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I was holding onto him like a little limpet, but his hand was cupping the back of my head and tangled in my hair.
His skin was hot to the touch, and I ran my hands over his shoulders, exploring the muscles that shaped his body. I wanted to keep going, to brush my fingers over every single one, but it wasn’t to be.
Ethan kissed me once more, then sat up, extracting himself from my double grip.
“Uh,” I said, flustered. My cheeks were hot, and I probably looked like a bit of a mess.
“You can go to bed now.” He grinned smugly, standing up. “Mr. Prickles doesn’t need a show before bed.”
I sat up, and my jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“I told you already—you’re not the kind of girl you have a quick fumble in the sack with. You’re the marrying kind of girl. I’m not rushing into anything with you, Ava.”
I got up with a huff and stopped right in front of him. “Then you’re not getting laid until we get married. Ha!”
“Wait—it’s not that extreme!”
I paused in my bedroom door. “Have fun with your problem. I have a solution to mine.”
“To what? Being turned on?”
“Yep. It’s called a vibrator. Enjoy your right hand.”
“It won’t be the first time it’s fixed that problem.”
“Are you saying you make it a habit to jerk off to the thought of me?”
“Habit is an exaggeration. It’s happened a few times.” He smirked. “And if I hear you using a vibrator, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“I will be,” I retorted smartly. “That thing is hard. I’ll knock you out with it if you interrupt me.”
His nostrils flared. “I change my mind. Come back in here.”
“Nope. Goodnight.” I spun and stepped into my room, pushing the lock just in case.
Did I win that?
I feel like I won.
If you ignored the annoying throbbing between my legs.
Oh, well. I might not be able to use the vibrator, but that’s what fingers were for.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN – AVA
Back to Basics
“I didn’t hear any buzzing from your room last night.”
I peered over my shoulder at a still-half asleep Ethan. “I can’t imagine why you would have. I don’t keep bees in there.”
“You’re funny. Is there any coffee?”
“In the machine, yes.”
“That was a not-so-subtle way of asking if you’d make me one.”
I turned, sipping from my own cup. “I didn’t hear a please. But I am grateful to be reunited with my socks.”
“You and those fucking socks.” He scrubbed his hand through his dark-blonde hair. “I’d like my insoles back this morning, please.”
I stepped to the side so he could get a coffee. “They’re in my trunk. You can have them.”
“Thank you.” He hit the button on the machine, and it whirred to life. “So. Are you working today?”
“Twelve ‘til seven.”
“You wanna get dinner together?”
I raised my eyebrows. “As opposed to me cooking something and you bringing in pizza?”
“Exactly that.” He grinned, pulling the cup out from the machine. “We could go out.”
“Like a date?”
“Not like a date. A date.”
“Where there are other people?”
“Don’t tell me that after all this, you’re ashamed to be seen with me.”
I choked on my coffee. “No,” I squeaked. “I just—” I stopped when I saw the shit-eating smile on his face. “Oh, go away.”
He laughed way too hard for so early in the morning.
“Ugh. Go be a morning person somewhere else.” I sipped the coffee again. “I have no idea how this is going to work. I was determined to date a night owl like me.”
“I can’t be a night owl. I start work at eight. Why are you awake now, anyway?”
I sighed, sitting on one of the stools. “I woke up to pee and couldn’t get back to sleep.”
“That’s more information than I was going for.”
“You asked. I answered.” Another sip. “Besides, if you think that’s bad, wait until I’m on my period and run out of tampons. That’s your job now.”
“My job? To buy tampons?”
“If I’m desperate, I’m desperate. You’re the new first port of call.”
Ethan gripped the edge of the island. “Can I take some time to reconsider my options?”
“No.” I put the mug down, meeting his eyes. “Sorry. You should have thought about that before you decided you wanted to tell my brother you stuck your tongue down my throat.”
“You have such a beautiful way with words. Really poetic.”
“Thank you. I happen to agree.”
“I had a feeling you might.” His eyes sparkled as he lifted his mug to drink from it. “Well? Dinner?”
“Do I have to wear pants?”
“One thousand percent not.”
I pretended to think about it. “Do I have to wear a bra?”
“Ava, you can show up naked if you want.”
“That’s a dinner date I can get on board with.” I grinned and rested my chin on my hand. “Am I cooking, or are you going to bring food?”
“Hmm.” He leaned right over the table. “Are you cooking naked?”
