Page 120 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
"Same thing," I mutter, though there's no bite to it.
Carrying Ethan around the house to a quiet spot under a big oak tree, I set him down gently with my arms still wrapped around him. Gavin's wet t-shirt sticks to his body, almost see-through from the water, but now that we're alone, I can enjoy looking at him without getting all jealous about it.
"You really went all out," I observe, gesturing to his outfit. "The shorts, the heels... was that Sylas's idea?"
Ethan blushes slightly. "Partially. I wanted to do something dramatic, something that showed I was willing to put myself out there the way you have been with me. The outfit was just... added flair."
"It's both quite a lot of flair and not enough," I tease, fingering the hem of the soaked shirt.
"Too much?" he asks, suddenly uncertain.
Shaking my head, I pull him closer. "Perfect amount. Though I reserve the right to murder anyone who has those videos."
He laughs, then grows more serious, his hands coming up to frame my face. "I am sorry, Tyler. For not believing in you. For breaking up with you so publicly. For?—"
Silencing him with a gentle kiss. "Stop apologizing. We're past that now."
"Are we?"
"Completely," I assure him. "Besides, your grand gesture more than makes up for it. You showed up at my fraternity car wash in booty shorts and heels. That's commitment."
He groans, burying his face against my chest. "Oh god, I did, didn't I? That video is probably already going viral."
"Probably," I agree, stroking his back. "But this time, it'll be a happy ending."
He looks up at me, his eyes all bright with something I'm now brave enough to call love, even though we haven't said that word yet. "Happy ending," he says quietly. "I like the sound of that."
I capture his lips again, a slow, thorough kiss that promises everything I'm not quite ready to say aloud. When we finally break apart, breathless and smiling, I rest my forehead against his.
"Me too," I whisper. "Me too."
Chapter 29
Stripped Down Truth
TYLER
Carrying Ethan through the front door of the fraternity house, I'm grateful that everyone is still at the car wash. His arms are locked around my neck, his lips trailing hot kisses along my jaw and throat as I navigate the stairs.
"Missed you so much," he murmurs between kisses, his breath warm against my skin. "Couldn't sleep. Couldn't think."
"Me either," I manage, nearly tripping on the top step when he nips at my earlobe. "Jesus, Ethan. Let me get us to my room before you make me fall."
He laughs against my neck but doesn't stop his exploration. "Can't help it. Need to touch you. Make sure you're real."
The emotion in his voice matches the tight feeling in my chest. Two days ago, I thought I'd lost him forever. Now he's in my arms, still damp from Gavin's impromptu shower, wearing my brother's oversized DPO shirt and looking at me like I'm everything he's ever wanted.
Kicking my bedroom door closed behind us, I set him down gently. For a moment, we just look at each other, bothbreathing hard, the reality of being alone together again settling over us.
"Hi," which sounds ridiculous given everything that's happened, but words seem tough to find.
"Hi," Ethan replies, a smile spreading across his face. He reaches up to brush wet hair from my forehead, his touch gentle. "You're soaked."
"So are you."
His smile turns mischievous. "Should probably get out of these wet clothes then."
"Definitely," tugging at the hem of his borrowed shirt shows just how much I agree. "For health reasons. Wouldn't want you catching pneumonia."
