"What's the matter?" Emma inquired.
Ethan shook his head and moved even closer to her, overwhelming her with his heat and delicious scent. She didn't know what was going on, but she was unable to stop herself from wrapping her hand around his powerful forearm. He glanced down at her and forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Everything ok?" she asked.
"It's fine," he said and bent to drop a kiss on her forehead. Emma found herself instinctively reacting by pressing against him. She heard his harsh intake of breath seconds before his mouth drifted down to brush against hers. Her toes curled, and her fingers dug into his arm as his lips seared hers and he nibbled her bottom lip. Disappointment filled her when he pulled away, but his hand remained on her shoulder, and his body stayed against hers.
Emma frowned as Stefan slid to his feet beside Isabelle. From around Ethan's chest, she finally spotted the three men who had caught his attention the last time she saw them here. Two of the men glanced over at them, but the third focused on the dance floor.
"Are you sure you don't know them?" she inquired.
"I'm sure." He turned toward her and finished off his beer. "Would you like another drink?"
"No, I think I've had enough."
He took her hand. "How about a walk on the beach?"
Emma looked at the three men who were now on the dance floor. There appeared to be nothing wrong with the men, but no matter what he said, she knew Ethan and his family were reacting strangely to those guys. Whatever it was they didn't like about them, he wasn't going to tell her, and it didn't matter if they were leaving the bar.
"That sounds great," she said and slid off the barstool. She turned to Isabelle and Stefan as Isabelle stood too. "Are you coming with us?"
Isabelle glanced at Ethan before shaking her head. "No, I think we're going to head home."
Ethan was careful to keep Emma away from the three unknown vampires as he led her outside. He walked with Isabelle and Stefan over to the Jeep in the small parking lot, grabbed his backpack from the backseat, and closed the door. He nodded to them and tapped the closed door before turning to Emma. She was studying the bag slung over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"Big plans?" she asked.
He smiled at her as he claimed her hand and pulled her close to his side. "Just a few supplies for tomorrow."
"Awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"
He laughed and released her hand to slide his arm around her waist. "I'll go home tonight if you want me to."
It was the last thing in the world she wanted as she leaned against him and kicked at the warm, grainy sand beneath her feet. She'd never felt this secure before as her skin tingled where it came in contact with his. The mellow ebb and flow of the ocean soothed as the salty scent of it washed over her. Light from the moon and stars glimmered on the water; she almost felt as if she could walk across the sea and touch the moon as it hung heavily in the clear night sky.
"It's beautiful," she murmured.
"It is," he agreed, but his eyes were focused on her as they walked further down the beach. "I'm sorry Isabelle was so overwhelming."
Emma brushed back a strand of hair blowing across her face. "I enjoyed talking to her once she stopped..."
"Grilling you?" he suggested when her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, I guess that would be the best way to describe it."
"She's overprotective of all her siblings. I think it comes from being the oldest female."
"I think it’s what comes from having brothers and sisters; it must be nice. I mean it's not great when you're on the receiving end, but I understand. She loves you and apparently, she was also beginning to question your sexuality," she added with a laugh.
He chuckled as he shook his head. "Sometimes, I'd like to strangle her."
"I think that also comes from having siblings."
He kissed the top of her head. "I think this is where we exit."
She followed his gaze up the hill to the small house where she was staying. "Jill and Mandy are probably still awake."
"Then I promise not to jump you in the entryway again."
Emma couldn't stop a burst of laughter from escaping; she pinched his side before darting away from him and fleeing across the sand. Her feet slipped in the loose sand, but she forced her small legs to move faster. She could hear him steadily gaining on her. She tried to dash to the side but his arms encircled her waist, and he lifted her off the ground. A squeal of delight escaped her as he pressed her back against his chest and spun her around in a circle. Lightness filled her heart as he stopped spinning and walked with her the rest of the way across the beach to the road.
"I don't think carrying me is helping with the not being jumped in the entry part," she told him when she felt his erection pressing against her spine.
"Maybe not, but I'm not ready to let you go."
Was he trying to make her fall in love with him? If so, she was dangerously close to it as he set her on her feet in the driveway. "Ethan..."
She found words failed her as his emerald eyes met hers in the moonlight. Emotion swelled so vehemently in her chest she almost threw herself into his arms and buried her head in his chest. "What is it, Emma?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head and turned away from him. She'd sound like a complete moron if she started stuttering on about feelings and whatever other foolishness had been about to spill from her mouth. Pulling the key from her pocket, she slid it into the door and pushed it open. Jill and Mandy were sitting on the couch with drinks in
