Page 42 of High Rise Secrets

I may not know the full extent of her scars and what she has been hiding, but there is no denying she’s it for me. I feel her the moment she enters the room without even having to look up. It’s as if my body knows who it wants and has attuned itself to her. I’m willing to fight her demons with her, and together, we will get through anything.

“Scars make the most interesting stories.”

Chapter 27

Addison

Iopen my eyes to find Ethan sitting next to me, his laptop open, typing away.You can take him away from work, but you can’t actually make him stop working.I shift my weight and snuggle in closer to his warmth. Usually, when I visit my family, I have a hard time sleeping after, but today was... different.

Ethan being here has taken some of the burden from my shoulders.

When we got to the room, we laid down in bed, and I cried more as he held me and whispered soothing words in my ear and rubbed my back until I finally dozed off.

“Hey,” my voice croaks from all the crying and lack of use.

He looks down at me and smiles before moving his computer to the table and snuggling down next to me again, wrapping his arms around me. “Hey, beautiful, feel better?” He pushes some loose hair away from my face and kisses the tip of my nose.

“Much.” I try to sit up, but he holds me in place, rubbing up and down my back.

“I made us dinner plans if you’re up for it, and then I thought we could catch a movie or something.”

I titter. “The big CEO Ethan Freeman can make his own dinner plans? I better watch out, or I’ll be out of a job.”

He snorts and shakes his head before burying his nose in my hair, inhaling deeply. “You can’t get away from me that easily. Besides, I’ve never had an assistant asin tunewith my needs as you are, Ms. Snyder.” He licks his lower lip, and his eyes darken.

His cock twitches in his pants, and when I reach my hand down to feel him, he takes my wrist in his. He gives me a subtle shake of his head and rolls me to my back. I instinctually spread my thighs, inviting him in.Needing him.

“Please, Ethan,” I beg as I lift my hips to him. “I need you.”

He dips his head to my neck, peppering kisses along my collarbone and fluttering pulse. He makes me feel so good, soalive.I’ve always used men to make me feel something—anything. Nothing I have experienced has come close to this, though. The way he infiltrates my mind, body, and soul is unnerving.

He grinds down into me but pulls away as I reach down for him. I growl in frustration. His breath fans across my heated skin before his lips skim the outer shell of my ear. “You’ve had an emotional day and need to eat something first.” He presses down one last time for good measure, then climbs off me.

“Where are we going for dinner?”

He helps me stand, and I find my way to the bathroom.

“It’s an Italian place in the next town over,Bella E Buona.It has good reviews.”

I pop my head out to look at him. “Yeah, it has good reviews because it’s almost impossible to get a reservation. That place opened about three years ago, and the wait was almost two months long before they even opened their doors.”

“Have you ever been?” He’s still sitting on the bed, waiting for me to come back into the room. I flip off the light and saunter back to him. I kneel on the edge of the bed and slowly crawl my way up to him, between his legs. My eyes never leave his big brown ones.

I cage him in, my hands on either side of his waist and my face inches from his. “Yes.”

I expect him to lean up and try to kiss me, or say some sort of sexual innuendo, but he doesn’t. Instead, he reaches his hands out to my sides and starts tickling me. I jerk away and shriek in surprise, trying to get away from his roaming hands. He’s too big, though, and pins me easily to the bed, his hands never stopping.

I buck up like a wild horse, laughing and screaming as his fingers dig into my sides and under my arms. “Looks like someone’s ticklish,” he taunts.

“Uncle!” I scream, trying to catch my breath. “Uncle,” I repeat as his attack slows down. He keeps me pinned under his weight, a huge grin spread across his face. My laughter comes out in short bursts until it finally stops, and then I lay still under him.

“I like the way you laugh, Addy. I wish I could hear it more often.” He leans down to kiss my lips. His are soft and gentle against mine, and when I lean up for more, he pulls back.

“I laugh,” I retort defensively.

His smile is sad. “Yeah, but not like this. You laugh like you have the world on your shoulders and are just trying to stay afloat.”

You have no idea, Ethan.I slide off the bed, gathering my bag so we can head out. I don’t say anything else, and he doesn’t push the subject. I’m thankful for the silence surrounding us as we get into the rental car to leave for dinner. My rumbling stomach fills the quiet space between us and I rub it.