Page 105 of Boss and Brat

“There you are,” Carter said. “I was waiting for you to come back to me.”

Ethan’s breath wobbled. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Carter cupped the back of his neck, thumb brushing lightly against his skin. “I know you didn’t. But you did. And I needed you to understand how serious that was.”

“I do,” Ethan said. “I really do.”

Carter nodded, then pulled him in just enough that Ethan could lean if he wanted. And he did. He let himself fold into Carter’s chest, forehead pressing against his shoulder. The warmth, the steadiness, the familiar scent of him—it all hit at once, and Ethan’s breath shook again.

Carter wrapped an arm around him, holding him close. “You’re safe,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”

Ethan let out a small, broken sound he didn’t mean to make. Carter didn’t comment on it. He just held him tighter, one hand rubbing slow circles between his shoulder blades.

They stayed like that for a long moment—Ethan breathing in Carter’s shirt, Carter grounding him with steady touches.

Eventually, Carter spoke again, voice low. “You scared me today. More than I want to admit.”

Ethan’s ribs felt too small for the breath he needed. “I didn’t think. I just… I got excited.”

“I know,” Carter said. “But your safety comes first. Always.”

Ethan nodded against him. “I won’t do it again.”

Carter sighed—not quite a laugh, more like relief. “Good.” He pulled back just enough to look Ethan in the eyes. “You’re not in trouble anymore. We’re done.”

The tension, the fear, the guilt—it all eased, replaced by relief. Carter brushed a thumb under his eye, catching a tear Ethan hadn’t realized had fallen. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said gently. “Then we’ll go sit on the couch for a bit.”

Ethan nodded.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Carter kept an eye on Ethan the entire time he was making dessert. Nothing fancy—chocolate cupcakes with icing—but it gave his hands something to do, something steady. Ethan sat still at the counter with a little pink around his eyes. Now and then, Carter caught him watching, like he was checking to make sure Carter hadn’t changed his mind about… everything.

When they sat down to eat, Ethan pushed his cupcake around for a minute before speaking. “You’re not… mad anymore, right?”

Carter shook his head. “No. I told you—we were done.”

Ethan nodded, but his shoulders remained tight. “I just… I worry sometimes.”

“About what?”

Ethan hesitated, chewing his bottom lip. “That you’ll get tired of dealing with me. I know I’m… a lot.”

Carter set his fork down. “Ethan.”

Ethan kept going. “I have a hard time controlling it. That need to feel high. Doing dangerous stuff. Bikes, speed, whatever. It’slike… it’s the only time I feel free. And I know it scares you. I don’t want you to think I’m broken or something.”

Carter reached across the table, resting his hand over Ethan’s. “You’re not broken.”

Ethan looked up, eyes wide and uncertain.

“And I’m not leaving,” Carter said. “I love you too much to hurt myself like that.”

The words slipped out before he could second-guess them. Honest. Bare. Real.

Ethan froze. Completely still. Like the world had stopped spinning.

“You… love me?” he asked.