Page 124 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
"Can you blame me?" I say, pulling him closer. "I just got you back. Not ready to share yet."
Ethan's expression softens. "You don't have to share," he promises. "I'm all yours, Tyler."
The afterglow feels incredible, but his words spark something warmer, deeper in my chest. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," he confirms, leaning in to kiss me gently. "For as long as you want me."
I could say the words now, the three words that have been building in my chest for longer than I've been willing to admit. But somehow, it doesn't feel like the right moment yet. Not in the aftermath of our reunion, when emotions are running so high. When I say them, I want it to be perfect.
Instead, I press my forehead to his and whisper, "That might be a very long time."
His smile is radiant. "I'm counting on it."
We lie together in comfortable silence for a while, limbs entwined, occasionally exchanging soft kisses and gentle touches. There's no rush now, no urgency. Just the quiet certainty that we're exactly where we're supposed to be.
"We should probably clean up and go back to the car wash," Ethan eventually suggests, though he makes no move to leave the bed.
"Probably," I agree, equally reluctant. "Or we could stay here and continue our reunion."
He laughs, the sound warm and free. "Tempting. But your brothers are covering for you, and my friends are helping them. Plus, we're raising money for the vet clinic, remember?"
"Fine," I sigh dramatically. "Be responsible."
Ethan kisses the fake pout from my lips. "We have time," he reminds me. "All the time in the world."
As I look at him, hair mussed, cheeks flushed, eyes bright with happiness, I'm struck by how close we came to losing this. How easily misunderstandings and interference nearly destroyed something beautiful before it had fully begun.
"What?" he asks, noticing my intense gaze.
"Nothing," I say, shaking off the momentary gravity. "Just thinking about how lucky I am."
Ethan smiles, pressing one more kiss to my lips before sitting up. "We both are. Now come on, Vice President Landis. Your charity car wash awaits."
Groaning, I let him drag me up. The car wash, dinner, whatever, just as long as he keeps looking at me like that. Even if I still can't believe he showed up in those perfectly ridiculous shorts.
Epilogue: Harder Drive
TYLER
"We should probably start getting ready soon," Ethan murmurs against my shoulder, his breath warm on bare skin. The December light filters through our window, already fading but still casting everything in that warm glow that makes time feel negotiable.
"Mm-hmm." The response comes out noncommittal while my fingers trace the curve of his spine. "What time did you say it started again?"
"Seven. And it's already—" Ethan shifts to check the clock, but my arms tighten around his waist, keeping him exactly where he belongs.
"Still early." The words rumble against his neck. "Besides, fashionably late is a thing."
Ethan's laugh vibrates between us. "You're the Vice President. You can't be fashionably late to your own party."
"Watch me."
My lips find that spot just below his ear that makes him melt. "Tyler..."
"What? Just telling you about this crazy dream I had last night." My voice drops lower, rougher. "Want to hear about it?"
Ethan's pupils dilate slightly. "We really should?—"
"There was this gorgeous nursing student in my bed," continuing, completely ignoring the protest. "Red-blonde hair all messy from sleep, these incredible green eyes looking up at me like I hung the moon."
