"She's going to love you." His hand cups my face. "How could she not?"
"You're biased."
"Absolutely." He leans down, kissing me softly. "But I'm also right."
The kiss deepens, and soon we're tangled together on the blanket, hands exploring, breath mingling.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"We should probably slow down," Ethan says, though he makes no move to let me go.
"Probably," I agree.
"Or..." His lips trail down my neck. "We could go inside. Take this somewhere more comfortable."
My pulse races. "Is that what you want?"
"I want whatever you're ready for. No more, no less." He pulls back to look at me. "What do you want, Lily?"
I want everything.
I want him. On me. Over me. In me. I want it all.
I want this.
"Inside," I whisper. "Let's go inside."
He stands, pulling me up with him. We gather the blanket and pillows in a rush, laughing as we stumble toward the house.
Once inside, Ethan leads me upstairs to his bedroom. But instead of pulling me toward the bed, he stops.
"Before we do this, I need to know you're sure."
"I'm sure."
"And you'll tell me if anything doesn't feel right?"
"I will."
"Promise me, Lily."
I take his face in my hands. "I promise. I trust you, Ethan. Completely."
Something in his expression shifts. Relief mixed with desire mixed with something that looks almost like aggression.
"Good girl," he murmurs.
Then he kisses me, and the world falls away.
Once inside, Ethan leads me upstairs to his bedroom. My heart pounds so hard I'm certain he can hear it. The hallway feels longer than usual, each step weighted with anticipation and nerves and desire so acute it makes my skin hypersensitive.
When we reach his room, he doesn't immediately pull me toward the bed. Instead, he stops just inside the doorway, turning to face me. The lamplight casts shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes.
"Before we do this, I need to know you're sure." His voice is rough, strained. Like he's holding himself back with everything he has.
"I'm sure."
"Lily." He steps closer, his hands settling on my waist. "Once we cross this line, everything changes. I need you to understand that. Even more than the spanking I gave you. Having sex makes this official and you will be mine."
