“Thanks,” I said, accepting one. I cupped the mug and inhaled the scent—he’d made it just the way I liked. Max came to my side, and I reached down to pet her, feeling like I belonged more than I had in a long time.
Ethan leaned his hip against the counter. “Why’d you get dressed?” And then a moment later, he grinned, lifting his chin toward the ceiling. “Oh…you want me to undress you? Really prolong the torture?”
I shook my head with a laugh, setting my mug on the counter. “Not everything is about sex, Tiny.”
“Tiny?” He sputtered, coffee spraying on the counters. Max lifted her head then lowered it to the floor as Ethan cleaned up the mess. “Um, no.”
I grinned. “Yep. I think it’s the perfect nickname.”
“It’s a terrible nickname. And it definitely does not fit me. At. All.”
“Mm-hmm.” I smiled as I lifted the mug to my lips. He narrowed his eyes at me. “Tiny houses. Tiny…” I glanced toward his crotch.
And then he was charging around the island, barreling toward me. I yelped and jumped out of my seat, Max barked, and then I ran for it. Ethan chased me through the house, Max barking and wagging her tail as she tried to keep up, tried to figure out what game we were playing. All the while, I was laughing, doing my best to stay ahead of him.
“Take it back,” Ethan said, shifting from one foot to the other as he tried to anticipate my next move.
“No way.” We stood on opposite sides of the couch, and my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.
“Audrey.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Retract your tiny comment.”
I placed my hands on the back of the couch and leaned forward. “No.” And then just to irk him, I added, “You don’t scare me, Ethan Archer.”
“Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow, and Max glanced between us, panting. “You just wait.”
“Ooh!” I waved my hands in the air.
But when I saw the determined look in his eye, I knew I was in trouble. I feinted left then took off to the right, but he was fast. He quickly caught up with me, grabbing me around the waist. I was breathless and turned on, and he pressed his back to my front, whispering low in my ear, “You’re going to pay for that, Audrey.”
“Mm.” I shivered at the dark threat in his voice. “Show me.”
He proceeded to spend the afternoon doling out his punishment, which was more pleasure than pain.
* * *
I kept glancingat the clock on my phone, waiting for Ethan to return. He’d been gone a few hours, though it felt like longer. I didn’t know what errands he had to run, but I was growing more and more impatient.
The door swung open, and no sooner had he stepped inside than was he crossing the kitchen, fusing his lips to mine. There was no greeting, no preamble; he simply lifted me up onto the counter. He settled between my legs, controlling the kiss and owning me.
“Mm.” The hum emerged from my throat as he blazed a trail down my neck. We’d only been apart a few hours, yet it felt like a lifetime. “Yes.”
My body vibrated with anticipation, the yearning I felt all-consuming. Whether he got me off or not—though, he often did—it was more about the connection. I’d never clicked with someone like I did Ethan, at least not physically. And whether I wanted to admit it or not, we connected on an emotional level as well. He called me on my bullshit. He forced me to question my actions and beliefs. And instead of being annoyed, I relished the challenge, the debate.
The doorbell rang, and I stiffened. But Ethan pulled my shirt aside to access my collarbone, the tops of my breasts.
“Ignore it,” he rasped, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
They knocked.
“I’ll just—I’ll answer really quick.” I hopped off the counter, adjusting my shirt and smoothing down my hair as I headed for the door.
I took a deep breath and then opened it. “Emerson, hey.” I grinned, genuinely happy to see her but wishing the timing were better. What if she wanted to come in?
She shifted the casserole dish in her arms, glancing at her phone then back at me. “I thought you said Saturday was good for you.”
I tilted my head to the side, trying to remember when I would’ve agreed to that.
“When we spoke earlier in the week, I asked if I could pop by on Saturday, and you said, ‘Sounds great!’”
