The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back

Ethan froze at the door, his heart pounding as he turned to face her. Mara's heart raced just as fast.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I want, you to undress me," she whispered, eyes dropping to the floor, afraid to meet his gaze.

Ethan stood there, silent. He wasn't smiling, but his chest rose and fell with deep, uneven breaths. Slowly, he shut the door and took a step forward. Then another.

Mara didn't move. She was rooted to the spot, as if the air itself had wrapped around her, holding her in place.

"Say that again?"

Ethan's voice was low and steady, but there was something raw beneath it. He was close now, so close he could breathe in her scent, something soft and familiar that made his pulse quicken.

Mara swallowed hard. "I'm ready," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

A tremor ran through her as if she had just unleashed a storm inside herself. Ethan saw it, the way she shivered, the way her chest rose and fell unevenly. He knew.

And God, he loved her.

Right now, all he wanted was to pull her close, to claim her, to make her his. But he held still, waiting, watching, his heart pounding in sync with hers.

"Turn around," Ethan whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

Mara's body wouldn't stop trembling. She tried to hide it, but she knew he could feel it. Still, she obeyed, slowly turning her back to him.

Ethan reached for her hair, undoing the loose braids with gentle fingers. He let the strands fall freely, running his hands through them as if memorizing the texture. Then, he leaned in, inhaling the soft, familiar scent of her.

Mara felt him, his presence, his warmth, the tension between them thick enough to steal her breath. She didn't understand what was happening to her body, or how Ethan had such control over it.

He gathered her hair and held it up with his tie, his fingers brushing against her skin.

Then, without warning, his lips met her neck, tender at first, then followed by a soft bite that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Don't move. Stay still," Ethan murmured against her skin.

Mara sucked in a shaky breath, her hands clenched at her sides, her entire being unraveling with every second that passed.

Mara felt Ethan's fingers trace the curve of her back, slow and deliberate, as he undid each button of her dress. The dress loosened, slipping from her shoulders. His hands, cool against her skin, sent a shiver rippling through her. She let out a soft, unbidden sigh.

Ethan pressed a lingering kiss to her neck before gently turning her to face him. Mara's breath hitched. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

With careful hands, Ethan eased the gown down to her waist. Underneath, she wore a white silk slip, delicate, almost sheer, revealing the perfect silhouette of her form.

His gaze lingered, savoring the image, etching it into memory.

For a moment, time stood still.

Then he exhaled, shifting his focus back to her face. Mara's eyes were tightly shut, her fists clenched at her sides, as if bracing herself.

"Baby," Ethan murmured.

"Yes?" Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his.

He smiled, his expression warm, reassuring.

He held out his hand, silently encouraging her to step out of the dress.

Mara hesitated, heat rushing to her cheeks.

She quickly obeyed, slipping free of the gown, but instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.

Ethan's smile deepened. "You don't have to hide from me."

Ethan bent down, gathering the wedding dress in his hands. His gaze lingered on

Mara, nervous, confused, breathtaking.

A soft smile touched his lips as he stepped closer. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice low, intimate. Then, he pressed a tender, lingering kiss against her lips, gentle, yet filled with his burning desire to have her.

And then, he turned to leave.

Every step away from her felt like a battle, his body aching to stay, to claim what was his.

But not like this. Not when she wasn't ready.

The door clicked shut behind him.

The moment he was gone, Mara let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

She jumped onto the bed, burying her face in the pillows. "Oh my God," she mumbled, her voice muffled against the sheets.

Her heart was still racing, her skin still tingling where he had touched her. But more than anything, she knew, Ethan had noticed.

He had seen the fear in her eyes.

*****

Ethan stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, as he carefully prepped the meal. He had sent all the staff away, this night was just for them.

His oldest housekeeper Mrs. Mogan had insisted on helping, but he had politely refused. "Take the night off, I will handle everything here,"

If they weren't going to Paris for their honeymoon, then he would make their home feel like a world of their own.

The scent of butter and herbs filled the air as he effortlessly flipped the steak on the stove.

Just then, his phone beeps. Without looking, he slipped in his wireless earpiece and answered.

"Have you worked on Mara's new identity?"

It was Steph. Ethan had instructed him to issue a new card for Mara, one that carried her new name.

"Not yet, sir. Are you really ready to let her know you're her boss's boss? That you're the little devil?" Steph's voice held a teasing edge, but his words carried weight. "And knowing how proud Mara is of her career, do you think she'll be happy when everyone knows her identity? I suggest you think this through."

Ethan exhaled, removing the steak from the fire. He knew Steph had a point, but this wasn't just about Mara's pride, it was about protecting her yet still he wanted the world to know she was his wife.

"I'll talk to her." His tone was firm, dismissing further discussion. "Why did you call?" There was a pause before Steph spoke again. "Mrs. Anderson has been assigned to the

Tolmort murder case. Thought you should know."

Ethan stilled, his jaw tightening. The name alone sent a sharp wave of unease through him. He set down the pan, his mind already racing.

This wasn't just another murder case. And if Mara was involved, she could be in trouble.

"Why would a junior partner be assigned to a high-profile case? And not just any case, this one is dangerous!" Ethan fumed, his anger barely contained.

"I had the same thought," Steph replied. "So, I looked into it. Turns out, the person behind it is Jeson Ingred. And guess what? He's the son of the family that first adopted Mara in Eldorado."

Someone dared to mess with Mrs. Anderson? Ethan's eyes darkened. Not only had Jason ruined his honeymoon plans, but now he was making things difficult for his wife in her own law firm. That wouldn't stand.

"Switch Mara's case," Ethan ordered with a sly grin. "Put her on our latest one, I'd like to work with my wife."

"Yes, sir. And what about Jason Ingred?" Steph asked, curious about how to handle him.

Ethan considered it for a moment. He wasn't sure how deep Mara's past with Jason ran, but one thing was clear, she should be the one to deal with him.

"Leave him for now," Ethan decided. Then, spotting another call coming through, he added, "Hang up. I have someone else on the line."

"Yes, sir," Steph replied, ending the call.