Part 13 (1/2)

I gave a fake gasp and punched him in the arm with my free hand. A small smile appeared on his lips and he gave a little moan of pleasure as my other hand found a sensitive spot. I couldn't help it, I tugged a little on that spot, and he finally opened his eyes.

”Why did you do that?” he asked.

”Just teasing you, Baker. Do you have time to wait for me while I take a shower? I feel pretty gross and would rather deal with you refreshed and clean.” I gave a little smirk to let him know I was giving him a hard time.

He nodded and closed his eyes again. ”Sure, I could use the time to relax. Go ahead.”

I stood up, then leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek. ”Thank you. Be right back.”

After I showered and brushed my teeth, I felt a lot better. I dressed in my comfy jeans and a pale pink T-s.h.i.+rt. I left my hair wet to air dry and only put some mascara and pink lip-gloss on. My eyes still had bags under them, but not as bad as they'd been, so I wasn't going to worry about that right now.

When I walked out to the living room, Ethan was snoring softly on the couch, still sitting in the same position I'd left him in. My heart expanded at the sight and I couldn't help myself as I sat down next to him, laying my head on his shoulder.

He moved a little in his sleep, and I stayed still, hoping he wouldn't wake up. He rested his hand on mine and gave a little squeeze. I closed my eyes but they popped open wide when I heard him say my name on a sigh, ”Aly.”

He turned his head so he was facing me and settled back into his nap. I reached my hand up and touched his face. Taking advantage of the fact that he was asleep, I sat back up and really studied him. I marveled at the feelings I had recently started feeling for him as I rubbed my hand down his cheek and lightly brushed over his lips. He twitched a little at my touch, but still didn't wake up. I leaned over and lightly kissed his cheek, then bent lower and kissed his neck. I knew I was treading on dangerous territory, but I couldn't help it. I had to touch him, kiss him.

I'd just raised my head from kissing his neck when I felt him grab my wrist. ”What are you doing, Aly?” he asked me softly. My heart slammed in my chest. I'd been caught. My mind went blank and I had no idea what to say.

I stammered as he held onto my wrist, not letting me turn away no matter how much I tried. ”I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me. Please don't hate me, Ethan. Don't leave me,” I said as I felt my throat constrict and the stupid tears appear once again.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with tenderness. ”Hate you? Leave you? Are you kidding?” he asked.

I stared at him, not sure what to say. I knew he'd had feelings for me in the past, but nothing direct had ever been said and it had been a while since I'd really felt that from him. The horror I felt was huge and I'd never wanted to get away from him more in my life.

I took a deep breath. ”I'm so sorry. I know we're just friends. I've had a very rough few days and I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me,” I said, wiping the tears from my face with my free hand.

Suddenly, he jerked me toward him as I slammed against his chest. He wrapped one arm around me while I felt his other hand hold my chin so I'd look at him. ”Would you please just shut up?” he asked, crus.h.i.+ng his mouth to mine.

Ethan moved his mouth over mine seductively, teasing me, his tongue gliding over my lips. I sighed at his touch and opened my mouth, granting him access. He took advantage and drove his tongue inside, swirling it around. Shoving my hands in his hair I returned his kiss, following his lead.

I felt his hands slide down to my hips and he turned me over so I was lying on the couch. Pleasure raced through me when I felt him climb on top of me. His kisses started a path toward my neck, leaving me breathless. I turned my head to give him easier access and he moved lower, reaching my collarbone. I sighed as I felt him kiss from one side to the other, back up my neck and reaching my lips again. I put my hands behind his head and pulled him closer, loving the way his kisses were making me feel.

We made out for what seemed like hours before he tore his mouth from mine, panting. He rested his forehead on mine and rubbed circles on my arms. I was completely stunned at what had just happened and even more stunned that I wanted more.

He finally lifted his head and looked into my eyes. ”Are you okay?” he whispered. I looked at him and saw the concern, the fear. He had no idea what I was going to say, what I was going to do.

I ran my hand through his hair, then brushed over his cheek, feeling the stubble I loved. I was feeling so euphoric at the moment and I didn't want to think about the consequences. I just wanted him.

”I'm fine. More than fine. What I want more than anything is for you to do that again,” I said, biting my lower lip, not sure how he would react.

He groaned and bent his head down, pressing his mouth to mine in another searing kiss. He licked the place on my lower lip where I'd bitten down, then sucked on it. I moaned in pleasure and pushed his head toward me again, wanting absolutely no s.p.a.ce between us.

He lifted the hem of my s.h.i.+rt and started caressing me with his hand, giving me goose b.u.mps. I felt him smile against my lips as he continued to touch me with feather-light strokes. I started to do the same to him, but his hand reached over and stopped me before I could touch him.

I whimpered in protest as he kissed over to my ear and whispered, ”Not yet, angel.” He then went back to touching me, ever so slowly moving his hand upward. I tingled in antic.i.p.ation when he stopped and moved his hand to cup my a.s.s, pressing me closer to him.

I sighed as he traced my earlobe with his tongue, then softly blew on it, his warm breath making me shudder. I welcomed his lips back to mine when he started kissing me again. I tried to touch him again on his stomach, but he shook his head, once again putting his hand over mine and stopping me.

”Be patient,” he whispered. ”Soon.”

I groaned in frustration and he suddenly sat up, bringing me with him. He straddled me on his lap, never breaking the kiss. He put his hands under my s.h.i.+rt again, rubbing up and down my back in slow strokes. He started to move to my sides, teasing me. My chest throbbed, antic.i.p.ating his touch, but it never came. Ethan broke the kiss and set his hands down beside him. I pulled back, looking at him, wondering why he stopped.

”What happened?” I asked him. ”Why did you stop?”

He looked at me, desire completely filling his eyes. ”This is going so fast. I had to make sure you're okay, that this is really what you want.”

I tried to pull his head back to mine, to continue our kiss, but he wouldn't budge.

”I'm serious, Aly. You must know I've wanted you like this for a long time. My feelings for you have always been strong, but I know you haven't felt the same toward me,” he said as he stopped me from interrupting. ”Shh, it's okay. I've been fine with just being your friend; otherwise I wouldn't have stayed around. You're very special to me and I don't want to lose you, especially if we do something you'll regret.”

I blew my hair out of my face and got off of his lap, sitting down next to him. He was so sweet and I knew he was right. It was better to not go too far, especially right now when my emotions were all over the place.

He turned toward me and took my hands in his. ”Are you okay? Believe me, there's nothing I'd rather do more than what we were doing, but you mean too much to me to have casual s.e.x. I want it to be meaningful, not just a quick roll in the hay.”

My heart melted and I leaned over and hugged him. I kept my head on his chest as he rubbed my back. I didn't know what I'd done to deserve him, but I didn't want to lose him, ever. What we had was too precious to throw away, but what had just happened between us was more right than anything I had ever experienced before.

I raised my head to look at him, to tell him just that, when a loud knock sounded on my door. My eyes widened in surprise. Ethan turned his head to look, then back at me.

”Are you expecting someone?” he asked.

I shook my head. Another knock sounded, this time more insistent. I started to get up to answer it, but Ethan held me back.

”Let me go check, okay?”

I nodded my head and he got up to look through the peephole. I heard him curse as he unlocked the door.

”What the h.e.l.l are you doing here, Pierce?”

I froze. What the h.e.l.l was he doing here? I couldn't move as I listened to the two of them talk.

”Is Aly here? I just had to make sure she's okay,” I heard Paul answer.

Ethan's shoulders tensed and he stepped to the right to block me from Paul's view. It suddenly hit me that what I'd just been doing with Ethan was what I'd been doing with Paul only a few days earlier. Mortification filled my soul and I put a hand over my mouth.

”She's fine,” Ethan said curtly. He tried to shut the door, but was stopped.

”I want to see for myself, thanks,” Paul replied.

I knew I needed to get up and handle this, but I couldn't move. Bile rose in my throat and I found myself running to the bathroom. Ethan's head whipped around as I pa.s.sed him and he took a step forward.

”Aly?” he asked, forgetting all about Paul.

I ignored him as I slammed the bathroom door and locked it. Hot tears were streaming down my face as I bent over the toilet. Dry heaves came, but nothing else. I knew I wasn't sick, that it was just my frazzled nerves, but it sucked all the same.

I sat with my head leaning back on the tub when I heard the knock.

”Aly, angel, are you okay?” I heard Ethan ask.

My heart fluttered from the sound of his voice and I knew I was in trouble. I was falling for Ethan, my best friend, while I was still in love with Paul. How was this possible?