28. Ethan
Ethan
True to his word, Rami collected me for breakfast the next morning.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked as he opened the car door for me.
I flashed him a smile in thanks. “Like a log. Which is weird, because that never happens in a new place for me.”
“I’m glad.” He shut my door before sliding behind the wheel. “And your new housemates? Did you spend any time with them?”
“Mostly with Quill. I think that’s partially why I slept so well. We stayed up until one chatting and bingeing the newest season of Med.”
“I’m going to assume that’s one of the Below Deck franchises.”
“The best one. There’s so many of them, mind you, but Med definitely takes the crown. That’s the great thing about Below Deck—as soon as one season ends, another begins. I’ve fallen behind since I’ve not been having chemo.”
He smiled sadly. “That’s a nice problem to have.”
“It is. Now I’m living with Quill, I suspect I’ll catch up in no time.”
We turned through the ornate gates that led to Rami’s house. Suddenly I was transported back to the first time I went through them, the same bundle of nerves unspooling in my gut. “Are you sure everyone’s okay with me gatecrashing breakfast?”
“Yes.” He reached out and took my hand in his, stroking the back of it soothingly with his thumb. “They’re looking forward to meeting you.”
That didn’t help the nerves. “I hope I don’t disappoint them. I’m not very interesting.”
Rami shot me an incredulous look. “Not interesting? Eth, I’m not exaggerating when I say you’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met. And believe me, I’ve met a lot.”
“You’re biased,” I replied fondly. “You have to say that because we’re…friends.”
I couldn’t help but hesitate before saying that final word. We were friends, but we were also so much more, even if I wasn’t quite ready to admit it aloud yet.
Thankfully, Rami didn’t take offence. “We are. After today, you’re going to have a whole bunch more friends to add to your roster. But don’t forget—I’m your favourite.”
I laughed as he led me up the steps to the front door. “You’ll always be that, Rami.”
“Everyone’s been warned to be on their best behaviour,” he said as we made our way through the foyer.
Voices and laughter filtered through from the kitchen, causing my stomach to somersault in a fashion that made eating seem unwise.
“By everyone, I mean the twins. But given you’ve already experienced their idea of ‘behaving,’ don’t hold your breath. ”
“So long as no one strips naked, I think we’ll be okay.”
“Strips naked?” One of the twins appeared before us in the doorway, a slightly maniacal twinkle in his eye. “Theo, you hear that? We get to be naked again!”
Rami growled, using my hand to pull me closer. Before he could say anything, Ez appeared behind Nate.
“Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you bothered Ethan?”
Nate smirked. “Maybe.”
A new voice rang out. “Nathaniel, remember that it won’t just be Ezekiel training you, but Nox too.”
“Fine,” Nate huffed, stepping aside to let us in. “I’ll behave. Ish.”
We entered the kitchen, which I swore had seemed huge the last time I was here. With all the people crammed inside now, it was anything but.
I’d barely taken in all the smiling faces before one of them was stepping forwards, his hand outstretched and a wide smile on his face.
“Ethan, it’s so good to meet you.” Like everyone else I’d met previously, this man was gorgeous.
Immaculate blond hair, lean muscles, dressed in sharp chinos and a neatly pressed shirt.
I recognised his voice as the one that had just reprimanded Nate.
“I’m Micah. Welcome, we’re so happy you’re here. ”
“Hi,” I said. “Thank you for having me.”
“Let me introduce everyone else,” Rami’s deep voice rumbled. He still hadn’t let go of my hand, for which I was very grateful. I’d never been particularly shy, but this was a lot of people.
A lot of people who were all staring at me like I was some fascinating, alien creature.
“This is Grace and Breann,” Rami said. The two women sat together at the end of the table raised their hands in greeting. “Next to them is Nox, Micah’s partner.”
Nox smiled and waved. I could see why the twins didn’t want to train with him.
With his dark hair, tattoos, and piercings, I’d probably run the other way if I saw him in an alley.
My gaze flicked between him and Micah, who had sat down beside him.
They seemed like an oddly matched couple at first glance.
Then I saw Nox turn that smile on Micah, and I understood. Some couples were just meant to be, and they were one of those.
Rami pointed to a beautiful man with long purple hair swept up in an elegant bun. “This is Noah, and next to him is his partner, Jeremiah.”
“Oh, I have your old room,” I blurted out before immediately blushing. “I mean, thank you. Not that you had anything to do with it, and you probably don’t care seeing as you live here now, but thank you.”
Jeremiah didn’t comment on my babbling, just smiled kindly. “I’m so glad you like it. I wasn’t there long, but it was a beautiful space.”
“Obviously, Sam and Ez you know.” Rami continued before I could blather on and make more of a fool of myself. “Theo and Nate you’ve met too. Theo’s on the left today.”
“Spoilsport,” Theo muttered as he slathered a thick layer of marmalade over a slice of toast. “Way to ruin our fun before we even get started.”
“Finally, we have Benji.” Rami gestured to the man sat at the end of the table. He was a little shorter than the rest, but no less beautiful.
“Hello.” Benji nodded. “I’d recommend sitting next to Sam rather than the twins. You’ll be more comfortable.”
I didn’t need the advice, but I appreciated it all the same. “It’s great to meet you all. Thanks for letting me join you.”
“You’re always welcome,” Micah said. “Rami’s told us a lot about you.”
“Oh dear.” I slid into the chair Rami had pulled out for me—next to Sam, naturally. “Should I just leave now or…?”
“Brat,” Rami said, ruffling my curls. “You know everything I ever say about you is good.”
He took the chair on my other side and started loading my plate up from the many dishes on the table.
It was on the tip of my tongue to remind him that I was capable of doing it myself, but then I looked at his face and saw the quiet satisfaction he was getting from making sure I had a sample of each dish.
It made me so happy that I kept quiet.
That wasn’t the only reason, either. Secretly, I liked it when Rami did this. Eating had once been a favourite pastime of mine. As with a lot of things, chemo had killed off my enjoyment of it. Now, Rami was reminding me of how much I loved food…especially if I wasn’t the one cooking it.
I accepted the plate with a smile, fighting the urge to kiss him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes dipped down to my lips, like he was fighting the same temptation. “Got to restore your strength given you’ve been up half the night.”
“I see how it is,” Nate huffed. “Now you’ve got a boyfriend, you’re lording it around like the rest of them.”
Thank fuck I hadn’t had a sip of tea yet. Nate’s declaration would’ve had me spraying it everywhere. Not even out of surprise, but in recognition of how right that word felt.
Boyfriend.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Rami growled before I could think on it more. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
I couldn’t help it. I tried not to, even put a hand to my mouth to smother it, but it was too late. The half laugh, half snort burst out.
Every eye turned to me.
“Sorry,” I coughed, praying my cheeks weren’t burning as much as I suspected they were. “Ignore me.”
“Oh, I don’t think we can,” Theo purred, resting his chin on his hands. “Do share with the class, Ethan.”
I bit my lip, looking at Rami. He shrugged, gesturing for me to do whatever I wanted.
Fuck it. If I wanted to fit in with these people, I had to be myself.
And I certainly had a comment to make.
“I just found your statement funny, Rami,” I teased, looping my ankle around his under the table. “Quill and Below Deck might be responsible for today’s tiredness, but the previous three nights were all down to you, big guy. You and your gutter dwelling mind.”
Hoots and catcalls broke out around the table as everyone teased Rami. He rolled his eyes and pretended to huff, but I saw his secret smile. He liked that I’d alluded to how close we’d become. That we weren’t just friends.
And you know what?
I liked it too.
Later, Rami and I were walking around the grounds, trying to burn off some of the epic amounts of food we’d put away at breakfast. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves high above us as we strolled hand in hand beneath the canopy.
“So,” I asked tentatively, “how’d you think it went?”
“I think both Nate and Theo would try and entice you away given half a chance,” he groused. “They liked you far too much for me to be comfortable with.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Nah. You keep me too busy for anyone else.”
“Good. Remember that, because they’re charming gits when they want to be.”
“I refuse to believe they’re as charming as you.”
“That’s because you’ve got excellent taste.” He lifted our clasped hands and kissed mine. “Everyone loved you, but I know there wasn’t a lot of time for you to chat to them all.”
“I don’t know, I had a great discussion with Noah about art. Sam had lots of questions about living in California, so that was fun to talk about.”
“I’m glad you had a nice time. Means you’ll come again.”
I cocked my head at him. “Was that in doubt?”
He hummed. “I’d like to think not, but…Listen, I love everyone in that house as though they were my blood relations. But there’s no denying that they’re a lot. Especially gathered together like they were then. I wouldn’t blame you if you felt like it was a bit overwhelming.”
“It was, but in the best possible way. I’ve spent so long alone that it was nice to be surrounded for once. Even if I wasn’t actively part of every conversation, I was there. I was included. That…that hasn’t happened for me in a long time.”
“Even before you were sick?”
“Especially then.” I gave a brittle laugh. “I didn’t have friends in California. Dave did, and sure, they’d let me tag along, but I was never part of the group. I was tolerated, not included. Today…well, today was the opposite of that.”
“I’m so glad. I want you to feel comfortable here, Eth.”
“I do,” I said, surprising myself. “Everyone’s so welcoming. Even the twins, in their own twisted way.”
“I’d like to twist their limbs in one way or another,” Rami muttered darkly. “At least they kept their clothes on this time.”
I stopped walking as an idea suddenly occurred to me. Here we were, no one else in sight. Completely alone. “Speaking of keeping clothes on…or not…”
Rami stopped walking and turned to face me. His lips slowly stretched into a grin. “Whatcha thinking, Eth?”
I shifted on my feet. Could I ask for what I wanted? Could I be brave? I already knew Rami wouldn’t judge me for it.
Come on, Ethan. You’ve got one life. Grab it by the balls.
Or, rather, grab Rami by the balls.
Consensually, of course.
“I was just thinking,” I said coyly, closing the gap between us and sliding my hands up his chest. “These woods seem pretty secluded.”
“Completely private.” He lowered his lips until they were just a breath above mine. “No one comes here except my housemates. And they’re all occupied right now.”
Oh fuck, I was doing this. I was. My breath hitched as heat pooled in my groin. “There’s not a bed in sight, either.”
“Heaven forbid.”
He ducked his head to kiss me, but there was something else I wanted right now, and if he kissed me, we’d never get around to it. Being around him made me too easily distracted.
Before his mouth touched mine, I stepped away. Holding his gaze, I lowered myself to my knees in a surprisingly graceful movement for me.
“Is this okay?” I asked as my hands went to the button of his jeans.
He ran a hand through my hair, catching and lightly tugging on the curls. “Are you comfortable enough?”
I nodded, my mouth already watering. Was I really going to make Rami come in the middle of the woods? Where any of his housemates could stumble across us?
My cock was so hard it ached. Yep. I was totally doing this.
“Then don’t make me wait, baby,” he said, using his hand in my hair to gently guide my head forwards. “Suck my cock and remind me who I belong to.”