Page 21 of Jaime
I cut myself short, feeling like an idiot. Ethan had already helped me enough. He didn’t need any more sob stories from me. That was a terrible way to try to make someone stick around for a bit longer. And that was what I was doing. I didn’t want him to leave.
I wasn’t that hungry, but I’d happily make us dinner and watch movies with him and, basically, do anything to make him stick around.
“Sometimes we need people to hold our hands through things. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I managed to nod at his words.
“You can always call me if you need help with anything,” he said kindly. “You have my number.”
I forced another nod.
Shit. This was it. This weird, dreamlike day was ending, and I wasn’t ready for that. I wanted—I didn’t know what I wanted, except for Ethan to not leave.
I couldn’t pull my gaze away, his eyes were so penetrating that I felt weak.
Finally, he took a breath, readying himself to go. He started to turn toward the door.
Without realizing what I was going to do, my hand landed on his arm. As soon as he started to turn back toward me, my mouth was on his.
I pulled back almost at once, but his lips seared mine like a brand.
My hand flew up, touching them in shock.
“I—I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did that. I panicked.”
My heart was racing a mile a minute, but Ethan looked calm.
Of course he was. He was used to kissing guys. He was probably used to guys throwing themselves at him too. Hell, who wouldn’t? He was the epitome of a dream man. He was good-looking enough to be a movie star but chose to write kids’ books. He could spend his time and money on anything, but instead, he chose to spend them on me and Evie and—shit, I was going to kiss him again.
I pressed forward, my hands went into his short hair, and this time when our lips met, I didn’t immediately jump in the opposite direction.
I leaned in closer, moaning when he finally started to kiss me back. His strong hands wove into my hair, holding me steady while his soft lips moved hungrily against mine.
Ethan felt overwhelming andoverpowering. The way he moved forced me to follow. His lips parted, mine parted. His tongue slipped into my mouth, mine met it. He bit my lip, surprisingly hard, and I gasped. Then those strong hands I wanted to lean into, pushed me back.
I didn’t get it. At first, I thought that he was going to steer me somewhere good, like onto the couch, but then I saw the regretful look in his eyes and felt my entire being close down around me.
“Stop,” he said unnecessarily. “You don’t have to do this.”
My lips were still tingling, my heart racing, my cock, clearly not aware that Ethan had put the brakes on, was pressing the front of my jeans eagerly.
“What?” I asked.
“You don’t owe me anything,” Ethan said in frustration. “Iwantedto help out today. Not because I thought I would get something out of it.”
Suddenly I felt dirty.
“That’s not…”
“Then what?” he demanded.
I hadn’t imagined Ethan could work up a temper. It looked all wrong on his face.
I was shaking my head, mind racing, unable to think up an argument.
Being him though, he waited, still breathing hard as his frustration faded to—guilt.
“I—I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” I finally said.
