The memory of their reconciliation was seared into Olivia's mind. Though days had passed, the wound from Ethan's lie still felt fresh. Their exchanges had been polite but guarded, as though they were walking on a tightrope, neither daring to lean too far in one direction.
But the night Ethan showed up at her door, everything changed.
It was raining—a torrential downpour that mirrored the turmoil in Olivia's heart. She had been curled up on her couch, sipping tea, trying to drown out the nagging ache of missing him. She hesitated when the sharp and insistent knock came, her heart thundering. She opened the door to find Ethan standing there, soaked to the bone, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, and his piercing eyes brimming with desperation.
"Olivia," he said, his voice cracking with raw emotion. "I can't do this anymore. I can't stand being away from you."
Her breath caught as she took in the sight of him—his vulnerability, the way he looked at her as though she was his entire world. "Ethan… what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He stepped forward, not caring about the rain or the chill in the air. "I lied to you," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I lied because I was a coward. I didn't want to hurt you, and I didn't want to admit that I was afraid of losing you. Lauren means nothing to me, Olivia. Nothing. You are my everything."
Tears welled in Olivia's eyes, blurring her vision. She had waited weeks to hear those words, but the pain from his betrayal still lingered. "You hurt me, Ethan," she said, her voice trembling. "You kept me in the dark and let me think I wasn't enough."
He reached out, cupping her face with his hands, his touch gentle despite the strength behind it. "You are more than enough. You're everything. I was an idiot to let my fear get in the way, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you'll let me."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and he brushed it away with his thumb. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I love you, Olivia. Please, give me another chance."
Olivia searched his eyes, and she saw the depth of his sincerity. She saw the man she had fallen for, the man who had made her feel alive again. The walls she had built around her heart began to crumble, and she stepped into his arms, her own wrapping tightly around his neck.
"I love you too," she murmured against his chest, tears soaking into his shirt. "But Ethan, no more lies. No more secrets."
"Never again," he promised, holding her as though he would never let go.
That night, they talked for hours, unpacking the hurt and rebuilding the trust that had been fractured. It wasn't easy, but it was real—raw, messy, and filled with love. And as they fell asleep in each other's arms, Olivia knew that while their journey was far from perfect, it was worth every struggle to fight for what they had.
Olivia found herself thinking about the previous night with Ethan, a smile playing on her lips as she remembered the feel of his hands on her skin and the intensity of his gaze. Just as her thoughts began to wander, her phone rang, jolting her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw Daniel's name flash across it.
"Hello?" she answered, trying to sound composed.
"Hey, Liv," Daniel's voice came through the line, warm and familiar. "Just a reminder about the high school reunion this weekend. You promised you'd come with me, remember?"
Olivia's heart sank. She had promised Daniel she'd attend the reunion with him, but now, she felt torn with everything that had happened.
"Yes, I remember," she replied, her voice hesitant. "I haven't forgotten."
"Great," Daniel said, sounding relieved. "I really appreciate it, Liv. It means a lot to me."
After the call ended, Olivia sat back in her chair, her mind racing. She didn't know how to tell Ethan about the reunion. Would he understand? Would he feel betrayed? She took a deep breath and decided to talk to him about it that night.
Later, when Olivia walked into Ethan's apartment, she was greeted by his cologne's familiar, comforting scent. As she entered, Ethan sat on the couch, looking up from his laptop.
"Hey, beautiful," he said with a smile, closing the laptop and standing up to greet her with a kiss.
"Hey," she replied, her voice soft. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest.
Ethan sensed something was off. "What's on your mind, Liv?" he asked gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with uncertainty in her eyes. "I got a call from Daniel today," she began. "He reminded me about the high school reunion this weekend. I promised him I'd go with him, and I...I don't know what to do."
Ethan's expression tightened for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Olivia. I trust you. If you feel you need to go, then go. Just promise me you'll be honest with me about everything."
Olivia's heart swelled with gratitude and love. "Thank you, Ethan. I promise."
He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. "I have something to tell you, too," he said, his voice tense. Olivia immediately felt a knot of anxiety form in her stomach as she watched him begin to pace the room.
"Remember the date Lauren paid for at the fundraiser?" Ethan continued, his eyes not meeting hers. "Well, I have to fulfill my obligation. She wants to go out this Saturday night."
Olivia chuckled sarcastically, the irony of the situation not lost on her. "So we will both be out with our exes on Saturday. How ironic."
Ethan stopped pacing and looked at her, a mix of frustration and concern in his eyes. "Olivia, I don't want to do this. But I committed, and I have to see it through. I hope you understand."
Olivia sighed, feeling a swirl of emotions. "I get it, Ethan. I really do. It's just... it's hard, you know? Seeing you with her, knowing she's trying to get back into your life..."
Ethan closed the distance between them and took her hands in his. "I know. It's hard for me too. But we have to trust each other. You're my future, Olivia. Not Lauren."
She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "And you're mine, Ethan. We'll get through this, okay?"
Ethan pulled her into a tight embrace, resting his chin on her head. "Okay. We'll get through this together."
"And speaking of together," Ethan said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a velvet blue box, "I have a gift for you."
"Ethan?" Olivia asked, her eyes widening in surprise. "What is this for?"
He smiled softly, holding out the box to her. "Just a reminder of my commitment to you."
With trembling hands, Olivia opened the box to reveal a stunning silver necklace with an infinity sign engraved with the word "together." Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at the beautiful piece of jewelry.
"Ethan," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as he gently removed the necklace from the box and placed it around her neck.
He looked into her eyes, his expression tender and sincere. "Whenever you start to doubt, just remember that I'm yours. That we are together."
Olivia touched the pendant, feeling the cool metal against her skin and the warmth of Ethan's gesture. She felt a surge of love and gratitude for the man standing before her. "Thank you, Ethan. This means so much to me."
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you, Olivia," he whispered, pausing for a moment before continuing with a mischievous grin. "And I have something planned to show you just how much you mean to me." She gasped as he pulled her closer, feeling the unmistakable hardness against her body.
He guided her towards the bedroom and quickly removed Olivia's dress, tossing it to the side to reveal her lace underwear. He then unbuttoned his pants and unzipped them, exposing his erection.
"Get on the bed," he ordered, and Olivia complied, her heart racing with anticipation. She spread her legs, ready for him to enter her. Ethan positioned himself between her legs and slowly slid into her, feeling her wetness envelop him. She arched her back, moaning softly as he began to thrust inside her.
"Fuck me, Ethan," she cried out, her voice barely audible over the sound of their bodies slapping together. He grabbed her hips and thrust harder, his grunts mingling with her moans.
As he thrust into her with intensity, she called out his name. Just as she was about to reach the peak of pleasure, he abruptly pulled away.
Ethan's breath was heavy as he pulled out of Olivia, leaving her panting and frustrated on the bed. He looked at her with a sly grin, his eyes gleaming with desire. "Not yet," he whispered, placing a finger to her lips before disappearing into the bathroom.
Olivia was left to catch her breath, frustration rising within her as she waited for Ethan to return. She couldn't believe he had stopped just when she was about to reach the peak of pleasure.
As Ethan emerged from the bathroom, he flipped her over and revealed a bottle of massage oil. With a mischievous smile, he straddled Olivia's hips and began to pour the oil over her body. He started at her chest, rubbing it in with his hands, then moved down to her stomach and thighs.
Olivia's heart raced as she anticipated what was to come. When Ethan reached her inner thighs, he slowly rubbed the oil between her legs, teasing her with his touch. She moaned softly, unable to contain her desire.
Finally, he dipped his fingers in the oil and pushed them inside her. Olivia cried out in pleasure as he began to finger her. Her body shook with every thrust, and she knew she was close to climaxing.
Ethan continued to finger her, rubbing the oil all over her sensitive spots. She could feel the tension building up inside her, and as he inserted another finger, she let out a loud gasp.
"I need you inside me, Ethan," she pleaded, her voice trembling with lust. He removed his fingers from her and positioned himself between her legs. He looked into her eyes, his expression one of raw desire.
"Let me taste you first," he whispered, his voice thick with longing. Olivia didn't need any more encouragement. She spread her legs wider, inviting him to do as he pleased.
Ethan lowered his head between her legs and began to lick and kiss her in a way that sent shivers down her spine. His tongue slid down her slit, teasing her clit with every swirl. Olivia moaned softly as he continued to explore her nether regions.
As he increased his pace, she found herself gasping for air, the pleasure overwhelming her senses. Her body trembled with anticipation as she felt the orgasm building up inside of her.
"Ethan," she cried out, her voice hoarse with need. He smirked, knowing he was on the verge of giving her what she wanted. And then, just as she was about to reach the peak of pleasure, he stopped.
He pulled away, leaving her panting and frustrated on the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading for him to continue. But Ethan just grinned, his lustful gaze never leaving her.
"Not yet," he whispered, his voice thick with desire. "I have something else planned for you."
Olivia couldn't believe it. After all the buildup, Ethan had stopped again? But before she could protest, he climbed back onto the bed, positioning himself between her legs.
Olivia let out a sigh of relief as he entered her, feeling the familiar weight and warmth of his body inside of her. He finally started to move, thrusting slowly at first, then picking up speed. Her moans grew louder as the pace quickened, and her body matched his rhythm.
Ethan reached down and started to touch and tease her clit, sending her over the edge. You are mine, Olivia, heart, mind, and soul. Don't ever forget that. With one final thrust, he groaned and came, his body trembling with the intensity of the moment.
Once he had caught his breath, he gently pulled out of her and lay down beside her. They lay there, panting and sweaty, wrapped up in each other's arms.