“Yes. If anything, it would bounce back as some sort of inbred, cross-species animal. And I am speaking from experience. The charges were dropped, but we are on the cops’ radar now.”
“Great,” I say with a wince. “We haven’t even been in town for a year and I’m already running out of room for our unmarked graveyard.”
“I still think we should get some pigs.”
“So we can feed them demons?” I raise my eyebrows.
Ethan shrugs. “They eat anything, right?”
I laugh and turn so my body is facing him. “I can’t believe you got arrested today.”
Ethan takes my hands in his and looks right into my eyes. “It was really lonely in prison.” He stands and picks me up, setting me on the counter, and moves between my thighs, hands landing on my hips. I hook my arms around his neck, heart fluttering in my chest. “I am a man with needs.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You spent maybe two hours in a holding room. They even gave you coffee.”
“Like I said, thinking of you got me through my time away.” He pushes my hair over my shoulder, deft fingers sweeping across my collarbone. Just one little touch is enough to turn me on.
“It’s almost a shame you weren’t convicted. You make a rather sexy felon.”
“In that case, let me remind you that I have been arrested before. I’ve spent a few nights in jail too.”
“I am a sucker for bad boys.”
“Want me to show you my unofficial record then?” He wiggles his eyebrows and grins.
“I’m thinking I’d rather see something else right now,” I say with a laugh. “And after that long prison sentence, I’m sure there’s only one thing on your mind right now.” I run my hands down his chest, feeling his muscles beneath his t-shirt. I let out a shaky breath as I lean forward, resting my forehead against Ethan’s. “I was scared I wouldn’t get you back.”
“I’m not leaving you, Anora. You know I would do anything to come back to you.”
I nod, not wanting to move my face away from his. I dreamed of finding a love like ours and had relented to the fact that it was something I’d only read about in romance novels. My whole heart longed for someone like Ethan, and I still have moments where I can’t believe how lucky we are to have found each other.
Ethan sees me—all of me—and accepts the good and the bad. He’s patient and kind but can be ruthless and violent when he needs to be. He’s my demon-hunting hero, but I know he’d burn the world for me and me alone. That should scare me, and some might even call it a red flag, but knowing he would do anything for me makes my heart swell in my chest and stirs desire deep within me, making me want him like my life depends on it.
“I love you,” I breathe and Ethan puts his lips to mine, kissing me softly at first. Then he slides me to the very edge of the counter so my core presses against his cock. I can feel it harden as he pushes his tongue into my mouth, kissing me with fervor. Warmth spreads through me, and I slide my hands down his shoulders, balling the material of his shirt in my fists.
He lifts his arms, breaking the kiss for just a moment so I can pull his shirt up and over his head. I drop it on the floor and go back to him, running my hands over his tattooed arms and back over his chest. His skin is warm and soft under the palms of my hands, sending another jolt of desire through me.
Ethan slides his hands under my thighs, and I wrap my legs around him as he picks me up. He stumbles his way through the kitchen, kissing me as he walks up the backstairs and into our room. My heart flutters as desire swirls inside of me, wanting him and him alone.
We make it as far as the sitting area in our bedroom when we tangle together again. I rake my fingers through Ethan’s brown hair, pressing my forehead against his.
“I love you,” I breathe, stepping in close so my hips are against his.
“And I love you.” He pulls my shirt up and I raise my hands, allowing him to strip me bare. The shirt falls to the ground, and I flick my wrist, using magic to close the bedroom door. His hands land on my sides, slowly tracing his fingers along the curves of my hips until he gets to the waist of my pants. Goosebumps break out along my flesh and my heart hammers in my chest as the desperation builds. My lips part as I watch Ethan look at me like I’m the only thing that matters to him.
I’d never been with someone as intense as Ethan before, both in the bedroom and in life in general. Growing up as a romance book junkie, I always wanted the kind of epic love people write about. I was scared I would never find it. It was like there was a piece missing, a puzzle piece with an ever-changing shape. Finding someone to fill that hole seemed next to impossible, but here we are, and I can’t imagine my life any other way.
And I’ve learned that the missing piece still changes shape. Sometimes it’s big enough to let the cold wind blow through and other times it’s scabbed over and small. But that’s the thing about good love: it changes and grows with you, and Ethan has been there with me every step of the way. He knows some days I need more from him than others. He’s patient and kind with me but fiercely protective too. Yet he knows I can handle my shit—most of the time—and his level of respect for me is almost unreal.
“God, I want you,” I pant, bringing my own hands down to his, impatiently undoing the button of my jeans. I shimmy out of them and Ethan brings two fingers to his mouth, wetting them with his tongue before moving his hand between my legs.
My eyes flutter shut and I shiver, widening my stance as I hook my arms around his neck. He works his fingers in expert movements, knowing exactly what I like and always delivering.
“Be patient.” He circles my core, teasing me. “I’ll fuck you when I’m good and ready,” he growls in my ear, and I let my head fall to the side. Ethan keeps moving his fingers until I’m about ready to come. My knees are already weak, and if I wasn’t holding onto him, I would have fallen on the floor.
“Oh god, don’t stop,” I beg, ready to reach down and grab his wrist, holding it there as he keeps rubbing my clit, not stopping until I come so hard his hand is dripping.
“Fuck, you’re wet,” he moans, putting his lips to my neck, kissing and sucking my skin as he continues to work his fingers against me. My mouth falls open and I press my fingers into his flesh as the orgasm hits. My entire body shudders but he doesn’t stop there.