Page 55 of Catch
The farther I get from Ethan, the more I’m questioning my sanity. I should’ve known better than to let him egg me on like that.
Why the fuck did you kiss him?
Because I had to. There was no other way to shut him up and… yeah, that’s not it.
I wanted to kiss him. I should regret it, but I don’t.
Funny how I imagined that he’d be the one freaking out afterwards, but it turned out to be me. Only because it was the hottest kiss of my life. Actually, the way we came together was the hottest sex of my life. Totally incendiary.
And it can never happen again. I’ve already spent way too much time thinking about him, and it would serve no purpose. He’ll be on to his next conquest and that’ll be that.
I get back to the dorm, and when I step into the bathroom, my reflection makes me pause. There’s no mistaking what I’ve been up to; my lips are red and swollen, my cheeks are flushed, and there’s a hickey on my neck. Fuck, I didn’t even realize Ethan had marked me. I run my finger gently over the bruise and goosebumps erupt on my skin.
Ignoring my reaction and my disheveled appearance, Itake a quick shower and slap a ton of moisturizer on my face to ease the redness. After slipping on a pair of jeans, I throw on a black turtleneck sweater to cover the love bite, grab my denim jacket and my bag, and head into town.
By the time I make it to Boots—forty-five minutes later—the guys have already finished eating.
There’s no sign of Ethan, and my stomach drops out. It’s probably hunger pains.
“Where did you and Ethan disappear to?” Archie asks me. “We thought you were right behind us.”
“We were. We had to stop and… uh… talk for a bit, and then I had to head back to the dorm because I forgot something. That’s all.”
Archie’s eyes narrow as he studies me. Shit. I pull the menu up in front of my face and study it like I need to memorize the contents to pass a test.
“I thought Ethan was joining us for a bite?”
I shrug.
“He said he was going to, but I guess he changed his mind.”
“I didn’t.”
Ethan’s sudden voice has my heart kickstarting again.
I lower the menu to watch him take the seat opposite me, and oh my God, looking at him is like looking in a fucking mirror because there’s no mistaking what he’s been up to. His swollen lips curve in a sinful grin, and I squirm in my chair, remembering how his mouth felt on mine. His mouth, his hands, his body. Like he owned me in the best fucking way. No one’s ever kissed me like that, like he couldn’t get enough.
“Sorry I’m late,” Ethan adds as he takes off his bomber jacket. “I caught up with a friend and I lost track of time.”
“A friend?” Hudson asks.
“Yeah, you know, a friend with benefits.”
I take a sip of my water and pray that my face doesn’t give me away.
Wait, Ethan didn’t meet up with someone else after me. Did he?
“That explains the hickey on your neck.” Archie chuckles. “Do we know her?”
Ethan’s responding laugh is deep and dirty and the sound makes me shiver.
“No, they’re shy.”
Not “she” but “they.” I start choking, and Archie pats me on the back.
“Sorry.”
I cough and clear my throat. I get concerned looks from my teammates, but I wave them off.
