CHAPTER 41: FATE

"I just got into town today. Wanted to unwind before getting busy tomorrow," Ethan said and she nodded.

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Though she wanted to ask if he doesn’t live here in Zeden, she decided against, telling herself it was best not to know much. Instead of asking him more personal questions, she decided to talk about other things generally.

They talked for a while—shouting over the music at first, but gradually leaning closer and closer until she could feel the heat of his breath on her skin. Ethan was charming. Funny. Flirty in just the right way. And god, he smelled good.

When he placed a hand gently on her lower back to guide her toward the quieter lounge section, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned in.

In the low-lit booth tucked away from the loud dance floor, they talked more. He asked about what she did, and she told him she was in "personal relations," which wasn’t a lie—not entirely. He laughed at her jokes, listened when she spoke, and looked at her like he saw everything.

An hour passed, maybe more, before she leaned in close, her hand resting on his thigh, her voice barely above a whisper. "Wanna get out of here?"

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He paused only for a second before giving a small nod. "Yeah. Let’s go."

Ethan drove them to his penthouse, just a few blocks away. If she’d been there as his friend, maybe she would’ve taken sometime to explore the place but that wasn’t why she was there. She was there to satisfy her sexual desires.

She could barely keep her hands off him in the elevator—trailing her fingers along his arm, her body brushing against his in deliberate movements. And once the door clicked shut behind them, it was like a switch flipped.

Rayna turned to him, her heels clicking as she stepped backward into the room, eyes locked with his.

"You good?" he asked, searching her expression for any hesitation. The last thing he wanted was for her to accuse him of rape or anything or the sort.

"Very," she said, pulling her dark hair loose from its clip, the curls tumbling down around her shoulders. "Unless you’re having second thoughts?"

"Not a chance," Ethan said, shrugging off his jacket.

Rayna stepped forward and slid her hands up his chest, her fingers working at the buttons of his shirt. "Then stop talking."

Their lips met in a rush—hungry, and urgent as though they hadn’t had sex in years. She kissed him like she meant it, like she hadn’t had a proper kiss in months. He responded in kind, strong hands gripping her waist and pulling her closer.

In no time, their clothes hit the floor, one piece after another. They stumbled toward his bedroom, laughter and moans filling the air in equal measure. And when he laid her down on his bed, she reached for him again, pulling him close, guiding his mouth back to hers.

Ethan wanted to be in control but Rayna wouldn’t let him as she turned him so she was on top and straddling him. She located his rod with her hands as she slowly moved her hands up and down his entire length, making Ethan groan in pleasure.

When the heat in between her legs became too much to bear and her wetness was already on the surface, Rayna slide his dick into her honeypot—a moan eliciting from her mouth the moment she felt him inside if her, strong and firm.

Rayna wasn’t shy as she moved her waist around him, humping and spelling coconut on top of him. She didn’t hold back. She wanted this, and she made sure he knew it. Every touch, every kiss, every breathless whisper in the dark—she led, and he followed.

Ethan let her do her thing, wondering which planet she came from since no woman had ever ridden him the way Rayna was. She was driving him to the edge with each whine.

Before long, Rayna climaxed and Ethan swiftly turned her around, hitting her from behind, his thrust steady, not to fast and not too slow. Just when Rayna thought that was how far he could go, he increased the pace sending her whole body shaking with pleasure as she hit another climax just when Ethan released.

When they finally collapsed together in the sheets, her body humming with satisfaction, she let herself breathe. Really breathe.

For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t thinking about lies, or secrets, or Ruby’s tangled world or even her world. She wasn’t worried about being discovered, or tiptoeing through someone else’s life.

Tonight, she was just Rayna. Wild. Free. And exactly where she wanted to be.

As Ethan reached out and lazily pulled her closer, she let herself smile into the crook of his neck.

She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but tonight? Tonight was hers.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the room, indicating that it was morning already.

The silence was a stark contrast to the loud music and tangled sheets of the night before. A warm breeze drifted in from the slightly ajar window, carrying the faint scent of city life—but in the calm stillness of Ethan’s penthouse, it felt far away.

Ethan stirred first.

His dark lashes fluttered against his cheek before his eyes slowly opened. The familiar ceiling greeted him, and for a moment, he lay there—still and content. Then he turned his head to the side to see Rayna, who had made him feel good the night.

Her dark hair spilled across his pillow in waves, a few strands stuck to her cheek. One arm was folded under her head, the other curled against his side like she belonged there. She looked peaceful, unbothered and beautiful. He could stay there looking at her all day and he wouldn’t get tired.

He couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips as the events of the night before flashed before his eyes.

Last night had been... unexpected.

He’d returned to Zeden, from work for his usual two weeks break, hoping to unwind before going out to meet his best friend, not thinking he’d cross paths with a woman who would flip his night—and quite possibly his entire perception of one-night stands—on its head. Rayna had been bold, funny, fierce... and full of fire.

Ethan quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. He pulled on a pair of lounge pants and padded out of the bedroom toward the kitchen. It was still early, but his body hummed with a pleasant energy—part excitement, part satisfaction. And something else he couldn’t quite name.

He moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, opening cabinets, pulling out ingredients. Eggs. Bread. Berries. Butter. Coffee. Nothing fancy, but enough to whip something up before she woke.

By the time Rayna stirred, the smell of coffee and warm toast filled the air. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, blinking against the soft light. For a moment, she looked around—slightly confused—until she remembered exactly where she was and what had happened and then she smiled to herself.

"Morning, sleeping beauty," came Ethan’s voice as he entered the room with a tray in hand.

Rayna sat up, holding the covers to her chest out of instinct, her brows lifting in surprise. "What? You made breakfast?"

Ethan grinned and placed the tray on the bed in front of her. "French toast, eggs, berries, and coffee. I didn’t know how you take it, so I brought sugar and cream too."

She blinked, then laughed. "Don’t tell me you go about making breakfast for your one night stands," she teased and Ethan chuckled.

"Only the ones that are beautiful and can drive me to the edge like you did last night," he said with a wink.

"Wow. This is... the first time a guy’s ever made me breakfast and in bed," she said with a smile.

"Seriously?" he asked, amused, sliding onto the bed beside her.

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She nodded, lifting a fork. "Usually they sneak out or pretend to still be asleep until I leave."

"Well," Ethan said, watching her with a satisfied look, "I could always do this for you.... if you want."

Her smile faltered just slightly—barely noticeable—but she didn’t answer right away. She took a bite of the toast, giving herself a moment to think. The sweet cinnamon flavor filled her mouth, but the warmth didn’t quite settle the sudden ache in her chest.

She liked Ethan. That was the problem. She wasn’t supposed to like anyone. Just have fun and leave.

"You know," she said after a pause, "this was supposed to be a one-night thing."

Ethan looked at her. "I figured. But that doesn’t mean it has to be, right? We could just continue this way without putting a name to this...." he said, letting his words trail off.

Rayna sighed and set her fork down. "I usually don’t link up again with my one-night stands. It keeps things clean. Easy."

"But...?" he asked, sensing there was more.

She met his gaze, her expression soft. "But with you... I wouldn’t mind. You’re different."

Hope flickered in his eyes, but before he could speak, she continued.

"That said... maybe we should leave it to fate," she said gently. "If we’re meant to meet again, we will. No pressure. No promises."

Ethan looked at her for a long moment, his jaw tight, but then he nodded. "I get it."

"I’m not saying no," Rayna added quickly, wanting to soften the blow. "I’m just not saying yes right now either."

He let out a soft breath, then leaned back against the headboard, his smile returning—faint but genuine. "You’re something else, Rayna."

"I’ve been told that before," she said with a wink, reclaiming her fork and taking another bite. "Mmm. This is actually really good."

"Glad you approve," Ethan chuckled, reaching for his own cup of coffee. "So... what’s your plan for today?"

She shrugged. "Nothing much. Might head back soon to check on a few things. I didn’t plan to stay out all night, but hey, I don’t regret it."

"Neither do I."

They ate in comfortable silence after that, occasionally exchanging soft smiles or brushing hands as they reached for the cream or jam. It wasn’t awkward, or rushed, or even sad. It was simply... fleeting.

And maybe that was what made it beautiful.

Once breakfast was over and the tray was cleared, Rayna took her bath and got dressed, slipping back into the same black dress from the night before. She fixed her hair in front of the mirror, then glanced at Ethan.

"You’ll be in town long?"

"Two weeks," he said, watching her with something unreadable in his eyes.

She nodded, not offering anything more.

Ethan walked her to the door, his hands shoved in his pockets, as though unsure what to do with them. "You sure you want to leave it to fate?"

Rayna turned to him, her eyes soft. "I think it’s better that way. We had a great night. We’ll always have that."

He didn’t argue. He just gave a small nod.

She rose onto her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Thanks for breakfast... and for being you."

Then she turned and walked away.

Ethan stood at the door long after she left, wondering if fate would really be that kind.