He shook his head.
“Look at me.”
Golden orbs lifted. Shy apprehension lit with a spark of hope. Oh, how I wanted to blow on that spark until it grew into flames of confidence.
“I like you, Fletcher. Not as an employee. Not even as just a friend. But more.”
“More?”
“When you aren’t at my side, I wonder what you’re doing. I worry if you’re hungry or if you got enough sleep. I want to buy you a new coat. The only reason I need to see you is because it’s what I want.”
His eyes widened the more I spoke, eventually so round I could see the white around his entire iris.
Brushing the pad of my thumb lightly along his lower lip, I whispered, “I want to kiss you all the time. Hold you. Protect you. I want you to be mine.”
I felt his intake of breath with my thumb, body swaying closer to mine.
Wanting so badly to close the distance between us and crush my lips to his, I almost gave in. At the last moment, I resisted, clinging just enough to reason to hold off until I heard his reply.
“Yours,” he echoed almost wistfully.
“Mine,” I echoed back.
When our stares collided, the disbelief in his almost hurt until he punctuated that look with words. “No one’s ever wanted me before.”
Screw reason.
The rough sound I made cut off abruptly when our mouths crashed. The aggressive way I went for him did not make my lips rough. Just the opposite, in fact. Cajoling and careful, I tugged his lower lip between mine, sucking and loving it with every fiber of my being. When it was fully lavished, I kissed him wholly, moving us together without once breaking contact. I couldn’t tolerate distance in this moment, not even a breath of air.
Licking across his upper lip, I solicited entrance, and he opened with a moan of welcome. I loved the way Fletcher kissed back, fully present in the moment, fully present with every caress, but still yielding and soft, still allowing me to lead.
That trust he gave so readily was a heady thing, intoxicating me with the knowledge he knew I would take care of him. As our tongues danced, things I’d learned about him echoed deep inside me. How alone he’d been. How unloved and unwanted he’d felt. I thought of the coat he handed a stranger. How he cried for a kidnapped child he never met. How willingly he smiled despite it all and the almost childlike way he found joy in everything.
It was as though there were two people inside him, one broken and one still full of hope.
How could two such things exist in a single body? How could I make them both mine?
You could hear us breathing heavily before our lips even broke apart. The smacking sound when I finally released made me want to dive right back in.
My palm lay against the side of his neck. The frantic beating of his pulse pounded against my finger. “I want you.” I said it again, almost desperate for him to believe me. “Puppy, tell me you want me too,” I rasped, still trying to catch my breath.
A silent moment stretched into two, and I began to panic.
“Fletcher.” My thumb tapped the front of his throat.
Avoiding my gaze, he whispered, “But why would you want me?”
A strangled sound erupted from my throat. “Well, why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m poor, clumsy, and don’t have a job. My clothes are sloppy. I’m from the Grimms… and not even my own mother loves me.”
“Fletcher.” I scolded him, appalled he would say such things about himself. Appalled that was all he thought he was.
His fingers pressed against my lips, stopping my words but also somehow squeezing my heart. “You’re a prince. Rich. Famous. You live above the city,” he said, gesturing to the sky. “You have a family name and business, and everyone loves you. You could have anyone you want. You shouldn’t choose me.”
“I am all those things,” I said, making him huff at my arrogance. I laughed under my breath. “Listen,” I implored, shaking him gently.
His nod made hair flop into his eyes, and my heart swelled so much from that simple thing.
“If you think I’m so wonderful, you should also know I have impeccable taste, and with it, I choose you. You. That means you must be pretty damn incredible.”
“But I’m not.”
“You are. And you make me feel things in here.” Grabbing his hand, I put it against my heart. “Feelings I’ve never felt for anyone ever before. Emotions I didn’t even think were possible. I don’t care what clothes you wear or how much money you have. If anything, I like how simple you are. It’s refreshing in a world of insincerity.”
His brows wrinkled a bit at the last word, and I swore I fell even harder in that second.
“I like that you’re clumsy because it gives me a reason to hold on to you. You do have a job. You enchanted me that day with your violin. Music practically pours out of your skin. And as far as your mother goes… well, I don’t like her.” Which is a very polite way of saying it.
The last of my words made him smile just slightly, like the idea of me denouncing that foul woman made him happy. Maybe I should have just said what I really thought of her then.
Too quickly, the secret smile faded, and a frown took its place.
“What?” I practically crooned, reaching to tangle my fingers with his. “Tell me.”
“I just don’t see how it could work.”
“Do you like me?” I asked boldly.
The straightforward question made him gasp, and his fingers quivered lightly against mine. I wasn’t a man to beat around the bush, but even I was a little unsettled by my own brashness. Well, not so much the fact that I’d asked, but perhaps because I was afraid of his reply.
If he said no, I’d have to let him go.
If he said no, the kiss we’d just shared would be our last.
Nerves bounced around inside me.
If he says no…
18
Fletcher
* * *
Every word Ethan spoke drew me deeper and deeper into whatever spell he’d cast. He said I enchanted him.
No. It was me who was enchanted.
Never in my entire life had anyone ever looked at me like he did. Like everything I was, was more than enough. Never in my entire life did anyone ever so boldly confess they liked me… that they wanted me.
No one has ever wanted me before.
No one has ever made me feel wanted.
But he did.
This perfect prince. He was literally everything I could never be. Strong, capable, insanely good-looking, and so sure of himself. Everyone respected him. Eyes followed him around a room. Not to mention he knew a lot of words.
And he smelled like Christmas trees. My favorite.
It seemed ridiculous he would be sitting here with someone like me. It seemed ridiculous there was a hint of doubt in his blue stare when he asked, Do you like me?
How could I not?
“Is this a dream?” I wondered aloud, twisting around to gaze out across the city from inside a swing we shared.
“If this was a dream, I wouldn’t be on pins and needles waiting for your reply.” His voice was wry, not at all frustrated as his words might imply.
I turned back, taking in his strong jaw, smooth skin, and perfectly straight nose. I couldn’t deny how he made me feel, even if I should. I just didn’t know how.
“I like you,” I confessed simply.
The blue of his eyes seemed to light up in the night, flames sparking to life and making my stomach feel funny again.
The hand wrapped around mine squeezed. “How do you like me?”
Heat suffused my cheeks, the tips of my ears burned, and I knew I was blushing like crazy. Ducking my head, I searched for a moment alone even though I was totally exposed sitting here in front of him.
“Puppy,” he pleaded, using our linked hands to lift my chin.
“I want to be yours,” I confessed, the words rushing out as I squeezed my eyes shut.
A moment of silence wr
apped around us, and I squinted one eye open to peek at Ethan sitting there staring at me with this look in his eyes.
Is this what love looks like?
“Good boy,” he praised, which maybe should have pissed me off, but I really liked it when I made him happy. I really liked being good for him.
The feel of his palm smoothing out my hair made me push into him, so comforted my eyes forgot they were supposed to be closed.
“So,” he murmured, still brushing his fingers through my hair. Tingles of pleasure raced across my scalp, making my head swim. “You’re mine now.”
“You can kiss me now,” I told him.
His teeth flashed, the warmth of his laugh shining on me like the sun. “You like kisses, do you?”
I blushed all over again, embarrassed.
Making a grumbly sound in his chest, Ethan brought me even closer, wrapping his legs around me so I was totally enclosed.
“I’ll give you as many kisses as you want, puppy,” he whispered, brushing his lips across mine.
Ethan’s chest supported my weight as I clung to his broad shoulders, fingers deep in the thick material of his sweater as his tongue swept deep inside, brushing over the roof of my mouth.
My tongue wasn’t as bold as his, tentatively licking into his mouth for a taste. He moaned with pleasure, and it made the lower part of my stomach tighten. So I did it again, and then our tongues were dancing together as though they heard a song no one else could.
Heaviness settled over my mind, my limbs growing weightless as I gave him more and more of myself, totally enthralled by the sensation of his mouth moving with mine.
I’d never felt like this before, never wanted someone so badly my pulse nearly screamed his name.
When I felt him easing back, I whined, clutching him even tighter, and he chuckled into my mouth, swiping his wide tongue along my lower lip and making me shiver.
“So responsive,” he murmured, caressing my face with his heavy-lidded stare.
“You said as many as I wanted,” I complained.
His laughter mixed with his breath as his lips brushed across mine once more, again, and then a third time.
“It’s cold out here, and I left our coats by the light switch. We should go in.”
“I’m not cold,” I argued as a strong wind blew, swaying the swing and making goose bumps prickle beneath the hoodie I wore.
“Stay with me tonight.”
My stare flew to his.
My body screamed yes. My heart nearly tried to climb out of my chest and into his. I wanted to stay. I never wanted to leave.
But…
But if I stay, will we do more than kiss?
My inexperience suddenly screamed in my face. He would be disappointed.
“I’m a virgin,” I blurted out, then slapped my hand over my mouth.
Did I just say that out loud?
Tenderness washed over his face, softening the sharp angles of his bone structure and making my heart beat unevenly.
Tugging my hand away from my mouth, he nodded. “I know.”
“How do you know?” I demanded.
“You said you never dated anyone before.”
I pursed my lips. “So? Maybe I like to have one-night stands.”
“Do you?” he asked, eyes sparkling with humor.
Why is that so funny?
“No,” I grumbled.
“Good,” he murmured, running a finger over my collarbone. Suddenly, I hated the hoodie between us. “I don’t like the idea of anyone else touching you.”
Nerves and excitement filled me, making it hard to know which was which.
“I’m not asking you to stay for sex,” he stated, still caressing my shoulder. “I won’t do anything you aren’t ready for.”
“But I like kisses.” I didn’t want him to forget.
His grin was quick and made my belly turn over. “Yes, I got that.”
“Can I sleep in your bed again?” I asked.
“Only if I can hold you.”
“Okay.”
His caressing hand stopped, making me feel somewhat empty. “Be careful climbing out of the swing. Don’t fall.”
It took a minute to pull my eyes from him to back out of the swing. When I finally managed, he called out.
“Fletcher?”
Pausing, half in, half out, I gave him a questioning stare.
“Thank you.”
I frowned. “For what?”
“Being mine.”
I tried to hide the smile his words spread on my face as I climbed the rest of the way out, straightening to look out over the city again. It seemed to stretch on forever, glittering with golden lights and echoing with the sounds of urban life. Arms wrapped around me from behind, a small kiss pressed against my ear.
“C’mon, my puppy. Let’s go to bed.”
I didn’t even look back at the view as he led me away. Why would I? What I walked toward was far more enticing than anything behind me.
19
Ethan
* * *
I was already in bed when he emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and a Gucci T-shirt. The shirt was too big, falling almost to the hem of the underwear and swallowing his shoulders whole.
Clutching a white towel in front of him, he made a face, eyes finally landing on where I sat waiting. “Don’t you have anything that isn’t designer?” he complained.
Pursing my lips, I pondered the question. “I might have some GAP in the back of the closet.”
He made a face. “That’s designer too.”
Not where I came from, but if he thought so, I wouldn’t argue.
“Do you not like that shirt? Do you want something else?” I asked, ready to shove the blankets back to do his bidding.
“No,” he said quietly. “I like it.”
“Come here.” I beckoned, patting the space beside me in the bed.
“Your shower is bigger than my bathroom at home.” He rambled on, slowly coming forward. “I had hot water the entire time, even after you showered.”
I frowned. “I would never shower first if there wasn’t enough hot water left for you.”
As he stopped beside the mattress, a look of uncertainty crossed his features, which only endeared him to me more.
“You don’t need that in bed,” I said softly, gesturing to the towel he still clung to.
He glanced down, seemingly surprised he still held it. Looking around for somewhere to put it, he glanced back at me helplessly.
Leaning forward, I snatched it, tossed it to the floor, and pulled back the covers. He gulped, taking in the tank top I wore, eyes sliding over my exposed shoulder and arm.
“Did you change your mind?” I asked, voice neutral, watching his reactions very carefully.
“No.” He asserted, scrambling onto the mattress. His knee caught in the hem of the big T-shirt, making him tumble forward into my chest.
Hand splayed over my abdomen, he pushed up, eyes going wide at the exposed skin above the neckline. Hearing him swallow, I bit back a smile and looked down at him instead.
“Hi.”
He blushed.
Laughing lightly, I leaned down, pecking a kiss onto his cheek. “Can I turn the light out?”
He nodded, so I leaned over to hit the switch, plunging the room into darkness. Turning back, I grinned wide, seeing how he rolled away onto his side, showing me his back. As I stared, his fingers spider-crawled toward the sheet at his hip to tug it up and over him, concealing everything but the top of his head.
“Are you scared of me?” I asked, lips still twitching.
Why is he so cute?
“No.” His voice was muffled from the sheet.
“Don’t you want a good-night kiss?”
The top of his head bobbed.
“Come over here and get it, then.”
“Never mind,” he called, burrowing even farther down into the blanket.
I couldn’t hold m
y laughter back any longer, and it rang out in the darkness. Beneath the blankets, I slid closer, snaking an arm around his waist to spoon him.
Putting my lips right against his ear, I whispered, “You know when you slept here the first time, I was going to put you in the guest bedroom, but you clung to me so tight you only let me put you in this bed.”
He gasped, practically elbowing my midsection with the way he turned. “I did not!” he argued.
“You did.” I confirmed. “I guess you liked me even then.”
“You tease me.” His lower lip jutted out.
Closing the distance between us, I fused our mouths, swallowing down the small groan he let free on contact. Warm friction crackled as our lips rubbed together, the tip of his tongue cautiously bumping against mine, seeking more.
Palming his hip, I deepened the kiss while fighting the urge to roll him under me.
We kissed endlessly, his hand fisted in the center of my tank, gripping tight as if I might run off without him.
I wouldn’t dare go anywhere without you.
His mouth grew heated, lips slick and swollen. Eventually, his tight grip released, fingers dancing restlessly against my chest.
I knew his body wanted things his mind wasn’t ready for yet, and I knew if he grew any more daring, it would be an uncomfortable night for us both.
Gently but firmly, I eased him back, shifting so he wouldn’t feel the raging hard-on inside my boxer briefs.
He made a sound of protest, eyes fluttering thickly to stare at me with dazed eyes. “Ethan.”
“Go to sleep now, love,” I said, voice hoarse.
The use of the endearment cleared his eyes, but then they clouded over again. “Kiss me again.”
I groaned, glancing down at his plump, glistening lips. I wanted nothing more than to bury my tongue between them again. “I’ll kiss you again tomorrow.”
“Please,” he whispered, eyes pleading.
“My little kiss monster.” I groaned, dipping my head once more.
His contended sigh fanned out over my lips, his breath tasting faintly of mint and something sweeter. Surprisingly, he rolled from his back onto his side, bringing us chest to chest while his hand slipped into the hair at my nape to tug me closer.
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