Page 235 of Sticks and Stones
“I’m sure we’ll survive without having sex a few weeks,” he teased, somehow keeping a straight face.
Gene’s head turned so fast that it almost made Ethan laugh.
“Hold the phone there, partner. What do you mean weeks? I’ve already got blue balls, and we had some sexy fun this morning and a few hours ago. I can’t go days—let alone weeks. Someone lied to you.”
He snorted.
Oh, and kept busting his ass.
“I mean, we can’t just be all naked and free in front of Corbin. That’s too much of what he’d want.”
Gene laughed.
“Good point. We’ll just have to have our kinky little fun in between working and babysitting. I can break out the perversion anywhere. Don’t you worry about that. Right now, I’m thinking about sex.”
Weren’t they both?
The answer wasALWAYS.
Because it seemed like a good time, Ethan went there. He was genuinely curious.
“Can I ask you something?”
Gene glanced over quickly and then navigated the slick roads.
“Always. You know that.”
Something was bothering him.
“When it was suggested that I take Sasha on a date, you weren’t happy. Why?” he asked. “If it’s to solve our problem with Gabe, I don’t see the issue.”
Oh, boy.
How did he navigate this with his fears of losing Ethan?
“Because I don’t want my man having a date with anyone else. That’s my territory.”
Ethan was watching him.
“You weren’t honest with me just now. When you don’t tell the truth, you get twitchy,” he admitted. “Now, how about you be honest?”
Gene sighed.
He knew better than to lie to Ethan or only tell part of the truth—like he just did.
“It’s silly,” Gene said.
Ethan didn’t back down.
“Clearly, it’s not if you’re this tense. I can see the artery in your temple.”
As they sat in traffic, waiting to keep making the drive, Gene knew Ethan wouldn’t back down.
“It’s not the pretend date. It’s who the pretend date is with,” he finally admitted.
Ethan didn’t understand.
“You think she can force me into sex?” he asked. “She can’t, Gene. I’m not a cheater.”
