Page 456 of One More Kiss

ETHAN

I wishI could capture Vada so she’d stay with me here in this moment—as the waves crash in the distance—forever. Right now, I don’t feel sadness or pain. I only feel that strange sensation that what we have is bigger than either of us realize. I’m not one to fall for anyone so quickly. Hell, if anything, I’ve pushed plenty of opportunities away, but with Vada, it’s different. She’s got me under her spell, and I doubt she’s going to let me go before she heads back to Chicago in a couple days. The realization of that completely rips through me, but I keep it to myself.

We lay on the blanket for a while, until I feel Vada shiver.

“Come on, let’s go,” I tell her, sitting up. “The night’s still young. What do you want to do?”

Vada looks at me seductively, and I’m almost tempted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to the car because it would be faster.

“Say no more.” Standing up, I grab my shoes and slip them back on. She follows my lead and tries to help me pop sand out of the blanket.

On the drive back to the house, I interlock Vada’s fingers with mine. It’s a simple, but intimate gesture. I haven’t felt the need to hold hands with a woman in years, and now I don’t want to let hers go.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” I say, unbuckling. She follows suit and meets me in front of the car.

Grabbing for her hand again, we walk up the steps to the house where I lead her up the stairs to my bathroom. I light candles and place them around the white iron claw-foot tub. Turning on the hot water until it’s steaming, I take my time undressing her, kissing her collarbone and along her shoulder. Her head falls to one side, and she lets out a long sigh as my fingers sweep across the soft skin of her stomach. As I undo each button of my shirt, she watches me intently, not speaking a word.

“How would you write a scene like this?” I ask her, wanting to know the eloquent words she’d use.

She shakes her head. “You don’t even want to know.”

“I do; come on. I know you’re probably a wordsmith.”

Watching me for another moment, she begins speaking out the scene. “Carefully, button-by-button, the gorgeous man removes his shirt. His ab muscles are as hard as steel and scream out for her to touch them, but she doesn’t. Instead, she stands silent and waits for his permission as he moves to take off his belt before unbuttoning his pants. He looks at her with a burning intensity in his eyes as if he knows all her secrets but doesn’t care. And maybe he doesn’t.”

“So, Vada. What secrets do you have?” I ask her, wanting to know, realizing I’ve spilled my guts tonight, but I haven’t learned much more about her than I already know.

“I’m an open book. Other than the trust issues I have. But that’s because of all the pricks I’ve dated in the past. And…” She hesitates. I watch her, completely unsure of what she’ll say next. “And from things in my childhood. But it’s all in the past now. Without all the liars and cheaters, well I wouldn’t be the woman I am today or be able to write strong women in my books. So it all worked out, I suppose.”

“Did someone hurt you?” I nearly growl, realizing how territorial that sounded. “I might kill them if you say yes.” Just the thought of someone laying a hand on Vada almost sends me into a fury.

“No, nothing like that. More emotional abuse than anything. Being able to trust someone fully is important to me because I tend to go all in when I’m dating someone. The past hasn’t been kind to me, that’s all I’m saying. Every relationship I’ve been in has ended badly, so I guess you could say I’m a bit jaded. Empty promises covered with lies, and stupidly, I believed them over and over again. It’s probably why I’m overly single right now.”

“I can understand that. But let me add, I’m an open book too, Vada. I’ll always be truthful, even if it hurts. I don’t have anything to hide. You know all my secrets.” I take a few steps forward and hold her in my arms. Skin against skin and there’s something so intimate about standing in nothing but candlelight.

“Get in first,” I demand with a smile, watching our shadows dance against the wall.

“So bossy, I like it,” she purrs, dipping a toe in the warm water, then stepping in, and slowly sitting in the tub. I follow her lead, slipping behind her, my legs holding her in place.

“Ouch, your snake’s slithering against my back,” she jokes.

“Watch out, you might get bitten,” I tell her as I grab a bar of soap and gently wash over her breasts. Vada sinks into my touch, allowing me to put my hands wherever I want.

“The water’s so warm, it’s relaxing,” she states in a dreamy-like tone.

I slip my hands down lower, and my fingers rub against her clit. Letting out a moan that echoes through the bathroom, Vada arches against me, creating more friction. Her head leans against my shoulder, and I devour her mouth with mine as I continue to pleasure her. Dipping a finger inside, I can feel how tight and ready she is for me.

“Fuck, Vada,” I whisper in her ear, as she sinks deeper into my touch.

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to lose it,” she says between moans.

“Good.” With my other hand, I palm her breast, tugging at her nipple that’s at full attention.

“God, Ethan.” She moans louder, with more intensity in her voice as she places her palms on the porcelain tub, leaning harder into me. Her body tenses against my chest, and she closes her eyes as she allows the release to take over.

“You’re so fucking sexy when you come,” I whisper against her neck.

She laughs, leaning her head against me. “Didn’t realize getting clean could be so dirty.”

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