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I perched on the edge of his bed. “You told Leo.”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Good question.” He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “The idea of you getting back together with Butler—even that you considered it—made me realize I had to take that chance. The worst thing that could have happened was that he’d be fucking furious, and I’d promise not to date you, and it’s not like you and I are in a good place right now anyway, so it couldn’t get much worse.”
Slowly, I nodded. “I didn’t go out with Butler to get at you. You know that, right?”
“No,” Ethan admitted. “I thought that’s exactly what you did.”
“No. He and I didn’t have a great relationship. It was up and down all the time, and it was a comfortable thing to do. Go right back to him.” I looked down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have done it, even though nothing happened between it. We just ate, then he left.”
“Everything happens for a reason. If I didn’t know you’d called him, I might not have ever told Leo.”
“I know.” I pushed hair behind my ear and peered over at him. “Did you know that he knew?”
“Knew what?”
“That we had feelings for each other.”
Ethan frowned. “What?”
I told him everything Leo had told me before I’d dropped him at his house. “So the last few days were all for nothing.”
“I’m going to the gym tomorrow.” Ethan snorted. “I didn’t know any of that, but I’m not surprised. It’s exactly the kind of shit he’d pull without thinking of the consequences.”
“You don’t need to tell me that.” I rolled my eyes. “What do we do now?”
“I know.”
“You do?”
He nodded, moving closer to me. Without another word, Ethan cupped my face and kissed me. It was gentler than the last one, and I leaned into it, savoring the sweetness of the moment.
It wasn’t how I’d expected this day to end, that was for sure.
“That’s not really an answer,” I muttered.
He grinned, his eyes shining. “We figure it out. Naturally. The way it should be.”
“It’s hardly going to be normal, given that we already live together.”
“Great. At least nobody has to move if it works out.”
“And if it doesn’t work out?” I raised my eyebrows.
“We blame your brother.”
I paused. “Well, everything is already his fault.”
“Exactly my point. One more thing isn’t going to hurt.” He sat back. “There is one thing we do need to discuss. Immediately.”
I paused. “Um, okay. What?”
“Mr. Prickles.” A solemn look crossed Ethan’s face. “You’re gonna have to make an effort, or this isn’t going to work.”
That was… not really that surprising.
“We’re friends. I don’t think we’re going to snuggle to watch Netflix at any point, but I suppose I can try.”
“Try now.”
“Touch him now?” I glanced at the cage. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“You’ve had a rough day, but tomorrow, you’re going to see he’s not all that prickly.”
“Ironic, given he’s covered in spikes.”
He laughed. Slowly, it petered out, but he didn’t take his eyes off me. Not even when they narrowed as if he was considering something.
“What?” I said when he didn’t speak. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He shook his head gently. “I just wish I’d grown a pair and told your brother how I felt about you before, that’s all.”
“To be fair, I didn’t tell him either. We both share the blame.” I paused. “And you haven’t really told me how you feel.”
“I’ve told you a lot.” His eyes never left mine. “You’re the one who insisted it was all physical until today.”
I shrugged. “I was hardly going to admit to anything else when you were determined that we couldn’t date.”
“I wasn’t determined.”
“You were so determined.” I folded my arms across my chest and gave him The Look. You know, the one that says shut up, you’re fucking wrong.
“Come here.”
“What?”
“Come here.”
I looked between us. There was like a foot of space. “I’m already here. Any closer, and I’ll be on top of you.”
His smile was wolfish. “What do you think I was trying to do?”
I pursed my lips. “Goodnight, Ethan. I’m going to bed.”
“Not yet you’re not.” He moved faster than I did, grabbing me and pulling me back. I squealed as I found myself falling back onto the bed with his almost-naked body covering me.
I didn’t have a chance to protest. He was between my legs and kissing me before I knew it. Tingles danced across my skin, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to kiss him back.
He flicked his tongue against the seam of my lips, and I parted them, meeting his kiss with the same ferocity.
Blood pumped through my body, making the desire burn red hot with every second that passed. His cock hardened and pressed against my clit. The thin cotton of my leggings wasn’t really a barrier, and I moved my legs so they were around his waist.
