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Aretta was looking at Ethan, a small frown etched between her brows, while Ethan gazed down at me with a warm smile.

“Girlfriend?” she asked in disbelief, her date checking the time on his watch, his hand planted firmly on her hip, trying to intimidate Ethan who had an inch over him.

Ethan gave her a look that made her eyes avert to me. “Yes. Kiara has been my best friend ever since I remember. We are dating,” he said with a firm voice.

I held his hand on my shoulder when she raked her dark brown eyes over me, clearly judging me. I was wearing high-waisted jeans and a white flimsy blouse with a sweetheart neckline and lace details, but she made me look like I was no way equal to the man standing beside me.

“It’s nice meeting you, Aretta,” I said sincerely, wanting to know her better if she was his friend.

She looked at our hands and smiled at me. “You too, Kiara.” Turning to Ethan, she said, “It was nice seeing you here, Ethan. And Liam. I will be leaving. Take care of yourself.”

Aretta left, holding her clutch tightly. Ethan sat beside me, and the conversations started as before with little tension hovering between me and Ethan. I tried to pretend that seeing Aretta didn’t affect me, but Ethan knew it had. He kept our talk to minimal until we were alone in his car as he drove.

“You can ask me about her, Kiara,” he said when the silence between us grew.

Pursing my lips, I turned to him, watching the night lights dance across his handsome face. “I don’t know what to ask. Is she your ex-girlfriend? She looked torn when you mentioned I am your girlfriend.”

His knuckles turned white when his grip on the wheel tightened. “No, not my ex-girlfriend. I used to sleep with her.”

“Oh.”

Warmth surged in my body when Ethan entwined our hands on my lap. “I ended it before the gala because she had feelings for me. I couldn’t give her what she wanted.”

“But she’s beautiful.”

He smiled, “She is, but not more than you.”

Heat flooded my cheeks, making me look away from his different colored eyes.

“Aretta enjoyed being controlled in the bed and as you already know my kinks, we both agreed to sleep with each other. But it was a mutual decision when we ended things, because she knew she would get hurt if she kept wanting more from me.”

Ethan explained, his thumb making patterns on my knuckles. I lifted our adjoined hands and pressed a soft kiss on his knuckles. “You didn’t have to tell me anything, E, I trust you.”

“I know, but if you are going to have my baby, I wanted to make sure nothing makes you doubt me regarding my past.”

“I don’t doubt you, Ethan.” I cleared my throat and said, “But can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, Bella.”

“The things you did . . . I mean, with Aretta were the same—”

“No. I know what you’re trying to ask, but no, Kiara.” He squeezed my hand, “She liked more pain while I liked to delve in light bondage and BDSM. I find myself suited well with your needs and limits than I have ever been with anyone else. Can I ask why did you ask me that question?”

“I wanted to know if I was enough to please you.”

The car came to a screeching halt, and my breath hitched in my throat.

Ethan’s hands held my face, his piercing eyes pinned on me. “You are more than enough, Bella. I am very lucky to have you and I wish I could show you just how much in the backseat, but we will have to wait till we get back home.”

My eyes widened when he planted a firm kiss on my lips before leaning back and starting the car, driving us back home. His words echoed in my mind, my heart beating faster.

More than enough, Bella. Very lucky to have you.

I wished I had enough courage to confess the same, but decided I would rather show it through my body.