“Sure, whatever you want. What time do you want me there?” He didn’t even hesitate.

  “You’re willing to drive two hours to take me to breakfast in the morning?” I asked.

  “Of course. What time do you have to be to work? Eight?” He was totally serious. He would actually do this if it was what I wanted.

  “Kiss me,” I told him. He let go of my arms and pulled me up. Then he sat and pulled me onto his lap. He kissed me. It was long and passionate and it turned me on. I never knew a man like him could even exist.

  “I was thinking breakfast at your place tomorrow. I have the day off.” I couldn’t let him suffer any longer.

  “Are you serious? You’re going to stay with me tonight?” He was so excited.

  “Yes, if you’ll give me a ride back to the city tomorrow.”

  He hugged me. “Like you even have to ask!”

  We had a serious make-out session and I could tell Ethan had relaxed considerably after I told him I could stay the night. I was looking forward to it, too. I wasn’t ready to head back to the city and back to the real Gia yet.

  “Should we head to the concert? I think it’s the second one already. We’ve been up here a while,” I said.

  Ethan looked at his watch. “Yes, we missed the entire first show. I had so much more fun up here with you than I would’ve down there, anyway. I mean, I love the concerts and all, but I’ve spent the last nineteen years down there and it’s been really nice being away from that for a while.”

  “Should we just skip the concerts today? I’m good if you are,” I asked him. I couldn’t imagine spending as much time down there as Ethan had and I was happy to have meant enough to him to be up here having a picnic. I loved the concerts, too, but spending quiet time with Ethan was trumping that in a big way.

  He gave me a huge smile. That answered that question. “Do you want to go to my place? Or we could stay up here, or go for a ride, or whatever you want.” He was excited.

  “I don’t want to go for a motorcycle ride. Even though I liked it, I’m not ready to hit the open road just yet. As far as staying here or going to your place, I’m open to either.”

  “What am I going to do with you for the next twenty-four hours? How many hours of sleep do you need?” He had a naughty smile on his face.

  “Let’s go back to your place.”

  Chapter 9

  When we got back to Ethan’s, I helped him put our picnic stuff away. We flirted and touched each other and kissed every chance we got. I felt like a teenager. I texted Dana and told her we were skipping the concerts and I was staying with Ethan tonight but I’d meet them after the concert to say good-bye and get my stuff. She was happy for me and it sounded like they were having a great time.

  “So, what do you want to do now?” Ethan walked up and put his arms around me.

  I put my arms around him, gazed up at his gorgeous face, and smiled. I wanted him. I took his hand and led him to his dining room table. I’d been thinking of this ever since this morning. I pushed him down so he was sitting on the table and I stood in front of him. My heart was racing as I locked eyes with him, took ahold of the bottom of my tank top, slowly pulled it over my head, and tossed it at him. He caught it, smelled it, and smiled. He was so sexy. My face got hot as I decided to really go for it and fulfill a silly fantasy of mine.

  I unbuttoned my shorts and turned around so my ass was right in front of him. I was surprised by my lack of inhibition as I leaned over, pulled them down, and took them off. I stayed in that position as I tossed them to him from between my legs. He laughed as he caught them. Then he held them up to his nose and I watched his chest expand as he took an exaggerated whiff. I giggled as he caught my eye and raised his brow. I contained myself enough to stand up and continue my comedic striptease. With my back still to him, I reached around and unhooked my bra, took it off, and twirled it around on my finger before letting it fly, but it went way off course and we both snickered as he reached for it anyway. I had one arm across my breasts when I turned around to face him. His expression was serious now as he looked up and down my body. I noticed he had to swallow hard. I took a deep breath and used my free hand to pull my damp panties down and toss them to him. He caught them and immediately stuck them in his pocket. He put his hands up like he didn’t know what happened to them. I giggled.

  I walked toward him. He reached out and pulled my arm from my breasts and then he gasped like he’d never seen them before. I laughed at his unexpected reaction. My breasts bounced up and down and my nipples responded by growing hard in front of him. He smiled and watched with big eyes before he grabbed me and pulled me to him. I knew all this fun was about to get fun when I saw the hunger in his eyes. He put his hands on my ass and his mouth over my nipple. I watched him as he licked, sucked, and bit them softly. His tongue was warm, and as it flicked my nipple, I felt tingling between my legs. I squeezed them together, trying to satisfy the wanting there. His lips were soft when he kissed my breasts but when he nibbled on them, his stubble grazed teasingly. I reached down and pulled his shirt off. I put it up to my nose and then I licked my lips slowly and sighed before I tossed it across the room. He rolled his eyes and I smiled. I liked how we were still keeping it light even though there were some serious hormones raging. I pulled him up and turned him so I sat on the table and he was standing in front of me. I unbuttoned and unzipped him, but before I pulled them down I looked up at him and winked. He looked excitedly nervous and I liked that. I yanked down fast and hard and gasped like he had when he’d seen my breasts. All this playfulness was allowing me to relax and try new things. I felt free, naughty, and sexy as hell.

  I put my hands on his ass and pulled him toward me. I looked up at him as I ran my tongue from the base of his cock all the way to the tip. I stopped, swallowed, and repeated, just like I was licking a lollypop. He was smooth, soft, and tasted fresh and clean, like the scent of his clothes. I brought my right hand back in and took hold of his cock firmly. I swirled the tip with my tongue, watching as his expression went from anticipation to relief. He moistened his lips and put his hands in my hair. I was very thorough and made sure to lick every inch as I worked him with my hand. I heard him gasp as I took his head in my mouth and sucked while I kept a steady rhythm going up and down. I couldn’t take him all the way in because he was quite large, but I took him in as far as I could over and over. His hips moved forward and back as he moaned and pushed his fingertips into my scalp. I released his cock and cupped his boys as I turned my head and took his middle finger in my mouth. I sucked on it just like I had been sucking on his cock. I ran my teeth over the end of it as I squeezed his boys gently. He was going crazy. He backed away, pulled me up to him, and kissed me passionately.

  He grabbed my ass again but this time he lifted me up, so I wrapped my legs around him. His chest and arms were bulging as he carried me. I let my tits rub up against him and kissed the side of his neck. He walked me over to the kitchen counter, which was higher than the table, and set me on it. It was cool against my bare skin but it heightened my senses for what was to come. “Gia, I have to taste you.” I got butterflies as soon as my name left Ethan’s lips. He went down on me as I leaned back on the countertop. I moaned and lifted my hips to feel him harder against me. He licked me sweetly, softly, it was making me crazy. I arched my back and put my hands in his hair. I squeezed my thighs against his face for a second and then put my heels on his shoulders. I couldn’t stay still. He was on my spot now, going at it like I wanted him to. I was quickly getting to the ‘fuck me now’ place.

  He stopped and I sat up. We found each other’s lips and started kissing animalistically, it was fucking hot. I tasted myself on his lips, they were sweet and salty and I bit the bottom one and pulled on it. He moaned and opened his eyes to see me watching his reaction. We were both in the ‘fuck me now’ place. He pulled me off the counter, and as he was about to enter me he said, “Shit! Gia, I have to get a condom.” I waited as he went to his night stand and got one, ripped it open, and put it on as he hurried back to me.

  He pulled me off the counter and slowly lowered me onto him. He slid into me. We both moaned at the feeling of relief. I wrapped my legs around him and clasped my feet so I had some stability to move up and down as he guided me with his hands on my hips. I felt so full with his cock inside me and I was so wet and ready that he was gliding easily in and out even though it was a tight fit. “You feel amazing,” I whispered to him.

  Ethan looked into my eyes and I started going faster. He was trying to stay in control. I wanted him to lose it. I was losing it. I didn’t even know my own name. I wanted him to fuck me, hard. “It’s okay, Ethan, you want to and I want to. You feel so good and it’s okay.” I barely got the last word out before he had my back up against the wall and was thrusting in and out quicker and harder. I grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth to mine. As I found his tongue, I moaned and he moaned back. We realized we were going at it too hard to kiss so I went for his neck and up to his ear. I stuck my tongue in it and knew I was very close. I moaned and said, “I’m gonna come, come with me, Ethan.”

  We both moaned. I felt it as we let go, and with it went our insecurities and inhibitions, and we became like one at that moment. It was fucking amazing.

  Ethan walked over and set me back on the counter and we collapsed against each other. We were both sweating and panting. When he caught his breath he looked at me and kissed my lips tenderly. “Wow,” was all he said and he pulled me off the counter and went into the bathroom to flush the condom.

  I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face as I started to collect my clothes from all over the room, then I remembered my panties were in Ethan’s pocket. It reminded me that I had hidden my other pair under his pillow. I put my shorts back on without any and took the ones from under his pillow and hid them in his dresser since I was staying here tonight. My knees were weak from the sexercise and I was a little sore between my legs.

  Ethan came out of the bathroom and kissed me before he got dressed. “That was incredible, Gia. I guess fast and hard can be passionate too, as long as you’re with the right person.” He was right.

  Chapter 10

  I went to the bathroom and freshened up and then we decided to sit outside and have a beer and a cigarette. I felt very relaxed and Ethan seemed to be also. We talked some more about ourselves and our lives and I realized how much you could learn about someone in a short amount of time when you didn’t have any distractions. I was glad to have another day to enjoy before returning to the city and the real Gia. I didn’t want to think about that now. I pushed it aside as I did with everything I didn’t want to deal with. I was really good at living in the moment and not worrying about the stuff that would still be there later. And The Lock had always been that for me, an escape from real life.

  The last concert was about to end, so I texted Dana and told her we’d meet them outside the gate and take them back to the motorhome.

  ***

  Trey and Dana sat on the tailgate and Jo jumped in the front with Ethan and I. Jo was telling us about the concerts and it sounded like she’d really enjoyed them. When we pulled up to the motorhome, my heart started racing. There was an officer waiting for us. A flood of bad memories filled me as I wondered what he was doing there and then I panicked even more when I remembered we’d left Brittany inside alone.

  “Oh, Gia, I forgot to tell you that a detective wants to talk to you about the incident with Rick last night. That’s probably him,” Ethan said, like it was no big deal.

  I started shaking. “Why does he need to talk to me? What does he want to know?” My voice cracked.

  Ethan looked stunned by my reaction. “Gia, it’s okay. Just answer his questions so they can take care of Rick. You don’t have anything to worry about, you didn’t do anything wrong.” He held my hand and stroked it with his finger.

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” I looked around the truck for something to vomit in.

  “Ethan, could you give us a minute?” Jo asked him as she took my hand from Ethan and held it. I leaned toward her.

  “Sure,” Ethan said, looking worried and confused. He touched my shoulder, then got out of the truck and started talking to the officer.

  “Gia,” Jo started. “It’s okay. Like Ethan said, you didn’t do anything wrong. I know you’re nervous and I know you’re thinking about things that have happened in the past. Don’t do this to yourself. You’re okay now, all that is behind you.” She put her face down in front of mine and made me look at her instead of staring into my hands. “Gia, I’m here for you. You’re my best friend and I love you. Dana is here too, so it’s fine.”

  Suddenly I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to stay here with Ethan and pretend that I was a fun-loving girl anymore. I had to get back to reality. I had to get back to my apartment. I wanted to curl up on my couch in a little ball and watch reruns and be safe. “I want to go home,” I told Jo.

  “Gia, don’t decide anything right now. You need to talk to the officer first. You’ll feel better, and then if you still want to go home, you can, of course. Gia, I’ve known you for a long time and I’ve watched you go through hell, but I think Ethan could really help you move on from some of that shit. I’ve never seen you as alive as you’ve been this weekend. Consider him before you decide, please.” I knew she was right. I hadn’t been with someone like him, ever. But I didn’t deserve him and he’d know that soon enough. I’d get out before he saw the real Gia and then I’d stay perfect in his mind forever. But I had to get out of the truck and talk to the officer first.

  When I moved to get out I felt the soreness between my legs. It gave me butterflies as I remembered how it got that way. I wished I could be that Gia all the time. I wished I could tell Ethan everything and he’d still look at me the way he did now. But that’s not possible, no one could do that.

  I did what I had become so good at doing and I pushed it all down deep inside and put on a brave face for the officer.

  “Miss Stone.” He reached out to shake my hand. “I’m Detective Reynolds. I have a couple of questions for you about the incident that happened here yesterday.”

  I shook his hand and nodded.

  Ethan touched me on the shoulder. He looked worried about me. I forced a smile and he walked over to the motorhome where our friends were gathered.

  Detective Reynolds was very nice. He wrote in his little notebook as I told him what had happened at the VIP bar. He asked me a couple of easy questions and that was it! I was really relieved, and Jo was right, I felt much better, although I still thought about the safety net of my little apartment. I didn’t know if I could stay with Ethan knowing that Dana and Jo were further than a phone call away. I wanted to stay with him, but I was apprehensive now.

  As soon as Detective Reynolds started walking to his car, Ethan rushed over to me. He put his arms around me and held me. He knew that something about having to talk to the officer had upset me, but he didn’t ask me anything, he just held me. It felt so good. And I knew if I stayed he wouldn’t push me to tell him anything I wasn’t ready to. I fought back tears. I didn’t want a scene so I pushed everything down deep and decided I could be fun-loving Gia for one more day. I smiled and looked up at Ethan. When I looked into his eyes it made it really easy to forget about the bad stuff.

  ***

  Ethan

  I felt so bad about not having warned Gia that the detective wanted to talk to her before she left, but I didn’t think it was a big deal. It was obvious though that for some reason it was a big deal to her.

  “Ethan, could you give us a minute?” Jo asked me.

  “Sure.” I reached up and put my hand on Gia’s shoulder and she immediately looked down at her hands. It reminded me of the way she’d looked when I brought her back here after our first night together and she wouldn’t talk to or look at me. I was confused. I didn’t know what was going on. I got out of the truck even though I didn’t want to and walked over to the detective.

  “Ethan Lockwood,” I said to him and gave him a handshake.

  “Hi, Mr. Lockwood. Detective Reynolds. I was hoping to ask Miss Stone some questions about last night.”

  I wanted to tell him no. I wanted to protect Gia from whatever it was that scared her so, but I knew she had to talk to him sooner or later if we wanted to prosecute Rick. “Of course. But Miss Stone is a little nervous talking about it. She’s embarrassed by the whole thing and I know she just wants to get it behind her. Could you respect that and be sensitive with your questioning?”

  “Of course, Mr. Lockwood.” He seemed to get it.

  Gia and Jo got out of the truck. The detective introduced himself and Gia shook his hand. I touched her shoulder and she gave me a forced smile. I walked over to the others but kept my eyes on Gia. One sign of distress and I’m going to rescue her. I could hear Dana and Jo whispering and wondered what Jo and Gia had talked about in the truck. Then Jo came over to me.

  “Ethan, I’ve never seen Gia as happy and carefree as she’s been this weekend. I can tell that you care for her and that’s why I’m telling you this. Gia’s had some really traumatic times in her life and she has trouble dealing with them at times.” I wanted to run to her and hold her. “There are things that happened during her marriage that she doesn’t talk about.”

  “Other than the problems having a baby and the miscarriages and the fact that she was married to a selfish jerk who didn’t deserve her?” I asked Jo.

  She looked at me, shocked. “Holy shit, she told you all that?” Then she smiled. “I’m surprised she opened up to you that much in such a short time.” Then her face turned serious again. “Yes, there’s more to it than that. Lex did a real number on her. She has issues that she hasn’t dealt with and I’m not going to betray her trust by telling you about them, but you need to be patient with her and let her open up to you in her own time or you’ll scare her off. The fact that she’s told you so much already is unbelievable, she must really trust you.” That made me feel good.