Ethan’s thumb gently traced the outline of my jaw, his eyes drinking me in as if committing every detail to memory. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he admitted, his breath still mingling with mine.
“Me too,” I whispered back.
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering there for a heartbeat before he pulled back just enough to look at me again. “This feels . . . right,” he said, almost as if he was as surprised as I was by how easily everything had fallen into place.
“It does,” I agreed, my hand still resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.
The warmth of his gaze, and the way his eyes softened as he looked at me, ignited something deeper inside me. A need—ahunger—that had been building for what felt like forever. Without thinking, I leaned in again, capturing his lips in another kiss, this one more urgent, more desperatethan the last. The sweetness of our first kiss melted into something more intense, more primal, as I pressed myself closer to him, needing to feel the heat of his body against mine.
Ethan responded, his hands sliding down to my waist, pulling me flush against him as the kiss deepened. I could feel the tension in his body, the way he was holding back, but that only fuelled the fire burning inside me. I wanted more—more of him, and more of this connection that was quickly spiralling out of control.
With a moan, I urged him backward, guiding him through the door and into the living room. My hands roamed over his chest, feeling the strength of his muscles beneath the ridiculous onesie, and I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. The contrast between the innocence of our surroundings, and the passion sparking between us, only made me want him more.
Ethan stumbled back onto the sofa, his eyes widening in surprise as I straddled his lap, my thighs bracketing his hips. I could feel how hard he was beneath me, and a thrill shot through my body as I leaned down to kiss him again, more hungrily this time. My teeth grazed his bottom lip, drawing a low groan from his throat that sent a shiver of pleasure down my spine.
I reached for the zipper of his onesie, my fingers trembling with anticipation as I began to pull it down. But just as I was about to expose the warm skin beneath, Ethan’s hands caught mine, stilling my movements.
“Vinnie, wait,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. His eyes met mine, and I saw the conflict there—the longing, but also the restraint. “Slow down. There’s no rush.”
I froze, the heat in my body clashing with the coolness of his words. “But . . . I want to,” I whispered, my voice wavering slightly. I leaned in closer, trying to close the distance again, but Ethan gently held me back.
He shook his head, his eyes filled with a resignation that sent a pang of uncertainty through me. “We don’t have to do this now, Vinnie. Let’s take our time.”
His words hit me like a bucket of cold water, dousing the flames of passion that had been burning so brightly. I pulled back, suddenly feeling insecure, like I’d misread everything. Maybe I’d come on too strong. Maybe he didn’t want me the way I wanted him. The hurt must have shown in my eyes, because Ethan’s expression softened immediately.
“Hey,” he said gently, reaching up to cup my cheek. “It’s not that I don’t want you. Trust me, I do. That kiss was . . .incredible. But I want us to take this slower. I want to get to know you,reallyknow you, without rushing into something we’re not ready for.”
I bit my lip, the sting of tears welling up—more from embarrassment than anything else. “But what if . . .” I whispered, my voice small. “What if you lose interest?”
Ethan’s eyes filled with something tender that made my heart ache in a different way. He shook his head slowly, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “Vinnie, I don’t know who hurt you, or made you believe that you’re not worth waiting for. But to me, you’re special. Really special. And I want this to be right, not rushed.”
His words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, but the insecurity still lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind. “I’m just . . . not used to this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Vinnie, we don’t need to rush this,” he said softly, his voice steady. “We’ve got time to figure things out, to enjoy getting to know each other. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
I looked at him, the sincerity in his eyes making my breath catch. This was all so different. It was gentler; more patient than anything I’d experienced before. And it scared me.
“Okay,” I whispered, letting his words settle over me. This wasn’t about pushing forward too fast. It was about allowing things to unfold naturally, at their own pace. And, for the first time in a long while, that felt like something I could embrace.
“Come on,” he said gently, standing up and offering me his hand. “Let me walk you home.”
I took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. The room felt different now—more intimate, but in a way that was comforting, rather than urgent. We laughed as we slipped out of our ridiculous onesies, trading them for something more fitting for the cool night air. Once dressed, we left the living room behind and stepped outside.
When we reached my door, Ethan turned to me, his eyes still holding that same gentle warmth. Without hesitation, he leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that was tender and unhurried.
When he pulled back, his eyes lingered on mine, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Goodnight, Vinnie,” he murmured, his voice full of affection.
“Goodnight, Ethan,” I replied, my own smile mirroring his as the warmth of his kiss still lingered on my lips. He waited until I was safely inside, then gave me a final wave before heading back down the path.
Once inside, I leaned back against the door, my mind still buzzing with everything that had happened tonight. Feeling the need to share, I pulled out my phone and dialled into our group chat. It didn’t take long for Amelia and Ivy to answer, their voices full of curiosity.
“Tell us everything!” Ivy demanded, her excitement practically crackling through the phone.
“Did you kiss him?” Amelia asked, her voice eager and teasing.
I laughed, the sound lighter than I’d expected. “Yeah, we kissed,” I admitted. “It was really sweet. But then things got a little intense, and he . . . he wanted to slow down.”
“Slow down?”Amelia repeated, her voice curious but not judgmental. “Like, in a ‘let’s-take-it-slow-and-build-this-up’ kind of way, or more like ‘I’m too nervous to go further’?”
