He nodded slowly, like he was considering it. “A solid two.”
“Fuck, Ethan.”
“I don’t think I’m really in the right shape to fuck you right now, but I’ll do my best if you really—ohh.” His groan of relief when I set my hand on his arm made my stomach clench. “Wow. Yeah. That’s nice.”
“I’m barely touching you.”
“You’re just that good.”
I shook my head. “Come on. I’ll help you get inside.”
“I can handle it now.”
“Shut up and let me help you.”
“Fine.” He draped his arm over my shoulder, and we made our way into the house. The door shut behind us, and I walked him to our couch.
Those cushions had really seen things.
I helped Ethan sit down, then went ahead and sat on his lap. “Hey,” I said, lifting my hands to rest on his chest.
“Hey.” His went lightly to my waist. “How was your day?”
“Uneventful. I hung out with Stella and Abby. Yours?”
“I sat around while the other guys coached some shifters. Nothing too exciting.”
I nodded, biting my lip and trying to figure out how to start the conversation.
Ethan dragged his thumbs lightly over the exposed skin on my hips. The fact that he was waiting patiently for the talk was a testament to how shitty he must’ve felt.
“I talked to Abby and Stella about mate bonds,” I said.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“We’re not arguing about that right now, Cupcake. Just listen.”
He feigned zipping his lips and tossing the key.
“I’m not going to pretend I’m not afraid of mate bonds, and relationships in general,” I said, “But I realized while we were talking that I’m not willing to do this without you. Life. I want you with me. I know you would never hurt me. I know you won’t try to control me. I know mating with you would be nothing like I thought it would be before we met—and that even though I’m terrified, I want it. You’re my best friend, and I love you, and?—”
Ethan kissed me hard.
When he pulled away, he said against my lips, “If you mate with me, I’m going to call youmine, and you can be damn sure I will flaunt being yours. There will be romance, too.”
“I can survive the cringe of it.”
“Then take those fucking glasses off already, woman.”
My chest burned.
He could’ve ripped them off. I wouldn’t have blamed him for it—I would’ve liked it.
But he was still making sure it was my choice, the way he always had. The way he always would.
I let out a shaky breath. “Should we make bets on whose wolf hunts who? I’m not even sure I can survive a shift if it’s mine.”
“You’ll be fine.”
