30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 53: Unexpected Tenderness
Ethan’s fingers traced featherlight patterns on Lily’s back as he pulled her close, his grip tightening with each passing second. The delicate caress, unlike his usual firm hold, left Lily baffled. Her skin tingled where his hands brushed against her, sending cascades of shivers down her spine.
The insistent bubbling of the pot on the stove cut through the charged silence. "The soup might boil over," Lily murmured, her practical nature asserting itself even in this intimate moment.
"Lily!" Ethan’s voice came out as a strangled growl. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, now held a raw vulnerability that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Without warning, he crushed his lips against hers in a searing kiss before abruptly releasing her to tend to the stove.
As Ethan busied himself with the final preparations, Lily’s mind wandered. What secrets lay beneath that carefully constructed facade? The air crackled with unspoken tension, a heady mix of desire and hidden truths.
Two hours later, a feast worthy of a five-star restaurant covered the table. The aroma of spicy buffalo wings and creamy lobster bisque filled the air, a fiery landscape that mirrored the heat between them.
Ethan’s lips curled into a smirk as Lily’s eyes widened. "Try not to drool into the food, Lily," he teased, his voice low and rich.
Lily scoffed, ignoring the way her stomach clenched at his words. "I’m not that hungry," she lied, even as her mouth watered. "Let me use your phone. This spread deserves documentation."
Ethan’s eyebrow arched, suspicion darkening his gaze. "Why?"
"A meal cooked by the great Mr. Blackwood himself? This deserves to be immortalized," Lily explained, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she imagined the headline: "B.E. Asia-Pacific’s Mysterious CEO Exposed!"
"Be careful, Lily. With all that salivating, you might short-circuit my phone," Ethan purred, his smile sharp as he handed over the device.
Ethan’s hand shot out as Lily reached for the phone, gripping her wrist. In one fluid motion, he pulled her against his chest, her back flush against him. His arm snaked around her waist, holding her captive as he positioned the phone in front of them.
The camera clicked, capturing their image. Ethan studied the photo, his breath hot against Lily’s ear. "You could’ve at least looked at the camera," he murmured, his lips brushing her skin.
Lily’s heart raced, her body hyper-aware of every point of contact between them. "If you’re so dissatisfied, why keep it?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan’s only response was to tighten his grip before releasing her. "Take your pictures," he said, settling into a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving her.
As Lily photographed each dish, she couldn’t help but notice its unexpected simplicity. The juxtaposition of the high-end dining room with these comforting dishes left her puzzled.
"What made you want to learn this?" Lily asked, unable to contain her curiosity. "If I didn’t know you were Ethan Blackwood, I’d think you were just an ordinary person used to doing housework."
Lily knew she’d made a mistake when the words left her mouth. Ethan’s face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes. His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking as he fought to maintain control.
"Do you look down on ordinary people?" he asked, his voice as sharp as a blade.
Lily flinched at the accusation. "Look down on ordinary people? How could I?" A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "What right do I have to look down on anyone? I’m just an ordinary person myself. No, I’m worse off than ordinary people."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with the weight of her experiences, "I have no right to look down on anyone."
The tension in Ethan’s shoulders eased slightly, his eyes softening as he regarded her. Before he could respond, the phone in Lily’s hand vibrated. Without thinking, she answered, accidentally putting it on speakerphone.
"Ethan... Oh, you finally answered my call," a sultry female voice purred through the speaker. "I’ve missed you so much... I have..."
Lily’s stomach twisted, a flicker of jealousy igniting in her chest. She held the phone out to Ethan, struggling to keep her expression neutral.
The woman continued, her voice dripping with false vulnerability. "Ethan, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn at the charity gala... Please don’t cut me out of the role..."
Lily recognized the voice as Emily Prescott’s, memories of their hostile encounter were flooding back.
"Ethan, why aren’t you saying anything?" Emily’s voice turned breathy. "It’s been so long since I’ve kept you company. Ethan... mmm..."
Lily’s fingers tightened around the phone as Emily’s moans filled the air. "Miss Prescott, your bedroom voice is quite captivating," she said, surprising herself with her boldness.
Ethan’s eyes widened, a slow smile spreading across his face. In one swift motion, he pulled Lily onto his lap, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth.
Emily’s voice turned hard. "Who are you, you bitch? How did you get Ethan’s private number? Lily?"
"I’m impressed you remember my voice, Miss Prescott," Lily replied coolly. "Ethan isn’t available to visit any clubs right now. He’s having dinner with me."
Ethan’s grip on her waist tightened, his eyes darkening with desire as he watched Lily stand her ground.
"And he’ll be spending the night by my side, so I doubt he’ll be hearing your ’moving’ performance," Lily added, her voice laced with possessiveness that surprised even herself.
Ethan’s chest rumbled with a low chuckle. He leaned in, his lips grazing her ear. "I prefer hearing you," he murmured, his voice husky with desire.
Lily shivered, her body responding to his touch despite her efforts to remain composed.
"Lily, you bitch!" Emily screeched through the phone.
"I wonder, Miss Prescott," Lily said, her voice deceptively calm, "will you still be in the entertainment industry after being removed from Blackwood Enterprises? Or will you change careers?"
The line went silent.
"If I may offer some advice, changing careers might be best. Your acting skills are quite lacking. All you did was moan from start to finish," Lily said before ending the call.
As the adrenaline faded, worry crept in. "You’re not going to reinstate her as the lead in ’Kill,’ right?" Lily asked, suddenly aware of the potential consequences of her actions.
"Lily," Ethan said, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he gestured towards the table. "Your temper matches those buffalo wings."
"Let’s eat before the food gets cold," Lily suggested, attempting to stand.
"Don’t move," Ethan ordered, holding her in place as he transferred the photos to his home computer. Once he had done so, he tossed the phone into the trash. "The private number’s been leaked. I’ll take you to buy a new phone after dinner."
Lily’s heart raced at the prospect. "Buy me a phone?" she asked, hope coloring her voice.
Ethan’s gaze cooled. "It’ll be programmed only to call my phone."
Lily’s brief moment of joy evaporated. A phone that could only call this tyrant? She’d rather not have one at all.
Lily’s gaze fell on a sketch pad in the corner as they moved to the table. Ethan picked it up, revealing a pencil drawing of himself cooking. The simple lines captured a rare moment of vulnerability.
"Were you secretly drawing me?" Ethan asked, his eyes twinkling.
Lily felt heat rise to her cheeks. "I was just doodling," she mumbled, reaching for the sketch.
Ethan pulled her close, his lips warm against her forehead. "Lily," he said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. "Do you love me that much?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Lily’s heart skipped a beat. It was just a sketch, for heaven’s sake! And yet, a part of her was thrilled at the possibility.
Lily found herself caught between conflicting emotions as they sat down to eat. The air crackled with unresolved tension, desire, and the weight of their shared history. In this moment, surrounded by Ethan’s culinary creations and her own artistic impulse, Lily felt both trapped and strangely free. The journey ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear – nothing would ever be simple between them.
