Lynelle

Nobody came to see her after the embarrassing incident by the pool, and she was perfectly fine with that. However, when she came down for breakfast the next day, Ethan was leaning on the counter by the sink, waiting for her.

"Where are the others?" she asked, noticing the empty rooms. Ethan smiled at her.

"They're all at work. Rowan is in his room."

She nodded, coming closer and resting her arms on the bar.

"I'll cook for you. Anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Yes," Ethan replied, laughing. "I'll give you anything your heart can dream of, darling."

She smiled mischievously at him, sliding into one of the bar stools. "In that case, how about some chocolate croissants?"

He smiled softly at her. "As you wish."

She stayed and silently watched him cook for a while, but her mind was wandering. Why was Rowan so reclusive? He was always in his room, and even when he was out with them, he would barely talk. Just sit there and watch them.

She decided to pay him a visit. He opened the door partway after she knocked, leaning against his doorframe and eyeing her suspiciously. Was he building a bomb in there or something?

"Yes?"

"Hello. Uh, just, Ethan is making me some croissants -- I mean, chocolate croissants, he's making, so if you wanted some you should come down in like five minutes. Or if you just wanted to hang out with us," she rambled. Why did he make her so nervous?

"I'm afraid I've already eaten. And I'm a little busy. You and Ethan will have a good time," he said. He wasn't smiling, but his face actually didn't look that angry. Maybe he didn't hate her!

She nodded, smiling at him and heading back downstairs. She would get him to join them eventually.

Ethan was just taking the croissants out of the oven when she arrived to the kitchen, and they looked fantastic. He slid the tray on top of the stove.

"Let's let them cool," Ethan told her as she slid into her bar stool. He took off his oven mitts and leaned on the bar, right next to her. She fidgeted under his intense gaze, an unusual look from easygoing Ethan.

"You didn't answer Rowan's question last night," he murmured. Lynelle was surprised Ethan would bring this up -- he was so sweet and laid-back.

"No, I suppose I didn't," Lynelle replied, as lightheartedly as she could. She looked down at her hands, avoiding his prying eyes.

He slid his hand onto her cheek, and she gasped at the contact. Gently but firmly, he lifted her face up so she was looking at him. Her cheeks warmed and she felt her whole body melt under his hand.

"Why didn't you answer, Lynelle." When he said it, it sounded more like a statement than a question, leaving her no choice but to answer him. She was going to answer with something breezy and brush it off, but her brain seemed to be short circuiting.

"Um. I just, was embarrassed? My fantasies are um, private, and I shouldn't -- shouldn't have to --" she trailed off, distracted at the way Ethan's hand slid into her hair.

"Tell me what your fantasy is." He said it lightly, like a suggestion, but his hand in her hair, pulling on it a little when he told her that, made his order clear.

"God. Fine. Maybe I do enjoy a fantasy of having multiple men at once," she conceded, shivering from the delicious sensation of having her hair pulled.

Ethan was watching her closely as her eyes became more heavy-lidded and her lips parted. Lynelle was sure she was an open book. He could tell how much she was enjoying this.

He gave her hair one last little tug, eliciting a small gasp from her, and released her.

"The croissants should be cool by now. I have some work to do, but I'll be down in time to cook dinner for you, so be ready to tell me what you want." He grabbed a croissant and made his was over to where Lynelle was still frozen in her seat, pressing her legs together. He kissed her on her forehead, gently. "You're beautiful." Then he was gone.

She sat there for a little while, mind racing. She was pretty sure she was more wet than she had ever been in her life. But why? From having her hair pulled? Something her little sister used to do, that she would get so angry about?

She hated being manhandled. But somehow... Ethan doing it to her had been enjoying. Arousing. Confusing.

What the hell did she want?