5. Ethan
5
ETHAN
As I watch Madison storm off down the driveway with the puppy cradled in her arms, a growing sense of guilt starts to take root in my chest. Scout’s little tail wags furiously as he glances back at me, completely oblivious to the tension between Madison and me. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just messed up.
I’ve heard the extra barking coming from Madison’s place over the last month. In fact, I remember complaining about it to one of the nurses at the hospital. I should have known that this puppy was just another one of the dogs she’s been boarding. It’s not like I’ve been completely oblivious to what’s going on next door.
I lean against the doorframe, running a hand through my hair as I watch Madison disappear from view. She’s got a temper, that’s for sure, and she doesn’t hold back when she’s angry.
But even as I think it, I can’t deny the spark that flared between us during that argument. The tension was electric, crackling in the air like a live wire. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt something like that, and all I can think about is that I missed my chance.
I should have stepped forward and kissed her, felt her, seen how she responded. But I didn’t. Because I kept thinking about how young she is.
My thoughts drift back to our earlier encounter, when I first mistook her for the escort I had ordered for the night. The way she looked at me, confused and innocent, had only added to the allure. She’s younger than me by probably close to twenty years. Even though I know it shouldn’t, it excites me. There’s something about her, something that makes me want to push her buttons, to see how far I can go before she pushes back.
I push off from the doorframe and head back inside, but I can’t get her out of my head. I glance at my bar cart and think about pouring myself a drink, but I know I shouldn’t, not after the misery I’ve been feeling from my whiskey last night.
I work on my coffee instead, thinking about what I’m supposed to do now. I have to go in to work tomorrow, but the day is sitting in front of me like a temptation, making me think of all the things I could do with it, do with her , if only she said yes.
I put my empty mug in the sink and grab my jacket. I’m not usually the type to second-guess myself, and I’m not going to start now. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going over to Madison’s place, and I’m going to apologize. But I’m also going to see if there’s a chance to turn that spark into something real.
I make my way down the sidewalk toward Madison’s house with my hands stuffed into my jacket pockets. It’s cold today. Even though the sun is shining, it feels colder now than when I first stepped outside this morning. It’s clear that Christmas is less than a month away.
When I reach Madison’s front door, I hesitate for just a moment before raising my hand to knock. Am I really going to do this?
My fingers move forward and knock on the door before I’ve decided. I guess I am.
Almost immediately, I hear the sound of barking. I assume it’s Samson, though I wonder if Madison has another dog in there besides Scout. I wait, listening as the barking gets louder, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the door. I wonder what she’ll think when she sees me standing here, uninvited.
The door swings open, and there she is, her eyes widening in surprise when she sees me. It takes her only a second before she squeezes out the door and shuts it firmly behind her, joining me on the front porch.
I can’t help it. My eyes sweep over the tight sweater she’s wearing and her jeans, the same ones as last night. They do her just as much justice today as they did last night. She looks sexy without even trying, and if she even feels half the spark I do, then we could really have a good time.
“Ethan, what are you doing here?”
I hear a dog or two jumping up against the door from the other side.
“I came to apologize.”
Madison narrows her eyes at me, clearly skeptical. “Apologize for what?”
I take a step closer to her. From this distance, I could easily grab her hands and pull her into an embrace. “For earlier. I shouldn’t have been so defensive. I should have known Scout was one of your boarders, and I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.” I shrug, trying to play off the seriousness of my apology. “Just wanted to let you know.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, clearly not ready to forgive me just yet. But it’s hard to focus on our conversation when it feels like she’s pushing her breasts up just to taunt me with them. “You didn’t exactly make it easy for me, Ethan. You practically accused me of being irresponsible. I’m taking care of these dogs the best I can.”
“I know, and I was wrong. I’ve been hearing the barking coming from your place for weeks. I should have connected the dots. That’s why I’m here apologizing.” It hurts to apologize, and it’s not something I do often, but I did feel guilty.
I feel a little better now, though.
She studies me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, she motions to the door. “Come in, but come in quickly. I’m not catching him again.”
Madison opens the door just enough for me to squeeze through, and I do so, right behind her.
Samson trots over to me, and Scout barks excitedly. It seems those are the only two pups here at present. I bend down and give them each equal attention before they run off, growling and tussling on the ground.
She nods, still wary. “So, what is it you really want, Ethan? You’re not the type to just apologize and leave. In fact, I have to trust my gut and say you’re not the type to apologize at all.”
She’s perceptive; I’ll give her that. Her comments might hurt me if my skin hadn’t grown thick with age. I take a step closer, closing the distance between us. “I’m not. I also wanted to see if you felt the same spark I did earlier.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I can see the flush of color rising in her cheeks. She glances away, clearly flustered, but she doesn’t step back. Instead, she holds her ground, flicking her gaze back to mine.
Because of the difference in our heights, she has to look up, and it makes her look vulnerable.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I think you’re an asshole for not even hearing me out.”
Then, she turns and marches across the living room. The puppies hop up and follow her before realizing she’s only going across the room. She stands behind the sofa, leaning on the back of it like she wants a barrier between herself and me.
I take another couple of steps into the room, but I don’t want to get too close. I’ll let Madison decide what she wants, and I’ll respect it.
“Yeah, I do have a tendency to be an asshole sometimes.” I shove my hands into my pockets and keep my gaze locked on her. “But then again, don’t we all?”
Madison finally smiles, but she can’t make eye contact with me while I’m smiling. “Sure, I’ll give you that. I may have had assholey moments.”
“Maybe even today. Maybe even with me,” I tease.
Madison presses her lips together, her eyes momentarily trained on the antics of the dogs. “Maybe. But I’m not admitting it. You don’t know how worried I was.”
“Tell me,” I suggest, stepping toward her.
She hesitates, then finally sits on the sofa which is right in front of me. I want to reach out and touch her, but I wait. I have to respect her space. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable even though I’m already imagining how it would feel to shove my dick inside her tight wetness. I want to hear her calling out my name…
“Well, I’ve just started the dog-sitting business, right around Halloween. I’ve only had a few customers so far, and it’s…my only stream of income. So, yes, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Scout and his owners never find him again, but I also didn’t want to be sued. Does that make me sound selfish? Yes, but?—”
“No, I don’t think looking out for yourself is selfish. It’s wise. If you’re not looking out for yourself, who will?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“And I’ve never found a dog before or maybe I would have known the proper steps to take. And I really didn’t hear anyone calling his name. I promise.”
Madison blinks up at me. We’re only a few inches away on the couch, and her dark hair is so tempting. I want to lean forward and brush it back from her face.
“Why are you still here, Ethan? You said you wanted to apologize. You did that. Why are you still talking to me?”
“Well, you’re right. I did already apologize, but I also wanted to make it up to you.”
She frowns, clearly unsure of what I mean. “Make it up to me how?”
I lean in slightly, resting my hand lightly on her thigh. “I’m not a man who likes to leave things unresolved. And there’s something between us that I think we should explore. No strings, no commitments. Just…a connection.”
Her breath hitches, and I can see the internal battle playing out on her face. She’s tempted, but she’s also wary. We don’t make sense. Even I know that. I don’t blame her. I’m much older than her, and let’s not even think about taking Aurora into consideration. But that doesn’t mean I can’t offer something real, something fun, something that Madison might not have experienced before.
“Ethan…” she begins, but I don’t let her finish.
I close the distance between us, leaning in until my lips are just a breath away from hers. I can feel the heat from her skin. It’s burning against my hand on her thigh. It’s radiating off her. “Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll walk out that door right now. But…if you do want this… If you want to see what I can make you feel, then I’ll make love to you slowly and sensually. I’ll make you come, and I’ll make you call out my name.”
She hesitates, and I can tell she’s really struggling with how to answer me. I gently squeeze her thigh, urging her to answer soon. My cock is already hard just from being this close to her, and it’s going to be very difficult to walk back out through that door. I will, though. All she has to do is shake her head.
There’s something about Madison that gets under my skin, that makes me want to see how far I can push her, how much she can take before she pushes back.
But before she can respond, Samson barks, snapping us both out of the moment.
She pulls back, blinking as if coming to her senses. “Ethan, I…”
I straighten up, giving her the space she needs. I’m not going to force her into anything. But I’m also not going to pretend that I don’t want this, that I don’t want her. I adjust my pants just slightly, drawing her attention to my groin area so she can see what she’s rejecting if she chooses to reject me.
She looks up at me, her expression conflicted. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Maybe not, but the best things in life usually aren’t.”
She bites her lip, clearly torn. “I’m not looking for anything serious, especially not with…”
“No, nothing serious. Serious is boring. I’m not offering serious, just…something fun. Something that feels good. ”
She hesitates for a moment longer, then finally nods. “Okay.”
I smile, sliding my hand further up her thigh until I’ve reached the place where her panties are. “Then, let’s see what can happen between us.”