Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
His hands come down on my arms. “I don’t want anyone else. I do not want you with anyone else. Do you want anyone else?”
“No. Of course not. How could anyone else compete with you, Ethan?”
His eyes are fire, and I’m burning alive despite the deep dive of the sun along the horizon. “Then we’re in a relationship,” he says.
I let that sink in a moment before I say, “All right, then. We’re in a relationship. What about when the board finds out about us? Will they think you did all of this for me?”
“Stop overanalyzing, and since I already know you well enough to know you won’t do that, I’ll answer more specifically. The sign of true success is writing your own story. I don’t give two fucks what they think, and you’re too talented to let them think for you or dictate your actions. They need you. And they know this. They’re excited about the Zoey brand. If they make money, they wouldn’t care if we were fucking on live TV.” He tugs me closer. “Which wouldn’t happen, since, as stated, I want you all to myself.”
“You have a way of making everything sound easy.”
“Wanting you is easier than anything I’ve ever done. Waiting on the pizza is another story. Take me home and feed me.” He rotates us forward, and his arm is back around my shoulders, and I give up the battle.
“You’re stubborn,” I accuse as we pass a small gallery and apothecary.
“There are so many ways that can work in your favor,” he says as we cross into the neighborhood.
“I could say so many things about that, but we’re here.” I halt in front of my driveway and house and turn to face him. “It’s small. And basic. But it’s mine, and—”
He cups my face and kisses me before capturing my hand and then leading me to the sidewalk, and as we walk side by side to the front door, there’s no backing out. Ethan is going inside. He’s here, and he came for me. That’s insanely hot and romantic. And the truth is, I’m done denying him or myself.
Chapter Nineteen
Sofia
He came for me. And right now, the only agenda I feel from him is me.
We reach my front door, and I attempt to punch my entry code into the keypad, but I’m trembling so hard I can’t seem to get it right. On my third attempt, Ethan captures my hand. “Easy, baby. Why are you so nervous? You weren’t like this when I was a stranger. What’s going on?”
I lower my chin for a minute and whisper, “I don’t know.”
He turns me to face him and folds me close. “What’s going on?” he repeats.
He’s hard, and I feel soft and warm next to him. “I’m nervous. That’s all.”
“You know me,” he says, stroking hair from my face.
“I’m getting to know you,” I correct.
“Do you want to know me?”
“You know I do.”
He eases back and studies me, and I don’t know what he sees, but he must not like it because he says, “I’m rushing you.”
“No,” I say quickly. “No. Not at all. We slept together the first night. How can you possibly be rushing me?”
“This isn’t a one-night stand. It’s new. It’s a different headspace. And Sofia,” he cups my face and tilts my gaze to his, “I want you. I want this. We’ll start over, but I don’t want to leave.”
“Why would you leave? I don’t want you to leave. No, I don’t want that.” I turn back to the door, and this time my hand is steady as I punch in the code and open the door before capturing Ethan’s hand. “Come inside.” I tug him forward.
He captures my arm and tugs me close. “I want nothing more than to walk you into your house, press you against the wall, and fuck you until you’re obsessed with me the way I’m obsessed with you.”
I’m still stunned at how overwhelmingly dominant he can be, but I don’t know why. This is Ethan. And I like this about him. I like how he makes me feel. “And the problem with that is what?”
“You believe this is nothing but fucking, Sofia. And it’s not. As much as it’s going to kill me, I’m going to win my spot back in your bed. I’m going to get a hotel room.”
I grab his sides, and my heart is charging in my chest. “No. No, I don’t need you to do that.”
“I think you do, baby. I think that’s exactly what you need to understand that this is real. And that’s the only way I make you stand with me instead of running from me.”
“I don’t want you to leave. That is not what I want. Ask me what I want right now, Ethan. Ask me what I want with you.”