Page 50 of Unfolding Ethan

“Sure,” I said. “Seems like I need some swim lessons, anyway.”

Ethan didn’t appreciate my dry humor.

He clenched his jaw and said, “Don’t . . . don’t say that, Kiara. It washisfault—”

I pulled away. “Let’s go for a swim.” I walked away from him and toward the sliding doors, leaving him confused.

How could I lie to Ethan? And tell him that it wasn’t Liam’s fault. It wasmyfault.

???

“Hey, are you all right?”

My arms stopped doing the backstrokes and my feet touched the cold tiles when I glanced at Ethan. He looked worried and his bottom lip was trapped between his teeth.

No, I am not all right when you turn me on by doing nothing. I needed to have a grip on myself.

“Yes, Ethan, I am fine,” I said, pretending that being close to him didn’t affect me.

I thought of something and snickered, “You know Carmella and Laura think you are a daddy material.”

He blinked at me, his cheeks flushing red. “What?”

I shook my head, scolding myself for opening my mouth. We were alone in the pool. Everyone was inside the farmhouse and preparing the dinner and playing video games.

“Well, they think you are good with kids, which, by the way, you are and that you are a daddy material. What are you doing?” I whispered breathily when he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I could feel his heart beat rapidly under my palm, and I wondered if he could feel my hard nipples poking through my wet swimsuit.

Ethan brushed a lock of my wet hair and asked, “Do you think I am a daddy material?”

“No, that’s gross, E.” I cringed. “It reminds me of my father because I call him daddy sometimes.” I shuddered. “Can we please stop talking about that?”

He grinned and I narrowed my eyes at him. He turned serious and nodded. “Okay, kitten.”

Asswipe.

I chuckled and playfully hit his chest. “Not funny, daddy.” I tried to joke, but I ended up scrunching my face.

Ethan laughed, his wet hair falling on his forehead as his eyes crinkled with humor. “You should’ve seen your face. It was precious!”

I huffed and like a mature adult I was, I splashed water on his face.

He quickly stopped laughing, running a hand over his face, and I giggled. He opened his eyes and glared at me. “You’re dead.”

I poked my tongue at him. “You have to catch me first, loser!”

I swam away from him and I knew he would catch me soon, so I moved my arms faster, a big grin plastered on my face. I squealed when his hand wrapped around my ankle and gently tugged me toward him. I was laughing and covering my face when he splashed water on me.

Ethan was laughing with me when I splashed water on him and eventually, we stopped grinning at each other like lunatics, wet hair draping our faces as water lapped over our bodies. I combed back his hair while his fingers tucked the wet strands of my hair from my face.

He didn’t move his hand from my cheek and my eyes fell on his lips. I leaned closer and cupped his sharp jaw as our eyes met, full of hunger and lust. He leaned down and I pulled him closer, our lips meeting halfway as we kissed. His tongue ran over the seams of my bottom lip and I opened my mouth, my hands threading in his hair while his wandered over my body.

I moaned in his mouth when the kiss turned from gentle to more passionate and rough. He tilted his head, deepening our kiss, and a small growl escaped from his throat. I could feel him poking my inner thigh and I wanted nothing more than to please him. When we pulled away, we were both breathing heavily, lips swollen and eyes hazy.

“Wow,” I managed to whisper.

“I want to kiss you again. And again. And again. And again,” he said, peppering butterfly kisses on my cheeks, nose, jaw, and the column of my neck.

I giggled, feeling ticklish on my neck as his damp hair brushed over my skin. Before I could say anything, we heard footsteps and the sliding of the door being opened. We pulled away when we saw Rio walking toward us.

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