Tempting Eve

Chapter 24

~ Ethan ~

Her warm brown hair looked nearly golden with the morning sun shining through it. This would be the third time I've woken with her in my bed. The third time I've ever let anyone sleep next to me without the panic setting in, and honestly, I don't know how I'll ever go back to sleeping without her.

I've somehow managed to survive my childhood, but survival is all you can think about when you hate being touched or looked at for too long. When you feel like a thousand spiders are crawling up your skin during something as simple as a fucking handshake.

It's not like I didn't try to get help. I became a fucking psychologist for Christ sake, but for everything I've done to try to get better - everything I've done to try to desensitize myself - imagine my surprise when the heavenly creature I had been watching in the club, grabbed me in a dark alley, and I felt nothing but need zipping through my blood. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I felt... normal. And the more I get to know her, the more I crave every second, every touch, she's willing to share with me.

I'm just about to wrap myself around Eve when my cell phone vibrates on the wooden stand next to me. I slip out of bed, while I grab the phone, willing my morning wood to go down when I see the name flashing across the screen - Keith Grant, my grandfathers right hand man.

"Grant," I say by way of greeting. "I hope you've found a replacement." Between the meeting with the lawyer a few days ago that flipped my world on its axis and acknowledging some of my feelings for Eve, I was still reeling. If Teddy thought this was something I wanted... he obviously didn't know me as well as I thought he did.

His tone was short and to the point. "You haven't seen the news then."

I grabbed a pair of boxers from the dresser and pulled them up before walking to the hidden flat screen in the sitting area. "No, what's going on."

"That slimy mother fucker sold you out."

I opened the panel and flipped on the television. It was already set to CNC NEWS and the ticker at the bottom immediately caught my eye.

WHO IS ETHAN YORK? A 26 YEAR OLD PLAYBOY WITH MULTIPLE ASSAULT CHARGES... AND THE NEW HEIR TO THE WOLFBURG MEDIA EMPIRE WORTH 152.9 BILLION DOLLARS.

"Fucking Frank!"

The remote clattered across the room before I even realized I had thrown it, causing Eve to stir. She sat up, holding the sheet to her chest. "Is everything ok?"

I nodded to her, not wanting to freak her out just yet. "Get this under control Grant!" I growled into the phone. This was exactly the kind of thing he got paid to take care of - a salary I was continuing in my Grandfathers absence since, as the news so eloquently put it, I now controlled his fortune. Fucking Bastards!

Eve slipped out of bed, tugging the sheet around her small frame and started walking towards me.

Grants voice came through the line. "There's no way to put this shit back in the box. We need to get ahead of it. I'll schedule a press release as soon as possible."

"Not gonna happen," I growled. "I didn't even want this shit. You want to be a billionaire Grant? You can have the company and everything that comes with it. I'll sign the fucking papers today."

Eve slipped her arms around me and I tugged her closer, resting my chin on top of her head.

"If Teddy wanted anyone else to have his legacy, he wouldn't have put your name on it. Shit, he didn't even give it to his son York." He sighed. "Don't let him down, you're the only one he trusted."

Eve gasped in my arms, going stiff and I turned my attention towards the TV to find a still photo of us, me practically dragging Eve across the lawn at the family manor yesterday. The caption read, ETHAN YORK FLEES THE WOLFBURG ESTATE DURING THEODORE WOLFBURG'S MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH MYSTERY WOMAN.

"I have to go," I snapped into the phone. "Fix this!" I slammed it shut and and almost sent it in the direction of the remote.

"W- Why are we on TV Ethan?"

I breathed in her milk and honey smell, letting it calm my racing heart.

"Frank. That's why."

**********

How is everyone today???

The clouds have finally parted here, and it's breathtaking the way the fresh snow sparkles like an Edward Cullen on a sunny day.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. This was a difficult one to put together, and it's probably a little on the nose, but I've wanted Ethan to suffer from Haphephobia for a while now and Ive been trying to figure out how to do it in a way that doesn't scream Christian Grey's 'don't touch me' vibes.

(Yes, we have a lot of pop-culture literary references in my notes today...lol)

As always, I'm so looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts!

With love always,
xxxBre