Broken

We danced for endless moments, and really, I didn't care. Being so close to him, smelling his scent, my face resting on his shoulder, made me dream about life in a different way. As if there were only the two of us on earth and that he loved me. When the music stopped, he looked at me lovingly.

- So beautiful," he whispered huskily, caressing my face with his big hands. I clung to his touch, feeling his skin touching me. - What are you doing to me? - He lifted my face with a touch of his chin. I brought my lips close to his, I needed to kiss him. His scent invaded my nose, his warm breath was close to my mouth.

Colleri slid his hand from my chin to my throat, feeling my pulse shoot up in his grip, I moaned, our lips almost touching.

- Tell me to stop," he said, whispering so close to my mouth that I could feel his breath. - Just ask me to stop. I have more reasons not to carry on, but you're like an addiction that I can never get enough of.

- Then overdose on me. - I whisper against your lips.

Finally we kissed.

His mouth tasted like mint. The kiss I'd given Luck once was completely drained from my mind, any expectations I might have had were overcome by the touch of Ethan's lips, he didn't just kiss me, he made fucking love to my mouth. His hand is still on my throat, and holy shit I didn't need anything else. I could easily get addicted to his lips. He nibbled on my lower lip, sending a shock straight to my pussy.

He lowered his head to speak into my ear, -If you keep rubbing against me like that, I'm going to have to skip dinner, and go straight to dessert. - I feel the bulge in his pants harden, and I rub against it, throwing all reasoning out the window as his tongue demands entry into my mouth.

He doesn't stop until I'm breathless and my lips are swollen. Then he plays with my nose.

- Perfect," he whispered. - And so sweet. Your mouth smells like you. I wonder what else is sweet about you.

My body is screaming for contact, but your words caught my attention.

- Do I smell sweet? - I opened my eyes and smiled. - What do I smell like, anyway?

- You smell like jujube.

- Jujube? - I repeated, giggling.

- Yes, Nicole! - She laughed out loud. - And I love Jujube. - He pulled me back so that I was as close to him as I had been before. - Are you hungry?

- Yes, I am.

- Come on, I'm hungry too.

Ethan guided me to the table. He first dragged out the chair for me to sit down, then he sat down too. Julia, who I hadn't noticed, was there and served us.

- Lamb with mashed sweet potatoes and salad. - He presented the dish to me. - And grape juice. Wow. A friend told me you don't like champagne. He smiled.

Of course.

Dinner was perfect. We chatted about various subjects and I felt very comfortable with him. When Ethan had finished his juice, I stopped and noticed that there were circular marks on the palm of his right hand.

- What are those marks on your hand?

He looked at me as if he didn't want to tell me.

- I'm sorry, I didn't want to be inconvenient. I just saw it and couldn't help asking.

- It's okay," he said, resting his hands on the table. - But I don't want to spoil the evening. It's not a happy story, but maybe one day I'll tell you.

I gave a half-smile. - Sure, why not?

He took my hand on the table and started talking. - I know it might be early for this, but I was wondering if you'd go with me to New York.

Oh, no.

God knows I wanted to go with him, but how could I? As the months went by, he would find out about the pregnancy, and he was so kind, it wouldn't be fair for him to find out like this. I wanted to change everything so much. He looked at me with curious eyes. I carefully withdrew my hand.

- Do you have someone? - he asked seriously, a possessive growl in his tone.

- No. That's not it... - I replied, barely able to contain the disappointment in my voice.

- What is it, darling, you're white. - He held my hand on the table.

I just shook my head, looking anywhere but into his eyes. - There's something... there's something I haven't told you.

- Whatever it is, there's no need to worry. I'll help you with whatever you need. There's no need to be afraid.

- I-I... I... - I stuttered involuntarily. - I'm pregnant, Colle. I'm two months along.

Just then, I felt a tremendous weight come off my back, and a current squeezed my heart. I looked into his eyes, he seemed frozen. His body was tense, he clenched his jaw.

- I'm sorry," I continued. I should have told you. I'm also sure there's something about hiring pregnant women without proper registration, but I would never harm you.

- Do you think I really care that you have an unregistered pregnant employee?

The note of bitterness when he uttered "gravida" didn't go unnoticed by me.

- Everything was very complicated before I got here. - The tension was palpable and the adrenaline made me shiver. - If you'll let me explain... I know we're onto something here now. - My cheeks burned with shyness.

ETHAN began to shake his head negatively. - You don't owe me an explanation. I shouldn't have taken you the wrong way. - Although it hurt me, somehow it didn't seem cruel. - I'm sorry if you felt pressured in any way, I didn't mean to. - He lowered his gaze, clearly disappointed. - Besides, you're a teenager. Practically a child. I'm a grown man. - For God's sake, I should take care of you and not want to...

Fuck you He doesn't say it, but the words float in the air.

So I'm a way of making things right, after all, Colle has been nothing but good to me. And my hormones are driving me crazy, he definitely wouldn't do anything I didn't want him to. I wouldn't get pregnant if I was already pregnant.

- No, please don't think that. I wanted to, I feel so good with you around.

- Of course," he said quietly.

- Please don't hate me. - I ran my hand over his face.

- I don't hate you," he said dryly. He grabbed my hands and pulled them away from his face. - We have nothing," he said bitterly. - I crossed a line I shouldn't have crossed and I'm sorry for that. If I made you believe that we could be something other than employer and employee.

Even his tone became harsh. I looked at him sadly.

- I'm sorry, Nicole. I shouldn't have been rude, I just didn't expect it... this way," I said, returning the tenderness to his tone.

- No, you're right, we don't have anything, I should have told you as soon as I arrived. The truth is that I have nowhere to die, I'm pregnant and alone, my father died when I was eight, and after that, I lived in a boarding school. My mother, whom I hadn't seen for years, wanted to induce me to have an abortion, but I didn't want to. But I had nowhere else to turn, until Vivian told me about your father's debt. Then I met you, and I had no plans to tell you, I just wanted to find an honest way to support myself and the baby, I thought about working, having a house, being able to finish college. But it wasn't supposed to be like this... - I felt my voice weaken. - I wish it hadn't been so beautiful, and so kind, and so good for me and for everyone. I wish you hadn't done all this for me. You made my birthday the best.

I wish you hadn't kissed me, and then it wouldn't have been so hard. - I let out a sigh. His face was impossible to decipher.

- I'm sorry, Nicole," he said, getting up. - I just... I just... I can't stay. - He left, leaving me alone.

And for the second time, my heart broke.