Innocent Lies by JW Phillips

worst
that can happen?
     
    “Hello.” My voice
cracked upon answering.
     
    “Is Ethan there?”
Came from a demanding, but soft-spoken woman.
     
    “ He’s busy. Can I take a message?” Or tell you where to
go. He’s mine.
     
    “Roll him over and stick the phone
to his ear. I don’t have time for this crap,” she
stated.
     
    “ Excuse me,” I said and hesitated. Who did this woman
think she is? “Ethan is
taking a bath. May I take a message?”
     
    “Listen, I don’t
know what is up with him. But I do admit you are a brave slut for
answering his phone. Now run along and fetch him? He ran out rather
abruptly today, and I’m worried about him.” She hissed in my
ear.
     
    “ Hey, Privy.” Ethan said, walking down the long
hallway. He focused in on the phone at my ear. I felt myself shake
at what I saw. Ethan’s eyes instantly went hard and cold. He
slipped the phone out of my death grip. I heard him talking, but
was unaware of what he was saying. Why did he look so mad
at me? I got that it was not
my place to answer his phone, but I wasn’t trying to do anything
malicious. He slammed the phone shut and threw it against the wall.
Hooking his hand around my neck, he tugged me against him. “Come
here, babe.”
     
    “I’m sorry I
answered your phone. I wasn’t being nosey. I thought it might have
been work.” I relaxed and pressed my cheek against his
chest.
     
    He released me and stood over me.
He looked down at me with a look I found confusing. He appeared to
want to consume me. “Dance with me?” He picked up a remote off the
hall table; the room was suddenly filled with music. He held his
hand out for mine. I nodded. He traced his fingertips around my
waist and gripped me close to him. I placed my hand in his, and
positioned my free hand on his shoulder. His eyes sparkled with a
hint of longing. He kissed my forehead, and we were off. He glided
around the den and kitchen effortlessly. I had always loved dancing
and soon found myself laughing.
     
    “If you only knew
what I planned to do to you.” He murmured in my ear.
     
    I stumbled and
scraped my boot across his foot. I can’t do this.
     
    “Relax, Privy. I’ll never do
anything you don’t want me to do. Now come on, let’s get those
shoes off before you cripple me for life.” His voice sounded husky
and familiar, causing me to forget everything, but how I felt in
his arms. He gently massaged his hand down my calves and wiggled
the boot off with ease. He repeated the procedure on the other
foot. “Now we can dance for hours.”
     
    “Hold me,” I said
and blushed.
     
    “Does my Privy
want to be held?” Ethan sat down and pulled me onto his lap.
“Always tell me what you want.”
     
    Pressing my head gently against
his chest, he wrapped his arms around me and softly rocked me in
complete silence. I was placid when he finally broke the quietness.
“I like this cuddling thing when it’s you I get to cuddle.” His
confession made the corners of my mouth turn up into the biggest
smile.
     
    “The big, bad Ethan doesn’t like to
cuddle?”
     
    “No, babe, I just screw ’em and
leave ’em. Except with you. You deserve to be cuddled and kissed.”
He kissed the top of my head. “What time do you have to be at
school tomorrow?”
     
    “My first class is at nine.” I
relaxed in his arms.
     
    “I have court tomorrow. Stay with
me, I’ll leave the alarm set.”
     
    “Okay.” I gnawed on my upper lip
with my teeth, knowing there was nowhere else I wanted to
be.

Monday, September 29,
2014
     
    I slapped at the most
annoying alarm ever and rolled over, shoving my nose in the back of
the couch. Oh crap! I sprung up, realizing I was not at
my apartment but at Ethan’s. I combed my fingers through my hair.
Ethan was nowhere to be found. On the coffee table next to an alarm
clock was a small bouquet of daisies, a glass of orange juice, and
a folded note.
     
    Thank you for staying. Stay
forever. I liked being able to