As I settled into the seat, I watched Ethan pull out another dry shirt for himself. He hesitated for a moment, and I could feel the tension between us thickening. Without a word, he reached for the hem of his wet shirt and, in one fluid motion, pulled it over his head. The sight that greeted me made my breath catch in my throat.
His tanned chest and broad shoulders glistened with droplets of water that clung to his skin. I had only glimpsed hints of his physique before, through the way his clothes fit, or the way he moved. But seeing him like this, stripped down and unguarded, was something entirely different. He was more muscular than I’d imagined, his torso defined and strong, and every line of his body was a testament to the quiet strength he carried. Thereal thing was far better than I’d ever imagined, and I found myself unable to look away.
Ethan must have noticed the way my eyes lingered on him, because a slow, teasing smile spread across his face. “You’re staring, Vinnie,” he said, his voice low and full of amusement.
I blushed. Part of me wanted to look away, to preserve some semblance of composure, but the other part—the part that was captivated by the sight of him—couldn’t quite manage it. “Sorry,” I murmured, finally managing to tear my gaze from his chest. “I just . . .”
Ethan chuckled as he prepared to pull on his dry shirt. “You’ve got a little drool on your face, there.”
I blinked, my hand instinctively flying to my mouth. “I do not!”
He grinned, as I let my gaze linger on him for just a moment longer. It was impossible not to notice how comfortable and confident he had become around me, especially over the past week. Ever since that kiss in the living room, something had shifted between us. Ethan seemed to be embracing the change, growing more at ease, while I found myself feeling the opposite—more shy, more vulnerable, like I was slowly unravelling in his presence.
As if sensing my thoughts, he paused. Looking at me with a soft, affectionate smile that made my heart skip a beat. He didn’t say anything, but the warmth in his gaze was enough to calm the nerves fluttering in my stomach.
With a quick, teasing wink, he finally pulled on his dry shirt, the fabric sliding over his still-damp skin. “There, all covered up. Happy?” he joked, his tone light, though there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes.
“Maybe, and just so you know,” I said, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the smile on my face, “Iwasn’t drooling.”
“Sure you weren’t,” he teased, his voice low and playful as he settled into the driver’s seat. “But if you were, I’d take it as a compliment.”
Ethan gathered up our wet clothes and tossed them onto the back seat, the fabric landing with a soft thud on the leather. The interior of the truck was warm now, the heater doing its job, but the heat I felt had more to do with the way Ethan’s eyes lingered on me as he settled back into the driver’s seat.
A soft patter of rain began to fall, growing steadily until it drummed against the roof with a soothing rhythm, the world outside quickly disappearing behind the fogging windows. The rain created an intimate cocoon, and the rhythmic sound of the droplets matched the quickening pace of my heart, each beat echoing the longing I felt growing inside me.
Ethan’s gaze dropped to my lips, the tension between us thickening. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of damp hair away from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek, and the simple touch sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a fire in me.
“Vinnie,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Before I could respond, Ethan leaned in, closing the distance between us. His lips met mine in a kiss that was soft at first, and tentative, as though he was testing the waters. But it didn’t stay that way for long. He deepened the kiss, his hand sliding to the back of my neck to pull me closer, while his other hand traced a slow, deliberate path down my side, resting just above my hip.
A surge of heat rushed through me, settling low in my belly. The thin fabric of his shirt and shorts clung to my skin, and I was acutely aware of how exposed I was, of how little there was between us. The sensation of his body pressed against mine, and the warmth of his hand on my hip, sent a jolt of desire through me, making me even more aware of how much I wanted him.
Ethan’s confidence surprised me; the way he seemed to savor every moment, as if he were testing how far we could go this time. His lips moved with a purpose, and when he nipped at my lower lip, a small gasp escaped me, which only seemed to encourage him. His mouth trailed down to my neck, and he nipped at the sensitive skin there, drawing a shiver from deep within me.
The intensity of his touch, the way his hands roamed my back and waist, set my skin on fire. I could feel the heat of his arousal pressing against me, and it only fuelled the desire that was building inside me. I wanted more—more of his touch, more of his kiss, more ofhim.
I shifted until I was straddling his lap, feeling the full length of him against me. Ethan’s hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer but, as his fingers slid under my shirt to rest on the bare skin of my back, he suddenly paused. His touch hesitated for just a fraction of a second, as if he’d only just realized there was nothing but skin beneath the thin fabric.
He pulled back, his eyes searching mine. “Vinnie,” he breathed, his voice rough around the edges.
My cheeks flushed. The heat between us was undeniable, and his eyes darkened as his hands, now more deliberate, traced the contours of my back. “Are you naked under this?” he asked, his voice dropping low, the surprise in his tone edged with something deeper—something hungry.
I bit my lip, nodding slightly. “It was all wet,” I whispered.
His hands moved over my back with renewed purpose, his touch more confident, more aware of the vulnerable state I was in.
The sensation was almost overwhelming, the way his hands explored my back, the way his lips found mine again, this time with a hunger that matched my own. I pressed against him, feeling the heat of his body through the thin layers that still separated us, and the raw intensity made my breath come in quick, heated gasps.
Ethan’s fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me even closer as the kiss intensified. He was confident, in control, but there was a gentleness to his touch that made me feel safe and cherished, even as the kiss became more demanding. The way he held me, and the way his hands moved over my body, made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered to him.
Just as the tension between us reached its peak, my back bumped against the steering wheel, and the horn let out a loud, jarring honk. The sound shattered the intensity of the moment, pulling us back to reality, and we broke apart, both of us laughing breathlessly. My cheeks were flushed, and my body still hummed with the aftermath of our kiss. Ethan’s eyes were locked on mine, the warmth and desire evident in them.
“Guess that’s our cue to slow down,” he said, his voice low and teasing, though there was no mistaking the heat still simmering between us.
“Maybe,” I replied, my voice soft and a little shaky from the adrenaline coursing through me.
He leaned in, brushing his lips against mine but, when he pulled back, there was regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice rougher than usual. “I didn’t mean to push things too far. We said we wouldn’t rush.”
