Chapter 21
Ethan’srestless energy fills the room as he begins to pace, his long strides carrying him from the bed to the window and back again. I watch him from my perch on the edge of the mattress, my fingers twisting nervously in the soft quilt. The air between us feels charged, crackling with unspoken words and pent-up emotions.
I chew on my bottom lip, a war raging inside me. Part of me wants to bolt, to flee from this conversation and the feelings it might unearth. It would be so easy to laugh it off, to pretend that kiss was just a fluke, a momentary lapse in judgment brought on by too much wine and the romantic ambiance.
But another part of me, the part that comes alive when Ethan is near, whispers that running away will only delay the inevitable.
“Lily . . .” Ethan’s voice cuts through my tangled thoughts, low and serious. He stops pacing and turns to face me, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the window. “We need to talk about what happened. About that kiss.”
I feel my cheeks heat at the memory—the press of his lips against mine, the way his hands cradled my face like I was something precious. Ducking my head, I fiddle with a loose thread on the quilt, avoiding his intense gaze. “What is there to talk about? It was just a kiss. No big deal.”
“Was it?” Ethan takes a step closer, and I can feel the warmth radiating off his body. “Because it didn’t feel like ‘just a kiss’ to me, Lil.”
Slowly, reluctantly, I lift my eyes to meet his. The intensity in his green gaze steals my breath, a swirl of emotions I’m almost afraid to put a name to. Need. Want. Longing. And underneath it all, a flicker of vulnerability that makes my heart ache.
“Ethan, I . . .” My voice comes out as a whisper, cracking on the syllables.
He reaches out, his fingertips grazing my cheek with a tenderness that makes me quiver. “I can’t stop thinking about it, about you. And I know you feel it too, this thing between us.”
I lean into his touch instinctively, my eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. He’s right—I do feel it, an invisible tether pulling me toward him. But giving in to it, crossing that line . . . It could change everything, for better or worse.
Ethan’s thumb brushes over my bottom lip, sending sparks shooting through my veins. “Tell me you don’t want this, Lily,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. “Tell me it was a mistake, and I’ll never bring it up again.”
“Ethan,” I mumble.
That’s when he pulls me close, eliminating even the air between us. His other hand finds the small of my back, pressing me firmly against him. Our eyes lock, and there’s a galaxy of desire swirling within his gaze.
Then his lips are on mine, and oh God, they’re just as I remembered—soft and insistent. We move together, our mouths in perfect sync, as if they’re making up for lost time. The kiss deepens, and I lose myself in the rhythm of us. It’s a slow burn that’s been building for days, and now it blazes through me, white-hot and undeniable.
“Finally,” he breathes against my lips, and I can’t help but smile because it’s true. This moment was inevitable, written in the stars or maybe just in the knowing glances we’ve traded since day one.
“Finally,” I echo back, and any self-doubt I’ve ever harbored evaporates under the heat of his touch.
The room spins slightly, and whether it’s from the kiss or the sheer gravity of what’s happening, I don’t care. All I know is that this man is kissing me like there’s no tomorrow, and I’m kissing him right back, pouring every silent wish and whispered dream into it.
And it’s glorious.
Ethan’s hands wander with purpose, tracing the outline of my spine through the thin fabric of my dress. A tremor races up my back, and I can’t help the soft moan that escapes my lips.
“Is this okay?” His voice is a husky whisper, sending another tremble through me.
“Please,” I manage to breathe out, my own hands searching for him, craving his body.
I find the taut muscles of his shoulders firm beneath my fingers as my nails graze the nape of his neck. He groans softly, and something inside me lights up. My fingers tangle in the dark curls of his hair, and it feels like every flirty quip we’ve ever exchanged is crackling between us now, charged with electricity.
We’re dancing again, like we did during our first kiss. It’s just the rhythm of our breaths and the beat of two hearts racing. The kisses we share are like the crescendos in our favorite songs—the ones we used to belt out during late-night drives, not caring who heard us.
“God, Lily,” Ethan murmurs against my lips, and it’s thrilling to hear my name laced with such desire. “How did we wait so long?”
I laugh breathlessly, pulling him closer still because distance is the last thing I want between us. Our noses brush, and I lock eyes with him, those deep pools of sincerity that have always made me feel seen.
“Maybe we were waiting for the perfect moment,” I suggest.
“Then let’s not waste it,” he replies, his mouth capturing mine once more, and I swear I can taste the desire.
The room fades away until there’s nothing left but Ethan and me, the slow burn of longing finally given its chance to ignite. And oh, how it burns—in the best possible way.
Electricity crackles through the air as Ethan’s hands guide me backward until my back meets the cool surface of the wall. His lips continue their fervent exploration, leaving a fiery path down the delicate skin of my neck. I tilt my head to grant him better access, a silent invitation that he accepts with a low, appreciative hum.
“Is this wall supporting you, or are you holding it up?” he teases between kisses, his voice a husky whisper that sends waves racing through me.
“Definitely the former,” I manage to reply, though I’m not entirely sure if I’m still capable of standing on my own. Every stroke of his lips a vibrant splash of color against the canvas of my heated skin.
His mouth grazes over my pulse point, and I can feel the rapid thumping of my heart, eager to keep up with the rhythm of sighs and soft moans. As his lips find the slope of my collarbone, a gasp escapes me, and I’m hit with a wave of reminiscence—like the first time dancing under a string of lights at a backyard party, innocent and unassuming, unaware of the journey your life would take.
The playful glint in his green eyes assures me he’s reading every racing thought, understanding my desires.
His hungry eyes burn into mine as he pulls back, his fingers already working on the hem of my shirt. A shiver races down my spine—part thrill, part trepidation at his commanding presence. But I can’t resist the primal hunger unleashed between us.
Ethan’s voice is a low rumble. “You’re so beautiful, Lily. Let me worship every inch of you.”
With agonizing slowness, he peels the fabric from my skin, baring my lace-clad curves to his smoldering gaze. I fight the urge to cover myself as he drinks in the sight. My cheeks flush, but his murmur of appreciation stokes the fire in my core.
“Exquisite.” His fingers trail up my arms, raising goose bumps in their wake.
Part of me wants to let the moment just happen, to get lost in his exquisite touch. But another part feels exposed, vulnerable under his intense scrutiny. I’ve never been this intimate with someone so . . . consuming.
Ethan seems to read my hesitation. He cups my face, those piercing eyes locked on mine. “Hey, we can slow down if you need to. I don’t want to rush this.”
“No, I . . . I want this,” I whisper, surprising myself with the raw honesty. Emboldened, I unclasp my bra and let it slip free. His sharp inhale sets my nerves buzzing.
In one fluid motion, he scoops me into his arms, lips claiming mine in a searing kiss. As he lowers me to the bed, the world narrows to his solid weight, the slide of his hands over my bare skin . . .
The world narrows to just the two of us—our bodies pressed together, our breaths mingling, our hearts beating in time.
As he trails kisses down my neck and over my collarbone, I can feel the heat between us building. His hand slides down my side, coming to rest on my hip. I vibrate under his touch, craving more.
Ethan’s fingers glide down to the waistband of my jeans and he pauses for a moment, silently asking for permission. Without hesitation, I nod, and he begins to peel off the fabric inch by inch. When it pools at my feet, I’m left in just my underwear.
His eyes rake over every inch of me and I feel a surge of confidence at the raw desire shining in them. He leans down and captures one of my nipples between his teeth. A lick of pleasure shoots through me and I let out a soft moan.
Ethan’s hands roam over my body as if he’s trying to memorize every curve and dip. When he reaches the waistband of my panties, he looks up at me for confirmation. And once again, I nod eagerly.
He pulls them off slowly, teasingly almost—making sure to brush against all the right places before tossing them aside. As soon as they’re gone, Ethan’s mouth is on me—kissing down my stomach toward where I ache for him most.
His tongue traces a path down my inner thigh, and I can feel my body trembling in anticipation. Just when I think I can’t take it anymore, he parts my legs, and his tongue is on me—hot and wet and sending electric shocks through my entire body.
I grip the sheets, my back arching off the bed as he explores every inch of me with his mouth. He sucks, licks, and nibbles until I’m squirming under him, my hands tangled in his hair.
But just as I’m about to reach the edge of pleasure, Ethan stops and pulls away. My eyes fly open in surprise and disappointment.
He meets my gaze with a mischievous grin. “You taste amazing,” he says huskily.
Before I can respond, his mouth and fingers are on me again—this time more urgent and hungry. I feel like I’m floating, completely consumed by him in every way.
“Let go, Lil,” he murmurs against me, his voice a velvet melody against the backdrop of my racing pulse. “I’ve got you.”
And I do. I let go, surrendering to the rhythm he sets, to the ebb and flow of sensations that have me spiraling. A chorus of moans escapes me, letting go of the hidden yearnings now finding their expression between breaths and heartbeats.
“God, Ethan,” I sigh, a confession wrapped in ecstasy, as I cling to him.
“Ethaaaan!” The cry is wrenched from my core, an exaltation that echoes off the walls. And then it happens again. And again. A relentless tide of bliss that he navigates with unwavering focus, never once losing the thread of what drives me wild.
When the waves finally recede, leaving me a trembling mess of sated nerves and euphoria, he doesn’t immediately retreat. Instead, there’s a tenderness to the way he kisses the tremble away from my thighs, the way he worships with his mouth until I’m nothing but soft sighs and whispered thanks.
“Hey,” he says, voice roughened by desire as he stands, his gaze heavy with emotion. “Look at me.”
I do, drinking in the sight of him—Ethan.
His eyes are dark like the forest in fire, and I’m willingly letting him burn me.
He gathers me into his arms, my body still humming from the aftershocks, and I melt against him. Our embrace is a sanctuary, a place where the raw openness we’ve shared morphs into a connection that’s as comforting as it is exhilarating.
“Thank you,” I whisper against his chest, feeling his heartbeat sync with mine. It’s gratitude for the pleasure, yes, but also for this moment of pure, unguarded intimacy that feels like coming home.
“Always, Lil,” he replies. “For you, always.” He presses his lips into my hair.
“Did you know,” Ethan murmurs, “that you’re absolutely incredible?” His breath dances across the shell of my ear, and I can’t help the giggles that escape me, light and free.
I turn within the circle of his embrace, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. “Oh, really? That’s quite the revelation coming from the man who just—” My words dissolve into a blush, but Ethan simply smiles.
I can’t believe what just happened. I feel like my body is on fire, every nerve still buzzing from Ethan’s touch.
As he pulls away from me, a mischievous glint appears in his eyes. “Why don’t we shower so we can head out for dinner?” he suggests.
My body protests at the thought of leaving this bed and Ethan’s embrace, but I know he’s right. We can’t just stay here all day—even though a part of me desperately wants to.
“What about you?” I ask, already missing his warmth against me.
Ethan leans down and places a tender kiss on my forehead. “That was for me.” He winks at me, kissing me one more time before getting up from the bed.
I watch him as he walks toward the bathroom, admiring the way his muscles move under his skin.
Not sure what his game is and how that was about him, but I want a repeat.