Chapter 14: Primal Memories 

Chapter 14: Primal Memories 

(Olivia’s POV)‘ 

At that time, I looked at his amber eyes that reflected my own emerald ones. I mustered up 

the courage, walked over, and kicked those men a few times. Because my legs were still weak, 

the kicks were light and ineffective. 

Ethan Stone sneered, “Useless.” 

The memory faded as I watched Ethan standing over my attacker, his knuckles bloodied from 

the brutal punishment he’d inflicted. The scene before me–Ethan defending me with savage 

violence–mirrored that night seven years ago when he’d first saved me. 

Back then, he’d encouraged me to fight back, to stand up for myself. Now, as I struggled to my feet, something primal awakened inside me. 

I stumbled forward, pepper spray still clutched in my trembling hand. The man who’d attacked me lay groaning on the ground, his face a bloody mess from Ethan’s assault. 

Without hesitation, I sprayed directly into his eyes again. 

“That’s for touching me,” I hissed, watching him writhe in agony. 

My legs gave out beneath me, the adrenaline that had kept me going suddenly evaporating. I would have hit the ground if Ethan hadn’t caught me, his strong arms wrapping around my 

waist. 

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. 

He lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. The familiar scent of pine and winter air enveloped me, bringing back memories I’d tried so hard to forget. 

“My car is this way,” he said, carrying me toward his luxury SUV parked at the curb. 

After reporting the incident to the security patrol, I sat silently in the station, answering 

questions and providing a statement. It was well past midnight when we finally finished. 

“I’ll call James to pick me up,” I said, reaching for my phone. 

Ethan’s hand closed over mine, stopping me. “Get in the car, Olivia.” 

His tone was calm but left no room for argument. The unspoken threat hung in the air between us–if I called James, there would be consequences. 

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Too exhausted to fight, I followed him outside to his waiting vehicle. 

During the drive back to Maple Grove, I stared out the window, watching the shadows of trees 

blur past My body ached from the attack, but the emotional wounds cut deeper. 

“You should have someone stay with you tonight,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. 

I kept my gaze fixed on the window. “I’ll be fine” 

“That wasn’t a suggestion” 

I turned to look at him, noticing the tight set of his jaw, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel with unnecessary force. 

“I don’t need a babysitter, Ethan,” 

His amber eyes flashed with irritation. “You were just attacked,” 

“It’s not the first time,” I reminded him bitterly, 

We lapsed into silence again, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. 

When we reached Maple Grove, Ethan insisted on walking me to my door. I fumbled with my keys, my hands still shaking slightly from the ordeal, 

“I’ll be back,” he said as I stepped inside. “I need to get some healing herbs for your injuries.” 

Before I could protest, he was gone, the door closing behind him. 

Alone in my apartment, the full weight of what had happened crashed down on me. I 

stumbled to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the feeling of that man’s hands on my 

body. 

Under the hot spray of the shower, I scrubbed my skin until it was red and raw, but I couldn’t 

erase the memory of his touch, his breath on my face, the terror of those moments when I 

thought no one would save me. 

After drying off, I slipped into a loose nightgown and wrapped myself in a robe. The physical pain from my injuries was nothing compared to the emotional trauma churning inside me. 

My gaze fell on the bottle of moonlight wine James had left during his last visit. Without thinking, I grabbed it and poured myself a generous glass. 

The first sip burned going down, but the warmth that spread through my body afterward was worth it. I took another drink, then another, desperate to numb the pain and fear still coursing through me. 

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More 

By the time I’d finished half the bottle, my movements had become unsteady, my mind pleasantly foggy. The trauma of the attack seemed distant now, a nightmare happening to 

someone else. 

I stood up from the sofa, swaying slightly as the room tilted around me. I needed to get to bed before I passed out. 

As I stumbled toward my bedroom, I heard the front door open. Ethan stood in the doorway, a 

small bag of healing herbs in his hand. 

Our eyes met across the room. I tried to focus on his face, but my vision kept blurring. 

“You’re drunk,” he stated, his voice a mixture of surprise and disapproval. 

I attempted to walk past him but lost my balance. Ethan caught me before I could fall, his 

strong arms enfolding me once again. 

“Let me go,” I mumbled, pushing weakly against his chest. 

But my body betrayed me, melting into his embrace as if it remembered a time when his touch 

meant safety and love. 

Ethan held me tightly, his amber eyes darkening as he looked down at my flushed face. The 

scent of moonlight wine on my breath mingled with my natural lavender scent, creating an 

intoxicating combination. 

“You never could hold your alcohol,” he murmured, his voice deeper than before. 

I felt his hand slide up my back, tangling in my damp hair. My nightgown had slipped off one 

shoulder, exposing more skin than I intended. 

The bag of herbs dropped to the floor as Ethan’s other hand cupped my face, tilting it upward. 

His thumb traced my lower lip, sending shivers down my spine. 

“Ethan,” I whispered, uncertain if I was protesting or encouraging. 

His mouth descended on mine in a hungry kiss that stole my breath. Unlike the forceful kiss 

at Maple Grove earlier, this one held a desperate passion that ignited something long dormant 

within me. 

In my alcohol–induced haze, my body responded instinctively. My arms wound around his 

neck, pulling him closer as our lips moved together in a familiar dance. 

His hand slid down to my waist, then lower, tracing the curve of my hip through the thin fabric of my nightgown. The touch was possessive, claiming–reminding me that despite everything, 

he still considered me his. 

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Chapter 14 Primal Memories 

I moaned softly against his mouth, lost in the sensation of being desired again after so long. My fingers tangled in his black hair, holding him to me as the kiss deepened. 

Ethan growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through his chest against mine. His hand moved to my thigh, fingers digging into the soft flesh. 

Pain shot through me as he inadvertently pressed against the wound left by my attacker’s knife. I cried out, breaking the kiss. 

“Don’t–it hurts,” I gasped, the words slipping out before I could stop them. 

Ethan froze, his amber eyes widening. For a moment, he looked stricken, as if my pain had physically wounded him. 

“Olivia,” he whispered; his voice thick with emotion. 

The way he said my name–tender, almost reverent–transported me back five years to our first night together. I had been nervous, inexperienced, afraid of the pain that would come. 

“Ethan, please be gentle,” I’d pleaded then, my emerald eyes wide with apprehension. 

He had kissed me softly, promised to take care with my body, to make it good for me. And he had kept that promise, treating me with a tenderness I hadn’t known he possessed. 

Now, as he looked at me with that same intensity, memories of our past intimacy flooded back, mingling with the present until I couldn’t separate them anymore. 

Without a word, Ethan lifted me from the sofa and carried me toward the bedroom.