Page 17 of Unfolding Ethan

“You.”

“I hope you’re not thinking about pushing me in the water for a payback.”

I snickered. “The thought did cross my mind but no, I was not thinking about that. I was thinking about Monday night.”

He straightened and clenched his jaw. “What about Monday night?”

The air changed and there was a noticeable tension hovering around us. I shivered when the cold breeze kissed my skin and tingles shot through my body. I think being pushed into the cold water gave me a confidence boost when I said, “About the kiss that never happened.”

Ethan didn’t reply and I turned toward him. “Ethan, you asked me for a kiss.”

His eyes sliced over me. “And you said yes.”

“I did,” I said. “And I would if you ask me again.”

He took a sharp breath. “You would?”

“Why would I ever deny?”

Ethan took some time to reply because he was busy staring at my lips. His tanned neck flushed when he was caught. I smiled.

He finally said, “Maybe . . . because you are my best friend?”

“But that didn’t stop us from sharing our first kiss.”

He looked at the water as it waved gently, lapping at our legs, and I decided I needed to get out of the wet clothes, which were starting to itch my skin. I bit my lip and glanced at him from the corner of my eyes. Ethan ran a hand through his wavy black hair—fuck me. They screamed hold-me-while-I-eat-your—

Stop. It.

“We were drunk, Kiara.”

“Okay, fine.” I stood up. “If you don’t want to kiss me then . . . let’s swim.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Naked.”

“What?”

“I always wanted to try skinny dipping.” I pursed my lips and said, “And I really want to get out of these clothes.”

When I thought about it, I wasn’t feeling self-conscious about my body when it came to him. Yes, he had seen in me in bikinis and accidentally walking in when I was busy writing something on my Post-it in my underwear and bra. But I was never self-conscious about what he would think of me or my body. I did have stretch marks, but I wasn’t uncomfortable about them. What I was most worried about wasmyself. If he got naked and my hormones spiked up, I didn’t know if I would control myself and not jump on him.

Gosh, I sounded so bad in my head. Not to mention, my best friend would be the first guy I would ever see naked.Way to go, Kiara.

His voice was strained when he said, “What if someone catchesyou. . . me, both?”

I moved my damp hair over my shoulder. “We will be in the pool, Ethan. And no one can see us from the living room.” I smirked when I said, “Unless you want to watch me while I swim, you can stay here.”

The thought of Ethan watching me with his intense green-blue eyes while I was swimming naked in the pool sent a delicious shiver down my core.

His eyes darkened and he looked away, probably thinking the same when I noticed red blush creeping up his neck and making his ears and cheeks flush.Cute.

I prodded, “Come on, Ethan. Don’t be a chicken . . .”

“Fine.”

He stood up, his tall frame towering me. I forgot how to breathe when his dark eyes seared me, slowly trailing down my body as if he had all the time in the world. His voice was rough when he said, “Remove that sweater first.”

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