Moth to Flame

CHAPTER 10.1

He didn't want to relent, but I gave him my puppy dog eyes, and he caved. "f**k, Mia. You know I'd do anything you say when you look at me like that."

I took out my wallet and paid for the meal. I saw Ethan eye the amount I left. I knew he planned to reimburse me when he got the chance.

By the time we got back to the car, Ethan was exhausted. He leaned his chair back so he could rest comfortably. I pulled my comfy green shamrock throw out of my bag and wrapped it around him. He looked so cute lying on the leather seats. I saw his eyes start to droop, and minutes later, he fell asleep. His long eyelashes were resting against his cheeks and his lips were in a perfect pout. Seeing him like that made me think of our children and what they might look like. I hoped that they would be like Ethan, in looks at least.

I drove for a little more than an hour before I had to pull over to get gas. This Hummer was definitely not a green car. I would have to make a donation to some environmental group to atone for the sin of driving a gas guzzler. I didn't want to wake Ethan up, so I pumped the gas myself. A tall blond guy was looking over at me. I didn't like his staring because he was doing it in a lewd manner.

I was almost finished when he spoke. "Hey baby, what's a little girl like you doing driving that beast?" I ignored him.

Unfortunately, the credit card machine was broken, so I had to go inside to pay. The gas station was pretty full. I took a place in line. The same jerk from outside came to stand behind me.

"Hey honey, you're sexy as hell. Since you seem to know how to handle big things, I'll bet you can handle riding my monster c**k. Would you like that?"

His breath stank of beer, and he was standing too close for comfort. I turned around to tell him to back off, but before I could, a shadow fell over both of us. When I looked up, I saw the enraged eyes of my lover.

Oh no.

Ethan came to stand behind me and pulled me to his chest. He never broke eye contact with the pesky i***t as he bent down until his lips caressed my ear. "Is this asshole bothering you, baby doll? Just say the word and I'll kick his ass."

I didn't want a confrontation so I shook my head. "It's nothing I can't handle. Besides, he was just leaving."

Ethan let me go to stand directly in front of the anonymous bastard. He pulled the man's arm behind his back and twisted hard. His voice was deathly quiet as he said, "You're going to leave this store and not look back. If you think of doing something to my car, I'll kill you. Get the f**k out of here before I lose my f*****g temper." After that, he dropped the guy's arm. The jerk scrambled from the store so fast I'd have thought the devil was chasing him.

I put my arms around Ethan and hugged him. "I love you, Neanderthal. I can take care of myself, but you going all Neanderthal is hot."

He smirked and stroked my hair. "You should have woken me up to pump and pay. I don't like you going places without me."

I shook my head and turned to face the front of the line. Ethan and I got into an argument at the cash register when I tried to pay for the gas. Ethan won that round because he flirted with the old cashier. She thought it was sweet that my 'beau' wanted to treat me. I kept my mouth shut.

When we got outside, Ethan inspected the Hummer. Deeming it okay, he helped me into the driver's seat. He kept sneaking glances at me as we made our way back onto the highway.

"What did that asshole say to you, baby doll?"

Shoot. I didn't want to tell him that.

"Um, he just came onto me. He said something about me driving a big car so I would know how to handle his…manhood." Ethan let out a litany of profanity before he was able to calm down. "It's okay, Ethan. I'm a woman. There's always some jerk who will come on to me. I've been used to it since I grew breasts." I was smiling and trying to make it seem like no big deal.

"I don't like that s**t. A grown man should not throw himself at a woman who clearly doesn't want his ass. It's f*****g pathetic."

He took out his tablet and earphones and began watching a movie. I tried to concentrate on driving the Hummer but I kept turning to look at Ethan. He must have been watching a comedy because he was smiling. I loved when he was relaxed and just enjoying himself.

Soon, I saw a sign that advertised a park ahead. Since it was lunch time, I figured we might as well pull in and eat. Ethan turned off his movie and repacked his laptop. I told him my plan and he agreed. I parked near some trees and we got out of the car. Because it was wet, we just lifted the back of the Hummer and sat there. I set our blankets and pillows up so we would be comfy. Then, I opened a container filled with ravioli and gave it to Ethan.

"Baby doll, you rock. I love ravioli. This is f*****g perfect."

When I pulled out my homemade garlic bread, Ethan almost went crazy. I loved watching him eat my cooking. After we finished, I gave him the date bars that I packed. He loved those, too, and ate almost half the container.

We walked around the park a little bit and fed the ducks some scraps. There were a few families out, but it was too wet to do much. Ethan and I returned to our car and continued our road trip.

He was distracting me by twirling a piece of my hair and giving me googly eyes. Eventually, he stopped and tried to take another nap. He had grown fond of my blanket so he wrapped it around himself. The next time I looked over, he was snoring lightly. I giggled and went back to driving.

I stopped at one more gas station before we made it to our destination. Luckily, Ethan slept through that fill up and the credit card machine worked, so I didn't have to go inside. When we entered Sequim, Ethan woke up and yawned.

"We're here. This is my hometown. I hope it doesn't bore you to tears."

He smirked and leaned over to kiss my cheek. "I could never hate any place that raised my baby doll." He always knew just the right thing to say.

I saw lights in the mirror and realized we were about to be pulled over by the police. I checked to make sure I had been doing the speed limit. I had, so I wondered why we were being stopped.

Ethan sat up in his seat and looked behind us. I was scared he might lose his temper on a cop and get arrested. Suddenly, someone knocked on the driver's side window. I opened my door to step out as Ethan tried to grab my arm.

Before I could ask the officer what the problem was, I was picked up off the ground and enclosed in a pair of strong arms. I looked up to see that it was Richard, one of my high school friends hugging me. I let out a relieved sigh and hugged him back.

Unfortunately, I forgot about Ethan. He was out of the car in a flash. Richard was huge, but Ethan pulled me out of his arms. He didn't even glance at me before he punched Richard in the nose. There was blood everywhere.

"Ethan, stop! This is Officer Richard Black. He's my friend. Don't hurt him."

My boyfriend stopped long enough to gape at me. He looked angry and a little hurt. I helped Richard up and went to the car to get a rag and cold water. I wet the cloth and tried to clean Richard up. Ethan was leaning on the Hummer brooding while Richard gave him the death eye.

"I don't know who you are, but I should arrest you for assaulting an officer."

Ethan gave Richard a cocky grin."You can try, pig. I'll be out before you process the goddamned papers."

Richard was about to reach for his handcuffs, so I diffused the situation.

"Richard. This is Ethan Sodero. He's my boyfriend. I assure you he meant no harm. He's just protective, and he thought you were hurting me. I promise that it won't happen again."

Ethan turned his angry glare on me. "Richard? Did you date this fucker, Mia? Is he an old boyfriend?"

I squeezed my fists because Ethan was trying really hard to piss me off.

"No, Richard is my friend. His dad and my dad used to fish together before…" I broke off, unable to finish the sentence which would end with mentioning my father's death.

Richard put one of his massive arms around my shoulders, trying to calm me down. He was sending Ethan the evilest look known to man. Ethan did have the sense to look ashamed.

He walked over and removed Richard's arm from my shoulder. Richard hesitated for a minute but then let me go. Ethan took my hand.

"Baby doll, I'm so f*****g sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Please forgive me." He picked me up and cradled me to his chest before setting me back down.

"I forgive you, Ethan, but stop jumping to conclusions. Talk to me before you make assumptions."

Richard took in the gentle way Ethan held me and his shoulders relaxed. He told me that he recognized me in the Hummer, and that was why he pulled me over. I decided that he should follow us to the local diner so that we could catch up and grab some coffee. Ethan looked like I had just keyed his car, but he agreed.

We pulled in front of the diner and went inside. Richard and I stopped to talk to some of the townsfolk. Ethan got plenty of admiring and suspicious glances, so I introduced him as my boyfriend.

Since I had such a great reputation in town, they accepted Ethan without too many questions. We took a booth and my lover sat next to me. Richard sat on the other side. We ordered coffee and pie and sat around talking.

Our coffee came by way of Howie. I motioned for him to put the coffee pot down so I could give him a hug. I had been babysitting Howie since he was four. He was so tall, but he still had his baby face. He picked me up off the ground and squeezed me. He glanced at the table and put his body between mine and Ethan when he saw the rage in Ethan's eyes.

"It's okay, Howie. This is my boyfriend." I introduced them and Ethan relaxed. I was getting so sick of the Neanderthal. I hoped I wouldn't run into any more men today. Howie chatted for a while before he had to go get an order.

Richard was looking at me anxiously. I met his stare head on. "So, Mia, how did you meet Mr. Sodero?"

Ethan was about to make a smart remark, so I jumped in first. "I work for Ethan. He owns several clubs. I'm his private secretary."

Richard snorted. "So he took advantage of you? Mia, he's your boss for Christ's sake."

Ethan pounded on the table, causing several patrons to look our way. Richard was skating on thin ice.

"Um… no. Ethan just happens to be my boss. He did not take advantage of me in any way. Please don't say stuff like that, Richard. You know no one can make me do anything." Both Ethan and Richard agreed with that, nodding their heads in unison.

Richard was now an officer for the Sequim Police Department. We reminisced about old times we spent together. Ethan went off when he found out I used to ride motorcycles with Richard.

After he calmed down, Richard told us that he was dating a local girl, and they were happy. We made a few more jokes, and then Richard had to leave. I stood up to hug him goodbye and we made plans for him and his girl to come visit me in Seattle. He gave Ethan a curt nod before exiting.

I was watching his retreating form walk out of the diner when Ethan interrupted me. "You look sad to see him go, baby doll. Was he more to you than you're telling me?"

I kissed the back of Ethan's hand. "Richard was just my older friend. He was like another big brother to me. We did kiss once…" Ethan's fist started balling up "...but we decided to just stay friends. Our relationship was strictly platonic." We finished our coffee, and Ethan paid the bill.

This time he insisted on driving. I was in no mood to argue, so I let him. Before long, we pulled up to a large cabin with wood stacked out front. It had beautiful windows that faced the forest. I could see some beautiful wildflowers growing out front. I had never hung out in this part of Sequim. The cabin looked fairly new, so it had probably been built after I left. The house sat on a large portion of land, and there were no neighbors nearby.

Of course, Ethan wouldn't let me help carry any bags in, so I took a tour of the cabin. There were five large bedrooms, a den with a large television, a state of the art kitchen, and three large bathrooms. There were also glass doors that led to a backyard with a huge hot tub. Everything was beautiful, but it was too big. We were only two people here for one weekend.

After he was done unloading the bags, Ethan came to stand beside me. "How do you like it, baby doll? It's supposed to be the most luxurious cabin available for rent."

I intertwined mine and Ethan's fingers and glanced up at him. "I love it. It's so big, but it's perfect." He leaned down to kiss me. We broke apart before the kissing turned into more.

I knew it was time for me to do the dreaded task. "Ethan, I'm ready to go to the graveyard now. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."

He hugged me to his chest and kissed my brow. "Of course I'm coming with you. I'm always here for you. I love you." I felt relieved. I was prepared to go by myself, but knowing that Ethan would be by my side would make the journey bearable.

"Okay, let me just grab a jacket."

Ethan went out to start the car while I changed. When I got outside, he was standing by the passenger door waiting to help me inside. He copped a feel as he lifted me into my seat. I just blushed and giggled. The drive to the cemetery was quiet. I was thankful because I was in no mood to talk.

We parked in the visitor's space and walked to the plots that belonged to my parents. I was feeling emotional today; so when I saw Christine and Mitch's gravestones I broke down. Deep sobs came out of my throat. Ethan was holding me and trying to shush me, but I couldn't stop. Seeing my parents' graves hadn't affected me like that since I’d turned eighteen and came to tell them goodbye.

"I'm… sssorry… I… can't…" I really wanted to be strong, but I couldn't right then.

Ethan sat down on the ground between the plots and pulled me onto his lap. "Don't cry, angel. I can't stand to see you cry. Please, Mia. I'm here and I love you."

I could feel Ethan's heartbeat speed up. I knew my breakdown was freaking him out, so I reigned in my emotions. Ethan went through my purse until he found some tissues. He handed one to me and watched as I wiped my eyes. I probably looked horrible, but he leaned in to give me a gentle kiss. I managed to smile in return.

We put flowers on the graves and I introduced them to Ethan. I left out all the stuff about him being a mobster because I didn't want Mitch's law-abiding soul to start haunting Ethan. I told my parents about all that had happened since I was last here. It felt good to clear the air and let go of my past.

We stayed in the graveyard for a little over an hour. Ethan never left my side or let go of my hand. He offered to have my parents moved to a private crypt in Seattle, but I declined. Mitch and Christine had both loved Sequim, and this was where they would want to be.

Oddly, I felt high after we left the graveyard. I wanted to do something exciting and reckless. I looked over at Ethan, but he was concentrating on driving, staring straight ahead.

It was now or never. "Um, Ethan. Do you want to go and do something?"

He looked worried. "Baby doll, are you sure you don't want to rest? You drove here, and you haven't had a nap all day."

There was too much adrenaline pumping through my veins. I would never get to sleep. "No, I want to go. Pretty please, lover."

He raised his eyebrows at the 'lover' part. I knew I had him when I heard him let out an exasperated sigh. "f**k. Okay, but when we get to the cabin, I'm going to have my way with you." The thought of Ethan's hands on my body almost made me want to cancel our trip.

Ethan put on his music, and I started bouncing on my seat. "Calm down, baby doll. We'll be there soon." Smiling, I took my seat belt off and reached over the console to stroke Ethan's junk.

He let out a loud hiss as I giggled. "Mia, you're playing with fire here. I'm trying to drive."

I winked at him and went back to staring out my window.

Downtown was pretty popular on the weekends, so the traffic was heavier than usual, and there were lots of people out on the sidewalks.

"So, baby doll, what do you want to do?"

I looked out my window. There was a neon sign advertising a pleasure shop. Ethan noticed me looking and grinned.

"Are you sure?" he asked skeptically.

I nodded.

He pulled into the parking lot and we walked into the store. Surprisingly, it was full of customers. There were huge dildos and vibrators of all sizes. Some of the dildos were so big I wondered how any woman could fit them inside her v****a. Ethan was familiar with almost all the products. I teased him by calling him a freak, which caused him to smack me on the butt.

I knew he was planning to make love to me on my birthday. He hadn't given me the details yet, but I saw it in his personal calendar when I was looking for something else. The picture of a broken cherry drawn on September thirteenth had caught my eye. I'd laughed for hours thinking about that drawing.

Ethan wrapped his arm around me and nibbled on my ear. He guided me to some massage oils and let me pick out the scents I liked. I ended up with twenty different bottles. Ethan smirked.

Next, he picked up some lube, which I'm sure was to be used for my first time. I had been blushing since we entered the shop, and it only got worse.

A saleswoman came over to see if we needed any help. She and Ethan got into a conversation about the best vibrators on the market. Ethan was so sexually experienced that nothing she said embarrassed him. He kept his hand on my hip during the entire conversation.

I zoned out after the word 'p***y' was used for the fiftieth time and instead recited a Shakespearean sonnet in my head. Ethan sensed my discomfort and leaned down to kiss my forehead.

I let him choose the vibrator because I wasn't an expert. He ended up choosing something called The Adonis. He also bought a lot of other stuff. When the cashier rang him up, the total was over three hundred dollars. I gasped at the bill, but Ethan just shrugged.

We drove in relative silence because I was still trying to stop my heart from beating out of my chest. Ethan, however, had a huge smile on his face as he whistled. My adventurous spirit was satiated for now. We left downtown after stopping to have a steak dinner.

Later, we walked on the beach hand in hand. Ethan's large footprints beside my smaller ones left imprints in the sand. There was a full moon outside, and he looked amazing in the light.

He kissed me relentlessly, like he couldn't get enough. My lips were swollen and I was as wet as the water on the beach.

"Let's go home, Ethan."

We couldn't keep our hands off of each other in the car. Once inside the house, we stripped and ran for the hot tub. Ethan flipped the switch, and we kissed while waiting for the water to heat. He ran to the house to get something. When he returned, he was holding my new vibrator in his hand. I blushed fire engine red. He laid a towel on the deck surrounding the tub and kissed me.

His cool lips felt like heaven to my scorching hot skin. He nibbled on my hard n*****s, earning several moans from me. I was writhing beneath him. "Please... need... more."

He silenced my begging with a sloppy kiss. I heard the vibrator start up as Ethan inserted it into my sopping core. I screamed when I came from the simulation.

Ethan lowered his body onto mine. "I'm sorry, baby doll. I probably need to turn down the vibration." I could only moan because there were still shards of electricity shooting across my skin. He put it into me again at a lower speed. This time, I came after five minutes. Ethan really enjoyed experimenting with the vibrator. He brought me to two more orgasms before I begged him to stop.

"You like that, don't you? I promise you, my c**k is better."

I couldn't wait for Ethan to be inside of me. I had begun taking birth control the week after I met him because I didn't want to have to use a condom.

I pulled him back down to me and ravaged his mouth. I did manage to give Ethan a hand job. He came in record time because he was so aroused from watching me come so many times.

When we could move again, he lifted us off of the ground. He had to carry me because my legs were still boneless. Once in the hot tub, I straddled Ethan and put my head on his neck. I sucked and licked his collarbones, leaving him with a hickey for once. He just laughed and teased me about being possessive, too.

For over an hour, we made out like horny teenagers. Ethan dipped us down in the water for a minute. I came up laughing and sputtering. He held me tight and squeezed my butt.

"I f*****g love you, Mia Watson. I can't wait to make love to you."

I wiped some stray tears from my eyes before answering him. "I love you too, Ethan Sodero. You will be my first, my last, and my only." He gripped me tighter after those words.

I was still sensitive after my multiple orgasms, but Ethan began fingering me. I lowered my hand and squeezed him. We kissed and lazily worked each other until we both came.

After that, Ethan latched onto my n*****s and sucked them until they were almost raw. I had to push him off of me.

He looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Mia, I just want you so bad."

I kissed his jaw until I reached his ear and whispered, "You can have me now or anytime." I could feel him hardening again.

"Not tonight, baby doll, but soon. Your first time is going to be something you won't ever forget." I kissed him roughly and pushed my breasts into his hard-planed chest. He groaned and held me closer.

Ethan carried me up to bed because my bones were like jelly. He laid down, spooning me. He put one hand on my naked stomach and the other was buried in my hair.

We drifted to sleep together, lying on the expensive silk sheets. That night, I didn't dream of my parents being too far away for me to reach. Instead, I dreamed of them lovingly waving at me as Ethan carried me away on the beach.