CHAPTER 5

Isla’s POV

My heart pounded fast as the question hung in the air, more daring than anything I’d ever said to a stranger before.

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. His eyes widened slightly, but after a beat, a slow smile spread across his face. He cleared his throat. “The old-fashioned way?”

I held his gaze, unflinching. “Yes. The natural way, with no need for technology.”

Surprise reflected on his face, but it didn’t take long for him to recover. His eyes seemed to drill a hole into mine as he stared at me with greater intensity. Then he answered, “If that’s what you want. I’d be honored.”

I nodded, my decision solidifying in my mind. “I’ll have my assistant contact you with the details for later. 

Ethan’s eyes widened. “You mean we’re doing it tonight?”

“Yes,” I answered quickly before I could change my mind. “I’ll see you, Ethan. I appreciate your cooperation.”

With a curt nod, I turned on my heel and left the café. And in only a moment, doubt began to creep into my mind. What did I just get myself into? But I quickly brushed it off and turned my thoughts to the work waiting for me in the office. 

That evening, as I walked through the front doors of my mansion, a chill ran down my spine. The imposing walls and grand staircase that normally felt like the height of luxury now seemed to loom over me, amplifying the unease I couldn't shake. My nerves, which had briefly subsided during the drive home, returned in full force, prickling beneath my skin like static. Every sound seemed sharper—the faint creak of the floor beneath my feet, the soft sigh of the wind outside.

A long, hot shower was the only thing that would settle me, I thought, something to wash away the tension. The thought of the water's heat enveloping me, soothing my stiff muscles, was almost enough to relax me.

Almost. 

Afterwards, wearing nothing but a delicate nightgown, I wandered to the large, elegant guest room. Soft, faint light spilled in from the hallway, casting long shadows across the room’s refined decor. I left the door slightly ajar as I stepped inside, the cool air brushing against my skin, as if urging me to reconsider—though I didn’t know why.

I paused, my pulse quickening for no reason I could explain. The stillness of the room seemed to press in on me. 

I can still back out. Can I really do this? There’s probably a better way…

But before I could take another step, I heard the soft click of the door closing behind me. My breath caught in my throat as strong arms slipped around my waist, pulling me gently but firmly into a solid body.

Ethan. He’s here. 

I could feel the heat of his chest against my back, his warm breath tickling my neck. His hands, large and sure, pulled me close, his touch setting my skin alight. The fiery intensity radiating from him was a stark contrast to the polite, composed man I had met just hours earlier. Now, there was nothing polite about the way his presence overwhelmed me, filling every corner of the room with a force I hadn’t expected.

I closed my eyes, not bothering to turn around and look at him. There was no need for words, no need to see his face. I could feel everything I needed in the heat of his touch, in the way his body pressed against mine, sending sparks through me. My heart raced, and my body, long deprived of intimacy, responded to him instinctively, craving the connection I had missed for so long.

Ethan leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear, his voice low and full of desire. “How would you like to proceed, Isla?”

The formality of his question almost made me laugh, but instead, it grounded me for a brief moment. I had made this decision, I reminded myself. I was the one in control.

I took a deep breath. Then slowly, I slipped the straps of my nightgown off my shoulders, feeling the fabric slide down my body until it pooled at my feet. I stood naked before him, vulnerable but not afraid. I turned around to face him, my eyes taking in the sight of his incredible physique—the strength in his broad shoulders, the lean muscle of his arms, the quiet intensity that seemed to vibrate from him.

“Well… You’re clearly not lacking in vigor… and youthfulness…” I teased, my voice light despite the tension thrumming between us.

Ethan’s gaze softened, admiration passing through his eyes as his hands slid down from my shoulders to my hips. “And you,” he murmured with obvious desire, “are even more exquisite than I could have imagined.”

I smiled at his formality, amused by the way he maintained that polished composure even now, in the heat of the moment. “Still the gentleman, huh?” I whispered, pulling him closer, feeling his heat and strength wrap around me like a blanket.

But this time, I didn’t wait for his response. My hands daringly found their way to the back of his neck, and I pulled him down into a kiss—intense, passionate, the kind that made everything else disappear. 

All the uncertainty, all the doubt, vanished in the heat of his lips against mine, in the way his hands moved over my body like he had known me for years.