Not only is “The Nanny Affair” MC a badass, sex positive, feminist, woman and mom in STEM with a doctorate but her outfits slay 99% of the time
No matter how cringey the plot of the first book is, she’s the best Choices MC, fight me. I’m replaying TNA expect a billion pictures drawn of this sweet girl because I love drawing powerful women in awesome outfits.
TBB is actually just so soulless. Like the most soulless and derivative story on the app. The whole story is just TNA, but with the holy trifecta of pandering to Facebook Karen Moms: Cheating, Billionaire romance, and Pregnancy.
I'm gonna say it but at TNA was kind of fun and played up the whole "scandalous affair" aspect much better, in the first book anyways?? At least TNA had Mason and Mickey and Carter. The baby is cute but that's about it and there isn't much you can do with her. And at least Sofia was a fairly compelling character. Robin too. Joss and Harrison are pointless non-characters and Daphne just feels more weakly written. And at least I can buy Sam would somewhat admire TNA MC for how good she is with the twins? I can't see anything in the TBB MC that Cole/Callie would like other than "hee hoo sexy woman". And at least the ending to TNA 1 was kind of self-aware about how much trouble they were gonna be in for their affair? TBB is so much more melodramatic.
I'm not saying TNA is good by any means, just that it did better almost all the things that its soulless copy is trying to imitate. TNA is at least fun to make fun of, TBB just leaves me feeling empty inside.
There's only one thing TBB does better than TNA though, and that's that it ends after one book rather than dragging out its melodramatic artificial romance story.
‘I am 100% sure that if Sam wasn't GOC, they'd have had MC become pregnant right in the very first book. And Jenny getting pregnant by Aditya honestly only makes me even more sure of that theory. In fact, since TNA is already cliche YA trope hell, I'm very convinced that PB only made Jenny and Aditya have an affair for the sole purpose of getting that accidental pregnancy trope into the story as well. After all, it's clearly pretty lazily inserted into the story with how absolutely useless and insignificant it is– like, you could remove it and lose nothing important about the main story. It's literally just a proxy affair for the accidental pregnancy trope.’
POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!
Summary: Anna thinks she's prepared herself to face the inevitable, but something no one could have predicted shakes her to her very core.
Warnings: This series will contain NSFW content. If you choose to read, you acknowledge that you are 18 or older.
A/N: This took far too long to finish. I’ve been super unwell on and off and when I finally started feeling a bit better, I got a severe bout of imposter syndrome. I just felt like every fic I was reading was a literal masterpiece, and every time I tried to write I thought to myself, why would anyone read this when I can’t even come close to replicating the skill of those writers? Which is stupid, bc I’m not on here to replicate anyone. I enjoy creating stories as I read and turning those thoughts into my own little word. I know I’m not the best writer, but that doesn’t matter. For whatever reason, you guys read my stuff and that’s enough for me. I’m writing bc it makes me happy and if anyone enjoys it, then that’s just the cherry on top.
Anyway, just wanted to explain my prolonged absence and why I haven’t been reading either. I had to stop to finally get this done without comparing myself to others, and what do ya know? I actually liked what I ended up with lol. Now this is finished I can finally catch up on all my reading, and I’ll be back annoying all of you tomorrow lol. And now I’m rambling, but I seriously love every single one of you 🤍 hope you enjoy!
A/N 2: Just as a pre-warning to Sam stans, hopefully it’s not too disappointing that this chapter is predominantly Ethan. I promise your man is the star of the show in chapter four.
Word count: 8k. I know, I know, ok. I don’t know what happened and I’m sorry.
Thanks to my angel girl @lsvdw-blog for prereading 500 versions of this and being my biggest cheerleader, you made this infinitely better and I adore you.
Pairings: Ethan x MC ~ Sam x MC
Catch up here
Before she could stop and make an attempt to comprehend what she was doing, Anna was running from the ballroom, trying to keep up with Ethan's long strides as he held her hand firmly in his. Her heels hit the ground rapidly as he escorted her wordlessly through hallways and outside to a rental car, Anna too disoriented in her current state to verbally judge the flashy number. He opened the passenger door for her, gesturing inside with a slight smile. "Get in." She silently did as she was told, still in a daze as he closed the door and got in the drivers' side.
"What will your dad do? Aren't you here with him?"
He turned on the ignition and began to drive before answering her question, pulling out of the venue and heading the opposite way from the route to the Russo villa. "I spoke to him briefly before coming to help you. He'll find a way back to the hotel, don't worry." She nodded slowly, meeting his gaze in the rear view mirror before turning away from him and looking out the window.
After a few minutes of painful silence, Anna heard Ethan sigh and turned to look at him. The look on his face told her he was battling internally on how to speak to her, if at all. "What is it, Ethan?"
"I-uh,” he cleared his throat nervously, “I know that it's none of my business, but why doesn't Sam know that you're a doctor?"
"You're right, that is none of your business," she snapped back, Ethan wincing at the exact answer he had expected and the following tension he had wanted to avoid. Anna rolled her eyes as she sighed defeatedly, knowing she’d be curious herself. “Because I’m not a doctor, Ethan. I was, and I’ll never be able to revisit that part of my life so I see no reason to keep hashing out my painful past. And please, I really do not want to speak about Sam with you."
Ethan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he clenched his jaw, shaking his head ever so visibly as he picked up on her subtle sign. “So, it’s true.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re having an affair with Sam.”
The atmosphere in the car was suddenly, intensely different as her head snapped round to look at him, fire blazing in her eyes as she bit down on her lip, a poor attempt at grounding herself. "And what has that got to do with you?"
“For Christ’s sake, Anna. I helped you out of there because I thought you had fallen victim to the infamous gossip surrounding the Daltons! I never took you for someone that would break up a marriage. I thought you had morals.”
“Oh my god, you with your fucking morals again. Do not act like you know me at all. You threw me away for scraps a year ago and that changes a person. I’m not the same Anna you left broken-hearted in Boston.”
“You’re right. You’re not. I don’t know this Anna, I thought there was something unique about the woman I knew and something unique about what we shared. I didn’t think she went for every boss she could get her hands on. Clearly I was mistaken.”
Anna’s nostrils flared as she sneered at him. “Pull over.”
Ethan scoffed at her dramatics as he kept his eyes on the road. “Stop it, Anna.”
“Pull over the fucking car.” Ethan turned to look at her and decided to follow her command as he saw her already moving to take her seatbelt off. He pulled in and she immediately jumped out the car, Ethan following suit as he prepared to chase her down the quiet road through Naples.
He didn’t expect her to see her walking around the front of the car, barrelling towards him with a look of disgust on her face. “Anna, get back in the damn-” smack.
Ethan’s words were cut off sharply as his head turned, cheek burning as he recovered from the crisp slap to his face. His hand raised to hold his face in shock, his narrowed eyes making their way back to Anna, tears in her eyes and teeth gritting as she shook out her tingling hand and scowled at him.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” She punctuated every word with a rough jab to the chest.
He gently grabbed her wrist, holding her back from him. “I thought I was someone special to you, but I’m glad to know the truth. You know, it’s all starting to make sense. My god, you really do get around.”
“What did you just say to me?”
“The rumour mill is still rife at Edenbrook, Anna. Some things never change.” He hissed, “don’t think that I haven’t heard about your little trysts with the paramedic and that damn scalpel jockey your entire intern year. Was I just another fuck to keep you going? Did you ever feel anything for me at all?”
“What have they got to do with anything? I spent time with them whilst I was pining for you. Sue me for attempting to enjoy my life whilst the man I truly wanted was pushing me away every damn chance he had! What did you expect?”
“It’s not just them though, is it? It’s Sam, too, and God knows who else. It’s unforgivable.”
“I don’t remember asking for your forgiveness and I sure as hell don’t fucking need it. You do not get to make me feel bad for trying to move on from you.”
“Who’s next, Anna? My uncle Mason? I mean, why stop at Sam when you could go for the top dog? You clearly love a man in power.”
“I’d choose your next words very fucking carefully, Ethan. You do not get to call me a whore. When I met you, I thought that I had found my person. The person who challenged me, who I thought respected me, who made me feel things I had never felt in my entire life. I was done with everyone else, I was ready to be with you. I begged you to be with me. But you left me. You abandoned me and any shot of a future we had together. You tore my heart to fucking shreds, Ethan. I’m all glued back together now, and I make no apologies for how I chose to repair what you broke. You do not get to call me a whore.”
As she spat out her last words, both of their chests were heaving, eyes blazing as they stared each other down. Seconds passed with neither moving, the air thick with tension. Anna shook her head, eyes shutting tightly as she jumped out of her daze. “No, you do not get to do this to me. You do not get to make me into this person again.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. I mean nothing. Can we go? Please.” She was walking back towards her side of the car before the words had left her mouth, leaving Ethan standing in a trance as he attempted to deal with the magnitude of their words. Her car door slamming shut brought him back to life, Ethan taking a deep breath to steel himself before getting back in the car.
The rest of the scenic drive was completely silent, Ethan’s remorse rising every second of the journey. He instantly regretted everything he’d said to Anna. It wasn’t that he couldn’t believe that such callous and vicious words had left his mouth; that part was easy. He was known for his harsh commentary and opinions, and his words tonight were far from the worst he’d ever uttered. What he couldn’t wrap his head around was that they were directed towards the only woman he had ever loved; a woman that he’d fight for if he ever heard the same words thrown at her from another.
A year had passed: a year in which Ethan had thought about Anna more than he was ready to admit to anyone, himself included. It hadn’t taken long for Ethan to recognise the monumental error he’d made in pushing Anna away, practically forcing her to leave Boston. But it was done, and after a few stumbles, he was ready to accept his fate. He’d managed to push his feelings down to the deepest pit of his soul, doing everything in his power to block out the memories of Anna and the joy she had brought to his stale life. It was easier that way. Easier to pretend his feelings didn’t exist as opposed to facing them head on like a man and accepting the blame for his own demise. For their demise.
Alas, tonight it had become apparent that his coping mechanism was a ticking time bomb, because as he saw the love of his life cascade back into his life, the weight of the emotions he’d been refusing to acknowledge swept through him like a hurricane.
He turned his head ever so slightly, attempting to catch a stolen glimpse of her as she stared ahead. Clearly intent on ignoring him for the entire journey, he resorted to gazing at her through the mirror, catching his lip turning upwards ever so slightly as he stared at her. The moonlight shone through the car, illuminating her sun kissed face as he marvelled at the familiar golden flecks sparkling in her rich chocolate orbs. Her large doe eyes were still as beautiful as the day they met.
Time had been kind to Anna Valentine.
His smile was short lived as he looked deeper into the very eyes he remembered being so rich and full of life, suddenly dull of their usual sparkle he searched for. He was reminded of the last time he had been in such close proximity to the golden glow of her curious eyes, only the last time he had a front seat to her beauty, they had been blinded by a river of tears poisoning their usual twinkle. Tears caused by him.
He hadn’t been.
The year that had passed had had an irrevocable effect on her. That much had been made clear in their heated exchange roadside, but it was the dejected look on her face that made it all the more evident.
It was difficult to believe the young and promising doctor he had fallen for was the same woman sitting beside him; she was a shell of her former self. Was that all down to him? Has he damaged his former love that badly? Or perhaps a year in her new life had thrown more tragedies at her, of that he couldn’t be sure. But there was one thing he was sure of: he wasn’t letting Anna Valentine leave again, at least not without a fight.
They reached his hotel finally, having pulled off the main road to drive towards the coastline. He quietly parked the car and turned off the engine, unable to even open his door before Anna was up and out of hers. He quickly strode over to her, closing her door as she walked into the hotel without a second glance back. She must have sensed his presence behind her as she turned abruptly as soon as she entered the large lobby, coming face to chest as she had to tilt her head backwards to catch his face in their close proximity.
“Don’t you have to get your luggage?”
He shook his head. “We checked in before the party.”
“I see. Well, thank you for bringing me. I think I’ll just get a room for the night and then I'll work out what I’m dealing with in the morning. It was… good to see you again.” He couldn’t help but notice the words seemed painful leaving her mouth. “Goodbye, Ethan.”
Before she could take a full step away, Ethan’s hand gently clasped her wrist as he pulled her to a stop.
“Anna… wait.” She glared at their interlocked arms, prompting him to quickly drop his hold. “It’s 2am, you’re not going to be able to get a room. You can take the bed in my suite, I’ll sleep on the sofa.” She took a look around the large lobby, wondering why such an extravagant hotel couldn’t afford a 24 hour receptionist when her nanny’s salary would struggle to cover a night’s stay here.
She mumbled to herself as the dejavu slapped her in the face. “I’ve heard that before.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Thanks, but no thanks. I think I’d rather sleep anywhere else.”
With one last look of disdain, Anna walked away from Ethan, making a beeline for the lobby couches on the other side of the extravagant space, content in sitting awake for the entire night rather than ever spending another second with Ethan Ramsey. She collapsed onto the soft sofa, absentmindedly kicking her heels off and throwing her head back against the large cushions, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, the overwhelming emotions of the night ready to consume her when she felt the couch move beside her. Her eyes snapped open as she heard a deep voice clearing their throat. There sitting next to her, looking much too comfortable and carefree for her liking, was the man she was trying to escape. His smouldering azure eyes gazing at her, the knowing smile gracing his face captivating her as much as his secret glances could a year ago. Her own eyes quickly narrowed as she broke free from his trance.
“Was I not clear?”
“Crystal.” He nodded, “but I’m not leaving you to sit yourself in a foreign country when you’re clearly vulnerable. So, if you insist on staying down here and refusing to take the bed in my suite, I’ve got no choice but to sit here with you.”
“Ethan, are you stupid? I’m sitting down here to get away from you. So, if you’ll please just leave me the hell alone, I’m staying here.”
She turned away from him again, closing her eyes and waiting, begging to hear his footsteps retreating. Instead, all she heard was a loud sigh and the feel of the couch dipping behind her as his arm curled around her, an intentional space between their bodies when he spoke. “I guess I’m not leaving either, then.”
She huffed as she slid across the sofa, trying to put space between them and praying he’d finally take the hint. It proved to be no use as he moved with her, their hips bumping and his suit caressing her bare skin as their legs brushed together. Her face scrunched up in annoyance as she glared at him. “Go to hell, Ethan.”
“Gladly. As soon as I know you’re safe and sound, Rookie.”
Her jaw clenched as she ever so slightly shook her head, the return of her old nickname bringing with it a cascade of pain and anger. She latched onto the rage: anything was better than the pain. “Don’t do that. I’m not your Rookie… not anymore.”
His eyes softened as a sad smile crossed his features. “You’ll always be my Rookie.”
Anna stared into his striking blue eyes, seeing nothing but honesty and sincerity before she had to physically shake herself from the daze, dangerously close to falling into their familiar trap. She turned her entire body away from him in an effort to calm down her racing heartbeat. Unlike the rage fuelling her earlier in the night, she knew the erratic thumping in her ears was now coming from the confirmation that one look from him was still enough to drive her crazy.
All she wanted to do was sit alone and mope. She had enough to cry about in her pathetic life without an old flame reappearing and turning her world upside down once again. She should have been worrying about the consequences of Sofia’s revelation at the party. She should have been searching for Sam’s name in the tabloids, wondering if the multiple affairs had made it to the press and ruined the company’s stellar reputation yet. She should have been trying to talk to Sam, to find her bearings before ending things once and for all, her resignation inevitable as she fled the country.
Instead, as she sat chastising herself for what she should have been worrying about, she felt her body betraying her, calming as she listened to the soothing sounds of Ethan’s easy breathing, a familiar lullaby she’d only been close enough to hear a handful of times before. Ugh, she so wanted to hate him. She did hate him, why was her body late to the party?
She closed her eyes, feeling the hot tears burning as she inwardly scolded herself. She had cried many a night over the very man sitting beside her, past the point that was remotely healthy. She had vowed not to shed any more tears over Ethan Ramsey, and yet here she was, willing to make an exception for this evening if he would just damn well leave her alone.
It had been a long time since she’d thought of Ethan. Or at least, since she had allowed herself to. After he left her in her apartment that fateful night and she had fled to upstate New York, she soon realised if she ever wanted to feel any semblance of happiness again, she’d need to forget him. Forget all about him and all that they shared together. She knew she should face her problems head on, but she couldn’t face another day spent heartbroken over the man. So she shut it all out, blocked off all of her emotions and attempted to get on with her life. She felt flat, but it was better than clinging onto their tragic love story. And then she met Sam. Sam. She still felt her heart flicker as he entered her mind. He had brought the light back into her life and passion back to her soul. Of all the men in the world, of all the men even in New York, she had to fucking fall for Ethan’s cousin.
Way to keep it in the family, Anna.
She found herself replaying all of the small moments she had shared with Ethan in their short time together as she allowed him back into her mind, the memories playing on a loop; memories that had been locked away for the better part of a year to preserve her heart.
Her mind drifted to that first night in the NICU as they both stayed to watch over baby Ethan, Anna consoling Ethan after he suffered a major loss and she took her first knock as a doctor. It was the first time she saw a break in his tough facade, a real human showing through in times of grief. She knew after that night that she was already falling in love with him, and dangerously, she even knew then she’d be the one to end up hurt. But she decided it was worth it. To her, any time with him was worth the inevitable heartbreak she’d suffer at the hands of Ethan Ramsey.
Had it been?
After all of this time, she still couldn’t decide whether she would take it all back if she could. As much as Ethan had hurt her irrevocably, he had shown her how to love. Perhaps that was why she sat him on such a tall pedestal; he would always be her first love.
After years of ambitious plans, always knowing she’d move in a heartbeat to further both her education and career, and therefore neglecting to look for a real romantic connection, she was ready to settle in Boston at Edenbrook. Was that why she had fallen for Ethan? Was she always going to fall for the first man that came bounding into her life on the first day of her intern year?
No. She may have little faith in fate with her current predicament, but she liked to think her and Ethan’s encounter was sealed long ago; written in the stars.
Even though he pushed her away for the majority of the year, he was always there for her in her darkest times. He was there for her through so much, but then, when she lost her license; when it finally mattered, he abandoned her.
He’s here now.
He came back. He’s fighting for me. I know him, much better than he likes to think anyone ever could, and I know that he’s hurting. Good, that makes two of us. That’s the only reason he could be so cold to me. If he didn’t care about me anymore, then he’d leave me to get on with my life without a care in the world, not holding on and refusing to let me go.
She told herself her decision was based on the stiff neck she dreaded waking up to in the morning, if she got any sleep at all, but she knew. She knew she wasn’t ready to let the man beside her leave her life for a second time.
Startling Ethan, Anna shot to her feet and began the walk to the elevator. She looked over her shoulder with an exasperated expression on her face, gesturing towards him. “Well? Are you coming or not?”
Ethan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he was taken aback at her sudden reversal. He quickly jumped up and strode to the elevator, hoping to get Anna up to his room safely before she changed her mind or wanted a rematch of their earlier screaming contest. He was utterly dumbfounded that she’d had a change of heart, fully anticipating sitting in the hotel lobby all night long in pained silence. Whatever was going through her head in the last five minutes had done him a huge favour, possibly granting him the chance to apologise for his earlier words, however undeserved forgiveness may be.
They made their way to his suite in near silence, the only noise coming from her high heels knocking against each other in her hand as she carried them by her side. He suppressed a chuckle at the sight of her walking barefoot through the opulent halls of the swanky hotel, a warmth filling his chest as he realised that maybe some things would never change. He had no idea what she’d been through in their year apart, but he was glad to see she was still the down to earth and carefree firecracker he had come to know.
Ethan opened the door to his suite, letting Anna through before closing it softly behind them. She dropped her shoes to the ground unceremoniously, immediately making her way to the mini bar cart in the corner of the living area. She squatted down, ready to make her pick when she looked up and caught Ethan’s brow quirking at her.
“If I need to be in your company, I’m going to need a stiff drink… or ten.”
He flashed her a smirk as he gestured to the cart. “By all means. I’ll take my usual whilst you’re at it.”
Her stomach fluttered as she pulled her gaze away, Ethan’s returning the gesture as she immediately poured him a scotch. It’s just a fucking drink, calm yourself. He thanked her as he took the tumbler from her hand, their fingers brushing together slightly as he watched her fight the blush rising to her cheeks.
“I’m going to take this out on the balcony,” he motioned towards the sliding doors leading out onto his seafront view. “I don’t suppose you’d like to join me?”
“I don’t.” Ethan nodded, slightly flustered but fully expectant of the rejection. “But I’m pretty sure it’ll be less depressing than sitting in bed drinking myself, so lead the way.”
They settled on the balcony furniture, Ethan taking off his tux jacket and draping it across the table as the humid Italian summer air brought a sheen to both of them.
They sat in silence for a long while, both of their minds racing on how to calmly approach the other as they topped up their glasses intermittently until the bottle drew empty. Only then, in her slightly drunk state, did Anna decide to go for it.
“So…” she cleared her throat as she looked towards the dark sea, close enough to hear the gentle waves rippling. “How long are you here for?”
“My father and I are actually here for a few weeks. He’s always wanted to travel to Italy, so when Sa-”, Ethan silently berated himself for bringing up the elephant in the room, the atmosphere suddenly feeling even more tense. He coughed before attempting to power through. “Once the wedding was moved up and moved abroad, he and I decided to make a vacation out of it.”
“The Dr. Ramsey is trying to have fun? Did you suffer a traumatic brain injury in my year away?”
Ethan smirked as he shook his head. “I’d hardly call it fun. I do enjoy visiting Italy… however it’s not as though I’ve very well got much else to do with the hospital closing down.”
“What?” Anna’s drink came sputtering out, choking as the wine doused her dress. Ethan patted her back, handing her a handkerchief as she wiped the liquid dribbling down her chin. “Edenbrook’s closing down?”
“Closed. Declared bankruptcy. Yesterday was our final day open…” Ethan looked at her curiously, brows furrowed in confusion. “You didn’t know?”
“Uh… no. I didn’t, actually.” Anna played with the hem of her dress as she fiddled guiltily. “I don’t actually keep in touch with anyone from the hospital anymore.”
Ethan’s head snapped back as he looked at her in shock. “No one? But you and your friends lived together… I would have at least expected you to stay in touch with Dr Trinh.”
“Please don’t make me feel worse about it than I already do.” She sighed. “It was just… too difficult.”
Anna had tried to stay in touch with her friends, all of the roommates alongside Bryce and Rafael. She’d even taken Ines’ number, the older doctor wanting to keep in touch after forming a close bond during their year working together. She really did try, but she hadn’t only lost Ethan when she left Boston; the man she thought was the love of her life. She had lost her entire life. She felt as though she no longer had an identity, everything she had been working towards since she was a teenager had suddenly been snatched away from her, and she was left with nothing. If she couldn’t be a doctor, who was she?
Her friends called and texted for a few months, hoping to stay in her life even as she settled in a new city, but it got increasingly tougher to catch up and hear about their lives when every single one of theirs revolved around the hospital, each of them practically living there. Every phone call was a painful reminder of the life she’d never get to lead. Sooner or later, she fell away from the majority of them, only choosing to speak to Sienna, and even then it was only due to Sienna’s incessant texting and worries over Anna.
Eventually, that communication dwindled until it ultimately ended, and although Anna felt major remorse at the situation, she finally felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders as she could truly leave Boston behind.
Or so she thought.
She wondered what kind of karma she was due to be sentenced to the return of Ethan Ramsey.
Anyone else returning to her life from Boston would have been exponentially less excruciating.
“Anna?”
“Sorry,” she shook her head as if to attempt to literally shake the troubled thoughts from her mind. “No, I don’t speak to Sienna anymore. A few months after I left, I decided to change my number… I just didn’t give it to any of them.”
“I know.”
“You know what?”
“I know you changed your number. I, er-” Ethan cleared his throat as he shuffled in his seat, studiously looking anywhere bar Anna’s direction. “I may have tried to call you a time or two.”
The shock was evident on her face as she finally turned in his direction. “You did?”
“Yes. I… I actually went to the Amazon to work for a couple of months the day after I last saw you, I’m not sure if you were aware of that.”
“No,” her eyes were wide as she shook her head, “probably because my friends knew I wasn’t in a frame of mind to hear any news about you.”
“Ah. I see.” He swallowed down another bout of guilt as he was once again reminded of how much he had affected her. “Well, I was gone for two months, working with the WHO in Brazil. I signed on for the mission with wholly unrealistic ideals and completely inappropriate reasoning for taking the job.” Anna looked at him expectantly, clearly waiting on him to further explain but he made no effort to. “Anyway, when I got back to Boston, I tried to call you. And I, uh… I think I may have tried another time after that, too.” Shoot me. It would be less painful.
He cleared his throat as she looked at him in surprise, averting her gaze as he toyed with the rim of his drink.
There was pure silence for a moment before he heard a soft “but… why?”
This was it. The moment of truth; the words he’d longed to speak since that sorry night but thought he’d never get the chance to say. The words he’d truly meant earlier but were jailed by fear, instead projecting his own insecurities onto her.
He lifted his head, turning his body fully towards Anna as he reached across to take her hand in his own. Before he could graze the soft skin, a loud noise interrupted their moment, a moving blur of grey and white suddenly directly in front of them as his eyes bulged out of his head.
“Jesus Christ!”
“Ethan, calm down! It’s a seagull!” But as Anna tried to get him to stay still, she couldn’t hold back the boisterous laugh that came barrelling out. “Ethan!” She clutched her stomach as she struggled to contain herself and he thrashed, when suddenly the force of Ethan’s struggle sent his chair flying, his back connecting with the balcony floor forcefully. The bird flew away, clearly pleased with the terrorised looks on its prey’s face as she attempted to kneel down to help him.
His cheeks flushed red as he fought off the embarrassment over his unexplainable fear of birds, attempting to sit up and thoroughly avoiding eye contact with Anna until he realised she wasn’t making any noise. His head snapped towards her as she took a sudden inhale of breath, tears streaming down her face as she cried with laughter. His pursuit of a scowl died on his face quickly, the corners of his lips turning upwards subconsciously as he appreciated the first real smile he’d seen from Anna all night. He studied her intently as he watched her catch her breath, uttering apologies as she helped him to his feet.
And suddenly, it was as though a dam had broken within him. All of the little quirks Anna had, all of the memories they shared together; the sight of her smile lighting up her entire face brought it all rushing back to him.
It was as though Anna could read his mind, her breath now caught and a noticeable shift in her demeanour as she looked up at him. She wondered what was going on in that complex mind of his, albeit she was slightly frightened to find out. It had been a long time since she had fallen victim to the scrutiny of his intense gaze, and she found herself feeling shy and restless under it.
In an attempt to stop whatever was about to leave his mouth, a bright idea sparked in her tipsy brain.
“Let’s go swimming!”
Ethan’s eyebrows shot together as he stared at her in disbelief. “Swimming?” She nodded enthusiastically as he looked over the balcony edge to the sea. “It’s 3am, Anna.”
“And?”
And that was how Ethan ended up on the sand, at 3 o’clock in the morning, his shoes and socks forgotten at the steps up to the hotel as he watched Anna dip her toes in the water before moving in further.
“What are you doing all the way back there?” Anna shouted from her spot in the sea, the waves gently crashing against her knees as she turned back to look at him.
“Preserving a three-thousand dollar suit, Rookie. Are you really planning on going in wearing that dress?”
She ran back, giggling and lapping up the saltwater as it sprayed against her sun kissed skin.
She made it back to the sand, Ethan once again surmising how easy it was to smile when she was around, his jaw taking a workout after a year without her and her escapades. She was utterly contagious.
“Of course not.” She shot him a mischievous grin as she bent down slightly and crossed her arms over, reaching the hem of her dress as she pulled it up and over her head in one forceful tug, more than happy to discard any remnants of the wedding rehearsal. It was soon forgotten on the sandy beach, Anna’s hair swaying in the gentle breeze of the ocean as she shook her head and let out a giggle.
Ethan swallowed over the lump in his throat as his eyes trailed over the sinful underwear adorning her curves, green and black lace contrasting perfectly against her olive complexion. He longed to reach out and touch her creamy skin, yearning to discover if it still felt as soft and smooth as their only shared night many moons ago.
She cleared her throat as she noticed the trail his eyes were following, a shy yet scandalised expression crossing her face as she quirked her eyebrow at him. “Are you joining me?”
He grumbled under his breath as his fingers reached for his tie, loosening it before taking it off completely and moving to his shirt. Soon enough, he stood clad in nothing but his boxers, praising himself for keeping his gaze above Anna’s shoulders as he undressed and avoiding an embarrassing situation in his underwear.
“Don’t stop now.” She smirked, “I thought we were going skinny dipping.”
“You must be kidding. Not a chance in hell, Anna.”
“Relax, grandpa. Don’t get your knickers in a twist… or better yet,” she grinned, “take them off.”
Anna suddenly turned on her heel, biting her lip through a smile as she looked over her shoulder towards him. Her hands reached behind herself, deftly unclasping her bra and letting it fall to the sand. Ethan’s hands clenched into fists as he held himself back from reaching for her, silently pondering the turn of events that had led their night to end like this. She soon became restless under the intensity of his heated stare, and began to move into the water. With purposeful moves, her thumbs dipped into the scrap of lace she called underwear, dragging them down her legs before kicking them up with one foot and catching them midair. Once her lower half was fully immersed in the warm water, she turned back to face him, one hand covering what she could manage of her full breasts, her thong dangling from the tips of her fingers on the other.
With remarkable aim, she lobbed it into the air, the tiny piece of fabric landing at his feet as she called out to him. “Catch me if you can.”
She proceeded to float backwards in the water, the tops of her breasts rising through the rippling waves, leaving Ethan a shivering wreck as his fingers twitched against his waistband.
“Oh, to hell with it.”
Before he could change his mind, and before he could allow himself to further analyse the lack of control he struggled to exercise when it came to one Anna Valentine, his boxers were off and he was treading into the water towards her. She pulled her head out of the water, grinning wickedly as Ethan walked towards her. He took a few long strides before diving under the surface, completely submerging himself in the crystal clear water eclipsed by the dark night sky.
“Ethan?”
She called his name again and again, looking into the dark sea to no avail when suddenly she was forced from the water, Ethan emerging to full height with Anna in his arms, one looping behind her knees and the other’s hand pressed flat against her back. She giggled in glee as he spun her around, panting slightly as a small smile broke through.
“Caught you.”
Her gaze landed on his, both of their smiles only growing as they looked at one another like there was no one else in the world.
“Well, well, well, Dr. Ramsey. Looks like you do know how to have fun after all.”
He chuckled as he shook his head, eyes immediately returning to her grinning face, a warmth blooming in his chest as he recognised that same light in her eyes back again. Anna broke free from their connected trance first, whilst pulling her arms around Ethan’s neck to stay steady as she gazed out onto the wide expanse of the Mediterranean. His eyes threatened to travel the length of her exposed figure, a herculean effort to keep them anchored to her giddy face.
She reached her arms behind herself, her entire body stretching as her back arched and she yelled “I’m king of the world!”
Her only response was a raised eyebrow and a smirk gracing Ethan’s plump lips. “I’m pretty sure that’s my line, Rookie.”
Once again their eyes found each other, chocolate on sapphire as the adrenaline coursing through them began to wear off, finally allowing themselves to appreciate the touch of their bare skin on one another after a long year. Anna smiled shyly as she removed her arms from his neck, Ethan taking the hint as he lowered her back into the water and dipped down himself.
“You seem like a different person to earlier, much more like your old self.”
She bit back a glare and chuckled despite herself. “No, really?” She mocked. “What a shock: to think that it must help when you’re not getting called a slut.”
Ethan winced, his earlier outburst back at the forefront of his mind as the guilt burned his cheeks. “Anna, I’m so, so deeply sorry for that.”
“It’s fine, Ethan,” she waved him off.
“It’s not fine. It was utterly disgraceful.”
“I think the red patch on your cheek is enough payback.” She smirked as he couldn’t help but to grin back at her, shaking his head playfully.
“Either way,” he sighed as he regained seriousness. “I cannot apologise enough. I’m certainly not proud of myself for what I said. It’s just…” Anna watched his expression turn thoughtful as he spoke carefully. “I couldn’t have anticipated the onslaught of feelings that seeing you again would bring; feelings that I’ve neglected to face for over a year.”
Anna swallowed heavily, unsure of where the conversation was heading and whether or not he planned to share those feelings with her. “Oh?”
He nodded nervously, albeit feeling somewhat confident that she hadn’t immediately shut down the conversation. “About what you said earlier, that you wouldn’t have needed to look to other men if I had just given in to what we were both hoping for anyway… you were right. And I think it struck a cord because I already knew that, and I hate myself for the jealousy I feel over something I forced you into.”
Anna looked taken aback as she managed to stutter, “you felt jealous?”
“Obscenely.”
The heat in Ethan’s gaze was unmistakable, the usual bright blue nearly taken over by his lust blown pupils. Anna swallowed over a bout of fear and took a leap. She moved towards him slightly, and when she met no resistance or movement on his part, continued until she was reaching out to him, skating her fingers up his muscular arms as his breath hitched.
Her fingers danced across his shoulders before finally looping her arms around his neck loosely, all the while their eyes never leaving one another. They could hear the others breathing growing heavy, eyes heavy with longing as Ethan pulled her in closer, his arms finding their way home to her waist but tactically keeping their hips apart. The excruciating need to feel her body pressed against his lost in a battle to fear; fear that he’d ruined his chances once and for all; afraid of the bone crushing pain of her rejection.
“Did you miss me?” The words left Anna’s lips subconsciously, her eyes widening slightly as she realised she’d uttered her thoughts aloud. She was even more surprised at the immediate response and the confidence behind it.
“Yes. Every minute of the day.”
Anna’s heart leapt as she searched his eyes, looking for any trace of regret in his statement as he bared his soul to her, but all she found was pure honesty and vulnerability as his grip on her tightened.
She bit her lip as she weighed up her options. The man holding her had brought more pain to her life than anyone she’d ever known; he’d brought more pain to her life than she thought was possible. She should be pushing away from him, running a mile in the other direction and never looking back. But now, as she heard him confess that he’d thought of her in their time apart, all she wanted to do was pull him closer.
Slowly and carefully, she slightly rested her weight on Ethan’s shoulders as she brought her legs up, wrapping them around his taut waist as he suppressed a groan.
He watched as her mouth opened, waiting with bated breath as she finally whispered, “prove it.”
At last, he pulled her body tightly into his, watching as her eyes rolled back as he pressed his hips into her. She gasped as she felt him against her, his length hot and heavy as it nudged her centre, teasing her as he moved ever so slightly.
“Can you feel how much you affect me?”
She bit her lip as she nodded slowly as she took a sharp intake of breath. “I still think I could use further clarification, though.”
He recognised the invitation in her seductive tone, one of his hands leaving her waist to travel up her back and land in her thick hair. He tenderly pushed her wet hair off her face before taking hold of it, gently tugging it back to raise her face to him and compensate for their height difference as he slowly began to lean down, eyes flickering towards her plump lips when a sudden noise broke them out of their trance.
Was that…?
“Anna?”
Shit.
The pair broke apart, the water splashing around them vigorously as they both recognised the deep voice calling to them from the hotel steps a short distance away.
“Sam?” Anna weakly shouted, her voice lost in the dark void of night.
She looked towards the shore, noticing two figures walking down the pathway to the beach, wondering who was accompanying him.
“Sam?” She called out to him, louder this time, earning a look in her direction as he began to walk to her.
“Anna?” He narrowed his eyes as he struggled to make her out with lack of light. “What the hell are you doing in the sea at this time?”
His strides faltered slightly as he noticed his cousin emerging from the depths of the ocean with her. “Ethan,” he nodded towards him, confused by the scene unfolding before his eyes, but seeing enough to know he didn’t like it.
Ethan returned the sentiment, and groaned inwardly as the figure walking behind his cousin rose from the shadows, revealing himself to be his father.
“Son,” he smiled knowingly, much too happy to catch his son in such a predicament. “Anna, lovely to see you again.”
“Hi, Mr Ramsey.”
Sam stood expectantly, waiting for Anna to come out of the water so he could speak to her. She noticed the look on his face, shutting her eyes as she let out an embarrassed breath. “I…” her gaze flickered to Ethan’s father, before casting a sidelong glance at Ethan himself. She thought about whispering, but Sam himself probably wouldn’t manage to hear her over the gentle waves of the night combined with the necessary distance between them to keep her body underwater. She sighed as she faced the inevitable. “I’m not actually wearing anything.”
Sam’s jaw clenched as he questioned the nature of their midnight swim, but pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind and bit his tongue as he shrugged out of his suit jacket. He turned to face Alan and Ethan, raising his eyebrows as he said, “if you wouldn’t mind?”
They both turned swiftly, Sam walking right to the waters edge as Anna stood, immediately wrapping her in the jacket. Their vast size difference worked in her favour tonight, the jacket dwarfing her as he ushered her out of the sea.
Sam coughed to clear his throat, signalling it was safe for the other men to turn around. Ethan’s gaze hardened ever so slightly as his eyes fell upon Anna in Sam’s clothes, chastising himself for feeling jealousy at something so juvenile.
“Will you…” Sam wondered how to word his question, “do you need-”
Luckily Ethan correctly assumed the ending, waving him off as he shook his head. “I’ll wait here. You two,” Sam noticed his jaw muscles tense ever so slightly as he forced himself to spit out the rest of his sentiments. “You two go on yourselves.”
They both nodded and said goodnight, Anna stealing another peak at Ethan as Sam ushered her away, hand gently but firmly on her lower back as he held her clothes in his other hand.
He watched as they entered the hotel and let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes momentarily, only for them to snap wide open as he heard the rumbling chuckle of his father.
“I’m sorry, is this funny to you?”
“Son, I think this is the most I’ve ever felt like your father in 38 years.” His chuckle died down to a good natured giggle, his smile warm as he shook his head affectionately. “That Rookie must be someone special to get you to strip down to your birthday suit in public.”
She is.
Inside the hotel, Anna was now thankful for their staffing shortcomings, glad no one had to witness her traipsing through the halls soaking wet, completely naked under a man’s suit. Wordlessly, she followed Sam to the elevator, her thoughts racing as she wondered if he’d been able to see her wrapped in Ethan’s embrace as he walked out. Her thoughts allowed her to wonder the alternative; what would have happened if he hadn’t walked out?
She followed him inside, noticing he tapped the button for the top floor and breaking out of her daze as the doors closed over. “Where are we going?”
“I know the owner of this hotel, so when my Uncle Alan said Ethan had taken you from the party and this is where they were staying, I called for a suite.”
She nodded mutely, the air conditioning in the lift causing a shiver to run through her.
Sam reached out instinctively, pulling her into his arms as he rubbed her back soothingly. Resting his head atop hers, he sighed as his hands stopped their ministrations.
“Anna, I think you and I have a lot to talk about.”
I think I tagged everyone that wanted to be tagged! It’s been that long since I posted this story that I might have missed someone, or if you’re no longer interested that’s totally understandable lmao just drop me a message.
