Ethan (Face-Off 5)
“With my personal shopper at Boyds.”
I laugh. “You were serious about that? I only said yes to get Will off my ass.”
“I want to take care of you, Mia. Stop fighting me. You deserve everything I can offer you and more. I hate seeing you live the way you do. Let me spoil you. If you’re mine, and you are, then you’ll take everything I have to give.”
I shrug against his chest. “Why not? Show me what it’s like to live in your world.”
He brushes the hair from my face and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Close your eyes and get some sleep. You’ll need your strength for later.”
My eyelids are heavy from all the sex we’ve had since last night. The alarm on my phone will wake me soon enough. So, I drift back to sleep, dreaming of the man who consumes my thoughts.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ethan
Mia’s mouth opens as wide as her eyes when we walk through the front door at Boyds. Her eyes rake over every inch of the high-end department store. I want to be the man to give her everything she needs.
“Wow!” Mia squeals. “This place is fancy. I probably couldn’t afford a tube of lipstick, let alone clothing. I feel stupid having you pamper me. Between you and Will, I don’t know who’s worse. I don’t need things to make me happy.”
“It would make me happy if you had these things.”
“Clothes and jewelry are material possessions. Just stuff to collect dust in my bedroom. I don’t like you or my brother wasting money on me when I don’t see the point in any of it. I have everything I need.”
I slide my hands up her arms and guide her toward Alanna, a pretty brunette who’s waiting for us in the women’s shoe department with a bright smile.
“Don’t fight me, little lamb,” I whisper. “The wolf always wins.”
Her body trembles but not out of fear. She likes this side of me. My girl craves it. I can see the lust in her eyes, the way her heartbeat speeds up with each authoritative word that slips from my lips.
“Mia, meet Alanna, my personal shopper. Alanna, this is Mia… my girlfriend.”
Mia peeks up at me with wide-eyed curiosity and a smile that illuminates her entire face. Maybe over time the word girlfriend won’t feel so bitter on my tongue. It’s not like I’m letting Mia go. The only problem I have to sort out is Will. But that can wait for another day. Another month. Maybe when we win the Stanley Cup. If that ever happens.
Alanna’s eyes widen in shock. She signed a non-disclosure agreement. And if she wants my money, she won’t make a big deal out of this.
Alanna holds out her hand for Mia to shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Mia pulls back her hand. “You, too.”
Alanna glances at Mia for a few seconds, most likely trying to guess her measurements. A good personal shopper can figure these things out without much instruction. She knew mine the first time we’d met. Of all the women in my life, Alanna was never anything more than someone who works for me. We’ve never had sex, and I wouldn’t let Will go near her either. I don’t like to mix business with pleasure.
“I have a room ready for you.” Alanna holds out her hand to show Mia the way. “I pulled a few things for each of you. How about you two get comfortable, and I’ll show you everything I set aside?”
Mia smiles. “That would be great. Thank you.”
Once we enter our private dressing room, we take a seat on the long bench.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Mia groans. “I feel so out of place here.”
“Stop worrying about what people think. You have just as much a right to be here as anyone else. A woman as beautiful as you should feel comfortable anywhere she goes.”
“People were looking at me like I don’t belong with you.”
Lifting her chin with my hand, I force her to look into my eyes. “No one has ever fit into my life the way you do, Mia. No one. Not a single fucking woman. Ever. You act as though you’re the only lucky one when I’m the bastard who doesn’t deserve you.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re not a bastard.”
“No?”