"Okay?" he asks, his voice strained.
"Yes. God, yes."
We find a rhythm. Slow at first, then faster. His breath is hot against my neck. My nails dig into his shoulders. The world narrows to just this. Just us. Just the feeling of him moving inside me and the pressure building low in my belly.
"Ethan." His name breaks on my lips.
"I know. I've got you."
His hand slides between us. Finds the spot that makes me cry out. The pressure builds higher. Tighter. Everything inside me coiling toward release.
When I come, it's with his name on my lips and his body pressed against mine. He follows seconds later, his face buried in my neck, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to bruise.
We collapse together. Breathing hard. Hearts racing. The room is quiet except for our labored breathing and the sound of traffic outside.
Reality creeps back slowly.
I'm in Denver, in Ethan's hotel room. We just had sex, and crossed the line we've been dancing around for months.
Luke's blessing or not, everything is different now.
Ethan rolls onto his back. Pulls me against his side. I rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat slow.
"You okay?" he asks quietly.
"I think so."
"You think so?"
"I don't know. Are we okay?"
His arm tightens around me. "Yeah. We're okay."
I want to believe him. Want to sink into this moment and not think about what comes next. But my brain won't stop spinning.
"Luke knows," I say.
"Yeah."
"But we didn't tell him. He figured it out on his own."
"Does that matter?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
Ethan is quiet for a long moment. "Do you regret this?"
"No." The answer comes immediately. Honestly. "Do you?"
"No, but I'm wondering what happens now."
"What do you want to happen?"
"I want to take you home. Want to stop hiding. Want to see where this goes without Luke or anyone else standing between us."
"That sounds nice."
"But?"
