‘See you guys tomorrow,’ Kyle called and walked up the drive of the house next door.
Ethan stood staring at her. ‘Are you coming or not?’
She glanced at Jim as she got out, he was staring at her with his mouth open. Ethan closed the van door behind her and the van drove off.
Ethan pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘I better phone Crystal, tell her I’ve got a better offer.’
Izzy felt her mouth fall open. If he thought he was going to jump straight from Crystal’s bed into hers he could think again. That wasn’t what she was offering tonight. Who was she kidding? If he took her straight up to his bedroom now and ravished her, there wasn’t a single part of her that could say no.
‘Hi Crystal, darling, I can’t do tonight I’m afraid… I know, I was looking forward to it too… A business meeting… I know, it’s dull. You know I’d much rather be with you… No it will be a late one I’m afraid… I’ll call you… Yep bye.’ He rang off.
‘Sorry if I’m cramping your style.’
‘You’re not, trust me. You’re saving me from a night of boredom.’
‘You can be really disgusting sometimes, do you know that?’
‘What? What did I do?’ Ethan opened the front door to his house and a huge woof sounded from somewhere deep in the house.
‘That’s a horrible thing to say about someone, I don’t care who she is. And the fact that you’re with someone who you think those things about says nothing for your character either. You shouldn’t be with her if you don’t like her.’
‘I’m not with her. I’m not with anyone. The women I go out with know it’s just sex. She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t have girlfriends or relationships. I have women I sleep with. And I don’t need any judgement from you.’
‘It’s just meaningless sex.’
‘Yes, that’s the way I like it.’
Izzy bent down to take her boots off, angrily yanking at the laces. But as she stood back up, pain ripped through her back and she screamed out. She was bent double, her face almost touching her knees and she couldn’t move.
‘What’s wrong?’
She tried to stand up again but the pain was excruciating. It wasn’t that it was too painful to stand up, she physically couldn’t.
‘I can’t stand up.’ She tried to move again and cried out at the pain.
‘Your back’s gone into spasm.’
‘Yes, I guess.’
‘It’s just a trapped nerve.’
‘Ethan, it’s fucking agony, I don’t think it’s just anything.’
‘You just need to relax.’
‘I am relaxed,’ Izzy spat out through gritted teeth.
‘I’m going to help you stand up.’
Ethan’s hands closed round her hips.
‘No! No Ethan, please, no it hurts so much, don’t touch me.’
‘What do you recommend, that I leave you here all night?’
‘It will pass.’
‘Has it happened before?’
‘No but I’m sure I won’t be stuck like this for the rest of my life.’
‘Could make things awkward at work. Not sure how you’d answer the phone and check the diary.’
‘I’d find a way.’
‘I’m sure you would.’
Izzy felt her hoodie being gently lifted, exposing her bare back to Ethan. ‘What the hell are you doing?’
‘Nice tattoos. Where does it hurt?’
‘Everywhere.’
‘Specifically.’
Izzy gingerly reached round to touch her lower back. Instantly she felt his large hand on her spine. ‘No!’
‘Relax.’
‘Easy for you to say.’
His hand was warm, hot even as the warmth spread into her spine.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Trust me.’
‘I don’t.’
His hand started moving round in soft gentle circles in the exact place where it hurt the most, but his caress was like a hot water bottle, soothing the pain everywhere he touched.
‘Argh god, Ethan.’
‘Do you want me to stop?’
‘No, don’t fucking stop.’
The pressure was slightly firmer now and a second hand joined the first.
‘No. Yes.’
One hand stayed focused on the most painful area, whilst the other hand spread across the rest of her back, exploring, touching, stroking. She could feel herself relaxing, her muscles going noodle soft.
‘Do you know what you’re doing?’
‘Haven’t a clue, but is it working?’
‘It’s helping. A lot.
Suddenly she felt him curl round her back, one arm round her hips, one arm round her shoulders as he leaned into her, but not putting any weight on her at all. It was an assault on her senses, his spicy smell, his warmth, the feel of his hard body against hers.
‘What…’
‘We’re going to stand up,’ Ethan said against her ear.
‘No, I’m not ready.’
‘I’m going to take all your weight.’ She felt his legs bend against hers, pushing her thighs forward slightly and supporting her bum against his thighs. ‘Relax into me.’
‘No, I can’t.’
‘We’re going to stand up because this sure as hell isn’t how I planned to spend my evening. Then we’re going to go upstairs and have sex.’
‘What!?’
At that moment, as the shock of his statement slammed into her brain, Ethan stood up – taking her with him.
She braced for the pain, the snapping of her spine, but none of that came.
She leaned against him, her breath heavy partly from the panic but partly from the promise he’d just given her.
‘Are you ok?’
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
‘Any pain.’
She shook her head.
‘Good. Now I’m starving, so do you fancy some steak?’
He straightened her so she was standing on her own weight and started walking down the hall, towards what looked like the kitchen. ‘We’ll take a rain check on the sex, shall we? Although I will remember that next time you want to pick an argument with me, I can distract you with the promise of sex and at least get a few moments’ silence.’
‘You arrogant sod, you just assume that every woman wants to sleep with you, I can assure you…’
‘Ah