“You’re still the same Ethan.”
“Yeah, but most of the pack knows me through stories, and how you like to say, legends.” He stepped up to the door, knocked, and exhaled. “I hope she remembers me.” The door swung open slowly. A petite, aged woman with a cane squinted at them. “Hello?” Ethan grinned and his cheeks flushed. “Well, if it isn’t the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Edith frowned, then clumsily dug through her apron pocket to find a pair of glasses. She perched the spectacles on the end of her nose, leaned back, and peered up at Ethan. “Oh, Lord’s sake, child. I thought you were dead.” Her voice trembled as she reached out.
The loud surprised laughter coming from Ethan shocked Dani, though not in a bad way.
Neither one of them had much to joke around about since meeting. Smiling, she rubbed Ethan’s arm. Yes, I definitely want to have Ethan laugh more.
Edith regaled them with stories from the past for almost two hours. If it wasn’t for the older woman’s eyes growing tired, Dani could have listened all day. She’d suspected Ethan was a mischievous child and hearing the truth first-hand filled her with happiness.
“We better get going, but if you don’t mind, I’d love to bring Dani back with me and visit you again.” Ethan stood up.
Edith waved a hand, as if shooing away the question. “You know better than to ask. You both are welcome here any time.” She struggled to rise out of her chair, gave up, and scoffed.
“Getting old is a bitch.”
Ethan bent down and kissed her cheek.
“Stay right there. We’ll see ourselves out.” She waggled her finger at him. “Don’t forget your stuff.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Excuse me?”
“Your boxes, boy.” She cackled. “And they say my memory is going.”
“You’ve kept them all these years?” Ethan smooched her cheek again. “Thank you. I never expected you to hold them this long. I don’t—”
“Nonsense.” She patted his cheek. “Your things are out in the garage on the shelf. You’ll see them.”
Ethan gathered Dani to his side and led her toward the door. He paused. “Hey, Edith? Do you mind if I drive Dani to the back of your property?”
The tender smile that came over Edith’s face hinted at a pleasant memory. “Of course you can,” she softly answered.
After Ethan had put the boxes in the car and Dani wiggled into the tiny space left for her, she stifled a yawn. Dusk was falling, and she’d had a long day. She figured Ethan was exhausted.
“Hang on. It could be a bumpy ride.” He pulled the car around the house and set off through the woods. “Doesn’t look like anyone has come back here for awhile.”
“What’s back here? It looks like part of the forest on the other side of town near our house.”
“It is. Haven’t you explored the forest before?”
“No. Dad was pretty protective of me. I imagine it’s different for boys.” She cupped her hand against the side window and let her eyes adjust to the darkness to peer outside. “We’re really climbing.”
“Just wait. This is nothing yet.” He studied the road.
He drove the rest of the way in silence and finally came to a stop. Dani opened her door, but didn’t see anything special about this part of the forest.
Together, they strolled farther up the hill before Ethan pointed ahead of him. “Right there.
It’s even more spectacular in the daytime when you can see for miles and miles.”
She gasped. “Oh Ethan…”
Standing at the edge of a cliff, she took in the view. Even in the darkness, she could make out the potpourri of trees splattered throughout the valley. The river forged a path dodging the trees.
Outside of the forest, homes lay in orderly rows: the town. Headlights moved slowly, lighting the streets.
She tried to find her house while Ethan moved in behind her and pressed her back onto his chest. “It’s peaceful up here,” he said.
“Yes.” Pointing, she asked, “Is that our neighborhood?”
“Yes.” He nibbled her neck.
“What are you doing?”
“Mmm…” Nipping her earlobe, he turned her around. “The view wasn’t the only thing I wanted to show you.”
“Oh yeah?” She slid her hands inside his shirt to his hard stomach. “I think I’d like to see whatever this thing is you wanted to show me.” He slowly took her hand and pulled it to the front of his jeans. “You’re sure?” Ethan wiggled his brows and grinned.
She smiled. Instead of answering him, she undid the button at his waist and pulled down the zipper. His cock stood erect, hard and warm.