Page 75 of One Touch

And yet, for some reason, every single thing we did felt like the most romantic fucking thing I’d ever done.

There was so much emotion crackling between us. Whether it was fast or slow, sweet or steamy, all of it just felt so damn . . . right. And the moment I came inside her, I suddenly felt so deep and raw that it had shocked me to the core.

“They’re really putting you through your paces at the station, huh?”

“It’s brutal.”

“Especially for someone like you, who’s useless at hose control.”

“Wow.”

Cole chuckled. “Thought you’d appreciate that one.”

There was, of course, another reason for my stressed appearance. Today, I was meant to be telling Cole about Lily. But right now, I was struggling to remember the benefit. I’d just be opening myself up for teasing.

I was acutely aware that only recently, Cole had been the one seeing a younger woman, and I’d fucking bet him that he’d fall in love with her.

Obviously, it was a bet I’d won, and now he was marrying her.

Which meant, really,hewon.

This was different, though. More complicated, more potentially damaging.

“What do you think?” Cole asked, gesturing at his deep blue tux. “It’s hard to get one the color of the ocean because it changes so much, but I think this one is pretty good, don’t you?”

“Yeah, it’s great,” I said, tugging again at my collar.

“I like it, too.”

Cole adjusted his bow tie. “Can you believe I’m getting hitched in just a couple of weeks?”

I forced a smile. “You and Elara make a great team.”

Cole’s brow furrowed as he turned to face me. “Ethan, what’s up, bro? It’s not just the training. And it’s definitely not that collar—which looks good on you, by the way. You seem a million miles away. Is Ava okay?”

“Actually, Ava’s doing great.”

“She enjoying having a nanny?”

I hesitated. I’d always been the one Cole confided in, the steady brother he could rely on. It felt weird to flip our dynamic, and it was hard for me to admit that I needed him.

“Lily’s . . . great.”

“Yeah,” Cole agreed, “although El tells me she’s not that happy at the bookstore. She’s lost her way since she dumped Vlad. The nanny gig is helping her out.”

“El says she’s unhappy?” I felt a sudden surge of guilt. I hadn’t spoken to Lily about how she was feeling about . . . well, about anything really. I guess I’d been so focused on keeping things as unromantic as possible that I’d stopped appearing like I cared. Which of course I did.

“Doesn’t believe in romance anymore, apparently,” remarked Cole. “I guess that’s why the two of you get on so well together. Similar philosophies.” He paused a moment. “Remember when El and I were first fooling around?”

“Course.”

“I never understood why you kept pushing me to have a proper relationship with her. You were meant to be Mister Bah Humbug when it came to the lovey-dovey stuff.”

I sighed. “It’s not that I don’t believe in love. It’s just that . . . I feel like I’ve had my shot. I had it with Marie. And when I lost her, the pain of it was just . . . a lot. But it was obvious to me—and anyone with eyes—that you and El were perfect for each other.”

“Well, I’ve never been happier to lose a bet,” he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Now what do you think, should I buy these tu—”

“Lily and I had sex.”

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