Chapter 2

Ethan leads them through the long rose garden to reveal a hidden cottage tucked behind the trees. Long stemmed roses and overgrown vines surround the surprisingly quaint cottage as Ethan and Teresa slowly move toward it. Watching in awe Teresa can't help but admire the beautiful scenery and perfectly romantic atmosphere as she and Ethan approach the front door.

Letting go of her hand Ethan pulls his keys from his pocket and opens the door. As they both walk in Teresa quickly scans the room. Closing her eyes she is wonderfully relaxed by the sweet aroma of flowers that mixed with the gentle summer breeze from outside. Intoxicated by the terrific feeling of Ethan's arms around her waist from behind, she leans back into his chest and smiles. She lays her arms atop his and revels in the sensation of his embrace as she feels him lower his lips to her neck and suckle her skin.

"Oh Ethan," she moans softly. Realizing that she has never felt more loved and cherished as she does at this moment, she turns in his arms to face him. Letting him see the glitter in her eyes that is reserved solely for him she tells him how happy she is he brought her here.

"To tell you the truth, I completely forgot that this house was even here. I haven't been here for so long that it slipped my mind", he tells her lamely.

"Ethan, surely you've been here recently. I mean it's so beautiful I can't imagine it just sitting here in this gorgeous garden unappreciated."

"You're right Teresa, something this beautiful should never go unappreciated," he speaks softly with meaning as he nibbles at her neck until she wraps her arms securely around him and kisses him madly. The only sound to be heard in the quiet cottage is that of their labored breathing as they stand devouring each other.

Splitting apart briefly Teresa whispers against his lips, "Thank you for sharing this place with me." Quickly kissing him again she pulls away playfully to look into his eyes as she asks coyly, "So, what exactly did you have in mind when you brought me here Mr. Crane?"

"Well, Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald, I actually didn't have anything planned. I just wanted to bring you somewhere we could be alone. You know…somewhere I can kiss the woman I love without an audience?" Smiling warmly at her he leans into her kiss, eagerly drinking from her lips.
"Oh really…is that all?"

Making up her mind to embrace whatever feelings come naturally to her she takes a few steps into him. Forcing him to move backward until his back is pressed up against the door. She presses her body into his causing him to release a deep moan at the sensation.

"Actually Teresa, I won't lie to you. The thought had occurred to me more than once that we have this place all to ourselves. It would be so easy for me right now to sweep you up in my arms and make my nightly fantasies a reality."

"Ethan…you mean you've fantasized about me?" He has to pause for a moment when he reads the reaction of lust in her eyes; it was almost his undoing. He's almost sure that the smoldering passion in his stare is answer enough to her question, but he finds himself suddenly reminded of her inexperience with seduction.

"Teresa, I think about you all the time." The warmth of his smile nearly makes her knees buckle beneath her.

"You couldn't possibly know what the thought of you does to me. But as tempting as it is for me to make those dreams come true right here, right now…the simple truth is that I love you far too much to have our first time be here. I want it to be special. I want to show you how precious you are to me, and how much I love you." Then lowering his voice until it's almost a whisper he tells her, "I want it to be perfect."

His gaze is fixed on her misty brown orbs as his arms move to encircle her waist and hers rest around his neck. The way she pushes her body into his surprises him. She is so sensual in her advances toward him that he can hardly contain his need to ravish her. Then suddenly it dawns on him…that look in her eyes, the way she's touching me…she doesn't want to wait.

"Ethan, I love you so much. And you know what? Knowing that I'm with the man that I love, and that he loves me as much as I love him…nothing could be more perfect. My first time, wherever it is, it will be perfect…because it's with you."

Overwhelmed by her words he claims her mouth with a ferocity he didn't know he was capable of. Their embrace lasts for a few intense moments before they separate, as it's clear that Ethan has something to say.

"Teresa…" he starts but is soon at a loss for words. "I never thought that it was possible for a person to be as happy as I am with you. You make me see a side of myself that I didn't know existed. You've saved me. I don't ever want us to be apart, and God help anyone who tries to take you away from me."

"I'm not going anywhere Ethan", she assures him.

"I certainly hope not," he answers with misty eyes, "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."

"I promise you'll never have to find out," she vows before kissing him again with more tenderness than before. Ethan pulls her tightly against him and soon Teresa's need for him consumes her to the point where just kissing him isn't enough. She begins pulling at his shirt and caressing his sensitive body with her fingertips. Moaning into her mouth at the sensations she's stirring within him Ethan grips her more firmly against him. Thrilling in her touch as her hands roam his body, he uses the door to support them as he revels in her ministrations.

He loved her touch; she was so gentle and curious that it drove him nearly to the brink of ecstasy just thinking about it.

Running her fingertips along his toned back she could feel the muscles in his back and shoulders rippling beneath her touch. She moves her hands to focus on his chest and waistline. With each movement they drive each other crazier with need until finally her caresses become too much for him to bear and he reaches down her body and lifts her in his arms. He excites a giggle from her as he walks them through the house and into the bedroom. Carrying her against him he makes his way to the bed and sits at its edge, holding her in his lap.

Hungry for each other their kisses become more intense and she nudges him backward onto the bed. Adjusting herself atop his body she straddles him and once again their passion for each other is magnified in their kiss.

Ethan reminds himself to breathe as he claims every part of her that his lips touch as his own; exploring every inch of her body as if it's the first time he's ever touched her. Moving on top of him, she smiles when for the first time she can feel the evidence of his desire for her pressing against her thigh.

Looking up at her, Ethan's heart jumps in his chest at the sight of her above him. Her long dark hair hangs in loose curls and frames her face as she leans over him. Her lips are swollen from his kisses and her eyes dark with desire…she's never been more beautiful to me then at this moment…

When finally it registers to him what she's trying to do, he helps her pull his shirt off. Reaching for her he pulls her lips down to his and wraps her against him. Rolling them to the center of the bed he covers her body with his own.

"I love you Teresa," he murmurs against her. Her eyes close in reaction to the immeasurable pleasure as she revels in the feel of his bare skin on hers.

It's not long before Ethan pulls her blouse from her body and lowers his lips to her newly uncovered skin. Each passing moment, each loving caress, only fuels their passion for each other as they rid each other of their remaining clothes. Long minutes later he's settling between her thighs and positioning himself at her center before he stops to admire the woman before him.

"Ethan," she whispers to him. Looking into her eyes he suddenly notices a nervousness that he's not used to seeing in her, and he knows what she's trying to tell him.

"I know baby," he tells her gently with a hint of a smile on his lips. "Are you sure?" he asks while peering into her piercing brown orbs.

"Yes Ethan, I'm sure. I love you so much," she promises him before sweetly kissing him again. "Make love to me Ethan," she pleads. Her words spark a joy deep inside him so intense that it brings tears to his own eyes.

He's careful of her, knowing that this is her first time with a man is both intoxicating and grounding to him. He kisses her and holds her, until the passion is too much for either of them to stand any longer. Finally he slowly and gently begins to ease into her waiting body; being careful to pause every few moments letting her body adjust to him. When finally he feels the last of her body's resistance he poises himself and suckles her neck with an open mouthed kiss.

"Baby…I love you." He whispers and with one carefully controlled thrust he breaks her final barrier. He buries his face in her neck and caresses it with his lips to calm her. When finally they are completely enshrouded by one another Teresa cries out in an unfamiliar and pleasurable pain, but then she notices the pain disappears as quickly as it came.

And suddenly, watching Ethan simply hold her as he wipes her tears away is possibly the most romantic sight she's ever witnessed. It was amazing how special he made her feel.

"I love you Teresa. I love you more than anything in this world".

She watches in amazement as tears wet his manly features. Reaching up she brushes them away with her fingertips.

"I know Ethan. I've always known…even when you didn't. And I love you too…so much."

Leaning down to share a deeply passionate kiss, Ethan begins to slowly move inside of her. With each gentle thrust she feels the tension building within her. Each thrust brings the promise of sweet release up until the moment when their climaxes rip through their bodies and they cry out together in immense pleasure. Completely spent Ethan collapses beside her and immediately pulls her against him.

"Are you okay?" his concerned voice breaks the comfortable silence.

Sitting up on one elbow and kissing him tenderly she answers him with a smile, "I've never been better."

Pulling her tightly to him she rests her head against his chest and drapes her arm across his stomach as they begin to drift into a peaceful slumber. Lying down beside her and covering them in the sheets he is struck by the intimacy of the moment. He realized suddenly that he'd never been the cuddling type; he'd heard it before from his previous girlfriends, but lying beside Teresa he was overwhelmed by the need to hold her. He couldn't imagine ever lying beside her and not holding her. He couldn't even fathom the thought of ever lying in a bed without her again.

When finally they redress and hesitantly prepare to leave their safe haven Ethan notices uneasiness in Teresa. He walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her. "Teresa, what's wrong?"

She pauses for a brief moment before laying her head against his shoulder and telling him, "I'm scared."

Ethan sighs in understanding. He was scared too. He was afraid of losing her.

"Of what?" he prods.

"Ethan, I'm not giving you up for anything. But I'm afraid that the road that lies ahead of us will be too hard. I mean, between Gwen and your parents…" she starts to explain but he turns her in his arms before she has a chance to finish her thought.

"Teresa, listen to me. I couldn't care less what my parents think. I really believe that deep down they just want me to be happy. But even if they threatened to disinherit me tomorrow it wouldn't matter as long as I have you. And as for Gwen…I don't want to hurt her. But it's better for everyone involved if I do this now. I don't want to wake up 10 years from now and know that I made the biggest mistake of my life by letting you go. That's to say nothing of the fact that it would be unfair to Gwen as well…to spend her life with me when I'm so desperately in love with you."

He looks at her intensely, "I love you Teresa. Nothing will ever change that. You're the woman I love. And no one could convince me otherwise." He kisses her reassuringly and smiles warmly.

"Now we have another problem," he says while poorly hiding a grin.

"What's that?" She asks curiously.

"I know that we should leave now so that I can talk to Gwen before the party tonight…but I can't seem to bring myself to leave this room."

Teresa smiles up at him and her eyes sparkle into his.

"Teresa no one has ever made me feel this good about being me. Being with you is the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me. You know, I've realized by watching my parents' marriage how money and power can ruin a person's happiness. And all the money in the world doesn't mean a thing to me…because you make me the happiest man alive."

The drive back to Teresa's house is filled with a comfortable silence that engulfs the air around them. As they approach the driveway it is agreed that they should wait until after the engagement party to approach Gwen. The last thing either of them wanted to do was embarrass her in front of all her friends and family.

To that end they mutually decide that it would be best to act as if nothing's changed until after the party, so Teresa tells him she'll meet him there. Their conversation comes to a close as Ethan pulls her to him once again. He closes the distance between them as he kisses her sweetly, "I'll see you later?"

She smiles in response, "Absolutely."

Taking her hand in his he draws it to his lips. Sharing one last smile she moves to get out of the car. Ethan watches her intently as she faces him and tells him with her eyes how much she loves him.
"Me too," he tells her before returning his attention to the road and slowly pulling out of the driveway. Glancing back at her in the rearview mirror he can't help thinking to himself…this ought to be some party.

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