"I've never found someone else who makes me feel the way you do either." Ethan said as he pulled me into another kiss that I felt all the way down to my toes.
It took all my resolve to pull away from that kiss before we ended up in the back seat. Which would have been awkward, really since at least Adam was following us and was probably wondering why we had stopped here.
"We should get to the Manor before someone comes to check on us." I said.
Ethan cursed, "I'd forgot we had a tail. Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?" He was practically begging with puppy dog eyes. It was cute.
"Don't tempt me Ethan. You know that it's better this way." I said. Maybe I'm trying to convince myself and not just him. It's not like I made a promise to myself that I'd wait until I got married, it just seems like it is a good idea since we're so close and then rumors can't get out about him cheating on Charlotte. Or that he's only marrying me because I'm carrying his child. Crap, what if Charlotte is carrying his child? That was a mood killer for sure.
Ethan pulled the car onto the road and I noticed that the black SUV joined behind us again, it had gone ahead just a bit after we'd pulled off. But apparently we weren't done with his previous question.
"Are you sure Sera? I long to be with you in every way possible. I want to make you mine and not just in name. I mean it's not like 200 years ago when they needed a bloody sheet to prove your virginity, which is good because that was a ridiculous practice. No one even expects an engaged couple to not have done it before they're married. Most live together for at least a year before marriage now." Ethan reasoned, he'd started out so well but the last part was not the best argument he could have provided since he'd just been engaged and about to be married to Charlotte. Did he want me to draw those conclusions?
"How long did you and Charlotte live together?" I asked, if this was awkward for me I wasn't letting him get away from it.
"Sera, I didn't love her." Ethan answered.
"I know, but you still didn't answer the question." I persisted.
"If you ask others, she moved in a month ago to my penthouse in the city. But we had separate rooms and she only stayed there about half of the time. And before you ask, yes we slept together, once. We both agreed that if we weren't able to actually have sex then we couldn't get married. Looking back I think it was her way of knowing whether she should marry me or elope with her lover. Obviously it didn't go that well based on her choice." Ethan spat out. "Not that I mind that she chose him because it brought you back to me."
I sat conflicted, at least he was honest. But the thought of him living with Charlotte and sharing the same bed sickened me. But I couldn't really argue with his decisions, I mean it was before we were reunited and they were about to get married.
"Since we're on the topic, is there anyone from your past I should know about?" He ground out. I hated how the atmosphere in the car was so much more tense than it had been minutes ago.
"No." I almost whispered. I didn't think he'd actually believe me and I felt pathetic. I mean what girl in her mid twenties hadn't been with at least one guy?
"No? Sera, I was honest with you, please. You can tell me, I won't be mad. I have no excuse to be since I left you." I knew he wouldn't believe me. I don't know why I felt ashamed that I hadn't ever had sex. It's not like it's a bad thing to wait until you find love.
"I'm being honest Ethan. You're the only one I ever loved and I couldn't get past passionless kisses with anyone else. And I'm sure there's other girls in your past but I don't care." I paused and shook my head, "Probably not strictly true, it is hard for me to imagine you with anyone else. The point is that it's behind us and shouldn't affect our relationship now."
"You're still a virgin?" He asked. Apparently he didn't hear anything after that point.
"Yes Ethan I am. Does that bother you?" I asked a bit defensively.
"No it doesn't bother me!" Ethan sounded happy in fact. "I am honored to be your first and hopefully only. But I'm also sad that because of me we waited this long and because you're not my first. You should have been my one and only too."
"Ethan we've been through this, I know you feel bad and you need to let your guilt go. I don't expect you to have been celibate for the past 8 years. I don't want details but I understand." I hope he understood this time since he seemed not to understand anything after I'd said I'd never been with anyone before.
"And you wonder why I love you. Sera you're amazing. Thank you for understanding and not trying to make me feel guilty for the past." Ethan squeezed my hand. And the electricity that still shoots up my arm when he does that is the main reason why I never got with anyone else. I never felt any of it with anyone else.
A few minutes later he spoke again, "After this turn you can see Maxwell Manor." He sounded so excited for me to get my first glimpse of the estate. For all those that said he had a stone heart, I wonder what they would say to see him like this.