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“I’m pretty sure she knows now,” I laughed dryly. “Her family probably told her that a Vega’s touch burns like the Devil’s.”
Well, it was time to pony up and tell her the truth when she asked because she would ask; I knew it. I headed back to my room, changed into a pair of PJ bottoms, and slid into the bed beside Mia.
She shifted beneath the covers, and I pulled her slight form against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and held her tightly, pressing as much of her into me as I could. She was soft and pliable, and her supple body molded to mine like we were made for each other.
This time, sex was the furthest thing from my mind. This time, all I wanted to do was admire her.
“So warm…” she murmured.
Within a few minutes, her deep, steady breathing told me she’d fallen asleep again, and before I knew it, I joined her.
* * *
When I woke—Mia was not in bed.
At first, a part of my heart sucked, thinking that she had dipped out from shame or fear—again. But I heard footsteps in the hall, and Mia came in holding two cups of coffee. She had shed her blouse and was wearing one of my loose T-shirts.
“You went through my clothes,” I gave a judging look.
She shrugged. “I felt better.”
I took the cup. “Still making a peace agreement with food, I see.”
“Don’t want it, give it back,” Mia teased before sipping her drink.
“Not a chance, baby,” I told her.
“Baby…” she echoed, then fixed her hands around the cup while her gaze went serious. “Ethan…what are we doing?”
“Having coffee,” I replied blithely.
She narrowed her eyes. “You know what I mean. What are we doing with the meet-up and the dinner and the sex? You know there can’t be anything here, right? Our families will never accept it.”
“And who says they have a right to tell what two consenting adults do?” I asked, setting the cup on the bedside table. “Frankly, Mia, if you haven’t picked it up by now, this goddamn rivalry means nothing to me anymore. Yes, when I was younger, I felt peeved by it, how your dad always gave us the stink-eye when he saw us, but when I realized my dad was just as guilty, I-I decided it would be only best to stop this bullshit, and I want you to be with me, equally responsible for breaking this crap.”
She looked down and nodded. “I understand that, but… I mean, what are we doing? Are we friends with benefits? Are we just screwing around? What are we doing?”
“Honestly?” I asked. “The truth is not what you might want to hear.”
“Tell me,” she replied.
“I want to marry you,” I replied. She went still. “I’ve admired you for a long time, Mia, even the few instances we came across each other in high school. You seemed so different even back then. And I may or may not have stalked you online.”
She sipped her drink, set it aside, and said, “Excuse me while I faint.”
Tipping over on her side, she landed in the bed, but I knew she was still conscious. “Unconscious people don’t have their lips twitching, Mia.”
She peeked her eyes open. “Can you blame me? You saying you want to marry me would make me pass out.”
“You’re not grossed or repulsed?” I asked.
Mia sat up and raked her hands through her tangled hair. “No. It's… mindboggling, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that you… you’re the only person who, well, matches me. Even though I don’t know everything about you, I’ve admired you too. I remember the fight you had on your hands to wrench the business away from your dad.”
My head snapped up. “What?”
She blushed. “I remember when you tried everything to convince your dad to upgrade the Meadery. When all the business plans and budgets and pleadings didn’t work, you got the suppliers and tech guys to hold a round-robin with your dad and got him to understand your point that living in the stone age wouldn’t help your business.”
Something…twisted in my chest.
