Page 98 of The Enemy of My Enemy Is… My Fake Boyfriend?

"There's nothing mythical about it."

"Mm-hmm."

Laughing, I turned on my phone flashlight which was glaringly bright in the now pitch-black night. But it was useful as we gathered up our clothes, shook them out, and did our best attempt to look somewhat presentable.

Before Aria could get fully dressed though, I tried to sneak her panties into my pocket.

"What the hell, Ethan? How many pairs of my underwear do you need?"

"All of them," I growled.

She let out an adorable giggle. "What do you do with them, dare I ask?"

"You don't want to know."

"I kinda do."

"I'll show you then. Tonight."

I couldn't believe her smile, and the way she licked her lips, looking me up and down in the light from my phone as I finished dressing.

"Not here, babe. Sheesh, you horndog," I joked.

"Shut up." She playfully stomped away back toward the bike as I followed her, lighting up the path as we went, while I wondered if we'd ever be able to find this magical little spot again.

Once we were settled on the motorcycle, I leaned back to tell her something. "Hey, feel free to go for number three while I'm driving."

"What? Are you—are you joking?"

I shot her a grin and shrugged. "It's up to you. Have a great ride."

And with that, I shoved on my helmet, enjoying the stunned look on her beautiful face, then turned back around to get going.I did that thing she liked, jerking the bike forward, until her arms went around me, her body flush against my back.

When I heard her sweet sigh through her mic—which, damn, I forgot to tell her about—a peaceful feeling settled deep in my soul. With Aria by my side, I felt like the king of the world, and I knew I'd finally found home.

Thirty-One

One month later...

Aria

A rush of excitement filled me as I stepped into our new apartment. The loft was bathed in warm afternoon sunlight, casting a golden glow over the exposed brick walls and gleaming hardwood floors. We'd spent the last several weeks searching for the perfect place, and this one felt like home from the moment we first laid eyes on it.

This was it—the beginning of a new chapter in our lives together.

So yeah, maybe it was a little too soon. Everybody, with the exception of Astrid of course, warned me about it. I couldn't jump right into a new relationship so quickly. I'd barely gotten over the last one. Ethan was just a rebound. Blah blah blah.

But I didn't listen. It felt right. I couldn't explain it. All I knew was Ethan was it for me.

Not that I wanted to get married or anything. Ever. I'd already told him that. Marriage was now off the table. No ring. No engagement. No wedding. And he was totally fine with that.

But what I did want more than anything? To spend every single night with the man.

Since that evening in the woods and the B&B after, we hadn't been apart, not even for one night. Even if we were crazy busy with work, we managed to see each other, Ethan coming over in the middle of the night or sending a car for me to go to his place after a late work event.

I'd crawl into his bed, snuggle up to him, and he'd instantly have his arms around me, pulling me in tight. Sometimes he'd wake up enough to have sex, or sometimes I'd just revel in the smell of him, how warm he always was, and sleep like a baby, content in his strong arms.

And this way, it'd be a million times easier.

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