Gary sneered. “You wouldn’t take a chance on hurting Elizabeth, would you? Did you know I can snap her neck in two before you even get a shot off? I have a black belt in tae kwon do.”
Ethan smiled but it wasn’t a nice smile. It was kind of scary. If Gary had any brains he’d give up. “Well then, how about a no-weapons fight, or are you too scared by my size?”
Gary shook his head. “The bigger they are the harder they fall. Let’s go.” Gary let go of Liz. “Sit down and watch me get rid of this big oaf for you, my dear.”
Liz ran to Ryan’s side and whispered, “Gary has lost his mind if he thinks he can beat Ethan.”
Ryan smiled back at Liz and patted her hand, confident in Ethan’s abilities. He put his arms around Liz and put her behind him. “If he wants to fight Ethan, I say we let him. Want to wait outside in the car?”
Liz shook her head, peeking around Ryan. “No way, I’m not missing all the action.”
Gary and Ethan circled around each other as if measuring each other up. Ethan had more muscles than Gary but Gary was lean and fast. Gary leaped for Ethan with a sudden blur of speed, but Ethan was bigger and stronger than Gary and it was like hitting a brick wall. Ethan barely moved and just grinned crazily. Ethan retaliated with a punch to Gary’s midsection. Gary groaned and held his stomach then yelled. “I’m going to kill you for touching Elizabeth. Only I can make her happy.” Gary tackled Ethan with all his strength and got a punch to Ethan’s midsection. Ethan groaned and punched Gary in the jaw, knocking him down. Gary wasn’t smart enough to stay down. He stood up and punched Ethan in the face. Then there was nothing but the sound of pounding flesh as they punched each other over and over. Liz winced at the sound and after a few minutes yelled out, “Stop!”
Ryan pulled them apart. “Okay, I think Gary is done for, buddy.”
Gary was groaning miserably when Ryan helped him stand and took him outside to handcuff him and put him in the car.
Liz ran over to Ethan and jumped into his arms. His lip was bleeding and he was sweaty but she didn’t care. Ethan hugged her and lifted her off the ground and swung her in the air. Liz giggled, feeling relieved it was finally over.
“You were magnificent,” Liz said, kissing Ethan on the forehead so she wouldn’t hurt his lips.
“I am so thankful to find you alive and unharmed, angel. I am so sorry about that scene at Thorn’s, but if you ever run away from me like that again I will paddle your ass, Liz. We have a lot to talk about.”
Liz nodded and agreed. “I’m so glad it’s finally over. I was scared I’d never see you again. I hope Gary goes away for a long time, Ethan. He has snapped and lost his mind.”
“Oh, he will,” Ethan assured her and glared when he saw her red cheek, wanting to go outside and hit Gary again.
“It’s nothing, Ethan,” Liz assured him, leaning into his big body and feeling safe again. “I just want to go home with you.”
* * * *
Ethan and Liz went back to his house so Ethan could shower and change clothes. They had spent all night searching the town for her, he told her. A few of the men helping them search had driven by Gary’s house and didn’t see his car or any lights on in the house. Ethan told her how scared he had been that Gary left Appledale and he would never find her again. He had almost broken down with grief when Lacy had come running with Liz’s voicemail.
She had already talked to both Stella and Lacy on the phone to let them know she was okay. Now it was just her and Ethan lying in bed after their shared shower. Ethan held her in his arms and she had her head on his chest. He smelled so good and tempting. He had already explained that he hadn’t wanted the scene with Melissa to escalate, but he apologized for hurting her feelings and not handling the situation better. Melissa meant nothing to him he swore. She just enjoyed causing
trouble.
“Liz, I love you with all my heart, and it is a scary feeling for me because I like being in control of everything around me. But last night showed me what my life without you would be like, and I didn’t like what I saw. You have to marry me.”
Liz arched her eyebrow and held in her smile. Inside she was screaming in delight. “I have to, huh? Why?”
Ethan leaned down to kiss her, lightly nipping her bottom lip with his teeth. “I’m not asking. You might say no and I don’t blame you. I haven’t handled ‘us’ with any kind of finesse and I know I have hurt you, but I love you, and from now on I will treat you like fragile glass if you just give me a chance.”
Liz laughed at that statement. “Ethan, I love you, too. I loved you before you loved me, so I will marry you, but don’t change who you are. I love you, Ethan. I love your strength, and it makes me feel warm and safe knowing you will take care of me and I won’t be alone any longer.”
He leaned down and gave her a passionate, fiery kiss, making her groan in excitement. “I love you, Elizabeth, and I guarantee you will never be lonely again. I want a future with kids and me and you growing old together.”
“I want that, too,” Liz whispered, blinking back the tears. She reached up to his face and caressed his cheek, feeling the stubble since he hadn’t shaved. He started kissing her, exploring her mouth with hunger and passion. Ethan caressed her naked flesh under the covers, making her moan and her body writhe in passion. He found a nipple and caressed the swollen, erect bud. He kissed her neck, her collarbone and worked his way down to her breasts, giving each of them loving, special attention, driving her crazy with desire.
“Oh, Ethan, stop teasing me,” Liz whispered, caressing his bare back up and down with her hands, and she opened her legs wide, giving him a hint of where she wanted to be touched. Ethan smiled as he felt the wetness between her legs and inserted his fingers into her pussy until he found her clit and rubbed it, making her sob with passion. “Is this what you want? My fingers touching your wet pussy?” He was hard already. He always seemed to be that way around her.
“Yes!” She laughed. “So quit teasing and touch me now.”
Ethan chuckled. “Demanding, aren’t we?” He played with her, making her crazy.
Ethan entered her slowly and built up a steady rhythm that had her groaning in excitement and biting her lip as she tried not to yell out. Liz held his shoulders tightly as he put her legs on his shoulders, giving him better access to her. He could feel her nails digging into his back as she arched up toward him and he loved all the signs of her pleasure.
Liz closed her eyes, loving the feelings that were building up inside her. She sobbed and whispered, “It feels so good, Ethan, so amazing. I don’t want it to end.”