Chapter 6: Tug of Love

Author's Note!

Hey lovelies, as I am unable to update this story all the time, please also read the other story that I'm writing. Yup, so you wouldn't have to wait too long!

Christian handed my luggage over to Taylor as we stepped out of the hotel room. Ethan was leaning with his shoe against the wall opposite, watching my luggage move out from our room. In response, his lips pulled up into a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

Of course, bitch. My inner goddess shook her head at me, close to flipping me off. You pretty much just jumped from boy to boy.

"Christian," I said softly as he ringed his arm around my waist to lead me off. "Go first, would you?"

Puzzlement shook his eyes and a hint of insecurity but then Ethan straightened up. Christian nodded at me, leaning in to plant me a kiss on my cheek, "I'll be waiting." The men exchanged a rather tense and filled expression before Christian strutted into the elevator after his men.

I licked my lips, preparing to say something to lessen the blow. My heart had already settled on Christian, I had to leave Ethan regardless of the amazing time we had spent together.

"Before you say anything, Ana." Ethan had annihilated any hint concern and took on a irritated tone. "I have no right to tell you not to go."

I bit down on my lip as the guilt crept into my system. Ethan had been there to catch me all this time, to make me laugh when I thought I would never smile again. He had been all I needed... When Christian was not. I hated myself for feeling this way, for treating him this way.

Out of no where, a fierce emotion saturated his blue eyes. Ethan took a confident step forward as he reached for my hands, clasping them in both of his. "But I still have a chance at asking you to stay."

My heart pounded in my chest as our eyes fenced against each other, the warmth of his hands so familiar and safe. I knew I was secure whenever I was with Ethan. "Ana, I know that you want to leave with Christian. It's not like I hadn't thought about it or anticipated it, because I know you love him."

I nodded, a part of me begging Ethan to stop talking. I knew what was coming up next. I knew what he was about to say. There would be nothing within me to deny it.

Ethan smiled at me softly, "But deep down in that beautiful heart of yours, Ana Steele." He was going to stay it. I closed my eyes as his words grazed my ears. "You know you love me too."

I did. Squeezing my eyes tightly together, I begged for my emotions to just choose one. Christian or Ethan. It could not be both. I tried to focus on Christian and all we had done together, but the emotions that Ethan had cultivated within me over years fought back.

"We're good as friends, Ana, without a doubt. But, hey. Look at me." I opened my eyes to a sea of stormy blue, the love within them boundless. "We're perfect as lovers."

The most I could do was stare wide-eyed at Ethan. My brain jammed, uncertain which memory reel to play; Christian's or Ethan's?

"Think about it, Ana." Ethan soothed, his thumb stroking the back of my palm. "We've been there for each other for so long that even now, you find comfort in me no matter in how bad a shape you are."

His words coaxed my memories of him out from the sea in my brain. There were many things to remember, too many to recall right in this moment. When Kate and I had gotten into such an awful right that I thought we would never be fixed, Ethan had been there to talk me through and rebuild the friendship. I could still remember him braiding my hair as he asked me to list all my achievements, it had taken my mind off failing Freshmen year.

Ethan was like my pit stop and I was the Formula One racing car. No matter how far and fast I went, I would eventually need to come back to him to be refueled, cleaned and strengthened. Even the time when I would win championships, he was an essential factor.

I refocused into the glorious eyes of my Saviour,"I'm not asking you to decide right now, I'd never force you Ana." Ethan smiled at me to emphasize his point. "I'm just asking you to think about it."

I was. There was a period in my life that I had had feelings for Ethan. Who wouldn't? Any girl would have fallen for her male best friend at one point in time or another. Ethan was a likeable young man and I was not the only one who thought so.

"But in order for you to think, sweetheart." Ethan stepped closer and his hand slowly lifted to cradle my face. "You have to give yourself some space from others."

"To.. Stay...with you?" My voice found its way out of the boundless paralysis I had been dropped in.

"I know it's selfish to ask you to stay with me, but I've got to fight for who I want." Ethan was sincere, his eyes blazing with passion and determination. "I have to protect the one I love, I can't ever let anybody hurt you again."

My heart was melting. "But..."

"Ana, if you don't want to stay, you can go. I have no power over you and neither do I wish to have any. I'm just a man helplessly in love with a Wonder Woman and if she doesn't return my sentiments, it's okay."

Christian and Ethan. How on earth did I find myself in this position?

My inner goddess sneered at me. How on earth did you get them both chasing after you?

I did not deserve this. Any of this. But the fact that I did, I had to do this right. It was like one of those teenage movies with cliche story lines. The female protagonist goes out with a whole string of men only to realize the one for her had been right there under her nose in the first place. I could see it happening with Ethan...

But what about Christian? My broken and lost boy. His crumpled face resurface in my mind and it made my heart squeeze. Even though we had our rough times, we had had out good times too...

But then again, after what he had done with Leila... I did not know if I would ever be able to forgive and forget. Now it was all suffering and torture in our broken relationship, pummeled with insecurities and guilt. Did I love him?

Do you love Ethan? My inner goddess chimed another question at me.

Ethan and Christian. I sighed inwardly as Ethan paused, thoughtfully providing me time to think. Christian was that mysterious wheeling stranger that swept me off my feet and then broken my heart. Ethan had worked his way into my heart and he had always treated me like a precious jewel, to be cradled and kept safe.

"Why did you not tell me how you felt earlier?" I whispered.

My inner goddess rolled her eyes at me. You're pushing the blame onto the one who has preserved your heart.

"Fair question." Ethan stated. "I was working up the courage to ask you out."

My cheeks flamed up as I looked away, "For this long?"

"I was going to ask you to be mine when I came back." He was dead serious. "But as we both know, you were otherwise preoccupied..." I pursed my lips at the reference. "So I stood back and let you live. But time after time," his thumb stroked my cheek softly, "You got hurt. The more you got hurt, Ana, the more I could not stand there and watch."

I was dumbfounded. I had always imagined Ethan's care and concern to be only on the friendly level. But apparently I was wrong. I hated myself, but I loved the feel of his skin against mine.

"I know I'm not much." Ethan shook his head at me. "I can't ever live up to Christian, Ana. He's always going to be able to give you more than I ever will."

"That's not true, Ethan." I laced my fingers through his in a moment of confidence. "You have given me so much already."

"I'll never be able to buy you things, Ana. All these diamonds from Cartier, cars from Audi, bags from Chanel, food from Hell's Kitchen. Even though you deserve it."

"It doesn't matter." I heard myself say.

"I can only offer you my heart and my love," My heart pounded as he closed the gap slightly more. "I can only promise to keep you smiling, to give you my all as we build a family from the ground up."

I found myself smiling at him. "That's all I'll ever need."

The lift pinged and out stepped Taylor. He took a moment to gawk at us and then repositioned himself to a facade of professionalism. "Ms Steele, Mr Grey is waiting in the car."

I glanced at Ethan and he nodded at me. "It's your choice, sweetheart."

As gently as I could, I let his hand go and took a step away from him. Ethan's hand on my face fell from my cheek as he fought back a powerful emotion. Slowly, I strolled towards Taylor and away from Ethan. The atmosphere was intense but not suffocating, it was a good atmosphere.

Looking back, I watched as Ethan stuffed his hands into his jeans, the look on his face defeated. "Taylor," I said. "Could I have my luggage back?" Ethan's head snapped up and he raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Ms Steele..?" Taylor was puzzled.

I refocused on Taylor and offered him a sorry smile. "Please tell Christian that I'm on a road trip with Ethan and will be unavailable."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." I nodded at him. "There's no where else I need to be but here."

"Right away, Ms Steele." He conceded, turning to vanish down the lift.

Smiling, I turned to face Ethan. I could not wait to see the look on his face that would replace the disappointment earlier. Immediately, even before I had finished turning, Ethan's palms cradled the side of my face.

Framing it, his eyes were flowing with happiness and joy. I was momentarily awestruck at the intensity. "I will fight to win your heart over." He promised, bringing his lips to mine.

CPOV:

I was ecstatic. Leaning against the leather car seat, I stared out of the window in anticipation. My Ana was coming home with me. I had lay my heart down for her to see and judge herself and she has decided to give me one more shot.

Luke was in a good mood as well, tapping his fingertips against the steering wheel in happiness. Of course he would be. Ana and him had a pretty strong bond, enough to make me jealous at times. But who cares, her heart belongs to me and not to him.

LPOV:

Ana Steele. Ana Steele. Ana Steele!

CPOV:

Ana has realized that I was the one for her. That was good. These past few weeks, I had been thinking about securing her to me for eternity. I was going to make her legally mine, declaring her as my wife till kingdom come. There would be nobody else for me, nobody who would ever make me smile and cry in this way. She could heal me and break me.

The time jumped forward. Where was Ana?

I had left her, given her some space, to talk to Ethan. What could they be talking about that would take this long? Ugh. I sighed and glared at the empty lobby. There was nothing more I wanted than to take my girl home and away from Ethan. He had had more time with Ana and clearly had the upper hand.

My hand found the handle but then I halted. If I intruded on Ana's talk with Ethan, surely she would be upset with me and that was the last thing I would ever want. "Taylor, would you check on Ms Steele please?"

"Yes, Mr Grey." Taylor nodded at me in the mirror and climbed out of the car. I observed as he disappeared.

Luke was silent now, staring straight ahead. I clenched my jaw. I was not a patient man. Barely five minutes later, Taylor emerged from the semi-hotel. Alone. Luke's sharp intake of breath was all I heard as Taylor explained himself.

The blood within me boiled. If he thought he had won her, he was dead wrong.

APOV:

My lips tingled in response to his, opening to let him through. Ethan seized the opportunity and fervently pampered my tongue with his. Passionately, he deepened the kiss and I felt obliged to go on my tiptoes.

Trying to help, Ethan wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. When the kiss was over, he broke away and then brushed his lips against mine. "You deserve to be treated like a princess."

There was the tell-take sign of doom as the lift pinged once more. Christian was about to arrive and show off his boxing skills. "Ethan," I said, trying to step in front of him to defend him from his impending doom. As much as Ethan was strong, Christian had training.

Stubborn as he was, Ethan tugged me behind him, shielding me. He would never understand that it was useless. Christian would never hurt me… but he would love to bend Ethan around a metal pole and mash his bones to eat with bread. The doors opened. My eyes widened in surprise.

Try; Pink

Love Story; Taylor Swift

Loves me not; Kris Allen

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