Chapter 4 #2
I snickered. “The thought did cross my mind but no, I was not thinking about that. I was thinking about Monday night.”
He straightened and clenched his jaw. “What about Monday night?”
The air changed and there was a noticeable tension hovering around us. I shivered when the cold breeze kissed my skin and tingles shot through my body. I think being pushed into the cold water gave me a confidence boost when I said, “About the kiss that never happened.”
Ethan didn’t reply and I turned toward him. “Ethan, you asked me for a kiss.”
His eyes sliced over me. “And you said yes.”
“I did,” I said. “And I would if you ask me again.”
He took a sharp breath. “You would?”
“Why would I ever deny?”
Ethan took some time to reply because he was busy staring at my lips. His tanned neck flushed when he was caught. I smiled.
He finally said, “Maybe . . . because you are my best friend?”
“But that didn’t stop us from sharing our first kiss.”
He looked at the water as it waved gently, lapping at our legs, and I decided I needed to get out of the wet clothes, which were starting to itch my skin.
I bit my lip and glanced at him from the corner of my eyes.
Ethan ran a hand through his wavy black hair—fuck me. They screamed hold-me-while-I-eat-your—
Stop. It.
“We were drunk, Kiara.”
“Okay, fine.” I stood up. “If you don’t want to kiss me then . . . let’s swim.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Naked.”
“What?”
“I always wanted to try skinny dipping.” I pursed my lips and said, “And I really want to get out of these clothes.”
When I thought about it, I wasn’t feeling self-conscious about my body when it came to him.
Yes, he had seen in me in bikinis and accidentally walking in when I was busy writing something on my Post-it in my underwear and bra.
But I was never self-conscious about what he would think of me or my body.
I did have stretch marks, but I wasn’t uncomfortable about them.
What I was most worried about was myself.
If he got naked and my hormones spiked up, I didn’t know if I would control myself and not jump on him.
Gosh, I sounded so bad in my head. Not to mention, my best friend would be the first guy I would ever see naked. Way to go, Kiara.
His voice was strained when he said, “What if someone catches you . . . me, both?”
I moved my damp hair over my shoulder. “We will be in the pool, Ethan. And no one can see us from the living room.” I smirked when I said, “Unless you want to watch me while I swim, you can stay here.”
The thought of Ethan watching me with his intense green-blue eyes while I was swimming naked in the pool sent a delicious shiver down my core.
His eyes darkened and he looked away, probably thinking the same when I noticed red blush creeping up his neck and making his ears and cheeks flush. Cute.
I prodded, “Come on, Ethan. Don’t be a chicken . . .”
“Fine.”
He stood up, his tall frame towering me. I forgot how to breathe when his dark eyes seared me, slowly trailing down my body as if he had all the time in the world. His voice was rough when he said, “Remove that sweater first.”
I raised my eyebrow at the sudden change in his demeanor.
Ethan said, “You have an extra piece of clothing than me.”
I grinned. “Who said I was wearing any underwear?”
I loved the way his pupils widened in shock, surprise and then they were clouded by scorching desire. Biting my lips, I whispered, “I was messing with you.”
Holding the hem of the sweater, I tugged it up and removed it. I straightened my damp hair and shivered. But it wasn’t because of the cold air.
His eyes averted down my breasts, which were barely covered by the ivory lace bralette. As it was wet, he could easily notice my hardened nubs, which were begging for his attention.
We were crossing a dangerous line right now. And I knew neither one of us wanted to step back.
“Your turn,” I managed to whisper.
Ethan didn’t need to be told twice. He removed his dark blue shirt in one tug and even though I was used to seeing his naked torso, my breath hitched in my throat when I gazed at his bare abs standing so close.
I could make out every ripple of muscle and the way they moved and relaxed when he threw the shirt beside my sweater.
I wanted to step closer, press my body against his and explore every inch of his body while he kissed me.
Licking my lips, I watched his eyes when I moved my hands to remove the black skirt, unbuttoning the buttons on the hem.
Taking a deep breath, I let my skirt fall down and pool around my ankles.
I stepped out of it and looked at Ethan, who was blushing when I caught him staring at my body even though I wasn’t matching.
His eyes lingered on the hem of my black cotton thong and looked at me as he unzipped his pants. I watched him tug downs his pants past his V-shaped hip bones. I wondered what I would do if I was the one removing his pants. He was wearing black boxers and a noticeable semi-hard bulge.
Oh, fuck.
Was that . . . could it be?
My cheeks warmed when I looked up at him, his hair tousled and eyes hooded. Ethan’s eyes never left my brown ones when he said, “Remove the bralette, Bella.”
What happened to quiet, innocent Ethan?
With a shaky breath, I unclasped the bralette and let my breasts free, removing the straps and throwing it away with our clothes.
I trembled when his eyes landed on my bare chest. I bit my lip, watching him rake his eyes over my breasts, making my dusky nipples hard as pebbles when he licked his lips.
I resisted the urge to touch myself and give him a show.
Get a grip, woman!
Grip—where?
Gah!
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my thundering heart when our bare chests were a few inches apart. If I wanted, I could press myself against him and lean on my toes, kissing him on his lips, which looked very inviting.
When I finally found my voice, I said, “Remove your boxers.”
“Together?”
“Together.”
Hooking my fingers around the thong, I slipped it down my legs and threw it away, completely baring myself in front of my best friend. This is it. Now there’s no going back.
My breath hitched in my throat when I glanced down at him and averted my eyes to his face. We were both blushing . . . but goddamn. I would have a boner right now if I had a dick.
I was speechless and standing naked in front of Ethan. I didn’t know what to do. Maybe I needed another push in the cold water to calm my nerves. So, I did just that. I linked my fingers with his and, smiling at him, we dived in the cold water together.
* * *
We were laughing and splashing water on each other and swimming in the pool, enjoying ourselves.
Ethan was maintaining his distance, not touching me anywhere inappropriate even though I wished he would.
But I could feel his intense stare on me while I teased him with a backstroke just to get his attention.
Unfortunately, Ethan Kane had a great amount of self-control for an eighteen-year-old.
Splashing water on his face, I giggled and swam away when he glared at me.
I felt his warm hand wrap around my ankle before I could swim away from him.
I let out a squeal when he tugged my body toward him.
His hold was strong but gentle. I was huffing with breath when he stood across me, his hair wet and sleeked back, his jaw and cheekbones sharp, his full lips begging to be kissed.
Especially when he stared at me like that.
Ethan’s eyes were like galaxies, one green and the other blue, creating swirling chaos of emotions that I wanted to drown in them.
I shivered when he pulled me closer, my soft breasts pressing against his chiseled body.
Trailing my palm over his beating heart, I cupped his neck and held on to his strong forearm when he brushed his fingers over the spine of my back.
We smelled like chlorine and something musky.
The water slowly lapped around us in small waves when I leaned toward him, my fingers digging on his forearm when he cupped my jaw.
He made me look up at him, the pad of his thumb brushing over my bottom lip.
My body was thrumming with the need to be touched and kissed.
My stomach was coiling with desire and my legs were shaking when he gazed at me like he wanted to devour every inch of me.
Like he was hungry.
A soft gasp left my lips when I felt him poke my inner thigh, so hard yet soft. My cheeks flushed and he shamelessly stared at me and my lips. I arched toward him, completely pressing myself against him until I could feel goose bumps on his arms.
I whispered, “Ethan.”
“I want to kiss you, Kiara,” he said, his voice lowering down an octave and sending delicious shivers down my spine, making my toes curl.
Taking a deep breath, I traced the hair on the nape of his neck and said, “Kiss me.”