that I’d been given earlier had only been temporary.

Once again, he started off towards the exit without me.

I SAT WITH the car in park and my hands gripping the steering wheel. Next to me in the passenger seat, Ethan didn’t move. We’d still exchanged no words on the entire drive to the Chophouse parking lot, but I‘d felt him staring at my face from time to time. Now, he looked straight ahead, jaw tight and Adam’s apple bobbing with fury. I knew exactly what to say to him; I just didn’t know how. But, I didn’t want us to walk away from each other upset. I couldn’t lose this man over something as petty as my fears, yet I still needed more time. I needed to steel myself in order to deal with the fallout from dropping an atomic-sized bomb on my family, as well as Roderick. A relationship dissolution of this size would practically spell the end of his campaign, and it wasn’t something that he was going to take lightly. I didn’t dare try to imagine my father’s reaction.

“I don’t know what it is about you,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “Alexandra, you drive me fucking insane. I’ve never wanted anybody in my entire life more than even a tenth of how much I want you. But, I can’t do this shit forever.”

“I know, E,” I softly replied. “I feel the same way. Even now with us arguing like we’re arguing, the last thing I want you to do is step outside this car.”

My words fell on deaf ears. The very next thing he did was push open the door and step out of the car.

I cut off the engine, hopped out, and ran after him. He turned around, caught me in his arms and then swung me around to press me against his car’s exterior. His lips came down on mine hard, angry, and filled with the vigor from the tension that had built between us. I kissed him back with the same fervor, tears draining from my eyes. I tugged at him as though I could literally pull him into my body, fusing our souls together so that he couldn’t ever walk away from me again if he tried. He popped the button on my jeans and I helped him ease the denim down over my thighs. The parking lot was vacant and we were partially obscured by towering oaks, but I probably wouldn’t have cared if we were facing the street during rush hour.

He lifted my legs around his waist and I watched the color in his eyes oscillate between a light, colorless silver and a dark, menacing gun smoke. I held my breath as he entered me, releasing it only when he’d fitted his hips against mine as deep as they could go. His expression softened a bit when the gasp escaped my lips, and he stared at me with unwavering, unblinking eyes. Then, he began driving into me with the same angry force with