"A bit of fun."

  I fold the handkerchief diagonally. Then I climb back on the bed and straddle Stella's thighs.

  "Close your eyes," I tell her.

  She bites down on her lower lip and obeys.

  I tie the handkerchief around her eyes.

  "Too tight?" I ask after making the knot.

  "No."

  I examine the blindfold from the front. It doesn't look like it might fall off.

  "Can you see?" I ask Stella.

  She smooths the handkerchief over her eyes. "No."

  I believe her. Still, I don't want to risk her taking a peek. I get another idea.

  "One more second."

  I head back to the closet to grab a necktie. I wrap it around Stella's wrists.

  "Just so you won't peek," I tell her.

  She frowns. "Don't you trust me?"

  "I do." I kiss her hands. "But I think your hands go out of control sometimes."

  She chuckles because she knows it's true.

  I run my fingers through her hair and touch her cheek. "The question is: Do you trust me?"

  Stella pauses a second. Then she draws a deep breath and nods.

  "I do."

  Good girl.

  I reward her with a kiss, gentle at first but I press my lips against hers more fiercely as I push her down on the bed. I slip my tongue inside her mouth. She opens it wide, surrendering to me. I cup her face and let my tongue explore the moist cavern. She sticks her tongue out and I suck on it. Then I lick her lips. She lifts her head slightly as she tries to capture mine.

  My eyebrows arch. Even with the blindfold and her hands tied, she's still aggressive. In fact, she seems even more so. Is the fact that she's restrained bringing her to a new level of excitement?

  I grin against her mouth. Just as I thought, there's a wild pixie inside her, hiding beneath her delicate shell of perfection. But I'm the one who's in control right now.

  I pull my mouth away and lift Stella's arms so they're above her head. I press my lips against her palms and then I pepper one of her arms with kisses while caressing the other, all the way down to her armpit. I breathe in the floral scent of her deodorant before planting a kiss there, too. Stella twitches and sucks in a breath.

  I guess that part of her is as ticklish as I expected. I'm curious to know what other parts of her body are.

  I begin my quest. First, I lick her ear. That draws the usual gasp. Next, I drag my mouth to the side of her neck and suck on her soft skin, gently so as not to leave a mark. She moans. Good, but not ticklish. I take off her bra and pause to admire her pert nipples before swiping my tongue against one. Stella trembles and lets out another moan. Ticklish and good. Then again, I already knew that.

  Let's try something I haven't done before.

  I let out a breath against her navel and then plant a kiss on it. She sucks in her stomach but doesn't make a sound. Okay. Not there. I rub my lips against her ribs next. To my surprise, Stella giggles.

  That's something I haven't heard before. And I like it.

  I lick that same spot and Stella twitches and squirms. She gasps and giggles. I guess I hit the jackpot.

  "Stop!" Stella screams mid-giggle.

  I mischievously give just one more lick before stopping. Then I move on.

  I find myself staring at her underwear, the front moist. I know if I take it off and lick her there I'll get a wild reaction for sure, but I decide to save that for later. I move my mouth to the inside of her thigh and suck the soft flesh. I slide my lips a few inches lower and she gasps again before giving a soft giggle.

  I've found another ticklish spot. Not as ticklish as the other one, but still worth noting.

  Before she can beg me to stop, I move on to her knees. Just like her armpits, the backs of her knees seem to be sensitive. I know the soles of her feet must be, too, but I don't want her to kick me, so I switch directions.

  I've found what I'm looking for. Now to indulge in what I want.

  I pull her underwear off and toss it aside. Then I spread her legs and settle between them.

  Stella has grown silent. I think she's holding her breath. Which only makes me want to draw noises out of her all the more.

  She lasts for about five seconds while I rub the tip of my tongue against her wet, quivering opening. Then I slip it inside her and she gasps. I spread her with my fingers and push the rest of my tongue in, letting it explore and be immersed in her intoxicating sweetness. Stella moans.

  When I lick her nub, the moans grow louder. Her hips rise. I hold them down as I let the tip of my tongue press against that bud of flesh, so tiny and yet so capable of driving her wild.

  Her most secret and sensitive spot.

  "Ethan!" Stella calls out my name as she pulls at my hair.

  Maybe next time I'll tie her hands to the bedposts so she can't touch me at all, but for now, I've done enough.

  I've had enough.

  I take my leaking cock out of my boxers, turn Stella around and plunge it inside her. I manage to get about two-thirds of it inside her on my first try this time, and I groan. Fuck, she's tight.

  I pause just a second to catch my breath before grabbing her arms by the elbows and starting my thrusts. With each one, I can feel the passage melting even more, but it's also getting tighter. Her velvety skin is clinging to my cock, threatening to squeeze every drop of cum I have in me.

  Fuck.

  The passage grows even tighter as Stella screams my name once more. Her body arches backwards. I pull her against me and wrap my arms around her breasts as I give one final thrust. The back of her shoulder muffles my grunts as I spill myself deep inside her.

  I plant a kiss there before letting her go. Stella collapses forward, panting. After I pull my cock out, she lies on her side. I lie down beside her as I, too, wait for my breathing and my heart rate to slow down.

  Stella frees her wrists on her own. Then she takes off her blindfold and looks at me.

  "How was it?" I ask her.

  She shrugs. "Different."

  "Did you like it?"

  She grins. "What do you think?"

  "I think we both did," I answer before kissing her cheek. Then I get off the bed. "I also think I need a shower."

  I head to the bathroom. Before I turn on the water, I hear footsteps outside and glance at the door. For a moment, I think Stella might join me, but the door remains closed and I hear another one open.

  She's gone.

  As she should be. There's no reason for her to stay to cuddle or talk. As unbelievable as the sex is, once it's over, we go back to being boss and assistant. Once this trip is over and we get back home to Chicago, that's all we'll be.

  The thought of going back to spending my nights after work alone pricks my chest. Will I really never be able to have sex with Stella again even though every moment of it has been amazing, even though our bodies are so compatible?

  Suddenly, an idea occurs to me. What if we continue with this arrangement of being sex partners? We just have to be more discreet, have sex less frequently, maybe once or twice a week. Unless we're out of town. Then we can do it every night. Another reason to bring her along on these business trips.

  My lips curve into a grin.

  That sounds like a nice arrangement. Stella and I can keep satisfying each other's physical needs. She won't be lonely. I can get my mind off work. We might even be able to do our jobs better and work better together.

  Of course, Asher and Ryker won't approve. But who cares? I'm not going to marry her. Like Asher said, I just want to fuck her. And maybe spend time with her so she doesn't miss her family so much, and let her experience new, wonderful things to write down in her journal. That's all.

  I turn on the water and step under the torrent, sighing in contentment as the warm drops wash away the coat of sweat and every trace of Stella from my skin.

  I'm definitely not in love with her.

  Chapter Eleven

  Stella

  I'm in love with Ethan.

  As I walk by his side on the trail up to the top of Uetliberg, my heart won't stay still. My eyes keep wandering over to his face, to those sublime features that have long been appearing in my dreams, and each time our gazes meet by accident, my breath catches. I look away quickly, before he can see my cheeks blazing, then smile to myself. The same whenever my hand brushes unintentionally against his.

  I'm in love.

  I thought I just had a grown woman crush. It started out as piqued curiosity, interest in a man with good looks and impressive credentials, which spiked when I first met him and saw how much hotter he looked in a suit in person. That turned into admiration after I started working for him. How could I not admire someone who works so hard day after day, who makes difficult decisions without breaking a sweat, who keeps his shoulders straight when they're carrying the weight of the world? Then, because I am a grown woman, some of that became lust. I tried so hard to control and conceal it, but it just went wild when we first had sex. It should have been appeased then, but no. It just keeps growing more and more intense. Last night, I was blown out of my mind. And when I came back to it, I realized that it was still not enough. Sex isn't enough. I don't just want his body. I want his heart, his soul. I don't just want the good. I want the bad, too. And everything in between.

  I want all of Ethan.

  Maybe I always have and I've just been denying it, fighting it because the voice in my head told me it wasn't right. Because he's my boss. He still is, and I don't know why that doesn't seem to matter anymore. I mean, of course it still matters. It's why we can't be a couple. But I no longer see why I can't love him because of it.

  I love him in spite of the fact that he's my boss, in spite of me knowing that we're from different worlds, in spite of my fears that one of these days he'll marry a woman as rich and successful as he is. I just do. Of course, it would be nice if he considered me instead, but I'm not hoping for or expecting anything from him. I'm happy to just be by his side.

  I steal another glance at him. This time, I can't help but smile. Suddenly, he turns his head. I clasp my hand over my mouth as I silently scold myself.

  Shit.

  "Are you alright?" Ethan stops and turns to me.

  I put on a straight face as I rub my hands. "Yup."

  He doesn't look convinced. "Cold?"

  I realize I am as an icy breeze blows. It may still be summer, but here on this Swiss mountain, it feels like winter. Even with this coat I'm wearing, I still feel like shivering. Maybe I should have worn a turtleneck underneath, or an extra layer of clothing.

  I wrap my arms tightly around myself. "A little. But I'll be fine."

  We're almost to the restaurant anyway. I'm sure it will be warmer there.

  Still, Ethan takes off his scarf.

  "Here," he says as he starts to wrap it around my neck.

  I give him a look of concern. "But..."

  "I was born in Chicago in winter," Ethan tells me. "I can stand the cold better, I think."

  I wonder if that's true. Then again, I do remember that he only wears a single coat and a scarf on winter days, whereas I'm always all bundled up.

  "Also, I survived staying at an inn in Hokkaido that had a broken heater. Also in winter."

  I look at him with wide eyes. I always thought he only stayed at first-class hotels that had the best of everything.

  I touch the scarf. "Thank you."

  Since he went through all the effort of wrapping it around my neck and trying to convince me he doesn't need it, I might as well accept it.

  I bring the scarf up to my chin. The wool feels nice. Soft and warm. And it smells of Ethan's aftershave, too.

  I close my eyes as I breathe in the scent. Something about it just makes me feel safe, happy.

  "Besides, we'll be at the restaurant soon," Ethan says.

  I open my eyes to find that he's slipped his hands inside his pockets and continued walking.

  "Or so I hope. I know Simone Odermatt said this place was excellent and even went through the trouble of booking it for us, but I wish he'd mentioned that we had to walk from the car to get to it."

  "At least we get nice views," I say as I catch up with him.

  The sun has started to set, so right now the clouds and the surrounding mountains look like they're glowing. I can also catch a glimpse of the city and the lake down below. I can only imagine how much more enchanting it will look at night.

  "Too bad your brothers don't get to see them."

  Ethan shrugs. "Well, it can't be helped that Ryker has work. And Asher wanted to see a different Swiss mountain."

  I know. Asher went to see the Matterhorn and Ryker had another meeting with some executives from Odermatt Corp. after the one that he and Ethan attended this morning.

  "Why?" Ethan asks. "Do you miss them? You and Asher seem to have grown close."

  My eyes grow wide. Me and Asher? Well, he did talk to me a lot yesterday. Flirted, even.

  Wait a second. Is Ethan jealous?

  It's an absurd idea and yet I feel like smiling again. After all, if Ethan's jealous of another man, his brother no less, that means he cares about me, right? Maybe there's a chance he even... loves me, too?

  I know I said I wasn't hoping for anything from Ethan, but his words just lit a spark inside of me and now I can't help but feel hope. I guess if you really love someone, you want them to love you back.

  "If you don't want to be alone with me, we can just turn back," Ethan says.

  "After walking all this way? No." I shake my head. "And I don't mind being here with you."

  To be honest, even though it may sound awful, I'm not sorry Asher and Ryker aren't here. In fact, I'm glad. I get to visit a romantic restaurant atop a Swiss mountain with just Ethan. It's almost like a date.

  I wonder if it's alright to think of it as one.

  "Good," Ethan says. "Because to be honest, I don't think I can walk back to the car before getting some food in me first. What about you? Hungry?"

  "A little," I answer. "I hope the food is good."

  ~

  It is.

  A sausage and cheese salad. Salt-crusted rack of lamb. And now, a raspberry and spiced rose meringue parfait with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup and thin honey biscuits on top. I pick one up and marvel at the design on it. It looks like a bouquet of flowers.

  "It's called a tirggel," Ethan informs me. "Traditionally, they're baked during Christmas with designs of old buildings, knights and horse-drawn carriages."

  Interesting.

  I take a bite out of it and get a loud crunch. It's a little too hard for my liking, but it does taste good.

  "You should see Zurich at Christmas," Ethan says. "It's beautiful."

  "I can imagine." I gather some of the whipped cream with the rest of the biscuit and pop it into my mouth. "I've never been anywhere but home for Christmas."

  For the past two years, I spent the holidays alone at my apartment, which I don't want to think about.

  "In fact, I've hardly been anywhere."

  "Oh, you'll get around," Ethan tells me before taking a sip from his glass of wine. "Because I'll be bringing you along on all my business trips from now on."

  My eyes grow wide. "You're kidding."

  He looks at me. "Do I look like I'm kidding?"

  No. Even so, what he just said sounds too good to be true.

  "I'd be a fool not to bring you after how helpful you've proven to be during this trip," he adds. "Besides, it's more fun traveling with you."

  I stare at my parfait. I still can't believe it. More trips like this? More meals like this? More...?

  I pause. He said it's more fun traveling with me, right?

  Did he say that because of all the sex we've been having? Is he saying there's going to be more, that this is going to be a thing - us having sex on the side whenever he's doing business out of town?

  "I can even bring you along the next time I go on vacation," Ethan says. "Maybe on Christmas? You and I can come back here to Zurich. Or we can try Vienna or Prague or one of the German cities. They're all beautiful at that time of year."

  Christmas with Ethan? It sounds like a dream come true.

  "Don't you usually spend Christmas with your father and brothers?" I ask him.

  "Usually," he answers. "But it doesn't always have to be that way."

  I pause in the middle of lifting my spoon. My heart sinks because I remember what he said about his father wanting him to get married.

  Should I ask him about it again? But last time, he didn't want to talk about it. He looked annoyed, even. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to ruin the mood.

  But it seems mine has already cracked, weighed down by the image of Ethan spending future Christmases with his own family, with his wife and children. If only they could be mine.

  Wait. I'm dreaming of having his kids now?

  "Is something wrong?" Ethan asks.

  He must have noticed the shadow hanging over me.

  I try to shake it off as I dig into my parfait. "What do you usually do during the holidays?"

  "Not much," Ethan says. "The company party is the grand affair. When Christmas Day comes, we usually just laze around all day and have dinner together."

  "You don't exchange presents?"

  "Not anymore."

  I guess it's hard to give presents to people who can buy everything they want.

  "What about you?" Ethan asks me. "What did you and your family use to do for Christmas?"

  "On Christmas Day? We'd start by exchanging presents around the tree, then I'd help my mom start preparing dinner. We'd usually have it early, like around five, so that we could watch movies afterwards."

  Ethan nods. "Sounds like fun."

  "Yeah."

  Those Christmas days really were. Oh, what I'd do to bring them back.

  Ethan places his hand over mine.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up the past and make you sad."

  I shake my head. "I'm not. Those were happy memories, the ones that no one should ever forget."

  They're the proof that my mother and father existed and that they'll always be with me.

  "But I'd rather hear yours," I tell Ethan. "Surely, you must have a few."

  He leans back in his chair. "What do you want to know?"

 

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