My head is spinning. "You've really thought about this."
"I've wanted this for a long time. I'm not going to rush it or do it halfway." His lips brush my temple. "You deserve better than halfway, Lily."
"I don't even know where to start."
"Start by trusting me. Can you do that?"
I think about the past week. The way he's never pushed me and always made space for me to choose.
"Yes. I trust you."
"Good girl."
Those two little words settle over me like a warm, comfortable blanket.
We sit there for a long time, wrapped up in each other, talking through boundaries and expectations and fears. It's the most honest, vulnerable conversation I've ever had.
And somewhere in the middle of our deep talk, I realize something terrifying and wonderful.
I'm falling for him.
Hard.
CHAPTER 7
Iwake up in Ethan's guest room again, but this time everything feels different. It’s only been a week and yet I feel like I’ve known him my entire life.
We didn't have sex last night. We didn't even kiss again. We just talked for hours, curled up on his couch, mapping out the shape of what we could be together. I’ve never had as long of a conversation before. We covered every topic I could ever imagine and then some. We talked about our childhoods, our friends, our family, life goals. We played a version of Never Have I Ever of sorts and disclosed our kinks and what turns us off. While we didn’t do anything more than cuddle, the intimacy of those conversations felt deeper than anything physical could have been.
My phone shows 7:23 a.m. The party is tonight. In less than twelve hours, I'll have completed the job I was hired for. What he’s paying me for. There won’t be a professional reason to see each other again. After tonight, every time we see each other will be intentional and personal.
The thought makes my stomach twist with anxiety.
I grab my phone and scroll through the checklist I made for tonight. Caterer arrives at two. Florist at three. Party rentalsetup at four. Gifts wrapped and displayed by five. Guests arrive at six.
Everything is under control.
Everything, that is, except me.
I shower and dress in yesterday's clothes, making a mental note that I need to start keeping a change of clothing here. The thought makes me pause. Am I already thinking of this place as somewhere I belong?
When I venture downstairs, Ethan is in the kitchen with his laptop and a cup of coffee.
"Morning," he says, looking up with a smile that makes my heart flutter.
"Morning. You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep. Too excited about today." He closes the laptop. "Coffee?"
"Please."
He pours me a cup, doctoring it exactly how I like it without asking. The casual intimacy of the gesture makes something warm bloom in my chest.
"Nervous?" he asks.
"Terrified. What if something goes wrong? What if your mom hates the necklace? What if the food is terrible? What if?—"
"Lily." He sets down his mug and comes around the counter. "Breathe."
