~*~Chapter Eight~*~

Ethan took one of the bags from Kristina as they headed out the door. "Have fun, you two," Molly said as they left.

"Let's stop and get Chinese for dinner on the way home," Ethan suggested as they got into the car.

Not far off, a man watched as Kristina Davis-Corinthos got in a car with Ethan Lovett. Hate seethed in the man's heart. He couldn't wait to get that sweet, young thing all to himself. He would show her a thing or two.

Kristina was sitting in the car beside Ethan. "Mmmm... Chinese, yes," she said happily.

"I thought you would like that," Ethan said with a smile. "After Chinese would you like another night of dancing?"

Kristina couldn't help the grin that took over her face. "I'd love another night of 'dancing'," she said with a small giggle. If 'dancing' ended the way it had the last night, she wanted it again and again with Ethan.

Ethan saw her sweet smile and heard her giggle. He knew she was thinking about the passion they had shared the night before. He too was thinking about how the night had ended. "It's going to be a fabulous night," he predicted.

They stopped by the Chinese restaurant to pick up some take-out before returning to the yacht. When they arrived back at the Haunted Star, Ethan's dad was no where in sight. Ethan shrugged as he set the containers of food down on a nearby table. "What would you like to drink?" Ethan asked Krissy.

"I want a glass of wine," Kristina said boldly. She wanted a lot of things tonight and one of them was definitely Ethan.

"Why don't we share one?" Ethan suggested. He went over to the bar and poured a glass of wine, bringing it over to the table.

"Okay," Kristina agreed. She could most definitely agree to that; it was better than him saying no all together. She moved across the room to join him at the table.

"I'm starved," she said with a smile. She was actually starved for more than just food.

"Great, because I think we got Cashew Chicken here, fried rice, and Peking Duck. Hope you like it," Ethan said as he grabbed some plates and put them on the table along with the chop sticks.

"Mmmmhmmm... yummy," Kristina said with delight. She was eager to dig into the food.

"I think that I will love it. It all sounds so yummy," she said, picking up a plate and a pair of chop sticks.

Ethan placed a big helping of food on his plate and began to eat. The food was delicious and steaming hot. He reached for the glass of red wine and took a sip, then he handed the glass to Kristina.

Kristina used her chop sticks to take a bite of food. She chewed and swallowed. "Mmmm," she said happily.

She then reached for the glass that Ethan had offered her, taking it and bringing it up to her lips to take a sip. She handed the glass back to him. She loved the way that it tasted. It's taste was both sweet and tangy.

Ethan smiled at Kristina as she tasted the wine. She was a bit too young for it, but he didn't care. It wasn't like he was trying to get her drunk or anything. It was a special occasion anyway, because they were together now. The thought of that made him intensely happy.

She smiled as she picked up her chop sticks again to take a bite of food. When she had finished the bite she looked at Ethan, taking in every inch of his handsome features. She was ready tonight... tonight she hoped to go all the way this time.

Ethan saw her looking at him across the table and he could almost read her mind. Kristina looked so beautiful and so confident. She had grown up a lot. He was proud of her for standing up against her mother. He finished his Chinese food and put his chopsticks aside. Then he reached for the wine and had another sip.

Kristina enjoyed her dinner very much, the food tasted delicious and her thoughts seemed to travel to Ethan. She wanted to find a way to tell him that she was ready for tonight.

After they had finished dinner, Ethan reached out for her hand. "Dance with me," he urged.

She nodded as she put her hand in his. She stood up from the table as she went into his arms. She sighed as their bodies moved together.

Ethan walked with Kristina over to the stereo. He turned it on. Some romantic music played, perfect for dancing. He gave her a smile and lead her over to the dance floor, taking her into his embrace so they could dance.

She put her arms around him so she could dance with him. The soft music was just what she needed to forget all her troubles and past inhibitions. She was completely relaxed as she danced in his embrace.

"How do you like being here with me?" Ethan asked as he stared into her eyes.

She couldn't take her eyes off of him. "Do you need to ask me that?" she asked softly. "All I've thought about for months and months is you, Ethan. Being with you. Kissing you. Being in your arms. Getting you to realize that you wanted me just as much as I wanted you. So finally being here with you is like a dream come true. I don't ever want to be anywhere else."

A smile came to his face, hearing her words. "I love having you here, Kristina. In my arms. In my bed," he told her. "I'm glad your mother didn't freak out too much when we told her. She knows it's for the best. She knows I care about you and I will protect you."

"Well, I'm also partly sure she has no idea that I'm going to be deeply involved with you," Kristina told him honestly. " It's just really hard to tell her the truth sometimes, because she does freak out a lot. Then it just gets complicated after that, but she does knows that you will protect me and that's something that I really like."

"I like protecting you," Ethan said as he pulled her close against his chest and danced with her. He loved every second she was in his arms. She moved against him, sliding her hands down his chest.

"I like being protected by you," she told him softly.

"I'll always keep you safe," he promised. As they were dancing, he began kissing her neck, lighting tracing the smooth skin with his tongue.

She closed her eyes, tilting her head just a little bit. She let out a soft moan as she dragged her hands down his chest and lower, until she started to unbutton his jeans. She wanted him again like last night; she wanted to feel the parts of him she hadn't last night. She slipped her tiny hands inside of his jeans once she had them unzipped as she pressed her body up against him. She brushed her fingers against him from the front of his boxers.

"Did you ever fantasize about me?" she dared to ask. She wanted to know if she ever crossed his thoughts, because he was always in hers.

"Hell yeah," he said in answer to her question. She had been on his mind all the time. He had wanted her, but he had listened to too many others who had told him she was too young for him. His heart had kept telling they belonged together, but Ethan hadn't listened till now.

He looked down to see Kristina unzipping his pants. He became instantly hard at her tender touch. As much as he wanted her, he knew the dance floor wasn't the place, not when his dad could walk in at any moment.

"Let's go to my stateroom," Ethan urged.

"Why not right here?" she asked boldly. She gripped him just hard enough to cause pleasure and not pain.

"I could undress for you," she suggested, her voice dropping to a very provocative level. "Each button one at a time, each zipper very slowly."

Ethan laughed as she eagerly teased him. "We could do it here, but I don't like an audience. Especially not my dad."