Chapter 5
Ethan
I wake up with a woman sleeping on my chest, her blonde hair brushing my lips. For the second time this week, I’m in bed with a strange girl. Nowadays, my life is turning into one big party with hockey in between. The last I recall, I was at the bar with Will, pounding a beer with a girl on my lap.
The rest is a blur.
I slip my hand beneath her shirt and softly kiss her neck. My dick hardens as I palm her left breast and leave a trail of kisses on her skin. She feels amazing, her nipple responsive to my touch.
“Five more minutes, Mom,” she mutters under her breath.
I stop touching her the second I recognize Mia’s voice. I would know that voice anywhere.
Fuck.
If Will sees us together, he’ll kick my ass.
I have too much of a hangover to explain why I accidentally fondled his little sister.
Well, there’s nothing little about Mia anymore.
She’s wearing a black tank top without a bra and pink polka dot pajama pants that curve to the contours of her delicious body.
“Ethan,” Mia growls and then elbows me hard in the chest. “What are you doing, you pervert?”
She sits up, hugging her knees as she shoots daggers in my direction.
Her blue eyes are so beautiful even though they’re hooded and slightly glassy from sleep.
The longer she stares, the more I wonder if she will punch or kiss me.
While I hope for a kiss, I’m not holding my breath.
She still hates my guts, and rightfully so.
I would hate me if I were her.
She holds my gaze for a few more seconds before she blows out a puff of air that I can feel on my face. “Why, Ethan? Huh? What is wrong with you?”
“It was an accident,” I admit. “I woke up with you in my arms and thought you were someone else.”
Her face twists into disgust. “You’re so gross. And who would I be… the hockey hooker of the week?”
I love her sense of humor, though I don’t think she’s trying to be funny this time.
Since I walked away from her, I haven’t been able to redeem myself.
No amount of apologies or explanations works on Mia.
Because the stories I tell her are complete bullshit.
I still can’t admit the truth about my past.
Will is the only person other than my family who knows everything, and it took me years to confess all of my secrets to my best friend.
His sister is a different story. Mia used to look at me with so much love and admiration.
Now, she glares at me like I’m a piece of used gum under her shoe.
I hate that the secrets of my past have destroyed what we had.
But I can’t lose my best friend over the feelings I once had for his sister.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I thought you were someone else.”
Will is going to murder me. This cannot be happening. As much as I’d wanted to hook up with Mia years ago, I always stopped myself because of Will.
“Please don’t say anything to Will,” I add, hoping she won’t spit in my face.
Mia gets so close our mouths are several inches apart. “As long as Will didn’t see us, we can pretend this never happened.” She extends her hand. “Deal?”
A smirk touches the corner of my mouth as I shake her hand. “Deal.”
Our team meeting with the local newspaper starts in a few hours.
Her cheeks flush with embarrassment when she looks down at the tiny buds poking through her shirt.
“Ugh, I can’t believe you were groping me in my sleep.” Mia’s nose scrunches as if she’s just eaten rotten food. “You’re so gross.”
“Don’t act like it wasn’t good for you,” I joke.
Mia laughs so hard it shakes the couch. “I knew you were into some kinky shit…” she quips, “… but necrophilia isn’t one of them.”
“I prefer my women awake and breathing,” I shoot back. “And willing…”
Mia snorts. “My God, you’re such an ass, E.”
She hasn’t called me that in years. Not since the last time we hung out in her parents’ backyard.
I roll my shoulders. “It’s part of the charm you love so much.”
“Whatever.” She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “Don’t let it happen again.”
“If that’s what you want.”
Without another word, she nods and slides off the couch as if this conversation never happened.
I shouldn’t stare at her ass as she walks away, but it’s hard not to. She was a beautiful girl, and now she’s a woman with curves for days and even more gorgeous than I ever could have predicted. Her body is made for sin—made for me—and I want to do lots of sinning with Mia.
When she catches me checking her out, she frowns. “Try to behave yourself while you’re living here.”
“I never behave,” I counter with a wink.
She shakes her head. “If you’re going to live here, we need rules.”
I smirk. “Like what?”
“For starters, try wearing a shirt. Do you own one?”
I glance at my bare chest and then roll my eyes. “I guess walking around naked is out of the question.”
Biting her lip, she thinks over her response and then says, “As long as you keep your hands off me and your dick in your pants, we’ll get along fine. And no skanks in my apartment. That’s not negotiable.”
“I could check into a hotel,” I offer. “Since you don’t want me here.”
She throws her arms out at her sides and groans. “Go right ahead. Be my guest.”
Then, she walks out of the living room as if I don’t exist, making me wish I had told her the truth ten years ago.