EPILOGUE
DANE
“What do you get the guy that has everything?” Ethan says as he hands me a small gift wrapped box with a tiny ribbon that decorates the top.
“Did Hannah wrap this?” I ask because it looks way too pristine and matchy.
“I did, asshole.” He tosses the box in my lap and takes the seat next to me. “I’m actually really good at wrapping,” he adds, offended.
“I’m impressed. If it doesn’t work out with the Smashers, you could definitely work full time as a professional gift wrapper.”
But we all know it’s going to work out just fine for him because in the short few weeks he’s proven to be a huge asset with everything he knows and even assists the batting coach some days. He’s been the happiest I’ve ever seen. It’s a stark contrast compared to when he was working for his father, trapped in that prison of an office.
I can relate. I couldn’t work a regular nine to five either and never plan to, nor can I stay in one place too long. Which iswhy I’ll be figuring out what sounds exciting to dive into next after my teaching stint is over.
Ethan rolls his gorgeous dark eyes at me, a typical response no matter how deep we get into our relationship because, apparently, I just bring that out in him. But I love every bit of that eye roll. Hannah sits down beside me and gestures to me to open the box.
Okay, they’re both anxious for me to open it.
Picking up the box, I hold it to my ear and shake it as I side-eye a look at Hannah.
“Hmmmm, what could it be?” I shake it some more and their impatience is showing as I weigh between my fingers and sniff the box.
“Just open it already.”
“Okay, fine…fine.” I raise my arms up in surrender.
There’s a tiny card tied in between the ribbon, roped through a small hole in the corner. I spread the paper apart and read it.
“Do you remember what you said in Paris?” I whisper out loud.
Okay, I said a lot of things in Paris. I glance between them as I tear open the wrapping blindly then pop open the plain black box.
“A bottle of lube?” I state questioningly.
Then my eyebrows raise in realization. “Oh! A bottle of luuube,” I state with more gusto. Then lower my voice and repeat what I said in Paris.
“He who holds the lube, gets to top.”
“Does this mean what I think it means?” I ask Ethan, as I actually hold the lube.
Avoiding my gaze he shifts in his chair and I sit up closer.
“I told you I wouldn’t until you were good and ready. Begging me for it,” I remind him because I don’t want him to do this because I want it. I want him to do it because he wants it.
“I want it,” he says quickly, with more breath than words and almost inaudible.
“Say what?” I tilt my neck to the side, cupping my hand around my ear.
“Dane,”Hannah signs as a warning, but I just wink at her because I know he’ll neverbeg. But I’m damn well going to get him flustered enough to demand it.
“I’m ready.” His voice is tight, like that adonis fucking jawline of his that I immediately fell in love with.
“Mmmmm,” I squeak out, “I don’t know, doesn’t really seem like it.”
“I swear to god.” Ethan presses into his heels and without even fully standing, he's hovering over me. He palms my chest, sinking me further into the soft cushions of the couch. He seems massive in this state, but I smile and wave the lube in front of his face, reminding him.
“You better fuck me, I’m tired of you making me wait. Fucking do it already.” His lips are close to mine and I smile, the thin skin brushing over his with the movement.
