After the long and eventful night, Bella welcomed the warm water of the shower, letting it wash away the stress and tension. She changed into comfortable clothes feeling a sense of relief as she slipped into her cozy pajamas. She found ethan sitting on the bed in sweatpants shirtless with a book in his hand and she stared at his perfect body, she couldn't help staring at his toned abs. The way his sweatpants hung low on his waist, no doubt Ethan was an attractive man.
Bella gathered her courage and climbed into bed, feeling a mix of emotions as she settled in beside Ethan. They had shared a bed before, but this felt different. Maybe it was the intensity of the party, or the fact that Ethan stood up to her family and protected her.
She fidgeted a little before calling out his name "Ethan..."
"Hmm" he responded his eyes still on the book
"Thank you for protecting me from my so called family, I don't know what would have happened if you didn't intervene" she said in a low voice, without looking at him
Ethan turned to look at her as she played with her fingers "No problem, no one is allowed to bully my wife" he responded and Bella quickly looked at him at the blink of tears as she heard what he said, now she had someone who could protect and look out for her.
Before she could respond Ethan put down his book and turned off the light laying down. Bella looked at him as he closed his eyes and she smiled to herself, even though their marriage was a sham she felt warmth for Ethan.
Bella laid down beside him, their bodies inches apart. She could feel the warmth of his skin, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.
As they lay there in the darkness both staring at the ceiling, Bella felt a sense of comfort wash over her. She realized that she had grown accustomed to Ethan's presence, his quiet strength and support.
Without thinking, she reached out and took his hand feeling a spark of connection as their palms touched. Bella's breathing paused as she waited to see if Ethan would jerk his hand from her and snap but Ethan's fingers intertwined with hers, his grip gentle but firm. "Goodnight Bella," he whispered, his voice low and soothing.
"Goodnight Ethan," she replied, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. Even though they said goodnight no one slept they just lay there in silence, holding hands under the blanket.
The silence between them was palpable, the only sound the gentle hum of the night. Bella turned to Ethan staring at his face and he did the same, now facing each other, his eyes locked on hers in the dim light. He reached out a hand, his fingers brushing a stray hair away from her face with his hand lingering a little longer
Bella held her breath, her heart skipped a beat as his touch sent shivers down her spine. She felt a flutter in her chest, her pulse racing with anticipation.
Ethan's gaze held hers, his eyes burning with a intensity that made her breath catch. He didn't say a word, but his eyes spoke volumes. She felt the room suddenly turn hot and she couldn't take Ethan's stare anymore as it made her feel all sorts of things she never felt before.
Her lips parted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ethan..."
His fingers trailed down her cheek, his touch sending sparks flying through her body. "Shh," he whispered, his breath caressing her skin. "Just let me look at you."
Bella's eyes locked on his, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt like she was drowning in the depths of his gaze, like she was melting into his touch.
The tension between them was electric, the air thick with unspoken emotions. It was as if they were both waiting for something to happen, for the other shoe to drop...
Ethan looked at Bella's parted lips, how her breathing became fast and her doey eyes looked at him. He couldn't control himself, he couldn't care about the contract as he slowly leaned in his lips brushing against Bella's, sending a jolt of electricity through her entire body. Her mind went wild, racing with thoughts and emotions. This was her first kiss, and she had never expected it to be with Ethan, her fake husband.
But as his lips moved against hers, gentle and tender, Bella felt like she was melting into his touch. She had never felt this way before, like her entire world was spinning around her. She unconsciously put her hand on his bare chest as they kissed.
Ethan's hands cradled her face, his fingers tracing the curves of her cheeks as he deepened the kiss. He had kissed a number of women but only Bella managed to get his heart racing and anxious. Bella's heart pounded in her chest, her pulse racing with excitement as Ethan kissed her.
She felt like she was losing herself in the moment, like nothing else mattered except for the touch of Ethan's lips on hers. It was like the whole world had come to a standstill, leaving only the two of them, lost in this kiss.
Bella's thoughts were a jumbled mess, but one thing was clear - she didn't want this moment to end. She wanted to stay lost in Ethan's kiss forever.
Ethan gently parted from Bella, giving her space to breath his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled looking at Bella trying to catch her breath. "Breathe Bella," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.
Bella's lungs burned as she gasped for air, her heart still racing from the intensity of their kiss. Ethan's hands guided her head to his chest, his fingers stroking her hair as he pulled her close.
"Sleep, you should get some rest" he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble.
Bella laid in his arms stiffly but she was exhausted and her eyes drooped, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion. She slowly relaxed in his arms as a sense of comfort engulfed her , like nothing could ever hurt her again. She was safe in his arms.
As she drifted off to sleep, she felt Ethan's lips brush against her forehead, his whisper echoing in her mind. "I've got you Bella."
The darkness closed in around her, but Bella knew she wasn't alone. Ethan was by her side, holding her close and that was all that mattered.
As Bella's breathing slowed, Ethan was lost in thought as his mind began to wander. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had kissed his fake wife and it had felt more real than anything he'd ever experienced.
"What am I doing?" he thought to himself, his eyes fixed on Bella's peaceful face. "I'm supposed to be pretending not falling for her."
But as he looked at her, he knew he couldn't deny his feelings. There was something about Bella that drew him in, something that made him want to protect her, to care for her.
"I've got to be careful," he thought, his mind racing with consequences.
Ethan's thoughts swirled in circles, his emotions tangled in a knot. He knew he needed to figure out what to do next, but for now, he was content to hold Bella close, to feel her warmth and her presence. With that he fell asleep.