“Protected yourself and hurt me.”
“Yes, and I’m so sorry. There’s no excuse.” He knows I don’t have much dating history. I had one serious relationship that ended six years ago. “But I’m trying to make it right by telling you now.”
“So you don’t think us being together was a mistake?”
“No. I’ve fantasized about that moment for…years. But the part about being afraid to lose you is true. I’ve always worried about that. And this past week was a front-row seat to that reality. I hated it.”
Ethan’s expression softens as he brings a palm to my cheek. “I did too.”
“So where do we go from here?” I ask.
“Well, I meant what I said about not kissing you again.”
“Ethan.”
He shrugs, releasing his hold on me. “You’re gonna have to make a move if I’m what you really want.”
Now he’s just playing hard to get.
But if that’s what he wants, I’ll play.
I step back and slowly lift my shirt. When my eyes meet his, they’re filled with shock and hunger. “Harper. What are you doing?”
Next, I unbutton my jeans and tug them off.
“You said you wouldn’t kiss me again. Never said anything about touching.”
His jaw clenches. “You’re torturing me.”
“Every summer in high school, I’d watch you unload hay shirtless. Sweat dripping down your abs. You wearing a baseball cap and work boots. That was torture.”
He snorts. “No one said you had to stare at me all day. That was by choice.”
I lower my gaze down his body though he’s dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. “Do you blame me?”
“So this is payback, huh?” he mocks, then kicks off his boots. “Because I can bring back the six-pack, love.”
My heart does that ridiculously obnoxious flutter thing at the sound of him calling me love.
Perhaps my plan wasn’t thought out properly.
“Sweet Jesus,” I mutter as he takes off his shirt.
“We playin’ strip tease? Because I think I’m winning.”
I grin. “Don’t get cocky.”
“You better kiss me then,” he challenges.
“No,” I say, wanting him to be the first to crack.
“Tsk tsk. So goddamn stubborn, aren’t you?” He closes the gap between us, then tilts up my chin. My breathing stills. “I wanna hear you say the words.”
“What words?”
“That you want me as much as I want you. That you’re needy and desperate for me. That you want my hands and mouth on you again.”
Yes, yes, and yes. My entire body heats as the warmth of his breath sweeps over my face.
“I need to know the feelings are mutual this time,” he reiterates. “I’m not touching you again until then.”
I swallow hard. As much as I want to tease him, we’ll both get what we want if I give in.
“Ethan,” I say softly, wrapping an arm around his waist as I prepare to confess everything.
He interjects before I can continue. “Before you say anything, I need you to understand where my heart is.”
I nod.
“I don’t just want you. I’m in love with you. I’m not sure when it happened, but I don’t want a life without you in it. I want all of you, all the time, no matter what. I was hurt when you blew me off because I knew there was something more between us. So if you can confidently confess—”
“Yes,” I blurt out. Cupping his face, I’m prepared to say the words I’ve thought about for years. “I’m so in love with you.”
I’m not sure who leans in first, but our lips crash together in a hot, greedy kiss. His hands slide over my skin as I cling to him, needing more. His tongue tangles with mine, and when he lowers a hand to my ass, I moan against him. With his erection pressed against my stomach, I’m filled with so much desire, and I can’t hold back anymore. Years of fighting my attraction, of denying the little butterflies that surfaced anytime he was near, and resisting the urge to cross those lines have led to this moment. It’s finally happening without a single ounce of doubt from either of us.
“My bedroom,” I mutter.
“This means you’re mine now, Harper. You got that, right?”
“God, yes,” I say eagerly.
He lifts me until my legs wrap around him, and somehow, he manages to walk there without hitting anything. “You made that look so effortless.”
As he lays me on the mattress, he smirks. “I’m used to the mazes in your house. Between boxes and supplies, I’ve had to maneuver around to avoid stubbing a toe.”
I chuckle as I lick my lips in appreciation of the view in front of me. “You’re wearing too many clothes. Jeans, off.”
“Well since you kissed me first, I’ll obey.”
“You kissed me!” I argue as he does what I say.
“Sorry, love, but you’re wrong.” The corner of his lips tilts up in amusement.
I roll my eyes, defeated. “Fine, if that’s what you wanna believe.”
Once he’s only in his boxers, he crawls between my legs, and I wrap mine around him as his mouth comes inches from mine. “Don’t pout. You’re too beautiful to look like someone stole your dog.”