Chapter 4: Egg Benedict

There's been some commotion about me making Christian a creep. But I thought Ana's reaction was too downplayed in the book. I mean he touched Leila's body (that would be enough to make me kill him for)... What makes anybody think he could resist taking it another level? )':

Thanks for all the lovely comments and reviews Um, would anybody like my twitter account? It would be nice to get suggestions and all directly and it's easier to interact too!

Ethan's eyes grew wide, a vast ocean filled with a myriad of emotions. I had watched them play each other out as I told him what had happened between Christian and I. From shock to anger, to hurt, to pain, to utter sadness. He eventually settled on anger, his hands shaking with the emotion conquering his system.

He sat crossed legged beside me on the bed, his hair freshly damp and tousled. I had jumped this on him right after his shower. I flushed as my eyes fell upon his bare chest once again, they were sculpted but not as well as Christian's.

My inner goddess hi-fived me in response, you didn't pinch at his name!

It certainly was getting better. After that phone call and a long time sorting my feelings, I knew that I should not be the one worrying over our next meeting. Christian had cheated and he was at my mercy. I would figure how to handle the pain of seeing him and the torture of talking our issues out later. For now, I had an impending headache from the drinking last night.

Ethan's eyes were trained on me as I woke from my overwhelming thoughts. Very slowly, he emphasized on the words menacingly. " I. Could. Kill. Him."

Ethan killing Christian? That would be highly impossible. But the blood rushed to my cheeks at the thought of Ethan putting himself in that kind of position for me.

Once again, Ethan drew me against himself and I was aware of his warmth. This was what I had slept against last night, steering my dreams clear of nightmares. "I'd never cheat on you, Ana." He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "Never."

I bathed myself in his words and took comfort in them. Just like Kate, Ethan was there for me too. Kavanaughs were starting to be a steady pillar in my ever-changing life.

"Ethan," I muttered against his skin. "He's going to find you."

My thoughts ran along the movie Taken, realizing that just like Liam Neeson, Ethan was going to be hunted down. Christian did not have a special set of skills, he had a set of men with exceptional skills. Welch. It would not be long now.

Ethan chuckled.

" What?" I piped up, worried that I was driving him insane.

" Saves me the trouble of hunting him down myself, hey?" His tone was taunting, as if he could stand a chance against Christian. "Alright," He pulled back. "Take a shower and I'll bring you out for brunch."

I smiled at the thought. Then shook my head.

His eyebrows furrowed. " What now?"

I crossed my arms against my chest. " Firstly, being out in public eye will make us susceptible!" Ethan digested my words and smirked. "Secondly, I don't have clothes."

Mimicking me, he crossed his arms too and pouted for dramatic effect. " Firstly, Ms Steele. He can't do shit to us in public. Secondly, I left a fresh set for you in the toilet."

" Fresh set?" Had Ethan gone to the apartment?

" My set. I picked the most feminine. " His mouth twisted. " But the flowery board shorts were all I could find."

I could not resist throwing him a bright smile at his thoughtfulness. Ethan Kavanaugh was probably the best thing that came out of this entire situation.

Before we left the apartment, I insisted on making coffee for Ethan's accommodating friend. Even though he was still in bed, hungover I supposed, it was the least I could do.

Ethan landed us at a quiet cafe at a secluded alley, obviously giving thought to avoid Grey's many eyes. Secretly, I wished we did as it would buy us more time together.

Over eggs Benedict and pancakes, Ethan shapeshifted into a story teller. He told me about his adventures overseas and the pain of having Elliott and Kate in his company. Apparently, they could not keep their hands off each other. I winced at the thought and sent Ethan a sympathetic smile.

I told him about work and the most interesting manuscripts I had come across. Most of them were twilight rip offs, but others were pretty promising. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, but the feeling once you did was phenomenal.

Around the end of our meal, Ethan's phone started ringing. An unknown number. Without so much as a thought, he unlocked his phone and pressed it against his ear.

Christian?

" Kavanaugh." He looked perfectly at ease. Maybe it wasn't Christian after all. "Grey."

My heart stopped at the name.

Still composed, Ethan bemusedly took on Christian. " No, I have not seen Ana. But yes, I know what you did."

There were some noises from the iPhone and I knew Christian was threatening him. I had half the mind to reach out and give Christian a massive earful but resisted.

Ethan laughed. Why was he laughing? I shook with curiosity. " I'm pretty calm because I know Ana can take care of herself," he pointed out," She had a life before you, you know that?"

Flexing his fingers, Ethan laughed again. " Not to mention, I know exactly where she is." With that, he ended the call and placed his phone back onto the table. I gawked as he took the last sip of his iced latte and handed a passing waiter a wad of cash.

Turning to me, his eyes blazed with amusement. " Seems to me your stalker traced my call from Jack's phone. I am indeed not his mother."

I recalled Jack's quick cover for me and I could not help but smile along with Ethan.

" Not long now until he puts two and two together." Ethan shrugged, not at all panicking. " Shall we head back to your apartment? Grab some clothes?"

My mouth hung. " It's probably crawling with security."

Ethan leaned back against his chair, " Not to worry, I'm here with you." When I maintained my uncertainty, he added. "Besides, we'll have back up."

" Back up?" I questioned. Who was going to back us up?

My inner goddess shined her grenade, dressed in an army outfit and ready to pounce.

Ethan laughed. Oh, he was joking.

I pouted.

Slowly, Ethan leaned towards me. I remained still as he closed the distance between us, his eyes fixated against mine. Then, he reached forward and touched my bottom lip with his thumb. " You look like a petulant child."

I gasped. How many times had I thought that about Christian?

" Come on, Ana. Let's get you into a fresh set of underwear, shall we?" The intense moment was over as Ethan turned playful.

I blushed furiously knowing where his thoughts were. He had not provided me with a pair of boxers, so I had just simply reused what I had worn the night before. Under his gaze, I felt like he had just exposed me to the entire world.

Yet, the only vibe radiating off him was one of tender love and admiration.