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)
“Well, I got the better prize.”
“I’m not going to argue with you there.” He winked, and I could tell he was trying to lighten up the mood.
He rolled onto me and pushed his legs between mine. Sliding his arms around my thighs, as he started to lift, I took his cue and wrapped my arms around his neck. He hoisted me into the air and crawled on his knees across the mattress until he stepped off, onto the floor.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked him.
“My dirty man needs a bath,” he teased.
And I laughed again, him pulling me close for another kiss.
33
Ethan
“You’re being mopey,” Sadie told me as she looked at me from across my desk.
My eyes met her green ones. “I’m not being mopey.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” she replied.
“I’m not playing this game with you,” I told her as I tried to bite back a smile. I’d needed that, needed her to tease me. I ran a hand through my hair, set my elbows on the table and groaned. “I’m being mopey. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m a grown-ass man. There’s no reason I should be pouting because my boyfriend is out of state for a week.”
But I was. I’d always been good at not needing anyone, at standing on my own and being strong. My parents had died and my grandmother was closed off, so I learned to be the same—at least when it mattered. I’d always played the game well—dated, laughed, fucked, but it hadn’t been real because I didn’t want to let anyone in.
Sean had beaten down my walls and gotten past my defenses. He’d made me vulnerable with his stupid hero complex and his laugh. His love of his family and his competitive nature. His skill in helping me discover how magical a prostate truly was, and now I was mopey and ridiculous without him.
“Hello? Earth to Ethan,” Sadie said and I realized she must have been talking, and I’d spaced off.
“I hate him,” I pouted.
“You love him,” she replied and I nearly swallowed my tongue. Love was a fucking strong word. I’d only ever really loved my parents and I’d lost them. I hadn’t let myself care about anyone else that much.
“How do I know?” I asked her, hating the vulnerability in my own voice.
“I think you already know you do,” Owen’s voice sounded from the doorway. I hadn’t even noticed he’d stepped inside.
I groaned a second time. “Okay, enough of this. We’re not doing the whole psychoanalyze Ethan thing.”
“Oh, but it’s so much fun,” Owen said. “You used to be this super intimidating straight man who acted like feelings were icky and now you’re in love.”
Sadie laughed. I balled up a piece of paper and threw it at him. “You both know I have the ability to fire you, right?”
“But you wouldn’t because we’d tell your boyfriend on you, and he’d make you be nice to us,” Owen added.
I really fucking hated them right then. “Are you both done making my day even worse now?” I paused, thought and then asked another question that made me feel strange. “Do you think he loves me?”
Neither of them laughed or made a joke. Sadie frowned. Owen looked sad.
My fucking heart dropped to my goddamned feet.
“Oh my God. You don’t think he loves me?” What the hell would I do if Sean wasn’t as serious as I was? If he’d made me fall for him and then walked away?
“What? No!” Owen said in a panicked voice.
“He looked crazy in love with you, Ethan. I think we’re just both a little shocked to hear you ask things like that, to hear your confidence falter.”
I scoffed. “My confidence is fine, thank you very much. I know I’m a fucking prize.” And on that note, I stood. “Get the hell out of here. It’s time to go home.”
“Do you want to hang out tonight?” Sadie asked, and I had a feeling she did it out of pity because she thought I was lonely without Sean. She was right but I sure as shit didn’t want her feeling bad for me.
“No, I don’t. I’m not that desperate.” I winked at her and she smiled.
They both said their good-nights and left. When I was sure they were gone, I sat back down, fired up my computer and got to work again.
It was after nine by the time I left the office. I’d grabbed some Chinese on the way home. I kicked out of my shoes, plopped down on the sofa, and turned on a show I’d DVRed. I wasn’t home five minutes when the phone rang.
I smiled before I even looked at my cell. “Missing me before you go to bed, huh? Wishing I was there to fuck you until you passed out?”
“How’d you know?” Sean replied.