Slowly, I nodded. “I didn’t go out with Butler to get at you. You know that, right?”
“No,” Ethan admitted. “I thought that’s exactly what you did.”
“No. He and I didn’t have a great relationship. It was up and down all the time, and it was a comfortable thing to do. Go right back to him.” I looked down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have done it, even though nothing happened between us. We just ate, then he left.”
“Everything happens for a reason. If I didn’t know you’d called him, I might not have ever told Leo.”
“I know.” I pushed hair behind my ear and peered over at him. “Did you know that he knew?”
“Knew what?”
“That we had feelings for each other.”
Ethan frowned. “What?”
I told him everything Leo had told me before I’d dropped him at his house. “So the last few days were all for nothing.”
“I’m going to the gym tomorrow.” Ethan snorted. “I didn’t know any of that, but I’m not surprised. It’s exactly the kind of shit he’d pull without thinking of the consequences.”
“You don’t need to tell me that.” I rolled my eyes. “What do we do now?”
“I know.”
“You do?”
He nodded, moving closer to me. Without another word, Ethan cupped my face and kissed me. It was gentler than the last one, and I leaned into it, savoring the sweetness of the moment.
It wasn’t how I’d expected this day to end, that was for sure.
“That’s not really an answer,” I muttered.
He grinned, his eyes shining. “We figure it out. Naturally. The way it should be.”
“It’s hardly going to be normal, given that we already live together.”
“Great. At least nobody has to move if it works out.”
“And if it doesn’t work out?” I raised my eyebrows.
“We blame your brother.”
I paused. “Well, everything is already his fault.”
“Exactly my point. One more thing isn’t going to hurt.” He sat back. “There is one thing we do need to discuss. Immediately.”
I paused. “Um, okay. What?”
“Mr. Prickles.” A solemn look crossed Ethan’s face. “You’re gonna have to make an effort, or this isn’t going to work.”
That was… not really that surprising.
“We’re friends. I don’t think we’re going to snuggle to watch Netflix at any point, but I suppose I can try.”
“Try now.”
“Touch him now?” I glanced at the cage. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“You’ve had a rough day, but tomorrow, you’re going to see he’s not all that prickly.”
“Ironic, given he’s covered in spikes.”
He laughed. Slowly, it petered out, but he didn’t take his eyes off me. Not even when they narrowed as if he was considering something.
“What?” I said when he didn’t speak. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He shook his head gently. “I just wish I’d grown a pair and told your brother how I felt about you before, that’s all.”
“To be fair, I didn’t tell him either. We both share the blame.” I paused. “And you haven’t really told me how you feel.”
“I’ve told you a lot.” His eyes never left mine. “You’re the one who insisted it was all physical until today.”
I shrugged. “I was hardly going to admit to anything else when you were determined that we couldn’t date.”
“I wasn’t determined.”
“You were so determined.” I folded my arms across my chest and gave him The Look. You know, the one that says shut up, you’re fucking wrong.
“Come here.”
“What?”
“Come here.”
I looked between us. There was like a foot of space. “I’m already here. Any closer, and I’ll be on top of you.”
His smile was wolfish. “What do you think I was trying to do?”
I pursed my lips. “Goodnight, Ethan. I’m going to bed.”
“Not yet, you’re not.” He moved faster than I did, grabbing me and pulling me back. I squealed as I found myself falling back onto the bed with his almost-naked body covering me.
I didn’t have a chance to protest. He was between my legs and kissing me before I knew it. Tingles danced across my skin, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to kiss him back.
He flicked his tongue against the seam of my lips, and I parted them, meeting his kiss with the same ferocity.
Blood pumped through my body, making the desire burn red hot with every second that passed. His cock hardened and pressed against my clit. The thin cotton of my leggings wasn’t really a barrier, and I moved my legs so they were around his waist.
I was holding onto him like a little limpet, but his hand was cupping the back of my head and tangled in my hair.
His skin was hot to the touch, and I ran my hands over his shoulders, exploring the muscles that shaped his body. I wanted to keep going, to brush my fingers over every single one, but it wasn’t to be.
Ethan kissed me once more, then sat up, extracting himself from my double grip.
“Uh,” I said, flustered. My cheeks were hot, and I probably looked like a bit of a mess.
“You can go to bed now.” He grinned smugly, standing up. “Mr. Prickles doesn’t need a show before bed.”
I sat up, and my jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“I told you already—you’re not the kind of girl you have a quick fumble in the sack with. You’re the marrying kind of girl. I’m not rushing into anything with you, Ava.”
I got up with a huff and stopped right in front of him. “Then you’re not getting laid until we get married. Ha!”
“Wait—it’s not that extreme!”
I paused in my bedroom door. “Have fun with your problem. I have a solution to mine.”
“To what? Being turned on?”
“Yep. It’s called a vibrator. Enjoy your right hand.”
“It won’t be the first time it’s fixed that problem.”
“Are you saying you make it a habit to jerk off to the thought of me?”
“Habit is an exaggeration. It’s happened a few times.” He smirked. “And if I hear you using a vibrator, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“I will be,” I retorted smartly. “That thing is hard. I’ll knock you out with it if you interrupt me.”
His nostrils flared. “I change my mind. Come back in here.”
“Nope. Goodnight.” I spun and stepped into my room, pushing the lock just in case.
Did I win that?
I feel like I won.
If you ignored the annoying throbbing between my legs.
Oh, well. I might not be able to use the vibrator, but that’s what fingers were for.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
* * *
AVA
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