Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Do I get some sort of anal sex black belt?”
“Oh, really? You already think you get a black belt?”
But he kind of deserved one. Ethan Harris had showed me just what an ambitious man he was, especially in the bedroom, which we’d spent a lot of time in since we officially became boyfriends—something I still couldn’t believe whenever I said or thought the word, which I might have slid into conversation more than I should because I enjoyed it so much.
That’s what we were, after all, and it was strange how easy it was to let myself open up to Ethan—to take this relationship to another level, one I hadn’t previously been willing to explore. We were sharing our lives, not just the day-to-day shit, but things that were much more meaningful—like when Ethan told me the whole story about his parents’ car accident.
He couldn’t have known how much it meant to me for him to tell me that, but like with so many other things in our relationship, it seemed to come naturally, at just the right time.
As I took another bite of my pizza, Ethan glanced at me, narrowing his eyes like he was thinking about something very seriously.
“What is it?” I asked after swallowing. “Something wrong at work?”
He reached over the table and wiped his thumb under my lip. “Just a bit of cheese. Reminded me of something else that dangles out of your mouth occasionally.”
“But at least it reminds you of something deeply satisfying.”
“Well, if it’s deeply satisfying, then it’s not in your mouth, is it?”
I laughed. “Oh, you’re in a feisty mood today.”
“Just having a good day at work. Amazing, actually. That’s what I was thinking about. I was talking to some of the guys in the office, and it made me realize I’m hanging out with your family, but I haven’t hung out with your friends yet. And you haven’t hung out with mine. That’s kind of weird, you have to admit.”
“I’m waiting until you’re comfortable with that. I’m not going to push you to come out to your friends. You have to make that decision when you’re ready for it. It’s not easy for everyone, and I know you especially, having been presumably straight to them for so long, it’s probably going to be very difficult. But I’m willing to be here for you…and I’m not going to push you. I want you to know that.”
I took another bite from my pizza when he said, “It’s done,” with a smile and a shrug as though it was no big deal.
His reply caught me so off guard, I choked on my pizza for a moment.
His eyes widened with concern. I raised my hands before me. “I’m fine,” I said before swallowing. “It wasn’t as bad as trying to deep throat you, trust me. Now, what do you mean it’s done? You told people at your office you had a boyfriend? When did you do this?”
“They kind of figured it out when you came for lunch.”
“Shit,” I said, blood draining from my face. “Did I out you? I assumed that some guy visiting you for lunch wouldn’t be a big, red flag.”
“It was more the way I reacted that gave me away. You know because I kind of got a thing for you…a big thing. But it’s not like I was trying to hide it. It’s none of their business who I see, but since it came up today, I was thinking, we haven’t taken that step, and what the hell kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t introduce you to my friends? Or friend, actually. Sadie is really the only person I’m close with, but I like Owen as well.”
“Wait,” I said, feeling like I was two steps behind him in this conversation. “So you got outed at your office today because I came to see you? And you’re totally cool about it?”
“I have an amazing boyfriend. Why wouldn’t I be cool about that?” he said with that charming smirk on his face—the one that made me want to punch him or fuck him…I wasn’t always sure which, but usually fuck him.
“I don’t know how you manage to keep surprising me, Ethan.”
“Watching porn has helped a lot,” he said with a wink, clearly talking about our experimenting, not the issue we were discussing.
“Whatever. You know that wouldn’t have been an easy thing for most people. And I’m not even going to let you beat me to it. I know you’re not most people, which is one of the things that I like about you.”
Ethan leaned back in the booth and eyed me curiously. “Uh oh,” he said. “It looks like you’re falling hard. I’d better be careful around you. I might need to get a restraining order if you start stalking me. Hell, you’ve already figured out some creepy science that lets you know if I’m asleep or awake without even looking at me. It’s okay. You won’t be the first person to fall head over heels for me.”